Panel frame optimized for compact stacking during shipment

Abstract

A panel frame optimized for compact stacking during shipment may include a first and second primary beams that define a length. First and second secondary beams may include flats at their ends, the flats attached to the primary beams along the primary beams' lengths. The secondary beams may define a secondary beam maximum depth adjacent to the flats, opposite the attachment to the primary beams, and perpendicular to the flats. The primary beams may define a beam maximum width parallel to the secondary beam and define a primary beam maximum depth at the attachment to the secondary beams and perpendicular to the maximum width. The flats may each define a flat length parallel to and at least as long as the beam maximum width, and may define a flat depth parallel to the primary beam maximum depth, the flat depth being less than the secondary beam maximum depth.

1 . A panel frame optimized for compact stacking during shipment, comprising:
 first and second primary beams residing parallel to each other and residing in a plane, each defining a beam maximum width perpendicular to the beam and parallel to the plane;   a plurality of secondary beams, each secondary beam:
 defining a beam maximum depth perpendicular to the plane; 
 having a flat on both ends, each flat defining a flat depth that is less than the beam maximum depth and defining a flat length that is greater than the beam maximum width; and 
   each flat attached at its end either to a primary beam along its length or to a secondary beam along its length.   
     
     
         2 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which all secondary beams are identical. 
     
     
         3 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which all secondary beams reside perpendicular to the primary beams. 
     
     
         4 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which at least one of the secondary beams is perpendicular to the primary beams and at least one of the secondary beams is parallel to the primary beams. 
     
     
         5 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which the first and second primary beams define the beam maximum depth. 
     
     
         6 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which each of the secondary beams define a width equal to the beam maximum width. 
     
     
         7 . The panel frame of  claim 1 , in which the primary beams and the secondary beams have a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . Panel frames optimized for compact stacking during shipment, comprising:
 a first panel frame that includes a first primary beam, the first primary beam defining a first length;   a second panel frame that includes a second primary beam, the second primary beam defining a second length;   a first secondary beam:
 attached to the first primary beam along the first length; 
 including a flat proximate to the attachment of first secondary beam to the first primary beam, the flat defining a flat depth perpendicular to both the first primary beam and the first secondary beam; 
 defining a maximum depth adjacent to the flat, opposite the attachment to the first primary beam and parallel to the flat depth, the maximum depth being greater than the flat depth; 
   a second secondary beam, the second secondary beam attached to the second primary beam along the second length;   the second primary beam residing parallel to the first primary beam and in contact with the flat.   
     
     
         9 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , in which the contact is direct contact. 
     
     
         10 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , in which the second secondary beam is identical to the first secondary beam. 
     
     
         11 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , in which first and second primary beams and the first and second secondary beams each define a circular cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , in which the first and second secondary beams are both perpendicular to the first primary beam. 
     
     
         13 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , in which the maximum depth is greater than twice the flat depth. 
     
     
         14 . The panel frames of  claim 8 , further including a third secondary beam, the third secondary beam attached to the first secondary beam. 
     
     
         15 . A panel frame optimized for compact stacking during shipment, comprising:
 a first primary beam, the first primary beam defining a first length;   a second primary beam, the second primary beam defining a second length;   a first secondary beam, the first secondary beam:
 attached to the first primary beam along the first length; 
 attached to the second primary beam along the second length; 
 including a first flat proximate to the attachment of first secondary beam to the first primary beam; 
 defining a first maximum depth adjacent to the first flat, opposite the attachment to the first primary beam, and perpendicular to the first flat; 
 including a second flat proximate to the attachment of the first secondary beam to the second primary beam; 
 defining a second maximum depth adjacent to the second flat, opposite the attachment to the second primary beam, and perpendicular to the second flat; 
   the first primary beam defining a first maximum width parallel to the first secondary beam at the attachment to the first secondary beam and defining a third maximum depth at the attachment to the first secondary beam and perpendicular to the first maximum width;   the second primary beam defining a second maximum width parallel to the first secondary beam at the attachment to the first secondary beam and defining a fourth maximum depth at the attachment to the first secondary beam perpendicular to the second maximum width;   the first flat:
 defining a first flat length, the first flat length being parallel to and at least as long as the first maximum width; and 
 defining a first flat depth parallel to the third maximum depth, the first flat depth being less than the first maximum depth; 
   the second flat:
 defining a second flat length, the second flat length being parallel to and at least as long as the second maximum width; and 
 defining a second flat depth parallel to the fourth maximum depth, the second flat depth being less than the second maximum depth. 
   
     
     
         16 . The panel frame of  claim 15 , in which the first and second primary beams are identical. 
     
     
         17 . The panel frame of  claim 15 , in which the first maximum depth equals the first maximum width. 
     
     
         18 . The panel frame of  claim 15 , in which the first maximum depth, the second maximum depth, and the first maximum width are equal. 
     
     
         19 . The panel frame of  claim 15 , further including a second secondary beam, the second secondary beam identical to the first secondary beam and attached to the first primary beam and to the first secondary beam. 
     
     
         20 . The panel frames of  claim 15 , in which the maximum depth is greater than twice the flat depth.