Flooring and Shipping Apparatus and Method of Use
Patent Number: US 9072927 Grant Date: 2015-07-07 Filing Date: 2013-01-18
Overview
This patented flooring and shipping apparatus transforms how modular outdoor structures are manufactured, packed, and delivered. Filed in January 2013 and granted in July 2015, the patent—assigned to Backyard Playsets of West Texas (Amarillo, TX)—protects an engineered flooring that doubles as a shipping pallet and an installation base. Inventors based in Amarillo, TX designed a platform with perimeter sockets sized to receive structure legs, tapered sockets and stiffener assemblies for secure seating, integrated drains to manage moisture, and optional cap and bracket systems for alternative installs. The flooring nests for efficient stacking, aligns with standard shipping footprints, and enables components (for example, slides) to be stored within the packaged structure to minimize volume and handling.
The result is a manufacturable system that reduces wasted pallet materials, simplifies final assembly for end users, and optimizes container loading to lower shipping costs. Our drafting highlighted practical installation gaps, drainage details, and modular variants (socketed and socketless) to secure broad and enforceable coverage.
Key Features
- Flooring that functions as both shipping pallet and installation base
- Perimeter tapered sockets with stiffeners and drainage
- Nestable design for compact storage and standard shipping footprints
- Variants with brackets for socketless attachment and end-user-friendly packaging
By combining shipping, installation, and material-handling considerations into a single platform, this invention addresses logistics and on-site labor challenges across playset, storage, and small-structure markets.
Invention Details
Abstract: A outdoor structure flooring apparatus is disclosed comprising: a flooring having a one or more sockets, a length and a width. Said one or more sockets receiving a portion of a one or more legs of an outdoor structure. Said flooring comprises a shipping pallet for said outdoor structure.
Background: (1) BACKGROUND (2) This disclosure relates generally to a flooring and shipping apparatus and method of use. One example of an outdoor structure flooring system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,520. However, none of the known inventions and patents in the art, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed. Accordingly, an improved flooring and shipping apparatus and method of use would be advantageous. (3) SUMMARY (4) A first outdoor structure flooring apparatus, a second outdoor structure flooring apparatus, an outdoor structure installation method, and a third outdoor structure flooring apparatus are disclosed. (5) Said first outdoor structure flooring comprising: a flooring having a one or more sockets, a length and a width. Said one or more sockets receiving a portion of a one or more legs of an outdoor structure. Said flooring comprises a shipping pallet for said outdoor structure. Said one or more sockets and said one or more legs comprise of 6 of each. Said one or more sockets and said one or more legs are arranged around a perimeter of said flooring. Said one or more sockets comprise a top portion and a bottom portion. Said one or more sockets taper from said top portion to said bottom portion. Said outdoor structure comprises a one or more components. Said flooring and said outdoor structure comprises a packaged configuration and an assembled configuration. Said assembled configuration comprises said one or more components of said outdoor structure assembled for use. Said packaged configuration comprises said one or more components of said outdoor structure packaged for shipping. Said outdoor structure can comprise a play set. Said one or more components comprise a slide. Said packaged configuration of said outdoor structure can comprise said slide detached from said side portion of said outdoor structure and stored within a portion of said outdoor structure. Said flooring comprises a shipping pallet for said outdoor structure in said packaged configuration. Said assembled configuration comprises said slide attached to a side portion of said outdoor structure. and Said flooring comprise a flooring for said outdoor structure in said assembled configuration. (6) Said second outdoor structure flooring apparatus comprising: a flooring having a one or more sockets, a length and a width. Said one or more sockets receiving a portion of a one or more legs of an outdoor structure. Said flooring comprises a shipping pallet for said outdoor structure. (7) Said outdoor structure installation method comprising: assembling a one or more legs of an outdoor structure to a one or more sockets of an flooring; packing said flooring and said outdoor structure into a packaged configuration; shipping said packaged configuration to a destination; placing said outdoor structure and said flooring at said destination; and unpacking said packaged configuration to an assembled configuration. (8) Said third outdoor structure flooring apparatus comprising: a socketless flooring having a length and a width and a one or more brackets. Said socketless flooring comprising a platform and a one or
Patent Document
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