US3913741A

US3913741A - Materials handling container

Info

Publication number: US3913741A
Application number: US403176A
Authority: US
Inventors: James E Pirie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-03
Filing date: 1973-10-03
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21

Abstract

A container for industrial material handling including bottom and side walls with nether skid means, and a removable top wall or cover having reinforcing means on its upper side which are interengageable with the skid means of an additional, superposed container to distribute downward load to the container side wall.

Description

United States Patent Pirie Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MATERIALS HANDLING CONTAINER 2,761.582 9/1956 Moore 206/508 [76] Inventor: James E. Pirie, 1404 Bayview Ave., Bamegat h1g1", 08006 3,677,436 7 1972 Danielson 220/69 [22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance PP -z 403,176 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert K. Youtie [52 US. (:1. 206/508; 206/509; 206/511 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl? B65D 21/02 A container for industrial material handling including [58] Field of Search 206/508, 509, 510, 511, bottom and side walls with nether skid means, and a 206/512, 5.3 removable top wall or cover having reinforcing means on its upper side which are interengageable with the [56] References Cited skid means of an additional, superposed container to U E STATES PATENTS distribute downward load to the container side wall.

1,898,509 2/1933 Taylor 206/508 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,913,741

MATERIALS HANDLING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While there have, in the past, been provided containers for industrial materials handling, such containers have not been entirely satisfactory, being defective in one or more respects, such as being unduly costly, subject to rapid deterioration, requiring excessive space when not in use, of limited utilization with conventional materials handling equipment, and for other reasons well known to those versed in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a container construction particularly well adapted for use in industrial materials handling, which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, is extremely strong and durable throughout a long useful life while being of minimum weight and reasonable cost, nests to occupy a minimum of space when, not in use, and is highly versatile for utilization with an extremely wide range of conventional materials handling equipment, which utilization is effectively speeded up and simplified by unique structural features of the instant device.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a container having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, wherein relatively heavily loaded containers may be stacked to substantial heights without requiring excessive wall thicknesses and container weights by improvements in gravity load transmission and distribution.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a unique container construction of the type described wherein containers may be superposed one on the other in a more rapid and less expensive manner by means of automatic self-locating features which insure properly accurate stacking with only approximate location by an operator.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing a container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, partly broken away for clarity of understanding.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the underside of an upper container and the upper side of a lower container to illustrate the cooperating relationship in stacking, while a lowermost container is shown in phantom in stacked condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage of a stacking operation in use of the instant containers.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the containers of FIG. 2, as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 6

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing another slightly modified embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a further embodiment of container constructed in accordance with the instant teachings.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view showing the modification of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating in phantom the cooperating relationship of a next lower container in one mode of stackmg.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating an alternative mode of stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a container or receptacle is there generally designated 20, and includes a normally generally horizontal bottom wall 21, and an upstanding peripheral side wall 22 circumferentially about the bottom wall. The bottom wall 21 may be of polygonal or rectangular configuration, as illustrated, or other suitable configuration, and the side wall 22 may have upstanding side wall portions 23 extending along respective side edges of the bottom wall 21, the side wall portions 23 being connected together in edgeto-edge relation with each other, as along meeting edges or corners 24.

Provided on the underside of and depending beneath the container bottom wall 21 are elongate members, runners or skids 26. The skid means 26 are adapted for supporting engagement with a nether ground surface, affording clearance for entry beneath-the bottom wall 21 of handling forks, and otherwise important in practice of the instant invention, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Thus, the peripheral side wall 22 upstands from and extends circumferentially about the peripheral or bounding edge 27 of the bottom wall 21 and terminates at its upper extremity in a circumferentially extending upper margin or edge 28. Resting removably on the upper side wall extremity or edge 28 is a generally flat top wall or cover 30. The top wall or cover 30 may be of an outline configuration to conformably overlie the bottom wall 21, the top wall having a peripheral edge 31 extending entirely along and about the side wall upper edge 28. Further, extending circumferentially about the top wall 30, along the peripheral edge 31, and depending therefrom, is a cover flange or retainer 32. That is, the cover or top wall 30 is retained in position resting on the upper extremity 28 of side wall 22, against horizontal displacement, by limiting engagement of the cover flange 32 with the side wall. Provided on the upper side of the cover 30, projecting upwardly therefrom, are a plurality of reinforcements, cleats or ribs 33, the structure and function of which will be presented hereinafter in greater detail.

While the material of which the instant container 20 is fabricated is not critical, it has been found advantageous to employ fiberglass reinforced plastic, say for the bottom and

side walls

21 and 22, and top wall 30. Further, the skid means 26 and reinforcement means 33 have been advantageously fabricated of wood encapsulated in fiberglass reinforced plastic. Of course, wood, metal, plastic, combinations thereof, or other suitablematerialsmay be employed, as desired, without departing from the teachings of the instant inventlon.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33 may each be of elongate configuration, say having a constant cross-section throughout its length, and extending between a pair of spaced marginal or edge regions of the top wall, as. between spaced regions of top wall edge 31. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcements or ribs 33 are four in number, but may be otherwise, and each extends obliquely or diagonally between adjacent sides of the polygonal top wall. The reinforcements or ribs 33 of the preferred embodiment are separate and spaced from each other, but may be arranged to meet, intersect, or otherwise, as will appear presently. Further, each of the reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33 is formed with one surface or side facing obliquely upwardly, as at 35, its opposite surface being generally upright or approximately normal to the top wall 30,as at 36, and its upper surface or top 37 defining a generally horizontal land extending between the upper edges of oblique and upright surfaces35 and 36. In the illustrated embodiment the several reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33 are arranged in generally quadrilateral or rectilinear relation, and the oblique or inclined surfaces 35 are disposed inwardly toward each other, with the upright or normal surfaces 36 disposed outwardly or away from each other. Of course, this relationship may be varied, as desired, within the scope of the instant invention.

Considering the skids or supports 26 in greater detail, as in FIGS. 2 and 4, it will there be seen that the skids 26 are defined by a pair of generally parallel, elongate members or runners extending along the underside of the bottom wall 21. The skids or runners 26 are each provided with downwardly facing recesses or cavities 27, which may be defined by open ended grooves extending transversely across the respective skid or runner. The recesses or downwardly facing grooves 27 are oriented to receive respective reinforcing means or ribs 33 of a next lower container when the containers are superposed or stacked in generally congruent relation one above the other, as seen in FIG. 2.

Thus, the recesses or grooves 40 and reinforcing means or ribs 33 are oriented for conformably interfitting engagement with respect to each other. Further, the recesses or grooves 27 are each provided with an obliquely downwardly facing or inclined side surface 41, and a generally upright or verticalside surface 42 in spaced facing relation with the surface 41. A generally downwardly facing under or soffet surface 43 extends between the

side surfaces

41 and 42, being spaced upwardly a predetermined distance from the lowermost or under surface 44 of the respective skid 26.

Thus, it will now be appreciated that the grooves or recesses 40 are configured and arranged with respect to the reinforcements or ribs 33 to define interfitting formations therewith. Further, with containers 20 stacked one upon the other and their recesses 40 and reinforcements 33 in their interfitting relation, see F IG. 4, it will be understood that the height of generally vertical or normal rib surfaces 36 is greater than the height of generally vertical or normal groove surfaces 42. Thus, the received rib 33 has its upwardly facing top surface or land 37 in bearing engagement with the downwardly facing or soffet surface 43 of the receiving groove 40. This is best seen in FIG. 4, from which it will appear that the top wall or cover 30 is spaced below the underside 44 of the skid 26. In this manner, the weight or load of the upper container 20 is transmitted only to. the several reinforcements or ribs 33 of the next lower container, and not to the cover'thereof. Further, as the ribs 33 of the supporting container 20 extend along the. carrying cover to the edge regions thereof, the weight; or, load is transmitted from each reinforcement or rib. through its end portions to the underlying regions of 3 side wall 22, so that the side wall carries the load rather than the cover.

It will be readily appreciated that the generally vertical or upright surfaces 36 of the ribs 33 are located in adjacent facing relation with the generally upright or vertical surfaces 42 of respective grooves 40, so that shifting or relative horizontal displacement between stacked containers is effectively limited by positive engagement between such facing surfaces. Further, the

facing relationship between the oblique, downwardlyv facing internal surface 41 of each groove 40 with the respective obliquely upwardly facing external surface 35 of the respective nb 33 serves a unique: self-locating function. For example, asseen in FIG. 3, wherein an upper container is placed on a lower container in ap-. proximate but not quite proper alignment,the

oblique surfaces

41 and 35 will slidably engage with each other to shift the upper container to a proper aligned position, as in FIG. 4. More specifically, in the illustration of FIG. 3, it will there be apparent that the upper container 20 will shift rightward relative to the lower container 20. Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. l4, it has been found that there is sufiicient selflocating action to cause the upper container to shift rotatively, and thereby compensate for angulate errors in placement of containers one upon the other.

While the, hereinbefore described embodiment illustrated the interfitting formations of ribs 33 and grooves 40 as each having an oblique and an upright surface, to achieve the described self-locating action and positive resistance to shifting, it is appreciated that these formations may assume different configurations, if desired.

For example, in FIG. 5 it is shown a reinforcement or rib 33a wherein opposite side surfaces 350 and 36a are both generally upright or vertical, terminating in a gen-,

erally horizontal bearing surface or land 37a. Conform-- ably; the receiving groove 40a has its opposite side sur. faces 41a and 42a generally vertical, while its down-' wardly facing bearing surface 43a is generally horizontal for bearing engagement with the ribland 37a. Of

course, the self-locating action of such interfitting formations is minimal or nonexistent, while the positive holdingor anti-shifting action is maximum.

A further embodiment is shownin FIG. 6 wherein a I rib, reinforcement or cleat 33b has both opposite sides.

obliquely inclined and facing upwardly, as at 35b and l 36b, its upper surface, or land 37b extending horizon- I tally between the oblique sides. The receiving groove 40b has its opposite sides 41b and 42b both obliquely ative to a lower container is considerably increased so as to accommodate for a much greater range of inaccurate handling. However, the resistance to relative shifting of stacked containers is reduced.

A further embodiment of the instant invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the top plan view of FIG. 7 showing a container 23, and illustrating its cover 30c having on the upper surface thereof a pair of parallel spaced reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33c. The reinforcements or ribs 330 may extend entirely across the cover 30c between opposite edges 250, being spaced intermediate the opposite edges 29c. Additionally, the reinforcements, ribs or cleats 330 may be each provided with a pair of branch reinforcements or ribs 340, which may extend normal to the primary reinforcements 33c, and parallel to each other and the cover edges c. The cross-sectional configuration of the reinforcements or ribs 33c and the branch reinforcements or branch ribs 34c may be as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 5 or 6, as desired.

The underside of container 20c is shown in FIG. 8, there being seen the bottom wall 21c, about which extends the peripheral side wall 22c. Provided on the underside of the bottom wall 21c, in parallel spaced relation there below, are skids or runners 26c, each provided with a pair of downwardly facing recesses 40c, such as open ended grooves, having a cross-sectional configuration for conformable interfitting relation with the reinforcements or ribs 33c and 34c.

Thus, a plurality of containers 20c may be stacked one upon the other in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, as by interfitting relation of the reinforcements or ribs 33c received into recesses or grooves 40c. Also, stacking of the containers 20c may be achieved in the manner shown in FIG. 8, wherein the branch reinforcements or ribs 34c are respectively received in grooves 40c. In either relationship the gravitational force or load of the upper container is transmitted to the reinforcement means or ribs 33c and 34c for distribution thereby to the side walls 22c of the lower container, in the same manner as the first described embodiment. While the reinforcements or ribs 34c are shown as branching from reinforcements or ribs 33c, it is appreciated that they may extend completely across the cover c in the same manner as ribs 33c, intersecting with the latter, if desired.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a container construction for industrial material handling which is extremely simple in structure, economical in initial and continuing costs, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall upstanding circumferentially about said bottom wall, skid means depending from the underside of said bottom wall for supporting engagement with a nether surface, a top wall spaced over said bottom wall and gravitationally resting removably on the upper edge of said side wall, and reinforcing ribs carried by said top wall on the upper side thereof and extending between spaced regions of said top wall located over and resting on nether spaced upper edge regions of said side wall, said reinforcing ribs and skid means being located so that the skid means of an additional identical container superposed over said top wall rests only on said reinforcing ribs and not on said top wall to distribute the entire weight of said additional container through said ribs to said side wall, so that said top wall does not carry appreciable load except through said ribs.

2. A container according to claim 1, said bottom wall being generally polygonal, said side wall includinga plurality'of angularly spaced side wall portions, and said side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wall portions.

3. A container according to claim 1, said ribs comprising at least one obliquely upwardly facing surface, and said skid means comprising at least one obliquely downwardly facing surface, said upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces being located for facing engagement to gravitationally shift said additional container vertically and horizontally relative to said top wall.

4. A container according to claim 1, said skid and ribs having interfitting formations for properly locating said additionalcontainer relative to said top wall.

5. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formations including generally upright surfaces engageable to limit relativehorizontal movement.

6. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formations including oblique surfaces engageable for gravitationally shifting said additional container to a stable position relative to said top wall.

7. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formations being defined by a downwardly facing groove in the underside of said skid means, and the configuration of said ribs, for conforming interfitting relation between said ribs and grooves.

side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wall portions, said top wall being geometrically similar to said bottom wall, and said ribs extending between spaced edge locations of spaced top wall edges.

Claims

2. A container according to claim 1, said bottom wall being generally polygonal, said side wall including a plurality of angularly spaced side wall portions, and said side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wall portions.

4. A container according to claim 1, said skid and ribs having interfitting formations for properly locating said additional container relative to said top wall.

5. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formations including generally upright surfaces engageable to limit relative horizontal movement.

8. A container according to claim 7, said bottom wall being generally polygonal, said side wall including a plurality of angularly spaced side wall portions, said side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wall portions, said top wall being geometrically similar to said bottom wall, and said ribs extending between spaced edge locations of adjacent top wall edges.

9. A container according to claim 7, said bottom wall being generally polygonal, said side wall including a plurality of angularly spaced side wall portions, said side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wall portions, said top wall being geometrically similar to said bottom wall, and said ribs extending between spaced edge locations of spaced top wall edges.