US2481855A - Shipping container - Google Patents

Description

p 1949- v D; IQMGKENZIE 23,481,855

, SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 I 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ngyms I.M9KENZIE F IG" 2 $7M ATTORNEYS eptu 13, 1949. D. 1. MCKENZIE 2,481,355

' SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS DENNES I. MSKENZIE Sept. 13, 1949. 0.1. MCKENZIE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR DENNIS I .M KENZIE ATTORNEYS Sept. 13 1949. v D. 1. M KENZIE 2,481,855

' v I SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 8, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.|3

INVENTOR mm 1. MKENZEE ATTORNEYS 3 in which articles may be supported within the container without the use of auxiliary supports but wherein the basic units illustrated in Figure 3 still form the side walls of the container.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, taken along 'line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure 5, taken along line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a top horizontal cross-sectional view of the structure illustrated in Figure'5, taken along line iii-l of Figure 5.

Figure 11 is a perspective elevational view simia lar to Figure 1 illustrating a slightly modified arrangement of the end wall structure thereof for placing an article within the container supported by guiding spacers at the corners of the shipping container.

Figure 12 is atop 'plan view of the carton shown in Figure 11 withthe carton fiaps open and topframe section removed. I

Figure 13 is a perspective elevational view of the shipping container illustrated in Figure 11 showing the arrangement ;of. the retaining straps. around the same.

- With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the shipping container |0 is a conventional fiber board, or corrugated; cardboard carton having the side walls ll and I2, a bottom wall IS, a, top wall. Mand end walls I and IE. The bottom wall H of the carton is closed by the flaps |3a and I322 that extendfrom the side walls l2 and respectively and theend flaps 13c and |3d which extend from the end Walls l5 and Hi;

respectively. The top wall I2 is closed by corresponding flaps arranged in the same manner as those referred to in the bottom wall, however flaps I20. and |2d are illustrated in Figure 1. The fiber board container is adapted to be sealed by the usual type of paper or seal straps l1 and |8,'in a conventional manner.

It will thus be seen that the cardboard container, or shipping carton, forms a conventional container constructed in the usual manner for such containers. w I

It is not commercially practical to ship heavy articles in a fiber board or corrugated cardboard cartonbecause of the danger of rupture to the walls upon engagement of the article with the wall of thecontainer. Also, such containers are subject to crushing. 1 I Inthis invention therefore-a wood frame is placed within the shipping container for reenforcing, the walls of thecontainer and for carry: ing the weight of an article contained therein. Thewood frame is constructed and arranged with interlocked corners in such a manner that the frame is assembled within the shipping container without the use of auxiliary fastening devices. The wood frame is constructed of two basic units illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, when the carton or-shipping container is of rectangular shape. Theunit 20, illustrated in Figure 3, is adapted to be used for either the side walls |2 and-ll or the top and bottom walls l3 and I4 of the shipping container illustrated in Figure 1. Theunit 25, illustrated in Figure 4 forms the end walls| 5 and le'of the reenforcing frame. T The unit 2!] consists of the side rails 2| and. 22 joined together by theend rails 23 and 24, suitable nails or screws being utilized for holding the respective rails together. 'It will be noted that the end;rails 23 and 24 are inset relative to the ends of the side rails 2| and 22 by an amount equal to the thickness of the side rails26 and 21' of theunit 25, as illustrated in Figure 1. Theend rails 23 and 29 of theunit 25 are also inset rela- From theforegoing description of the units 2i? and 25 it will be quite apparent that 'if the shipping container is a square container, instead of rectangular as illustrated, that four of theunits 25 can be utilized for reenforcing four linearly contiguous walls 'ofthe shipping container.

Toassemble the frame sections within a shipping container preparatory to placing an article therein for shipment, aframe section 29 is placed upon the bottom wall l3 of the container If! in an inverted position from that illustrated in Figure 3, Thus theend rails 23 and 24 will be facing upwardly in this instance. A pair ofunits 25 are then placed adjacentthe end walls l5 and 16 of the container ill, with the lower ends of theside rails 26 and 27 supported upon the extending ends of the siderails 2|. and 22 of theframe section 28 and confined between the end walls ofthe; J shipping container and theend rails 23 and 24' of theunit 25 and with theend rail 29 .ofth'e unit .25 resting upon theend rails 23' and 24 of the'unit 28... Thus, there is provided an oven-.- lapping and interlocking joint between the units: Efi'and 25 along the bottom edges of the end walls leand N.

Asecond section 20. is then placed upon the: upper edges of thesections 25 with the extending" ends of thesecond section 20 overlapping the upper ends of thesections 25, in the same manner as heretofore described with reference to the lower a corner.

It will of course be understoodthat beforethe top wall section is put in position, thefarticle to be shipped is placed within the shippingcon- V tainer. The flaps for the top around the closed 's'hippingcontainer,HJ, as il e lustratecl in Figure 52, with theretaining straps extending around the container in a direction linearly contiguous with the side rails of-,th e,

frame units 20 and 25, thus'preventingtheend frame sections 25 breaking through the end walls 7 l5 and it of the shipping container, the straps, 3|] binding'the joints at the four corners of'the:

box into a rigidstructural unit.

To support a heavy object, such as the. tank 3| illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1, directly upon the frame, auxiliary support members-32 and 3 3 may be provided between 1 the side rails: 2| and 22 of the bottom frame unit'2fl, the-tank; 3| being securely fastened' to the auxiliary 's'upportmembers 32 and 33 to vprevent shifting thereof withinv the shipping container.

l Referring now to Figure 5, the shipping'conQ tainer ,5 8a is of identical, construction with; that disclosed in Figure 1, but in thisinstancethe frame units 25 .and f '25 have been arranged around the four linearly contiguous walls 'o'f the container consisting-of theside wallsand end? walls in place of. the four linearly contiguous, walls .consistingof the top and" bottom was, and end .walls' as illustrated in Figure Figure 5 the frame sections .an d;th'e; side andi' en'd rails thereof have been given the same ref? 7 p 7 wall l2 are then nosed r upon thetop frame section 20 in the .same,

' frame sections 26: and 25 are basic to the.- two shipping; containersv and to the. two methods oi assembly thereof.V 1 11 vAlso, it ,,will be noted. that, the retaining. straps 311 o n the shipping container Ilia, illustrated in. Fi ure. 6 are positioned :90 from-the: p i f illustrated in Figure to thusretain he assemblytogether in the same manneras-heretofore. de-; scribed From the foregoin description of the-arr n e ment of the basic frame sections and 25, it wills-also, beapparent that. either. end Wall. {5 0r. 1620f: the shipping; container. It could. be: a top wall with. the Side wallsof the shipping container reenforced by the frame sections 253 either in the position illustrated in; Figural or in,- the position illustrated} in Figure 5. In. either. instance the and frame. sections; 2.5 areremovable to. allow-insertion and removal of; anarticl'eto be shipped in acoritainer. s Ihus, byt the use. of'thebasic; units, 2d and invthainstance ofuza rectangular container or'bythe. use of all ofzthe units; 25. inithe instance of a. square shipping container,- it. apparent. that any. selected.v side at the shipping container. can beleft open for insertion and removal of the article tobe shipped and mayi-be. arranged for selective support of the article within the conta'iner. i

With the frame sections. it: and -25placed=jin the. shipping container. in. the manner illustrated in Figure 5, it is'possibl'e to support an article within the shipping container between opposite side walls orenu' walls of the container while all owing: entry of the article into. the-container through the top wall thereof.

As illustrated in Figure 5., the shipping container hasbeen adapted for shipment of anoutboard motor 35, illustrated in dotted" lines therein. Each. ofthe frame-sections filla are provided with apair ofcrosamembers 46 and 4'! that form aslot 42 thereb'etwcen. I transversely' extending supportmember is. positioned between the members 45- and 4 l a; flange being provided oneach end of themember 43 for positioning in theslots 42. Themember 43 is retained in an elevated position upon engagement of theflanges 44 with the bottoms of theslots 42.

As will be noted in Figure 5members 44 and 45 corresponding tomembers 40 and M are placed at the opposite end of the container Ida and amember 45 corresponding tomember 43 extends therebetween.

Themembers 43 and 46 are adapted to support the article, such as theoutboard motor 35.

To provide for entry of theflanges 44 into theslots 42, and corresponding flanges on themember 46 into the corresponding slot betweenmembers 44 and 45, the side walls of the shipping container are spread slightly to allow entry of themembers 43 and 46 into their respective slots.

After placement of the article Within the 6. shippingcontainer, members 411 andjgda are placed: the slots between themembers 40, 4l 44 and: 45., The members. lland 48- are provided withflanges 49 and. 502 respectively ;.wh-ich:entgr therespecti-ve slots for; thesarne when the-side walls of the .cont rin erare spread slightly;- The upper endsof the flanges4 9 andtllengage. the upper side. railsof the frame sections: 2511 to thusprevent removal of the members '41 and -48 from their respective positions. The struc;

ture, therefore; is such that. the outboard motor, or other article is retained within the shipping container fully supported by thezframesectionsand-withoutengagement of" the article with thewalls of the. container-in such a-manner that would a-llow the article tobreak through the wallsof the container; 5 4 To prevent the side. wallsv ll and I2a of the container Illa from spreading duringshipment, metal; retaining straps. 49?. are provided around the container in substantial alignmentwith the members 43-, 46,41-and 48. I r While-the article illustrated withinthe contain.- er hasbeen referred to as an outboard motor-yet it will be understood that by merely changing the. configuration of the edges of themembers 43, 4e, 41. and. that engage-the article to-be supported within. the container. that any article-having any contour can be retained in the container in the same manner as heretofore. illustratedsand described. w

In Figure 7 there shown a slightly modified arrangement of theauxiliary support means for carrying. an article within the shipping. container, as for-example,v when it. is desired to support adevice at thev four corners thereof. In this arrangement the frame sections 23a and 25a.are thesameas heretofore disclosedand described and are arranged in. the same manner as that shown in Figure 5.

However,v in Figure 7 a support member. 51; is provided parallel to theside rail 21a on the opposite. side of the end rails. 28a and 29a. Withtheframe sections 20a and. 25a assembled .as. illus-, trated in Figure 5, a device having corners thereon may beguidedby the four vertical corners oi the, assembled framesections and be supported upon the support members 5L i InFiguresll. to. 13 there. is illustrated ashipping container in most respects similar to vthat disclosed in Figure 1 exceptv that the end frame sections. 25 illustrated in Figure 1 I are modified slightlyin structure and location to provide for a vertical guiding supportof an object placed within the shipping container In the form of the device illustrated in the Figures 11' to 13 the shipping container Nib is identical to that disclosed and described in Figure 1. Also, the frame sections 2% forming the top and bottom walls of the shipping container are constructed in the same manner as theframe sections 20 illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

Under certain circumstances it may be desired to provide for a definite spaced guiding support for an object of manufacture. In this instance theend frame sections 60 corresponding to theend frame sections 25 are provided with end rails BI and 62 that have the side edges thereof extending beyond the ends of the side rails 63 and 64. Also, it will be noted that the position of the end rails BI and 62 is reverse of that of the end rails 28 and 29 illustrated in Figure 1, thus placing the side rails 63 and 64 toward the inside of the shipping container I Db. Auxiliary support and guidemembers 65 and 66 are secured to therails 63 illustrated in Figure 11 the vertical weight of the object placed therein will be carried by the bottom frame section 2%, or the top frame'section depending upon the position of the shipping conon theend frame sections 60.

While the structure of the device disclosed and described herein constitutes a preferred form of the invention; yet it will be understood that the device is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein. r I Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatentis: 7 we 1. In combination,'a container having nonself-supporting walls when placed under load of the article adapted to be carried therein, a skeleton frame structure removably disposed in said container consisting of a plurality of individual unattached frame sections positioned adjacent linearly contiguous walls of the container, each of said frame sections consisting of a pair of spaced side rails joined by end rails disposed in inset relationship to the ends of said side rails, said sections disposed in endwise engaging relationship with the side rails and end rails thereof in'overlapping interlocking engagement to prevent inward collapse of the separable frame structure and prevented from outward separation by the walls of said container, a retaining strap around the exterior of said container engaging said linearly contiguous walls normal to the engaging edges of said frame sections to bind said overlapping joints together and relieve the walls of said container of pressure of said'frame sections upon tendency of them to separate when loaded with the weight 'ofthe article for shipv1 tainer, and transverse thrust of the object will be taken by the L-shaped guide supports formed E Number ment in the container, removable supportmembers' extending between frame sections disposed {against opposite walls of said container and carried wholly by the said frame sections for fully supporting an object thema net-mer es. said support members-having extensions thereon making said support members of greater length ,than the distance between the side-rails of said opposite frame sections for engaging the side' rails to lock the said support-members therebe tween. 7 h V.

2.-In combination, a container having nonself-supporting wallswhen placed under load-of the article adapted to be carried therein, a skeleton frame structure removablydisposed in said container consistingof a plurality of individual unattached frame sections positioned adjacent linearly contiguous walls of the'containfer, each of said frame sectionsconsisting of a pair of spaced side rails joined by end rails disposed in inset relationship to the ends of said siderrails, said sections disposed in endwise engagingrela tionship with the side rails and end rails thereof in overlapping interlocking engagement to prevent inward collapse of V the separable frame structure and preventedfrom outward separation by the walls of said container, a retaining strap around the exterior ofsaid-container engaging said linearly contiguous Wallsnormal to. the en-J gaging edgesof said frame sections to bind said overlapping joints together and relieve the walls of said container of pressure of said frame sections upon tendency of them to separateframe 7 sections disposed against opposite walls of said container and carried wholly by the said frame sections for fully supporting an object in the container thereon, said support members having'extensions thereon making said support members of greater length-.than-the distance between the side rails of said opposite-framesections forlengaging the side rails to lock the. said support members therebetween, andguiderails on said oppoe i site frame sections for disposing said support members in predetermined position betweensaid opposite frame sections-V I v DENNIS 1. CKE ZI j REFERENCES CITED' vThe following references ,are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED sTATEs AT NT Namev l a Date 1,990,788, Kells Feb. 12, 1935 2,249,270 Boeye July 15', 1941 2,276,495 Kenfield Mar. 17,1942 2,280,155 Luce Apr. 21, 1942 2,285,873 RObGI'tS June 9, 1942 2,319,641

Speir, Jr. ,May 18,1943

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