Container with adjustable inner partitions

Abstract

A container with adjustable inner partitions provides flexibility for holding different sizes of substantially rectangular products. The partitions also cushion the product to protect against damage from physical pressure exerted on the box. Within the four walls of a rectangular box, panels are aligned parallel to the top and bottom walls. Multiple slots are formed in the panels, said slots opposing each other to create pairs of panel slots suitable for receiving a partition perpendicular to the panels. Multiple pairs of slots formed in the panels enable dual partitions to be inserted between the panels at a variety of positions. Two partitions are inserted in pairs of panel slots providing an appropriate distance between the partitions to secure a particular size rectangular product in between the partitions. Each partition may be provided with a slot convenient for receiving an edge of the rectangular product, to hold the product in place.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention pertains to a specialized container for safely holding or transporting various products of a generally rectangular shape. [0002] A variety of packages, boxes, and containers are known in the prior art. Boxes are frequently designed to accommodate one or more products inside the box, to facilitate transportation of the products. However, pressure exerted during transit, when other boxes are piled on top or when the box is dropped or moved, can detrimentally affect the contents of the box. [0003] Specialized containers are known in the prior art to protect products within the container from damage which may be caused by physical or electrical forces applied to the container. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,045,038 and 6,047,884 to Smith et al. and related applications describe a box with movable interior panels which are automatically distanced from outer side panels when the box is unfolded from a collapsed position. Similarly, U.S. Pat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Another object of this invention is to provide such a container which protects any product being held within the container from damage by external forces by securely holding each product in a desired safe position.

[0009] Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a container which can easily be adapted to hold one or more products of differing sizes, so that the same container may be used at different times to hold and ship a variety of products.

[0013] Opposing flat inner panels are arranged within the container substantially parallel to the top and bottom walls. The panels may be spaced away from the top and bottom walls, such as by attaching the panels on opposing sides to the side walls of the container at a desired distance from the top or bottom wall of the container. In a preferred embodiment, a top inner panel is aligned adjacent to the interior of the top wall of the container, while a bottom inner panel is aligned adjacent to the interior of the bottom wall of the container, providing a secure position for both the top and bottom inner panels. Alternatively, the interior face of the top wall may function as a top panel, or the interior face of the bottom wall may function as a bottom panel, instead of having a separate top inner panel or separate bottom inner panel.

[0015] Each inner panel within the container is scored with notches, grooves, or slots, which will be referred to as panel slots. Each panel slot is conveniently aligned with an opposing panel slot formed in the panel which is positioned within the container nearest to the first panel. Thus, in the preferred embodiment suitable for holding a single substantially rectangular product in a desired safe position, multiple panel slots are formed in the top inner panel, and corresponding and opposing panel slots are formed in the bottom inner panel. Removable partitions may conveniently be inserted in opposing panel slots of opposing inner panels, so that the removable partitions are securely held parallel to each other and parallel to the side walls. If one or more middle inner panels are utilized, each middle inner panel should be thick enough to accommodate panel slots formed in both the top and bottom faces thereof, suitable for receiving partitions both above and below the middle panel, without loosing structural integrity.

[0016] Partition slots are formed in each partition, so partitions inserted into panel slots to form opposing partitions have partition slots which are parallel and opposite. These partition slots are suitable for removably receiving the sides of a substantially flat and rectangular product, such as a circuit board. Partition slots may ideally be wider on an end of each partition which will be positioned near the opening of the container, so that the product to be held by the container can be easily inserted into the largest opening of the partition slot, and guided into a more narrow channel of the partition slot to securely hold the product in a desired safe position between opposing partitions. The product can be inserted into the partition slots while the partitions are secured in opposing panel slots within the container. Alternatively, a product may be simply inserted into partition slots while the partitions are partially removed from the container, for ease in positioning. The partitions, holding the product, can then be slid into the container along the panel slots into which the partitions have been inserted. Removal of the product from the container can similarly be accomplished either by sliding the product from the partition slots while the partitions are in the container or by first sliding the partitions either partly or completely out of the panel slots and out of the container.

Problems solved by technology

However, pressure exerted during transit, when other boxes are piled on top or when the box is dropped or moved, can detrimentally affect the contents of the box.

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