Collapsible Container Having Collapsible Dunnage With Integral Stabilizing Members

a container and dunnage technology, applied in the field of containers for use in shipping, can solve the problems of not much of a shipping cost saving when returning empty reusable containers, the cost of storing conventional reusable containers may further reduce the other economic benefits they offer, and still be relatively costly to provide for their return shipment. the effect of the container

a container and dunnage technology, applied in the field of containers for use in shipping, can solve the problems of not much of a shipping cost saving when returning empty reusable containers, the cost of storing conventional reusable containers may further reduce the other economic benefits they offer, and still be relatively costly to provide for their return shipment. the effect of the container

US20080017638A1Inactive Publication Date: 2008-01-24BRADFORD CO
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  • Collapsible Container Having Collapsible Dunnage With Integral Stabilizing Members
  • Collapsible Container Having Collapsible Dunnage With Integral Stabilizing Members
  • Collapsible Container Having Collapsible Dunnage With Integral Stabilizing Members

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0057]Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a reusable and returnable collapsible container 10 with interior dunnage 24 shown only in phantom for clarity. As explained below, many different forms or types of dunnage in accordance with the present invention may be used in a collapsible container like the one shown in FIG. 1.

[0058]The reusable and returnable collapsible container 10, as shown, comprises a body 12 having a base 13 comprising a bottom portion 14 and three fixed, upstanding vertically oriented wall portions 16a, 16b and 16c extending upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom portion 14 of the base 13. A rear wall 18b and side walls 18a, 18c are hingedly connected to the vertically oriented wall portions 16b and 16a, 16c of the base 13, respectively. Side wall 18a is hingedly or pivotally joined to the wall portion 16a of the base 13 with a hinge pin 20a so that the side wall 18a may move or pivot from a collapsed position shown in FIG. 6 to an erected position shown ...

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Abstract

This invention provides a collapsible container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse that has a body including at least two collapsible side structures with support members attached thereto. Dunnage is suspended from the support members. The dunnage comprises a plurality of flexible members, at least some of the flexible members having stabilizers attached to the flexible member for stabilizing and protecting product being shipped. In one embodiment, tracks may be attached to opposite sides of the body, and support member assemblies extend between the tracks. Dunnage is suspended from the support member assemblies. Portions of the support member assemblies move in the tracks to move products suspended by the dunnage to a more ergonomically friendly position for loading or unloading.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to containers for use in shipping, and more particularly, to containers which are returnable in an empty state for reuse.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A large number of different container structures are utilized by manufacturers to ship a variety of different products to end users, which may be, for example, assembly plants. In the automobile industry for example, an assembly plant assembling a particular automobile might utilize a number of different parts from different manufacturers. These manufacturers ship their respective parts to the assembly plant in reusable container structures where the parts are then removed from dunnage or support members inside the container structure and assembled into a finished automobile.[0003]The return and reuse of empty containers results in a substantial cost savings for the supplier and / or the end manufacturer or assembler because reuse reduces the number of new containers which mus...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
24 Jan 2008
Publication
US20080017638A1
IPC
B65D6/00
CPC
B65D19/18; B65D2519/00034; B65D2519/00174; B65D2519/00905; B65D2519/00631; B65D2519/0082; B65D2519/00895; B65D2519/00502
Inventors
BRADFORD, JUDSON A.