Information
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Patent Grant
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6386383
-
Patent Number
6,386,383
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Date Filed
Friday, August 31, 200122 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, May 14, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 220 15
- 220 6
- 220 7
- 220 428
- 220 433
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A collapsible container (10) includes a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment. The container assembly (10) is characterized by the buckles (28) disposed on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and the roof (20) to prevent access thereto in the shipping position. Each buckle strap (24) has a fixed end (30) secured to the interior of one of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) by a rivet (32) and each of the tie straps (26) extends from an attached end (36) attached by rivets (38) to flaps (23) depending from the roof (20). The sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) include strap holes 40 extending therethorough and each of the tie straps (26) extend from the attached end (36) at one of the flaps (23) downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall (12, 14 or 16) and into one of the holes (40) to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles (28).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to a shipping container that is collapsed when emptied for return to a destination for erection to a shipping position for shipping additional goods therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such collapsible shipping containers are well known and frequently include a plurality of sidewalls movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom to top extremities to define a closed compartment. A separate roof is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls in the shipping position. A plurality of strap units, each including a buckle connected to a buckle strap for connection to a tie strap, interconnect the roof and the side walls for securing the roof in the overlying relationship with the side walls.
These buckles are disposed on the exterior of the container and allow easy access to view the contents of the container. This easy access presents a problem as many different people between the shipper and the ultimate destination handle the containers. For example, garments on hangers are frequently shipped in such collapsible containers and the temptation for handlers to have a peek at the garments is too great to resist. Consequently, many garments and other goods are lost during shipment. There is a need for a simple solution that does not greater change the current shipping containers in construction or operation yet makes it more difficult to peek into the container and/or to gain access to the container without being noticed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
The subject invention provides a collapsible shipping container assembly that makes it more difficult to peek into the container and/or to gain access to the container without being noticed. A plurality of sidewalls are moved from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls. A roof separate from the sidewalls is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls. The roof and the sidewalls are interconnected for securing the roof in the overlying relationship with the side walls by using a plurality of strap units each of which includes a tie strap and a buckle strap connected to a buckle. The collapsible container is characterized by disposing the buckles on the interior of the walls and the roof to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps to the buckles on the inside of the compartment.
By disposing the buckles on the interior of the container, it is very difficult for an unauthorized person to have a peek into the container. Although access is possible, it would require much more effort and time, thereby making it difficult without being observed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a collapsed container;
FIG. 2
is perspective view showing the sidewalls of the container being moved to the shipping position;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view showing the bottom of the container being moved to the shipping position;
FIG. 4
is a perspective view showing the roof being placed in overlying relationship with the sidewalls;
FIG. 5
is a perspective view showing the container in the shipping position;
FIG. 6
is an exploded perspective view showing the disposition of the straps;
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a strap unit used in the subject invention; and
FIG. 8
is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a strap unit from the interior of the compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a collapsible shipping container assembly is generally shown at
10
.
A plurality of sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
are movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another, as shown in
FIG. 1
, to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom
19
to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
. More specifically, the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
define low side panels
12
and high ends with the ends having a high center panel
14
and tapered panels
16
extending therefrom in opposite directions downwardly to the low side panels
12
. All of the panels
12
,
14
and
16
are sonic welded together. The sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
include at least one door
18
for access to the compartment, there being two doors as illustrated and in the position of the center panels
14
but at the opposite end of the container
10
. In the preferred embodiment with two doors
18
, the inner edge of one door
18
includes a strip
17
of either hook or loop. The outer edge of the second door also includes a strip
17
of the corresponding hook or loop. The edge of the doors
18
slightly overlap and the strip of hook and loop mesh together to form a seal and keep the door
18
closed.
A roof, generally indicated at
20
, is separate from the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
and is disposed in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
in the shipping position. The roof
20
includes a horizontal panel
21
overlying the top extremities of the center panel
14
and slanting panels
22
overlying the top extremities of the tapered panels
16
. The roof
20
may be made of plastic and the panels
21
and
22
thereof may be sonic welded together. The roof
20
includes flaps
23
for extending downwardly along the exterior of the top extremities of the sidewalls
12
,
14
,
16
and
18
Pluralities of strap units interconnect the roof
20
and the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
for securing the roof
20
in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
. Each of the strap units includes a buckle strap
24
and a tie strap
26
and a buckle
28
connected to the buckle strap
24
for connecting the straps
24
and
26
together.
The container assembly
10
is characterized by the buckles
28
being disposed on the interior of the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
and the roof
20
to prevent access thereto in the shipping position. Each buckle strap
24
extends to a fixed end
30
from the buckle
28
and the fixed end
30
is secured to the interior of one of the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
by a rivet
32
. Each of the tie straps
26
extends between a free end
34
and an attached end
36
attached to the roof
20
by rivets
38
. More specifically, the attached ends
36
of the tie straps
26
are attached by the rivets
38
to the flaps
23
of the roof
20
. The attached ends
36
of the tie straps
26
are sandwiched between the flaps
23
and the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
in the shipping position. (The rivets
32
and
38
may be identical but are given different reference numbers for clarity of description.)
The sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
include a plurality of strap holes
40
extending therethorough and each of the tie straps
26
extends from the attached end
36
thereof at one of the flaps
23
downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall
12
,
14
or
16
and into one of the holes
40
to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles
28
in the shipping position.
As alluded to above, the center panels
14
of one of the end sidewalls define doors
18
for access to the interior of the container. And in order to gain access to the container
10
, a plurality of door strap units
42
each include a buckle
44
disposed on the exterior of the doors
18
for maintaining the doors
18
in a closed position to close the compartment. The door strap units
42
also include a tie strap
26
attached to the interior of the flaps
23
of the roof
20
and which extend into holes
48
in the doors
18
and out holes
46
to engage a buckle
44
. The buckles
44
on the exterior of the doors
18
are attached to the free ends of buckle straps
50
.
The bottom
19
comprises two foldable panels
52
as best shown in FIG.
3
. The sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
include bottom flanges
54
as shown in
FIG. 6
upon which the bottom panels
52
rest. As with the edges of the doors
18
described above, the top surfaces of the bottom flanges
54
includes a strip
17
of hook or loop. The bottom surfaces of the bottom panels
52
also include a strip
17
of the corresponding hook or loop. When the bottom panels
52
rest upon the bottom flanges
54
the hook and loop mesh together to attach the panels
52
to the flanges
54
. The buckle straps for the doors
18
are attached to the bottom flanges
52
by rivets.
The invention also includes a method of using the collapsible shipping container by moving a plurality of sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
movable from a collapsed storage position (
FIG. 1
) sandwiched with one another to a shipping position (
FIG. 5
) extending upwardly from a bottom
19
to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
. This is followed by disposing a roof
20
separate from the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
interconnecting the roof
20
and the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
for securing the roof
20
in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
with a plurality of strap units, each of which includes a buckle strap
24
connected to a buckle
28
and a tie strap
26
. The method is characterized by disposing the buckles
28
on the interior of the sidewalls
12
,
14
and
16
and the roof
20
to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps
26
to the buckles
28
inside the compartment.
The method may include the step of securing
32
a fixed end
30
of each buckle strap
24
which is displaced from the buckle
28
to the interior of one of the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
and attaching
38
an attached end
36
of each of the tie straps
26
to the roof
20
.
Another step may be disposing each of the tie straps
26
downwardly from the roof
20
on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall
12
,
14
and
16
and through a hole
40
in the sidewall
12
,
14
and
16
to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles
28
. Yet another step may be disposing a door
18
in one of the sidewalls
12
,
14
, and
16
for access to the compartment, and disposing at least one door strap unit
42
having a buckle
44
on the exterior of the door
18
for maintaining the door
18
in a closed position to close the compartment.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.
Claims
- 1. A collapsible shipping container assembly comprising;a bottom (19), a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from said bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), a roof (20) separate from said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for overlying relationship with said top extremities of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) in said shipping position, a plurality of strap units interconnecting said roof (20) and said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for securing said roof (20) in said overlying relationship with said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), each of said units including a buckle strap (24) and a tie strap (26) and a buckle (28) connected to said buckle strap (24) for connecting said straps (24, 26) together, said assembly characterized by said buckles (28) being disposed on the interior of said walls (12, 14 and 16) and said roof (20) to prevent access thereto in said shipping position.
- 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said buckle strap (24) extends to a fixed end (30) from said buckle (28) and said fixed end (30) is secured (32) to the interior of one of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16).
- 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) include at least one door (18) for access to said compartment, at least one door strap unit (42) including a buckle (44) disposed on the exterior of said door (18) for maintaining said door (18) in a closed position to close said compartment.
- 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said tie straps (26) extend between a free end (34) and an attached end (36) attached (38) to said roof (20).
- 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said roof (20) includes flaps (23) extending downwardly along the exterior of said top extremities of said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and said attached ends (36) of said tie straps (26) are attached to said flaps (23).
- 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) include a plurality of strap holes (40) extending therethrough and each of said tie straps (26) extends from said attached end (36) thereof at one of the flaps (23) downwardly on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall and into one of said holes (40) to the interior of said compartment and into engagement with one of said buckles (28) in said shipping position.
- 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said attached ends (36) of said tie straps (26) are sandwiched between said flaps (23) and said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) in said shipping position.
- 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) define low side panels (12) and high ends with said ends having high center panels (14) and tapered panels (16) extending therefrom in opposite directions downwardly to said low side panels (12), said roof (20) includes a horizontal panel (21) overlying said center panel (14) and slanting panels (22) overlying said tapered panels (16).
- 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said door (18) is disposed in one of said center panels (14).
- 10. A method of using a collapsible shipping container assembly comprising the steps of;moving a plurality of sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) movable from a collapsed storage position sandwiched with one another to a shipping position extending upwardly from a bottom (19) to top extremities to define a closed compartment on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), disposing a roof 20 separate from the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) in overlying relationship with the top extremities of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16), interconnecting the roof (20) and the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) for securing the roof (20) in the overlying relationship with the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) with a plurality of strap units each of which includes a buckle strap (24) connected to a buckle (28) and a tie strap (26), said method characterized by disposing the buckles (28) on the interior of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) and the roof (20) to prevent access thereto and connecting the tie straps (26) to the buckles (28) on the inside of the compartment.
- 11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including securing (32) a fixed end (30) of each buckle strap (24) which is displaced from the buckle (28) to the interior of one of the sidewalls (12, 14, and 16) and attaching (38) an attached end (36) of each of the tie straps (26) to the roof (20).
- 12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including disposing each of the tie straps (26) downwardly from the roof (20) on the exterior of the adjacent sidewall and through a hole (40) in the sidewall to the interior of the compartment and into engagement with one of the buckles (28).
- 13. A method as set forth in claim 12 disposing a door (18) in one of the sidewalls (12, 14 and 16) for access to the compartment, and disposing at least one door strap unit (42) having a buckle (44) on the exterior of the door (18) for maintaining the door (18) in a closed position to close the compartment.
US Referenced Citations (22)