Collapsible shipping container

• US 3,966,285 A
• Filed: 07/17/1974
• Issued: 06/29/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Don E. Porch, James E. Utz, Paul W. Manktelow
• Original Assignee: Don E. Porch, James E. Utz, Paul W. Manktelow
• Inventors: Porch, Don E., Utz, James E., Manktelow, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US05/489,446
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 312/257 R, 312/257 SK, 312/257 SM, 312/263, 312/257 A, 220/4 F, 220/84
• US Class Current: 312/265.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 7/24 collapsible, e.g. with all parts detachable

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a collapsible shipping container adapted for use in shipping various cargo on trucks or by rail or by means of aircraft or any other suitable transport means such as sea going vessels or the like. The container being provided with six side structures removably connected together so as to permit compact shipping of the containers in disassembled condition to reduce the bulk thereof so that they may be transported from one area to another returned to the point of origin for reuse. The containers being provided with disengageable fixture means for holding the respective panels together which fixture means is readily operable to disassemble the panel structures of the container so as to open the same for the placement of cargo therein or for the removal of cargo therefrom. The container being provided with fixture means on the inside thereof accessible from the inside only and with a locked door in one of the panels to provide authorized access to the removable fixtures on the inside of the container so as to permit disassembly thereof or opening the container to remove cargo therefrom. The structure of the container comprises tubular frame members having a pair of flanges disposed at substantially right angles to each other and socket portions in the ends of the tube members with prong structures connected to the corners of at least two of the panel structures such that the prongs may fit into open ends of the frame members of some of the panel structures to interlock the entire assembly when the removable fixture means is projected through the flanges of the frame members and fastened relative thereto.

Claims

1. A collapsible and reusable shipping container which, in total, is too large for manual handling;

said container comprising a box-like structure having corners, said box-like structure provided with a first pair of side structures;

a top; and

a bottom;

said container adapted to rest on any one of said side, top or bottom structures;

said side, top and bottom structures all having opposite edges;

elongated tubular frame members each having open opposite ends and disposed at all of said edges;

joint members disposed at said corners, and said frame members all intersecting said joint members at said corners;

each of said joint members having three prongs, each of said prongs disposed in one of said open ends of said hollow tubular frame members;

each hollow tubular frame member having a longitudinal axis and having a pair of flat elongated longitudinal flanges;

each pair of flanges being parallel with said longitudinal axis of a respective frame member;

each of said flanges extending laterally from each respective hollow tubular frame member;

the flanges of each of said pairs being spaced angularly apart;

each flange having a plurality of first disengageable fixture means spaced longitudinally thereof;

at least two of said sides, top or bottom structures having a panel member overlapping at least four of said flanges of four respective frame members; and

second disengageable means cooperative with each of said first disengageable means for removeably holding said panels fixed on respective frame members, each of said prongs readily slidably removed from each respective one of said open ends when respective disengageable means is disengaged;

said disengageable fixture means being accessable from the interior only of said box-like structure;

one of said panels having a locking door means, adapted to provide manual access to said disengageable fixture means;

all of said panels readily disconnectable from each other so that all of said panels may be separate for easy handling and shipping exchange replacement relative to each other;

said container being collapsible and having at least six panels removeably connected together;

fixture means removeably connecting said panels in an enclosing assembly;

all six of said panels readily disconnedctable from each other so that all of said panels may be separate for easy manual handling and shipping exchange replacement;

said fixtures accessible only from inside said container;

at least one of said panels having a locking door means to provide access to said removeable fixture means internally of said container.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said container is provided with at least six enclosing panels, a first pair of said panels having generally flat opposite sides and also having a pair of opposite edge structures provided with opposite ends;

each opposite end having a prong receiving socket therein;

a second pair of said panels having substantially flat opposite sides and also having four corners, each of said four corners provided with an elongated prong fitted into one of said sockets;

each of said prongs having a longitudinal axis projecting at substantially right angles to the respective panels;

each of said panels having surrounding edges;

a third pair of said panels;

at least four of said panels each having a pair of flanges;

said flanges overlapping adjacent surrounding edges of said third pair of panels and disengageable fixture means removeably connecting said flanges with said adjacent surrounding edges of said third pair of panels;

each of said prongs readily slidably removeable from each respective socket when respective disengageable fixture means is disengaged;

said fixture means being accessable only from the interior of said box-like structure;

one of said panels having a locking door means adapted to provide manual access to said fixture means;

all six of said panels readily manually disconnectable from each other so that all of said panels may be separate for easy handling and shipping exchange replacements relative to each other.