Door construction for folding container

• US 4,221,302 A
• Filed: 08/12/1977
• Issued: 09/09/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Container Systems, Inc. (UFP Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Container Systems, Inc. (UFP Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kupersmit, Julius B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US05/824,160
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 220/4 R, 220/4 F, 220/1.5, 220/345
• US Class Current: 220/4.31
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/12 Collapsible pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/20 made wholly or mainly of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00497 whereby at least one side wall is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00582 structures intended to be disassembled, i.e. collapsible or dismountable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00641 Structures intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00805 Means for facilitating the removal of the load
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

An improved door construction for collapsible reusable shipping containers and the like incorporating provision for maintaining the strength and integrity of the container against the hydraulic action of flowable contents when loaded. The container includes a plurality of interlocking flange elements capable of relative sliding movement in a vertical direction, but resisting movement in a horizontal plane.

Claims

1. In a collapsable shipping container construction having a relatively rigid pallet, a plurality of interconnected side walls secured to said pallet, there being an opening for loading and unloading in the plane of one of said side walls, and a slidably mounted door selectively closing said opening, the improvement comprising:

said container including first and second oppositely disposed side walls, and a third wall permanently interconnecting each of said first and second side walls, and disposed at a mutual right angle relative to each said wall;

said first and second side walls having first and second free edges, respectively, bordering said loading opening;

first and second elongated flange elements defining first channels therein fixedly secured to said first and second edges, respectively;

each of said first and second flange elements being of generally E-shaped cross-section and defining a pair of parallel axially disposed channels therein, one of said channels engaging one of said first and second free edges, the other of said channels having an axially extending opening facing the interior of said container;

said door extending substantially over the entire area of one side of said container, and having third and fourth free side edges overlying said first and second edges;

third and fourth flange elements fixedly secured to said third and fourth edges, respectively, of said door, said third and fourth flange elements each defining an elongated U-shaped flange slidably engaged within one of the other of said channels in said first and second flange elements, whereby outward movement of said door relative to said container is prevented;

said first and second flange elements each having a planar outwardly disposed surface slidably engaging a corresponding inwardly disposed surface on one of said third and fourth flange elements for preventing inward movement of said door relative to said container, and providing a substantial bearing surface for guiding sliding movement.