Multi-purpose container

• US 5,265,748 A
• Filed: 02/06/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shigenobu Furukawa
• Original Assignee: Shigenobu Furukawa
• Inventors: Furukawa, Shigenobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US07/830,752
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 220/1.5, 220/692, 410/4, 410/6, 410/29, 410/29.1
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6867 automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0016 Lashings means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/126 by rigid element, e.g. lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/528 all side walls detached from each other to collapse the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0013 Twist lock
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0026 Corner fittings characterised by shape, configuration or number of openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/008 Doors for containers, e.g. ISO-containers locking E05B83/12
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0294 Vehicle bodies

Abstract

A multi-purpose container which is constructed by easily assemblying standing main frame members, a bottom frame member, standing side frame members and a roof frame member. The multi-purpose container is easily disassembled, to small size, for recovery. The multi-purpose container further includes door members attached to the side frame members to thereby load and unload a variety of cargo.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose container for holding cargo to be shipped, and being capable of being assembled into a cubic form or disassembled into a piled or stacked form, said container comprising:

a bottom frame member, side frame members, and a roof frame member which each have short edge portions at their longitudinal end portions and connection projections at said short edge portions, said connection projections defining first rectangular sleeve-like structures of said container when said bottom, said side and said roof frame members are assembled together;

main frame members for assembling with said bottom side, and roof frame members to provide longitudinal ends for said container, said main frame members each having a rectangular frame from which extends a second rectangular sleeve-like structure adapted to receive one of said first rectangular sleeve-like structures, and corner fittings mounted at each corner of said rectangular frame, said bottom frame member, said side frame members and said roof frame member each having first holes which associate with holes in another of said bottom, side and roof frame members, and having first holes in their connection projections which associate with holes in said second sleeve-like structures of said main frame members;

first screw wedges housed in one of said first holes of said bottom, sides, roof, and main frame members and movable to fit into an associated hole by first screw bolts to assemble said members together;

first back-stop screw bolts insertable in holes from an opposite side of said container to engage innermost portions of said first screw wedges;

said side frame members having openings therein which form inner flanges, said openings each having a height less than the height of said side frame members and being defined in said side members such that portions of said side members extend upwardly from upper edges of said openings and other portions of said side members extend downwardly from lower edges of said openings;

openable door members attached to said side frame members to cover said openings, said door members having holes therein which are associated with second holes in said side members;

second screw wedges housed in one of said associated holes of said door members and in said side members and movable to fit into an associated hole by second screws bolts; and

second back-stop screw bolts for insertion in said associated door hole and side member holes from an opposite side of said container to engage with innermost portions of said second screw wedges;

whereby when said members are assembled by said first and second screw wedges, screw bolts and back-stop screw bolts, said main frame members assure that said container has sufficient strength in the width direction, and said rectangular frames of said main frame members and said bottom frame member, said side frame member and said roof frame member and said screw wedges, screw bolts and said back-stop screw bolts assure that said container has sufficient strength in the longitudinal direction to satisfy a predetermined standard strength.

2. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said roof frame member comprises a square edge member and a detachable cover attached to said edge member to cover a top opening of said edge member.

3. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said openings are shaped as eight cornered polygons.

4. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said inner flange is fixed along an edge portion of said opening and has an arc-shaped projection formed along an edge portion of said inner flange.

5. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inner flange and said side frame member form a step, said door member being housed in said step and connected to said side frame member so as to open in an outward direction.

6. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holes are provided with a sealing member.

7. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said connecting projection of each member further comprises a step.

8. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 7, wherein said step is provided with a sealing member.

9. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein connecting portions of said bottom frame member connect with said side frame members and have a guiding projection for uniting with a locating member on said side frame members, and wherein connecting portions of said side frame members connect with said roof frame member and have guiding projection for uniting with a locating member on said roof frame member.

10. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom frame member has upward projections formed along longitudinal edges of said bottom frame member and fixing members for lashing fixed to predetermined positions of said upward projections.

11. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 1, comprising holding members for holding said frame members in said piled form, said holding members being fixed to corner metal fittings provided at a top portion of said main frame members, said holding members being capable of being connected to one another, said holding members comprising a holding member detachably-connected to said corner metal fittings of said main frame member, and connecting members for connecting two of said holding members, said connecting members being attached to one of said holding members and capable of being housed therein.

12. A multi-purpose container as set forth in claim 11, wherein said holding members are attached to said main frame member to suit the top surface of said roof frame member.