Collapsible container with integrally supported
DCFirst Claim
1. A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse, comprising:
- a body having a bottom and at least two side walls coupled to the bottom, the side walls configured for being movable between an erected position for containing a product placed in the container and a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return;
a dunnage structure positioned generally inside of the body, the dunnage structure having an upper edge with a longitudinal axis spanning between said side walls and supported by the side walls, the upper edge forming an opening for receiving a product placed in the container for shipment when the side walls are in an erected position;
the upper edge of the dunnage structure operable for flexing transversely to said longitudinal axis to relax the dunnage structure when the side walls are moved to a collapsed position such that the relaxed dunnage structure is generally positioned in the reduced size container for return;
whereby the container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped.
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Abstract
A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprises a body configured for being manipulated into an erected position for containing a product placed therein during shipment and for subsequently being manipulated into a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return. An integrated dunnage structure is coupled to the body and is operable for moving into an engagement position when the container body is erected to thereby engage a product placed in the container for shipment. The dunnage structure is further operable for moving into a relaxed position when the container body is collapsed so that the container and dunnage structure may be returned together for reuse. The container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped. In a preferred embodiment, pliable dunnage pouches are suspended in the container and collapse when the container is collapsed.
130 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse, comprising:
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a body having a bottom and at least two side walls coupled to the bottom, the side walls configured for being movable between an erected position for containing a product placed in the container and a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return; a dunnage structure positioned generally inside of the body, the dunnage structure having an upper edge with a longitudinal axis spanning between said side walls and supported by the side walls, the upper edge forming an opening for receiving a product placed in the container for shipment when the side walls are in an erected position; the upper edge of the dunnage structure operable for flexing transversely to said longitudinal axis to relax the dunnage structure when the side walls are moved to a collapsed position such that the relaxed dunnage structure is generally positioned in the reduced size container for return; whereby the container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 30)
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17. A reusable and returnable container for holding product therein during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprising:
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a body configured for being manipulated into an erected position for containing a product placed therein during shipment and for subsequently being manipulated into a collapsed position for reducing the size of the container for return; a dunnage structure coupled to the body and having an upper edge with a longitudinal axis spanning across the body, the dunnage structure operable for moving into an engagement position when the container body is erected to thereby receive a product placed in the container for shipment the dunnage structure further operable for flexing transversely to said longitudinal axis at the upper edge thereof and moving into a relaxed position when the container body is collapsed so that the container and dunnage structure may be returned together for reuse; whereby the container provides reusable dunnage which is usable with the container when it is shipped and subsequently remains with the container when it is returned for being reused when the container is again shipped. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification