Collapsible container with integrally supported dunnage

• US 6,230,916 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bradford Company
• Original Assignee: Bradford Company
• Inventors: Zink, Robert M., Bradford, Judson A.
• Primary Examiner(s): POLLARD, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/532,580
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 220/6, 220/532, 220/533, 220/544, 206/521, 206/521.7, 206/521.8, 206/521.9, 206/583
• US Class Current: 220/6
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/225 Collapsible boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/1826 and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/1833 whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel B65D11/186 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/184 and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/18 made wholly or mainly of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/44 Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/06 adapted to be fitted in two or more alternative positions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/10 Devices to locate articles in containers for protecting articles from mechanical damage B65D81/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00019 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00159 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00174 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00243 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00497 : whereby at least one side wall is made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00502 : whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00572 : with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00631 : sidewalls not connected to each other, e.g. spaced apart frames
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00661 : side walls maintained connected to pallet by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0082 : in the side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0089 : comprising two side walls hinged along the sides of a base panel and to an upper frame and two other side walls being hinged only to the upper frame
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00895 : and one or more side walls being foldable along a median line
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/02 : specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/05 : maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents B65D81/022, B65D81/025, B65D81/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/07 : using resilient suspension means B65D81/051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 : Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

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.

Claims

1. A reusable and returnable rack container for supporting a product thereon during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprising:

a frame having a top member, a bottom member and a plurality of legs extending therebetween, the legs configured for being movable between an erected position for spacing the top member above the bottom member to support a product placed on the rack and a collapsed position for collapsing and reducing the size of the rack container for return;

the legs being hinged along their respective lengths for being folded into the collapsed position;

a dunnage structure supported by the frame for receiving a product placed on the rack for shipment when the legs are in an erected position;

the dunnage structure operable for relaxing when the legs are in a collapsed position such that the dunnage structure is generally positioned on the reduced size rack structure for return;

the dunnage structure movably coupled to the frame and operable for being moved with respect to said erected frame to vary the position of the dunnage structure and the received product within the container;

whereby the rack 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.

2. The rack container of claim 1 further comprising a support structure coupled to the top member to span across the frame when the legs are in an erected position and support the dunnage structure.

3. The rack container of claim 2 wherein the dunnage structure is suspended from the support structure to hang down from the frame when the legs are in an erected position.

4. The rack container of claim 1 wherein the legs extend generally vertically between the top and bottom members, to space the top member above the bottom member.

5. The rack container of claim 1 wherein the dunnage structure is a pouch for holding the product.

6. The rack container of claim 5 wherein the pouch is pliable to relax when the legs are collapsed to fit within the reduced size rack.

7. The rack container of claim 1 further comprising a rail element coupled to the frame, the dunnage structure being coupled to the rail element.

8. The rack container of claim 7 wherein said dunnage structure is movably coupled to said rail element.

9. A reusable and returnable rack container for supporting a product thereon during shipment and subsequently being returned generally empty of product for reuse comprising:

a frame having a top member, a bottom member and a plurality of legs extending therebetween, the legs configured for being movable between an erected position for spacing the top member above the bottom member to support a product placed on the rack and a collapsed position for collapsing and reducing the size of the rack container for return;

the legs comprising telescoping sections operable to telescope the length of the leg between the erected and collapsed positions;

a dunnage structure supported by the frame for receiving a product placed on the rack for shipment when the legs are in an erected position;

the dunnage structure operable for relaxing when the legs are in a collapsed position such that the dunnage structure is generally positioned on the reduced size rack structure for return;

the dunnage structure movably coupled to the frame and operable for being moved with respect to said erected frame to vary the position of the dunnage structure and the received product within the container;

whereby the rack 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.

10. The rack container of claim 9 further comprising a support structure coupled to the top member to span across the frame when the legs are in an erected position and support the dunnage structure.

11. The rack container of claim 10 wherein the dunnage structure is suspended from the support structure to hang down from the frame when the legs are in an erected position.

12. The rack container of claim 9 wherein the legs extend generally vertically between the top and bottom members, to space the top member above the bottom member.

13. The rack container of claim 9 wherein the dunnage structure is a pouch for holding the product.

14. The rack container of claim 13 wherein the pouch is pliable to relax when the legs are collapsed to fit within the reduced size rack.

15. The rack container of claim 9 further comprising a rail element coupled to the frame, the dunnage structure being coupled to the rail element.

16. The rack container of claim 15 wherein said dunnage structure is movably coupled to said rail element.