Lightweight stackable horizontal dispensing container with braces

• US 7,644,830 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradford Company
• Original Assignee: Bradford Company
• Inventors: Vroon, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grosso; Harry A
• Application Number:
  US12/048,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20080156797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 220/1.5, 220/4.28, 220/4.33, 220/23.8, 220/503, 220/504, 220/528, 211/184, 410/43, 312/244
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/18 made wholly or mainly of plastics material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00129 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00174 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00208 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of 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 2519/00452 on the walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00502 whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00532 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00592 by means of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00711 removable lid or covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0082 in the side wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00965 when loaded
• 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

Abstract

A lightweight horizontal dispensing container comprises a pallet base, a pallet cover and a three sided sleeve extending between the pallet base and the pallet cover. The container may be stacked on top of similar pallet covers or below similar pallet bases. A rectangular frame is secured to opposed walls and defines an opening on a fourth side of the container. Dunnage is located inside the container to provide horizontal access to parts inside the container. This container enables a horizontal dispensing container to be stacked above or below conventional pallet loads.

Claims

1. A horizontal dispensing container comprising:

a pallet base;

two opposed side walls and a rear wall extending upwardly from the pallet base, each of the walls of the container being made at least partially of corrugated plastic, the corrugations extending vertically and defining a plurality of flutes;

a central brace and a rear brace each extending between opposed side walls of the container;

fasteners extending through the flutes for securing the braces to the pallet base;

a rectangular frame secured to said opposed side walls such that the rectangular frame defines an opening on a fourth side of the container, wherein said rear brace and said rectangular frame each have notches therein for supporting dunnage inside the container.

2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a removable pallet cover.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one of the walls is made of multiple pieces of material joined together.

4. The container of claim 1 further comprising dunnage inside the interior of the container.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the dunnage is flexible.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the fasteners extend through portions of the walls.

7. The container of claim 4 wherein the dunnage is supported by bars, said bars being supported by cables engaged with said notches.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the bars pass through openings in the dunnage.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the rear brace has a channel therein.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the rectangular frame has a channel therein.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the notches are located on a wall of the channel in both the rear brace and the rectangular frame.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the braces are metal.

13. A horizontal dispensing container comprising:

a pallet base;

two opposed side walls and a rear wall extending upwardly from the pallet base, each of the walls of the container being at least partially made of corrugated plastic, the corrugations extending vertically and defining a plurality of flutes;

a rear brace extending between opposed side walls of the container;

fasteners extending through the flutes for securing the pallet base to the rear brace;

a rectangular frame secured to opposed sides of the sleeve such that the rectangular frame defines an opening on a fourth side of the horizontal dispensing container, wherein said rear brace and said rectangular frame each have notches therein used to support dunnage inside the container.

14. The container of claim 13 further comprising a removable pallet cover.

15. The container of claim 13 further comprising a central brace extending between opposed side walls of the container, additional fasteners extending through at least portions of the side walls and securing the pallet base to the central brace.

16. The container of claim 13 further comprising dunnage inside the interior of the container.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the dunnage is supported by bars, said bars being supported by cables engaged with said notches.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the bars pass through openings in the dunnage.

19. The container of claim 13 wherein the rear brace and the rectangular frame each has a channel therein, said notches being on a side wall of the channel.

20. A horizontal dispensing container comprising:

a pallet base;

two opposed side walls and a rear wall, at least a portion of each of the walls of the container being made of corrugated plastic, the corrugations extending vertically and defining a plurality of flutes;

a rear brace engaging the rear wall of the container;

fasteners extending through the flutes of the rear wall, the pallet base and the rear brace for securing the pallet base to the rear brace;

a rectangular frame secured to opposed sides of the sleeve such that the rectangular frame defines an opening on a fourth side of the horizontal dispensing container, wherein said rear brace and said rectangular frame are adapted to support dunnage inside the container.

21. The container of claim 20 further comprising a removable pallet cover.

22. The container of claim 20 further comprising a central brace extending between opposed side walls of the container, additional fasteners extending through at least portions of the side walls and securing the pallet base to the central brace.

23. The container of claim 20 further comprising bars suspended from the rear brace and the rectangular frame.

24. The container of claim 23 further comprising dunnage suspended by said bars inside the interior of the container.