Storage container and corner post thereof

• US 20080179319A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flex Box Limited
• Original Assignee: Flex Box Limited
• Inventors: Wong, Daniel, Nielsen, Ole Henrik
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0006 Coupling devices between containers, e.g. ISO-containers coupling devices between containers and vehicles B60P7/13

Abstract

A storage container is provided, having a first container and a second container. Each of the first and second containers includes top and bottom front rails, first and second front corner posts, and first and second side panels. In each of the first and second containers, the top and the bottom front rails and the first and second front corner posts are disposed at a front end thereof to define an opening into the interior thereof. The front end of the first container and the front end of the second container face each other. The first and second side panels of the first container are spaced to define a first interior width therebetween. The first and second front corner posts of the first container are spaced to define a second interior width therebetween. The first and second interior widths of the first container are substantially equal to each other.

Claims

1. A storage container comprising:

a first container including a top front rail, a bottom front rail, a first front corner post, a second front corner post, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the top front rail, the bottom front rail, the first front corner post and the second front corner post of the first container being disposed at a front end of the first container to define an opening into the interior of the first container; and

a second container including a top front rail, a bottom front rail, a first front corner post, a second front corner post, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the top front rail, the bottom front rail, the first front corner post and the second front corner post of the second container being disposed at a front end of the second container to define an opening into the interior of the second container,

wherein the front end of the first container and the front end of the second container face each other;

wherein the first and second side panels of the first container are spaced to define a first interior width therebetween;

wherein the first and second front corner posts of the first container are spaced to define a second interior width therebetween; and

wherein the first and second interior widths of the first container are substantially equal to each other.

2. The storage container of claim 1,

wherein the first and second side panels of the second container are spaced to define a first interior width therebetween;

wherein the first and second front corner posts of the second container are spaced to define a second interior width therebetween; and

wherein the first and second interior widths of the second container are substantially equal to each other.

3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the first and second interior widths of the first container and the first and second interior widths of the second container are substantially equal to one another.

4. The storage container of claim 1,

wherein at least one front corner post of the first and second front corner posts of the first container comprises a base, a first leg and a second leg to form a U-shaped portion and further comprises an end connecting portion extending from the first leg and parallel to the base.

5. The storage container of claim 4, wherein a surface of the end connecting portion contacts an end portion of the corresponding side panel.

6. The storage container of claim 4,

wherein the at least one front corner post further comprises a return end portion extending from the second leg and parallel to the base.

7. The storage container of claim 6,

wherein the return end portion has a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is attached to the second leg and the return end portion is longer than any remaining portion of the at least one front corner post that extends from the second end.

8. The storage container of claim 1,

wherein the first container further includes a first front panel disposed between the first and second front corner posts of the first container.

9. The storage container of claim 8,

wherein the second container further includes a second front panel disposed between the first and second front corner posts of the second container.

10. The storage container of claim 1, further comprising a joining apparatus disposed between the front end of the first container and the front end of the second container, the joining apparatus engaging the first and second front corner posts of the first container and the first and second front corner posts of the second container to define an inner volume of the storage container.