US3706392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Baggage and cargo container door mechanism
Assignee: AAR Corp
•
Filing: 1971-10-26
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Granted: 1972-12-19
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Expires: 1991-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A door mechanism which forms an openable side of a cargo container. The door consists of upper and lower sections joined by a horizontal hinge. The doors are supported by means of brackets at the upper corners of the upper door sections which carry rollers running in tracks extending along the top of the container ends. Pins projecting from the lower edge of the lower door section engage suitable recesses in the container base when the doors are closed and a latch mechanism is provided for holding the door securely in its closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter F Sprick
- 👤 Frank C Morse
- 👤 Alexander Holzer
- 👤 Oscar W Meller
- 👤 John W Lovich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/008; B65D88/00; B65D88/02; B65D88/12; B65D88/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A door assembly for a container having a top panel, a base panel, and a pair of end panels connecting the top and base panels along opposite edges, comprising: a door panel on at least one side of the container; a pair of guide rails, one rail extending horizontally along the upper edge of each end panel; a pair of guide rollers, one roller being associated with and running on each guide rail; and a pair of brackets, one bracket being secured to each of the upper corners of the door panel, extending perpendicular to the plane of the door panel, and journaling one of the guide rollers for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the door panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A door assembly for a container having a top panel, a base panel, and a pair of end panels connecting the top and base panels along opposite edges, comprising: a door panel on at least one side of the container; a pair of guide rails, one rail extending horizontally along the upper edge of each end panel; a pair of guide rollers, one roller being associated with and running on each guide rail; and a pair of brackets, one bracket being secured to each of the upper corners of the door panel, extending perpendicular to the plane of the door panel, and journaling one of the guide rollers for rotation about a horizontal axis parallel to the plane of the door panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein the door panel is comprised of upper and lower sections and a horizontally extending hinge connecting the upper and lower sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The door assembly according to claim 2 wherein the hinge permits the lower section to pivot relative to the upper section through only an angle of less than 45* toward the container and an angle of approximately 180* away from the container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The door assembly according to claim 1 further including means to secure the lower end of the door panel to the base panel when the door panel is in its closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The door assembly according to claim 1 further including latch means to secure the door in its closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The door assembly according to claim 1 wherein each guide rail is of channel-like configuration having its open side directed away from the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
A container door assembly for a container having top, bottom, and end walls and at least one open side, comprising: a door panel which, when in closed position, covers the open side of the container; latching means for securing the door panel in closed position; and a guide mechanism for the door panel to direct the panel between its closed position and an open position in which the panel is positioned above and substantially parallel to the top of the container, the mechanism comprising a pair of channel-like tracks, the tracks being located at opposite edges of the top wall of the container and extending perpendicular to the plane of the open side, a guide roller associated with each track and running in the channel thereof, and a bracket journaling each roller for rotation about an axis parallel to the planes of the opening and the top wall, the brackets being secured to the respective upper corners of the panel and extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A container door assembly for a container having top, bottom, and end walls and at least one open side, comprising: a door panel which, when in closed position, covers the open side of the container; latching means for securing the door panel in closed position; and a guide mechanism for the door panel to direct the panel between its closed position and an open position in which the panel is positioned above and substantially parallel to the top of the container, the mechanism comprising a pair of channel-like tracks, the tracks being located at opposite edges of the top wall of the container and extending perpendicular to the plane of the open side, a guide roller associated with each track and running in the channel thereof, and a bracket journaling each roller for rotation about an axis parallel to the planes of the opening and the top wall, the brackets being secured to the respective upper corners of the panel and extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The container door assembly according to claim 7 wherein the door panel is comprised of upper and lower panel sections and hinge means connecting the upper and lower sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The container door assembly according to claim 8 wherein the latching means comprises at least one pin projecting downwardly from the lower edge of the lower panel section, the bottom wall of the container having a recess for receiving the pin, a first latching member mounted on the door panel, and a second latching member mounted on the container, the first and second latching members co-operating to releasably secure the door panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The container door assembly according to claim 9 further including clip means carried by the upper panel section for engaging the pin to retain the lower panel section in folded relation to the upper panel section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The container door assembly according to claim 7 wherein each track comprises a rail connecting the top wall to the respective side wall of the container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container door assembly according to claim 11 wherein the roller receiving portion of each track is of generally rectangular cross section having a slot extending along the outer side edge of the track.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The container door assembly according to claim 12 wherein each guide roller is a cylindrical roller of lesser diameter and width than the heighth and width, respectively, of the channel, the edges of the roller being rounded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The container door assembly according to claim 13 wherein the radius of the roller edge adjacent the outer side of the channel is smaller than the radius of the opposite edge of the roller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The container door assembly according to claim 11 wherein the channel portion of each track is offset inwardly from the plane of the corresponding end wall of the container.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The container door assembly according to claim 7 further including a stop within each track for limiting inward movement of the rollers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The container door assembly according to claim 16 further including means adjacent each stop for releasably engaging the roller to hold the door panel in its fully open position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2569254A
Cited
US3672529A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-19 | 1976-06-19 | 1976-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-19 | 1980-06-19 | 1980-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-19 | 1984-06-19 | 1984-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |