US3791528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enclosure structure for modular system
Assignee: American Sterilizer Co
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Filing: 1972-08-07
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-08-07
Abstract
Abstract Unitary construction easy-access enclosure for handling, storing, transporting, and distributing articles throughout a modular system with self-seating and stabilizing interconnecting means for suspending the enclosure on an upright support, means for supporting the enclosure horizontally, and means for interlocked stable stacking of such enclosures. Means for dividing the enclosure internally and retaining carried articles, and dust cover means, are removably positioned by structural elements of the unitary-construction enclosures.
Inventors
- 👤 T Brendgord
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:44
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B87/00; A47B87/02; A47B87/0207; A47B87/0261; A47B87/0269; B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/161; B65D2543/00; B65D2543/00009; B65D2543/00018; B65D2543/00064; B65D2543/0012; B65D2543/00175; B65D2543/00194; B65D2543/00444; B65D2543/00481; B65D2543/0049; B65D2543/00527; B65D2543/00537
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Container module of unitary construction comprising bottom wall means, rear wall means, and side wall means, the bottom, rear, and side wall means defining a generally rectilinear configuration enclosure with full-open access across upper and front portions of the defined enclosure, the bottom, rear, and side wall means each having an external surface and an internal surface relative to the defined enclosure, the bottom wall means including means on its external surface for supporting the container module on a flat surface with sidewall means substantially vertical, the rear wall means including interconnecting means on its external surface for cantilever suspension of the container module on a vertically-oriented support means with sidewall means of the enclosure substantially vertical when the defined enclosure is in its upright position, the interconnecting means projecting rearwardly from the external surface of the rear wall means, and including elongated hanger means and stabilizing means predeterminedly positioned on the rear wall means with the elongated hanger means being horizontally-oriented at a location spaced vertically from the stabilizing means, such location for the hanger means being spaced upwardly from the stabilizing means when the container module is in its upright position, the elongated hanger means including a downwardly depending flange means spaced from the external surface of the rear wall means by a downwardly facing load support surface, the external sUrfaces of the rear and side wall means defining planes having a substantially right angled relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Container module of unitary construction comprising bottom wall means, rear wall means, and side wall means, the bottom, rear, and side wall means defining a generally rectilinear configuration enclosure with full-open access across upper and front portions of the defined enclosure, the bottom, rear, and side wall means each having an external surface and an internal surface relative to the defined enclosure, the bottom wall means including means on its external surface for supporting the container module on a flat surface with sidewall means substantially vertical, the rear wall means including interconnecting means on its external surface for cantilever suspension of the container module on a vertically-oriented support means with sidewall means of the enclosure substantially vertical when the defined enclosure is in its upright position, the interconnecting means projecting rearwardly from the external surface of the rear wall means, and including elongated hanger means and stabilizing means predeterminedly positioned on the rear wall means with the elongated hanger means being horizontally-oriented at a location spaced vertically from the stabilizing means, such location for the hanger means being spaced upwardly from the stabilizing means when the container module is in its upright position, the elongated hanger means including a downwardly depending flange means spaced from the external surface of the rear wall means by a downwardly facing load support surface, the external sUrfaces of the rear and side wall means defining planes having a substantially right angled relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the internal surface of the bottom wall means is substantially planar and is inclined downwardly over a major portion of its area in extending from a location contiguous to its front edge to the rear wall means, such inclined downwardly disposition for the internal surface of the bottom wall means existing when the container module is disposed on a horizontal surface and when suspended on vertical support means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The container module of claim 2 in which the angle of inclination of such internal surface with a horizontal plane is approximately 2 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the means on the external surface of the bottom wall means for supporting the container module on a flat surface comprises reinforcing leg means extending in a direction parallel to the side wall means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The container module of claim 4 in which the reinforcing leg means are located inwardly of corner junctures between the side wall means and bottom wall means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container module of claim 5 further including recessed handgrip means located contiguous to corner junctures between the side wall means and bottom wall means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the bottom wall means includes downwardly depending flange means at its front edge defining a substantially planar, vertically-oriented, surface extending between the side wall means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the elongated hanger means is a continuous hanger bar of predetermined length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the elongated hanger means is a continuous hanger bar of predetermined length, and the stabilizing means comprises a pair of projections predeterminedly spaced horizontally from each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The container module of claim 9 in which the pair of projections are spaced horizontally a distance greater than the horizontal length of the elongated hanger means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the location of the hanger means is vertically above a horizontal centerline of the rear wall means and the elongated hanger means is symmetrical with relation to a vertical centerline of the rear wall means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the stabilizing means are located vertically below a horizontal centerline of the rear wall means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the stabilizing means comprises a pair of projections predeterminedly spaced horizontally from each other and, each of the pair of stabilizing projections include a confronting face defining a substantially planar vertically oriented surface, such confronting face surfaces diverging with respect to each other in extending outwardly from the external surface of the rear wall means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The container module of claim 10 including a pair of vertically oriented rib means on the rear wall means interconnecting the elongated hanger means and the pair of stabilizing projections and defining therebetween coplanar external surfaces lying in a substantially vertical plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The container module of claim 1 in which the external surfaces of the rear wall and side wall means include a chamfered surface contiguous to upper peripheral edges of such wall means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The container module of claim 7 in which the side wall means include flange means defining inwardly directed substantially planar vertically oriented surfaces, such surfaces being coplanar with the substantially planar vertically oriented surface defined by the downwardly depending flange means at the front edge of the bottom wall means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The container module of claim 16 in which the side wall flange means define slot means opening upwardly and located at upper peripheral edges of the side wall flange means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The container module of claiM 17 in which downwardly depending projections are defined contiguous to corner junctions of the side wall flange means and the bottom wall flange means, such downwardly directed projections coacting with the upwardly opening slot means at the upper end of the side wall flange means when two container modules are placed in stacked relationship.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The container module of claim 9 in which base portions of the pair of stabilizing projections on the rear wall means of the container module define downwardly opening slot means for coacting with upper edge means of another container module when two container modules are placed in stacked relationship.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
The container module of claim 19 in which the support post means at the front of the defined enclosure are located on the internal surfaces of the side wall means adjacent to the flange means of the side wall means and spaced from such flange means in the direction of the rear wall means to define therebetween vertically oriented slot means for holding retaining wall means extending across the front access of the enclosure between the side wall means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
117 words
The container module of claim 9 in combination with vertically oriented support rail means having a channel configuration in horizontal cross section and defining a substantially planar frontal surface extending between rearwardly projecting lateral side walls, the frontal surface of the vertically oriented support rail means defining a plurality of horizontally-oriented elongated slots which are predeterminedly spaced vertically along the frontal surface and vertically aligned, the predetermined length of the elongated hanger bar means of the container module at a location contiguous to the external surface of the rear wall means is selected to be substantially equal to the horizontal length of the horizontally-oriented elongated slots defined by the frontal surface of the vertically-oriented support rail means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
The container module of claim 21 in which the horizontal distance between the pair of spaced stabilizing projections measured at a location contiguous to the external surface of the rear wall means is selected to be substantially equal to the horizontal distance between external surfaces of the lateral side walls of the vertically-oriented support rail means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |