US3840135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible container carrier system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-03
•
Granted: 1974-10-08
•
Expires: 1992-01-03
Abstract
Abstract Lightweight container for articles of lading, collapsible when unloaded for return to point of shipment. The container has a grill-like metal base, end walls pivoted to opposite ends of the base at different levels to be folded one on top of the other, and removable side walls carried on posts detachably connected to the base and lifted from the top by a harness and lift truck. The posts transfer the lifting loads to the base free from the side walls of the container. The side and end walls are in the form of an open framework having cords interlaced thereacross under tension. Plastic panels may be mounted inside of the cords where it may be necessary to protect the contacts of the container from pilferage. A top cover which may be plastic may also be sealed to the container. As alternative forms of the invention, the cover may be hinged to the two side walls. One side wall may then be folded over the top to accommodate loading from the side, or the side wall and cover may be raised to accommodate entry into the container for loading. In these forms of the invention, locking and sealing of the container is through the means locking the posts to the base.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bridge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:48
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D88/00; B65D88/52; B65D88/522
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
In a container for articles of lading and in combination with a lift truck having lift forks, a flat rectangular base, collapsible parallel side and end walls extending upwardly of said base, a plurality of locating members spaced along each side of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, load transferring members extending vertically along said side walls and centered on said locating members, releasable locking means locking said load transferring members to said locating members, a lifting member adapted to be lifted by the forks of the lift truck, and means detachably connecting said lifting member to the upper ends of said load transferring members, for lifting the carrier and transferring the lifting loads to said base upon vertical lifting movement of said lifting member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a container for articles of lading and in combination with a lift truck having lift forks, a flat rectangular base, collapsible parallel side and end walls extending upwardly of said base, a plurality of locating members spaced along each side of said base and extending upwardly therefrom, load transferring members extending vertically along said side walls and centered on said locating members, releasable locking means locking said load transferring members to said locating members, a lifting member adapted to be lifted by the forks of the lift truck, and means detachably connecting said lifting member to the upper ends of said load transferring members, for lifting the carrier and transferring the lifting loads to said base upon vertical lifting movement of said lifting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The carrier of claim 1, wherein the load transferring members are posts, forming the supports for said side walls.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The carrier of claim 2, including other locating members mounted on the upper ends of said posts, downwardly opening sockets on said lifting member engaging said other locating members, and locking members on said lifting member having releasable locking engagement with said other locAting members to effect the picking up of the container from the top and the transferring of the lifting loads to said base upon upward lifting movement of the forks of the lift truck.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The container of claim 3, wherein the lifting member is in the general form of an open rectangular harness having downwardly opening sockets in the bottom thereof for registry with said other locating members, and having parallel spaced fork openings extending transversely thereof for receiving the forks of a fork lift truck, and wherein the locking members are moved into locking engagement with said other locating members upon inward movement of the lift truck and forks along said fork openings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The container of claim 4, including springs biasing said locking members out of engagement with said other locating members, and a common member actuated by the fork lift truck upon movement of the lift truck toward said harness and container, for lockingly engaging said locking members with said other locating members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
The container of claim 4, wherein the locking members are in the form of parallel locking pins on the inside and the outside of said harness, parallel spaced inner and outer locking bars extending longitudinally of said harness, each carrying a pair of said parallel spaced locking pins, a connecting bar extending transversely of said harness and connecting said locking bars for movement together, means slidably supporting and guiding said connecting bar for movement transversely of said harness, the outer of said locking bars, being on the outside of said harness and spaced from the outer wall thereof a distance sufficient to accommodate locking engagement of said pins with said locating members, upon abutting engagement of the lift fork therewith, as the forks extend inwardly along said fork openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The container of claim 6, including springs seated on said harness adjacent the inner locking bar, and seated on said inner locking bar to bias said locking pins out of engagement with said locating members.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
207 words
A system of handling small articles of lading comprising the steps of providing a series of collapsible containers, a lift harness for the containers, a fork lift truck for lifting each individual harness, each container having a flat base, parallel side end walls collapsible to be stacked on said base, a plurality of locking members extending along each side of said base and upwardly therefrom, load transferring members supporting said side walls in vertical positions and centered on said locating members, releasable locking means locking said load transferring members to said locating members, other locating members extending upwardly of said load transferring members and side walls and adapted to locate the harness relative to the container, locking members actuated by the forks of a fork lift for detachably locking said harness to said other locating members, including the steps of extending the container to a rectangular form, filling the container with articles of lading, covering and sealing the container, locking the harness to the container by the forks of a fork lift truck, picking up the container by the lift harness from the top of the container and transferring the lifting forces to the bottom of the container as placing the container in a cargo transporting compartment.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
207 words
A system of handling small articles of lading comprising the steps of providing a series of collapsible containers, a lift harness for the containers, a fork lift truck for lifting each individual harness, each container having a flat base, parallel side end walls collapsible to be stacked on said base, a plurality of locking members extending along each side of said base and upwardly therefrom, load transferring members supporting said side walls in vertical positions and centered on said locating members, releasable locking means locking said load transferring members to said locating members, other locating members extending upwardly of said load transferring members and side walls and adapted to locate the harness relative to the container, locking members actuated by the forks of a fork lift for detachably locking said harness to said other locating members, including the steps of extending the container to a rectangular form, filling the container with articles of lading, covering and sealing the container, locking the harness to the container by the forks of a fork lift truck, picking up the container by the lift harness from the top of the container and transferring the lifting forces to the bottom of the container as placing the container in a cargo transporting compartment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2898872A
Cited
GB925020A
Cited
US3176866A
Cited
US3282621A
Cited
US3455476A
Cited
US3713556A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-07 | 1978-04-08 | 1978-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-07 | 1982-04-08 | 1982-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-07 | 1986-04-08 | 1986-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |