US4779751A — Knock-down containers, container fastening system…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

A corner connector for seouring and retaining the side walls and end walls of a container, comprising: a sheet metal member having first and second angled, generally planar legs proportioned to abut the adajcent intersecting outer surfaces of said walls and joined to each other along a common corner, each of said legs having a generally transversely extending tab proportioned to engage the adjacent upper surface of one of said walls and defining the seated position of said connector on said walls, and each of said legs terminating in a flange extending generally normal to the associated said leg along the marginal edge of said leg and adapted to be received in accommodating slots formed in said walls when said tabs are positioned against an upper surface of said walls, said flanges each being formed at an inclination to said common corner so that said connector is wider at the bottom than at the top and causes a coming together of the intersecting walls of a container.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

A corner connector for seouring and retaining the side walls and end walls of a container, comprising: a sheet metal member having first and second angled, generally planar legs proportioned to abut the adajcent intersecting outer surfaces of said walls and joined to each other along a common corner, each of said legs having a generally transversely extending tab proportioned to engage the adjacent upper surface of one of said walls and defining the seated position of said connector on said walls, and each of said legs terminating in a flange extending generally normal to the associated said leg along the marginal edge of said leg and adapted to be received in accommodating slots formed in said walls when said tabs are positioned against an upper surface of said walls, said flanges each being formed at an inclination to said common corner so that said connector is wider at the bottom than at the top and causes a coming together of the intersecting walls of a container.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The connector of claim 1 in which said legs have upper flange portions adapted to extend above the container side walls to receive the corner of a lid therein.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 116 words

A corner connector for securing and retaining the side walls and end walls of a container, comprising: an outer sheet metal member having first and second angled, generally planar vertical legs proportioned to abut the adjacent intersecting outer surfaces of said walls and joined to each other at common vertical corners, an inner sheet metal member having first and second generally planar angled legs joined along a common corner; and edge flanges formed at an inclination to said corners joining said members together with said respective member legs spaced apart from each oter and adapted to be received therebetween one of said walls when said flanges are received in accommodating tapered slots formed in said walls.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 116 words

A corner connector for securing and retaining the side walls and end walls of a container, comprising: an outer sheet metal member having first and second angled, generally planar vertical legs proportioned to abut the adjacent intersecting outer surfaces of said walls and joined to each other at common vertical corners, an inner sheet metal member having first and second generally planar angled legs joined along a common corner; and edge flanges formed at an inclination to said corners joining said members together with said respective member legs spaced apart from each oter and adapted to be received therebetween one of said walls when said flanges are received in accommodating tapered slots formed in said walls.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connector of claim 3 in which said outer member legs have upper flange portions extending above the container side walls and adapted to receive the corner of a lid therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

The connector of claim 3 in which each of said connctor members is formed with a pair of inclined edge flanges adapted to interfit with corresponding edge flanges of the other said member, and means joining said members at said respective interfitting edge flanges.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 129 words

A corner connector for locating and retaining the intersecting end and side walls of a container, comprising: spaced apart outer and inner sheet metal members, said outer member having first and second planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in an angled configuration corresponding to the included angle of the corner, said inner connector also having first and second generally planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in a corresponding angle, means on at least one of said members defining transversely extending tapered edges defining the spacing between said members, said edges being tapered with respect to said corners to define a wider space at the bottom of said connector than at the top thereof, and means joining said members at said edges.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 129 words

A corner connector for locating and retaining the intersecting end and side walls of a container, comprising: spaced apart outer and inner sheet metal members, said outer member having first and second planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in an angled configuration corresponding to the included angle of the corner, said inner connector also having first and second generally planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in a corresponding angle, means on at least one of said members defining transversely extending tapered edges defining the spacing between said members, said edges being tapered with respect to said corners to define a wider space at the bottom of said connector than at the top thereof, and means joining said members at said edges.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The connector of claim 6 in which said planar sections define panel-receiving spaces which are of unequal width to accomodate an end panel of a container which has a width different than that of an interesting side panel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The connector of claim 6 further comprising an aperture in each of said outer member planar sections adapted to receive an elongated locking device for extension into the butt end of one of the intersecting container wall panels.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The connector of claim 8 in which said device comprises a nail received in said aperture.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 136 words

A corner connector for locating and retaining the intersecting end and side walls of a container, comprising: outer and inner sheet metal members, said outer member having first and second planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in an angled configuration corresponding to the included angle of the corner, said inner member also having first and second generally planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in a corresponding angle and having opposite outwardly turned edges in abutment to the outer member sections to define a panel-receiving spaces between said planar sections, means joining said members at said edges, and at least one of said members further having transversely turned tabs which are positioned and engage the container walls at the tops thereof and define the seated position of the connector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 136 words

A corner connector for locating and retaining the intersecting end and side walls of a container, comprising: outer and inner sheet metal members, said outer member having first and second planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in an angled configuration corresponding to the included angle of the corner, said inner member also having first and second generally planar sections joined to each other along a common corner in a corresponding angle and having opposite outwardly turned edges in abutment to the outer member sections to define a panel-receiving spaces between said planar sections, means joining said members at said edges, and at least one of said members further having transversely turned tabs which are positioned and engage the container walls at the tops thereof and define the seated position of the connector.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

The connector of claim 10 further comprising an aperture in each of said outer member planar sections adapted to receive an elongated locking device for extension into the butt end of one of the intersecting container walls.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The connector of claim 10 in which said planar sections define panel-receiving spaces which are of unequal width to accommodate an end panel of a container which has a width different than that of an intersecting side panel.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 169 words

In a security knock-down container having side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall, said side walls being joined together at the corners thereof by sheet metal corner connectors, the improvement comprising: each said corner connector having inner and outer members, each said members having horizontal planar sections joined along a vertical corner bend, means joining said members in spaced-apart relation with the spacing therebetween sufficient to accommodate a portion of one said container side walls therein, said joining means formed as a generally vertical flange integral to at least one of said members and joining with the other said member, and means in each of said side walls adjacent said corner defining a vertical slot receiving said flange therein, tab means on said connector engageable with a horizontal top surface of one said container side wall, and means on said connector for receiving an intersecting third wall, such as a conainer top or bottom wall, for positioning and locating the same with respect to said side walls.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 169 words

In a security knock-down container having side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall, said side walls being joined together at the corners thereof by sheet metal corner connectors, the improvement comprising: each said corner connector having inner and outer members, each said members having horizontal planar sections joined along a vertical corner bend, means joining said members in spaced-apart relation with the spacing therebetween sufficient to accommodate a portion of one said container side walls therein, said joining means formed as a generally vertical flange integral to at least one of said members and joining with the other said member, and means in each of said side walls adjacent said corner defining a vertical slot receiving said flange therein, tab means on said connector engageable with a horizontal top surface of one said container side wall, and means on said connector for receiving an intersecting third wall, such as a conainer top or bottom wall, for positioning and locating the same with respect to said side walls.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 128 words

An improved container system including corner connector elements permitting containers of varying sizes to be assembled on a site from pairs of container side walls of differing heights, the improvement comprising: a double-ended connector at each of the corners of the container for joining the side wall pairs together in superimposed relation to each other, said connector having spaced inner and outer sheet metal members defining inside and outside corner wall-engaging legs joined along a common corner, edge flanges joining said members together in spaced relation, said flanges adapted to be received in slots formed in said side walls, said flanges being formed at a taper with respect to said corner to cause a camming together of the side walls into the corner when received in said connector.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 128 words

An improved container system including corner connector elements permitting containers of varying sizes to be assembled on a site from pairs of container side walls of differing heights, the improvement comprising: a double-ended connector at each of the corners of the container for joining the side wall pairs together in superimposed relation to each other, said connector having spaced inner and outer sheet metal members defining inside and outside corner wall-engaging legs joined along a common corner, edge flanges joining said members together in spaced relation, said flanges adapted to be received in slots formed in said side walls, said flanges being formed at a taper with respect to said corner to cause a camming together of the side walls into the corner when received in said connector.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The container of claim 14 in which said connectors are each formed in two identical sections, one associated with each of said side panels, and joined toether in superimposed relation to each other.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-10-25	1992-04-25	1992-10-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-10-25	1996-04-25	1996-10-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-10-25	2000-04-25	2000-10-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Knock-down containers, container fastening system and elements thereof

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