MXPA06003529A - Portable storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable storage container that both stacks and nests with similar containers includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a floor. At least one bail member is moveable between a plurality of positions for supporting the similar containers at varying heights. The bail member includes a support portion and two arms extending transversely from the support portion. A projection extends laterally from between axial ends of each arm.

Description

STORAGE PORT TILT CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to portable storage containers and more particularly, to portable storage containers that provide the ability to select different housing and stacking depths. Portable storage containers that are stacked and fitted or housed with similar containers are commonly used for the transport and storage of goods. The socket is normally achieved when an empty container receives a similar container therein, so that there is at least some overlap between the walls of the containers. The stacking feature is commonly used when an occupied container has a similar container supported thereon, so that the goods contained in the lower container are preferably not in contact with or damaged by the upper container. Many containers use members (known as clamp members) to achieve the stacking feature. The clamp members could be commonly located outside the direction for lacing or accommodation purposes, although they are then moved toward a RBF. 171358 stacking position to allow containers to be stacked thereon. The clamp members in some containers can move between three positions: a snap position, a first stacking position and a second stacking position. In the latching position or housing, the clamp members are out of the direction or path and the upper container can be substantially engaged within the lower container. The clamp members support the containers in the first stacking position in a first distance from the floor, wherein the upper container is not substantially nested within the lower container. The clamp members can also be moved into the second stacking position in order to support the upper container at a second distance from the floor, where the upper container is partially engaged within the lower container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable storage container that is stacked and fitted with similar containers includes a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the floor. At least one clamp member can be moved between a plurality of positions for supporting similar containers at varying heights. The clamp member includes a support portion that is rotatably connected to the container through arms at each end. The clamp member includes at least one projection or protrusion of the arm of the clamp member. The protrusion makes contact with a support surface of one of the walls while the clamp member rotates around the protrusion when it moves from one position to another. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other advantages of the present invention can be understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with the clamp members in a loosely fitting position or housing. Figure 2 is a partial side sectional view of the container of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1, with a similar container fitted therein. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container with the clamp members in a high stacking position. Figure 5 is a partial side sectional view of the container of the Figure.

Figure 6 shows the container of Figure 4, with a similar container stacked thereon. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the container with the clamp members in an intermediate stacking position. Figure 8 is a partial side sectional view of the container of Figure 7. Figure 9 shows the container of Figure 7, with a similar container stacked on it. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the container with the clamp members in a low stacking position. Figure 11 is a partial side sectional view of the container of Figure 10. Figure 12 shows the container of Figure 10, with a similar container stacked thereon. Figure 13 is an interior view in side section of the container of Figure 1 showing the path of the clamp member from the snap position towards the high stacking position. Figure 14 is a side sectional view of the container of Figure 1 showing the path of the clamp member towards the high stacking position. Figure 15 is an interior view in side section of the container of Figure 1 showing the path of the clamp member from a high position of engagement to a transition position. Figure 16 is an interior view in side section of the container of Figure 1 showing the path of the clamp member from the transition position to the low stacking position. Figure 17 is an interior view in side section of the container of Figure 1 showing the trajectory of the clamp member from the transition position to the intermediate stacking position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The container 10 is shown in Figure 1. The container 10 includes a floor 12 and a pair of opposite side walls 14 and a pair of opposite end walls 16. A pair of notches 17 are formed in the part bottom of the end walls 16 and the floor 12. Each of the notches 17 defines a channel extending from one end wall 16 to the other. Each of the two clamp members 18 is mounted on each end wall 16. While these have a variety of shapes, the clamp members 18 are shown as molded plastic shapes having a generally cylindrical support portion 19 extending through the length of the container 10. Each clamp member 18 includes a pair of arms 21 extending in the transverse direction from the support portion 19. As shown in Figure 2, each arm 21 includes a lateral projection 38 protruding from a midpoint on the inner side of the arm 21. The lateral projection 38 could be of any shape, such as a generally triangular or pyramid-shaped shape as shown, and has an outer end 39, which in the modality shown, is the area next to a corner of the triangle. Each of the end walls 16 includes an upper wall portion having an outer wall portion 20 spaced apart from the inner wall portion 23. The lower wall portion 24 is generally aligned below the inner wall portion 23, so that the outer wall portion 20 forms a support or projection 25 along the end wall 16. The side walls 14 similarly include the projections 26 projecting outwards from the side walls 14 in a uniform height with the projections 25 on the end walls 16. The inner wall portion 23 includes an upper support support 36 at a height above the floor 12 which holds the clamp member 18 in an upper stacking position. Each upper support bracket 36 includes a concave upward opening recess 37, which is a notch formed in the inner wall portion 23. The inner wall portion 23 further includes an intermediate support bracket 40 which supports the clamp member 18 at an intermediate level height, and a lower support support 42, which is closer to the floor than to the upper supporting support 36, for holding the clamp member 18 in a lower stacking position. The elongated pin holes 30 are formed in each outer wall portion 20 to trap the pins 32 at the outer ends of the clamp members 18. The pins 32 can slide and rotate within the pin holes., so that the clamp mes 18 can be moved to a plurality of positions and orientations. Each of the pin holes includes a first portion that extends arcuately from the outer end inwardly and downwardly, and a second portion extending from the first portion downwardly in the direction of the inner end. The pins 32 are at the inner ends of the pin holes 30 in Figures 1-3. In Figures 1-3, the clamp mes 18 are in a socket or housing position. The pins 32 of the clamp mes 18 are slid toward the inner end of the pin hole 30 and the clamp mes 18 are rotated toward a downward position, as shown. In the fitting position, the support portions 19 of the clamp mes 18 are located outwardly of the floor 12. With reference to Figure 3, in the fitting position, a similar container 10 'can be fitted or housed within the container 10, so that the floor 12 'of the upper container 10' is not supported on the clamp mes 18. This position provides the most efficient storage of the containers 10, 10 'when they are empty. Figures 4-6 illustrate the container 10 in the high stacking position. As can be seen in Figure 5, the lateral projection 38 of the arm 18 is supported on the intermediate support 40 of the interior portion of wall 23. The support portions 19 of the clamp mes 18 are supported through the upper supports 36. Figure 6 shows the containers 10, 10 'of Figure 3 with the clamp mes 18 of the lower container 10 in the high stacking position. The support portions 19 of the clamp me 18 of the lower container 10 are received in the notches 17 'of the upper container 10', so that the floor 12 'of the upper container 10' is supported by the clamp mes 18. This position it provides the maximum storage capacity in the container 10 and transfers the load to the clamp mes 18, thereby maintaining the weight of the upper container 10 'out of the contents of the lower container 10. Figures 7-9 show the container 10. with the clamp mes in the intermediate stacking position. The support portions 19 of the clamp mes 18 are supported by the intermediate supports 40. As shown in Figure 9, the upper container 10 'is supported on the support portions 19 of the clamp mes 18. Figures 10 -12 show the clamp mes 18 in a low stacking position on the lower support supports 42 in the interior wall portions 23. As shown in Figure 12, the floor 12 'of the upper container 10' is supported above of the floor 12 through the clamp me 18 to create a storage area between the floors 12, 12 '. Figure 13 is an inside view in side section of the container 10 of Figure 1 showing the trajectory of the clamp me 18 of the socket position towards (though not all of the direction) the high stacking position. The fitting me 18 rotates around the pin 32 at the lower end of the pin hole 30 until the lateral projection 38 of the arm 21 makes contact with the intermediate support support 40 of the inner wall 23. Figure 14 is a view in FIG. side cut of the container 10 of Figure 1 showing the trajectory of the clamp me 18 from the position shown in Figure 13 towards the high stacking position. As the pressure is applied downwards and inwards on the support portion 19 of the clamp me 18, the lateral projection 38 acts as a fixed axis, the clamp me 18 rotating around the end 39 of the lateral projection 38. A As the clamp me rotates 18, the pin 32 is raised in the pin hole 30, specifically, the vertical portion of the pin hole 30, and the support portion 19 moves in an arcuate path towards the upper support 38. Figure 15 is an interior view in lateral section of the container 10 of Figure 1 showing the trajectory of the clamp member 18 from a high engagement position to a transition position. In the high-lying position or housing, the support portion 19 and the pin 32 of the clamp member 18 are substantially aligned with the outer edge 26 of the side wall 14. The outer edge 26 of a similar container (not shown) ) would rest on the support portion 19, thus leaving a small space between the floors 12, 12 '. From the high engagement position, the clamp member 18 can be turned inwardly around the pin 32 at the outermost end of the pin hole 30, until the support portion 19 of the clamp member 18 is substantially at level with the pin 32. From the transition position, the clamp member 18 can then be moved to either the low stacking position shown in Figure 16, or to the intermediate stacking position shown in FIG. Figure 17. Figure 16 is an inside view in side section of the container 10 of Figure 1 showing the path of the clamp member 18 from the transition position to the low stacking position. The support portion 19 of the clamp member 18 is pushed down, whereby the clamp member 18 rotates about the pin 32, which is moved into the container 10 in the pin hole 30. The precise movement is not required, since the projection 38 will be received in a recess 46 in the end wall 16. Provided the movement is substantially downward (generally perpendicular to the floor 12), the support portion * 19 will be directed towards the lower support 42. Alternately, as shown in Figure 17, the support portion 19 of the clamp member 18 could be pushed inwardly (from the container 10) from the transition position to the intermediate stacking position. The pin 32 moves inwardly in the pin hole 30. In the intermediate stacking position, the support portion 19 is supported on the intermediate support 40. Once again, precise movement is not required. A concave guide surface 48, which is formed on the inner wall portion 23 between the upper support 38 and the intermediate support 40, will be contacted through the support portion 19 of the clamp member 18 and will direct the support portion 19. towards the intermediate support 40 provided that the movement of the support portion 19 is substantially inward of the container 10, generally parallel to the floor 12. While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, these embodiments are not intended illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. There are different container designs that would benefit from the present invention. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. A container capable of supporting a second container in a plurality of positions relative to the container, characterized in that it comprises: a floor; a vertical wall structure including a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the floor; and a clamp member having a support portion and an arm extending in the transverse direction from the support portion, the arm includes a projection between the axial opposite ends of the arm, the clamp member can move, so Selectively, between a socket position and a stacking position, the projection contacts a pivot surface of the wall structure and rotates around one end of the projection while moving towards one of the socket position and the stacking position .

2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the support portion is vertically aligned outwardly from the outer periphery of the floor in the fitting position, and the support portion is vertically aligned with the floor in the stacking position. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamp member rotates around the end of the projection while moving towards the stacking position. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacking position is a first stacking position and wherein the pivoting surface on the wall structure is also a supporting surface, the supporting portion of the clamping member is supported on the support surface of the wall structure when the clamp member is moved to a second stacking position. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivot surface on the wall structure is also a supporting surface, the protrusion of the clamp member is supported on the support surface of the wall structure when the member Clamp is in the first stacking position. 6. The container according to claim 5, characterized in that the stacking position is a first stacking position and wherein the supporting portion of the clamp member is supported on the supporting surface of the stacking structure. wall when the clamp member is moved to a second position of apil ami ento. 7. A container capable of supporting a second container in a plurality of positions relative to the container, characterized in that it comprises: a floor; a vertical wall structure including a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the floor; and a clamp member having a support portion and an arm extending in the transverse direction from the support portion, the clamp member can selectively move between a transition position, a first stacking position and a second stacking position, the clamp member can move from the transition position towards the first stacking position by moving the clamp member inwardly, the clamp member can move from the transition position to the second position of the clamp member. Stacking by turning the clamp member. The container according to claim 7, characterized in that the arm includes a lateral projection between the axial opposite ends of the arm. The container according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamp member includes a pin that can slide and rotate in a hole on the wall structure, the hole includes a first portion extending from the outer end inwards and downwardly and a second portion extending from the first portion downward in the direction of the inner end. 10. The container according to claim 9, characterized in that the pin extends from the arm of the clamp member and wherein the pin and the support portion are substantially at the same height above the floor when the clamp member is in the transition position. The container according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamp member will move from the transition position to the first stacking position based on a force applied in the support portion in a fully inward first direction of the container parallel to the floor. The container according to claim 11, characterized in that the clamp member will move from the transition position to the second stacking position based on a force applied in the support portion in a second direction completely downwardly of the container in the direction of the floor. 1

3. A container capable of supporting a second container in a plurality of positions relative to the container, characterized in that it comprises: a floor; a vertical wall structure including a plurality of walls extending upwards from the floor, the wall structure includes a first support and a second support; and a clamp member having a support portion and an arm extending from the support portion, the arm includes a radial projection between the axial opposite ends of the arm, the clamp member can move, selectively, between a fitting position, a first stacking position and a second stacking position, the supporting portion is supported on the first support and the projection is supported on the second support when the clamping member is in the first stacking position , the support portion is supported on the second support when the clamp member is in the second stacking position. The container according to claim 13, characterized in that the clamp member further includes a pin extending from the arm, the pin is coupled, in a sliding and rotatable manner, with the wall structure.