US20110297687A1

US20110297687A1 - Open top container

Info

Publication number: US20110297687A1
Application number: US13/132,983
Authority: US
Inventors: Sang Woo Nam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-04
Filing date: 2009-07-06
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Also published as: WO2010064768A1; DE112009003574T5; CN102239090B; KR20110046535A; CN102239090A; KR101040720B1

Abstract

An open top container is provided, which includes a container main body having first and second side panels provided spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels and support bows each having one end portion connected to an upper portion of the first side panel and the other end portion crossing the opening and extending up to an upper portion of the second side panel to be rotatable in a left or right direction around the one end portion. According to the open top container, an upper portion of the container main body can be opened without the necessity of separating support bows from the container main body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an open top container, and more particularly to an open top container which enables an upper portion of a container main body to be open without the necessity of separating support bows from the container main body.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a container means a box type container that is used to transport freight efficiently or economically, and may briefly be classified into a closed type container and an open top container. A closed type container means a container in which all panels in upward, downward, left, and right directions are fixedly provided except for a rear door for loading and unloading the freight, while an open top container means a container having an open upper portion for loading freight that can be conveniently loaded and unloaded through the upper portion of the container or over-height freight.
In the case of such an open top container, a plurality of support bows that cross both side panels are arranged at equal intervals on an upper portion of the container. When it is necessary to remove such support bows from the upper portion of the container, the support bows are removed from the side panels typically by handwork. For this, both ends of the support bow are configured to fit into or to be removed from fixing holes formed at upper ends of the side panels.
According to this open top container in the related art, if it is required to open the upper portion thereof, the support bows are separated from the container and kept typically in the interior of the container. Accordingly, there is a high possibility of losing the support bows to cause the repurchase of the lost support bows, and thus the container maintenance cost may be increased. Further, since the support bows must be removed one by one typically by handwork, the bow-removing work causes a worker inconvenience, the time required for the bow-removing work is increased, and the removed support bows, which may fall from the upper portion of the container, may put the worker in danger.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art while advantages achieved by the prior art are maintained intact.
A subject to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an open top container which enables an upper portion of a container main body to be open without the necessity of separating support bows from the container main body.
Another subject to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an open top container which can facilitate a work in opening the upper portion of the container main body and improve the safety of a worker.

Technical Solution

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an open top container, which includes a container main body having first and second side panels provided spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels and support bows each having one end portion connected to an upper portion of the first side panel and the other end portion crossing the opening and extending up to an upper portion of the second side panel to be rotatable in a left or right direction around the one end portion.
Here, the other end portion of the support bow may be detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second side panel. Further, the support bow may be so configured that its length can be adjusted in the length direction thereof. In this case, the support bow may include an outer support bow in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction, and an inner support bow of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion. On the other hand, an accommodation portion, which accommodates at least a part of the support bow that is rotated in the left or right direction, may be provided on the upper portion of the first side panel.
In addition, the support bow may include a first support bow having one end portion connected to the upper portion of the first side panel, and a second support bow having one end portion connected to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion extending up to the upper portion of the second side panel, wherein the first support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the one end portion of the first support bow together with the second support bow, and the second support bow is rotatable in upward and downward directions around the other end portion of the first support bow.
Further, the support bow may include a first support bow having one end portion connected to the upper portion of the first side panel, and a second support bow having one end portion detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion connected to the upper portion of the second side panel, wherein the first support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the one end portion of the first support bow, and the second support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the other end portion of the second support bow. In this case, at least one of the first and second support bows is so configured that its length can be adjusted in the length direction thereof.
On the other hand, a sphere-shaped fastening portion may be provided on one end portion of the support bow, and in correspondence to this, a fastener may be provided on the upper portion of the first side panel to accommodate at least a part of the fastening portion so that the support bow can be rotated upward and downward around the one end portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an open top container, which includes a container main body having first and second side panels provided spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels a guide member provided in a width direction of the first side panel on an upper portion of the first side panel a sliding member movable in the width direction of the first side panel along the guide member and rotatable upward and downward on the guide member as an axis and support bows each having one end portion connected to the sliding member and the other end portion crossing the opening and extending up to an upper portion of the second side panel.
Here, the guide member may be formed in a cylinder shape, and the sliding member may have a hollow portion that penetrates the inside of the sliding member in a direction that corresponds to the width direction of the first side panel, wherein the guide member is inserted into the hollow portion of the sliding member.
On the other hand, a sphere-shaped fastening portion may be provided on one end portion of the support bow, and a fastener may be provided on the sliding member to accommodate at least a part of the fastening portion so that the support is rotatable in a left or right direction around the one end portion and is rotatable upward and downward around the one end portion.
In addition, the support bow may include an outer support bow in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction so that the length of the support bow can be adjusted in the length direction thereof, and an inner support bow of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion. Further, the support bow may include a first support bow having one end portion connected to the sliding member, and a second support bow having one end portion detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion extending up to the upper portion of the second side panel.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the open top container according to the present invention, one end portion of the support bow is rotatably connected to the upper portion of the side panel, and thus the upper portion of the container main body can be opened even without separating the support bows from the container main body.
Further, since the support bows are not separated from the container main body even during the opening of the upper portion of the container main body, loss of the support bows is prevented to reduce the container maintenance cost and a worker can proceed with the upper portion opening/closing work more safely and easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of a coupling structure between a support bow and a first side panel;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state where support bows are rotatably connected to first and second side panels;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a use example of support bows in an open top container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating first and second side panels provided with an accommodation portion;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating support bows that move downward after rotation;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an accommodation groove formed at an upper end of a stepped portion of a second side panel; FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an accommodator provided on an upper part of a stepped portion of a second side panel;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of support bows;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another modified example of support bows;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating another use state of support bows in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 4 of the present invention; and

FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective views illustrating the movement state of support bows in an open top container illustrated in FIG. 15.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the open top container according this embodiment includes a container main body 110 and support bows 160.
The container main body 110 includes first and second side panels 120 and 130 provided spaced apart from each other, and a base panel 112 connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels 120 and 130. Further, a front panel 114 that connects the first and second side panels 120 and 130 may be provided in front of the container main body 110, and a door 116 that can open/close a freight doorway may be provided in the rear of the container main body 110. On upper portions of the first and second side panels 120 and 130, inwardly projecting stepped portions 122 and 132 may be formed.
Through the above-described construction, a loading space for loading freight therein is formed inside the container main body 110. Further, since the first and second side panels 120 and 130 are provided spaced apart from each other, an opening may be formed on the upper portion of the container main body 110. Accordingly, the freight can be loaded in the container main body 110 through the freight doorway or the opening. After the freight is loaded, the opening can be covered by a cover sheet such as tarpaulin or the like. For reference, the open top container according to an embodiment of the present invention is mainly applied to an overseas container that is transported by a ship or the like, but may also be applied to a special vehicle or the like.
The support bow 160 is so configured that one end portion thereof is connected to an upper portion of the first side panel 120, and the other end portion thereof extends up to an upper portion of the second side panel 130. Here, the term “upper portion” means an upper side portion of the first or second side panel 120 or 130 on which the support bow 160 can appropriately support the cover sheet or the like. That is, the “upper portion’ may mean an upper end corner portion 124 or 134 of the first or second side panel 120 or 130, but is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support bows 160 which cross between the stepped portions 122 and 132 that are formed on the upper portions of the first and second side panels 120 and 130 are exemplified. As a result, the support bows 160 are formed to cross the opening that is formed between the first side panel 120 and the second side panel 130 to support the cover sheet or the like hereafter.
On the other hand, one end portion of the support bow 160 connected to the first side panel 120 is connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 so that the support bow 160 can be rotated in a left or right direction around the one end portion thereof. For this, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a fastening member such as a bolt 142 fastens the one end portion of the support bow 160 and the upper end of the stepped portion 122 of the first side panel 120 together. In this case, it is preferable that a predetermined distance be maintained between a head 143 of the bolt 142 and the upper end of the support bow 160. As described later, a support bow 160 that has been rotated in the left or right direction may overlap the upper portion of an adjacent support bow 160, and thus it is preferable that the support bow 160 be rotatable in the left or right direction and is movable upward and downward to some extent.
However, the coupling structure between the one end portion of the support bow 160 and the upper portion of the first side panel 120 is not limited to the fastening member such as the bolt. That is, any structure in which the support bow 160 is rotatable around the one end portion of the support bow 160 can be applied to the open top container according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, even through a structure in which no separate fastening member is provided, an accommodation groove (not illustrated) is formed at the upper end of the stepped portion of the first side panel, and a projection portion, which is formed at the lower end of the one end portion of the support bow, is inserted into the accommodation groove, the support bow can be rotated left and right around the one end portion thereof. However, in order to prevent the support bow from seceding from the first side panel, it is preferable to use the above-described fastening member.
In order to implement the above-described coupling structure, a separate fastener 150 may be used. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of a coupling structure between a support bow and a first side panel. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a sphere-shaped hollow portion may be formed inside the fastener 150, and a sphere-shaped fastening portion 162 that corresponds to the hollow shape may be formed on one end portion of the support bow 160. Further, at the lower end of the fastener 150, a guide groove 152 for guiding the support bow 160 to the left or right may be formed along an outer circumference of the fastener 150. This guide groove 152 may be formed to extend upward from a portion facing the adjacent fastener 150. Through this structure, the fastener 150 can rotatably fasten the support bow 160 to the upper end of the stepped portion 122 of the firs side panel 120. Further, at the time point where the rotation of the support bow 160 is completed, the free end portion of the support bow 160 can be moved upward.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support bow is rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120. However, the support bow may be rotatably and alternately connected to the upper portions of the first side panel 120 and the second side panel 130. For example, an odd-numbered support bow may be rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 and the even-numbered support bow may be rotatably connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 130. As described above, if the support bows are connected to the side panels 120 and 130, more sufficient space in which the rotated support bows overlap the upper ends of the stepped portions 122 and 132 can be secured.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, half of the support bows 160, which are located on the right side, are rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120, and the other half of the support bows 160, which are located on the left side, are rotatably connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 130. By connecting the support bows as described above, the rotated support bows can be all accommodated within the container main body.
Referring to FIG. 4, a use example of the support bows 160 in the open top container illustrated in FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a use example of support bows in an open top container according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the case of loading freight through the opening on the upper portion of the container main body 110 or in the case of loading over-height freight, it is necessary to place the support bows 160 at the upper ends of the stepped portions 122 and 132 of the first and second side panels 120 and 130 by rotating the support bows 160 in the left or right direction.
In this case, the length of the support bow 160 is typically longer than the distance between the support bows 160, and thus after the support bow 160 is rotated, the support bow 160 may overlap the upper portion of the adjacent support bow 160. Here, by rotating half of the support bows 160 located on the right side in the left direction and rotating the other half of the support bows 160 located on the left side in the right direction, the rotated support bows are all accommodated within the container main body. At this time, in order to locate the support bows 160 at the upper ends of the stepped portions 122 and 132 more stably, an accommodation portion 126, which can accommodate at least part of the rotated support bows 160 as illustrated in FIG. 5, may be provided on the upper portions of the first and second side panels 120 and 130. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the first and second side panels provided with the accommodation portion. The accommodation portion 126 may be formed to project from the upper portion of the first or second side panel 120 or 130 to the inside and to have an L-shaped cross section.
On the other hand, although a structure in which the rotated support bow overlaps the upper end of the adjacent support bow is exemplified in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a method of keeping the support bows is not limited thereto. That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, by locating the support bows 160 on the stepped portions 122 and 132 while making the support bows 160 rotatable in the left or right direction, the rotated support bow 160 can be positioned at the upper ends of the stepped portions. For this construction, a fastener 1510 having a similar shape to the fastener as described above with reference to FIG. 2 may be used.
A sphere-shaped hollow portion may be formed inside the fastener 1510, and a sphere-shaped fastening portion 162 that corresponds to the hollow shape may be formed on one end portion of the support bow 160. Further, a guide groove 1512 for guiding the support bow 160 to the left or right may be formed in the center portion of the fastener 1510 along the outer circumference of the fastener 1510. This guide groove 1512 may be formed to extend downward from a portion facing the adjacent fastener 1510. Through this structure, the fastener 1510 can rotatably couple the support bows 160 to the upper portions of the first or second side panels 120 or 130. Further, at the time point where the rotation of the support bow 160 is completed, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the free end portion of the support bow 160 can be moved downward.
Hereinafter, a structure in which all support bows are rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 will be described as an example. However, the coupling structure between the support bow and the side panel is not limited thereto, but as described above, the construction in which the support bows are alternately and rotatably connected to the upper portions of the first side panel 120 and the second side panel 130, or the structure in which half of the support bows 160 located on the right side are rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 and the other half of the support bows 160 located on the left side are rotatably connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 130 may be applied.
In order to locate the other end portion of the support bow 160, which extends up to the upper portion of the second side panel 130, on the upper portion of the second side panel more stably, as illustrated in FIG. 8, an accommodation groove 136, which can accommodate the other end portion of the support bow 160, may be formed at the upper end of the stepped portion 132 of the second side panel 130. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the accommodation groove formed at the upper end of the stepped portion of the second side panel. Once the accommodation groove 136 is formed at the upper end of the stepped portion 132 of the second side panel 130, the other end portion of the support bow 160 may be detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second side panel 130.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 9, an accommodator 138 for accommodating the other end portion of the support bow 160 may be provided on the upper portion of the stepped portion 132 of the second side panel 130.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an accommodator provided on the upper portion of the stepped portion of the second side panel. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the accommodator 138 is formed to have a C-shaped cross section and to be open in a direction in which the other end portion of the support bow 160 is accommodated. If the height of the open portion of the accommodator 138 is set to be somewhat smaller than the diameter of the support bow 160 and the end portion of the accommodator 138 is formed to be elastically movable upward and downward, the other end portion of the support bow 160 may be detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second side panel 130.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a modified example of the support bow. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the support bow 1610 may be so configured that its length is adjustable in the length direction thereof. That is, the support bow 1610 may include an outer support bow 1612 in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction, and an inner support bow 1614 of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion. If the support bow 1610 is configured to include the outer support bow 1612 and the inner support bow 1614, the length of the support bow 1610 can be adjusted as long as the distance for which the inner support bow 1614 moves along the hollow portion of the outer support bow 1612. By constructing the support bow 1610 as described above, the length of the support bow 1610 can be shortened after the rotation thereof, and thus the portion of the rotated support bow 1610 that overlaps the upper portion of the adjacent support bow 1610 can be minimized.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another modified example of support bows. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the support bow 1620 may be configured to include a first support bow 1622 and a second support bow 1624. One end portion of the first support bow 1622 is connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120, one end portion of the second support bow 1624 is connected to the other end portion of the first support bow 1622, and the other end portion of the second support bow 1624 extends up to the upper portion of the second side panel 130. In this case, the first support bow 1622 is connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 so that it is rotatable in the left or right direction around one end portion thereof together with the second support bow 1624, and the second support bow 1624 is connected to the other end portion of the first support bow 1622 so that it is rotatable in upward and downward directions around the other end portion of the first support bow 1622.
In order to make the above-described coupling structure possible, the first support bow 1622 may be connected to the stepped portion 122 of the first side panel 120 through the above-described fastening member or the fastener, and the second support bow 1624 may be connected to the first support bow 1622 through a joint pin or the like. By constructing the support bow 1620 as described above, the second support bow 1624 can be rotated upward, and thus the support bow 1620 that has been rotated to the left or right can overlap the upper portion of the adjacent support bow 1620 more easily. In this case, in order to prevent the rotation of the first support bow 1622 from being disturbed by the adjacent support bow 1620, it is preferable that the length of the first support bow 1622 be shorter than the distance between the support bows 1620.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 12, half of the support bows located on the right side may be rotatably connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 120 and the other half of the support bows located on the left side may be rotatably connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 130. In the case, the support bow 160 may be configured to be rotatable to the left and right as it is located on the stepped portions 122 and 132 using the fastener 1510 as described above with reference to FIG. 6. Through the above-described construction, the rotate support bow 160 can be located at the upper ends of the stepped portions 122 and 132, and therefore all the support bows can be accommodated within the container main body.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the open top container according this embodiment includes a container main body 210 and support bows 260. With respect to the same (or equivalent) portions as those of the above-described construction, the same (or equivalent) reference numerals are used, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, since the main difference between the open top container according to this embodiment and the open top container according to the first embodiment is related to the construction of the support bow, the explanation will be made hereinafter centering around the support bow according to this embodiment with reference to FIG. 13.
In the open top container according to this embodiment, the support bow 260 includes a first support bow 262 and a second support bow 264. Here, one end portion of the first support bow 262 is connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 220. Further, one end portion of the second support bow 264 is detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow 262, and the other end portion of the second support bow 264 is connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 230. In this case, the first support bow 262 is rotatable in the left or right direction around the one end portion of the first support bow 262, and the second support bow 264 is rotatable in the left or right direction around the other end portion of the second support bow 264.
In order to make the above-described rotating structure possible, the first and second support bows 262 and 264 may be connected to the stepped portions 222 and 232 of the first and second side panels 220 and 230 through the above-described fastening members or fasteners. By constructing the support bow 260 as described above, the first and second support bows 262 and 264 are mutually coupled to each other to support a cover sheet or the like in the case where it is required to support the cover sheet or the like, and the coupling of the first and second support bows 262 and 264 is released and the first and second support bows 262 and 264 are rotated to the left and right, respectively, in the case where it is required to rotate the support bow 260.
In the open top container according to this embodiment, since the support bow 260 has the structure in which the first and second support bows 262 and 264 are rotated, respectively, the length of the rotated support bow 260 can be shortened, and thus the portion in which the rotated support bow 260 overlaps the upper portion of the adjacent support bow 260 can be minimized. In this case, as described above in the first embodiment of the present invention, if the length of at least one of the first and second support bows 262 and 264 is adjustable in the length direction, the portion in which the rotate support bow 260 overlaps the upper portion of the adjacent support bow 260 can be further minimized.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 3 of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the open top container according this embodiment includes a container main body 310 and support bows 360. With respect to the same (or equivalent) portions as those of the above-described construction, the same (or equivalent) reference numerals are used, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, since the main feature of the open top container according to this embodiment is related to the detailed construction of the support bow 360, the explanation will be made hereinafter centering around the support bow 360 according to this embodiment with reference to FIG. 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 14, a sphere-shaped fastening portion 362 is provided on one end portion of the support bow 360 according to this embodiment of the present invention. To correspond to this, a fastener 328 is provided on the upper portion of the first side panel 320. The fastener 328 is so configured that the fastener 328 accommodates at least a part of the fastening portion 362 and the support bow 360 is rotatable upward and downward around the one end portion of the support bow 360. As an example, the fastener 328 may be so configured that a hollow portion that corresponds to the external appearance of the fastening portion 362 is formed inside the fastening portion 362 to partially surround the fastening portion 362. By forming the fastener 328 as described above, the fastening portion 362 is inserted into the hollow portion of the fastener 328 and is freely rotated upward and downward or left and right within a predetermined angle range. In this embodiment of the present invention, the fastening portion 362 is provided on the lower side of the support bow 360. However, if needed, the fastening portion may be provided on the upper side of the support bow, and accordingly the fastener may be provided on the upper side of the support bow.
By the above-described coupling structure of the open top container according to this embodiment, the support bow can be freely rotated in the left or right direction without seceding from the first side panel, and after the rotation in the left or right direction is completed, the support bow can be freely rotated upward and downward again to facilitate the safekeeping of the support bow.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an open top container according to embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIGS. 16 and 17 are perspective views illustrating the movement state of support bows in an open top container illustrated in FIG. 15. With respect to the same (or equivalent) portions as those of the above-described construction, the same (or equivalent) reference numerals are used, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, the open top container according to this embedment includes a container main body 410, a guide member 470, a sliding member 480, and support bows 460. The container main body 410 includes first and second side panels 420 and 430 provided spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel 412 connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels 420 and 430. The detailed construction of the container main body 410 has already been described through the above-described embodiments, and thus the detailed description thereof will be omitted.
The guide member 470 is provided on the upper portion of the first side panel 420 along the width direction of the first side panel 420. The guide member 470 not only guides the left and right movement of the sliding member 480 but also serves as an axis that supports the upward and downward rotation of the sliding member 480. More specifically, in the sliding member 480, a hollow portion that penetrates the inside of the sliding member 480 in a direction that corresponds to the width direction of the first side panel 420 may be formed so that the guide member 470 of a cylinder shape can be inserted into the hollow portion. Through the above-described construction, the sliding member 480 can move in a direction that corresponds to the width direction of the first side panel 420 along the guide member 470, and can be rotated upward and downward about the guide member 470 as an axis. However, the shapes of the guide member and the sliding member are not limited thereto, and any construction, in which the sliding member is movable to the left and right along the guide member and is rotatable about the guide member as an axis, can be applied to the open top container according to this embodiment of the present invention.
The support bow 460 that crosses the opening of the container main body 410 is connected to the sliding member 480. More specifically, one end portion of the support bow 460 is connected to the sliding member 480 that is provided on the side of the first side panel 420, and the other end portion thereof extends up to the upper portion of the second side panel 430. Through this construction, the support bow 460 can be connected to the upper portion of the first side panel 420, can move in a direction that corresponds to the width direction of the first side panel 420 according to the left and right movement of the sliding member 480, and can be rotated upward and downward according to the upward and downward movement of the sliding member 480.
However, the support bow is not necessarily formed of a single member, and may be formed by connecting a plurality of members. For example, the support bow may include an outer support bow in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction so that the length of the support bow can be adjusted in the length direction thereof, and an inner support bow of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion. Further, the support bow may include a first support bow having one end portion connected to the sliding member, and a second support bow having one end portion detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion extending up to the upper portion of the second side panel. The detailed description thereof is similar to that described through the above-described embodiments and thus will be omitted.
On the other end, the one end portion of the support bow 460 that is connected to the sliding member 480 may be directly connected to the sliding member 480 or may be indirectly connected to the sliding member 480 through the coupling structure of the fastening portion 462 and the fastener 428 as described above through the third embodiment of the present invention. Further, the other end portion of the support bow 460 that extends up to the second side panel 430 may be put on the stepped portion 432 of the second side panel 430 as it is, or may be accommodated in an accommodator 438 that is provided on the upper portion of the second side panel 430. Once the accommodator 438 is provided on the upper portion of the second side panel 430, the other end portion of the support bow 460 can be detachably connected to the upper portion of the second side panel 430, and thus the support bow 460 can keep its position more stably.
The movement state of the support bow 460 in the open top container as constructed above according to this embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. Since the one end portion of the support bow 460 is connected to the sliding member 480, the support bow 460 can be moved in the width direction of the first side panel according to the left and right movement of the sliding member 480. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 16, all the support bows 460 can be moved to one end side of the container main body 410. In this case, the other end portions of the support bows 460 which are not connected to the sliding member 480 are put on the stepped portion 432 of the second side panel 430 as they are. Further, a separate fastening member (not illustrated) may be installed on the side of the second side panel 430 to fasten the other end portions of the support bows 460 to the side of the second side panel 430.
Through the above-described construction of the open top container according to this embodiment of the present invention, since the upper portion of the container main body can be opened in a state where the support bows are not separated from the container main body, loss of the support bows is prevented to reduce the container maintenance cost and a worker can proceed with the upper portion opening/closing work more safely and easily.
On the other hand, since the sliding member 480 is rotatable upward and downward about the guide member 470 as the axis, the support bows 460 connected to the sliding member 480 are also rotatable together with the sliding member 480. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the support bows 460 can be rotated so that the other end portions of the support bows 460 that extend up to the second side panel 430 look toward the base panel 412 of the container main body 410. When the support bows 460 are rotated as described above, the space for keeping the support bows 460 can be minimized.
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the open top container according to the present invention, container maintenance cost can be reduced, and a worker can proceed with the upper portion opening/closing work more safely and easily, and thus the present invention has an industrial applicability.

Claims

1. An open top container comprising:

a container main body having first and second side panels provided s spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels; and

support bows each having one end portion connected to an upper portion of the first side panel and the other end portion crossing the opening and extending up to an upper portion of the second side panel to be rotatable in a left or right direction around the one end portion.

2. The open top container according to claim 1, wherein the other end portion of the support bow is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second side panel.

3. The open top container according to claim 1, wherein the support bow is so configured that its length can be adjusted in the length direction thereof.

4. The open top container according to claim 3, wherein the support bow comprises an outer support bow in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction, and an inner support bow of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion.

5. The open top container according to claim 1, wherein an accommodation portion, which accommodates at least a part of the support bow that is rotated in the left or right direction, is provided on the upper portion of the first side panel.

6. The open top container according to claim 1, wherein the support bow comprises a first support bow having one end portion connected to the upper portion of the first side panel, and a second support bow having one end portion connected to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion extending up to the upper portion of the second side panel, wherein the first support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the one end portion of the first support bow together with the second support bow, and the second support bow is rotatable in upward and downward directions around the other end portion of the first support bow.

7. The open top container according to claim 1, wherein the support bow comprises a first support bow having one end portion connected to the upper portion of the first side panel, and a second support bow having one end portion detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion connected to the upper portion of the second side panel, wherein the first support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the one end portion of the first support bow, and the second support bow is rotatable in the left or right direction around the other end portion of the second support bow.

8. The open top container according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second support bows is so configured that its length can be adjusted in the length direction thereof.

9. The open top container according to claim 7, wherein a sphere-shaped fastening portion is provided on one end portion of the support bow, and a fastener is provided on the upper portion of the first side panel to accommodate at least a part of the fastening portion so that the support bow can be rotated upward and downward around the one end portion thereof.

10. An open top container comprising:

a container main body having first and second side panels provided spaced apart from each other to form an opening on an upper portion of the container and a base panel connecting lower end portions of the first and second side panels;

a guide member provided in a width direction of the first side panel on an upper portion of the first side panel;

a sliding member movable in the width direction of the first side panel along the guide member and rotatable upward and downward on the guide member as an axis; and

support bows each having one end portion connected to the sliding member and the other end portion crossing the opening and extending up to an upper portion of the second side panel.

11. The open top container according to claim 10, wherein the guide member is formed in a cylinder shape, and the sliding member has a hollow portion that penetrates the inside of the sliding member in a direction that corresponds to the width direction of the first side panel, wherein the guide member is inserted into the hollow portion of the sliding member.

12. The open top container according to claim 10, wherein a sphere-shaped fastening portion is provided on one end portion of the support bow, and a fastener is provided on the sliding member to accommodate at least a part of the fastening portion so that the support is rotatable in a left or right direction around the one end portion and is rotatable upward and downward around the one end portion.

13. The open top container according to claim 10, wherein the support bow comprises an outer support bow in which a hollow portion is formed in the length direction so that the length of the support bow can be adjusted in the length direction thereof, and an inner support bow of which at least a part is inserted into the hollow portion and which is movable forward and backward in the length direction along the hollow portion.

14. The open top container according to claim 10, wherein the support bow comprises a first support bow having one end portion connected to the sliding member, and a second support bow having one end portion detachably coupled to the other end portion of the first support bow and the other end portion extending up to the upper portion of the second side panel.