US20170334637A1 - Volume Adjustable Container System - Google Patents
Volume Adjustable Container System Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170334637A1 US20170334637A1 US15/597,929 US201715597929A US2017334637A1 US 20170334637 A1 US20170334637 A1 US 20170334637A1 US 201715597929 A US201715597929 A US 201715597929A US 2017334637 A1 US2017334637 A1 US 2017334637A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- disposed
- volume adjustable
- container system
- sliding track
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/005—Large containers of variable capacity, e.g. with movable or adjustable walls or wall parts, modular
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
- B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/004—Contents retaining means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/004—Contents retaining means
- B65D90/0053—Contents retaining means fixed on the side wall of the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/02—Wall construction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/02—Wall construction
- B65D90/08—Interconnections of wall parts; Sealing means therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2590/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D2590/02—Wall construction
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to freight storage and transportation services, and in a specific though non-limiting embodiment to methods and means for safely and efficiently adjusting the interior volume space of an otherwise fixed-volume storage and transportation container.
- Traditionally, freight storage and transportation carriers have employed a wide variety of fixed-volume container solutions for packing and moving freight loads. For example, train cars, shipping containers, vans, trailer trucks, etc., are all well-known means for storing and transporting freight.
- One problem with fixed-volume containers, however, is that the freight loads placed within are seldom, if ever, the same volume as the container. Consequently, shifting, sliding, tilting and other load movements frequently lead to damaged freight and dangerously unbalanced loads.
- One method of dealing with such issues is to simply load the freight as compactly as possible near the front of the container, and then use straps or the like secured to the inside surfaces of the container to restrict movement of the load. In this embodiment, the straps can be fixed to an interior container surface using any of a variety of known connectors, for example, durable woven shipping straps, c-shaped clips or s-shaped clips can be fixed to appropriate receiving members established at fixed positions upon the container walls.
- An obvious shortcoming of this solution, however, is that in instances where the backmost portion of the freight load is not lined up with the fixed receiving members, strap buckles or the like must be tightened using bucklers or the like to account for volume discrepancy.
- As those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will readily appreciate, however, securing a load in this manner can lead to uneven pressure being applied to corners of the load by the restraining straps, as restraint tension will naturally be greatest at points nearest the buckling of a tightening device. Consequently, the corners and other surfaces of more delicate freight are frequently damaged, and rearward and lateral movement are in any event inefficiently restrained.
- Another problem with this method is that freight is typically stored only toward the front of the container out of an abundance of caution, since the forward wall of the container acts as a stop for forward freight movement, and for the reasons discussed above rearward and lateral freight movement are not reliably restrained. Moreover, loads ending in an angled orientation (for example, irregularly shaped equipment such as many pianos, etc.), can only be restrained by fastening restraints to opposing restraint receiving means.
- Another common method for restraining freight, used either with or the without the load restraint method described above, is to further restrain shaking and other lateral movements by covering the entire load with netting, blankets, etc., and then again using a torqueing force such as a ratcheted buckler or the like to tighten straps or the like down over the load. Again, however, more delicate loads can easily become damaged in this manner.
- Yet another issue with the foregoing freight restraint approaches is that it is very difficult to load and pack a container such that multiple loads, for example, loads originating from different sources and/or customers, are easily segregated, since the ability to secure the loads using straps and other types of restraints is functionally limited by the fixed placement of the restraint connector receiving means installed along the wall of the container.
- So, while plural loads can be added to a container using the methodologies of the prior art, there remains to date no efficient and volume adjustable system for effectively subdividing the interior space of a storage container so that loads can be segregated (or not) and transported in a safe, reliable manner that limits shaking and movement in all directions while still allowing for well-balanced, delicate freight moving operations to be carried out.
- A volume adjustable container system is provided, the system including at least a sliding track system disposed longitudinally along the inside walls of a container, wherein the sliding track system further comprises a plurality of variably and scalably adjustable restraint receiving members. Association of the longitudinally disposed track system with a vertically disposed track system; the addition or substitution of other similar track systems disposed in neighboring configurations arranged throughout a wide range of angular sweep; and a wide variety of restraining members and restraining element receiving elements, are also provided.
- In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, a sliding, volume-adjustable restraint receiving system is proposed, in which the desired location of a plurality of restraint receiving members can be variably and scalably adjusted, both before and after load introduction, so that overall load restraint is performed quickly, safely, efficiently and with respect to the potential delicacy of the freight elements.
- By way of a specific though non-limiting embodiment, assume a content of concert electronics and musical equipment is to be packed, temporarily stored and transported from one performance venue to another using a large, multi-axle moving van. In this example, such equipment and electronics are sometimes referred to generically as the freight or the load, whereas the interior storage space of the large, multi-axle moving van is sometimes referred to as the container. Ordinarily skilled artisans will readily appreciate, however, that virtually any type of freight transported by a carrier means could be substituted for the example freight, and any type of carrier having a generally (though not necessarily uniformly) rectangular or other fixed interior storage space could be substituted for the example container means.
- In the example embodiment, further assume that the owners of the freight wish to segregate the concert electronics and musical equipment, respectively, and that each portion of the freight should be stored and transported in a secure, well-balanced manner that respects the inherent delicacy of such items.
- According to the present invention, then, an example storage and transportation operation is as follows.
- First, the musical equipment is typically stored toward the front of the container, because load stability must be ensured, and in any event the freight owner or managers desire that the musical instruments be removed last, since it comprises the last equipment to be installed during the new venue setup process. The concert electronics are needed earlier in the setup process, as venue installation technicians will need to begin installation and wiring connections before the musical instruments are needed.
- The interior surface of the container is equipped with a sliding track-like system that runs longitudinally along the side walls of the container, so that restraining elements such as durable woven shipping straps, their connecting means such as c-shaped clips or s-shaped clips, and their corresponding restraint receiving members can be easily slid along a plurality of such longitudinally disposed tracks. For example, two such tracks can be provided, so that a first track runs longitudinally along an upper portion of the container's side wall in an orientation essentially parallel to the container's bottom surface, and a second track runs longitudinally along a lower portion of the container's side wall in an orientation essentially parallel to both the container's bottom surface and the first, uppermost track.
- Additional tracks, for example a middle track running longitudinally along a middle portion of the container's side wall in an orientation essentially parallel to both the container's bottom surface and the uppermost and lowermost tracks, could also be provided. Naturally, n-number of such tracks, each running longitudinally or in conjunction with vertically adjustable tracks; a plurality of only vertically adjustable tracks disposed in communication either with or without the longitudinal members; vertically or longitudinally disposed tracks disposed between previously existing tracks (for example, horizontally disposed tracks installed in the “valleys” or lower spaces between existing vertically mounted tracks, etc.); tracks which vary in angular orientation (e.g., at forty-five degree angles or other fixed or openly adjustable angular orientations) and/or longitudinal or vertical lengths or heights (so that entire lengths or heights of the containers or only portions thereof are so equipped) can be arranged in like manner.
- Once the musical instruments are loaded in the desired manner, the variable, scalable restraint application and connection means are mechanically engaged, for example, using a plurality of c-shaped or s-shaped clips or other known or future compatible connectors established for the purposes of this invention, and the freight load is efficiently and reliably restrained in a well-balanced manner that respects the delicacy of the nature of the load. As those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the restraining means can comprise one or more appropriately suitable means such as freight straps, whether adjustable or fixed; restraining chains, whether adjustable or fixed; load bars, whether telescoping or fixed, etc., or combinations thereof.
- Continuing the example, then, a space between the instruments and electronics is defined, the tracks and their restraint means are adjusted to provide a new forward movement restraint system; the equipment is loaded into the carrier in the desired configuration; and the tracks and restraint elements are again adjusted behind the rearmost portion of the load and tightened in a manner that ensures balance and delicacy as well as safe, efficient and repeatable restraint.
- A great many other advantages and variations of the instant disclosure will readily occur to an ordinarily skilled artisan, even if significant departures from the non-limiting disclosure of structures and operations described herein are practiced.
- Nowhere in the art of record, however, whether considered alone or in combination, are methods and means for safely and efficiently adjusting the interior volume spaces of an otherwise fixed-volume storage and transportation container known or used in a manner consistent with the instant disclosure.
- The foregoing specification is provided for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to describe all possible aspects of the present invention. Moreover, while the invention has been shown and described in detail with respect to several exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will appreciate that minor changes to the description, and various other modifications, omissions and additions may also be made without departing from either the spirit or scope thereof.
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/597,929 US20170334637A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2017-05-17 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
US17/022,945 US20210053751A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2020-09-16 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
US17/873,819 US20230091143A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2022-07-26 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201562236644P | 2015-10-02 | 2015-10-02 | |
US201615283658A | 2016-10-03 | 2016-10-03 | |
US15/597,929 US20170334637A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2017-05-17 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US201615283658A Continuation-In-Part | 2015-10-02 | 2016-10-03 |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/022,945 Continuation US20210053751A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2020-09-16 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20170334637A1 true US20170334637A1 (en) | 2017-11-23 |
Family
ID=60329763
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US15/597,929 Abandoned US20170334637A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2017-05-17 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
US17/022,945 Abandoned US20210053751A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2020-09-16 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
US17/873,819 Abandoned US20230091143A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2022-07-26 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/022,945 Abandoned US20210053751A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2020-09-16 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
US17/873,819 Abandoned US20230091143A1 (en) | 2015-10-02 | 2022-07-26 | Volume Adjustable Container System |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US20170334637A1 (en) |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1416287A (en) * | 1919-05-10 | 1922-05-16 | Multoplex Filing Device Compan | Filing device |
US1416288A (en) * | 1919-06-06 | 1922-05-16 | Multoplex Filing Device Compan | Filing device |
US2521088A (en) * | 1946-08-16 | 1950-09-05 | Phelps Donald | Shipping container and method of transporting vehicles |
US5088619A (en) * | 1990-09-26 | 1992-02-18 | Shank Robert A | Containers for compact discs and method of fabrication |
US5443160A (en) * | 1994-01-28 | 1995-08-22 | Fellowes Manufacturing Company | Variable position divider for storage tray |
US20090308867A1 (en) * | 2008-06-13 | 2009-12-17 | Jaideep Mohan Lal | Collapsible bottle |
US8100282B2 (en) * | 2005-05-05 | 2012-01-24 | Bradford Company | Container having sliding support members |
US8109216B2 (en) * | 2008-05-06 | 2012-02-07 | Mirna Nono | Liquid storage and dispensing device and method thereof |
-
2017
- 2017-05-17 US US15/597,929 patent/US20170334637A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2020
- 2020-09-16 US US17/022,945 patent/US20210053751A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2022
- 2022-07-26 US US17/873,819 patent/US20230091143A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1416287A (en) * | 1919-05-10 | 1922-05-16 | Multoplex Filing Device Compan | Filing device |
US1416288A (en) * | 1919-06-06 | 1922-05-16 | Multoplex Filing Device Compan | Filing device |
US2521088A (en) * | 1946-08-16 | 1950-09-05 | Phelps Donald | Shipping container and method of transporting vehicles |
US5088619A (en) * | 1990-09-26 | 1992-02-18 | Shank Robert A | Containers for compact discs and method of fabrication |
US5443160A (en) * | 1994-01-28 | 1995-08-22 | Fellowes Manufacturing Company | Variable position divider for storage tray |
US8100282B2 (en) * | 2005-05-05 | 2012-01-24 | Bradford Company | Container having sliding support members |
US8109216B2 (en) * | 2008-05-06 | 2012-02-07 | Mirna Nono | Liquid storage and dispensing device and method thereof |
US20090308867A1 (en) * | 2008-06-13 | 2009-12-17 | Jaideep Mohan Lal | Collapsible bottle |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20230091143A1 (en) | 2023-03-23 |
US20210053751A1 (en) | 2021-02-25 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AVERITT EXPRESS, INC., TENNESSEE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GREGORY, STEVEN EARL;WHITTAKER, JAMES ALLEN, JR.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20170531 TO 20170607;REEL/FRAME:043546/0900 |
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Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
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STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: FINAL REJECTION MAILED |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |