US2887241A

US2887241A - Nailless cleated container

Info

Publication number: US2887241A
Application number: US527767A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack R Mackenzie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-08-11
Filing date: 1955-08-11
Publication date: 1959-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-19

Description

May 19, 1959 MaOKENZlE j 2,887,241 r v v NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINER Filed-Aug. 11, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 {W ATTORNEYS y 1959 J. R.-M KENZlE 2,887,241

NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 11, 1955 v I P 1. huHw lllllll 41!. \N W H m w l l k IIIII LHH 5 m x m\ ATTD RN 5Y5 United States Patent NAILLESS CLEATED CONTAINER Jack R. MacKenzie, Bellefontaine, Ohio Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,767

1 Claim. (Cl. 217-12) This invention relates to packing and shipping cartons and containers, such as used for refrigerators and similar merchandise, and in particular, a container, including reinforced panels with flaps having cleats on edges thereof extended from base and cover panels wherein the cleats of the flaps are adapted to be retained between cleats on side, front, and rear panels with wires or straps and wherein the container, which is sealed and dustproof, is adapted to support a similar container with an appliance therein.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a container particularly adapted for storing and shipping heavy merchandise in which the parts are secured together with out nails, screws and the like whereby the container is readily assembled around a piece of merchandise and also readily removed therefrom.

Various types of shipping cartons and containers have been provided for packaging heavy merchandise, such as refrigerators and the like, however, corrugated paperboard is not suflicient to carry the load of a superimposed container with merchandise therein and where reinforcing cleats or strips are used nails are driven into the edges for retaining the parts in assembled relation and as the time provided for driving nails in such containers is limited the nails often glance off from the sides and the hands of workmen handling the containers are often injured and clothing of the workmen damaged by protruding ends of nails. Furthermore considerable time is lost in extracting nails for removing containers from merchandise and in this operation the containers are destroyed. With these thoughts in mind, this invention contemplates reinforced shipping containers in which parts are retained in nested relation with wires or bands extended around the containers whereby the containers are readily assembled and wherein upon cutting the wires or bands the panels of the containers are readily removed.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a container for heavy merchandise whereby the container is readily assembled and also readily removed from the merchandise without the use of hammers, screwdrivers or other similar tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced panel container for packaging heavy merchandisc in which the top or cover of the container is provided with exterior cleats such as providing a pallet effect which permits stacking of additional units with conventional mechanical equipment and without damag-. ing the units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reinforced panel container for merchandise in which the container has sufficient strength to carry additional containers with merchandise therein.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a storing and shipping container adapted to be assembled with panels having cleats thereon in which the panels with the cleats are adapted to be nested in a compartively small space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage and shipping container including panels reinforced with wood strips in which the container is adapted to be assembled as used. j

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container including panels reinforced with wood strips in which the container is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a container having side walls, a front, a back, a base and a cover in which the parts are formed with panels having reinforcing strips particularly on edges thereof and interlocking flaps whereby the parts are adapted to be retained in assembled relation throughout a unit with bands of material and wherein the parts substantially fall apart as the bands are broken.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a side and rear wall assembled on a base and also illustrating the position of a cover before the cover is assembled on the parts. i

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the container" showing the parts assembled in full lines and showing flaps with meshing cleats thereon extended from edges of the base and cover in partly open positions in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the container taken from a point at a right angle to that shown in Figure 2 showing the parts assembled. a 1

Figure 4 is a sectional plan through the carton or container taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 also showing .an exploded view in which one of the side walls is separated from the assembly.

Figure 5 is a detail showinga spring clip for retainin the parts in assembled relation as the container is assemb'led. t

Figure 6 is a sectional planthrough the spring clip shown in Figure 5 showing the clip secured to a cleat on one edge of a panel.

Figure 7 is a view showing a spring clip, similar to that shown in Figure 5, illustrating a modification wherein prongs are struck from the extended end of the clip for insuring the clip remaining in position on a panel.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan through the clip shown in Figure 7 being taken on line 8-8 thereof.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the bottom or base of the container showing a modification wherein flaps with cleats thereon are provided only at the sides of the container.

FigurelO is a plan view of the base of the container, with parts broken away, illustrating a base with short cleats on edges of the flaps of the container.

Figure 11 is a plan view similar to that shown in Figure 10, showing the use of a short single cleat positioned in the center of a flap. 1

Figure 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through the container with parts broken away.

Figure 13 shows another modification wherein spring clips are provided at points midway of the height of the container.

Figure 14 is a cross section through a lower corner of the container showing a wire extended around the locking elements of an end of the container.

The panels are formed of sheets of corrugated material, solid fibreboard, plywood, plastic or other suitable material and cleats of wood or other suitable material are positioned on and secured to edges thereof and also to points intermediate of the edges by stitches, nails, glue, or by other suitable means. i

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved packass-mam ing and shipping carton or container of this invention includes a base panel 10, a cover panel 11, side panels 12 and 13, a rear panel or back 14, and a front panel 15 and, i

in assembling the container, an article, :such as .a refrigerator is placed uponbeams 16 and 17011 the upper surface-softhe base 10 and with the side panels or walls 12 and 13 and rear panel or wall 14 assembled, as shown inFigure 4, these three panels are placed over the refrigerator'or the like and the front ,panel 15 inserted to close thecontainer, at the front.

The walls are retained in assembled relation by the spring clips illustrated in Figures to .7 to facilitate positioning the elementsaround the article and after the sides, front,-and back are assembled cleats 18 on flaps 19 extended :from sides of the base are pressed in between verticallydisposed-cleats 20 and21 of the .

panel

12 and 22 and 23 of the panel 13, the cleats 18 extending over cleats 24 and 25 'on the lower edges of the panels 12 and 13. Similarcleats 26 on flaps 27, similar to the flaps 19, are nested in between

cleats

28 and 29 on the lower edge of the rear panel 14 and cleats 30 and 31 on the lower edge of the front panel 15. The cleats 26 fit snugly between the cleats 30 and 31 and extend over cleats 32 and 33 on lower edges of the back 14 and front 15.

The base of the container includes the panel with flaps 19 at the sides on the edges of which the cleats 13 aregpositioned, a flap 27 at the rear on which the cleat 26 is positioned and a similar flap 27 at the front on which another of the cleats 26 is positioned. The beams .16 and 17 are'positioned upon the upper surface of the panel 10.

The side 12 includes a panel with the cleats 2d and 2-1 at the edges, a cleat -24'on the lower edge, a cleat 34 on the upper edge andan intermediate horizontally disposed cleat 35. The opposite side includes the panel 13 with the-cleats 22 and .23 at theedges, the cleat 25 on the lower edge, 'a-cleat .36 extended across the upper edge and an intermediate horizontally disposed cleat 37 similar to the cleat 35.

The rearwall includes the panel 14 with the

cleats

28 and 29 at the edges, the cleat 33 extended across .the lower edge, a cleat 38 extended across the upper edge and a horizontally disposed intermediate cleat 39. The front includes the panel with the cleats 30 and 31 at the edges, the cleat 32 on the lower edge and a corresponding cleat 40 'on the upper edge. The panel .15 is also 'provided'with an intermediate horizontally disposed cleat, as :indicated by the numeral 41. It will be understood that as many of the intermediate cleats may be used as may .be desired and the intermediate cleats may be positioned horizontally or vertically depending upon the merchandise carried in the container.

Ilhetb'ase includesthe panel 10 with the flaps 19 having the cleats 18 thereon at the-sides, the 'flaps 27 with the cleats 26 thereon at the front and back, the beams 16 and 17 on the upper surface and skids 42 and 43 on the lower surface.

Articles of merchandise, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and the like may rest upon the beams 16 and 17 or the merchandise may be secured to the beams such -as by bolts or other fastening means. The cover 11 includes a panel similar to the panel 10 with flaps 44 and 45 having cleats 46 thereon at the sides and flaps 4-7 and 48 with cleats 49 and 50, respectively, thereon and the upper surface is provided with a plurality of cleats, as indicated by the numeral 51. It will be understood that .as many of the cleats 51 may be provided on the upper surface of the panel 11 as may be required to carry loads of superimposed units.

It will be understood thatithe flaps, such as the flaps 19 with the=cleats 18 or the flaps 26 with thecleats 27, may .be provided only at the sides 'or only at the ends instead of at both the :sides and ends as shown in Figure 1.

To facilitate assembling the container, spring clips, as illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, maybe provided and, as shown in Figure 1, spaced elements or plates 52 with prongs 53 and 54 extended from inner edges are positioned against the panel 14 with the prongs pressed into the panel and U-shaped

sections having arms

55 and 56 connected by a back 57 are adapted to receive edges of adjoining panels, such as the panels 12 and 13, whereby the panels are readily held in position at the sides of the back as the three pieces or walls are moved over an article, such as a refrigerator. The arm 55 is connected to the base 'plate 52 with a tongue 58. The

arms

55 and 56 are adapted to be pressed together slightly to frictionally grip inner surfaces of the panels 12 and 13 and outer surfaces -of the cleats on the edges of the panels and in assembling the device the two sides and back slide over the'merchandise and with these parts in position the front is placed against edges of the sides and the cleats 26 and 49 pressed between the cleats at the sides of the front for retaining the front in position. The cover may be applied immediately although it will be understood that the cleat27 on the flap 26 of the base will be sufficient to retain the front in position as the cover is applied to the upper end of the container.

With the parts assembled, wires, such as the wire 59, shown in Figure 13,, orbands may be placed around upper and lower ends of the container and also at intermediate points to positively retain the elements in assembled or upright positions.

In the modifications illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, spring clips having base plates 61; with prongs 61 thereon having U-s'haped elements 62 extended from'tongues 63 are provided with prongs 64 which extend inwardly from the outer arm of the .U-shaped element 62 to facilitate retaining the side walls or other adjoining walls in position.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 9, a base panel 65, similar to the panel '10,.isprovided with side flaps 66 and 67 having

cleats

68 and 69, respectively, thereon and the upper surface of the base is provided with beams 70 and 71. With three walls of a container positioned against outer surfaces and ends of the beams 7i and 71 the

cleats

68 and 69 are pressed in between the cleats at theedges of the side panels whereby the walls are secured in .position upon the base 65 until wires or bands are applied thereto. The base panel 65 is also provided with skids 72 and 73 to facilitate transportation and storage of the container.

In the design shown in Figure 10, a base panel '74 is provided with end flaps v75 having short cleats 76 and 77 thereon and the base panel is mounted upon skids 78. The outer ends 79 and 8d are positioned similar to the ends of the

cleats

18 and 26 whereby with the flaps '75 .folded upwardly against side surfaces of a container the cleats 76 and 77 are .forced in between vertically disposed cleats on edges of the side walls.

In the design illustrated in Figure 11, a single cleat 81 is provided on aflap 82at the end of a base panel 83 and the base panel, which is mounted on skids 84, is provided with transverselydisposed beams 85 and 36.

Similar beams 87 are provided on the upper surface of the panel 74 of the design shown in Figure 10.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate that the cleats, such as the cleat s 18 and 26 of the base 10 shown in Figure 1 or the cleats 76 and 77 of the base shown in Figure 10 or the cleats 81.of the baseshown in Figure 11, are adapted to be formed of waste material whereby one, two, or any suitable number of cleats may be provided on flaps, as may be desired.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 13, one of the spring clips '56 is used in the center of the container instead of providing a clip, such as the clip 87, positioned in the upper end of the container, as shown in Figure 2, or a .clip 88 spaced from the lower end of the container. The clip 561's positioned against an end cleat, such as the cleat 22, and it will be understood that as many spring clips maybe used as may be desired. The clip 56 shown in Figure 13 is positioned at a cornerof a wall, such as the wall 89, the clip being positioned against a cleat 90, and the cleat being mounted in registering relation with intermediate horizontally disposed cleats 91.

The shipping and storing carton or container of this invention is, therefore, relatively flexible in that the panels of the walls, base, and cover may be formed of corrugated paper, plastic, or other suitable materials and the cleats maybe provided only at the edges or at the edges and also at intermediate points whereby the combination of the material of the panels and cleats provides load bearing elements so that comparatively heavy merchandise is adapted to be packed and stored with one unit above another and with as many units as may be desired above the base or lower units.

The cleats are also adapted to be secured to the panels with stitching, adhesive, or diiferent forms of staples and with the parts assembled around an article of merchandise bands or wires are stretched around the assembly whereby the parts are retained in assembled relation in shipping and storing.

in assembling the containers around comparatively heavy merchandise, such as refrigerators and the like, the article is secured upon base beams 16 and 17, such as by bolting, and with the device in position two side walls and a back are moved over the device with the walls positioned against sides and ends of the beams 16 and 17. With these parts in position, the front is positioned against edges of the side walls and the parts are retained in position by pressing the

cleats

18 and 26 at the lower end and 46, 49, and 50 at the upper end in between vertically disposed cleats at the sides of the panels. With the parts in position and before the cover is applied, packing is supplied around the sides, between the sides of the merchandise and inner surfaces of the container and also upon the upper end of the merchandise whereby with the cover applied and with the parts secured together by wires or bands of material the device is adapted to be picked up with a crane, stored and shipped, as may be desired. The packing or cushioning material prevents marring or scratching of sides of the merchandise and at the same time centers the device in the container.

Although the assembly is described as including a back and two side walls preassembled, it will be understood that one, two, or any number of the walls or panels may be preassembled and positioned around an article or device, as may be desired.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a container, a base having skids on its under surface, a pair of spaced parallel beams on the upper surface of the base, said container further including spaced parallel side panels, and spaced parallel front and rear panels, flaps on the edges of said base, cleats connected to said flaps, a cover having flaps on its edges, the flaps on said cover being provided with cleats, beams secured to the upper and lower surfaces of said cover, said panels abutting the beams on the upper surface of the base and also abutting the beams on the lower surface of the cover, vertically disposed and horizontally disposed cleats secured to said side, front and rear panels at the outer edges thereof; the cleats on the flaps of the base, and the cleats on the flaps of the cover engaging the horizontal cleats on the panels on the upper and lower sides respectively and extending between the vertical cleats on the panels, spring clips connected to the edges of the panels for retaining meeting edges of the panels in assembled relation, and bands encircling the panels and flaps for maintaining the cleats on the flaps in contact with the horizontal cleats on the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,438,180 Jesdale Dec. 12, 1922 1,990,788 Kells Feb. 12, 1935 2,001,140 Jordan May 14, 1935 2,538,204 Lemon Jan. 16, 1951 2,700,457 Munroe Jan. 25, 1955 2,730,287 Mueller Jan. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 24,849 Great Britain 1909 167,987 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1921 550,191 France Dec. 7, 1922