US3069007A

US3069007A - Means for unitizing produce containers for shipment

Info

Publication number: US3069007A
Application number: US834371A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walton B Crane
Original assignee: Allied Plastics Co
Current assignee: Allied Plastics Co
Priority date: 1959-08-14
Filing date: 1959-08-14
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 w. B. CRANE 3,069,007 v MEANS FOR UNITIZING PRODUCE CONTAINERS FOR SHIPMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l a V R INVENTOR.

W44 701V 6 CeAwE W a W%% lrraeA/ey Dec. 18 1962 w, CRANE 3,069,007

MEANS FOR UNI'IIZING PRODUCE CONTAINERS FOR SHIPMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. M14 701V 8. Gen/v5 Dec. 18, 1962 w. B. CRANE 7 3,

MEANS FOR UNITIZING PRODUCE CONTAINERS FOR SHIPMENT Filed Aug. 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JWENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,069,007 MEANS FOR UNITIZING PRODUCE CONTAINERS FOR SHIPMENT Walton B. Crane, South Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Allied Plastics Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 834,371 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 768,175 filed October 20, 1958, now abandoned and entitled Wrapper for Packaging Produce Containers.

This invention deals generally with handling means for produce containers and the like and, more particularly, with means for unitizing a group of such containers for shipment.

The invention is concerned with the existing produce container shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 752,477 filed August 1, 1958, now Patent No. 2,987,198, and entitled Spacer forProduce Containers. rectangular cardboard structure having side walls, double panel end, walls, and a bottom wall. In some cases, the container may have a hingeable cover.

, These produce containers are commonly handled in stacked pairs or units. The pair of containers in each unit are. releasably .joined by means of wire couplers which extend between the panels of the container end walls and through slots in the bottom wall and upper edges of the end walls.

The upper ends of the couplers project above the upper end wall edges of the upper container in each unit. When several units are stacked in a vertical column, one unit is placed on another in such a way that the upper ends of the couplers on the lower unit engage in the bottom slots of the upper unit. The units are thereby locked against relative shifting.

Frequently, for shipment, several columns of container units are stacked in this way and then unitized to form an integral shipping package. Each package or container stack is several columns deep and several columns wide and may, in some cases, be supported on a pallet.

A general object of this invention is -to provide packaging means for unitizing -a stack of produce containers of the character described for shipment.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide.

packaging means of the character described which permits various numbers of produce containers to be packaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide packaging means of the character described which exposes labeled portions of the packaged containers to view so as to avoid the necessity of labeling the packaging means.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide packaging means of the character described which may be compactly and conveniently stored and shipped when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide packaging means of the character described which is inexpensive to manufacture. 7

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of a container package which is sturdy, has minimum weight, and is otherwise especially suited to shippingv by air transport. 7

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention will be best understood from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the annexed drawingsywherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a stack of produce Briefly stated, this produce container consists of a containers unitized by one form of the present packag- FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the packaging means of FIG. 1 in unfolded condition;

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the packaging means of FIG. 4 is assembled on a group of container units;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pallet on which the container units of FIG. 1 are stacked;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the present packaging means;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the packaging means of FIG. 7 in unfolded condition;

' FIG. 9 is a sectional view through a refrigerated rail-" road freight car illustrating ing means of the invention; V

FIG. 10 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 10inFIG. 9; p

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating the manner in which the modified packaging means is applied to produce containers; and

yet another form of packag- FIG. 12 illustrates the modified packaging means in unfolded condition.

As preliminarily discussed, the packaging means of this invention is especially designed for use with one particular type of produce container, indicated by the numeral 20. For convenience, these containers are gen-' erally handled in stacked pairs, or units, 21.

Containers 20. are of conventional design. Each container consists of a rectangular cardboard structure having.

end walls 22. Each end wall has an outer panel 22a and an inner panel 22b.

The two containers 20, when stacked to form a container unit, are joined by wire couplers 2.4. These couplers are inserted through slots. 25 in the bottom wall and upper end wall edges and extend between the end wall panels ZZa and 22b of the containers. The upper end of the couplers 24 extend a distance above the upper end wall edges of the upper container in each unit 21, as may be observed in FIG. 1. When stacking a group of container units, an upper unit is placed on a lower unit in such a way that the upper extending ends of the couplers on the lower unit engage in the bottom coupler slots (not shown) in the upper unit. The several container units in a vertical column are thereby locked against relative shifting.

The containers and container units' described above are well known in the art so that no further description thereof is deemed'necessary here. If amore detained description is desired, reference may be had to my aforementioned copending application Serial No. 752,477.

For convenience of handling in shipment, several container units may be stacked on a pallet 26 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Pallet 26 is designed for lifting by a fork lift truck, for example, and has certain unique features of construction to be hereinafter described.

As shown in the drawings, the means for joining'the containers 20 in the container stack 30 of FIG. 1 into a unitary package for shipment comprises a plurality of wrappers 28. Each wrapper'is made from a rectangular blank of suitable material, such as cardboard. The width W of the blank is approximately equal to twice the length of an individual produce container 20. Thisblank has a first pair of outer transverse score or fold lines 32 equally spaced from its opposite ends. The blank has a second pair of inner transverse score or fold lines 34 equally spaced inwardlyof and parallel to score lines 32.

Patented Dec. 18, 1962 The longitudinal spacing a between the inner score lines 34 is made approximately equal to N times the Width B of an individual container 20 where N is the number of container columns which are arranged side by side, in a crosswise direction of the containers, in the container stack to be packaged. Thus, since the container stack illustrated is three container columns wide, distance A between the inner score lines of the illustrative blank is approximately three times the width B of a container 20.

The longitudinal spacing C between the score lines 32 and 34 is approximately equal to the height D of a single container unit 21. The outer score lines 32 are spaced a distance E from the end edges of the unitizer.

Blank28, between the inner score line 34, is formed with longitudinally extending rows of equally spaced transversely aligned

slots

36 and 38. Slots 38 comprise notches in the side edges of the blank 28, as shown.

The number of these rows and the number of slots in each row again depends upon the number of containers which are placed side by side in the container stack to be packaged. The center spacing F between the slots in each row is approximately equal to the container width B. Each outer slot is spaced a distance equal to approximately one-half of the container width from the adjacent score line 34.

In use of the present wrapper, a lower layer of container units is placed on the parallel 26,. In the illustrative. container stack, this. lower layer contains three rows of container units arranged side by side, each row consisting of a pair of container units. arranged in end-to-end fashion with their end walls in contact. When the units are arranged in this fashion, it will be observed that the upper ends of the couplers on the upper container units in several rows are aligned transversely of the rows. Also, the upper ends of the. inner or center couplers in each row are located in close proximity.

A wrapper 28. is, now placed over this lower layer of container units in such a way that the upper ends of the inner couplers. on the units, that is, the couplers located at the center of the rows, engage in the center row of slots 36 in the wrapper and the upper ends of the outer couplers. engage in the notches 38 in the side edges of the wrapper. The end portions of the wrapper, between the fold lines 32 and 34, define first inner end flaps which are folded down against the sides of the two outer rows of container units, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5. The end portions of the wrapper between the end edges of the latter and the outer fold lines 32 define second uter end flaps which are folded beneath the container units (FIG. 5,), so as to be frictionally held between the units. and the pallet 26. To, this end, the width E of the outer end flaps, is made sufficient to prevent pulling of the latter from. beneath the container units.

A second layer of container units is now stacked on top of the first layer in such a way that the upper ends of the couplers in the, first layer of container units engage in the, bottom coupler slots in the container units of the. second layer. A second wrapper is now placed on top of the second layer in, the same way as the first Wrapper was placed on the lower layer. The end flaps on the second wrapper are folded down against the sides and then beneath the second layer of container units in the manner shown. This procedure is repeated until the desired number of container units are stacked.

Metal binding straps 40 are now passed around the assembly, in the manner shown. The center strap passes between the upper ends of the inner couplers in the container units of the upper layer so as to be retained against. lateral movement. The two outer binding straps extend along the inner sides of the upper ends of the outer couplers so as to be held against slipping over the ends of the stack.

The lower side of the pallet 26 has a center pair of planks 42 which are. spacedv to define a recess 44 therebetween for receiving the center binder. The opposite 4 sides of the pallet have brackets 46 which prevent slipping of the binding straps from the ends of the pallet. As shown, pallet 26 has upper and lower planked sides which are spaced by blocks '48, so as to define, at each side of the pallet, a pair of spaces 50 for receiving the forks of a fork lift truck. The pallet may, therefore, be picked up by a fork lift truck from any side.

It will be seen that any number of container units may be stacked and packaged in the manner described above, each layer of units being unitized by a wrapper 28. The width and length of the wrapper, the placement of the slots 36 and notches 38, and the location of the score lines 32 and 34 may be varied to suit the number of container units to be packaged.

It will be observed that the ends of the container units are exposed. Accordingly, any identifying labels or advertising matter on the units are readily visible so that no identifying labels need be applied to the wrappers themselves. When not in use, the wrappers may be conveniently stored or returned to their point of origin.

The modified packaging means or wrapper 100 of FIGS. 7 and 8 is especially designed for packaging a small, fixed number of container units 21 for so-called belly loading in aircraft. In most cases, each package will consist of a stack 102 of two container units 21 arranged in end-to-end fashion as illustrated, although other numbers of container units may be packaged.

As in the previous form of the invention, the wrapper 100 comprises a rectangular blank of cardboard or other suitable material. This blank has a width W approximately equal to the. overall length of the two container units to be packaged.

In use, the, wrapper 100 is folded laterally about the pair of container units in such a way that one. end of the blank overlaps the other end of the blank above the top boxes of the units in alignment with the wire couplers 24 on the units in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7. To this end, the length L of the blank is made somewhat greater than the circumferential dimension of the container units measured in a plane normal to their length.

To facilitate folding of the wrapper about the container units, the wrapper is provided with a first pair of outer, transverse score or fold lines 104. The spacing H between each of these score lines and the adjacent end of the blank is greater than one-half the width B (FIG. 1) of a container but less than the latter width.

The blank has a second pair of inner transverse score or fold lines 106 which are spaced a distance. I from the adjacent outer score lines 104. The distance I is approximately equal to the height D (FIG. 1) of a container unit. The spacing J between the inner score lines is approximately equal to the width B of a container. Clearly, these score lines are arranged to accommodate folding of the wrapper 100 about the container units in the manner illustrated.

The blank of FIG. 8 is formed with three longitudinally extending rows of equally spaced, transversely aligned

slots

108 and 110. Slots 108 comprise notches in the side edges of the blank, as before. The row of slots 110 is centered crosswise of the blank.

The center ones of the

slots

108 and 110 are centered lengthwise of the blank so as to register with the bottom coupler slots (not shown) in the bottom container of the. container units when the wrapper is folded about the units.

The outer ones. of the slots 108 and '110 are spaced from the adjacent outer score lines 104 a distance approximately equal to' one-half the width B of a container so that when the wrapper is folded, the outer slots on the two ends of the blank are aligned and register with the wire couplers 24 on the container units.

In use of the modified 'wrapper 100, it is folded about the container unitsv 21 as shown and in such a way that the extending ends of the wire couplers 24 on the units engage in the aligned outer slots 108 and in the opposite ends of the wrapper. These wire couplers are then bent flat against the wrapper in the manner illustrated to lock the wrapper on the container units.

As mentioned, the center ones of the

slots

108 and 110 register with the bottom coupler slots (not shown) in the lower containers of the units. This permits one package of the type shown in FIG. 7 to be stacked on top of another with the extending ends of the wire couplers on the container units in the lower package (at least some of which couplers will not be bent as shown in FIG. 7) extending through the

center slots

108 and 110 in the wrapper of the upper package and the bottom coupler slots in the container units of the latter package.

FIGS. 9-12 illustrate a further modified wrapper which is especially designed to unitize a group of produce containers for the purpose of loading a railroad freight car in the manner disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 833,760 filed August 14, 1959, now Patent No. 2,999,468 and entitled Method and Means for Loading Produce Containers and the Like for Shipment. As described more fully in this latterv application, the produce containers or boxes 20 to be shipped are stacked on the floor of the refrigerated freight car 200. A group of these containers, at each end of the car, are then joined to form, at the ends of the car, movable bulkhead means between which the remainder of the containers are confined. In the drawings, the numeral 202 denotes one of these groups of containers which are joined by several of the present modified wrappers 204.

Referring to FIG. 12, this wrapper will be seen to comprise a rectangular cardboard blank 206, similar to those previously described. This blank has a width W which is somewhat greater than the length of a single container 20, as may be observed best in FIG. 10. The wrapper is designed to be folded about containers, in the manner illustrated in the drawings, and to this end has a pair of inner fold lines 208 and a pair of outer fold lines 210. The right-hand outer fold line 210 is spaced from the adjacent end edge of the blank 206 to define an end flap having a width M which issomewhat less than one half the width B of a single container 20 so as to form a flap which can be folded between two adjacent stacked container units, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9. The width P of the inner flaps defined between the inner and

outer fold lines

208 and 210 is approximately equal to the height D of a container unit 21, so that the flaps can be folded against the sides of container units as shown.

Spacing between the inner fold lines 208 is equal to N times the width B of a single container, where N is the number of containers to :be spanned by the wrapper. In FIGS. 9-11, this number is three. The left-hand outer fold line 210 is spaced from the left-hand edge of the blank 206 a distance Q which is somewhat greater than one-half the Width of a single container. This defines, at the left-hand end of the blank, a second flap which can be folded between adjacent stacked containers, as shown.

The modified wrapper 204 has two rows of slots 212 which are spaced, in the crosswise direction of the wrapper, to receive the upper extending ends of the couplers 24 on the containers 20.

In the illustrative use of the wrapper for unitizing groups of produce containers 20 at opposite ends of the freight car 200, wrappers 204 are folded about upper and lower containers in several container stacks at each end of the car in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

This is accomplished by firstplacing a pair of wrappers on the floor of the car, then placing the lower layer of container units 21 on this wrapper, and finally folding the end flaps of the wrappers across the top of the lower layer in such a way that the couplers in one outside row of containers in the lower layer engage in the slots in the left-hand flap of the wrappers. Two additional layers of container units are now stacked on this lower layer with the upper extending coupler ends on the lower units engaging in the coupler slots in the upper units. The perforate left-hand flap of a second pair of wrappers 204 is now placed over the third layer so that the couplers in the outer row of the third layer engage in the slots of the perforate flaps of the wrappers. A fourth layer of container units is then placed on the third layer with the extending coupler ends in the third layer engaging in the bottom coupler slots in the fourth layer. -The upper wrappers are then folded across the upper side of the upper layer and the imperforate right-hand flaps of the upper wrappers are folded between the third and fourth layers, as shown. The wire couplers 24 extending through the slots 212 in the upper wrappers are then bent over as shown to prevent the wrappers from bulging up under lateral shock.

It will be observed that the wrappers 204 join the group 202 of containers into an integral unit capable of functioning as a relatively massive, movable bulkhead means for the purpose described.

It will be apparent, therefore, that there has been described and illustrated an unitizer which is fully capa lble of attaining the objects and advantages preliminarily set forth.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, various modifications of design and arrangement of parts are possible within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrapper for unitizing produce containers of the character described, comprising a generally rectangular blank of flexible material having a pair of outer fold lines approximately parallel to and spaced approximately equal distances from the opposite end edges of the blank and a pair of inner fold lines between and parallel to said outer fold lines and spaced approximately equal distances from the latter, the portion of said blank between said inner =fold lines being formed with a row of equally spaced slots extending normal to said fold lines along the center line of the blank, opposite side edges of the blank having slots transversely aligned with said firstmentioned slots, and the spacing between the end slots proximate to the ends of the blank and the adjacent inner fold lines being approximately equal to one-half the spacing between adjacent slots.

2. A shipping package comprising a rectangular pallet, .a plurality of container units stacked on said pallet to form a rectangular container stack, each unit comprising a pair of stacked rectangular boxes and wire couplers extending between the pair of boxes at their ends and projecting above the normally upper edge of the upper box, said units being stacked in a series of layers each including a plurality of side-by-side rows of container units arranged in end-to-end fashion, the projecting ends of the couplers on the units in one layer being received in bottom slots in the units in the adjacent upper layer, a wrapper inserted between each layer and overlying the lower layer, each wrapper comprising a rectangular blank having rows of slots through which the couplers on the underlying layer of container units extend, opposite ends of each blank being folded'against opposite sides of its underlying layer of units and then beneath the latter layer, and flexible binding straps passing around said pallet and the uppermost Wrapper.

3. A shipping package comprising a rectangular stack of container units, each unit comprising a pair of stacked, rectangular boxes and wire couplers extending between the boxes at their ends and projecting above the normally upper edge of the upper box, a wrapper folded about said stack and having opposite ends overlapping above the top boxes of the stack in alignment with the wire couplers extending above the latter'boxes, said overlapping ends having aligned slots receiving said latter couplers.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 wherein said. latter couplers are folded flat against the normally upper side of said wrapper.

5. A wrapper for unitizing produce containers of the character described, comprising a generally rectangular blank of flexible material having a pair of outer fold lines approximately parallel to and spaced from the opposite end edges of the blank and a pair of inner fold lines between and parallel to said outer fold lines and spaced approximately equal distances from the latter fold lines, said fold lines defining an inner flap and an outer flap at each end of the blank, said blank being formed with two rows of long, narrow slots extending normal to the fold lines, the slots in the several rows extending lengthwise of their respective rows and being aligned transversely of the latter, each row having three equally spaced slots centered between the inner fold lines and one slot in one end flap which is spaced from the adjacent outer fold line a distance equal to the spacing between the inner fold line and the adjacent one of the slots between said inner fold lines.

6. A wrapper for unitizing produce containers of the character described, comprising a generally rectangular blank of flexible material having a pair of outer fold lines approximately parallel to and spaced approximately equal distances from the opposite end edges of the blank and a pair of inner fold lines between and parallel to said outer fold lines and spaced approximately equal distances from the latter, said blank being formed with container coupling means comprising equally spaced rows of equally spaced slots extending normal to the fold lines, the slots in the several rows extending lengthwise of their respective rows and being aligned transversely of the latter, there being three slots in each row, the intermediate slot in each row being located approximately midway between said inner fold lines, the end slots in each row being located between said outer fold lines and the ends of the blank, respectively, and the spacing between each outer fold line and the adjacent end slots being substantially equal to the spacing between each inner fold line and the intermediate slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS