US3186619A - Shipping container - Google Patents

Description

June 1965 R. B. LE ROY' ETAL SHIPPING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1962 June 1965 R. B. LE ROY ETAL SHIPPING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15. 1962 June 9 B. LE ROY ETAL SHIPPING CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1962 June 1, 1965 R. B. LE ROY ETAL 3,186,619

S PPPP ING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,186,619 SHIPPING CGNTAWER Robert B. Le Roy, Moorestown, N.J., and Robert B.

Pool, Baltimore, Md, assignors to Weyerlzaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Feb. 15, 1962, er.No. 173,433

11 Claims. (Cl. 229-45) This invention relates to shipping containers adapted to many uses, 'and particularly of the hogshead type, and has 'for an object the provision of a shipping container which may be shipped and stored in collapsed or flat condition and quickly and economically erected at the site of use.

Though the principles of the present invention are applicable to shipping containers of many kinds and sizes, some of the'advantages will be made quickly apparent by considering the requirements of containers general referred to as hogsheads and measuring some four feet in diameter and four feet high. Hogsheads-as used in the tobacco industry impose the requirement of adequate strength to Withstand heavy loading as well as the resilient or expanding character of the compressed tobacco. Such containers should have walls easily removed for ready inspection of the contents by tobacco buyers and adapted to reassembly for shipping purposes.

In order to meet the foregoing rigid requirements of hogsheads as used in the tobacco industry, preassembly of the hogsheads has been required. Thus whether shipped, loaded or empty the same amount of shipping space has been required. Moreover the preassembly operations and the nature of the hardware attached to the walls and closures have made uneconomic or impossible printing of the Walls by presses to take advantage of valuable advertisingspace on displayduring shipment.

Equally stringent requirements are imposed upon many other types of containers, though of less, as well as, greater size, than those characterizing the hogshead. They,

. too, have not been well adapted to use of printed advertising copy on the exterior walls.

It is an object of the present invention to utilize readily available materials of relatively low cost, flexible in-charactor for shipment While flat, and to combine with them a suspension system which at the point of use not only brings the container material into proper configuration,

but provides, independent of that material, structural elements resisting the loading of the container and the shocks incident to shipment of a loaded container.

' It is a further object of the invention to assemble hogsheads and other containers from one or more plies of fibreboard, none of which are adhesively secured together,

and all of which after assembly with the ends overlapping are held together by circumferential and lengthwise tension members which together with attaching clips and end-closure members provide a container with a strength containers in the form of nogsheads may be shipped fiat and quickly erected as needed. Each container comprises a suspension system, a plurality of plies of fibreboard of approximately equal length and tWo end closure members. The containers are assembled with the endrof United States Patent "ice each ply overlapping the adjacent end by some 12 inches. Though these plies may be shipped with the overlapping feature provided at the point of shipment, that feature is preferably provided at the point of use. Thus at the point of use, the plies are placed in said overlapping relationship. The plies are rolled about round end closure members thereby forming the plies into a cylindrical shape With the end portions of the several plies in overlapping relationship. Steel strapping, as currently in use in reinforcing packages, may be applied at several points lengthwise of the cylinder to hold the plies in position and to form a part of the load-bearing suspension system. The container assembly preferably includes at its end portions circumferential reinforcements in the form of a plurality of narrow plies of fibreboard, each of which may extend lengthwise of the container some 6 inches to 8 inches, though they may be of different width. These plies with their end portions in overlapping relation, as above described, will be held in place by additional circumferential tension members. There are also utilized a plurality of supporting members or clips at opposite ends of the container, each having U-shaped portions embracing wall structure of all plies. Each portion of each of the clips or supporting members external to the container is provided with an opening through which another circumferential tension member may extend, one at each end of the container, to hold them in place, and to form another part of the suspension system. A plurality of lengthwise tension members, such as steel strapping, are disposed in interconnecting relationship on the inside of the container, one foreach opposingpair of supporting members or clips at the ends of the container.

The invention'is characterized by the fact that the suspension system formed by the internal tension members together with the external tension members provides adequate reinforcement for the multiple plies of fibreboard, itself a relatively strong material and for heavy bulging types of loads. Thus, with closure members secured to'the supporting clips ormembers at the opposite ends of the container, material; under compression, such as tobacco, fully filling the container, may be shipped from one point to another, and at the same time the containers may be readily opened for access to the contents, as from both ends and sides, as is essential in the tobacco industry. 7 i

For further objects and advantages of the invention and for examples of modifications thereof, reference is to be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a container embodying one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an assembly of plies, clips and internal tension members in positions preparatory to producing a container;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4, is an end View of FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrating how certain of the inner tension members and clips may be applied to the fibreboard assembly;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view illustrating the manner inwhich the assembly of FIGURE 3 is rolled into a cylindrical shape about the circular closure members;

FlGURE 6 is an isometric view of the cylindricalhogshead as the rolling operation is completed;

FIGURE 7 is a fractional sectional view of FIGURE 6 taken on the line 7-7 showing how the plies move into overlapping engagement at the completion of the rolling operation;

FIGURE 8 is a fractional isometric view illustrating the application to the hogshead of an exterior tension member and the fastening together of the ends of the tension member;

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of the hogsheadt afte application thereto of the tension members;

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of the hogshead with the exterior tension members severed and the walls opened away from the contents (not shown) and one end closure in position for removal;

FIGURE'll is a sectional view of a hogshead utilizing a clip structure of modified form twoof which appear in FIGURES 1-3 and 5;

FIGURE-l2 is an isometric view of the modified clip structure; of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is anisometric view of another preferred form of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view of the hogshead of FIGURE 13 taken in the region adjacent oneof'the clip joint formed by the arrangement of FIGURE 16;

FIGURE 18 is a view of a portion of a modification of theclip, 7

Referring now to FIGURE'I, the invention in one form has been shown as embodied in a container 10, the

a clip showing 'and against the body wall 11 to provide added'strength and reinforcement of the end portions of the container ltl.

The manner in which the container 10 of FIGURE 1 may be assembled atlthe site ofouse and'the several advantages of thesuspension system comprisingthe internal and external tension members will be better understood a in conjunction with the description of the assembly operabody wall 11 of which is formed of a plurality of'plies reinforcing bands 12 and 13 and the pliesforrning thep body wall 11 are embraced by a plurality of clips of U- shape. 7 There have been shown six clips 1511-15 at one end of the hogshead disposed inalignment lengthwise of the container 10 with the six clips lea-16f atthe. op- 1 posite'end. As best shown in FIGURE '2, a tension member 17 in the form of a steel cable or strap extends throughopenings in clips 15b,'16b, 16c and 15e, the pOr-I tions 17]) and 17a extending along the inner wall 'of the container 10 acting as longitudinal tension members. The

tions which will now be set forth;

Atthe point of use, thejthree reinforcing plies 12a, 12b ar'rdlZqFIGURES 2-5, will be laid one on top of the other and in staggered relationship to, provide overlapping at theends. Thustheleft hand end of the reinforcing ply lZb rwillsbe disposed: about twelve inches from the left hand endof the reinforcing plylZa and the end of ply 5120 about twelve inches fromthe end of ply 12b. The companion reinforcing plies 1342 130. for the opposite end of the container will :besimilarly stacked, one on topof the other,rin a position to form the band 13.

The several-body plies 1161,1117 and lie (shipped fiat) are laid over the reinforcing plies and one on top of the other in stepped relationship. o Though other than thedescribed staggered arrangement can be utilized,- as will be later explained, it is to be noted that in FIGURES 3-5, the bodyply lla'has free ends of the tension member; 17, FIGURE 1, are :ini terconnected by a 'turnbuclrlels. In thismanner the end closure members 19 and 26, FIGURES 1 and 9, are held in place within the wall structure at each end of the hogshead and against flanges or shelf structure of each clip.

The turnbuckle 18 and the tension member 17 form a part of the suspension system. This suspension system, including the six U-shaped clips 15a-15f at the toptof the container and the six clips 16a-16f at the bottoms of; the containerrespectively interconnected by tension members 17a-17f, provides resistance to all outwardly directed forces by keeping the end closures 19 and-20 firmlyyin place. The clips mechanically hold the plies together and the tension members hold the clips inplace.

The interconnection of each pair, of clips by the longitudinally extending tension members 17a-17f provides resistive outwardly directed forces by reason of mechanical interconnection of the clips and the closure members Hand 2!). Thus, metal screws mayextend through each 7 closure member and into threaded engagement with each of the flanges 0r shelf-projections of said clips. The

structure'of each clip is best seen in FIGURE '12. In-

stead of screws, any suitable' locking or fastening may be used. I

As a further part of the suspension system there are providedaplurality of circumferential reinforcing elements three of which, the elements 21, 22 and 23; en-' its left hand edge in alignment with the left hand edges of thereinforcing plies 12c and-13c. With the plies thus assembled, there will then be applied the; U'-shaped clips 15a-15f: these being disposed along the upper edge portions of the pliesas viewed in FIGUREQ; The clipslda-ldf will be similarly placed in position on the lower edge of the stacked arrangement of plies. Since the tension elements 17a, 17c, 17d and 171 interconnect opposing pairs of clips as illustrated in FIGURE 2, needed slack to permit the U-shapedclips to "embrace the stacked plies can be attained by bending the plies longitudinally as shown in FIGURE 4 forthe clips 15f and 16 More particularly, the'clips along one edge-portion of the'plies Willbefirs't slipped onto them with the'tension elements lying crosswise of them. a By then stepping midway of the plies, the other side portion can be lifted. The resultant arcuatexbending of the plies shortens, the straight-line distance between their sides; The clips can be slipped into place in the manner illustrated'forthe clip 16f. Of course, 7 i

the clips may be applied by sliding them along the stacked arrangement of plies but'the foregoing method has been found to be an expeditious one.- a Each opposing pair of U-shaped clips may be applied and the tensioning mem-' bers then secured to them by a strapping tool 26 shown in FIGURE 8. The end result in each case is the application of the clips to the stacked array of plies as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The manneroflapplyingtension element 17 has already been described. I

With the foregoing steps completed, the assembly is now ready to be shaped into a container in manner i1- lustrated in FIGURE 5. a

Tension members of the .two types comprising member 17 and additional members 17c, 17d and 17 have been illustrated for the reasonthat tensionmembers of different types can be utilized for a container'or all tension members maybe of like'character. Thus, all tension members may be like number 17 and additional turnbuckles used totighten said members in the same way as turnbuckle 18 of FIGURE 1.1 Such interconnected tension members will cross eachother diametrically of the bottom closure member 20, and as afinal operation the turnbuckles tightened over the closure member1l9r On the other hand,

the cable or strap :17, best shown in FIGURE 5, may 'be replaced by tension members interconnecting theopposing clips and as illustrated by the portions 171) and 17a of member 17.

increasing stability for the'plies as the rolling operation progresses and as the container assumes its final shape, shown in FIGURES l, 6 and 9.

As best shown in FIGURE 7, in the region where the body plies 11a-11c meet and overlap, the body wall thickness of the container 16) will comprise three body plies and none of their meeting edges will be in alignment with the meeting edges of the remaining plies. This staggered arrangement provides additional strength and minimizes the possibility of leakage of any of the contents from the container. Though the ends of plies 11a, 11b and 110 in FIGURE 7 have been shown as in abutting relationship, there will be a slight space between the opposite ends of ply 11b, and a slight space between the opposite ends of the outer ply Ila when the plies are of the same length. This spacing will arise because of the greater distance around the container for ply 11b than for ply 110 due to the thickness of the ply 11c. If abutting relationship of opposing ends be desired, the two plies 11b and 11a will each be of increasingly greater length than the ply Ilc, to compensate for the change in diameter due to the thickness of each of the plies. In practice it has been found that the body plies Ila-11c may be of equal length and that the abutting relationship is not essential to meet most packaging requirements.

The same observations apply to the lengths of the reinforcing plies film-12c and 1342-1130. They can be of equal or differing length.

With the parts in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 6, it is of course possible to slide the clips 15a, 16a and 15 16 circumferentially of the container so that the U-shaped portions of the opposing pairs of clips will receive the overlapping portions of the plies and thus aid in holding the plies in their cylindrical configuration. However, these clips need not be moved. Instead, as the container is formed into the shape of FIGURE 6, there is applied circumferentially of the body portion the first of the circumferential tension members, the tension member 22;. As already explained, that tension member may comprise a steel strap of the kind used generally in the packaging art and which may be readily applied, as shown in FIGURE 8 by a strap fastening tool 26 operable by the handle 26a. In similar manner, there will then be added the additional tension members 21 and 23 as shown 7 in FIGURE 1. It is at this time that there will be added the tension members 24 and 25 of FIGURE 1. The straps forming these tension members are threaded through window-openings (see window opening 15m of clip 15b, FIGURE 12) formed by outwardly bent structure of each of the clips to form a mechanical connection therewith. The ends of each of the straps or tension members 24 and 25 are secured together under tension by means of the strap-fastening tool 26 of FIGURE 8.

The container will now appear as in FIGURE 9. Fastening elements will now be applied to hold bottom closure 24) against the clips 16c, 16d and 16 These may be metal screws (not shown). The tension member 17 extends diametrically across closure 2% and aids in holding closure 2%) in place. A plurality of criss-crossed tension members can serve this function without added fastening elements. The container It) may now be set up on its bottom with the closure member 1% at the top removed for filling the container.

The expansion forces are absorbed and resisted by the suspension system formed by the several longitudinal tension members 1711-17 of FIGURE 2 all located interiorly of the hogshead and by the plurality of external circumferentially disposed tension members 2l-25 of FIG- URE 1. In this connection, after the container has been filled, the upper closure member 19 is pressed into place and the ends of tension member 17 secured to opposite ends of the turnbuckle 18. This turnbuckle is then operated until that tension member throughout its length has been pulled tight.

When the container comprises a hogshead as used in the tobacco industry, the tobacco is prized, that is, the leaf tobacco is placed in the hogshead in layers and these layers pressed and forced together to a point where the tobacco comprises an expansive load having considerable resilience or elasticity. Thus the tobacco tends to press outwardly in all directions on the hogshead and thus the suspension system of the present invention is of particular importance for the hogshead application.

Another factor in the tobacco industry of importance in connection with the hogsheads is the practice of full and complete inspection of the tobacco at the time of purchase. The container or hogshead of the present invention is particularly advantageous because of the ease with which it meets the inspection requirements. This is shown in FIGURE 10, by severing the circumferential tension members as by tin-ships or cutters, and by removing the fastening elements between closures and clips, the container wall 11 comprised of the several plies can be partly or wholly unwrapped from around the contents and the closures also removed. After the tobacco has been inspected in the plurality of places desired by a buyer, the plies can again be pulled together and the circumferential tension members applied as before. Thus it will be seen that there is much flexibility provided in accordance with the present invention both in the ease of forming the containers or hogsheads at the site of use and also by the ease in opening them either for ultimate use of the contents or for inspection prior to final delivery.

Referring to FIGURE 11 which is a sectional view taken on a line extending midway of the clips 15b and Mb of FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the reinforcing bands 12 and 13 of substantial width, provide increased thicknesses for the container in the regions of the clips 15b and 15!). Thus the clips of U-shape receive in nesting relationship the multiplicity of plies and these clips, interconnected by the tension member 17 b, perform additional functions. Thus in moving the hogshead, lifting devices of the ice-tong type may be used. In any event, the lifting forces are applied to the reinforcing band 12 and these lifting forces are thus distributed by these bands to the several inner tension members and thence to the opposite closure member. The tension system provides the needed strength for the transfer operations of loaded containers. Normally the pointed ends of the arms of the lifting tongs may nest below the outer legs of an opposing pair of the U-sh-aped clips in avoidance of the possibility of tearing the outer ply 12a. In this connection the circumferential tension member 214 interconnecting the clips at the upper end of the container (and in like fashion the member 25 at the lower end) aids in increasing the strength of the assembly to Withstand the lifting forces. As will later be explained, additional circumferential tension members may be applied to the reinforcing bands 12 and 13 in the regions spaced inwardly from the clips 15]; and 16b of FIGURE 11.

Now that the principles of the invention have been explained, it will be understood that many modifications may be made. For example, in the preferred form of the invention as shown in FIGURES 13-15, the clips have been modified as to construction but the arrangement of producing the container in FIGURE 13 will be the same as described in connection with FIGURES 2-8 and the inspection features explained in FIGURE 10 are equally applicable. Referring now to FIGURES 14 and 15 the modified clip 51 comprises a body portion 51a having an upper U-shaped section formed by an inner-upstanding leg 51c connected by a cross member to a downwardly extending outer leg 51 These two legs embrace the multii plicity of plies. The body member 51a has a horizontal shelf portion 51g on which may rest the closure member 19. The lower portion of the body member 51a terminates in a slot 51hopen at one end. With preformed loops at the ends of the tension member 17a, the loop at one end will be inserted into the slot 51h as illustrated. In this connection, slots need not be provided since the end of tension member 17a may be threaded through an opening in thebody member and then fastened to form the loop. The outer leg 51f of each clip has welded to it a U-shaped element 51 to provide an opening to receive the tension member 24. Instead of element 51 the member 51) may have a pair of punched-out portions 51k which provide an opening to receive the tension member 24, as shown in FIGURE 18.

With the plurality of the body members or clips and tension members of the ,kind shown in FIGURE 15 applied to a container such as illustrated in FIGURE 13, the lower closure member 20 may be secured in place by a removable fastening element for each of the clips. The procedure will be the same as now described for the upper clip 51 of FIGURES 13 and 14. Thus the locking 7 or fastening element 51b of FIGURE 15 is of V-shaped ceive along their back surfaces the upwardly extending elements 51p and 51! formed on the fastening element 51b. Downwardly extending legs 51c and 51s are disposed on opposite sides of a central opening 51.1 and thus straddle the narrow leg sic of the body portion 51a. .By applying-a considerable pressure or force against the upwardly inclined portion 5111 (FIGURE 14) of the fasa tening element 51b, it can be forced downwardly until the projections 51g and 51p may be moved behind the forward projections 51m and 5111 and thereby snap into place. The metal has sutficient elasticity to permit this temporary deformation with return of the inclined .portion 511! to its original position and insecure locking position as shown in FIGURE 14. With closure member 24) securely locked into place by a plurality of clips, the container will be ready to receive its load.

With the container filled, as by tobacco prized into it, adequate endwise pressure is then applied to the closure member 19 to compact the tobacco and to permit the lowering of the closure member onto the supporting shelves 51g. The fastening elements 51b, FIGURES 14-15, are driven into place by striking the upwardly inclined portion 51a of element 51b with a hammer. This action snaps locking elements 51p and Slq into place behind the forward projections 51m and 5111 of body portion 51a, and the fastening element 51b is thus locked into position on body portion 51a. The hogshead may now be handled and transported in the usual manner.

The end closures I? and 20 of the hogshead may be removed for inspection or unpacking after removal of fastening elements 5111. These elements may be removed by inserting a cold chisel between the upstanding leg portion Site of body portionSla and the fastening element 51b and striking the chisel with a hammer. The chisel wedges between body portion 51a and the element 51b and, drives the inclined portion Slu downwardly and outwardly. This movement disengages locking elements 51p and 5111 from projections 51m and Sln allowing fastening element 51b to be readily removed. Further inspection procedures are the same as those earlier described for FIGURE 10.

Notwithstanding the fact that the shipping container of the present invention is largely free of rivets, staples and adhesive, nevertheless, the container is Water-resistant to a surprising degree and readily adapts itself to the reception of waterproof liners when they are deemed desirable. The absence of gluing, stapling and riveting becomes advantageous after the shipping container has served its purpose in transporting loads from one location to another. Thus by simple tools, as tin-snips, all metallic parts are readily separated from thefibreboard parts.

It is to be understood that in some cases it may be desirable to securethe plies one to the other. They can be stapled. together, adhesively' secured, frictionally held as describedabove, or retained by other known means.

While the invention is particularly adapted to shipping containers of the hogshead type, it will, of course, be understood that the containers may be made square or rectangular, the only requirement being the scoring of the body-pliesand of the reinforcing plies at the regions forming thecorners of the shipping container and, of course, with appropriate change in configuration of the closure members.

Instead of having the plies in staggered relationship as in FIGURES l-lO, they maybe'assembled as in FIG- URE 16 to provide the tongue-and-groove arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 17. Identical; reference characters have been used for the plies of FIGURE 17 as in the otherfigures, since either the staggered relationship 'or the tongue-and-groove relationship will be a matter of choioe in the assembly of the plies. Similarly, the

widthof the reinforcing bandsmay be varied as desired.

In this connection, it will be noted that in FIGURE 1 the bands 12 and 13 are axially somewhat narrower than in FIGURE 13. In FIGURE 13, the reinforcing bands 11 and 13 are wider, and there have been added the two additional circumferential tension members 24a and 25a. Thus,- each reinforcing band may have a plurality of circumferential tension members instead of the single one of FIGURE 1 and the pair for each 'bandshown in FIGURE 13.

With the several modifications of the invention in mind as has been set forth above, it will be understood that further modifications may be made, all within the scope of the appended claims. For example, instead of straight edged lids, the lids may be bevelled to provide a tighter fit. Material packaged within the container may sometimes be of a kindwhere leakage-prevention is of primary importance For these special applications leakproof liners will. be utilized within the container and the plies themselves may be treated to be resistant to mildew, mold and inert to chemical attack.

. While specific details of preferred embodiments have been set forth above, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will therefore be understood that what has been described herein is intended to be illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

We claim: I

1. A container. comprising a plurality of plies of fibreboard of substantially equal length'and disposed with their end portions in offset relationship with respect to the end portions of adjacentplies for overlapping .of the end portions of adjacent plies when the ends of each ply are brought into juxtaposition with each other,: 7 aplurality of circumferential tension'members spaced one from the other lengthwise of said plurality of plies for securing their end portions in said overlapping relationship and to reinforce said plurality of plies against outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of said container,

a plurality of longitudinal tension members disposed within the container adjacent the inner wall thereof,

a plurality of fastening members substantially uniformly spaced about the periphery of opposite ends of the container, each said fastening member having at least (1) a U-shapedportion within which said plurality of plies nest, (2') closure-supporting elements and (3) means for receiving said longitudinal tension members for application to said longitudinal tension members of outwardly directed forces due to said load within the container,

end closures respectively disposed against said closuresupporting elements, and

means including said closure-supporting elements for retaining said end closures in place.

2. The container of claim 1. in which there is disposed adjacent opposite end portions of the container a plurality of added plies of fibreboard with their ends in offset relationship, and with at least one of said circumferential tension members encircling said plurality ofsadded plies tightly to hold them against the remaining of said plurality of plies of fibreboard.

3. The container of claim 2 in which said U-shaped portions of said fastening members'have openings in the portions thereof extending downwardly over the outside of the added plies of fibreboard adjacent the ends, and

at least one of said circumferential tension members extends through said openings mechanically to interlock them together and jointly to take lifting loads applied to said container in the region below said openings and below the'tension member extending therethrough.

4. A container comprising a wall of flexible material adapted to be shipped flat and shaped into the cross-sectional configuration of said container,

a plurality of tension members spaced one from the other longitudinally of the container and disposed circumferentially of said container for resisting outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of said container,

a plurality of tension members extending longitudinally of said container in spaced relation about the periphery thereof,

a pair of clips, one at one end and the other at the opposite end of said container, for each of said longitudinal tension members, said clips having U-shaped portions within which said container wall may nest,

said longitudinally extending tension members being secured to said clips,

and means including said plurality of clips at the opposite ends of said container for anchoring in place closure members for said container.

5. A container comprising a wall madevup of a plurality of plies of flexible fibreboard adapted to be shipped flat and rolled intothe cross-sectional configuration of the container,

a plurality of endless tension members spaced one from the other longitudinally of the container and disposed circumferentially of the container for resisting outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of the container,

a plurality of tension members extending longitudinally of the container in spaced relation about the periphery thereof,

a pair of clips, one at one end and the other at the opposite end of said container, for each of said longitudinal tension members, said clips having U- shaped portions within which said plurality of plies may nest,

said longitudinal tension members being secured to and respectively interconnecting each pair of said clips,

means including said plurality of clips at the opposite ends of said container for anchoring in place closure members for the container, and

means including a circumferential tension member for each end of said container disposed in mechanical interlocking engagement with said clips.

1G 6. A container characterized by the provision of a suspension system which resists outwardly directed forces due to the loading of said container by structural elements independent of said container itself, which comprises a container wall of flexible material adapted to be shipped flat and readily formed into the cross-sectional configuration of the container,

a plurality of circumferential tension members spaced one from the other longitudinallyof said container,

each circumferential tension member having its ends secured together to resist outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of said container,

a plurality of longitudinal tension members lying adjacent a wall of said container and extending-lengthwise thereof,

a pair of clips, one at one end and the other at the opposite end of said container, for each of said longitudinal tension members,

said longitudinal tension members being secured to said clips under slight tension,

closure members, and

means interlocking said closure members with said clips at the opposite ends of said container thereby to complete structural interconnection between said lengthwise tension members, said clips and said closure members to form said suspension system and to resist outwardly directed forces due to said loading of said container.

7. A container characterized by the provision of a suspension system which resists outwardly directed forces due to the loading of the container by structural elements independent of the container itself, which comprises a container wall made up of a plurality of plies of flexible fibreboard adapted to be shipped flat and readily formed into the circular cross-sectional configuration of the container,

a plurality of tightly fitting circumferential tension members spaced one from the other longitudinally of the container,

each circumferential tension member having its ends secured together to resist outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of the container,

a plurality of longitudinal tension members lying adjacent the inner wall of the container and extending longitudinally thereof,

a pair of clips, one at one end and the other at the opposite end of said container, for each of said longi tudinal tension members,

said longitudinal tension members being secured thereto under slight tension,

closure members, and

fastening means for said closed closure members secured to said plurality of clips at the opposite ends of said container thereby to complete structural interconnection between said tension members, said clips and said closure members to form said suspension system and to resist outwardly directed forces due to the loading of said container.

8. A cylindrical container comprising two end closure members,

a plurality of plies of a flexible material disposed in offset relationship with respect to the end portions of adjacent plies for overlapping of the end portions of adjacent plies when the ends of each ply are brought into juxtaposition with each other,

a plurality of circumferential tension members spaced one from the other lengthwise of the container for securing said end portions in said overlapping relationship and for resisting outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of said container,

a plurality of clips, spaced about the periphery of opposite ends of said container, each of said clips having at least (1) a U-shaped portion within which 1 1 said'plurality of plies nest and (2) a closure-supportingelement, and v means including additional tension members for providing structural interconnection between opposing pairs of clips and between said end closure members whereby outwardly directed'forces of-said loadapplied to said end closure members are resisted by said additional tension members. a

9. A container comprising a plurality of plies of a flexible material adapted to be shipped flat and shaped into the cross-sectional configuration of said container, said plies being disposed in offset relationship with respect to the end portions of adjacent plies for overlapping of the end portions of adjacent plies when the ends of each ply are brought to juxtaposition with each other,"

a plurality of circumferential tension members spaced one from the other lengthwise of the container for securing said end portions, in, said overlapping relationship to resist outwardly directed forces developed by the loading of said container, a plurality of pairs of clips, each pair having a longitudinal tension member secured thereto, eachiclip of each of said pairs of clips respectively secured to opposite ends of said container,

a pair of end closure members, and

means including saidclips for securing thereto and mechanically carrying said end closure members whereby said longitudinal tension members resist outwardly directed forces applied to said end closure members due to said loading of said container.-

10. A cylindrical container which may easily be opened for inspection of its load by removal of the end closures resist outwardly directed forces developed 'by the loading of said container,

a pluralityof pairs of removable clips, each clip having a shelf portion and a U-shaped portion within which said plies of said container wall may nest, eachclip of each of said pair of clips being respectively disposed at opposite ends of said container, and

means including a longitudinally extending tension member for each of said pairs of clips for anchoring in place said end closures and to oppose said outwardly directed forces applied to said end closures.

spection of its, load comprising a plurality of, plies of fibreboard which form the outer wall of a container having a pair of opposing ends of substantially equal-length and disposed with their end portions in offset relationship with respect to the end portions of adjacent plies for overlapping of the end portions of adjacent plies when the ends of each ply are brought into juxtaposition with each other, said lines of juxtaposition extending from one end to the other end of said container,

a plurality of circumferential tension members spaced one from the other longitudinally of the container for securing said end'portions in said overlapping relationship and to resist outwardly directed forces developed by'the loading of said container,

a plurality of pairs of aligned removable fastening brackets, one of each of said pairs being at one end of said container, and the other of each of said pairs being at the other end of said container, having (1) a U-shaped portion for embracing said plurality of I plies and (2). a shelf portion, eachbracket of each pair of saidbrackets being respectively disposed at opposite ends of said container, each said pair of brackets having a lengthwise extending tension member secured thereto. for applying .to edges of said plies a slight force,

a pair of end closures being respectively disposed against I said shelf portions, and

means securing said end closure members to said bracketsat the opposite ends of said container to resist said outwardly directed forces applied to said end closures by said lengthwise tension members;

References Cited by therExaminer UNITED. STATES PATENTS 110,232' 12/70 Hanvey 2294.5 825,878 7/06 Crandal 22967 962,938 6/10 Brown et'al 229-4.5 979,803 12/ 10 Sanford 22967 1,012,867 12/11 Lachman 2295.7 1,156,332 10/15 Vaughn 22.9-4.5 2,030,693 2/36 Eden 9336 2,084,179 6/ 37 Arnold 229-5.7 2,383,745, 8/45 Schumaker 229-67 X 2,460,820 2/49 'Hagopian 93-36 2,620,963 12/52 Ha'gopian 229-67 FOREIGN PATENTS 567 of1914 Great Britain.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner; V

Claims (1)

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PILES FIBERBOARD OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH AND DISPOSED WITH THEIR END PORTIONS IN OFFSET RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO THE END PORTIONS OF ADJACENT PLIES FOR OVERLAPPING OF THE END PORTIONS OF ADJACENT PLIES WHEN THE ENDS OF EACH PLY ARE BROUGHT INTO JUXTAPOSITION WITH EACH OTHER, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL TENSION MEMBERS SPACED ONE FROM THE OTHER LENGHTWISE OF SAID PLURALITY OF PLIES FOR SECURING THEIR END PORTIONS IN SAID OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP AND TO REINFORCE SAID PLURALITY OF PLIES AGAINST OUTWARDLY DIRECTED FORCES DEVELOPED BY THE LOADING OF SAID CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL TENSION MEMBERS DISPOSED WITHIN THE CONTAINER ADJACENT THE INNER WALL THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF FASTENING MEMBERS SUBSTANTAILLY UNIFORMLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CONTAINER, EACH SAID FASTENING MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST (1) A U-SHAPED PORTION WITHIN WHICH SAID PLURALITY OF PLIES NEST, (2) CLOSURE-SUPPORTING ELEMENTS AND (3) MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID LONGITUDINAL TENSION MEMBERS FOR APPLICATION TO SAID LONGITUDINAL TENSION MEMBERS OF OUTWARDLY DIRECTED FORCES DUE TO SAID LOAD WITHIN THE CONTAINER, END CLOSURES RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED AGAINST SAID CLOSURESUPPORTING ELEMENTS, AND MEANS INCLUDING SAID CLOSURE-SUPPORTING ELEMENTS FOR RETAINING SAID END CLOSURES IN PLACE.

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