US3797654A

US3797654A - Shipping containers

Info

Publication number: US3797654A
Application number: US00216666A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Spiller
Original assignee: Spiller Spring Co
Current assignee: Spiller Spring Co
Priority date: 1972-01-10
Filing date: 1972-01-10
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

A container particularly suitable for the shipment of compressed coil springs having a pair of crate sides each side comprising a coarse and a fine mesh grid, wherein the coarse mesh grid provides the strength necessary to maintain the spring units in the compressed state and the fine mesh grid prevents the contents from protruding through said crate sides.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,797,654 Spiller Mar. 19, 1974 SHIPPING CONTAINERS 813,499 2/1906 Johnson 220 19 Inventor: Rex s. p yg wisl,887,226 11/1932 Wunderlich 100/289 [73] Asslgnee: 2g? s Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr.

e Oygan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro [22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1972 & Klose 211 Appl. No.: 216,666

' [57] ABSTRACT 5 2] U S Cl ggg g A container particularly Suitable for the shipment of [51] Int. Cum" 365d 7/20 365d 71/00 B65d /62 compressed coil springs having a pair of crate sides [58] Field of Search 206/65 65 B 83 each side comprising a coarse and a fine mesh grid, 220/15 wherein the coarse mesh grid provides the strength necessary to maintain the spring units in the com- 56] References Cited pressed state and the time mesh grid prevents the contents from protruding through said crate sides. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,090 2/1961 Dunlap 206/65 R 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 SHIPPING CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to reusable crating materials and more particularly to rigid crate sides for packing and shipping several layers of spring units such as box springs, and innerspring mattresses.

Such spring units comprise a single thickness of several rows of coil springs bound together. The most advantageous way to ship or store such spring units in terms of ease of handling and conservation of space is to compress a plurality of such units between facing crate sides. Due to the large force harnessed when springs are compressed, the crating material must be very strong.

Presently used wooden crate sides do accomplish the major purpose of such packing materials but have proved to be both inefficient, expensive and dangerous for shipping, holding and storing springs in a compressed state. Wood may crack or splinter when a package containing compressed material is opened or damaged, in which case damage to the contents or injury to the handler of the package may occur. As a result, the cost of cartage insurance when wooden crating may be quite high.

In addition to disadvantages stemming primarily from the physical properties of wood, there is the added disadvantage of the cost involved in the construction and repair of such crates. Since wooden crates are frequently damaged during shipment or upon opening, they seldom can be reused.

The'disadvantages of the prior art wooden crate side are diminished significantly by use of the present invention. Not only are containers which are made in accordance with the present invention durable and resilient, and, hence better able to protect their contents during shipment, but the fact that such containers may be made of metal decreases labor and replacement costs. Another important advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that the resulting packages will be of uniform size with no broken'boards protruding therefrom. This will facilitate loading and shipping and result in more efficient storage both before and after shipment to the customer. The fact that crates of the present invention are thinner than the prior art devices willpermit a greater number of unused crates to be shipped and stored in a given space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a shipping container having a pair of crate sides each comprising a wire mesh or combination of several wire meshes which when placed on either side of multiple layers of alternating spring constructions and heavy separating paper, compressed together, and secured with binding wire, will form a compact, sturdy unit for shipment.

Each of the crate sides of the present invention includes two grids, a coarse and a fine, each of which comprises a number of horizontal and vertical rod-like members securely joined together at the points of intersection to form a screen-like unit.

The coarse grid is formed from heavier gauge rodlike members, which provide strength. The rod-like members of the fine grid, whose purpose is to prevent the compressed springs from protruding into or escap- 2 ing through the spaces or interstices defined by the rodlike members of the coarse grid, are spaced such that the resulting fine grid interstices are smaller than the end portion or base of the compressed spring.

The present invention is utilized in packaging springs by placing on either side of the package a coarse and a fine grid unit in an open baler, with the coarse grid to the exterior side of the fine grid in each case. A baler is a device for compressing the sandwiched structure of crate sides, springs and separating paper and maintaining the material in that position until it can be secured. Approximately fifteen spring units may be placed between the two crate sides. The baler is closed, compressing the entire sandwich into relatively thin package. Numerous lengths of baling wire are inserted through the sandwich and bent or wrapped to secure the crate sides together and thereby fix the size of the space between the crate sides and maintain the package in a compressed position when the baler is released and until it is desired to unpackage the spring units.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention showing the coarse mesh grid formed from rod-like members of relatively greater diameter in cooperation with a fine mesh grid formed from rod-like members of relatively lesser diameter.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of a compressed package of spring units.

FIG. 3 is a magnified front view of a portion of the present invention in use as a crate side of a compressed package of spring units.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein common numerals will be used throughout, FIG. 1 shows a front view of crate side 10 having superimposed grids 11 and 12. Although reference will hereinafter be made to both a coarse grid and fine grid, it is understood that a single grid may be employed possessing both the qualities of strength required of the coarse grid and the ability to prevent the escape of the packaged material of the fine grid. Similarly, although reference is made to the horizontal and vertical relationship of the individual members of the grids, it is intended that grids composed of members intersecting at various angles will be suitable.

Grid 11 is a comparatively coarse mesh and grid 12 is a comparatively fine mesh. Coarse mesh grid 1 1 comprises horizontal rod-like members 11', which are spaced at a uniform distance parallel to each other and vertical rod-like members 11', which are also spaced uniformly parallel to each other.

Members 11 and 11" intersect at points 11 and define a plurality of interstices l3. lntersecting members ll' and 11" are permanently joined by welding or the like.

Fine mesh grid 12 consists of a plurality of horizontal and vertical rod-like members 12', 12" secured together at their intersections 12" and defining a plurality of interstices 14. A greater number of

members

12, 12" are employed per given area than members ll, 11".

Although grids 11 and 12 may be of a wide range of spacing, both regular and irregular, and comparative size, it is preferred that members 11', ll, 12' and 12" be arranged so that throughout crate side there are the same number of interstices 14 in interstices 13. The overall size of the crate side 10 will be determined by the size of box springs or innerspring mattress 23 to be shipped.

Referring to FIG. 3, coil springs 21 are shown bound together by means of helical tiefwires 22 and border wires (not shown) to form a spring unit 23. Although spring unit 23 employing springs of different configurations may be packaged with the subject invention, the springs herein shown are of the double volute type developed from a single strand of wire to form bases 24 of given diameter at either end thereof. The spacing of

members

12 and 12" is such that they define interstices small enough to prevent the protrusion therethrough of springs 21, i.e., the diameter of base 24 of coil spring 21 is greater than the length of the sides defining interstices 14.

Fine grid 12 is disposed between coarse grid 11 and spring units 23. Members 11, 11" of grid 11 must be of sufficient size and strength to withstand the pressure generated by a plurality of compressed spring units 23.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of spring units 23 are shown compressed between facing crate sides 10 to form package 30 for shipment.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a pair of crate sides 10 are utilized to package approximately innerspring mattress units. Coarse grid 11 is made of 3/8 inch diameter rods in a 4 inch X 4 inch or 6 inch X 6 inch mesh (as shown here). Fine grid 12 is 14 gauge rod arranged in a 2 inch X 2 inch mesh. Suitable crate sides may be fashioned from steel reinforcing bars. Grid 12 is welded to coarse grid 11 although the method of joining grids 11 and 12 is not critical.

To form a completed package, a first crate side 10 is placed on a baler with fine grid 11 facing upwardly. Spring units 23 are placed on top of said first crate side 10 with a sheet of 50 lb. kraft paper placed between every two such spring units 23. After all 15 spring units have been placed on first crate side 10, second crate side 10 is placed over stacked spring units 23 with fine grid 12 located between the coarse grid 11 and said spring units 23. The baler is then activated to uniformly compress all of the coil springs 21 of spring units 23. While the baler maintains coil springs 21 in a compressed state, a series of baling wires 26 are inserted through the first crate side 10, through the compressed spring units 23 and second crate side 10 and may be tied around the package or the rod-like elements 11', 11" of crate sides 10 in order to secure the package by limiting the maximum space between said crate sides 10. Preferably, baling wires 26 should be tied over the junction 11 of coarse grid 11 (see FIG. 3). The package should be maintained in the compressed state by employing approximately baling wires 26 of 12 gauge annealed wire.

The above description is made for purposes of illustration only. It is understood that others skilled in the art will make modifications in this illustration, which modifications will remain within the scope of the invention hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for containing compressed material said device comprising a pair of spaced crate sides and means for fixing the maximum space between said crate sides, each of said crate sides comprising:

a coarse steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members, said coarse steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand the forces generated by said compressed material; and

a fine steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members, said first and second set of members defining a plurality of interstices, the size of said interstices being such to prevent the protrusion of compressed material through said crate sides.

2. A device for containing a plurality of compressed spring units, each of said units comprising a plurality of coil springs each of said coil springs having a base, said device comprising:

first and second crate sides each of said first and second crate sides comprising, a coarse steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members said coarse steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand forces generated by said compressed spring units, and a line steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members said first and second set of members defining a plurality of interstices limited in size to prevent the protrusion therethrough of said coil springs; and

means extending between said first and second crate sides to limit the maximum space therebetween.

3. The device described in claim 2 wherein said first and second set of intersecting longitudinal members are attached at their points of intersection.

4. The device described in claim 2 wherein said coarse grid and said fine grid are fixed in relationship to each other.

5. A device for containing a plurality of compressed spring units, each of said units comprising a plurality of coiled springs, each of said coiled springs having a base, said device comprising:

first and second crate sides, each of said first and second crate sides comprising a single steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a, second set of members extending in a second direction, intersecting said first set of members, said steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand forces generated by said compressed spring unit, and defining a plurality of interstices limited in size to prevent the protrusion therethrough of said base of said coil springs; and

Claims

1. A device for containing compressed material said device comprising a pair of spaced crate sides and means for fixing the maximum space between said crate sides, each of said crate sides comprising: a coarse steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members, said coarse steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand the forces generated by said compressed material; and a fine steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members, said first and second set of members defining a plurality of interstices, the size of said interstices being such to prevent the protrusion of compressed material through said crate sides.

2. A device for containing a plurality of compressed spring units, each of said units comprising a plurality of coil springs each of said coil springs having a base, said device comprising: first and second crate sides each of said first and second crate sides comprising, a coarse steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members said coarSe steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand forces generated by said compressed spring units, and a fine steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction intersecting said first set of members said first and second set of members defining a plurality of interstices limited in size to prevent the protrusion therethrough of said coil springs; and means extending between said first and second crate sides to limit the maximum space therebetween.

5. A device for containing a plurality of compressed spring units, each of said units comprising a plurality of coiled springs, each of said coiled springs having a base, said device comprising: first and second crate sides, each of said first and second crate sides comprising a single steel grid formed from a first set of members extending in a first direction, a second set of members extending in a second direction, intersecting said first set of members, said steel grid of sufficient strength to withstand forces generated by said compressed spring unit, and defining a plurality of interstices limited in size to prevent the protrusion therethrough of said base of said coil springs; and means extending between said first and second crate sides to limit the maximum space therebetween.