US3863799A

US3863799A - Adjustable bin for transporting articles

Info

Publication number: US3863799A
Application number: US371911A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald J Thomaswick; James R Rowley
Original assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Current assignee: PPG Industries Inc
Priority date: 1973-06-20
Filing date: 1973-06-20
Publication date: 1975-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-04

Abstract

An adjustable bin for transporting and storing articles is disclosed. The bin has a door pivotally mounted at its top end and slideable toward and away from the back wall of the bin and movable side members which move in cut outs formed in one side of the door to allow simultaneous reduction of the width and length of the bin. The door is also provided with locking pins to position the door in spaced relationship to the base for ease of unloading the bin when the bins are stacked.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,863,799 Thomaswick et a1. Feb. 4, 1975 ADJUSTABLE BIN FOR TRANSPORTING 2,907,487 10/1959 Harrington 220/8 ARTICLES 3,147,860 9/1964 Kean et al 3,784,054 1/1974 Mautz Inventors: Ronald J- Thomaswick, g; 3,809,234 5/1974 Kurick 206/448 James R. Rowley, Freeport, both of Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins [73] Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. Attorney, g or ma d Carl Lepiane [22] Filed: June 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,911 [57] ABSTRACT An adjustable b1n for transporting and stormg artlcles is disclosed. The bin has a door pivotally mounted at [52] U.S. Cl 220/1.5, 220/22.3, 220/84, its top end and slideable toward and away from the 206/448 back wall of the bin and movable side members which [51] a Cl B65d 57/00 4 move in cut outs formed in one side of the door to [58] new of Search allow simultaneous reduction of the width and length 220/22.3, 83, 84, 206/477-483, 448, 449, 45 of the bin. The door is also provided with locking pins to position the door in spaced relationship to the base [56] References C'ted for ease of unloading the bin when the bins are UNITED STATES PATENTS stacked.

2,726,095 12/1955 Emer 220/1.5 UX 2,840,257 6/1958 Zeniji 220/8 7 Clam, 3 Drawmg Flgures Q5312)? 54 x l i 24 48 (a 2O 22 so 3748 s 4O 36 58 52- 39 Li ADJUSTABLE BIN FOR TRANSPORTING ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an adjustable bin having a pivotally and slideably mounted door for ease of loading and unloading the bin, and movable side members which cooperate with the door to simultaneously reduce the width and length of the bin.

2. Description of the Prior Art Sidelites of present day cars vary considerably in size and shape. This presents a storage and shipping problem. Normally an automotive manufacture has to stock many sidelites of varying sizes and shapes. In shipping sidelites, it is customary to load the bins with the same size and shape sidelites. At the point of destination, the sidelites are stored in the bin and used as needed.

This practice presents several problems. One problem is that the bins are not used to capacity and another problem is that large storage areas are required to store the bins. It would therefore be advantageous if a bin were available that could be loaded with different size and shaped sidelites to reduce storage space while providing ease of access to the sidelites in the bins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved adjustable bin for transporting and storing articles. The bin includes a first side wall, a second side wall and a back wall mounted to a base. The second side wall includes at least one rigid membermounted for movement toward and away from the first side wall. A door is pivotally and slideably mounted between the first and second side wall for movement toward and away from the back wall. Facilities are provided for adjusting the length and width of the bin, e.g., adjusting the door in spaced relationship to the back wall and adjusting the at least one member in spaced relationship to the first side wall. Facilities are also provided to urge the door and the at least one member toward the back wall and first side wall, respectively.

By using the adjustable bin of this invention, articles such as automotive sidelites or pieces of glass of varying size and shape may be loaded in the bin and the width and length of the bin reduced to prevent movement of the articles during shipping. At the point of destination the bins may be stacked on top of each other and the door positioned in spaced relationship to the base to provide access to the articles in the bin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an isometric view of the bin of this invention loaded with various sizes and shapes of articles such as automotive sidelites;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the bin showing the door in the raised position leaning against the back wall for loading or unloadingthe bin; and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bin with the door spaced from the base for unloading the bin when the bins are vertically stacked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an adjustable bin for transporting and storing articles 11, such as automotive sidelites, ei 'ii ploying the principles of this invention. The bin 10 includes a base 12, a back wall I4, and a pair of

side walls

16 and 17. The side wall 17 includes a pair of rigid members I8 mounted for movement toward and away from the side wall 16. A door 20 is pivotally and slideably mounted for movement toward and away from the back wall I4.

Mounted at one end of each member 18 is a headed stud 22 which rides in a slot 24 formed in the back wall 14. The other end of each member 18 is pivotally connected at 25 to one side of a hinge 36. The other side of the hinge is pivotally connected at 27 to a post 28 (shown better in FIGS. 2 and 3) to maintain the members I8 in spaced relationship to each other and movable towards and away from the side wall 16 to reduce or increase, respectively, the length of the bin 10.

The door 20 is provided at the top end of each side, as viewed in FIG. l, with a stud 30. Each stud 30 is positioned in one of a pair of raceways 32 which extend away from the back wall 14 in generally spaced parallel relationship to the base 12 as shown in FIG. I so that the door may be pivoted about its top edge and moved away from or toward the back wall 14.

The door 20 is further provided with a pair of cut outs 34 (shown better in FIG. 2) at one side for receiving the movable members 18 as the members 18 are moved toward side wall 16. With this arrangement, the door 20 in its closed position, as shown in FIG. I, can be moved along the raceways 32 toward the back wall 14 as the side members 18 are moved toward the side wall 16 to simultaneously reduce the width and length of the bin, i.e., move the door 20 and members 18 into engagement with the articles 11 loaded in the bin 10.

The bin 10 may be loaded with the door in the closed position as shown in FIG. I or by positioning the door 20 to rest on the top of the back wall 14 as shown in FIG. 2. The article 11, such as sidelites of the same size and shape, may be loaded in tiers separated by rigid spacer 37. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, some of the side lites of the same size and shape may be arranged with their surfaces facing the back wall in tiers and separated by spacer 37 from sidelites of a different size and shape loaded with their surfaces facing the side wall 16. As can be appreciated, the invention is not limited to the loading arrangement of the articles in the bin.

After the bin is loaded, the door is moved to its closed position and displaced toward the back wall against the articles as the side members 18 are moved toward the side wall 16 against the articles. In the instance where the articles are frangible, e.g., automotive sidelites, it is recommended that a layer of resilient material be provided on every surface of the bin facing inward, i.e., contacting the sidelites, to prevent damage to the sidelites. Further, the sidelites should be separated from one another by an interleaf 39 (see FIG. 1) such as dimpled paper.

A restraining system is employed to maintain the members 18 and door 20 against the articles to prevent movement of the articles in transit. One such restraining system is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The restraining system includes a pair of

polyester straps

38 and 40. The strap 38 has one end mounted to the outer wall of the stationary wall 16 in any conventional manner and has its course passing through a slot 42 formed in the side wall 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), around the door 20 (see FIG. 1) and through one of a plurality of slots 44 formed in the members 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) with the free end inserted in a buckle 46 connected to an end of the strap 40. The

slots

42 and 44 are formed in the side wall 16 and members 18, respectively, at a position spaced from theback wall 14 such that the strap 38 continuously urges the door against the articles when the bin is loaded.

The strap 40 has one end mounted to the outer surface of the back wall 14 in any conventional manner and has its course passing through a slot 48 formed in the back wall (see FIG. I) and a slot 50 formed in the members 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), with the other end of the strap 40 connected to the buckle 46 such as catalog No. 702 sold by Eastern Rotorcraft Corporation. The length of the strap 40 is sufficient to permit movement of the members 18 away from the side wall 16.

During shipment or storage, the bins may be stacked on top of one another by providing each bin with male inserts 52 at the bottom of the

posts

54 and 28 and holes 56 at the top of the posts for receiving the male inserts 54 of other bins.

In the stacked position, the bins may be unloaded by removing the restraining system, pivoting the door away from the articles and sliding the door toward the back wall. The door is held in spaced relationship to the base 12 by providing locking pins 58 at the bottom of the door as viewed in FIG. 1 which are inserted in the raceway 32as shown in FIG. 3. To prevent movement of the door when returning the bin, the door may be maintained in the position shown in FIG. 3.

As can be appreciated, certain modifications can be made to the bin without deviating from the scope of the invention. More particularly, less than or more than two movable rigid members 18 may be used. Further, side wall 16 may be replaced with movable rigid members such as rigid members 18. In this instance, the door 20 would be provided with cut outs at each side and the length of the bin reduced by displacing the rigid members toward each other. I

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable bin for transporting or shipping articles wherein the bin comprises a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall mounted to a base, the improvement comprises:

at least one rigid member mounted at the second side wall for movement toward and away from the first side wall;

a door pivotally and slideably mounted between the first and second side walls for movement toward and away from the back wall;

means for adjusting said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the first wall to reduce or increase the length of the bin; and

means for adjusting said door in spaced relationship to the back wall to reduce or increase the width of the bin.

2. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including:

means for urging said at least one rigid member and said door toward the first wall and back wall, respectively.

3. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including:

means for simultaneously adjusting said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the first wall and said door toward or away from the back wall to reduce or increase the length or width of the bin, respectively.

4. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said at least one member includes:

said back wall having at least one slot formed therein, said at least one slot extending from the second side wall to the first side wall;

a stud connected to one end of each of said at least one rigid member and passing through at least one slot;

means mounted at the other end of each of said at least one rigid member for maintaining said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the base while permitting said at least one rigid member to move toward or away from the second side wall.

5. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said door includes:

a stud mounted at each end of said door spaced from the base; and

a pair of raceways in spaced relationship to the base and extending away from the back wall for receiving said stud mounted at each end of said door wherein said studs move along said raceways as said door is moved toward or away from said back wall. I

6. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 5 including:

means for maintaining said door in spaced relationship to said base to provide access to the bin.

7. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 3 wherein said simultaneous adjustment means includes:

said door having at least one cutout formed at a side adjacent to said at least one rigid member for receiving said at least one rigid member as said door and said at least one rigid member are moved toward the back wall and the first wall, respectively.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,863,799 Dated February 4, 1975 Inventor) Ronald J. Thomaswick & James R. Rowley It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3., line 12, cancel "Description" and insert -Dis cussionbefore "of the Prior Art".

Column 1, line 15, cancel "manufacture" and insert --manufacturer-.

ii ned am? series? this 7th day of June 1975.

C. I-IARSIIALL DANDY PUT C. H5303 Commissioner of Patents Attestin Officer and Trademarks FORM PO-105O (10 69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 w u.s. oovzmmswr rnnmua orncz 1 you o-sss-au.

Claims

1. In an adjustable bin for transporting or shipping articles wherein the bin comprises a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall mounted to a base, the improvement comprises: at least one rigid member mounted at the second side wall for movement toward and away from the first side wall; a door pivotally and slideably mounted between the first and second side walls for movement toward and away from the back wall; means for adjusting said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the first wall to reduce or increase the length of the bin; and means for adjusting said door in spaced relationship to the back wall to reduce or increase the width of the bin.

2. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including: means for urging said at least one rigid member and said door toward the first wall and back wall, respectively.

3. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 further including: means for simultaneously adjusting said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the first wall and said door toward or away from the back wall to reduce or increase the length or width of the bin, respectively.

4. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said at least one member includes: said back wall having at least one slot formed therein, said at least one slot extending from the second side wall to the first side wall; a stud connected to one end of each of said at least one rigid member and passing through at least one slot; means mounted at the other end of each of said at least one rigid member for maintaining said at least one rigid member in spaced relationship to the base while permitting said at least one rigid member to move toward or away from the second side wall.

5. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said door includes: a stud mounted at each end of said door spaced from the base; and a pair of raceways in spaced relationship to the base and extending away from the back wall for receiving said stud mounted at each end of said door wherein said studs move along said raceways as said door is moved toward or away from said back wall.

6. The adjustable bIn as set forth in claim 5 including: means for maintaining said door in spaced relationship to said base to provide access to the bin.

7. The adjustable bin as set forth in claim 3 wherein said simultaneous adjustment means includes: said door having at least one cut out formed at a side adjacent to said at least one rigid member for receiving said at least one rigid member as said door and said at least one rigid member are moved toward the back wall and the first wall, respectively.