Special receptacle or package – For a vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-27
2004-01-20
Luong, Shian (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a vehicle
C206S806000, C206S583000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06679378
ABSTRACT:
The present invention concerns an apparatus for storing and transporting flat, substantially two-dimensional articles, comprising a support stand or the like, in which are suspended pockets which are substantially U-shaped in cross-section and into each of which can be inserted a respective article.
A corresponding apparatus is known for example from German patent application No P 41 38 507.
In corresponding apparatuses which in the meantime have become relatively wide-spread, loading is effected in part from the upper open side of the U-shaped pockets, but in part also from the ends of the pockets, which for that purpose are also open. That applies in particular when the pockets are suspended in a relatively high support stand so that they can only be loaded with difficulty from above. If the pocket in question is loaded or unloaded from the side, that is to say from the open ends thereof, either the support stand in question must be laterally open or, if the sides of such a support stand are closed, the pockets must be pulled with their suspension arrangement out of the support stand to such an extent that they are accessible from their ends.
Then, flat articles such as for example door claddings of motor cars can be inserted into those pockets and later, at the location where they are required for fitting, they can be pulled out of the open ends of the pockets again, in the reverse sequence.
Corresponding apparatuses have in the meantime found relatively wide-spread use in the automobile industry. However the components to be stored and transported in the automobile industry are often highly irregular in shape and that applies for example also in regard to the above-mentioned internal door claddings for motor cars, which are generally not simply rectangular panels but which involve a more or less trapezoidal outline contour with rounded-off corners. In regard to handling and installing corresponding parts, it is desirable if they can be inserted into the pockets from the outset in the correct orientation, and do not first have to be turned into the correct position by the person who later for example installs corresponding parts in larger systems or installations. To continue with the example of motor vehicle door claddings, the short side of the trapezoidal configuration thereof is often at the bottom while the longer side of the trapezoidal configuration is at the top. The trapezium is also oblique-angled or the cladding may also be of a more or less pentagonal shape with two mutually oppositely disposed parallel sides, of which once again the lower side is the shorter side which is also not symmetrical in relation to the upper side. This means that corresponding articles in the U-shaped pockets have a tendency to tilt and in that case possibly also slip. That makes handling more difficult when removing them and can also result in damage to the articles in question if more specifically in such a situation they partially slip out of the open ends of the pockets.
From DE-U-295 01 898.4 there are known file covers for a hanging file system in which said file covers are comprising so called “linen frogs” (linen flaps) which on one side thereof are connected to the file cover in a releasable manner. Those linen flaps however, are fixed on the outside of said file covers and they serve for the purpose that, after removing such a file cover from the rack of a hanging file system, said flaps are released so that the file cover can be completely revolved in order to insert or remove paper documents. However, there is no suggestion from the document in regard of any supply from the ends of the pockets and for clearing the end face by releasing said linen flaps. Instead, even releasing of said linen flaps on one side thereof would not result in a complete clearance of the loading cross section, since such a depending linen flap would still partly extend into the area between the file cover sides. In particular, if several file covers are tightly arranged within a frame, even the linen flap from adjacent covers might cover the loading cross section of a neighbouring file, in case such loading from the front end would be provided. Moreover, said linen flaps are arranged on the outside of the file covers and fixed thereon and thus may not protect any objects against slipping or tilting if said objects are smaller than the file cover itself.
In comparison with that state of the art, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having the features set forth in the opening part of this specification, by which the articles received in the U-shaped pockets can be substantially prevented from tilting and/or slipping out.
That object is attained in that the pockets are arranged in a manner that in the hanging condition thereof objects may be loaded or removed through the ends thereof and in that means are provided within said pockets which prevent tilting or slipping of the articles in the pockets forwardly or rearwardly, and which means, in order to load and discharge said pockets through the ends thereof, may be brought into a position in which they are not interfering with the free-loading cross section thereof.
The devices in accordance with the invention can be of widely varying configurations, in which respect however it is to be noted that they do not change the free loading cross-section of the pockets which is defined by the open end (and which is substantially constant throughout).
For example the device may be a preferably elastic band or strip which is tensioned along the inward side of a side wall of the pocket (
1
) and into which the article (
10
) can be hung with a part which is bent over in a hook shape.
A tensioned elastic band of that kind, if it is not required, bears snugly against the side wall of the pocket and thus does not constrict the free loading cross-section of the pockets.
In another embodiment which is not dependent on a part which is bent over in a hook shape being provided on the article and which is preferred in that respect it is provided that a transverse portion is provided at least for one of the open ends of the U-shaped pocket, which transverse portion is movable into at least one position of substantially liberating the open end and into a position of at least partially closing the open end, and is fixable in the last-mentioned position.
That embodiment of the apparatus has the advantage that, in the position in which the transverse portion completely clears the open end of the U-shaped pocket, the pocket can be loaded and unloaded in conventional manner in precisely the same way as if the transverse portion were not present at all as it precisely completely clears the open end of the U-shaped pocket. On the other hand that open end, after the article in question has been inserted, can be at least partially closed by the transverse portion, whereby the article accommodated in the pocket is effectively prevented from slipping out and/or tilting.
In that respect it is basically desirable if, in its position of at least partially closing the end of the U-shaped pocket, the transverse portion is arranged in the interior of the pocket and at a spacing from the edge of that open end.
It will be appreciated that corresponding transverse portions could be arranged at both open ends of such a U-shaped pocket, in which respect it is preferable if those transverse portions are provided only at one open end while the other end can be permanently closed or partially closed, for example by any section of a material web, which connects the two oppositely disposed limbs of the U-shape but which does not necessarily have to extend over the entire height of the pocket or the open end. This additional transverse section on the open end of the pockets, which is referred to hereinafter as the “rear”, serves so-to-speak as an “abutment” for the other articles which are inserted from the other open end. It will be appreciated that this connecting portion which extends transversely on the rear of the pockets can also be provided at a spacing from the rear
Hugenholtz Roland Patrick
Vermeulen Bart
Conteyor Multibag Systems N.V.
Dunn Michael L.
Luong Shian
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