Supports: racks – Elements – Adjustable partitions
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-05-08
Gibson, Jr., Robert W. (Department: 3634)
Supports: racks
Elements
Adjustable partitions
C312S184000, C206S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227389
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a flexible partition panel arrangement for stacking and shipping containers, shelves or the like, where the partition panels are arranged in the interior of the container or shelf. More particularly, the invention relates to an arrangement in which the partition panels are arranged on at least one board secured on a wall, for example on the ceiling of the container.
2. The Prior Art
It is known to equip containers, shelf systems and other load-carrying devices with flexible vertical and horizontal partitions, which are directly or indirectly connected with the construction supporting the partitions.
A frequently employed method fits the parts forming the dividing construction with ears (or lugs) located in suitable sites. Bars or other suitable elements are then inserted through the ears, which in turn are secured on the outer construction.
Another used method secures on the dividing elements suitable applicators (or fasteners) such as, for example angles, loops or hooks. In this way, the dividing elements may be joined directly or indirectly with the outer contruction. Another possibility for installing flexible compartment dividers consists in riveting or screwing the dividing elements to the outer construction. A special type of stacking and shipping container equipped with flexible partition panels is employed for packaging and shipping linings for passenger car doors. In such containers, extruded strips (or welts) with a T-shaped cross section are attached to five vertical dividiers. The strips are then horizontally inserted in rails according to the principle employed in connection with rails for curtains. The rails have a C-shaped cross section and are secured in the interior of the container with rivets or screws. The container is produced from lightweight construction board or panels. This type of construction has the drawback that the “curtain rails” project into the drawer (or “slide-in”) zone of the container, which poses the risk that the products, i.e. the door linings to be shipped, are damaged when they are pushed into the compartments. Furthermore, with this type of special construction, the size of the drawer or slide-in-zone is substantialy reduced by this type of fastening.
The known types of fastening for flexible dividers have the following drawbacks:
Damage may be caused to the empty container when the compartments or packets are loaded.
The arrangements consist of a great number of components.
The fastening elements can be manufactured and mounted on the outer constructions only at high cost.
Soiled or damaged fastening elements cannot be replaced at all, or only at high cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a flexible partition panel arrangement for stacking and shipping containers, shelves or the like, where the individual partition panels or compartment dividers are arranged spaced in any desired way between two walls, in particular between the bottom and the ceiling of a container. This partition panel arrangement excludes damage to the product received in the container. It can be secured on the support construction in a simple and economical way, leaving open a maximally sized opening for sliding in the partitions, whereby it is possible to remove the partition panel arrangement in a simple way for repair or cleaning purposes.
In accordance with the invention, a flexible partition panel arrangement of the type specified above is proposed wherein the partition panels are arranged on at least one board secured on a wall or on the ceiling.
According to another embodiment of the invention, two partition panels are connected with each other for forming compartments or pockets on the underside opposing the board. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least two, preferably rectangular, boards are secured on opposite walls, in particular on the bottom and on the ceiling of the shipping container, with the flexible dividers being secured on the surfaces of the boards.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the boards have slots, through which the flexible dividers are inserted and then fixed on the slots.
In another embodiment, the dividers have loops which are inserted in the board slots and are retained by flat fastening bars located behind the boards. The boards then can be secured in the outer construction with just a few screws or rivets or other suitable fastening elements. If the compartment dividers are equipped with loops, fastening bars are inserted through the loops, so that the compartments are then non-positively connected with the boards
Another possible embodiment of the invention consists in providing the ends of the flexible divider with angles, which means no other fastening elements are needed for locking the dividers on the board. Even very complex dividers can be simply and quickly secured in this way on support constructions.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the boards with the slots may have elevations or recesses for the purpose of permitting centering with other stacking containers or shelf parts. It is possible also to work recesses into the boards, into which the fastening means, for example lock nuts can be inserted for locking screws. The board may also be provided with bore holes for receiving fasteners, for example rivets or screws.
Important advantages are gained with the flexible partition panel arrangement as defined by the invention. For example, different types of flexible compartment dividers can be connected in a simple way with any desired types of outer construction such as, for example shipping or storage containers. Owing to the special arrangement, the opening for sliding in the products to be shipped is not reduced, which prevents such products from being damaged by fastening elements. The flexible compartment dividers can be installed and replaced in an optimally short time. Furthermore, centering and stacking means can be integrated in the fastening board in a simple way.
Another embodiment of the invention provides the fastening board or boards with a number of indentations or notches arranged spaced from each other. The loops provided on the partition panels are suspended on the protrusions of the fastening board or boards located between such indentations or notches.
This partition panel arrangement as defined by the invention, is advantageous because it permits the partition panels to be secured on the board or boards simply and safely.
The indentations or notches may be provided with a trapezoidal shape, so that projections are formed. The loops of the partition panels can then be pushed onto the projections. The diameter of the loops decreases from the back to the front in accordance with the shape of the projections. The front peaks of the projections may be provided with upwardly projecting elevations for the purpose of preventing the loops from slipping from the projections.
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Collard & Roe P.C.
Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
KR--Porsiplast Verpackungssysteme GmbH
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