Movable or removable closures – Removable closure – Releasable means on closure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-23
2001-10-23
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Removable closure
Releasable means on closure
C160S040000, C160S351000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305128
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a bulkhead for partitioning a container into separate compartments, and, more particularly, to an insulated bulkhead that can easily be adjusted to partition refrigerated trailers of various heights and widths.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Portable insulated partitions, commonly referred to as bulkheads, are used in the food distribution industry to compartmentalize refrigerated containers and bodies, such as trailers. The bulkheads allow for multiple temperature zones within a trailer. The bulkheads are typically used to divide a trailer transversely, but could also be used longitudinally.
A typical insulated bulkhead is formed as a panel having a certain height and width, and provided with a compressible gasket around its periphery to achieve a tight seal within the trailer. However, there are no standards in the trucking industry to dictate the inside width and height dimensions of the trailers. Therefore, such bulkheads must be manufactured to a specific trailer dimension to ensure a tight fit with the trailer walls, floor and ceiling. This lack of uniformity limits the use of each bulkhead and requires many sizes to be made and kept in inventory in order to meet custom fit specifications. Producing custom fit bulkheads results not only in cost disadvantages, but can also cause lead time problems when trying to obtain a panel of the appropriate size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a unique insulated bulkhead having a universal application in subdividing refrigerated containers, such as refrigerated truck trailers, in an easy and effective manner irrespective of dimensional variations in the height and width of the containers.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a bulkhead for a refrigerated container includes upper and lower members which are vertically adjustable to vary its height to fit equally well in a wide variety of truck trailers.
In a second aspect, the bulkhead has a reduced thickness portion along at least one vertical edge so as to overlap with another of the inventive bulkheads. The overlap between the adjacent bulkheads is adjustable such that the bulkheads can sealingly engage the opposite walls of trailers having differing widths, or engage adjacent panels in the case where more than two panels are used to subdivide a container. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, the bulkheads are aligned in a plane to consume minimal space within the trailer.
In a third aspect, the bulkhead includes side seals which form a substantially continuous seal despite the making of height adjustments which may be needed to fit a particular trailer.
The present invention provides a significant advance over the conventional bulkheads. Preferred embodiments of the bulkhead of the present invention provide an apparatus that is easily adjustable to effectively partition refrigerated containers of various heights and widths. These and additional features and advantages of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of preferred embodiments.
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“Center Partition—Multi-Temperature Refrigeration Systems,” product information, F/G Products, Inc., Rice Lake, WN, 9 pages.
“Flex-Lite—Insulated Bulkhead with Armorlite™, ”product information, F/G Products, Inc., Rice Lake, WN, 4 pages.
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“* Temparitions—Insulated Bulkhead Lines, ” product information, Tempar Inc., Kent, WA, 8 pages.
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Coughtry Richard J.
Horner John F.
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Purol David M.
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