Joints and connections – Having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-27
2001-04-03
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in...
C403S388000, C410S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210069
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support block for use in interconnecting storage crates, and to a method of using the support block to interconnect such crates. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support block having a hollow bore formed therethrough, and to a method of using the support block, in cooperation with fasteners, to interconnect storage crates. In particular, the block hereof is useful with crates of a type having recesses formed therein.
2. Background Art
Storage crates of relatively large capacity are widely used in industrial settings. A commonly used type of large plastic storage crate, which is foldably collapsible when not in use, is commercially available from the Ropak Corporation of Georgetown, Ky. Many other types of storage crates are commercially available. Sometimes, a particular storage crate does not have adequate capacity for a specific application thereof, and a user may wish to connect two or more storage crates together, to form a larger capacity crate assembly.
Various devices and methods have been advanced for connecting storage crates together. Methods and equipment for connecting containers together are discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,599,824, 4,108,326, 4,728,234, 4,819,820, 4,942,975, 4,993,125, 5,199,589, and 5,454,673. Several of the known devices, for interconnecting crates or other containers, are somewhat complicated and cumbersome. While numerous devices are known and available for interconnecting containers of various types, a need still exists for an improved method and apparatus for interconnecting storage containers. In particular, a need exists for equipment to durably and reliably interconnect storage crates of a type having recesses formed therein. Ideally, an apparatus for use in interconnecting containers would be reliable, easy to manufacture, relatively inexpensive, and somewhat forgiving if two containers were not initially in perfect alignment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of storage containers. The method and apparatus hereof is intended to be used with storage containers of a type having rectangularly shaped recesses formed therein, that is, recesses having a square or rectangular outline.
In one embodiment hereof, the present invention provides a support block for use in interconnecting storage crates of a type which have recesses formed therein.
A support block in accordance with the present invention, generally, includes four integral side walls which are connected to one another to define a substantially rectangular block shape, and a support boss which is located in between all four side walls and which is connected to at least two of the side walls, the support boss having a central bore formed therethrough to receive and support a shaft of a fastener therein.
In a preferred embodiment of the support block according to the present invention, the support boss is connected to the walls of the block by a partition plate which contacts at least two of the side walls and which is substantially perpendicular thereto, the partition plate being integrally formed with the side walls and having a central hole formed therethrough which is coextensive with the central bore of the support boss.
Another feature of the preferred support block hereof is that each of the side walls has a center line located midway between opposed edges thereof, wherein the center lines of all four walls lie in a common plane. Further, in this preferred embodiment, each of the side walls is thickest at the center line thereof, and tapers so as to be progressively thinner as it extends further away from the center line.
An optional feature of the preferred support block according to the present invention is that the central bore in the support boss may be made to taper from a maximum diameter section at a first end thereof, to a minimum diameter section at a second end thereof. This is done to facilitate alignment of the block with a threaded fastener which may be passed through the bore of the support boss, and/or with a drilled hole at the back of a recess in a crate wall.
As noted, the present invention also encompasses a method of using the support block hereof to interconnect two storage crates. A method of interconnecting storage crates according to the present invention, generally, begins with a step of removing a section of wall from one side of a first crate, and removing a section of wall from one side of a second crate.
Another step, in the method according to the present invention, is drilling holes through the first and second crates. These holes are drilled at the back of recesses formed in the crate walls that have had sections removed therefrom.
Another step in the method hereof is aligning the first and second crates so that the drilled holes line up, and placing support blocks, in accordance with the present invention, in between the first and second crates adjacent the drilled holes thereof, with fastening members placed through the bores of the support blocks. The crates are pushed together so that the blocks fit into aligned recesses in both crates to strengthen the joint therebetween.
The next step in the method hereof is inserting a cooperating fastener, such as a nut, on an end of fastening members which extend past an inner surface of a crate wall to lock the two crates together.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in accordance with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following description, like numbers refer to like parts.
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Blackman William D.
Browne Lynne H.
Carrier Joseph P.
Carrier Blackman & Associates P.C.
Cottingham John R.
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