Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-02-27
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
62
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193100
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to containers used in the materials handling industry. More particularly, this invention pertains to a tilting container system which enables the user to access all the material in a container. This system is particularly applicable to larger containers.
It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that it is difficult to access all the materials stored in the containers typically used in the materials handling industry. An example of such a container is a large wire mesh bin which can be used to store a variety of replacement parts, fasteners and other bulk products that are found in a manufacturing facility. To be more practical, such containers are also very large and therefore very difficult to tilt so that the user may reach materials at the bottom of the container.
To this end there have been a series of expensive tilting tables that have been developed. An example of such a tilting table is the E-Z Reach Container Tilter manufactured by Southwork. It is also necessary for the end user to purchase such a table in addition to purchasing the large storage containers.
What is needed, then, is a container system that enables the user to access all the material in the container but which is inexpensive and can be used as part of the container itself. Such a system is currently lacking in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A tilting container apparatus includes a container and a leg pivotally mounted to the container for movement between a raised position and a lowered position. The leg supports the container in a tilted orientation when the leg is in a lowered position. A dampening controller is connected between the container and the leg, for dampening pivotal movement of the leg between its raised and lowered positions.
The dampening controller is preferably a gas spring which also functions to urge the leg past a 90° angle relative to the base of the container and to hold the leg in a fully extended position at more than 90° relative to the base of the container.
Methods of tilting a container using the apparatus just described are also disclosed.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a tilting container system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a tilting container system that includes a pivoting leg which enables the container to be supported when it is in a tilted position.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a tilting container that is self-supported.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tilting container which allows ergonomic access to all parts or other materials contained inside the container.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tilting container system that can be tilted and maintained in a tilted position without having to use a separate piece of equipment such as a tilting table.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable, stable and self-contained tilting container system.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tilting container system which allows for a complete access to the parts or other materials stored within the container.
Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a tilting container system which includes a damping controller for dampening pivotal movement of a leg between its raised and lowered positions.
And another object of the present invention is the provision of a tilting container system which includes a means for holding a tilting leg in its lowered position.
Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 235123 (1880-12-01), Bovey
patent: 1924824 (1933-08-01), Yeager
patent: 3898873 (1975-08-01), Glassmeyer
patent: 4795057 (1989-01-01), Jungels et al.
patent: 5368179 (1994-11-01), Bulle
patent: 5806863 (1998-09-01), Heger et al.
Beavers Lucian Wayne
Nashville Wire Products
Pollard Steven
Waddey & Patterson
LandOfFree
Tilting container system with dampening does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tilting container system with dampening, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tilting container system with dampening will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2602634