Receptacles – Freight containers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-26
2001-08-07
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Freight containers
C220S825000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269963
ABSTRACT:
THIS INVENTION relates to the transportation of goods. More particularly it relates to a container and to a load carrying vehicle.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container for use in the transportation of goods, which includes
a floor;
a pair of opposed side walls, at least one of which is supported for displacement about a pivotal axis adjacent its upper edge;
hinge means whereby said one side wall is disconnectably connectable adjacent its lower edge to the floor; and
first displacement means for displacing the floor laterally between a rest position in which goods can be contained within the container, and a displaced position.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container for use in the transportation of goods, which includes
a floor;
a pair of opposed side walls each of which is supported for displacement about a pivotal axis adjacent its upper edge;
hinge means whereby one side wall is connected adjacent its lower edge to the floor;
first displacement. means for displacing the floor and said one side wall between a rest position and a displaced position; and
a pair of end walls, at least one of which is displaceable between an open and a closed position.
The hinge means may be configured so that said one side wall is disconnectably connectable to the floor.
The first displacement means may be configured such that when the floor and said one side wall are hingedly connected together, and the floor is displaced from its rest position towards its displaced position, the floor will tilt downwardly outwardly thereby facilitating the discharge of flowable goods from the container, e.g. particulate material such as wood chips, fly ash or the like, and when the floor and said one side wall are disconnected, the floor is then displaced laterally in a level fashion such that in its displaced position it protrudes from the container to facilitate the loading and unloading of goods, such as palletized goods and the like, e.g. by means of a forklift.
Hence, in use, when said one side wall is connected by the hinge means to the floor and the floor is displaced by the first displacement means, then said one side wall is displaced simultaneously with the floor, however, when said one side wall is disconnected from the floor, then displacement of the floor by the first displacement means is effected independently of said one side wall.
The first displacement means may include a drive member positioned underneath the floor and at least one elongate flexible element drivingly connecting the drive member to the floor.
The elongate flexible element may include at least one chain.
In one embodiment of the invention, the chain may extend around a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket spaced from the drive sprocket, the drive member being drivingly connected to the drive sprocket.
The first displacement means may include a connecting element connected to and extending between the chain and the floor.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first displacement means may include a pulley arrangement to which the drive member is drivingly connected for displacing the elongate flexible element, e.g. in the manner of a winch, and hence also the floor.
In one embodiment of the invention, the drive member may be operated by a pressurised fluid, e.g. it may be in the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly.
In another embodiment of the invention, the drive member may be electrically operated, e.g. it may be an electric motor.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the drive member may be mechanically operated.
The container may include friction reducing floor support means for supporting the floor to facilitate displacement thereof between its rest and displaced positions. The friction reducing floor support means may include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transversely extending tracks and longitudinally spaced apart sets of rollers which run on the tracks. Typically, the rollers will be connected to the underside of the floor and the tracks will be fixed to a support. The support on which the tracks are supported may form an integral part of the container, e.g. it may be a base frame. Instead, the support may be part of a load carrying vehicle. Each roller may have an annular recess therein within which a portion of the associated track is receivable to locate the roller laterally relative to the track.
The container may include second displacement means for displacing the other side wall between a closed position and an open position. The second displacement means may include at least one elongate connecting member connected to and extending between the side wall such that the side walls are displaced simultaneously. Instead, or in addition, the second displacement means may be configured to displace the other side wall independently of the floor and said one side wall. Hence, the second displacement means may include a pressurised fluid operated piston and cylinder arrangement configured to displace the other side wall between its closed and open positions.
The container may include third displacement means for displacing said one side wall, when not connected to the floor, outwardly away from its rest position, i.e. in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is displaced by the first displacement means when it is connected by the hinge means to the floor, to an open position. The third displacement means may include a pressurised fluid operated piston and cylinder arrangement configured to displace said one side wall between its open and closed positions.
The container may include fourth displacement means for displacing said one end wall between its open and closed positions. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said one end wall may be hingedly mounted for pivotal displacement about a pivot axis adjacent its lower edge between its open and closed position. The fourth displacement means may include a pressurised fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly.
The container may include locking means for retaining said one side wall releasably in its closed position.
According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a container for use in the transportation of goods, which includes
a body defining a goods receiving compartment;
an access opening through which access can be gained to the goods receiving compartment;
a closure member mounted for displacement between a closed position in which it closes off the access opening and an open position; and
locking means for locking the closure member releasably in its closed position, the locking means including complementary locking components mounted on the body and on the closure member which complementary locking components cooperate when the door is in its closed position, and locking component displacement means configured to displace at least one of the locking components between an extended position in which the complementary locking components are releasably engageable and a retracted position such that displacement of said at least one of the locking components from its extended to its retracted position when the locking components are engaged serves to displace the closure member to its closed position.
The locking components may be engageable and disengageable only when said at least one of the locking components is in its extended position.
The locking component displacement means may include a rotatable eccentric element which cooperates with said at least one locking component.
The container may include a power source for operating the displacement means so that the container is self contained and does not require an external power source to permit operation of the displacement means.
The container may be dismountably mountable on a load carrying vehicle and include locking formations configured to cooperate with complementary locking formations on a said load carrying vehicle to retain the container releasably in position on said vehicle. The locking formations will typically be the conventional twist lock for
John Daniel Containers Limited
Ladas & Parry
Moy Joseph M.
LandOfFree
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