US3144951A - Demountable self-locking container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1964 w, F. KNABE DEMOUNTABLE SELF-LOCKING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1962 United States Patent Corporation, Chula Vista, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Mar. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 179,994 1 Claim. (Cl. 217-65) This invention relates generally to packing boxes of the so-called cleated panel type wherein the walls of the box are in the form of plywood panels, or the like, which are reinforced at the corners by cleats.

More specifically, the present invention is directed to a demountable self-locking container of this cleated panel type wherein the panels and cleats are so constructed and arranged as to render the panels interlocking, when assembled, whereby nails, or the like, fasteners are not required to retain the same in assembled relationship, and simple locking bands may be employed to secure the panels in such relationship during shipment. By reason of this construction and arrangement, moreover, the box becomes readily demountable to expedite and facilitate discharge of its contents, and the disassembled panels may readily be compacted for return shipment and reuse to thus take advantage of the lower rates afforded shippers in the return of empty cartons.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved demountable knockdown type cleated Shipping carton.

Another object is to provide a paneled shipping container of this type having provision for self-locking of the panels when assembled together.

Another object resides in the provision of simple means for retaining the self-locking panels in assembled relationship during shipment.

Still another object is to provide a cleated panel shipping box in which the panels are readily assembled, or partially assembled, to receive the objects of shipment, and are readily demountable or knocked down to discharge the contents.

Yet another object is to provide a cleated panel shipping container which is held with the panels in assembled relationship without requiring fastening means between the adjacent panels.

A further object is to provide an interlocking cleated panel box which is readily assembled, disassembled, and compacted for return shipment.

Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are those inherent in the novel construction and arrangement of parts comprising the shipping container hereinafter disclosed with reference to the drawings, the cleated panel box as thus disclosed being constructed in accordance with the best mode thus far devised for practicing the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the cleated panel box fully assembled, banded, and ready for shipment.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a corner portion of the box as seen along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 33 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the interlocking relationship between the end and top panels of the box;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and shows the relationship between the panels when the top panel has been lifted from the box;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 1 and showing the interlocking relationship between the top and side panels of the box;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the relationship between the panels when the top panel has been lifted from the box;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the 3,144,951 Patented Aug. 18, 1964 lines 77 of FIG. 1 and showing the interlocking relationship between the side and end panels of the box;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the relationship between the panels when the side panel has been withdrawn from the end panel;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the panels of the box, certain of which are shown partly in section, and showing the same compacted for return shipment; and

FIGS. 10 to 13; FIGS. 14 to 17; FIGS. 18 to 21; and FIGS. 22 to 25 are groups of views illustrating first, second, third, and fourth alternative interlocking corner structures, the views of each group, in the numerical order of the views in each group, corresponding to FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8 which disclose the interlocking corner structure and arrangements for the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference characters are applied to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

With particular reference first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the panel box, generally designated 10, of the present invention comprises oppositely disposed and cleated bottom and top panels designated B and T; oppositely disposed and cleated side panels designated S, only one of which appears in FIG. 1; and oppositely disposed and cleated end panels designated E, again, only one of which appears in FIG. 1. The cleated bottom and top panels B and T are identical. Both cleated side panels S are identical; and likewise, both of the cleated end panels E are identical. It will suffice herein, therefore, to described in detail only one each of these pairs of oppositely disposed and cleated panels.

Referring now more particularly to the top cleated panel T, it will be seen that it comprises per se a panel 11 to the face of which is suitably fastened end cleats 12 and side cleats 13, these being arranged in perimeter fashion with respect to the edges of panel 11. Also secured to the face of panel 11 are intermediately disposed cleats 14 which like the end cleats 12, bridge the space between the side cleats 13. A second set of cleats, disposed perpendicularly to the face of panel 11, comprise end cleats 15 and side cleats 16 arranged in perimeter fashion with respect to corresponding end and side cleats 12 and 13 to which they are secured by suitable means. Side cleats 16 extend in overlapping relationship with respect to the end cleats 15 which, in turn, extend therebetween to bridge the space between the side cleats. The cleats preferably are rigidly retained in this relationship by means of the corner straps 17 which are secured to the cleats 15 and 16 as by the staples 18.

Each of the cleated side panels S comprises per se a panel 19 to the face of which are suitably secured a pair of spaced cleats 20 which extend in bridging relation to the side cleats 16 of the top and bottom cleated panels T and B. Cleats 20 are aligned perimeterwise with the cleats 14- of the cleated top and bottom panels T and B so as to provide support for the steel locking bands 21 which preferably employ therebeneath suitable pressure pads 22 to protect the cleats 16 at their corners. Each cleated side panel S also comprises horizontally disposed cleats 23, the center one of which bridges the space between cleats 20 of the panel. Each of the outer cleats 23 bridges the space between its associated cleat 2t) and a side cleat 24 of the oppositely disposed and cleated end panels E, each of which per se comprises a panel 25.

Side cleats 24 of each cleated end panel E extend perpendicularly to the face of their panel 25 and in bridging relation to the side cleats 16 of the cleated top and bottom panels T and B. The side cleats 24 of each side panel E, moreover, are suitably secured to side cleats 26 which in turn and together with intermediate cleat 27, are suitably secured to the face of panel 25. Cleats 26 and 27 extend into abutment with the end cleats 15 of the cleated top and bottom panels T and B, and these cleats 26 and 27, moreover, are joined in abutting relationship with horizontally disposed cleats 28.

As may best be seen in FIG. 2, each panel 11 of the top and bottom cleated panels T and B is spaced inwardly from the side and end cleats 15 and 16 to thus provide grooves or sockets for interlockingly receiving the panels 19 and 25 of the cleated side and end panels S and E respectively. It will be noted that the edge of panel 25 is spaced from cleat 16 by the thickness of the panel 19 which is thus received interfittingly into the recess or socket formed by this edge of panel 25 and cleats 15 and 16. Similarly, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, this socket for receiving panel 19 extends upwardly between the bottom and top cleated panels B and T, being continued and formed upwardly by the edge of panel 25 and cleats 24 and 26. The manner in which the side panels 25 are each received into the socket formed by the top panel 11 and cleats 12 and 15 of the cleated top panel T may best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly the manner in which the side panels 19 are each received into the socket formed by the top panel 11 and cleats 13 and 16 of the cleated top panel T may best be seen in FIGS. and 6.

In the use of box 10, the bottom cleated panel B may be used as a pallet and the objects to be shipped may be mounted thereon after which, or during which, the side and end panels may be slipped into the perimetrically extending socket provided therefor within the base or bottom panel B. Alternatively, the box may be assembled, save for the top cleated panel T and the contents to be shipped stored in the box after which the top panel may be applied and the bands 21 secured in place. In any event, the order of assembly of the panels of the box is not important. What is significant, however, is that once assembled, the adjacent panels are mutually interlocked one to the other by the provision of the sockets in the bottom and top cleated panels B and T for receiving the side and end panels 19 and 25 and the sockets formed in the end panels E for receiving the side panels 19.

In demounting or disassembling the box, it merely becomes necessary to cut the steel bands 21 whereupon the top panel T may be removed and the side and end panels withdrawn from each other at their interlocking corners and from the interlocking arrangement with the bottom panel B. Once disassembled, the panels may be stored in any convenient manner such as depicted, for example, in FIG. 9 wherein the panels are disclosed stacked in pancake fashion, one on the other. In the arrangement shown, the side panels S are mounted in 0pposed relation at the bottom and top of the stack with the bottom and top panels B and T disposed immediately adjacent thereto. The end panels E are disposed at the center of the stack in mutually opposed relationship. The end panels are also staggered laterally to the extent that their side cleats 26 overlap to thus make possible a further compacting of the stack, panels E and B being shown in section to more fully illustrate this possibility and arrangement.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 13, there is disclosed therein an alternative interlocking corner arrangement in which a perimetrically extending metal angle member 29 is utilized in the construction of alternative panels T and B in lieu of cleats 12, 15, and 13, 16 of the top and bottom panels T and B of FIG. 1. Considering the cross section of angle member 29 as best appears in FIGS. 11 and 12, the angle member may be considered to be made up of two members, that is, the legs or sides of the angle member respectively secured to and spaced from the panel 11 as appears in FIG. 11 correspond to cleats 12 and as they appear in FIG. 4. Similarly these legs or sides of the angle member, as they appear in FIG. 12 correspond to cleats 13 and 16, as they appear in FIG. 6.

The alternative cleated end panels B, have a similar angle member 30 used on each side thereof in lieu of cleats 24 and 26. In this arrangement, the sides or legs of the angle member respectively secured to and spaced from panel 25, as seen in FIG. 13, are functionally equivalent to and may be considered corresponding to cleats 15 and 24 as they appear in FIG. 8. It will be noted that side panel S as it appears in FIGS. 12 and 13, is substantially the same as side panel S of the preferred embodiment, differing therefrom only to the extent that cleats 20 and 23 may be shorter, as shown, or longer depending upon the leg width of angle numbers 29 and 30 which become abutted therewith upon assembly of the panels.

In the alternative arrangement of FIGS. 14 to 17, cleats 12 and 13 of'the preferred embodiment are dispensed with and cleats 15 and 16, although retained, are secured to the face of panel 11 perimetrically around the edge portion thereof. To form the perimetrically extending socket for retaining panels 19 and 25, a pair of additional smaller cleats 31 and 32 are secured to the panel 11 and spaced from cleats 15 and 16 respectively in an amount corresponding to the thickness of panels 25 and 19. The manner in which these panels are received within the socket thus formed, best appears in FIGS. 15 and 16.

A similar arrangement of cleats is utilized to provide an interlocking relationship between end panels E and side panels S as seen in FIG. 17. .In this arrangement, the cleats 26 of the preferred embodiment are deleted and cleats 24, although used, are secured to the face of panel 25 in the region of oppositely disclosed edge portions thereof. The socket for each panel 19 is formed by means of another, smaller, cleat 33 which is secured to panel 25 and spaced from cleat 24 by the thickness of panel 19. This interlocking arrangement is thus the functional equivalent of that disclosed in FIG. 8.

A variation of the interlocking arrangement disclosed in FIGS. 14 to 17 is disclosed in FIGS. 22 to 25 wherein a channel member, which may be considered to be perimetrically continuous, provides the same function and generally a similar construction to that afiorded by cleats 15, 16 and 31, 32, as disclosed in FIG. 14. In the arrangement of top and bottom panels T and B the inner and outer sides or legs of channel member 34 may be considered to correspond to cleats 31, 32 and 15, 16, these being joined at the base of the channel member which, in turn, is secured to the panel 11. In this light, the similarity between the interlocking arrangements as disclosed in FIGS. 23 and 24 to those of FIGS. 15 and 16, will become at once apparent.

In the interlocking arrangement between the side and end panels 8., and E as disclosed in FIG. 25, a similar channel member 35 is employed, there being two of these secured respectively to the oppositely disposed edge portions of panel 25. The similarity of this arrangement to that disclosed in FIG. 17 may also be significantly noted.

In FIGS. 18 to 21, a panel interlocking arrangement similar to that of FIGS. 14 to 17 is disclosed in that, again, cleats 12 and 13 of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 are dispensed with and, although cleats 15 and 16 are utilized, these are secured to the face of panel 11, as in FIGS. 14 to 16. In lieu of cleats 31 and 32, however, a perimetrically extending angle member 36 is employed. One leg of this member is disposed between panel 11 and cleats 15 and 16 and the other leg thereof is spaced from these cleats and extends upwardly from the face of panel 11, as appears in FIG. 18. A perimetrically extending socket in panel B and T is thus provided for receiving the upper and lower edge portions of panels 19 and 25, this arrangement being best seen in FIGS. 19 and 20.

In the interlocking arrangement for side and end panels S and E;,, as disclosed in FIG. 1, a similar angle member 37 is used together with an associated cleat 24 on oppositely disposed edge portions of end panel 25 to provide a locking socket for receiving the edge portion of panel 19 of cleated side panels S this being generally in the manner of the arrangement of FIG. 17 wherein the functional effect of cleat 33 in forming the socket is replaced by the upstanding leg of angle member 37.

In the foregoing construction, it will be understood that suitable means (not shown) for securing the various cleat means or members thereof to each other, or to the associated panel, may be employed as skill in the art requires in each case. For example, the panels 11, 19, and preferably are made of plywood, and cleats 12, 13, 15, 16, 20, 23, 24, and 26 to 28 preferably are formed of wood. Accordingly, cleats 15, 16, and 24 which are respectively secured to cleats 12, 13, and 26 preferably are fastened thereto as by nails. Similarly, cleats 12 to 14, secured to panel 11, cleats 20 and 23, secured to panel 19, and cleats 26 to 28, secured to panel 25, preferably are fastened thereto by nails, al though it will be understood that these cleats could be bonded or otherwise secured to their respective panels. Similarly, the interlocking cleat means disclosed in FIGS. 10 to 24 may similarly be secured to their respective panels, this being accomplished, fror example, as by use of nails, screws, staples, bolts, and like fastenings, or by bonding, as aforementioned.

From the foregoing it should now be apparent that a knockdown, interlocking cleated panel box construction has been provided which is well adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that there has been provided a construction and arrangement of preformed separable side, end, top, and bottom panels adapted for interlocking assembly together to form a fully structurally integrated box wherein the assembled interlocked panels of the box may be secured as by bands to lock the same together as a unitary structure. The cleat means comprising the interlocking structure at the corners, in accordance with the several constructions disclosed, provides sockets for interfittingly receiving the panels disclosed adjacent thereto at the corners of the box. Generally speaking, the cleated means secured to certain of the preformed and separable panels of the box serve to reinforce the same at the corners thereof when the panels are assembled while additionally providing for interlocking engagement between adjacent panels thereby to structurally integrate the box, the arrangement being such that the corner cleated end panels interlock the side panels and the corner cleated top and bottom panels serve to interlock the side and end panels, this interlocking arrangement between the cleated panels being functionally the same regardless of which of the several interlocking constructions herein disclosed may be employed to accomplish this interlocking function.

It will be understood, moreover, that this invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, therefore, are to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are intended to be embraced therein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a knockdown box formed of interlocking wood panel and wood cleat construction, the combination of preformed separable side, end, top and bottom panels assembled together with engaging edge portions of adjacent panels to form said box therefrom, said side panels being identical, said end panels being identical, said top and bottom panels being identical, said panels each having cleat means secured thereto and effective to reinforce said box at the corners thereof, certain of said cleat means for said top, bottom, and end panels providing interlocking engagement at said corners for said meeting edge portions of adjacent panels thereby to structurally integrate the box, said certain of the cleat means for each of the top and bottom panels forming therewith a perimetrically extending socket having edge portions of said side and end panels received therewithin, said certain of the cleat means for each of said end panels forming a pair of sockets having edge portions of said side panels respectively received therewithin, and at least one metal band extended perimetrically of the box for locking the assembled panels together as a unitary structure, said certain cleat means for each of said top and bottom panels comprising first and second sets of perimetrically extending cleats of identical rectangular cross section, the cleats of the first set being respectively spaced from the edges of the associated panel each with its confronting longer cross sectional face disposed parallel to the edge face of the panel to form one of said perimetrically extending sockets therebetween, the cleats of the second set being secured respectively to the cleats of the first set and to the face of said associated panel, each cleat of said second set having its shorter cross sectional face secured to said longer cross sectional face of the associated cleat of the first set and having its longer cross sectional face secured to said face of the associated panel, said certain cleat means for each of said end panels comprising at each of the side panel engaging ends thereof a first end cleat spaced from an edge of an associated end panel to form one of said sockets for receiving said edge portions of the side panels and a sec end end cleat secured to the first end cleat and to the face of the associated end panel, said first and second end cleats having identical rectangular cross sections, said first end cleat having its confronting longer cross sectional face disposed parallel to the edge face of its associated end panel, said second cleat having its shorter cross sectional face secured to said longer cross sectional face of the first cleat and having its longer cross sectional face secured to its associated end panel, said cleat means comprising at least one intermediate cleat secured to each of the top, bottom, side and end panels, each said intermediate cleat for each panel extending into abutting engagement at each end thereof with one of the cleats of said first and second sets of perimetrically extending cleats, and certain of said intermediate cleats being aligned perimetrically of the box and disposed beneath said metal band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 759,961 Beems May 17, 1904- 772,149 Hunt Oct. 11, 1904 944,146 Neuville Dec. 21, 1909 1,661,527 De Boer Mar. 6, 1928 1,884,062 McSweeney Oct. 25, 1932 2,071,096 Weber Feb. 16, 1937 2,578,644 Mautner Dec. 11, 1951 2,939,601 Evans et al. June 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 192,847 Austria Nov. 11, 1957 545,024 Great Britain May 7, 1942

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