US2730259A - Packing case - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 10, 1956 c. A. FRICK PACKING CASE Filed March 10, 1951 We 9 V n m W z 4 m r w Z 47 aw w A i a B7 9, M 2 1, .2 a 2 H z f A/WXYMWK W z 4, up, A $1 4. 0 r1 CU M/ F 06M 3 A rgoww 5 3 W I I 2 0 handling or transportation. present invention is to provide a packing case that is .simple and inexpensive of construction and which can PACKING CASE Chester A. Friclr, Glendale, Califl, assignor to Leo M. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif.

'This invention has to do with a packing case and it is a general object of the invention to provide a case construction particularly practical for the handling of various kinds in the course of A general object of the objects or articles of the used to advantage in the handling, say, for instance, the shipping, of elongate objects or articles such as lengths of material, either bars, tubes, special sections, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a packing case that utilizes a limited quantity of material in the formation of a sturdy, rigid, durable case. With the construction provided by the present invention but few simple members are required and these members are so combined or related as to provide a construction that is rigid and strong and practical for accommodating objects or materials in the course of shipping or other handling.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packing case of the general character referred to in which the major parts or principal elements involved, and in particular the parts that are of appreciable size, are employed without being mutilated, as by nail holes or the like, and are left after use in a condition to be useful in other cases or for any desired purpose.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packing case which can, if desired, be used in the course of handling or shipment and then returned for re-use, the structure being such that the parts can be returned in a knocked down or separated condition in which they occupy but little space and are very easily handled.

It is another object of the invention to provide a packing case of the general character referred to that is light in weight, simple in form, and such that it can be easily handled both in the course of loading and unloading. The case provided by the present invention can be used to handle objects or articles of various forms or types. However, since it is particularly practical for the handling of elongate objects or articles such, for instance, as bars, tubes, pipes, rods, etc., it will be described in that connection. In general the construction provided by the invention includes two like side boards that may, in practice, be simple, elongate planks or boards of wood, or the like. Blocks are employed in connection with the side boards and are employed in pairs, preferably a pair at each end of the assembled side boards. There may be one or more pairs of blocks employed between the pairs that occur at the ends of the structure. The blocks space and brace the side boards so that they are maintained parallel with each other, they hold the stops or closures that occur between the side boards, and they confine and position the objects or articles being handled in the case. Each block involves a plate, preferably a board of wood, rectangular in form, with end portions that engage the edges of the side boards. The plates of the blocks extend between the side boards. Ribs of nitecl States Patent wood, or the like, are provided on the plates, preferably two on each plate, and they extend transversely of the structure or between the side boards, and have their ends abutting the inner sides of the boards. The ribs are preferably straight and parallel and are spaced apart as they extend from one board to the other. Anchoring means may be employed to prevent slippage of the blocks lengthwise of the side boards and, in practice, the anchoring means may vary widely in form and construction, as circumstances require.

Stops or closures employed in the construction are provided at the ends of the case so that they occur at the end portions of the boards and they may, if desired, be located intermediate the end portions or wherever pairs of blocks occur. The stops are preferably plain, flat, rectangular boards of wood, or the like, corresponding in one dimension with the length of the ribs occurring on the blocks, and in the other direction with the height of the side boards. One or more closures can be located at each pair of blocks, in which position they are confined between the side boards and between the ribs of such blocks. Ties secure the above mentioned parts in assembled position and are preferably in the form of bands or straps that are engaged around the assembly to overlie the blocks and the boards where the blocks occur.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a side board such as may be employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 2 is a face or plan view of a stop or closure that may be employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 3 is a view of a block employed in carrying out the invention, showing it viewed from the inner side to show the ribs that occur on the plate of the block. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a packing case embodying the invention, showing a pair of blocks flush with each end and with the case loaded with elongate objects and provided intermediate the ends with a pair of blocks serving in addition to those that occur at the end portions of the case. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a case embodying the present invention and pro portioned differently than that shown in Fig. 4, and showing a pair of blocks at each end portion of the case but spaced somewhat inward from the extreme ends of the side boards. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a block as provided by the invention, showing it viewed from the inner side to illustrate the rib formation. Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 7 7 on Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken in the direction indicated by line 88 on Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line 9-9 on Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a detailed sectional view showing a form of anchoring means somewhat different than that illustrated in Fig. 9.

For the purpose of illustrating a typical form and application of the invention I have shown it employed to carry a plurality of elongate objects, namely, tubes. In a typical situation tubes are handled that extend from one end of the case to the other, whereas, in other situations the case may be provided with stops or closures intermediate the ends of the case, in which case objects or elongate members, such as lengths of tubing, can be accommodated which are substantially shorter than the case as a whole.

The construction provided by the present invention includes, generally, two like side boards A, blocks B preferably arranged in pairs and extending transversely of the case between the side boards to space and brace the side boards to hold the closures or stops and toconfine and position the contents of the case, such asthe tubes T. The

t ps o c o u es, C. are p ovided where. pairs. f. blocks occur, and there may be a stop or closure at each pair of blocks or only at selected pairs of blocks, as circumstances require. In the case illustrated in the drawings it may be considered that the tubes T extend.v substantially the entire length of the case, in which event stops or closures C are provided only at the end. pairs of blocks. The invention provides ties D that are applied to and extend around the structure at the end portions thereof or where blocks occur. The construction provided by the present invention is incorporated in the structure shown in Fig. 4 as well as in that shown in Fig. 5, and in these two casesv the only difference is in the proportioning of the parts employed and inthe fact that in Fig. 4 the end pairs of blocks are at the extreme ends' of the side boards, whereas in Fig. 5 they are spaced inwardly slightly from the extreme ends of the boards. In view of the foregoing circumstances the following description applies equally to the' structures shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

There are two side boards A that are preferably alike and each is preferably a simple plain elongate board of wood with flat inner and outer sides and 11, respectively, and'fiat straight parallel upper and lower edges 13 and 14, respectively. The ends 15 of each board are preferably straight and in a typical case they extend normal to the longitudinal axis of the board.

The blocks Bemployed in carrying out the invention are alike and they are used in pairs, it being preferred, ordinarily, to employ a pair of blocks at each end portion of the case and,'if desired, one or morepairs of blocks intermediate the end portions of the case. In the situation illustrated in the drawings I provide a pair of end blocks at each end portion of the case and one pair of blocks about midway between the ends of the case. The blocks B serve primarily to space and brace the side boards A so that they extend parallel with each other. The blocks further serve to hold the stops or closures C and may be employed to hold closures at the ends of the case and at any point where blocks are provided intermediate the ends of the case. Further, the blocks serve to confine objects or materials in the case and in the case of tubes T, or the like, as shown in the drawings, the blocks cooperate with'the side parts in defining a construction that completely surrounds the group of tubes.

Each block, as provided by the present invention, includes a main or body portion in the form of a plate and ribs 21 on or projecting from the inner side 22 of the plate. The plate 20 in a typical case may be an elongate body or board of wood, rectangular in form, so that it has parallel side edges 23 and ends 24 extending normal to the edges 23. The plate is of such length that the end portions 25 of the inner side rest or bear upon the longitudinal edges of the side boards A.

The ribs 21 provided on the plate 20 extend longitudinally of the plate and in a preferred form of the invention they are attached to and project from the inner side 22' of the plate adjacent the longitudinal edges 23 so that they'extend longitudinally of the plate, are spaced apart, and are parallel with each other, as shown throughout the drawings. In the preferred form of the invention the ends 28 of the ribs terminate short of the ends 24 of the plate so that when the block is in place with the end portions 25 bearing on edges of the side boards, the ribs engage between the edge portions of the side boards and thus positively space the side boards apart. The ends 28 of the ribs are preferably related to the ends 24 of the plate so that when the block is in place with the end portions 25 resting on the edges ofthe boards and the ends 28 of the ribs engaging the inner sides 19 of the boards, the ends 24 of the plate are just short of the outer sides 11 of the boards. In carrying out the invention the ribs 21 may be formed of strips of wood, or the like, and they may be fixed or permanently fastened to the inner sides 22 of the plates 20 by nails 28 orlike fasteners.

In accordance with the proposed form of the invention an anchoring means is provided toact between each block and the boards engaged thereby so that the blocks do not slip or shift lengthwise of the boards. In some situations the tie means D may be such as to so fasten or bind the parts that slippage does not occur. However, to positively insure against slippage I may employ the anchoring means which acts between the blocks and the side boards. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10 of the drawings the anchoring means involves one or more cleats 30 acting between each block and one or both of the boards A. In a typical situation a cleat 20 is provided at each end portion 25 of each block and a typical cleat, as shown in Fig. 9, may involve an elongate strip 31 of metal with teeth 32 projecting therefrom to embed themselves into the plate 20 from the inner side 22 and with teeth 33 projecting therefrom to embed themselves into the edge of the board engaged with that portion of the plate. This particular type of cleat or fastener may be such as to be permanently fastened or applied to the plate 20 of the block and the teeth 33 provided to. engage the board may be such as to penetrate the board only enough to provide the desired grip between the block and the board.

In the form of anchoring means illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings a clip or member 30* is provided with a tooth 32 projecting in one direction to engage in the plate of the block, and a tooth 33* projecting in the opposite direction to engage in the board engaged by the block. It will be apparent from the drawings that anchoring means other than those mentioned may be employed, if desired. For example, the end portions of the plates included in the blocks may be nailed to the edges of the boards, if circumstances so require. Such nailing has not been illustrated in the drawings as it is ordinarily not required and in most cases is undesirable.

In mostapplications of the invention stops or closures are provided at the ends of the case. However, if desired or if the character of material being handled by the case so requires, additional stops may be incorporated in the case intermediate the end portions thereof, or wherever a pair of blocks'B occurs. Each stop is preferably a plain fiat rectangular board corresponding in one dimension with the length of the ribs 21 occurring on the blocks and in the other direction with the width of the boards, that is, with the space that occurs between the edges 13 and 14 of the boards. A stop orclosure C is in place at and extends between the inner sides 10 of the boards and between the two plates 20 of a pair of blocks and it is located so that the edge portions that engage or which oppose the blocks occur between the ribs 21 of the blocks. Through this construction the closures or stops effectively brace the entirercase. construction against racking, they cooperate with the ribs in positively spacing the boards A apart, and they are stopped against longitudinal displacement bythe ribs of the blocks. In a typical situation the ends 40 of the tubes T or other articles in the case may so approach or, engage the stops at the ends of the case as to positively hold them against the outermost ribs occurring on the blocks at the end portions of the case, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. In assembling the parts to gain a relationshipsuch as I have just referred to the boards may beinitially established so that they are of such length as to cause the blocks at the ends of the case to be flush with the ends of the boards, as shown in Fig. 4, or the boards A may be of somewhat greater length than is required, in which. case the end blocks may be finally set or established somewhat inwardly of the extreme ends 15 ofthe boards, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. As a result of thisconstruction it is a simple matter to so assemble the parts as'to relate the end stops to tubes T, or the like, in the casefto confine the tubes against shifting, without the necessity of having accuratecase.

and somewhat into the corners 56 of the ly cut the main longitudinal members or boards A as is ordinarily the case in box construction.

The ties D that I have provided engage around the assembly of parts hereinabove described and one or more ties D may be provided around the entire structure at each pair of blocks. In the drawings I illustrate two ties D around each pair of blocks occurring at the end portions of the case, while a single tie D is engaged around the pair of blocks shown intermediate the ends of the In practice the ties are preferably metal ties that engage completely around the assembled parts above described, and in practice it is advantageous to employ metal bands or straps 50 that can be engaged tightly around the structure to be made fast by suitable clips 51. When this type of tie D is employed it is preferably applied tightly around the assembly of parts so that the band 50 embeds itself into the corners 55 of the blocks side parts A. By terminating the ends 24 of the plates 20 short of the outer sides 11 of the boards the bands 50, when made tight, will seat or embed themselves somewhat into the corners 55 of the blocks and also somewhat into the corner 56 of the boards, thereby locking the tied blocks against shifting lengthwise of the boards. In some instances this locking of the blocks against shifting relative to the boards may be all that is necessary, in which event anchoring means such as I have described above need not be used.

In practice the elements or parts necessary to form the case may be provided at the location where the material is to be packed or cased, and if desired suitable forms or jigs may be established to facilitate assembly and filling of the case. When a case provided by the invention is established around a body of material such as a group of tubes T, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the tubes are effectively confined against shifting lengthwise in the case, they are positively confined between the side boards A, and they are likewise positively confined between the blocks that occur at the two edges of the side boards. The ribs provided on the plates of the blocks project in from the longitudinal edges 13 and 14 of the boards A and thus keep the tubes T spaced inward somewhat from the edges 13 and 14, so that they are at all times effectively guarded or protected against injury. When it is desired to release material from the case it is merely necessary to cut or remove the ties D. This operation releases the parts so that they are free and enables the contents of the case to be removed without any further difficulty.

From the foregoing description it is to be observed that the case that I have provided involves few, simple, inexpensive parts, it involves a limited amount of material, and it is light and convenient to handle. Furthermore, it is to be observed that the blocks B and closures C are the only major or wooden parts that need to be of special construction, since the boards A can be simple plain boards of conventional dimensions. In practice the boards A can be retrieved after the case has been used for the purpose of being incorporated in other or additional cases, or they can be used for any purpose for which they may be suitable. It is significant in this connection to observe that the boards, after use, are without nail holes and unless the case has been abused they will not be disfigured nor in any way damaged. If it is desired to reemploy the case, as, for instance, at the point at which it was originally loaded, the parts can be easily returned in a compact or knocked-down form. Further, it is to be noted that with the construction that I have provided a wide variety of cases can be readily constructed by providing a stock of boards A of varying dimensions, for instance, of different widths, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or of different lengths, and by providing blocks B and closures C of varying dimensions.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wisli to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An elongate case including, two elongate like unitary side boards with opposed faces and longitudinal edges and extending longitudinally of the case, a plurality of like blocks spaced apart relative to each other and arranged in pairs spaced apart longitudinally of the boards and extending transversely of the case and between the boards spacing them apart and having portions bearing on the edges of the boards, closures each located between the boards and between the blocks of a pair thereof, and ties around and holding the assembled boards and blocks where each pair of blocks occurs, each block having spaced ribs extending between the. boards. with their ends engaging the faces of the boards and the closures being confined between the ribs of the blocks with which they are related.

2. An elongate case including, two elongate like side boards with opposed faces and longitudinal edges and.

extending longitudinally of the case, a purality of spaced like blocks in pairs spaced apart case, and extending transversely of of the boards and spaced ribs fixed on the plate engaged. with and extending between the said faces of the boards, closures each located between the boards and confined between the ribs of the blocks of a pair thereof, and ties extending continuously around and engaging and holding the combined boards and blocks.

3. An elongate object carrying case including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards extending longitudinally r of the case and having opposed object-confining inner sides and longitudinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocks arranged in pairs confined to the end portions of the case, each block including a plate with end portions bearing on the edges of the boards and spaced object-confining ribs fixed to the plate and engaging and extending between the said sides of the boards, closures each extending between the boards and between the blocks of a pair thereof and confined between the ribs of such pair of blocks, and ties extending continuously around the end portions of the case holding the boards, blocks and closures assembled, the closures being adapted to confine objects in the case against movement lengthwise thereof.

4. An elongate object-carrying case including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards extending lengthwise of the case and having opposed object-confining inner sides and longitudinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocks arranged in pairs spaced apart lengthwise of the case and confined to the end portions of the case, each block including a plate with end portions bearing on the edges of the boards and spaced object-confining ribs engaging and extending between the said sides of the boards, closures each extending between the boards and between the blocks of a pair and confined between the ribs of such pair of blocks, and ties extending continuously around the end portions of the case holding the boards, blocks and closures assembled, the ties being the sole means of securing the boards and blocks together.

5. An elongate object-carrying case including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards extending longitudinally of the case and having opposed object-confining inner sides and longitudinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocks arranged in pairs spaced apart and located at the ends of the case, each block including a plate with end portions bearing on the edges of the boards and spaced object-confining ribs fixed to the plate and engaging and extending between said sides of the boards and spacing the boards apart, closures each extending between the boards and between the blocks of a pair and confined between the ribs of such pair of blocks, and ties extending longitudinally of the; the case, each block, having a plate with end portions bearing on the edges;

wag-late;

continuouslyaro n t es -7nd por o UM- Inkl n theboards, blocks and closures assembled, the v ties being embeddedin-theend portions of the blocks.

6. An elongate object-carryingcase including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards extending longitudinally of the caseand havingopposed object-confining inner sides andlongitudinalvedges, a plurality of like spaced blocks arranged in pairs spaced apart and located at the ends of .the case,.each block including a plate with end portions bearingon the edges of the boards and spaced object-confining ribsfixed to the plate and engaging and extending betweensaid sides of the boards and spacing the boards apart, closures eachextending betweenthe boards and between the blocksof a pair 'and confined,

between the ribs of such pair of blocks, and ties extending continuouslyaround the end portions of the case holding the boards, blocks and closures assembled, the ties being embedded in the end portions of the blocks and in the edge portions of the boards where the blocks occur.

7. An elongate object-carrying case including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards extending longitudinally of the case and having opposed object-confining inner sides andlongi't'udinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocks in spaced pairs one :at each end of the case, each block including a plate with end portions bearing on the edges of the boards and spaced object-confining ribs engaging and extending between the inner sides of the boards and'spacing the boards apart, closures each extending between the boards and between the blocks of a pair and confined between the ribs of such pair of blocks, anchoring means stopping movement of the blocks lengthwise of the boards, and tiesextending continuously around the end portions of the case holding the boards, blocks and closures assembled.

8. An elongate object-carrying case including, two like spaced parallel elongate boards with opposed object-confining inner sides and longitudinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocksin spaced pairs one at each end of the case, each block including a plate with end portions be'aring'on the edges 'of th'. boards and spaced objectconfining ribs engagingithe inne'r'sides of the boards and eit e nding between andspacing the boards apart, closures each exten ding betweenfthe boardsand between the blocks of a pair and confinedbetween the ribs of such pair of blocks, anchoring means stopping movement of the blocks lengthwise of the boards, and ties around the end portions of the caseholdingtheboards, blocks and closures assembled, the ties being embedded in the end portions of the blocks andin the edge portions of the boards where the blocks occur.

9. A case including, two elongate like side boards with opposed sides and longitudinal edges, a plurality of like spaced blocks engaged withthe boards, the blocks being in pairs spaced apart longitudinally of the boards, each block having a plate with end portions bearing on the edges of the boards and spaced ribs on the plate engaging and extending between the opposed sides of the boards and spacing the boards apart, toothed members between the end portions of the plates and the edges of the boards checking movement of the blocks lengthwise of the boards, closures located betweenthe boards with portions confined between the ribs of the blocks, and ties around the combined boards and blocks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images