Transportable storage containers

Abstract

Transport brackets are affixed to the container and include provisions for achieving transportability with either a crane or a fork lift. Variable storage capacity is provided by an extension bin which is detachably affixed as part of the container. The top and bottom of the container are compatibly configured to provide an interlock between a plurality of stacked containers and a dolly is configured for use with these interlocking provisions. The container is configured to achieve stacking interchangeability when any vertically peripheral sides are aligned and brackets are disposed around the vertical periphery of the container to achieve fork lift accessibility from any direction perpendicular to the vertically peripheral sides.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage container having transport brackets configured for use with either a crane, or a fork lift, especially such a container with a variable storage capacity and a stacking feature of interchangeable and interlocking nature. Transportable storage containers are utilized for widely diverse purposes from the inventory of component parts for high volume production to the harvest of grain. Hitherto, transportable storage containers have been structured in many different ways to combine transportability with either a vertical stacking feature or a variable storage capacity feature.

Because fork lifts are widely used to transport containers, many transportable storage containers are adapted for use therewith. However, other common lift and transport provisions, such as a crane, are not usable with these containers. Furthermore, utilization of fork lifts therewith is limited due to the fact that engagement accessibility therebetween is only possible in particular directions.

Stacking of a plurality of units is possible with some transportable storage containers, however, very few of these containers provide any stacking interlock by which structural integrity is assured between stacked units. However, on the transportable storage containers which have a stacking interlock, stacking is only possible when the units are particularly orientated and, therefore, interchangeability does not exist in all directions of access to the stack. Furthermore, the stacking interlock is not directly adaptable for use with a dolly.

Variability in storage capacity is possible with a few transportable storage containers, however, such containers are not known to be stackable. Furthermore, the structural sophistications by which the variability is achieved are costly and are easily rendered inoperative by the abuse incurred in normal use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a transportable storage container which minimizes and obviates the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a transportable storage container having brackets which are adapted for transport by either a fork lift or a crane.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a transportable storage container which is accessible to a fork lift from any direction perpendicular to its vertically peripheral sides.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an interlockingly stackable transportable storage container having a detachable bin by which the storage capacity is varied.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a transportable storage container which is interlockingly stackable whenever the vertically peripheral sides of the units are interchangeably aligned.

It is still a further object to provide a detachable dolly to which a transportable storage container is interlockingly affixable.

These objects are accomplished according to the present invention by incorporating both a horizontal bearing surface for interfacing with fork lift prongs and means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke on a single transport bracket. A container is structured from a hopper base to which an extension bin is detachably affixed and the transport brackets are separated across opposite sides of the container at a distance equal to the spacing between fork lift prongs. The hopper base includes a supporting structure which is configured to engage across vertically peripheral sides on the hopper base when disposed on the top thereof and a dolly is structured with vertically peripheral sides having the same dimensional parameters and arrangement as those of the hopper base. When stacking interchangeability is desired between units, the container is structured in a symmetrical configuration about its vertical axis to provide a square horizontal section therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which these and other objects of the present invention are achieved will be best understood by reference to the following description, the appended claims, and the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transportable storage container having the transport brackets of this invention incorporated thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial elevational view of stacked hopper bases with portions thereof cut away to illustrate the stacking interlock in one horizontal direction;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating the stacking interlock in a horizontal direction perpendicular to that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a transportable storage container having transport brackets with slots disposed thereon as a means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke and illustrating the fork lift accessibility possible from any direction perpendicular to the vertically peripheral sides of the container;

FIG. 5 is a reduced partial elevational view of a transportable storage container having transport brackets with lifting hooks disposed as a means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 but illustrating the use of transport brackets having a vertical web with an aperture therethrough as a means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a transportable storage container having transport brackets with flanges of a specific thickness disposed thereon as a means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but with complete transportable storage containers stacked to illustrate that an identical stacking interlock exists therebetween.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a transportable storage container 10 which is interlockingly affixed on a detachable dolly 12 and includes transport brackets 14 with provisions adapting to either an overhead lifting yoke 16 or fork lift prongs 18. The container 10 is constructable in increments or storage capacity by detachably affixing an extension bin 20 to a hopper base 22. Generally, the hopper base 22 is constructed of a conventionally shaped dischargeable hopper 24 which is affixed on a supporting structure 26 and a discharge gate 28 is disposed at the bottom of the hopper 24 to regulate distribution of materials stored therein.

Each bracket 14 includes means 30 for connecting to the overhead lifting yoke 16 and a horizontal bearing surface 32 for interfacing with the fork lift prongs 18. Although the brackets 14 are shown to be affixed on each vertically peripheral side of the container 10 the fundamental concept of this invention only requires that two brackets 14 be separated across opposite sides of the container 10 at a distance equal to the spacing between fork lift prongs 18. Regardless of the number of brackets 14 utilized, the horizontal bearing surface 32 on all brackets 14 must be disposed in a common horizontal plane through the container 10. The brackets 14 can be fabricated of any suitable material, such as metal, and are affixed to the container 10 by any suitable means, such as welding. Angle stock having two perpendicular flanges can be conveniently used in the brackets 14 and arranged on the container 10 with a horizontal flange 34 extending outwardly therefrom and with a vertical flange 36 lying flat thereagainst. An eye bolt 38 is affixed to the horizontal flange 34 of each bracket 14 by suitable means, such as welding and is engageable by a shackle 40 on the overhead lifting yoke 16 to serve as the connecting means 30 therewith.

The dischargeable hopper 24 has vertical sides 42 extending from the diverging end of a funnel shaped portion 44 and a top opening 46 into the hopper base 22 is established by the inner periphery of the vertical sides 42. Therefore, the geometric configuration of the top opening 46 and the dimensional parameters thereof are determined from the peripheral arrangement of the vertical sides 42. The discharge gate 28 is located on the converging end of the hopper 24 and includes a pivotal hatch 48 which is rotatably affixed about a shute 50 in a conventional manner. Any suitable means, such as bolts (not shown) can be utilized to secure the discharge gate 28 to the hopper 24 and a handle 52 (shown in FIG. 4) is disposed on the pivot hatch 48 to control material distribution.

Vertical support members 54 extend from channel shaped pads 56 to establish the supporting structure 26. Angle stock having two perpendicular flanges can be conveniently used for the vertical support members 54, and is affixed to the hopper 24 at the vertical corners thereof. The channel shaped pads 56 are arranged to present an outer flange 58 and an inner flange 60 relative to the overall width projected from directly thereabove by the vertically peripheral side of the hopper base 22. Of course, this overall width is equal to the combined thickness of the vertical side 42, and the flange on the vertical support members 54. A notch 62 is disposed at each longitudinal end of the pad 56 and reduces the inner flange 60 in length to a magnitude slightly less than the width projected from above by the top opening 46. Any suitable means can be utilized to affix the support members 54 to both the hopper 24 and the pads 56, such as welding. Of course, tie bars (not shown) could be utilized to interconnect the pads 56 for structural purposes.

The extension bin 20 is compatibly configured to engagingly affix on the hopper base 22 in the top opening 46 thereof. Vertical sides 64 are arranged about the identical peripheral pattern as the vertical sides 42 of the hopper base 22 so as to be vertically complemental thereto, and the thickness of the material utilized for both vertical sides 64 and 42 is identical. Because both vertical sides 64 and 42 are vertically complementary, a top opening 66 identical to that of the hopper base 22 exists into the extension bin 20. Corner plates 68 of the same angle stock used for the vertical support members 54 are disposed exteriorly at each corner and butt straps 70 are disposed to extend from the inner surface of each vertical side 64. Any suitable means can be utilized to affix both the corner plates 68 and the butt straps 70 to the extension bin 20, such as welding.

Angle stock having two perpendicular flanges of identical thickness to the vertical sides 42 on the hopper base 22 is used in constructing the dolly 12. Lengths 72 of the angle stock are rectangularly arranged, with each length 72 having a horizontal flange 74 extending inwardly and a vertical flange 76 extending upwardly. The lengths 72 are joined and gusset plates 78 disposed therebetween at each corner. Downwardly extending casters 80 are pivotally affixed through the gusset plates 78 and corner plates 82 of the same angle stock used for the vertical support members 54 are disposed exteriorly along each corner. The lengths 72 can be affixed to both the gusset plates 78 and the corner plates 82 by any suitable means, such as welding. The vertical flanges 76 are disposed in a peripheral arrangement identical to that of the vertical sides 42 on the hopper base 22 and, therefore, a top opening 84 identical to that of the hopper base 22 exists into the dolly 12.

In use, the hopper base 22 is interlockingly stackable on top of other containers 10 and hopper bases 22 of identical construction therewith, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8. This is so because the channel shaped pads 56 on the supporting structure 26 are engageable at the top of either the hopper base 22 or extension bin 20 across vertically peripheral sides thereon of identical overall width. More specifically at every stacking interface, the outer flanges 58 on the upper unit overlap the outer limits of the lower init, as shown in FIG. 3 and due to the notches 62, the inner flanges 60 on the upper unit engage into the top openings 46 or 66 of the lower unit, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. Therefore, when shear stresses are translated through a stack of units in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the flanges 58 and 60 the outer flanges 58 develop the interlock and when shear stresses are translated therethrough in a horizontal direction parallel to the flanges 58 and 60 the inner flanges 60 develop the interlock. Because the top of the dolly 12 is dimensionally identical to the top of either the hopper base 22 or the extension bin 20, the container 10 is affixed thereon with the horizontal stresses therebetween being translated through an identical interlock to that described above.

Generally, the supporting structure 26 of the container 10 is rectangular and the brackets 14 are disposed on the vertically peripheral sides thereof to interconnect the vertical support members 54. Although it is not necessary to the fundamental concept of this invention, in FIG. 1 the container 10 has a square horizontal section and the brackets 14 are disposed on each vertically peripheral side of the supporting structure 26. Therefore, the container 10 is accessible to fork lift prongs 18 from any direction perpendicular to the vertically peripheral sides, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Furthermore the square horizontal section of the container 10 results in square top openings 46 and 66 therein and, therefore, the stackability of the containers 10 is interchangeable when any vertically pheripheral sides thereof are vertically aligned. It should be clearly understood, however, that within the fundamental concept of this invention, only two brackets 14 are necessary and the horizontal section of the container 10 can be an oblong rectangle. In such an arrangement, of course, the container 10 would only be accessible to fork lift prongs 18 in either of two axially aligned directions and would only be stackable when vertically peripheral sides of identical length are vertically aligned.

The container 10 stores high volume parts, such as nuts or bolts, and is transportable from one location to another with the dolly 12, or a crane or a fork lift. When a crane is utilized, the overhead lifting yoke 16 is connected to the hook (not shown) thereof and the connecting means 30 on the brackets 14 is engaged by the overhead lifting yoke 16. Then the hook is reeled in by the crane to lift the container 10 for relocation as desired. Within the art of rigging, many different types of lifting yokes 16 suitable to the container 10 of this invention are known. Very generally described, the lifting yoke 16 provides a minimum of two tension members 86 which are each connectable at one end to the crane hook and are separated at some predetermined distance from the crane hook by a spreader bar 88. The other end of each tension member 86 extends freely from the spreader bar 88 and is adapted with suitable means for engaging the connecting means 30, such as the shackle 40 utilized to engage the eye bolt 38 in FIG. 1. As is well known in the art of material distribution, when the fork lift is utilized, the prongs 18 thereof are positioned under the horizontal bearing surface 32 of the brackets 14 on opposite sides of the container 10. Then the prongs 18 are raised and the fork lift carries the container 10 to the desired new location. For short distance relocations, such as within machining or assembly areas, the container 10 is detachably affixed on the dolly 12 and rolled in any desired direction. As discussed previously when the container 10 is affixed on the dolly 12 an interlock exists therebetween through which horizontal stresses are translated.

Distribution of the items from the container 10 is easily accomplished at any location by merely turning the pivot hatch 48 to an open position. The hopper base 22 can be utilized for transportable storage purposes independently of the extension bin 20 where its storage capacity is sufficient for a particular application. Where the extension bin 20 is utilized to increase the storage capacity of the hopper base 22, it is affixed thereto with the edges of its vertical sides 64 abutting upon the edges of the vertical sides 42 on the hopper base 22. Therefore, the butt straps 70 engage into the top opening 46 of the hopper base 22, as illustrated in FIG. 8, to establish an interlock therebetween in a horizontal plane.

Other specific embodiments of the overhead lifting yoke connecting means 30 are illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, where no extension bins 20 are shown on the hopper bases 22, so as to simplify matters. Slots 90 are disposed through the horizontal flanges 34 on the brackets 14 in FIG. 4 and are engageable by any suitable means suspended fron the overhead lifting yoke 16 such as a hook (not shown). A hook 92 is affixed to each bracket 14 in FIG. 5 and engages a ring 94 suspended from the overhead lifting yoke 16. Many safety codes require that the hook 92 includes a spring loaded tongue (not shown) which permits the ring 94 to be easily engaged into the hook 92 but disengageable only after the tongue is depressed. In FIG. 6, the connecting means 30 includes a vertical web 96 affixed on each bracket 14 and an aperture 98 disposed therethrough. A hook 100 is suspended from the lifting yoke 16 and is configured to be engageable into the aperture 98. Again, the safety codes mentioned previously require that the hook 100 include a spring loaded tongue (not shown) operable in the same manner as discussed above. The connecting means 30 on each bracket 14 can be merely a portion on the horizontal flange 34 having a controlled thickness of compatible magnitude with the gap of conventional plate grips 102, as shown in FIG. 7.

It should be readily appreciated by those skilled in this art that the transport brackets on the transportable storage container of this invention are adaptable to either a fork lift or a crane. Also, the transportable storage container has a variable storage capacity and is interlockingly affixable on a dolly or is interlockingly stackable on other containers of identical construction. Furthermore, the accessibility of the fork lift from any direction perpendicular to the vertically peripheral sides of the container is possible when the transport brackets are affixed on each vertically peripheral side and interchangeable stacking is possible when the container is structured to have a square horizontal section.

It should be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of contruction and the combinations or arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present disclosure should be construed as illustrative rather than limiting.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In a container of the type used for transportable storage of high volume parts, the improvement comprising: brackets affixed on said container intermediate to the top and bottom thereof each said bracket including a horizontal bearing surface for interfacing with fork lift prongs and means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke, said horizontal bearing surfaces extending externally from the horizontal extremities of said container perpendicularly to the vertical axis thereof and being disposed on a common horizontal plane through said container.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container includes a hopper base and extension bin, said hopper base having vertically peripheral sides about the circumference of a top opening, said extension bin being compatibly configured with said hopper base to engagingly affix thereon into said top opening and being effective to increase the storage capacity of said hopper base.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said extension bin includes vertically peripheral sides structured and arranged identically to said vertically peripheral sides on said hopper base, said sides of said extension bin having butt straps extending therefrom, said extension bin being affixed on said hopper base with said butt straps engaging into said top opening thereof.

4. A container for transportable storage of high volume parts comprising:

a hopper base having vertically peripheral sides about the circumference of a top opening and a supporting structure for a dischargeable hopper, said supporting structure being configured to engage across said vertically peripheral sides at the top of said hopper base;

an extension bin compatibly configured with said hopper base to engagingly affix thereon into said top opening and being effective to increase the storage capacity of said hopper base, said extension bin including vertically peripheral sides structured and arranged identically to said vertically peripheral sides on said hopper base, said sides of said extension bin having butt straps extending therefrom, said extension bin being affixable on said hopper base with said butt straps engaging into said top opening thereof, said vertically peripheral sides of said extension bin circumventing a top opening therein, said container being interlockingly stackable on other containers and other hopper bases of identical construction with said supporting structure engaging thereagainst to translate horizontal stress through the stacking interface; and

brackets affixed to said container and separated thereacross at the spacing of fork lift prongs, each said bracket including a horizontal bearing surface for interfacing with fork lift prongs and means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke, said horizontal bearing surfaces being disposed on a common horizontal plane through said container.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said supporting structure includes vertical support members extending from channel shaped pads, said channel shaped pads being arranged to present an outer flange and an inner flange relative to the overall thickness projected from thereabove by said vertically peripheral side, said outer flange being configured to overlap said vertically peripheral side and said inner flange being notched to engage within said top openings.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said container includes a detachable dolly, said dolly having vertically peripheral sides of identical arrangement and parameters as said vertically peripheral sides of said hopper base, said vertically peripheral sides of said dolly circumventing a top opening therein, said hopper base being interlockingly affixable on said dolly with said channel shaped pads engaging across said vertically peripheral sides thereon to translate horizontal stress therebetween.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes an eye bolt.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a vertical web, said vertical web having an aperture therethrough.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a hook.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said bracket includes a length of angle stock, said angle stock having perpendicular flanges and being disposed on said container with a flange oriented in a horizontal plane therethrough, said connecting means being an aperture through said horizontal flange.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said bracket includes a length of angle stock, said angle stock having perpendicular flanges and being disposed on said container with a flange oriented in a horizontal plane therethrough, said connecting means being a horizontal flange section of compatible thickness to plate grips.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container is arranged to have a square horizontal section and includes vertically peripheral sides, said brackets being disposed on each said vertically peripheral side, said container being accessible to interface with the forklift prongs from any direction perpendicular to said vertically peripheral sides.

13. A container for transportable storage of high volume parts comprising:

vertically peripheral sides circumventing a top opening and being arranged to have a square horizontal section;

channel shaped pads supporting said container, each said channel shaped pad being arranged parallel to one said vertically peripheral side and disposed to present an outer flange and an inner flange relative to the overall thickness projected from thereabove by said vertically peripheral side, said outer flange being configured to overlap said vertically peripheral side and said inner flange being notched to engage within said top opening, said container being interlockingly stackable on other containers of identical construction with said channel shaped pads engaging across the vertically peripheral sides thereof to translate horizontal stresses through the stacking interface and said container being interchangeably stackable on other containers of identical construction with any vertically peripheral sides thereof vertically aligned; and

brackets affixed to said container and separated thereacross on each said vertically peripheral side at the spacing of fork lift prongs, each said bracket including a horizontal bearing surface for interfacing with fork lift prongs and means for connecting to an overhead lifting yoke, said horizontal bearing surfaces being disposed on a common horizontal plane through said container, said container being accessible to interface with the fork lift prongs from any direction perpendicular to said vertitcally peripheral sides.