Patents Assigned to Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
  • Patent number: 5845799
    Abstract: A bulk box has a base with side and end wall panels pivotally attached to the base for moving between a collapsed position and an upright position. The bulk box has an insert positioned in the interior of the base for receiving a flowable material. In a foot portion of the base, two outlets for the flowable material are provided. A first outlet permits flow of the material to a side of the base and a second outlet permits flow of the material through a bottom wall of the base. A cutoff device is movable between a first position blocking the flow of the material through the outlets. A diverter is movable between a first position permitting flow of the material through the side outlet and a second position permitting flow of the material through the bottom wall of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Deaton
  • Patent number: 5722550
    Abstract: A container for transporting products such as produce as a reusable base part including a base and support members hingedly mounted to the base that are movable between two positions. In a first position, the support members are upright, generally perpendicular to the base and in a second position the support members are retracted to a position to lie parallel with a bottom wall of the base. In the first position, an over sleeve is adapted to slide over the support members along opposite end walls of the container and fit into the base along opposite side walls of the container. Bottom wall flaps of the over sleeve extend part way across the bottom wall of the container and produce contained therein pushes down on the bottom flaps to maintain engagement of the over sleeve with the base. The base and support members are made of a reusable material, such as plastic whereas the over sleeve is made of cardboard, which can be discarded or recycled after use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Ficker
  • Patent number: 5673791
    Abstract: A container has a drop gate and lids that open along hinge joints formed at the upper end of the side walls. The drop gate is formed in one end wall and the lids can also be opened half way from the end wall in which the drop gate is formed. In this way, access to the interior of the container can be gained through the open drop gate and the open half of the lids so that the container can be used as a shelf box or hopper in a flow racking system. Further, when the lids are opened along their respective side wall hinge joints, the container can be used as a distribution tote. When the container is also used as a bulk shipper by vendors or suppliers, the container can perform three functions in a distribution system. Specifically, the container can be first used as a bulk shipper, then, without unpacking the goods, the container can be shelved on a flow racking system from which orders can be selected at a distribution center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Jamison
  • Patent number: 5524750
    Abstract: An article holder that is easily attached to and removed from a display support surface that permits the display of flat articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5330069
    Abstract: A pair of bi-fold lids covers a container having a depth dimension that is less than half the width dimension of the container. Each bi-fold lid has front and rear sections that are hinged together along a hinge axis. The hinge axis is reinforced by adjacent flanges that overlap one another when the lids are in their closed position. When the lids are open, the front and rear sections fold over on one another to reduce the extent to which they hang down adjacent the sidewall of the container. This permits a container of short height or shallow depth to have lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Jamison, Eric Stein
  • Patent number: 5094356
    Abstract: A knock down bulk container has side and end panels hinged to a base. In assembling the container for use, first the end panels are uprighted to a substantially vertical position, and then the side panels are swung to an upright position. As the side panels are swung into their upright position, lift pins formed to protrude laterally outwardly from each side edge of the side panels engage a lift track in an end wall of the base to raise each of the side panels vertically with respect to its hinge axis. To connect the panels together, the end panels are formed with pockets along their edges adjacent the corners of the container, and the side panels have hooks that are seated within the pockets of the end panels. As the side panels are swung into their upright position, the hooks are positioned vertically above the pockets by the engagement of the lift pins with the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Miller
  • Patent number: 4832200
    Abstract: A keyed, two part container for shipping or storing associated articles. The container includes a box portion having a generally planar base member, a pair of opposed sidewalls, and a pair of end walls defining an open area adapted to access a central cavity for receiving the associated articles. Lid receiving means is formed on the box portion, specifically, on the end walls. A lid portion is adapted for receipt over the open area of the box portion. The outer surface of the lid portion is provided with a preselected design that receives, in turn, a preselected pattern defined on an outer surface of the base member of another container. A first keyed means is defined by a continuous flange in the lid portion which matingly engages with the lid receiving means of a compatible box portion and interferes with the lid receiving means of a comparable box portion. Also, a second keyed means is defined by selected ridges extending from recessed areas of the box portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Deaton, Paul J. Ficker
  • Patent number: 4688675
    Abstract: In a plastic molded tote box having one lid or opposed lids that will shingle with other lids in the open position when the box and like boxes are nested, the maximum horizontal dimension for the shingled lids, as measured outwardly from the adjacent box side wall (lid flare), is reduced by tapering the lid rib structure toward the hinge, and/or by tapering the outboard lid skirt toward the hinge, and/or by flaring one or more lid flanges, particularly the inboard flange. The latter two structural features permit increased nesting of the lid side skirts or channels, which in the closed position of the lid overlie the box side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Thomas P. Deaton
  • Patent number: 4648199
    Abstract: Disclosed is a crustacean trap (20) formed by a plurality of monolithic molded panels (24-30) serially interconnected via coupled pairs of interlocking channels integral to side margins of the panels to form a substantially non-deformable frame defining an unimpeded access portal while retaining elements (124, 132) along base margins of the panels provide a frame for a cast-in-place base (134). A lid (22) providing limited access into the interior and more limited egress from the interior of the trap is pivotally positionable within the portal between the serially interconnected panels to control access through the portal. Counter-rotating latches, lost motion and elongated brackets for the pivotal elements of the lid enhance the trap's reliability by requiring particular manual motions to pivot the lid between its closed and open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Deaton, Timothy R. Daniels
  • Patent number: 4648200
    Abstract: The crustacean trap, particularly for a lobster, is molded of separate bottom, opposite side, opposite end and top panels that are thereafter assembled by sliding edge channel joints together for the sides and ends, after which the tops and bottoms are assembled through snap joints. The edge joints are provided with vertically extending channels formed of flanges that permit only vertical assembly or disassembly, and the snap joints for the top and bottom panels are hook-shaped pins received in trapping type apertures to thereafter prevent disassembly of the sides and ends. Crustacean ingress is facilitated and egress inhibited by a funnel formed of molded rigid parallel sides and pivotally adjusted non-parallel sides, with the adjustment being an arcuate array of apertures on the parallel sides to selectively mate with apertures on the non-parallel sides. The parallel sides have cross beams snap assembled to the top and disposed to form a lobster removal opening adjacent the funnel opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Timothy R. Daniels, Thomas P. Deaton
  • Patent number: 4643310
    Abstract: A bakery basket is molded of synthetic resin, plastic, and is provided with three levels: a fully nested level, and two different upper stacked levels, one being formed by rigid stacking surfaces engaging when the trays are rotated 180 degrees from their nesting position and the other stacking level being provided by flipping bails for either rotated position of the trays. A particular bail hinge construction is disclosed and bail position retainers in the middle of the bail to hold one of its positions, for example, the nesting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Deaton, Eric D. Stein
  • Patent number: 4620644
    Abstract: The adjacent edges for two covers of a tote box have interlocking fingers where separation is resisted by means of hooks on one or more of the covers engaging side flanges of the box to lock the covers in place. The closed covers present a flat surface inset with respect to a plurality of abutments in the vicinity of the sides and ends that prevent side shifting of a like box stacked on top of it. The side abutments have a second function of latching into the end walls to hold the covers in their open position, even when a plurality of like boxes are nested. The latches and locks are unitarily molded into the cover and provided with cam surfaces that together with inherent resiliency of the structure provide for locking and latching by movement of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4600103
    Abstract: There is disclosed a one piece synthetic resin molded bakery tray, without moving parts and without any additional parts, that can be stackable at a plurality of levels, and preferably nestable due to top to bottom functional symmetry. Substantial or even identical symmetry may be provided. Such symmetry may also be with respect to rotation of the tray about a central vertical axis. Interlocking portions are provided symmetrically on the top and bottom edges of high side walls, and a bakery product support partition is provided at a midplane of the walls. Stacking ledges may be provided at an intermediate height from the partition on each high wall for cooperating with the interlocking portions to provide an intermediate stacking position. Complementary interlocking portions may be provided on each surface of the partition adjacent each high side wall for cooperation with interlocking portions of the high side walls to obtain a low stacking position. Identical trays may be rotated 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1986
    Assignees: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc., Ekco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles P. Tabler
  • Patent number: 4574962
    Abstract: A storage and retrieval system has a plurality of conveyor sections mounted one above the other on a frame. Each conveyor section can move a tray with a box of articles thereon between a loading station and a picking station automatically according to a keyboard entry control. Each conveyor section has a plurality of the trays secured together by a driven chain in an endless loop, with the trays being supported on an endless array of horizontal undriven rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles P. Tabler, Theodore R. Devins
  • Patent number: D285219
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventor: Eric D. Stein
  • Patent number: D289788
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Deaton, Timothy R. Daniels
  • Patent number: D290778
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignees: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc., Ekco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles P. Tabler
  • Patent number: D292718
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group Inc.
    Inventor: Eric D. Stein
  • Patent number: RE32966
    Abstract: One or a series of different size tote boxes may be extended in height by securely fastening a ring on top of it or them, which ring is preferably snapped to the top of the box by opposing hook-shaped tabs or interlocking elements. The ring is of a height to effectively change the height of the box, and if a series of different height boxes are involved, the height of the ring is such as to change a lower height box into a higher box of a size not to be found in the series. By effectively constructing the top of the ring in a manner similar to the top of the box, with respect to interlocking, rings may be stacked one upon another to increase the height of the boxes. Interior partitioning, particularly for circuit boards, is such that spacing between boards may be readily changed in a secure manner. Slotted circuit board holders have edges for insertion in opposed vertical slots, which edges are offset with respect to the plane of symmetry of such holders so that the holder may be removed, rotated 180.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Albert J. McGlasson
  • Patent number: D304120
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Buckhorn Material Handling Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Buchanan, Ray A. Gargarella