Article support device

Abstract

The present invention is an article support device that can be used for storing and transporting a plurality of articles in a container or on a rack. The device has a first member and a second member that are nested together to form the complete article. The first and second members have cooperating openings and projections that are utilized to secure the first and second member together in a nested relationship. One end of the first and second members contain a slot which further assist in placing the first and second member in a nested relationship to form the article support member.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/658,722, filed Mar. 4, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article support device which is utilized with containers that transport and store various articles. More particularly, the invention is directed to an article support device that can easily be positioned in a container and the article support protects the articles while being transported or stored in the container. The article support device is designed to easy to fabricate, inexpensive to manufacture and very effective in protecting the articles positioned in the container. The article support is designed to be a free standing element that is not connected to the container. However, it should be understood that the article support could be modified for attachment to the container if so desired.

Storage racks and containers have been used for many years to transport and store various articles. There has been a need for a device that will protect the articles positioned in a container or storage rack but at the same time allow the articles to be easily removed from the container or storage rack. Article transport and storage device shown U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,718 is an example of a device that can be used to properly position articles in a container. However, the device of the '718 patent has a complex configuration with several parts that must be interconnected to form the complete article transport and storage device. Because of the complex nature of the device of the '718 patent this device is difficult to manufacture, assemble and is expensive to produce. Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an article support device that can be easily manufactured from inexpensive materials to produce a device that is both effective and low in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an article support device that can be used for storing and transporting a plurality of articles in a container or on a rack. The device has a first member and a second member that are nested together to form the complete article. The first and second members have cooperating openings and projections that are utilized to secure the first and second member together in a nested relationship. One end of the first and second members contain a slot which further assist in placing the first and second member in a nested relationship to form the article support member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the first member of the article support device.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the second member of the article support device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of showing the article support device with the first and second members arranged in a nested relationship.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the article member taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view showing the article support devices in use in a container to position articles that are stored and/or transported in the container.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the article support devices being used in a container to position articles in the desired location in the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The invention is directed to an article support for positioning articles in a container. More particularly, the article support is intended to be positioned in the container to space articles an appropriate distance apart so the articles are not damaged during transportation or storage of the articles. The article support is designed to be a free standing unit that is not connected to the sidewalls of the container. However, if desired the article support could be modified to become a part of the container. The features of the invention will be more readily understood by referring to the attached drawings in connection with the following description.

The article support member 1 is formed by combining a first member with a substantially identical second member 10′. The first and second members are designed to fit together in a nested relationship to form the article support member.

FIG. 1a shows the first member 10 and FIG. 1b shows the second member 10′ that is substantially identical with the first member. In describing the first and second members the same numbers will be utilized for similar elements but a ′ will be placed on the reference numerals used for the second member 10′. To simplify the explanation of the first and second members there will be only one description provided with respect to the first member 10. It should also be understood from looking at FIGS. 1a and 1b that the second member 10′ is rotated 180 degrees from the orientation at which the first member 10 is shown in FIG. 1a. The rotation of the second member 10′ positions the first and second members in an orientation where they can be fit together in a nested relationship to form the article support member 1.

The first member 10 has a first end 15 and second end 17. The first member has a generally rectangular shape and defines a first outer edge 21 and a second outer edge 23. The first member has a length that is usually substantially greater than the height of the first member and the thickness of the first member is usually substantially less than the height of the first member. A plurality of notches 27 are positioned in the first and second outer edges of the first member 10.

At least one opening 31 is positioned in the first end 15 of the first member 10. The opening 31 extends through the first member 10. In practice, it has been found desirable to have more than one opening positioned in the first end 15 of the first member. As shown in FIG. 1a a second opening 33 is located adjacent the end of the first member 10. A first section of the first member 10 is positioned between the mid point 19 and the first opening 31, a second section 13 is positioned between the first opening 31 and the second opening 33 and a third section 14 is positioned between the second opening 33 and the end of the first member. A slot 35 is formed in the second end 17 of the first member 10. The slot 35 extends from the second end 17 to substantially the mid point 19 of the first member 10. At least one chamber 37 is positioned along the slot 35. The at least one chamber 37 extends all the way through the thickness of the first member 10. In practice, it has been found to be desirable to have more than one chamber 37 positioned along the slot 35 in the second end 17 of the first member 10. As shown in FIG. 1a there are two chambers 38 positioned in the first member 10. At least one projection 39 is formed along slot 35 and positioned adjacent the first chamber 37. In practice, it has been found desirable to have more than one projection positioned along the slot 35. As shown in FIG. 1a there are projections 39 and 40 formed on each side of the slot 35 and there are two places were such opposed projections are located. The first set of projections 39 is located between the end of the first member 10 and the first chamber 37 and the second set of opposed projections 40 is located between the first chamber 37 and the second chamber 38. A notch 41 can be positioned in the second end 17 of the first member 10 to assist in forming the opposed projections 39 located adjacent the second end 17 of the first member. Although the projections 39 and 40 have been shown to be formed on each side of the slot 35 it should be understood that other configurations can be utilized for the projections. The projections 39 and 40 are disposed a substantially equal distant from the mid point 19 of the first member 10 as the first opening 31 and second opening 33 respectively are disposed from the mid point 19 on the first end of the first member 10. The projections 39 and 40 are designed to have a configuration that is substantially the same size and shape as the first opening 31.

As shown in FIG. 1b the second member 10′ has substantially the same features and components as the first member 10.

To form the article support member 1 as shown in FIG. 2 a first member 10 is nested together with a second member 10′ to form the complete article support member. To nest the first and second member together the second end 17, 17′ of the first and second members respectively are separated along the slot 35, 35′ and moved together so that the second end 17 of the first member 10 passes along the second end 17′ of the second member 10′. The first member 10 is advanced with respect to the second member 10′ until the second end 17 of the first member 10 is positioned adjacent the first end 15′ of the second member 10′. This places the first end 15 of the first member 10 in alignment with the second end 17′ of the second member 10′. The first member 10 and the second member 10′ are oriented so that the plain formed by the first member 10 and the second member 10′ as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b are oriented at right angles to one another as shown in FIG. 2. When the first member 10 and the second member 10′ are properly nested together the projections 39′ and 40 on the second member 10′ will be in alignment with and extend into the first opening 31 and second opening 33 respectively on the first end 15 of the first member 10. The projections 39 and 40 on the second end 17 of the first member 10 will be in alignment with and extend into the first opening 31′ and second opening 33 respectively on the first end 15′ of the second member 10′. The first section 11 of the first end 15 of the first member 10 between the mid point 19 and the first opening 31 will be positioned in the first chamber 37′ on the second member 10 and the second section 13 between the first opening 31 and the second opening 33 on the first member 10 will be positioned in the second chamber 37′ in the second member 10′. The third section 14 between the second opening 31 and the end of the second end 15 of the first member 10 will be positioned in the notch 41′ on the second member 10′. The respective first, second and third sections on the first end 15′ of the second member 10′ will be positioned in the first opening 37, second opening 38 and the notch 41 on the second end 17 of the first member 10.

FIG. 3 shows the projections 39 of the first member 10 positioned in the opening 31′ in the second member 10′. FIG. 4 shows the first section 11 of the second member 10′ in position in the second chamber 38 of the first member 10. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the use of the article support members 1 to position articles 7 in a container 5. As shown in these figures the support members 1 are placed in the bottom of the container 5 and article 7 positioned on the support members. The articles usually engage the notches 27 and 27′ to securely hold the articles in the desired position. The article support members 1 are position relative to the article 7 to provide the required support for the storage and transportation of the articles. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 it is possible to stack the article in the container 5 to achieve the desired density of product in the container. It is also possible to nest the articles 7 in a horizontal and vertical manner to achieve the most advantageous placement of the articles in the container.

The above detailed description of the present invention is given for explanatory purposes. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the whole of the foregoing description is to be construed in an illustrative and not a limitative sense, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An article support member for positioning articles in a container comprising:

A first member having a first end and a second end, the first member defining a first outer edge and a second outer edge, a plurality of notches are positioned in said first and second outer edges;

At least one opening positioned in said first end of said member;

A slot is formed in said second end of said member;

At least one chamber positioned along said slot and at least one projection formed by along said slot, said projection positioned adjacent said first at least one chamber; and

A second member identical said first member combined with said first member to form said article support, said first end of said second member being positioned in said chamber defined in said second end of said first member, said at least one projection on said second member being positioned in said at least one opening in said first member, said first end of said first member being positioned in said chamber defined in said second end 17 of said second member; at least one projection on said first member being positioned in said at least one opening in said second member whereby said first and second members form said article support.

2. The article support of claim 1 wherein the articles to be positioned in a container are engaged by the notches to hold the articles in the desired position in said container.

3. The article support of claim 1 wherein said slot in said second end of said first and second members separates to receive first end of said first and second members respectively.

4. The article support of claim 2 wherein said first and second members are made of a flexible material that allows said second end to be displaced along said slot to receive a first end of a member.

5. The article support of claim 1 wherein more than one opening is positioned in said first end of said member and the same number of projections is positioned on the second end to correspond to said openings on the first end.

6. The article support of claim 1 wherein the joint between said first and second members is secured together.

7. The article support of claim 6 wherein said first and second members are secured together by hot air welding.