BULKHEAD DIVIDER SYSTEM FOR A DELIVERY CONTAINER
A bulkhead divider system including a delivery container, a divider wall, and at least one strap assembly is provided. The delivery container includes a plurality of walls defining an interior compartment. The at least one strap assembly is coupled with the divider wall for securely attaching the divider wall to at least two of the plurality of walls of the delivery container. In another aspect, the bulkhead divider system may include a divider wall having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges. The divider wall may further include a fold line positioned adjacent to at least one of the top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side walls to define a corresponding number of flanges. The flanges allow the divider wall to be frictionally engaged with a wall of the delivery container.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/826,132, filed on Sep. 19, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a bulkhead divider; and particularly to a collapsible bulkhead divider for defining separate compartments within a delivery container, such as a tractor trailer, overseas container, or air container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA conventional tractor trailer or ocean container typically includes two side walls, top and bottom walls, and front and rear walls that define an interior compartment for storing goods so that they may be transported by a vehicle, such as a truck, from one location to another. Often, the goods contained within the interior compartment need to be delivered to different locations. Therefore, when loading the goods into the trailer, it is necessary to identify and organize the goods into separate loads according to the order in which the goods are to be delivered to a certain location to facilitate the off-loading of the goods upon arriving at the intended destination.
Currently, when goods are loaded into the interior compartment of a trailer, they are arranged such that the loads that will be delivered last are loaded into the trailer first, and the loads that will be delivered first are loaded last in a position near a trailer door for convenient off-loading. One problem encountered in including multiple loads within a single trailer has been the difficulty in identifying when all of the goods within a load have been fully off-loaded. Since the loads within a trailer are typically packed close together, it may be time consuming to identify where one load ends and another begins.
One solution has been to place cargo nets between the different loads within the interior compartment. However, once a load has been delivered, the empty space created within the interior compartment allows the loads still present within the interior compartment to shift, move, or fall from its original location during transport or docking despite the use of a cargo net. As a result, the goods may be damaged during transport, which would require that the goods be re-delivered, thereby causing a delay in the delivery of the goods to the intended recipient and an increased delivery costs.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an apparatus for effectively dividing the loads contained within the interior compartment of a storage container, such as a trailer. Further, there exists a need for an apparatus that secures the separate loads contained within a storage compartment during the transport of the goods to their intended destination. The present invention fills these needs as well as other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to overcome the above stated problems and limitations there is provided a bulkhead divider system including a delivery container, a divider wall, and at least one strap assembly is provided. The bulkhead divider wall system operates to divide different loads located within the delivery container for multiple location distribution. Furthermore, the bulkhead divider wall system operates to secure a less than total load (LTL) shipment within the delivery container during transport from one location to another, and aids in docking by preventing materials from falling within the delivery container while backing into awkward locations. In particular, the delivery container may include a plurality of walls defining an interior compartment. The at least one strap assembly is coupled with the divider wall for securely attaching the divider wall to at least two of the plurality of walls of the delivery container.
In another aspect, the bulkhead divider system may include a divider wall having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges. The divider wall may include a fold line positioned adjacent to at least one of the top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side walls to define a corresponding number of flanges. The flanges allow the divider wall to be frictionally engaged with a wall of the delivery container. This aspect of the delivery container may be used in an interior compartment of a refrigerated trailer.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become appreciated and be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to
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Divider wall 12 may include a front surface 16 and a rear surface 18 defined by a top edge 20, a bottom edge 22, a first side edge 24, and a second side edge 26. The edges 20, 22, 24, 26 of divider wall 12 may be generally configured to correspond to the dimensions of a top wall 28, a bottom wall 30, and a pair of side walls 32, 34 of an interior compartment 36 of a delivery container 38, such as a tractor trailer (
It will be understood and appreciated that divider wall 12 may be sized in such a manner so that one or more of the edges 20, 22, 24, 26 are in contact with the interior surface of walls 28, 30, 32, 34 of delivery container 38. On the other hand, divider wall 12 may also be sized in such a manner so that none of the edges 16, 18, 20 and 22 are in contact with the interior surface of walls 28, 30, 32, 34 of delivery container 38. Both of these arrangements are within the scope of the present invention.
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In use, the bulkhead divider wall system 10 may be in a stored position similar to the one shown in
The above described bulkhead divider wall system 10 thereby provides numerous benefits and advantages. For example, the bulkhead divider wall system 10 operates to divide different loads located within delivery container 38 for multiple location distribution. Furthermore, the bulkhead divider wall system 10 operates to secure a less than total load (LTL) shipment within delivery container 38 during transport from one location to another, and aids in docking by preventing materials from falling within delivery container 38 while backing into awkward locations.
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The dimensions of divider wall 12″ are oversized given the dimensions of the top wall 28, bottom wall 30 and side walls 32, 34 since a friction fit is desired. Divider wall 12″ is routered to include fold lines 94, 96 near the two sides 24, 26 and/or a fold line 98 near the top edge 20 to provide side flanges 100, 102 and/or a top flange 104. For example, the thickness of flaps 100, 102 may be about 2.5″ and the thickness of flap 104 may be about 10″, with the overall size of divider wall being about 102 inches by 110 inches.
In use, divider wall 12″ is pushed into the interior compartment of the refrigerated delivery container causing side flanges 100, 102 and/or top flange 104 to bend about folds lines 94, 96, 98, respectively, to accommodate the size of the refrigerated delivery container divider wall 12″ is being placed into. The flanges 100, 102, 104 create the fraction fit with the interior surface of the side walls 32, 34 and/or top wall 28 of the delivery container, thereby sealing off and preventing warm air from moving from one compartment from the other to preserve the cold temperature of the frozen items.
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Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
Claims
1. A bulkhead divider system for separating an interior compartment of a delivery container, the bulkhead divider system comprising:
- a divider wall; and
- at least one strap assembly coupled with the divider wall for securely attaching the divider wall to at least two walls of the delivery container, wherein the divider wall defines two compartments within the delivery container.
2. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, wherein the divider wall includes at least one strap aperture defined therein, wherein the at least one strap assembly is positioned within the strap aperture to couple the at least one strap assembly to the divider wall.
3. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one strap assembly includes an end fastener on each end for securing the at least one strap assembly to the at least two walls of the delivery container.
4. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a ratchet assembly associated with said at least one strap assembly, wherein the ratchet assembly increases the tension of the at least one strap assembly between the at least two walls of the delivery container to securely fasten the divider wall to the at least two walls.
5. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, wherein the divider wall includes a fold line that allows the divider wall to be collapsible.
6. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, wherein the divider wall is formed of corrugated plastic.
7. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 1, wherein the divider wall includes at least one handle aperture defined therein.
8. A bulkhead divider system comprising:
- a delivery container including a plurality of walls defining an interior compartment;
- a divider wall; and
- at least one strap assembly coupled with the divider wall for securely attaching the divider wall to at least two of the plurality of walls of the delivery container, wherein the divider wall defines the two compartments within the delivery container.
9. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the divider wall includes at least one strap aperture defined therein, wherein the at least one strap assembly is positioned within the strap aperture to couple the at least one strap assembly to the divider wall.
10. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one strap assembly includes an end fastener on each end for securing the at least one strap assembly to the at least two walls of the delivery container.
11. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 10, wherein the delivery container includes a rail mounted to each of the at least two of the plurality of walls, wherein the ends fasteners are each secured to the respective rails.
12. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, further comprising a ratchet assembly associated with said at least one strap assembly, wherein the ratchet assembly increases the tension of the at least one strap assembly between the at least two walls of the delivery container to securely fasten the divider wall to the at least two walls.
13. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the divider wall includes a fold line that allows the divider wall to be collapsible.
14. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the divider wall is formed of corrugated plastic.
15. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the divider wall includes at least one handle aperture defined therein.
16. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 8, wherein the delivery container is a tractor trailer.
17. A bulkhead divider system for separating an interior compartment of a delivery container, the bulkhead divider system comprising a divider wall having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges, the divider wall including a first fold line positioned adjacent to one of the top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side walls to define a first flange, wherein the first flange allows the divider wall to be frictionally engaged with a wall of the delivery container.
18. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 17, wherein the divider wall includes a second fold line positioned adjacent to another one of the top edge, bottom edge, and opposing side walls to define a second flange, wherein the second flange allows the divider wall to be frictionally engaged with another wall of the delivery container.
19. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 17, wherein the divider wall has a vent aperture defined therein, and a curtain for selectively covering the vent aperture.
20. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 17, further comprising at least one strap assembly coupled with the divider wall for securely attaching the divider wall to at least two walls of the delivery container to couple the at least one strap assembly to the divider wall.
21. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 20, wherein the divider wall includes at least one strap aperture defined therein, wherein the at least one strap assembly is positioned within the strap aperture.
22. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 20, wherein the at least one strap assembly includes an end fastener on each end for securing the at least one strap assembly to the at least two walls of the delivery container.
23. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a ratchet assembly associated with said at least one strap assembly, wherein the ratchet assembly increases the tension of the at least one strap assembly between the at least two walls of the delivery container.
24. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 17, wherein the divider wall includes a collapsing fold line that allows the divider wall to be collapsible.
25. A bulkhead divider system as recited in claim 17, wherein the divider wall includes at least one handle aperture defined therein.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 19, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Inventor: Terry Carson (Woodstock)
Application Number: 11/857,477
International Classification: B61D 45/00 (20060101);