SHIPPING CARRIER

Abstract

A shipping container having a frame with at least one elongated tube. An elongated adapter has a body which forms an elongated T-shaped slot. An elongated trough is provided through the bottom of the adapter and the adapter is attached to the tube by driving a fastener having a head through the attachment trough in the bottom of the adapter and into the tube. In doing so, the head of the fastener is recessed in the attachment trough.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shipping carrier for manufacturing components.

II. Description of Related Art

Shipping carriers are oftentimes used to ship manufactured components from the place of their manufacture and to the place of assembly. For example, in the automotive industry many of the individual components of the automotive vehicles, such as the automotive windshields, are manufactured in one location and then shipped to a different location for their assembly onto the automotive vehicle.

With reference then to FIGS. 1 and 2, such shipping containers of the type used in the automotive and other industries include a rigid frame 10 constructed from rectangular metal tubing 20. Furthermore, the metal tubing 20 includes a longitudinally extending slot 22 along one side of the tubing 20.

Thereafter, an elongated retainer 24, typically constructed of extruded plastic and having a T portion 26 along one side, is slid into the interior of the square metal tubing 20 so that the T portion 26 of the retainer 24 is entrapped within the interior of the tubing 20. The remainder of the retainer 24 protrudes outwardly through the slot 22 in the tubing 20 and protrudes exteriorly of the tubing 20. Dunnage 28, typically made of urethane or an elastomeric material, is molded onto the outwardly protruding portion of the retainer 24 prior to its insertion into the interior of the metal tube 20. This dunnage 28 is specifically designed to accommodate the particular load of the shipping carrier, e.g. windshields 30 (FIG. 1).

One disadvantage of these previously known shipping containers, however, is that the slotted square metal tubing 20 used to form the frame 10 and hold the retainers is expensive to manufacture and to purchase. This, in turn, increases the overall cost of the shipping carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a shipping carrier which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.

In brief, the shipping carrier of the present invention includes a frame made from at least one and more typically many elongated metal tubes. These metal tubes, furthermore, are preferably square in cross-sectional shape. Such metal tubing is much less expensive than slotted metal tubing.

An elongated adapter, preferably made of plastic, includes a body with an elongated bottom wall, two spaced apart sides which extend upwardly from the bottom wall, and a pair of spaced apart top wall panels. Each top wall panel extends outwardly from a top of each side so that each top wall panel overlies a portion of the bottom wall thus forming an elongated slot in between the top wall panels. The bottom wall, sides and top wall panels together form an elongated T-shaped channel which is open through the slot between the top wall panels.

An elongated attachment trough extends along the bottom wall of the adapter. Preferably, an elongated stabilizing trough is also provided along each side of the attachment trough.

The adapter body is then positioned against the outer periphery of the frame tube so that a portion of the exterior surface of the body in registration with the attachment trough as well as with the stabilizing trough abuts against the outer periphery of the tube. A fastener having a head then extends through the T-shaped body channel, through the attachment trough and into the tube so that the fastener head is positioned within the attachment trough. In doing so, the fastener attaches the adapter to the tube but still permits a dunnage retainer having a T-shaped portion to be slid into the interior of the adapter without interference with the fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to lice parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a prior art elevational view of a shipping carrier;

FIG. 2 is a prior art exploded view illustrating a portion of the shipping carrier;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an adapter for the shipping carrier of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the attachment of a dunnage retainer to the metal tubing by the adapter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference first to FIG. 6, a preferred embodiment of a shipping container 31 according to the present invention is shown. The shipping container 31 includes a frame 32 constructed from rectangular metal tubes 34. The metal tubes 34 are secured together to form the frame 30 in any conventional fashion, such as by welding, fasteners or the like.

The shipping container 31 is designed to carry a plurality of components 36, such as automotive windshields. It will be understood, however, that this is by way of example only and any type of component, automotive as well as non-automotive, may be contained and transported by the shipping carrier 31.

With reference now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the components 36 within the carrier 31 are supported by elongated dunnage strips 50. Each dunnage strip 50 includes an elongated dunnage retainer 52 having an elongated T coupler 54 on one side and extending along the length of the retainer 52. The dunnage retainer 52 is preferably constructed from extruded plastic.

After the extrusion of the dunnage retainer 52, dunnage 56 is then attached to the dunnage retainer 52. The dunnage 56 is preferably constructed of a soft elastomeric material such as urethane and is molded onto the dunnage retainer 52. The actual shape of the dunnage 56 will vary depending upon the type of component 36 to be transported by the shipping carrier 31. Alternatively, the dunnage retainer 52 and dunnage 56 may comprise a one-piece molding.

With reference now to FIGS. 3-5, an elongated adapter 60 is provided for attaching the dunnage strip 50 to the metal tubing 34. The adapter 60 is preferably a plastic extrusion although other materials may alternatively be used. The adapter 60 has a bottom wall 62 and a pair of spaced apart sides 64 which extend upwardly from opposite sides of the bottom wall 62. A top wall panel 66 extends outwardly over a portion of the bottom wall 62 from the top of each side 64. In doing so, top wall panels 66 form an elongated slot 68 which extends along the length of the adapter 60 from end to end.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, an elongated attachment trough 70 extends longitudinally along the bottom wall 62 of the adapter 60 and preferably equidistantly spaced from each side 64. Similarly, an elongated stabilizing trough 72 is also preferably formed in the bottom wall 62 of the adapter adjacent each side 64. In doing so, outer surface portions 74 of both the attachment trough 70 and stabilizing troughs 72 are generally flat and coplanar with each other.

The adapter bottom wall 62, sides 64 and top wall panels 66 together form an elongated T-shaped channel 78 which extends longitudinally along the length of the adapter 60 from end to end. This T-shaped channel 78, furthermore, is dimensioned to slidably receive the T coupling 54 (FIG. 2) on a standard dunnage retainer 52.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in order to attach the adapter 60 to the metal tubing 32, the adapter 60 is first positioned against the outside surface of the metal tubing 32 and so that the surface portions 74 of the adapter 60 flatly abut against the metal tubing 32. A threaded fastener 80, preferably a screw having a head 82, is then driven through the slot 68 and attachment trough 70 and into the metal tubing 32. In doing so, the fastener head 82 is recessed within the attachment trough 70 while the fastener 80 simultaneously secures the adapter 60 to the metal tubing 32. At the same time, the surface portions 74 in alignment with the stabilizing troughs 72 support the sides of the adapter 60 against wobbling.

After the adapter 60 is attached to the metal tubing 32, the T coupling 54 of the retainer 52 is slid into the interior channel 78 of the adapter 60 thus securing the retainer 52 with its dunnage 56 to the tubing 32 by way of the adapter 60 Since the fastener head 82 is recessed in the trough 70, the fastener head 82 does not interfere with the retainer 52

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and yet effective shipping carrier which can utilize standard dunnage retainers but without the necessity of utilizing expensive slotted metal tubing. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shipping carrier comprising:

a frame having at least one elongated square tube with a continuous outer periphery so that each of four sides of said tube forms a flat and continuous surface,

an elongated plastic adapter having an elongated flat bottom wall, two spaced apart sides extending upwardly from spaced apart sides of said bottom wall and a pair of spaced apart top wall panels, each top wall panel extending inwardly from a top of each side so that each top wall panel overlies a portion of said bottom wall, said sides, said sides and said top wall panels forming an elongated T-shaped channel open through an elongated slot extending between said top wall panels of said adapter,

said adapter having an elongated attachment trough extending along said bottom wall,

said adapter being positioned against said outer periphery of one side of said tube so that a portion of an exterior surface of said adapter in registration with said attachment trough abuts against said outer periphery of said tube,

a fastener having a head extending through said adapter channel and said trough and into said tube so that said fastener head is positioned in said attachment trough to thereby secure said adapter to said tube, and

an elongated dunnage strip having an elongated T coupling slidably received within said T-shaped channel of said adapter.

2. (canceled)

3. The shipping carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said adapter is a one piece construction.

4. The shipping carrier as defined in claim 3 wherein said adapter is an extrudate.

5. The shipping carrier as defined in claim 1 and comprising an elongated stabilizing trough formed in said bottom wall on each side of said attachment trough, said stabilizing trough being dimensioned so that portions of an exterior surface of said adapter in registration with said stabilizing troughs abut against said outer periphery of said tube.