 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Load spacers for use in holding cargo against shifting in transit are in
many instances constructed of a honeycomb structure formed of corrugated
paperboard and adapted to be shipped to the user and to be stored in a
collapsed form, and to be expanded simply by pulling open when ready for
use. Various devices and arrangements have been employed to maintain such
honeycomb structures in the expanded condition and to support them during
use. Typically such spacers have been suspended or fastened in position
either by attachment to the cargo itself, or by attachment to the truck or
railcar body, freight container or the like. Such attachment entails the
labor of a nailing or other fastening operation which is sometimes
inconvenient to apt to be inadequately performed. Also, such special
fastenings entail cost, delay, and other problems not only in the
installation thereof, but also in the subsequent removal of the spacers
and their supporting means.
The overall objective of the present invention is to provide an improved
load spacer which preserves such advantages of the aforementioned known
types of expandable load spacers as low initial cost, inexpensive shipment
from manufacturer to user, and minimum storage space requirements, but
which is free standing and requires no attachment to either the body or
the cargo during use, and which is easily and quickly removable, leaving
no fasteners, nails or other parts requiring separate removal or
disposition.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art upon consideration of the present disclosure in its
entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a load spacer constructed in accordance
with the present invention showing the same assembled and ready for use;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a supporting panel blank of somewhat
different proportions and on a smaller scale, from the rear;
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of an assembly corresponding to that
shown in FIG. 1 but of narrower proportioning similar to FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the same;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the area designated by
the circle VI in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view on line VII--VII of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the honeycomb filler unit in the collapsed
condition; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction
indicated by the arrow IX in FIG. 8, of two lamina of the collapsed filler
unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference character 10 designates a honeycomb-type filler assembly the
general construction of which may conform to that of the honeycomb
assemblies shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,581,675 and 3,593,671.
Such honeycomb structures, which are well-known in the art, are formed of
a plurality of identical strips of corrugated cardboard as 12, having
straight parallel edges, each intermediate strip being secured at
uniformly spaced distances alternately to the strip above and the strip
below the same in such manner that, by virtue of the incorporated of hinge
lines at the areas of securance, the assembled strips can be extended to
provide a honeycomb-like filler. Such honeycombs are relatively rigid in
the direction corresponding to the axes of the cells, but prior to
expansion, the honeycomb assembly can be shipped and stored with the
strips collapsed to closely stacked condition, as shown in FIG. 8. It will
be recognized that strips of different length may be used, to provide
fillers of variant width, and that the width of the strips, in a direction
perpendicular to the length of the individual strips, is also variable to
provide fillers of different thicknesses. All of the strips for a given
filler are of course of like dimensions so that the expanded honeycomb
filler has flat and parallel front and rear faces.
In accordance with the present invention, a supporting wrapper panel 15 is
provided, also constructed in my preferred embodiment of corrugated
paperboard, although other materials may be used, as will be recognized by
those skilled in the art. The panel 15 may be initially flat for economy
in shipment and storage, but is provided with parallel hinge lines as 17,
17' spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the expanded
filler for which the panel is designed. Walls 18 and 20 extending from the
hinge lines 17, 17' respectively, are of a width which conforms to or is
somewhat less than the thickness of the honeycomb assembly. The panel 15
is thus designed to be wrapped around three sides of the expanded
honeycomb as shown in FIG. 1, with its central wall portion 16 overlying
one face of and substantially conforming in size to the expanded
honeycomb, and its walls 18 and 20 overlying the sides of the expanded
honeycomb, as indicated. Near the top of wall 16 and centered transversely
with respect thereto a horizontal slot-like opening 22 is provided, and
two similar vertically spaced slot-like openings 24, 25 and 24', 25' are
provided in the sidewalls 18 and 20 respectively.
Means are provided for securing the expanded honeycomb filler and the panel
in the assembled configuration. Such means comprises tab or tongue
members, generally designated 30, constructed as shown in FIG. 7, having
supporting sections 31 secured to the strips and having projecting tab
portions each of which consists of a central tongue section 32 forming a
rigid extension of section 31 and hinged tab or flap sections 33, 34,
joined to tongue sections 32 along parallel hinge lines 35, 36. The tab
members 30 are secured to the filler strips in such positions as to be
aligned with the slots 22, 24, 25, 24' and 25' when the filler is expanded
and fitted into the panel member 15, after the latter is bent to generally
U-section, as shown in FIG. 4. When so aligned, the flap sections 33, 34
are adapted to be folded along the hinge lines 35,36 to lie flat against
tongue section 32, at which time they can be projected through the aligned
slots, whereafter the winglike flap sections 33, 34 swing outwardly beyond
the ends of the slots to overlie the outer walls of the panel, thereby
holding the filler in its expanded condition and at the same time
maintaining the walls 18, 20 in parallel relation and closely members 30
are initially flat and do not interfere with collapsing of the entire
filler assembly with the tab units installed thereupon for shipping and
storage, as shown in FIG. 8. A moisture-resistant glue is preferably used
to secure the strips to one another and the tab members to the strips.
The panel assembly is inherently rigid in the vertical direction, and by
virtue of the increased rigidity resulting from the fact that after
assembly, the wall portions 18, 20 thereof are perpendicular to the
central wall 16, the panel parts such rigidity to the entire assembly that
it is adapted to stand in a vertical position on a flat floor, as shown in
FIG. 1, without likelihood that it will be injured by vertical forces
normally encountered. Thus the assembled units may simply be pushed or
slid into position between cargo boxes or other cargo elements, or between
cargo elements and the walls of a railcar or other body in which freight
is being shipped, to fill voids which otherwise would permit shifting of
the cargo.
As indicated at 40 in FIG. 1, scored or weakened lines are preferably
provided transversely near one end of panel 15, making it convenient to
shorten the panel at the point of use when necessary.
The detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying
drawings have been furnished in compliance with the statutory requirement
to set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out
the invention. The prior portions consisting of the "Abstract of the
Disclosure" and "Background of the Invention" are furnished without
prejudice to comply with administrative requirements of the Patent and
Trademark Office.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, it
will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
