Abstract:
The present invention provides a bin having an interference fit divider, including a bin having a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed side walls; at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, a first rail having a spacer section and an end cap section and a second rail having a spacer section forming a T or L-slot, the slot having a gap that is wider at the top than at the bottom; a divider, having a T or L-shaped end section; and an interference bump formed on the divider to form an interference fit when the divider is inserted in the T or L slot.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention NonProvisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/901604, entitled “T or L-SLOT DIVIDERS WITH INTERFERENCE SECTION FOR USE WITH INDUSTRIAL BINS” and filed Nov. 8, 2013 and listing Travis Shamp as Inventor. All aspects of application Ser. No. 61/901604 application are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Bin systems with internal dividers, as shown in  FIG. 1A , are often used in industrial assembly. Generally, dovetail, as shown in  FIG. 1B , or T-Slot or L-slot attachments are used in securing the dividers with in a bin. The L or T-slot provides wider manufacturing tolerances than the standard dovetail. Standard dovetails require tight tolerances to prevent the dividers from inadvertently slipping out of the slot if too loose or cause difficulty of insertion if too tight. Difficulties with these tolerances are widespread in the industry. Manufacturing processes make it difficult to maintain tolerances and the width of dividers and slots can vary dramatically from bin to bin and even among slots of the same bin. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a bin having an interference fit divider is provided, The bin has a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed side walls; at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, a first rail having a spacer section and an end cap section and a second rail having a spacer section forming a T or L-slot, the slot having a gap that is wider at the top than at the bottom; a divider, having a T or L-shaped end section; and an interference bump formed on the divider to form an interference fit when the divider is inserted in the T or L slot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    A more complete appreciation of the invention and the many embodiments thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a bin system and dovetail dividers of the prior art; 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a divider with an interference dovetail divider of the present invention inserted into an industrial bin. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a divider with an interference T-slot divider of the present invention inserted into an industrial bin. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view, in detail, of a divider with an interference T-slot divider of the present invention inserted into a T-slot of industrial bin. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  a cross-sectional view, taken at line AA of  FIG. 3 , of a divider with an interference T-slot divider of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  a cross-sectional view, taken at line BB of  FIG. 3 , of a divider with an interference T-slot divider of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4C  a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 4B , of a divider with an alternate configuration of an interference T-slot divider of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5A  a cross-sectional view, taken at line AA of  FIG. 3 , of a divider with an interference L-slot divider of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5B  a cross-sectional view, taken at line BB of  FIG. 3 , of a divider with an interference L-slot divider of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5C  a cross-sectional view, similar to  FIG. 5B , of a divider with an alternate configuration of an interference L-slot divider of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0017]    Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth as used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A and 1B  show bins and dovetail dividers of the prior art. The standard dovetails shown require tight tolerances to prevent the dividers from inadvertently slipping out of the slot if too loose or cause difficulty of insertion if too tight. Difficulties with these tolerances are widespread in the industry. Manufacturing processes make it difficult to maintain tolerances and the width of dividers and slots can vary dramatically from bin to bin and even among slots of the same bin. 
         [0019]    A bin and an interference T-slot divider of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . The bin  10  includes a left side wall  12 , a rear wall  14 , with an optional lip  14   a  for hanging bin  10  from a rack system, a right side wall (not shown) a base  16 , and a front wall  18 , with an optional handle  18   a.  Opposed rails  20 ,  22  that form T-slots are formed on the sidewalls (only sidewall  12  is shown) and has a T-slot divider  30  inserted into the t-slot. Sidewall  12  may also include lower alignment slots formed from opposed rails  26 ,  28 , which serve to align divider  30  with the interference T-slot formed by rails  20 ,  22 . The divider  30  is inserted vertically between a set of upper rails  20 ,  22  and a set of lower rails  26 ,  28 . 
         [0020]    The detail of divider  30  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Divider  30  is fed between upper rails  20 ,  22  and lower rails  26 ,  28  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and pushed downward such that the interference bump  30   a,    30   b  on the upper portion of divider  30  contacts opposed rails  20 ,  22  and the interference bump  30   a,    30   b  and/or opposed rails  20 ,  22  plastically deform to secure divider  30  to bin  10 . The section of  FIG. 2  may show either a T-slot (as shown in  FIG. 4A-4C ) or an L-slot (as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C ) due to the depth of the sectional cut. Bin  10  and interference T or L slot divider  30  forms an interference fit between opposed rails  20 ,  22 . The slot formed in the space between opposed rails  20 ,  22  is larger at the upper end for ease of insertion and narrower at the bottom. The lower edge of divider  30  is inserted between the rails  20 ,  22  of the slot and dropped between the lower set of rails  26 ,  28 . The divider  30  is then lowered until the interference bump  30   a,    30   b  engages the upper rails  20 ,  22  of the slot. Additional downward pressure is applied to force divider  30  and interference bump  30   a,    30   b  between rails  20 ,  22 . Bin  10  is generally made from a softer material such as polypropylene (PP) and divider  30  is generally made of a harder material, for example, polystyrene such as high density polystyrene (HIPS). The bin material plastically deforms the softer bin material to create an interference or friction fit between the interference bump  30   a,    30   b  and the opposed rails  20 ,  22 . The section of  FIG. 3  may show either a T-slot or an L-slot due to the depth of the sectional cut. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  shows bin wall  12  and an interference T-slot divider  30  of the present invention in cross section. The cross section is taken below the interference bump  30   a,    30   b.  The wide tolerances between the rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22 ,  22 ′ that form the T-slot are shown. The wider tolerances decrease design, mold manufacture, and product manufacturing costs. The space between the opposed rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22 ,  22 ′ of the T-slot is larger than possible in the dovetail slot of the prior art. The use of such wide tolerances for the entire T-slot would inhibit the divider  30  from being sufficiently retained within the T-slot. Additional rails  20 ′,  22 ′ may be included The T-slot formed by rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22 ,  22 ′includes an upright gap and a cross piece gap, the upright having an upright gap width at upper end (UGW 1 ) and at the bottom (UGW 2 ) such that UGW 1 &gt;UGW 2  and the cross piece having a cross piece gap width at upper end (CPGW 1 ) and at the bottom (CPGW 2 ) such that CPGW 1 &gt;CPGW 2  and cross piece gap height at upper end (CPGH 1 ) and at the bottom (CPGH  2 ) such that CPGH 1 &gt;CPGH 2 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  shows the bin wall  12  and interference rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22 ,  22 ′ and the T-slot divider  30  of the present invention in cross-section taken at the interference bump  30   a,    30   b.  The interference bump  30   a,    30   b  in a friction fit is shown. The gap between the rails  20 ′,  22 ′ is marginally wider level of  FIG. 4B  than of  FIG. 4A ; however the interference bump engages the rails  20 ′,  22 ′ that are plastically deformed to create a friction fit between the interference bump  30   a,    30   b  and the opposed rails  20 ′,  22 ′. The interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the T-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that UGW 1 &gt;IBC&gt;UGW 2 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4C  shows bin wall  12  and interference rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22 ,  22 ′with interference T-slot divider  30  of the present invention in cross section. The interference bump  30   b  is shown at the distal end of divider T-end  32 . Optional bumps  30   a  may be positioned on the proximal side of divider T end  32 . The gap between the end section of the rails  20 ′,  22 ′and sidewall  12  GPGH of bin  10  is marginally wider at the upper edge of the slot GPGH 1  than the lower edge GPGH 2 . The interference bumps  32   a,    32   b  engage the bin wall  12  and rails  20 ′,  22 ′ such that rails  20 ′,  22 ′ and bin wall  12  are plastically deformed to create a friction fit. The interference bumps  32   a,    32   b  are formed on the T-shaped crosspiece  32 , the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that GPGH 1 &gt;IBC&gt;GPGH 2 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5A  shows bin wall  12  and an interference L-slot divider formed by rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22  with bin divider  50  with L-shaped end  52  of the present invention is shown in cross section taken below the interference bump  50   a,    50   b  (as shown in  FIG. 5B ). The wide tolerances of the L-slot are shown. The wider tolerances decrease design, mold manufacture, and product manufacturing costs. The space between the opposed rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22  of the L-slot is larger than possible in the dovetail slot of the prior art. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5B  shows the bin wall  12  with interference L-slot divider formed of upright rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22  with divider wall  50  having L-shaped end  52  of the present invention in cross-section taken below  FIG. 5A . The interference bump  50   a,    50   b  in a friction fit with upright rails  20 ′,  22  is shown. The gap between the rails is marginally wider in  FIG. 5B  than in  FIG. 5A ; and the interference bump  50   a,    50   b  engages the sidewalls that are plastically deformed to create a friction fit between the interference bump  50   a,    50   b  and the opposed rails  20 ′,  22 . The L-slot has an upright gap and a cross piece gap, the upright having an upright gap width at upper end (LUGW 1 ) and at an L-slot upright gap width at the lower end (LUGW 2 ) such that LUGW 1 &gt;LUGW 2  and the cross piece having a cross piece gap width at upper end (LCPGW 1 ) and at the bottom (LCPGW 2 ) such that LCPGW 1 &gt;LCPGW 2  and cross piece gap height at upper end (LCPGH 1 ) and cross piece gap height at lower end (LCPGH 2 ) such that LCPGH  1 &gt;LCPGH 2 . The interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the L-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that LUGW 1 &gt;IBC&gt;LUGW 2 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 5C  shows the bin wall  12  with interference L-slot divider formed of upright rails  20 ,  20 ′,  22  with divider wall  50  having and L-shaped end  52  of the present invention in cross section. The interference bump  52   b  at the distal end of the L-shaped end  50  piece is shown in detail. An optional interference bump  52   a  may be included on the proximal end of L-shaped end piece  52 . The gap width between the end section of the rail  52  and the bin wall  12  at the upper edge LGPGH 1  is marginally wider than the gap width at the lower edge LGPGH 2 , The interference bump  52   b  engages the bin wall  12  so that the interference bump  52   b  (and optionally interference bump  52   a ) and bin wall  12  are plastically deformed to create a friction fit. The interference bump is formed on the L-shaped crosspiece, the interference bump  52   a,    52   b  having a circumference (IBC) such that LGPGH 1 &gt;IBC&gt;LGPGH 2 . 
         [0027]    While the bin and T-slot or L-slot divider of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material and by any method, typically the bins and dividers are formed of injection-molded plastic. While the invention has been generally described as having an interference bump having a circumference, any geometry raised section may be used. Further, while it may generally be preferable to include an interference bump on either side of the divider  30 ,  50  or of the T-slot end or L-slot end, a single bump will generally be acceptable. Generally, the bins will be formed of by injection molding from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, or polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene or polyethylene is or any other suitable polymer. Generally, the dividers will be formed of a material having a higher hardness by injection molding from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, or polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene or polyethylene is or any other suitable polymer. The bin and t-slot divider may be formed in any size of general configuration in accordance with the disclosure herein.