Abstract:
The invention relates to a shipping container utilizing flexible divider panels each formed with one or more flaps attachable to a surrounding frame structure in a way to vary the panel curvature to accommodate variously contoured parts for shipping.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shipping container utilizing a plurality of longitudinally spaced panels secured within a rectangular frame structure to provide adjacent pockets to receive parts in non-contacting relationship with each other. For that case where the parts to be shipped in the container such as, for example, stamped door panels, have a curvature, the panels may be mounted in such a way as to provide a curvature corresponding to that of the part to be shipped. More specifically the divider panels are formed of a flexible material and includes at least one flap adapted to be secured to an adjacent frame wall and wherein the longitudinal displacement of said flap relative to the opposite edge of each panel determines the degree of curvature of the panel. 
     More specifically, the invention includes divider panels having upper and lower flaps respectively secured to upper and lower frame walls with the lateral displacement of the flaps with respect to each other determining the curvature of the panel when secured to the frame. 
     PRIOR ART 
     The following patents are the closest prior art of which applicant is aware: 
     2,953,253: Henderson et al 
     4,899,880: Carter 
     4,921,100: Krause 
     While the foregoing patents relate to containers for shipping a plurality of similarly shaped parts, none utilizes flexible divider panels adapted to be secured to a surrounding frame structure in such a way as to vary the curvature of the panels to provide a plurality of aligned pockets the curvature of which can be varied in accordance with the longitudinal displacement between the upper and lower edges of each panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a shipping container comprising a generally rectangular frame having at least one open side, a plurality of divider panels mounted within said frame in generally equally spaced relationship with each other whereby adjacent panels form a pocket for receiving a part to be shipped within the container in non-contacting relationship to other parts. More specifically, the frame includes vertically spaced top and bottom walls joined by longitudinally spaced end walls. Each divider panel is of the same general rectangular shape as the surrounding frame, is formed of a flexible material and the height of each panel is greater than the interior height of the frame. The top and bottom edges of each panel are adapted to be respectively secured to the top and bottom frame walls in such a way as to impart a curvature to each panel and with the curvature of each panel being substantially identical so as to provide a plurality of substantially identically shaped pockets. 
     The means by which the above stated object and the advantages of the invention are realized will be clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for the purposes of illustration, having reference to the drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of shipping container of the subject invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a slightly enlarged side view of the inner container frame with mounted divider panels. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of an unmounted divider panel. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial enlargement of a corner of the inner container frame as indicated in the circled section of FIG. 2. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a shipping container is indicated generally at 10 and includes an open metal outer frame 12 and an inner wooden liner or frame 14. More specifically, the wooden liner consists of vertically spaced top and bottom walls 16 and 18 suitably secured to longitudinally spaced end walls 20 and 22. The outer metal frame work 12 provides the main structural strength for the container while the inner wooden frame provides the structure to which a plurality of panel dividers 24 are secured. 
     Panels 24 are formed of a suitable high strength plastic material such as a high density polyolefin. The thickness of the panels is such that they are flexible and, for example, a thickness of 0.125 inch is found to be very satisfactory. Panels 24 are of a rectangular shape corresponding to the general interior shape of the inner frame 14. The depth of each panel would be substantially the same as the depth of the interior wooden frame. However, the vertical dimension or height of each panel is greater than the interior height of the wooden frame. This greater panel height as compared to the vertical height of the internal wooden frame enables the panels to be mounted in such a way as to vary the curvature of the panels. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, each unmounted panel 24 is formed with a pair of longitudinal grooves 26 and 28 formed proximate the upper and lower edges 27 and 29 of the panel. The grooves are parallel to the upper and lower panel edges and extend throughout the width of the panel. The grooves 26 and 28 are sufficiently deep, approximately one half the panel thickness, as to form thin panel wall sections 30 and 32 and thereby define end flaps 34 and 36 which are adapted to be bent relative to the main intermediate section 38 of the panel. 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the panel flaps are adapted to be bent so as to extend generally horizontally and in any case, so as to be parallel to the adjacent upper and lower frame walls 16 and 18. The upper and lower flaps 34 and 36 are adapted respectively to be secured to the adjacent frame wall structure through staples 37 or other suitable fasteners. 
     The manner in which the flaps and thus panels are secured to the adjacent wooden frame structure will now be discussed and particularly as it relates to varying the curvature of each panel. It will first be noted that when installed and secured to the wooden frame structure 14, the flaps are in horizontally abutting relationship to adjacent panels and thus their longitudinal dimensions determines the distance between the panels and thereby the longitudinal dimension of the pockets 40 defined by adjacent panels. In assembling the container, the panels are serially installed beginning at one end with the first panel being installed and thereafter subsequent panels being installed and secured one after the other. Depending on the contour of the part to be shipped, for instance a curved vehicle door side panel 42, the manner in which the panels 24 are assembled can be varied. As seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 4, the panels are secured in such a way as to give a predetermined curvature to each panel. The curvature is varied in the following way. First, one of the flaps, either top or bottom, is first secured to the adjacent wooden frame wall. With this flap secure, the other flap is displaced longitudinally relative to the first secured flap to create a predetermined curvature to the panel. By way of example, the maximum curvature would be achieved if the grooves of each panel were vertically aligned. As the flaps and hence the grooves of each panel become more laterally displaced relative to each other, the curvature of the panel will decrease progressing from vertical alignment, with maximum curvature, to lateral displacement wherein the panels while slanted could have no curvature. In this way, the panels can be secured either to accommodate straight or flat parts to those having a predetermined curvature such as the door panel 42 shown in FIG. 1. 
     While the invention has been illustrated utilizing top and bottom flaps, it would also be possible to utilize a single flap. For example, lateral slots could be cut in the top or bottom wall to receive one end of the panel with the opposite end of the panel having a flap. Thus, one end of the panel can be inserted into the wooden frame slot while the other end of the panel and its associated flap could be adjusted longitudinally and subsequently secured to the associated wooden frame wall to provide the appropriate panel curvature. 
     It is also to be noted, as best seen in FIG. 4, that the last to be assembled panel would, for example, have its upper flap removed or bent vertically downwardly so as not to interfere with the associated vertical end wall of the wooden frame. 
     Other modifications of the invention are comprehended within the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.