Storage container

For storing frame-like objects during shipment, which comprises a box having a normally vertical wall portion and a normally horizontal base together defining an inner space, the box having an opening into the inner space; upper and lower pairs of elongated brackets projecting from the vertical wall portion into the inner space for supporting a plurality of frame-like objects suspended therefrom, the pairs of brackets each having proximal ends at the vetical wall portion and distal free ends, the pair of lower brackets being lower with respect to the base than and spaced inwardly of the pair of upper brackets, the upper and lower pairs of brackets being accessible through the opening, whereby the frame-like objects can be loaded onto and unloaded from the upper and lower brackets via the opening; and a movable cover for closing the opening of the box.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to containers for storing frame-like objects 
during shipment, and more particularly to containers suitably for storing 
frame-like refrigerator and freezer door gaskets. 
A variety of frame-like objects are manufactured in one location and 
shipped to another. Refrigerator and freezer door gaskets are well known 
and comprise a frame formed of PVC or other suitable plastic or rubbery 
material. Since these gaskets are made of flexible material, they must be 
protected during shipment from the gasket manufacturer to the refrigerator 
manufacturer to prevent damage occurring as a result of the gaskets being 
stretched, twisted or otherwise mishandled. Picture frames made of metal, 
wood or plastic must also be protected during shipment to retail stores 
for sale to customers. 
Modern refrigerators are usually provided with a refrigerator compartment 
and a separate freezer compartment, generally of smaller size than the 
refrigerator compartment. Necessarily, the gaskets for the refrigerator 
door and the freezer door are of different size, and both gaskets are 
subject to damage during shipment as described above. 
The present invention provides a container for storing frame-like objects 
and protecting them during shipment. In particular, the container 
according to the present invention has means for storing two different 
sizes of frame-like objects in a manner such that the frame-like objects 
are easily loaded into and unloaded from the container. When the container 
of the present invention is used for storing refrigerator and freezer door 
gaskets, a plurality of the larger refrigerator door gaskets and a 
plurality of the smaller freezer door gaskets can both be stored in the 
container of the invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In more detail, the present invention provides a container for storing 
frame-like objects during shipment, which comprises a box having a 
normally vertical wall portion and a normally horizontal base together 
defining an inner space, the box having an opening into the inner space; 
upper and lower pairs of elongated brackets projecting from the vertical 
wall portion into the inner space for supporting a plurality of frame-like 
objects suspended therefrom, the pairs of brackets each having proximal 
ends at the vertical wall portion and distal free ends, the pair of lower 
brackets being lower with respect to the base than and spaced inwardly of 
the pair of upper brackets, the upper and lower pairs of brackets being 
accessible through the opening, whereby the frame-like objects can be 
loaded onto and unloaded from the upper and lower brackets via the 
opening; and a movable cover for closing the opening of the box. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper brackets are spaced 
from the base a sufficient distance such that frame-like objects suspended 
at one end thereof from the pair of upper brackets will have its other end 
resting on and supported by the base, and in which a tray is provided 
projecting from the vertical wall portion into the inner space and located 
below the pair of lower brackets such that frame-like objects suspended at 
one end thereof from the lower pair of brackets will rest on and be 
supported at their other end by the tray. 
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and lower 
brackets are removably secured to the vertical wall portion to allow them 
to be removed and secured to other locations on the vertical wall portion, 
whereby the same container can be used for a variety of sizes of 
frame-like objects. If desired, the vertical wall portion may be provided 
with a plurality of apertures at predetermined locations to facilitate 
fastening the bracket to the desired locations on the wall portion. 
Alternatively, the mounting brackets can be fastened to one or more 
mounting plates that are fastened to the vertical wall portion. 
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the box and cover are 
of sufficient strength to allow stacking of a plurality of closed boxes, 
one above the other, with the vertical wall portions of the boxes being 
disposed vertically. More specifically, it is preferred that the box and 
cover be made of plastic.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the container 1 of the invention is comprised of 
a box 2 and a cover 3 swingably connected to the box 2 through hinges 4. 
Container 1 is shown in FIG. 1 in its normal position, in which box 2 has 
a normally horizontal top portion 2a, opposed, normally vertical side 
portions 2b, a normally horizontal base portion 2c (FIG. 2), and a 
normally vertical rear wall portion 2d (FIG. 3). Secured to the vertical 
rear wall portion 2d and projecting therefrom into the inner space defined 
by box 2 are a pair of upper brackets 5, 6 and a pair of lower brackets 7, 
8, the lower brackets 7, 8 being lower with respect to the base portion 2c 
than the upper brackets 5, 6. The lower brackets 7, 8 are also spaced 
inwardly of the pair of upper brackets 5, 6 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
Also projecting from the vertical rear wall portion 2c is a normally 
horizontal tray 7 located above base 2c and below and spaced inwardly of 
the upper brackets 5, 6. 
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vertical rear portion 2d is provided 
with a plurality of mounting holes 2e, while a mounting flange 10 is 
provided at the proximal end of each bracket 5, 6, 7, 8. The upper 
brackets 5, 6 and the lower brackets 7, 8 are fastened to the rear wall 2d 
by means of a suitable fastener 11 that projects through an aperture 2e in 
the rear wall 2d and an aligned aperture 10a in the mounting flange 10 of 
each bracket. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 project 
from the vertical wall portion 2d into the inner space of box 2, with the 
proximal ends of the brackets being secured to the vertical wall portion 
2d via the fastening means 11 and with the distal ends as free ends. 
Fastening member 11 means takes the form of a nut and bolt, so as to enable 
rapid assembly and disassembly of the brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 and tray 9 from 
one location on wall portion 2d to another. However, any suitable 
fastening means 11 may be used, including, in some cases, a fastener that 
permanently affixes brackets 5, 6 and/or 7, 8 and/or tray 9 to wall 
portion 2d. 
In operation, the container 1 is opened by swinging cover 3 about hinges 4, 
thereby opening box 2. Preferably, cover 3 is swung about hinges 4 so that 
its upper portion 3a (FIG. 1) rests upon the top portion 2a of the box 2. 
With the box 2 thus opened, the upper brackets 5, 6 and lower brackets 7, 
8 are easily accessible through the opening in the box as best seen in 
FIG. 2. FIG. 2 also shows in phantom line a refrigerator door gasket R 
suspended at one end from the upper brackets 5, 6 with the other end of 
the gasket R resting on the base 2c. FIG. 2 also shows a freezer door 
gasket F suspended at one end from the lower brackets 7, 8 and having its 
other end rested on and supported by the surface 9a of the tray 9. To 
provide tray 9 with sufficient rigidity, it is preferred that tray 9 
include opposed vertical wall portions 9b. Wall portions 9b also prevent 
the freezer door gaskets F from swinging and contacting the gaskets R. As 
in the case of the brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8, tray 9 has a mounting flange 10 
(FIGS. 3 and 4), which has an aperture 10a that can be aligned with an 
aperture 2e such that the fastening means 11 can secure the tray 9 to the 
vertical wall portion 2d. If desired, mounting flanges 10 may have several 
apertures 10a. 
The brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 are sufficiently long such that a plurality of 
gaskets R and a plurality of gaskets F can be stored side-by-side 
suspended from bracket 5, 6 and 7, 8, respectively. Preferably, brackets 
5, 6, 7, 8 have normally horizontal flanges 5a, 6a, 7a, 8a that provide 
horizontal surfaces on which the gaskets R, F may rest when suspended from 
the brackets. The upper brackets 5, 6 and lower brackets 7, 8 are 
accessible through the opening in the box 2 whereby the gaskets R, F can 
be loaded onto and unloaded from brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 through the 
opening in the box. After the gaskets R, F have been loaded into the box 
2, the cover 3 is swung from its open position as described above to the 
closed position wherein the cover 3 closes the opening of the box as shown 
in FIG. 1. 
It is preferred that box 2, cover 3, upper brackets 5, 6, lower brackets 7, 
8 and tray 9 be made of rotationally molded plastic due to economies of 
manufacture and desired strength characteristics, such as rotationally 
molded polyethylene. It is likewise preferred that the box 2 and cover 3 
are of sufficient strength to allow stacking of a plurality of closed 
boxes (not shown) one above the other with the vertical wall portions 2d 
of the boxes 2 disposed vertically. To facilitate stacking of the boxes 2, 
the top 2a of box 2 and the top 3a of cover 3 are provided with lugs 20 
that fit inside feet 21 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of box 2. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, the container 1 of the present invention is 
particularly suited for storing and shipping flexible frame-like objects 
such as plastic refrigerator and freezer door gaskets. Where the 
frame-like objects are refrigerator or freezer door gaskets or similar 
material made of elastic or rubbery material, it is desirable to locate 
the upper brackets 5, 6 a distance from base 2c such that one end of the 
elastic, stretchable gasket R is supported by the brackets 5, 6 while the 
other end rests upon and is supported by the base 2c. Similarly, one end 
of gasket F desirably rests upon and is supported by brackets 7, 8 while 
the other end rests upon and is supported by the surface 9a of tray 9. In 
this manner, the lower ends of gaskets R, F are supported by the base 2c 
and tray 9 to avoid distortion of the gaskets caused by the gaskets 
stretching under their own weight. 
The top 2a of box 2 is preferably at a height above base 2c to accommodate 
a gasket R of any size within a range of sizes. Suitably, box 2 is about 
50 to about 52 inches high, about 44 to about 46 inches deep and about 38 
to about 42 inches wide. With the height of the box 2 thus chosen, tray 9 
is fastened at a predetermined location while brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 are 
adjustably located to support gaskets F within a variety of sizes. Of 
course, box 2 may have other dimensions. Brackets 5, 6, 7, 8, are 
dimensioned to hold the desired number of gaskets. 
Vertical wall portion 2d may be pre-drilled or otherwise provided with a 
plurality of apertures 2e so that any given container 1 can be rapidly 
adjusted to accommodate a particular size of gaskets R and F merely by 
fastening the brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 to wall portion 2d at the desired 
locations using pre-selected apertures 2e. If need be, the wall portion 2d 
can be drilled in the field to provide apertures 2e. 
It is presently preferred that the box 2 have partial top portion 2a and 
opposed side walls 2b for ease of loading and unloading the gaskets, with 
the cover 3, when closed, completing the top and side walls of box 2 and 
providing a front wall 3b (FIG. 1) for the box 2. Other configurations of 
the cover 3 are possible so long as the upper brackets 5, 6, lower 
brackets 7, 8 and tray 9 are accessible when the cover 3 is in its open 
position. 
It is likewise preferred that the mounting flange 10 are planar such that 
they provide a mounting surface in contact with the vertical wall portion 
2d when the brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 and tray 9 are secured to the vertical 
wall portion 2d. 
Where the frame-like objects stored within container 1 are rigid and not 
elastic, such as wooden picture frames, then tray 9 may not be required. 
However, tray 9 may be desirable even for stiff and rigid frame-like 
objects because the tray 9, and particularly the walls 9b, will serve to 
confine and thus stabilize the objects suspended from brackets 7, 8 during 
transport of the container 1. 
FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention in 
which mounting flanges 10 of brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 have three apertures 10a 
therein. Instead of being mounted directly on vertical wall portion 2d, 
the brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 shown in FIG. 5 are first fastened to the mounting 
surface of mounting plate 30 by means of screw fasteners 11 and threaded 
apertures 10a to form a sub-assembly (FIG. 6) that is then secured to wall 
2d by means of fasteners 11 passing through apertures 31 in feet 32, which 
are located at each corner of mounting plate 30, and through apertures 33 
in wall 2d. 
It is presently preferred that brackets 5, 6, 7 and 8 be made of 
rotationally molded plastic. Threaded inserts 10b (FIG. 6), preferably of 
metal, are provided in the mold used to make the brackets, so that the 
inserts 10b become integral with the brackets after the molding operation 
is completed. Cone-shaped ribs 40 rigidify the legs of the brackets 5, 6, 
7, 8. 
As seen in FIG. 5 mounting plate 30 has four series of groups of three 
apertures 2e, each group corresponding to the pattern of apertures 10a in 
mounting flanges 10 of brackets 5, 6, 7, 8, and each series corresponding 
to one of the brackets 5, 6, 7, 8. Preferably, mounting plate 30 is made 
of metal, and two such plates are used as shown in FIG. 5. In this way, 
each mounting plate 30 can be securely fastened to wall 2d by using 
fasteners 11 that are widely spaced horizontally and vertically, thereby 
minimizing the possibility of failure of the plastic wall 2d due to the 
load carried by brackets 5, 6, 7, 8. 
It is presently preferred to dedicate a plurality of sets of plates 30 for 
each customer to accommodate the different sizes of gaskets used by that 
customer. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-7, the set of plates 30 for 
customer X has two series of two groups of apertures 2e corresponding to 
brackets 5 and 6 and two series of one group of apertures 2e corresponding 
to brackets 7, 8. Brackets 5, 6 will be located at the outermost group of 
apertures 2e as shown or the innermost group. In this way, all of the 
gaskets R and F shipped to customer X can be accommodated by the depicted 
plates 30 and brackets 5, 6, 7, 8. Other schemes are, of course, possible, 
such as "universal" plates 30 (not shown) having a plurality of apertures 
2e in a rectilinear array of rows and columns. 
As is evident from FIG. 6, feet 32 space mounting plate 30 from wall 2d to 
accommodate that portion of fastener 11 passing through mounting flanges 
10 and plate 30. When the brackets 5, 6, 7, 8 are mounted on mounting 
plate 30 with fasteners that do not pass through plate 30, then plate 30 
can be mounted flush with wall portion 2d.