Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for removably securing a partition assembly inside a container without bending the individual partitions of the partition assembly. The partition assembly divides the space inside the container into separate cells. The assembly comprises a plurality of first slotted partitions intersecting with a plurality of second slotted partitions to form a matrix. The matrix is held in the container with hook and loop fasteners.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a partition assembly for dividing the space inside a container or box; more particularly to a partition assembly which may be used with containers or boxes of different sizes. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
   In the storage, shipment or display of parts or merchandise, it is a common practice to divide the interior of a box or container into a plurality of individual cells. The interior of a box or container is typically separated by a series of dividers, one set of parallel dividers being orthogonal to a second set of dividers. The dividers separate the interior of the container into a plurality of individual cells, each of which is intended to hold a separate item for display or shipment. The division of the interior of the box or container helps prevent the items therein from contacting one another and breaking during shipping. The division or partitioning of the container also aids in the loading and unloading of the items therein, as well as inventorying the contents of each box or container. 
   The dividers typically are slotted and arranged in an orthogonal relationship to divide the interior of the box or container into a desired number of cells. The dividers are slotted in a manner that enables the dividers to engage with one another at the location of the slots so that the dividers form an orthogonal grid or matrix. Typically the dividers are made of the same material as the material of the box or container, plastic or paperboard. However, the dividers may be constructed of any suitable material with sufficient rigidity to prevent the contents of the container from contacting one another and being damaged. 
   Traditional partition assemblies comprise a series of individual slotted dividers which mesh together in an orthogonal grid or matrix. The individual dividers of the assembly may be individually removable from the assembly or not. The individual dividers of the assembly extending in the same direction are typically the same length. The individual dividers of the partition assembly extending in one direction may be the same length as the individual dividers of the assembly extending in the perpendicular direction, thereby creating a square partition assembly. However, the individual dividers of the partition assembly extending in one direction may be a different length than the individual dividers of the assembly extending in the perpendicular direction, thereby creating a rectangular partition assembly. 
   Different methods of securing a partition assembly inside the interior of a box or container have been utilized to prevent the partition assembly from separating from the box or container. One method of securing a partition assembly inside the interior of a box or container requires that the individual partitions of the partition assembly be of a length greater than either the length or width of the interior of the box or container. Provided the length of these individual dividers is greater than the corresponding dimension of the interior of the container in which the partition assembly is to be used, the individual dividers are bent and then stapled or otherwise secured to the container walls. Several U.S. patents disclose partition assemblies having individual partitions which are bent and then stapled to the container walls to secure the partition assembly in the interior of the box or container in order to create a plurality of cells. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,235,886 and 2,643,810 disclose partition assemblies secured inside the interior of a box or container in this manner. 
   If the length of the individual partitions of the partition assembly is less than the corresponding dimension of the interior of the container (length or width) in which the partition assembly is to be used, the partition assembly typically is not be secured to the container. The partition assembly may fall out of the interior of the container if the container is tilted or turned over. 
   Therefore, the individual partitions of the partition assembly must intentionally be made longer than the width or length of the interior of the container, so that the partition assembly may be secured inside the interior of the container. The increased length of the individual partitions is costly to the manufacturer due to the added material necessary for the individual partitions. 
   Often it is desirable to use the same partition assembly inside different containers or boxes. These containers or boxes may have slightly different interior dimensions. If the interior of a container is slightly larger than anticipated, it may be difficult to secure the individual partitions of the partition assembly to the walls of the container or box. 
   It has therefore been one objective of the invention to provide a partition assembly which may be secured inside a container with hook and loop fasteners such that the individual partitions of the partition assembly are not bent. 
   It has been another objective of the present invention to provide a method of removably securing a partition assembly inside containers of different sizes with hook and loop fasteners such that the individual partitions of the partition assembly are not bent. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The combination partition assembly and container of the present invention which accomplishes these objectives comprises a partition assembly which may be removably secured inside the interior of the container with hook and loop fasteners such that the individual partitions of the partition assembly are not bent or otherwise deformed. The method of the present invention enables a partition assembly of a predetermined size to be removably secured in containers of slightly different sizes without having to bend the partitions. 
   The partition assembly comprises a plurality of first slotted partitions intersecting with a plurality of second slotted partitions at intersections. Preferably, both first and second slotted partitions are made of plastic but may be made of any material. When the partition assembly is placed inside a container, the intersecting first and second slotted partitions form a plurality of holding cells into which different parts are stored for shipment or display. 
   Each first slotted partition has a series of slots extending inwardly from an edge of the first slotted partition. Each second slotted partition has a series of slots extending inwardly from an edge of the second slotted partition. Preferably these slots are evenly spaced in order to make the cells which are formed by the intersecting partitions of identical dimensions. Each of the slots of the first slotted partitions extends inwardly from an edge of the first slotted partition to approximately the mid point of the first slotted partition. Each of the slots of the second slotted partitions extends inwardly from an edge of the second slotted partition to approximately the mid point of the second slotted partition. Although the partition assembly of the present invention preferably comprises slotted partitions, other types of partitions may be used in accordance with the present invention. 
   The container comprises four walls extending upwardly from a bottom. The walls and bottom of the container define an interior of the container. Preferably the length and width of the interior of the container are greater than the length of the individual partitions of the partition assembly so that the partition assembly may be removably secured inside the interior of the container without deforming or bending any of the individual partitions of the assembly. 
   The partition assembly is held inside the interior of the container by at least one hook and loop fastener. Each hook and loop fastener comprises a first component secured to an inner surface of the one of the container walls and a second component secured to one of the individual partitions. One of the components of the fastener has a plurality of hooks and the other component has a plurality of loops adapted to engage the hooks of the other component. The first component of the fastener is preferably adhesively secured to an inner surface of the one of the container walls, but may be secured thereto in any other manner. Similarly, the second component of the fastener is preferably adhesively secured to an individual partition, but may be secured thereto in any other manner. 
   The second component of the hook and loop fastener functions as an extension of the individual partition to which it is secured. However, this component of the hook and loop fastener is flexible and may be bent either direction so as to form a flexible tab. The height of this component of the hook and loop fastener is preferably less than the height of the individual partition to which it is secured. However, the component may be any desired height and any desired length. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a partition assembly and container before the partition assembly is inserted into the interior of the container. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of partition assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the partition assembly and container of  FIG. 1 , the partition assembly being secured the interior of the container. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the combination  10  of a container  12  and partition assembly or matrix  14  of the present invention for dividing the space inside a container. 
   The partition assembly  14  comprises a plurality of parallel first slotted partitions  16  intersecting with a plurality of parallel second slotted partitions  18 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the plurality of first slotted partitions  16  intersect with the plurality of second slotted partitions  18  at intersections  19  to form the partition assembly  14 . 
   Each of the first and second slotted partitions  16 ,  18  are preferably made of double face plastic with a plurality of spacers therebetween. The spacers may be a plurality of dimples punched out of a middle ply of plastic or a plurality of corrugations. However, the partitions may be made of any material without departing from the spirit of this invention. 
   Each first slotted partition  16  has a planer top edge  20 , a planar bottom edge  22 , two vertical side edges  24  and side surfaces  25 . Each second slotted partition  18  likewise has a planar top edge  26 , a planar bottom edge  28 , two vertical side edges  30  and side surfaces  31 . 
   Each first slotted partition  16  has at least one slot (not shown) which extends downwardly from the top edge  20  of the first slotted partition  16  to approximately the mid point of the first slotted partition  16 . The slots may be evenly spaced apart in order so that the individual holding cells  32  of the partition assembly  14  may be evenly sized. Alternatively, the slots may be unevenly spaced in order to form holding cells of the partition assembly of differing sizes adapted to accept different size parts. The slots are shown as being vertical but may be horizontal if the partition assembly  14  is placed on edge. 
   Each second slotted partition  18  has at least one slot (not shown) each slot extending upwardly from the bottom edge  28  of the second slotted partition  18  to approximately the mid point of the second slotted partition  18 . The slots of the second slotted partition  18  may also be evenly spaced in order so that the holding cells  32  of the partition assembly  14  may be evenly sized. Alternatively, the slots may be unevenly spaced in order to form holding cells of the partition assembly of differing sizes adapted to accept different size parts. The slots are shown as being vertical but may be horizontal if the partition assembly  14  is placed on edge. 
   The container or box  12  has a bottom  34 , a pair of side walls  36  and a pair of end walls  38 . The bottom  34 , side and end walls  36 ,  38  define an interior  40  of the container  12 . The side and end walls  36 ,  38  extend upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom  34  of the container, as is conventional. Each of the side walls  36  has an inner surface  42  and an outer surface  44 . Similarly, each of the end walls  38  has an inner surface  46  and an outer surface  48 . The linear distance between the inner surfaces  42  of the side walls  36  defines the width W of the interior  40  of the container. Similarly, the linear distance between the inner surfaces  46  of the end walls  38  defines the length L of the interior  40  of the container. See  FIG. 2 . 
   Oval shaped holes  50  are shown in  FIG. 1  extending through the end walls  38 . These holes  50  may be any desired shape, configuration or size and may accommodate hand holds (not shown). Although the holes  50  are illustrated as being formed in the end walls  38 , they may alternatively be placed in the side walls  36  or all the walls of the container. Although one configuration of container is illustrated and described, other configurations or types of containers may be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, a container having five or six walls may be used. Alternatively, a cylindrical container having a continuous, circular wall extending upwardly from the bottom of the container may be used. 
   The partition assembly  14  is held inside the interior  40  of the container  12  by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners  52  in a manner shown in  FIG. 2 . Although eight hook and loop fasteners  52  are shown in  FIG. 2  to secure the partition assembly  14  inside the interior  40  of the container  12 , any number of hook and loop fasteners may be used to secure the partition assembly  14  inside the interior  40  of the container  12 . 
   Each hook and loop fastener  52  comprises a first component  54  and a second component  56 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the first component  54  is secured to an inner surface of either a side wall  36  or an end wall  38  of the container  12 . The first component  54  of the fastener  52  has an outer surface  58  which is either hooks or loops and is adapted to engage an outer surface  60  of the second component  56 . If the outer surface  58  of the first component  54  is hooks then the outer surface  60  of the second component is loops or visa versa. 
   The first component  54  of the hook and loop fastener  52  has an inner surface  51  covered with adhesive  53  and a backing  55  such that upon peeling off the backing  55 , the adhesive  53  is exposed. After peeling off the backing  55 , the first component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52  may be adhesively secured to the inner surface of one of the container walls at the desired location. However, any other means of securing the first component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52  may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52  comprises a tab made from two pieces of fabric  62 . Each piece of fabric  62  has an outer surface  64  covered with either hooks or loop and an inner surface  66  covered with adhesive and a backing  67  such that upon peeling off the backing, the adhesive is exposed. After peeling off the backing, the piece of fabric  62  is secured to an outer portion  68  of one of the individual partitions  16 ,  18  of the partition assembly  14 . More particularly, the piece of fabric  62  is secured to a side surface of one of the individual partitions  16 ,  18  of the partition assembly  14 . The adhesive on the inner surfaces  66  of the pieces of fabric  62  secured two pieces of fabric  62  together as well as securing each piece of fabric  62  to one of the individual partitions. 
   When the two pieces of fabric  62  are secured together, they form the second component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52 . The outer surfaces  64  of the pieces of fabric  62  collectively make up the outer surface  60  of the second component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52 . In accordance with the present invention, any other means of securing the second component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52  to individual partitions  16 ,  18  may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
   When the first and second components  54 ,  56  are engaged together, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the second component  56  functions as an extension of an individual partition. The second component  56  may be bent either way to engage the first component  58 , because the outer surfaces  64  of each piece of fabric  62  are identical. 
     FIG. 1A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the second component  56 ′ of the hook and loop fastener  52  is slightly different than the second component  56  of the hook and loop fastener  52 . Instead of being formed of two pieces of fabric or material, second component  56 ′ is one piece of material. This second component  56 ′ has an outer surface  70  covered with either hooks or loops and an inner surface  72  covered with adhesive (not shown). A backing  74  is placed over the adhesive so that the backing  74  must be removed to expose the adhesive. As shown in  FIG. 1A , once the backing  74  is removed, a first portion  76  of the component  56 ′ is adhesively secured to a first side surface  78  of a partition  80  and a second portion  82  of the component  56 ′ is adhesively secured to a second side surface  84  of the partition  80 . 
   Using the present invention, a partition assembly  14  may be removably secured inside the interior of the container by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners without having to bend the partitions. 
   While I have described only several preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not intend to be limited except by the scope of the following claims: