Patent Publication Number: US-9902525-B2

Title: Hinged one piece divider for container assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/184,586 filed Jun. 25, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a container having a plurality of interior compartments and a plurality of divider panels—one in each compartment—that collectively rotate together about a pivot point. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When transporting goods, it is important to design containers that are easy to use and allow for the most efficient and economical use of space. This can be difficult when the parts or goods being transported are not conventionally shaped. 
     The present invention provides an improved container with a moveable divider panel for efficiently loading and unloading parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a container for transporting parts having unconventional shapes. The container includes a plurality of compartments for holding the parts. The compartments include divider panels that create separate areas in the compartments for two parts. The divider panels include an upper portion that can be rotated about a pivot point. The upper portions of the divider panels are connected together so that they can be moved at the same time. This facilitates loading and unloading of the parts. 
     Specifically, the container can be used for loading parts having a larger size at one end or portion of the part. A first part can be placed in one area of a compartment (i.e., on one side of the divider panel) with the larger portion placed at the bottom of the compartment. A second part can be placed in the other area of the compartment (i.e., on the other side of the divider panel) with the larger portion placed proximate the top of the compartment. The divider panel is pivoted to accommodate placement of the two parts. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a container for carrying a plurality of parts is provided. The container comprises a container body having a rectangular bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, the bottom wall, first side wall, second side wall, first end wall and second end wall defining an interior portion. The container can be formed from plastic or other suitable materials. 
     The container further includes a plurality of spaced parallel walls in the interior of the container. Each of the plurality of walls extends from proximate the first side wall to proximate the second side wall and defines a plurality of compartments in the interior of the container body. A plurality of divider panels extend upward from the bottom wall—one divider panel in each of the plurality of compartments. Each of the plurality of divider panels has at least an upper portion pivotable from a first position to a second position. An upper connector piece, such as a rod, is connected to each of the divider panels. 
     Each of the plurality of divider panels can include a lower divider panel portion hingedly connected to an upper divider panel portion at a pivot point. The lower divider panel portions extend upward from the bottom of the container at a position that is off center with respect to a center line of each end wall. This off center position accommodates the larger portion to be positioned proximate the bottom of the compartment on one side of the divider panel. 
     The lower divider panel portions can be connected together as a single strip of material. Alternatively, the lower divider panel portions can be separate pieces. 
     The compartments can be a separate unit placed in the container body (e.g., dunnage). Alternatively, the compartments can be fixedly connected to the container body. 
     Each compartment can include a first side wall and a second side wall. Similarly, each compartment can include a bottom wall. Alternatively, the outer container can be used for the side and bottom walls. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, a container with simultaneously moving divider panels is provided. The container comprises a container body having a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The container can also include a first end wall and a second end wall. A plurality of compartments is positioned in an interior of the container body. Each compartment includes a divider panel having a lower panel portion and an upper panel portion pivotably connected to the lower panel portion. Each of the upper panel portions of the divider panel are connected together so that each upper panel portion pivots simultaneously with the other upper panel portions. 
     Each of the upper panel portions of the divider panels can be connected to each other at a top portion of each upper panel portion. A connector piece, such as a rod, can be used to connect each of the top portions of each of the upper panel portions. 
     Each of the lower panel portions of the divider panels are off center with respect to a center line extending from a first end to a second end of the bottom wall. Thus, one of the areas formed in each compartment has a larger bottom portion than the other. 
     The compartments can be defined by a plurality of end walls. The end walls can be in a parallel spaced relationship. 
     Each compartment can include a first side wall and a second side wall. Similarly, each compartment can include a bottom wall. 
     Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the Figures and are described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a partial container (having the front facing side and end panels removed) having a pivotable divider panel in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1  with a first part and a second part in one of the compartments of the container; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the divider panel positioned to receive a first part in the compartments; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  with the divider panel positioned to receive a second part in the compartments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     The present invention is directed to container having an outer body  10  with an interior portion having multiple compartments  12  for holding and transporting unconventionally shaped parts  14 . Each of the compartments  12  is designed to receive two parts  14 . Each compartment  12  includes a divider panel  16  for separating each compartment  12  into two spaces—one for each part  14 . The divider panels  16 , or at least an upper portion  18  of each of the divider panels  16 , are pivotable about a hinged pivot point  20  to facilitate loading and unloading of the parts  14 . 
     The container body  10  includes two side walls and two end walls.  FIG. 1  shows the container body  10  with only a first side wall  22  and a first end wall  24 . The front facing second side wall  26  and second end wall  28  have been removed to more clearly see the interior of the container body  10  (however, these walls are visible in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The side and end walls  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  30  extend upward from a bottom wall  30 . 
     The interior of the container body  10  includes a plurality of compartments  12  configured to receive parts  14 . The compartments  12  can be single unit of dunnage that is loosely held in the container body  10 . Alternatively, the unit can be secured to the walls or base of the container. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the compartments  12  are each designed to receive two parts  14  having an unconventional shape. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, each part  14  includes a wide portion  32  at one end of the part  14 , and a narrow portion  34  (i.e., narrower than the wide portion  32 ) at the other end of the part  14 . 
     The compartments  12  are defined by a plurality of generally parallel walls  36  that extend from the first side wall  22  to the second side wall  26  of the container body  10 . Each compartment  12  can also include a side wall  38  proximate each side wall  22 ,  26  of the container body  10 . Alternatively, the side walls  22 ,  26  of the container  10  can act as the side walls  38  of the compartments  12  when placed in the container  10 . As illustrated in the Figures, the compartments  12  are open at the top to allow for movement of the parts  14  into and out of the compartments  12 . 
     Additionally, the compartments  12  can have a separate bottom wall. Alternatively, the compartments  12  can be open at the bottom and utilize the bottom wall  30  of the container body  10 . 
     A lower portion  19  of the divider panel  16  (i.e., below the pivot point) in each compartment  12  can be separate pieces. Alternatively, the lower portion  19  of the divider panel  16  can be a single piece that extends (or includes a portion that extends) from one end of the container  10  to the other end of the container  10 . In this latter embodiment, an appropriate slot would be needed in each of the compartment walls  36  to accommodate the lower portion  19  of the panel  16 , or portion thereof. 
     As shown in the Figures, a separate upper portion  18  of each divider panel  16  is in each of the compartments  12 . The upper portions  18  of each of the divider panels  16  extend upward above the walls  36  of the compartments  12 . An upper connection piece  40 , such as a rod, is connected to the top of each of the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16 . In one embodiment, the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  can be connected at one or more locations below the top. In such instances, arcuate slots are needed in the walls  36  of the compartments to accommodate such connections and allow for pivoting of the upper portions  18 . 
     The upper portions  18  of the dividers  16  are hingedly connected to the lower portions  19  of the divider panels  16  by a hinge element at pivot point  20 . This enables all of the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  to collectively move from a first position to a second position. 
     In operation, the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  are pivoted toward the second side wall  26  of the container  10  as shown in  FIG. 3 . This is sometimes referred to as being in an “open” position and allows for loading (or unloading) of a part  14  in the left side of the compartments  12  (directional words, such as left, right, upper, lower etc., are used herein with respect to the position of elements shown in the Figures and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the wider portion  32  of the part  14  is positioned in the bottom of the compartment  12  (also evident in this Figure is that the lower portion  19  of the divider panel  16  is off center). That is, the lower portions  19  of the divider panels  16  are positioned closer to the second side wall  26  to accommodate the wider portion  32  of the part  14  being placed at the bottom of the compartment  12  in the left side. 
     Once the first part  14  is positioned in (or removed from) the left side of the compartment  12 , the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  are pivoted toward the first side wall  22  (sometimes referred to as the “closed” position), of the container body  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This can be done by moving the upper connection piece  40  from one side to the other (a handle can be connected to the upper connection piece  40  to facilitate movement). Alternatively, a knob, or other similar device, can be provided proximate the pivot point  20  to enable rotational movement of the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  about the pivot point  20 . 
     When the upper portions  18  of the divider panels  16  are moved toward the first side wall  22  of the container  10 , the other part can be placed in the right side of the compartments  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the part  14  is positioned in the compartment  12  so that the wider portion  32  of the part  14  is proximate the top of the compartment. The pivotal divider panels  16  thus allow for the container to hold a plurality of parts  14 —two in each compartment  12 —positioned as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Although not shown, a lid or top can be provided with the container. Additionally, structure can be provided to facilitate movement of the container. This can include handles connected to the side or end walls  22 ,  26 ,  24 ,  28 , and/or a bottom structure configured for use with a fork lift or other similar device. Moreover, the containers can be configured to stack on each other. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.