Open top container with reinforced top rail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086883-B2
Application number	US-201715409078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2017
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

An open top container for transporting loads and a rail for strengthening an upper rim of the container's peripheral wall. The rail includes a U-shaped first region including first, second, and third legs secured end-to-end; and an F-shaped second region comprising a base with first and second arms extending downwardly from the base. The base is secured end-to-end with the third leg of the first region. A first strengthening rib extends outwardly from the first region and toward the container's wall. The first rib is laterally spaced from the wall but runs parallel thereto for substantially the entire length of the rail. A second rib vertically spaced from the first rib but parallel thereto may also extend outwardly from the first region and toward the container's wall. The rail increases progressively in thickness from the first leg to the second leg, then the third leg, and finally the base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An open top container comprising:
a floor;
a wall extending vertically upwardly from the floor and terminating in an upper rim located a distance away from the floor; said wall bounding and defining a compartment adapted to carry a load therein;
a rail provided along the upper rim of the wall, said rail running substantially an entire length of the upper rim; and wherein the rail comprises:
a generally U-shaped first region; and
a generally F-shaped second region engaged with the upper rim of the wall, wherein the first region extends outwardly from the second region; and wherein the first region is offset from a side surface of the wall; and
a first rib is provided on the first region, said first rib extending for substantially the entire length of the rail.

2. The open top container as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first region comprises:
a first leg;
a second leg; and
a third leg; wherein the first, second and third legs are arranged in in end-to-end relationship with the second leg positioned between the first leg and the third leg; and wherein each of the first leg and the third leg extend outwardly from a same side of the second leg and are oriented at an angle relative to the side of the second leg; and wherein the first rib is located at a intersection between the first leg and the second leg.

3. The open top container as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first rib extends towards a side surface of the wall of the container.

4. The open top container as defined in claim 3 , wherein the first rib has a terminal end that is spaced a distance away from the side surface of the wall of the container.

5. The open top container as defined in claim 4 , wherein the first rib has a first side surface and a second side surface; wherein the first side surface is oriented at first angle relative to the first leg and the second side surface is oriented at a second angle relative to the second leg; and wherein the first angle is less than 90° and the second angle is about 90°.

6. The open top container as defined in claim 2 , further comprising a second rib provided on the first region; wherein the second rib is spaced a distance away from the first rib.

7. The open top container as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second rib is located at the intersection of the second leg and the third leg.

8. The open top container as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second rib has a terminal end that is spaced a distance away from the side surface of the wall of the container.

9. The open top container as defined in claim 6 , wherein the second rib has a first side surface and a second side surface; wherein the first side surface of the second rib is oriented at a first angle relative to the third leg; and the second side surface is oriented at a second angle relative to second leg; and wherein the first angle is less than 90° and the second angle is about 90°.

10. The open top container as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first rib has a first side surface proximate the first leg and a second side surface remote from the first leg; and the second rib has a first side surface proximate the third leg and a second side surface remote from the third leg; and wherein the second side surface of the first rib is substantially parallel to the second side surface of the second rib.

11. The open top container as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first leg is of a first thickness; the second leg is of a second thickness and the third leg is of a third thickness; and wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness and the third thickness.

12. The open top container as defined in claim 11 , wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

13. The open top container as defined in claim 2 , wherein the second region comprises:
a base;
a first arm; and
a second arm; wherein the third leg of the first region is integral with the base; and wherein the upper rim of the wall of the container is received between the first arm and the second arm of the second region.

14. The open top container as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first arm and the second arm of the second region extend outwardly away from a first side surface of the base; and wherein the base is of a first thickness measured between the first side surface and a second side surface; and the first arm is of a second thickness; and the second arm is of a third thickness; and wherein the first thickness of the base is greater than the second thickness of the first arm and the third thickness of the second arm.

15. The open top container as defined in claim 13 , wherein the third leg of the first region and the base of the second region are of substantially the same thickness.

16. The open top container as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first rib is spaced laterally from the first and second arms and is oriented generally parallel to the base.

17. The open top container as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first rib is positioned at a first intersection between the first leg and second leg of the first region or at a second intersection between the second leg and the third leg.

18. The open top container as defined in claim 17 , further comprising a second rib;
said second rib being positioned a distance vertically away from the first rib; and
wherein the second rib extends for substantially the entire length of the rail; and
wherein the second rib is located at the other of the first and second intersections relative to the first rib.

19. The open top container as defined in claim 18 , wherein the second region comprises:
a base;
a first arm; and
a second arm; wherein the third leg of the first region is integral with the base; and wherein the upper rim of the wall of the container is received between the first arm and the second arm of the second region; and
wherein the first rib is located at the first intersection and the first rib terminates at a position located vertically between a terminal end of the first arm and a terminal end of the second arm.

20. The open top container as defined in claim 19 , wherein the second rib is located at the second intersection and the second rib terminates at a position located vertically beneath the terminal ends of both of the first arm and the second arm.

Assignees

• Mac Trailer Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Tubbs Daniel L

Classifications

• B60P1/286

  Loading buckets · CPC title

• B60Y2200/147

  Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans · CPC title

• B62D33/023 Primary

  Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} · CPC title