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EP-4735343-A1 - A DUNNAGE FASTENING SYSTEM

EP4735343A1EP 4735343 A1EP4735343 A1EP 4735343A1EP-4735343-A1

Abstract

A dunnage fastening system for a transportable container, the system comprising a transportable container having a base and four sidewalls mounted thereto to define a generally rectangular internal storage volume, and a clamp bracket (10) to clamp an elongate dunnage rail (11) relative to an internal side of a first sidewall, the clamp bracket comprising a solid body with a lower support ledge (13) and at least one clamp edge (14) to abut the elongate dunnage rail and at least one elongate fastener to mount the clamp bracket to a second sidewal (16)l.

Inventors

  • PARKINSON, DAVID
  • TURNER, TODD

Assignees

  • M J Solpac Limited
  • TW America Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240705

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A dunnage fastening system for a transportable container having a base and four sidewalls mounted thereto to define a generally rectangular internal storage volume, the dunnage fastening system comprising a clamp bracket to clamp an elongate dunnage rail relative to an internal side of a first sidewall, the clamp bracket comprising a solid body with a lower support ledge and at least one clamp edge to abut the elongate dunnage rail and at least one elongate fastener to mount the clamp bracket to a second sidewall.
  2. 2. A dunnage fastening system for a transportable container, the system comprising: a. a transportable container having a base and four sidewalls mounted thereto to define a generally rectangular internal storage volume, at least one mounting opening formed into at least two of the sidewalls, and b. a clamp bracket to clamp an elongate dunnage rail relative to an internal side of a first sidewall, the clamp bracket comprising a solid body with a lower support ledge and at least one clamp edge to abut the elongate dunnage rail and at least one elongate fastener receivable within the at least one mounting opening to mount the clamp bracket to a second sidewall.
  3. 3. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one mounting opening provided in the second sidewall has a continuous surround extending through the second sidewall.
  4. 4. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the continuous surround is annular in cross sectional shape and cylindrical in shape overall.
  5. 5. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 further comprising one or more strengthening or reinforcement regions formed into one or more of the second sidewalls of the container about the at least one mounting opening.
  6. 6. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the one or more strengthening or reinforcement regions comprises the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening is provided in a hollow portion of the second sidewall with one or more webs or struts provided extending between the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening to form an open frame about the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening to locate and hold the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening in position relative to the sidewall.
  7. 7. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 6 wherein a plurality of webs or struts are provided in a regular array about the at least one mounting opening.
  8. 8. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the at least one mounting opening is located on a central web extending substantially vertically with a transverse web extending from each side of the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening to a solid portion of the second sidewall.
  9. 9. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 further comprising one or more secondary openings defined by a continuous surround provided adjacent to the at least one mounting opening to receive or engage a locating pin.
  10. 10. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the continuous surround of the one or more secondary openings is annular in cross sectional shape and cylindrical in shape overall and the one or more secondary openings does not extend through the second sidewall.
  11. 11. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the continuous surround of the one or more secondary openings is provided in a hollow portion of the second sidewall with one or more webs or struts provided extending between the continuous surround of the one or more secondary openings to form an open frame about the continuous surround of the one or more secondary openings to locate and hold the continuous surround of the one or more secondary openings in position relative to the sidewall.
  12. 12. dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 further comprising a locating pin at least partially received in the one or more secondary openings.
  13. 13. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12 further comprising a shaped recess at an outer end of the continuous surround of the at least one mounting opening to receive a captive head or nut of a bolt fastener.
  14. 14. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising an abutment ledge extending circumferentially about an inner portion of the shaped recess.
  15. 15. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamp bracket is provided with an indented region or configuration provided on a facing surface of the clamp bracket which abuts an inner surface of the second sidewall, corresponding to a configuration of the second sidewall.
  16. 16. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamp bracket is associated with a snap fit or clip fit fastener.
  17. 17. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the snap fit or clip fastener is integrally with the clamp bracket.
  18. 18. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein a length of the snap fit or clip fastener matches a thickness of the wall from an inner surface of the second sidewall to an abutment ledge located relative to an outer surface of the second sidewall.
  19. 19. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the snap fit or clip fastener comprises an enlarged portion at an outer end, the enlarged portion associated with an abutment shoulder.
  20. 20. A dunnage fastening system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the outer end is split, forming at least two parts which can be compressed toward one another during insertion of the outer end of the snap fit or clip fastener into the at least one mounting opening.

Description

A DUNNAGE FASTENING SYSTEM Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the transport containers and more particularly to a dunnage fastening system for a transportable container. Background to the Invention Most reusable transportable containers are designed for bulk storage (no internal dunnage) and then adapted at later stage to support inner packaging or dunnage through the addition of dunnage system components. A substantial problem with this approach is that the attachment of the dunnage system components, particularly those attached to the walls of the container to support dunnage extending across the storage volume within the container, causes damage to the walls of the container. In many cases, brackets are simply fastened directly to the walls of the container, usually using one or more screws or threaded fasteners which damages the walls. Even if bolts or similar are used, this still requires that openings are drilled through the walls. Once the brackets are removed and the fasteners are removed, the openings formed remain, and act as points of weakness in the walls. It would therefore be an advance in the art to provide a dunnage fastening system which solves any one or more of the abovementioned problems. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a dunnage fastening system for a transportable container having a base and four sidewalls mounted thereto to define a generally rectangular internal storage volume, the dunnage fastening system comprising a clamp bracket to clamp an elongate dunnage rail relative to an internal side of a first sidewall, the clamp bracket comprising a solid body with a lower support ledge and at least one clamp edge to abut the elongate dunnage rail and at least one elongate fastener to mount the clamp bracket to a second sidewall. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a dunnage fastening system for a transportable container, the system comprising: a. a transportable container having a base and four sidewalls mounted thereto to define a generally rectangular internal storage volume, at least one mounting opening formed into at least two of the sidewalls, and b. a clamp bracket to clamp an elongate dunnage rail relative to an internal side of a first sidewall, the clamp bracket comprising a solid body with a lower support ledge and at least one clamp edge to abut the elongate dunnage rail and at least one elongate fastener receivable within the at least one mounting opening to mount the clamp bracket to a second sidewall. Providing a dunnage fastening system as defined removes the mounting points for the elongate dunnage rail from the sidewall relative to which the elongate dunnage rail is mounted, which also removes much of the load from this sidewall and minimises the formation of points of weakness in the sidewall relative to which the elongate dunnage rail is mounted. This system may be moulded at least partially into the container sidewalls and allows an operator to secure any internal dunnage to the side walls, using a durable, efficient to assemble and full reversable system that does not damage the container. The dunnage fastening system of an embodiment is preferably a removable system, allowing one or more dunnage rails to be at least temporarily mounted relative to an inside surface of a wall of the container using one or more clamping brackets. Preferably, the clamp bracket of the dunnage fastening system will clamp a dunnage rail to an internal side surface of a side wall of the container. As described above, the clamp bracket may preferably be mounted to a second sidewall to clamp the dunnage rail relative to a first side wall. In one form, the first sidewall and second sidewall of the container are adjacent. In an embodiment, the first sidewall and second sidewall will preferably be perpendicular to one another. The dunnage fastening system may preferably include four clamp brackets for each pair of dunnage rails. The preferred four clamp brackets may preferably be used in two pairs, with the clamp brackets of each pair clamping a dunnage rail relative to a side wall. One clamp bracket from each pair may preferably be attached to one of the second sidewalls and the other bracket of each pair may preferably be attached to the opposite second sidewall. In this configuration, a dunnage rail will be clamped to two opposed first sidewalls of the container. Once the dunnage rails have been mounted within the container, one or more dunnage pouches or other dunnage supports can be mounted relative to the dunnage rails. A container may include more than one level of dunnage rails spaced over the height of the container. The dunnage fastening system of an embodiment may include one or more features formed into one or more of the sidewalls of the container. In particular, the dunnage fastening system may include one or more features formed into one or more of the