US-12623827-B2 - Rail support assembly for a transportation or storage container

Abstract

A dunnage support assembly for a transportation or storage container may include pair of panels each defining a flange at a top end thereof, the panels being configured to be received within a transportation or storage container with the flanges of the panels supported on and by respective, opposite side walls of the container, and means for coupling the flanges to the respective side walls. One or more transverse support rails are secured to the each panel and are configured to support a plurality of dunnage pouches therebetween and slidable relative thereto. In some embodiments the panels may be provided in the form of at least two panel strips each defining a respective flange at a top end thereof.

Inventors

• William J. Vroon

Assignees

• BRADFORD COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240819

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A dunnage support assembly for a transportation or storage container, comprising: a first panel defining a first flange at a top end thereof, the first flange running at least partially along a length of the first panel, the first panel configured to be received within a transportation or storage container with the first flange received on a top edge of one side wall thereof such that the first panel is supported by the first flange on and by the one side wall, a first plurality of elongated securement members affixed to, or configured to extend through, the first flange, such that each of the first plurality of elongated securement members is positioned along the first flange so as to extend into a corresponding one of a plurality of openings formed in the top edge of the one side wall as the first flange is received on the top edge of the one side wall, a second panel defining a second flange at a top end thereof, the second flange running at least partially along a length of the second panel, the second panel configured to be received within the transportation or storage container with the second flange received on a top edge of another side wall, opposite the one side wall, such that the second panel is supported by the second flange on and by the another side wall, a second plurality of elongated securement members affixed to, or configured to extend through, the second flange, such that each of the second plurality of elongated securement members is positioned along the second flange so as to extend into a corresponding one of a plurality of openings formed in the top edge of the another side wall as the second flange is received on the top edge of the another side wall, one or more first elongated support rails secured to the first panel and oriented to be substantially parallel with the top edge of the one side wall, and one or more second elongated support rails secured to the second panel and oriented to be substantially parallel with the top edge of the another sidewall, wherein opposing pairs of the one or more first and second elongated support rails are configured to support a respective plurality of dunnage pouches therebetween and slidable relative thereto.
2. 2 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises at least two spaced apart panel strips each defining a separate first flange at a top end thereof, the at least two panel strips of the first panel secured together by the one or more first elongated support rails.
3. 3 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second panel comprises at least two spaced apart panel strips each defining a separate second flange at a top end thereof, the at least two panel strips of the second panel secured together by the one or more second elongated support rails.
4. 4 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 1 , wherein a downwardly-facing surface of the first flange and an adjacent inner surface of the first panel together define an single-sided channel configured to be received on the one side wall with the first flange supported on the top edge of the one side wall and with the inner surface of the first panel received against an inner surface of the one side wall facing an interior of the container.
5. 5 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 4 , wherein a downwardly-facing surface of the second flange and an adjacent inner surface of the second panel together define a single-sided channel configured to be received on the another side wall with the second flange supported on the top edge of the another side wall and with the inner surface of the second panel received against an inner surface of the another side wall facing the interior of the container.
6. 6 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of elongated securement members each comprise an elongated pin affixed to the first flange so as to extend downwardly away from a downwardly-facing surface of the first flange.
7. 7 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second plurality of elongated securement members each comprise an elongated pin affixed to the second flange so as to extend downwardly away from downwardly-facing surface of the second flange.
8. 8 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of elongated securement members include at least a first elongated pin affixed to the first flange at or near one end of the first flange, and at least a second elongated pin affixed to the first flange at or near an opposite end of the first flange, and wherein the second plurality of elongated securement members include at least a third elongated pin affixed to the second flange at or near one end of the second flange, and at least a fourth elongated pin affixed to the second flange at or near an opposite end of the second flange.
9. 9 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first flange defines therethrough at least two openings spaced apart from one another along the first flange, and wherein the first plurality of elongated securement members each comprise a shaft portion sized to be received through one of the at least two openings defined through the first flange, and a head portion sized larger than the at least two openings defined through the first flange such that, with the shaft portion of each of the first plurality of elongated securement members extending through a respective one of the at least two openings defined through the first flange, the corresponding head portion is prevented from passing through the respective one of the at least two openings defined through the first flange.
10. 10 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the at least two openings defined through the first flange is countersunk such that, with the shaft portion of each of the first plurality of elongated securement members extending through a respective one of the at least two openings defined through the first flange and the corresponding head portion is supported against the first flange, a top surface of each head portion is co-planar with, or extends below, a plane defined by a top surface of the first flange.
11. 11 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second flange defines therethrough at least two openings spaced apart from one another along the second flange, and wherein the second plurality of elongated securement members each comprise a shaft portion sized to be received through one of the at least two openings defined through the second flange, and a head portion sized larger than the at least two openings defined through the second flange such that, with the shaft portion of each of the second plurality of elongated securement members extending through a respective one of the at least two openings defined through the second flange, the corresponding head portion is prevented from passing through the respective one of the at least two openings defined through the second flange.
12. 12 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the at least two openings defined through the second flange is countersunk such that, with the shaft portion of each of the second plurality of elongated securement members extending through a respective one of the at least two openings defined through the second flange and the corresponding head portion supported against the second flange, a top surface of each head portion is co-planar with, or extends below, a plane defined by a top surface of the second flange.
13. 13 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least two openings spaced defined through first flange include a first opening at or near one end of the first flange and a second opening at or near an opposite end of the first flange, and wherein the at least two openings spaced defined through second flange include a third opening at or near one end of the second flange and a fourth opening at or near an opposite end of the second flange.
14. 14 . A dunnage support assembly for a transportation or storage container, comprising: a first assembly including: first and second elongated support strips spaced apart from one another, the first elongated support strip defining a first flange at a top end thereof and the second elongated strip defining a second flange at a top end thereof, one or more first elongated support rails secured transversely to and between the first and second support strips, the first assembly configured to be received within a transportation or storage container with the first and second flanges received on a top edge of one side wall thereof such that the first assembly is supported by the first and second flanges on and by the one side wall, and means for coupling the first and second flanges to the one side wall, and a second assembly including: third and fourth elongated support strips spaced apart from one another, the third elongated support strip defining a third flange at a top end thereof and the fourth elongated strip defining a fourth flange at a top end thereof, one or more second elongated support rails secured transversely to and between the third and fourth support strips, the second assembly configured to be received within the transportation or storage container with the third and fourth flanges received on a top edge of another side wall thereof, opposite the one side wall, such that the second assembly is supported by the third and fourth flanges on and by the another side wall, and means for coupling the third and fourth flanges to the another side wall, wherein the one or more first elongated support rails and the one or more second elongated support rails are configured to support a plurality of dunnage pouches therebetween and slidable relative thereto.
15. 15 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 14 , wherein the means for coupling the first and second flanges to the one side wall comprises: a first elongated securement member affixed to, or configured to extend through, the first flange, and a second elongated securement member affixed to, or configured to extend through, the second flange, wherein the first and second elongated securement members are positioned to extend into corresponding first and second openings formed in the top edge of the one side wall as the first assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the first and second flanges supported on the top edge of the one side wall.
16. 16 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 15 , wherein the means for coupling the third and fourth flanges to the another side wall comprises: a third elongated securement member affixed to, or configured to extend through, the third flange, and a fourth elongated securement member affixed to, or configured to extend through, the fourth flange, wherein the third and fourth elongated securement members are positioned to extend into corresponding third and fourth openings formed in the top edge of the another side wall as the second assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the third and fourth flanges supported on the top edge of the another side wall.
17. 17 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 14 , wherein the means for coupling the first and second flanges to the one side wall comprises: a first elongated pin affixed to the first flange so as to extend downwardly away from a downwardly-facing surface of the first flange, and a second elongated pin affixed to the second flange so as to extend downwardly away from a downwardly-facing surface of the second flange, and wherein the means for coupling the third and fourth flanges to the another side wall comprises: a third elongated pin affixed to the third flange so as to extend downwardly away from a downwardly-facing surface of the third flange, and a fourth elongated pin affixed to the fourth flange so as to extend downwardly away from a downwardly-facing surface of the fourth flange, wherein the first and second elongated pins are positioned to extend into corresponding first and second openings formed in the top edge of the one side wall as the first assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the first and second flanges supported on the top edge of the one side wall, and wherein the third and fourth elongated pins are positioned to extend into corresponding third and fourth openings formed in the top edge of the other side wall as the second assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the third and fourth flanges supported on the top edge of the another side wall.
18. 18 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 14 , wherein the means for coupling the first and second flanges to the one side wall comprises: a first opening defined through the first flange, a first elongated securement member having a first shaft portion sized to be received through the first opening, and a first head portion sized larger than the first opening such that, with the first shaft portion extending through the first opening, the first head portion is prevented from passing through the first opening, a second opening defined through the second flange, and a second elongated securement member having a second shaft portion sized to be received through the second openings, and a second head portion sized larger than the second opening such that, with the second shaft portion extending through the second opening, the second head portion is prevented from passing through the third opening, wherein the first and second openings defined through the first and second respective flanges are positioned so as to align with first and second respective openings formed in the top edge of the one side wall as the first assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the first and second flanges supported on the top edge of the one side wall, such the first and second shaft portions of the first and second respective elongated securement members will pass through the first and second respective openings defined through the first and second respective flanges and into the first and second respective openings formed in the top edge of the one side wall so as to secure the first and second flanges to the top edge of the one side wall.
19. 19 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 18 , wherein the means for coupling the third and fourth flanges to the another side wall comprises: a third opening defined through the third flange, a third elongated securement member having a third shaft portion sized to be received through the third opening, and a third head portion sized larger than the third opening such that, with the third shaft portion extending through the third opening, the third head portion prevented from passing through the third opening, a fourth opening defined through the fourth flange, and a fourth elongated securement member having a fourth shaft portion sized to be received through the fourth openings, and a fourth head portion sized larger than the fourth opening such that, with the fourth shaft portion extending through the fourth opening, the fourth head portion is prevented from passing through the fourth opening, wherein the third and fourth openings defined through the third and fourth respective flanges are positioned so as to align with third and fourth respective openings formed in the top edge of the another side wall as the second assembly is received within the transportation or storage container with the third and fourth flanges supported on the top edge of the another side wall, such the third and fourth shaft portions of the third and fourth respective elongated securement members will pass through the third and fourth respective openings defined through the third and fourth respective flanges and into the third and fourth respective openings formed in the top edge of the another side wall so as to secure the third and fourth flanges to the top edge of the another side wall.
20. 20 . The dunnage support assembly of claim 19 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth openings defined through the first, second, third and fourth respective flanges is countersunk such that, with the shaft portion of the respective first, second, third, and fourth elongated securement member extending therethrough and the respective first, second, third and fourth head portion supported against the respective first, second, third and fourth flange, a top surface of each of the first, second, third and fourth head portions is co-planar with, or extends below, a plane defined by a top surface of the respective first, second, third and fourth flange.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/633,381, filed Feb. 7, 2022, which is a U.S. national stage entry of International Application Serial No. PCT/US2020/059063, filed Nov. 5, 2020, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/931,899, filed Nov. 7, 2019, the disclosures of which are all expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This disclosure relates generally to transportation and/or storage containers, and more specifically to support assemblies for supporting dunnage and cargo in such containers. BACKGROUND Conventional transportation and/or storage containers typically include dunnage to support and protect cargo, i.e., a plurality of parts or components, during shipping and/or storage. Some such containers, sometimes referred to as pallet boxes, are equipped with a dunnage support assembly configured to support a plurality of sliding dunnage pouches. An example of one such conventional transportation and/or storage container 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, and includes a conventional, four-sided pallet box 12 having a closed bottom and an open top, and a conventional dunnage support assembly 14 configured to support a plurality of sliding dunnage pouches 16. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the dunnage support assembly includes a pair of dunnage support frames 14A, 14B and four corner frame components 22A-22D, all mounted to and within the container 12. The support frames 14A, 14B each include two spaced-apart, vertically oriented support strips 18A, 18B to which one or more elongated, horizontally oriented dunnage support rails is/are secured. In the illustrated example, three such dunnage support rails 20A, 20B, 20C are mounted in vertically space-apart relationship to the support strips 18A, 18B of each frame 14A, 14B. The dunnage support assembly 14 is conventionally secured to the sides of the container 12 via a number of fasteners extending through the support strips 18A, 18B and the corner frame components 22A-22D and through the sides of the container 12. This conventional arrangement, however, is problematic for any of several reasons. As one non-limiting example, containers 12 are typically plastic and include a number of support ribs running along the exterior surfaces thereof, and such containers may have different support rib configurations and placement thereof relative to the container side walls. This typically requires different support frame configurations and/or modifications thereto in order to mount and secure the dunnage support assembly 14 to and within any particular container 12. As another non-limiting example, the weight of the combination of the dunnage support assembly 14 and cargo contained therein is necessarily borne by the side walls of the container at the through-hole locations where the assembly 14 is secured via fixation members. Over time, the through-holes may become worn and/or damaged such that the pallet box may no longer be usable. This same effect may occur due to multiple reconfiguring/mounting of dunnage support assemblies to and with a pallet box. As a further non-limiting example, pallet boxes may become damaged due to externally induced trauma, and in some cases it may become necessary to remove the dunnage frame assembly and remount it in an undamaged pallet box. This can be undesirably time consuming as the dunnage frame assembly must be disassembled, removed from the damaged container and then reassembled and mounted to and within a different container which must typically be prepared in advance by providing the plurality of through-holes at various locations. This time consuming process is exacerbated, of course, if cargo must first be removed from the damaged pallet box and then repacked in the different container to and within which the dunnage frame assembly has been mounted. In view of the foregoing and/or other problems associated with the dunnage support assembly 14 illustrated in FIGS. 1-2B, it is desirable to design dunnage support assemblies that do not suffer from one or more such drawbacks. SUMMARY This disclosure may comprise one or more of the features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features and combinations thereof. In a first aspect, a dunnage support assembly for a transportation or storage container may comprise a first panel defining a first flange at a top end thereof, the first flange running at least partially along a length of the first panel, the first panel configured to be received within a transportation or storage container with the first flange received on a top edge of one side wall thereof such that the first panel is supported by the first flange on and by the one side wall, a first plurality of elongated securement members affixed to, or configured to extend through, the first flange, such that each of the first plurality of