Container Rack with Integrated Lock Down and Indexing Slide

Background of Invention

This invention relates to a method and a device for locking down containers/cargo and

more particular the locking down of containers for safer transporting.

1 . Background

There is a large demand for bottled water with an increased concern about the

purity and potability of municipally provided water supplies. The commercially provided

bottled water is said to be purer and better tasting than what comes out of the tap.

Drinking beverages, such as spring water and others, is typically sold

commercially in a plurality of different bottle sizes. An economical way to sell bottled

water is to put it in large containers of 5 gallons or more.

The most common type of commercially available bottled water dispensers are of

an inverted bottle type construction wherein the bottle is turned upside down into an

open receptacle or well which is on top of the cooler dispenser. The most common

bottle receptacle of these re-usable polymeric bottles is a standard 5-gallon plastic jug

having a narrow mouth and a flat bottom portion. These 5-gallon jugs have two or

more annular rims extending outwardly from the bottle side wall to facilitate carrying of

the jugs and to provide rolling surfaces when the jugs are rolled on their sides. Such

size gallon bottled water containers are commercially available from a number of

sources and are typically returned by the user when the water has been consumed there

from. The jugs must be transported to and from the filling plant and are typically

sterilized before refilling.

These bottled water jugs are normally delivered by delivery trucks. These trucks

have a rack that places them horizontally. This horizontal position facilitates movement

and storage of the container while on the delivery truck.

At the top of the list of every major analysis of bottle mortality is transit damage

in racks. The shock and vibration during over the road transportation cause both

hairline and catastrophic damage to full bottles. Many routes have such poor roads (and

the resulting elevated damage and claims) that they are financially untenable for bottling

companies and service is not offered.

Bottle designers have traditionally been restricted in the features used in water

bottles because convenience features reduce bottle life. Designs that do not maintain a

continuous round perimeter, i.e. handled bottles, are structurally unable to dissipate the

dynamic stresses of the rack and the bottles crack or break near the handle.

During delivery, the driver is most vulnerable when unloading bottles from the

upper tiers of the rack. Full bottles weigh upwards of 40 lbs., and reaching to the back

cavity of the rack requires pulling a full bottle forward and assuming the weight while in

a vulnerable position. At elevated heights, the opportunity to lose balance, lose control

of the bottle or even drop it from 10 feet or more increases dramatically.

There is still room for improvement in the art.

Summary of Invention

The present invention relates to a container/cargo rack that locks down the

containers/cargo to prevent shock and vibration damage to the containers/cargo. The

device consists of a rack structure, a trombone means which is used to pull the

containers/cargo forward, a lock down means to hold the containers/cargo in place and

a closing means which is used to close the lock down means in place.

An objective of the current invention is to enhance driver and route

efficiency. Additionally, an objective is that the driver will be less likely to return to base

with full bottles, making the route more productive and route productivity will also be

enhanced because bottles will not migrate up against the delivery door causing the door

to jam shut. The device will make the driver activity more productive during unloading,

lower the overall time spent at each delivery point, and reduce or eliminate the

possibility of returning full bottles to base.

Another objective of the current invention is to improve driver safety in multiple

dimensions while reducing injuries, lost time, and workman's compensation expenses

for delivery truck operations.

A further objective of the current invention is to reduce the incidence and

payment of consumer claims. Bottle life and functionality will be vastly improved

through the use of this device. Overall, the device will deliver a quantum reduction in

transit damage and the resulting extension of asset life for bottlers, and open new

geography.

The current invention will enable unprecedented design flexibility for bottlers

and convenience to their customers.

Brief Description of Drawings

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is

illustrated in the following drawings:

FIC 1 a shows a perspective front view of basic rack used for the transportation of

containers;

FIG 1 b shows a front view of the current invention;

FIG 2 shows a side view of the current invention;

FIG 3 shows a top view of the current invention;

FIG 4 shows a side view with the handle down;

FIG 5 shows a side view with the handle up;

FIG 6 displays a side view with the trombone in;

FIG 7 displays a side view with the trombone out;

FIG 8 displays the lock down and trombone means;

FIGS 9a and 9b displays alternative additional embodiments of the lock down means;

FIG 1 0 shows the trombone means being used; and

FIG 1 1 shows the device being used with a plastic side rack. Detailed Description

The following description is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit

the scope of the invention or its application of uses.

There are a number of significant design features and improvements

incorporated within the invention.

Referring to FIC. 1 a-6, there is shown a standard water bottle rack 10 in

accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The water bottle rack 1 0

includes a peripheral frame 20 made of structural steel so as to form a generally

parallelepiped shaped outer frame.

A typical rack has a height substantially in range of 68", a width substantially in

the range of 48" and a depth substantially in the range of 40". Typically, these

dimensions allow for the storage of 40 conventional 5-gallon water jugs. It should be

understood that the rack 1 0 could have other configurations, construction materials and

sizes without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A typical rack 10 has vertical 14, lateral 16 and side 18 supports made of a

structurally sound material such as metal like galvanized steel. These supports form a

plurality of rectangular cells 200. These cells can also be molded and constructed in

plastic. Each of these cells is deep enough to store two standard containers 25 such as

water bottles. The side 1 8 supports also serve as a resting place for the containers 25.

The rack 10 has a bottom 30, top 32, front 34, back 36, left 38 and right 40

sides. The bottom 30 has a metal sheet. The rack 10 has four feet 1 3 on the bottom

30. These feet 1 3 are positioned at the corners and so that the rack 10 can be moved

with a forklift. The device has a trombone means 60, lock down means 65 and a close

means 70.

As shown in more detail in Figures 6, 7, and 1 0 the device 1 , preferred

embodiment, is a rack 10 with a trombone means 60 which is used to move the

containers 25 out of the cells 20, a lock down means 65 and a close and tensioning

means 70. The close and tensioning means 70 runs through a post 64 which runs the

height of the rack 10. The posts 64 extend through guides 50. The posts 64 can have

an additional tensioning means such as a spring attached from posts 64 to the base of

the rack 10. The tension means 70, 67 provides a downward force which is transferred

to the lock down means 65. A post 64 can have one or more lock down means 65

attached to it, one or more per container 25 in the cell 22.

The lock down means 65 of the preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 8. The

frame 75 is attached to the post 64. Attached to the end of the frame 75 is the lock

down tube 71 . Surrounding the lock down tube 71 is multiple numbers of plastic or

rubber buffers 76 which encircle the lock down tube 71 . When the lock down means 65

is brought down by the close and tensioning mean 70 the buffer 76 are brought into

contact with the container 25 holding it down and in place. The buffers 76 are

compressible so that the containers 25 are held even with uneven container 25 sizes.

In an additional embodiment as shown in Figure 9a, it consists of a lock down

frame 75 from which lock down appendages 77 extend out from the lock down frame

75. The lock down appendages 77, in the preferred embodiment, has rubber tips 79 on

their ends. These lock down appendages 77 touch and apply force to the container 25

holding it in place and preventing vibration from transporting. The rubber tips 79 are

compressible so that the containers 25 are held even with uneven container 25 sizes. In

the preferred embodiment, the appendages 77 and frame 75 are made of thin metal

strips with some elasticity.

In an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 9b, the lock down frame 75

would have a plurality of appendages 77 positioned on opposite ends of the container

25 and extending below the top of the container 25 with a tension device 80 such as an

elastic cord or rope connected on two of the plurality of appendages 77 across the

container 25 to hold the container down.

The close means 70 is a hinging mechanism that closes the lock down means 65

on the containers. The close and tensioning means 70 has a handle 84. The handle 84

can be rotated. The handle 84 is rotated up, the close means 70 rotates applying an

upward force on hinge bar 86 causing post 64 to raise thereby opening lock means 65.

When the handle 84 is rotated down in its locking position the close means 70 applies a

downward force on hinge bar 86 causing post 64 to lower thereby closing the lock

means 65.

The close means 70 has a bar 86 on which a plurality of lock down means 65 are

connected. There is one lock down means 65 per post 64. The lock down means 65 is

on the end of the bar 75 in the preferred embodiment. The back of the bar 86 is

connected to the frame in the back of the cell 22 to a hinge 88 or pivot means. The

handle 84 is attached to close and tensioning means 70. The close and tensioning

means 70 rides in between a top and bottom plate on hinge bar 86. When the handle

84 is rotated down, the bar 86 is pulled down and bringing the lock down means 65 in

contact with the container 25. When the handle 84 is rotated up, it pushes the bar 86

up and releasing the containers 25 from the lock down means 65.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 10 show the trombone means 60. In its simplest form the

trombone means 60 is a long pole 98 with a hook 100 in a track 1 10. The hook 100

extends from the pole 98 at a ninety degree angle and extends beyond the upper

portion of the container 25. The pole 98 has a pull knob 1 12 opposite the hook 100.

When the pull knob 1 12 is pulled the hook 100 hooks the bottom of the container 25 in

the cell 22 and pulls the container 25 forward with the hook 100-

In an alternative embodiment, a screw mechanism with a hook can also be used

or the trombone means 60 can be connected to the frame of the cell 22 instead of being

incorporated into the bar 75.

Figure 1 1 displays the device 1 being used with a standard semi-circle plastic

container holder. The locking means 65 is attached to the semi-circle holder 120

locking the containers 25 in place.

The device 1 will enhance driver and route efficiency. The trombone means 60

feature will prevent reaching into the back cavities of the racks for full bottles, saving

time during unloading. The ability to see the back cavities and access them productively

will make the driver more efficient. Additionally, the driver will be less likely to return to

base with full bottles, making the route more productive.

The device 1 will increase route productivity because the containers will not migrate

up against the delivery door. At the top of the list of every major analysis of bottle

mortality is transit damage in racks. The shock and vibration during over the road

transportation cause both hairline and catastrophic damage to full bottles. Many routes

have such poor roads (and the resulting elevated damage and claims) that they are

financially untenable for bottling companies and service is not offered.

During delivery, the driver is most vulnerable when unloading bottles from the upper

tiers of the rack. Full bottles weigh upwards of 40 lbs., and reaching to the back cavity

of the rack requires pulling a full bottle forward and assuming the weight while in a

vulnerable position. At elevated heights, the opportunity to lose balance, lose control of

the bottle or even drop it from 1 0 feet or more increases dramatically. The trombone

means 60 prevents the driver from getting into the "reach" position at any level on the

truck.

The lock down means 65 prevents container 25 migration out of the rack 10 during

transit, preventing containers 25 from falling out of the truck onto the driver when the

door is opened. It also prevents door jams and the resulting intervention between door

and rack that drivers must perform in order to access racked containers 25.

The lock down means 65 locks each container 25 in place and damps vibration to

prevent typical stresses and breakage. The device 1 will deliver a quantum reduction in

transit damage and the resulting extension of asset life for bottles, and opens new

geography to water routes.

Use of the device 1 will enable unprecedented design flexibility for bottlers and

convenience to their customers. Bottle designers have traditionally been restricted in

the features used in containers 25 because convenience features reduce bottle life.

Designs that do not maintain a continuos round perimeter, i.e. handled bottles, are

structurally unable to dissipate the dynamic stresses in a typical rack and the bottles

crack or break near the handle. The lock down means 65 in the product will enable

handled bottles to survive at, near or above the rate of round bottles. The ability of

bottlers to offer the convenience of handled or non-symmetrically shaped bottles,

without the resulting early mortality, will open the door on consumer and brand friendly

designs.

Alternative Embodiment

In an alternative embodiment, the lock down means 65 can be made of ropes,

straps, bars, cables, bands, beams, cords, and any other similar material. The lock

down means 65 can apply the lockdown force from any direction. The close means 70

can be activated by levers, gears, cams, hinges, clamps, and other mechanical devices.

The trombone means 60 can consist of slides, rollers, bearings, springs, and screws

(augers). The material that the device 1 can be made of can include plastic, metals,

alloys that are welded, glued, or mechanically fastened together.

Conclusion

The device will enhance driver and route efficiency. Additionally, with the

device, the driver will be less likely to return to base with full bottles, making the route

more productive and route productivity will also be enhanced because bottles will not

migrate up against the delivery door. The device will make the driver activity more

productive during unload, lower the overall time spent at each delivery point, and

reduce or eliminate the possibility of returning full bottles to base. Use of the device

will improve driver safety in multiple dimensions while reducing injuries, lost time, and

workman's compensation expenses for delivery truck operations. Use of the device will

reduce the incidence and payment of consumer claims from broken or leaking bottles.

Bottle life and functionality will be vastly improved through the use of this device.

Overall, the device will deliver a quantum reduction in transit damage and the resulting

extension of asset life for bottlers, and open new geography. Use of the device will

enable unprecedented design flexibility for bottlers and convenience to their customers.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with

reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore,

the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of

the preferred versions contained herein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present

invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no

further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum

dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,

materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are

deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent

relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are

intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the

invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those

skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and

operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and

equivalents that may be resorted to fall within the scope of the invention.