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Shipping containerRelated Patent Categories: Horizontally Supported Planar Surfaces, Industrial Platform, Formed From Folded Semirigid Material (e.g., Cardboard, Etc.)Shipping container description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080000396, Shipping container. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/812,906 having a filing date of Jun. 12, 2006. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to shipping and storage containers, and more particularly to a novel shelf assembly within such a container. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many different shipping container designs have been developed over the years, some having relatively elaborate interior shelf and article-positioning systems. One such example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,090 to Langham et al., which discloses an octagonal shipping container for shipping stackable manufactured articles. The Langham container includes a plurality of attached slotted wall panels defining an interior storage cavity. Langham further discloses a plurality of shelf arms which project through the slots to engage goods positioned in the storage cavity. Langham represents one method of storing and shipping stackable manufactured articles, in particular steering wheels. However, there is always room for improvement. For instance, the Langham container must be laid on its side upon a support fixture for loading, necessarily increasing the time and effort required to place articles into, or remove them from, the container. Further, Langham requires a separable fastener to secure the sides of the container. [0004] Co-owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,562, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a shipping container for stackable articles. The container includes a base assembly, a plurality of side assemblies, a top assembly, and a plurality of shelf assemblies. The base assembly, side assemblies, and top assembly are preferably constructed of a multiple layer, corrugated laminate, and are attachable to one another, defining an interior storage space. Each shelf assembly includes a plurality of shelf support blocks with a plurality of face sections distributed along a length, and a shelf flap. The shelf assemblies are secured to the sidewall assemblies, and positioned in the storage space to engage manufactured articles, for example sunroofs, positioned therein. The design of this container provided certain advantages including the elimination of wood augmentation in the container, thereby meeting customer requirements that mandated the elimination of wood due to infestation concerns. Furthermore, the likelihood of damage to articles shipped within this container was substantially reduced due to the enhanced strength of the shelf assemblies. The load time of sunroofs, for example, was also substantially reduced given the prefabricated shelf assemblies within this container. Nevertheless, continued goals include providing even stronger shelf assemblies, and reducing the manufacturing complexity associated with shipping containers. [0005] It is thus desirable to construct a container for stackable goods that can be easily assembled and loaded, yet is strong and durable. The present invention addresses one or more of the limitations or problems associated with the related art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a container for shipping and storing manufactured articles. The container includes a container body with a base assembly and a plurality of walls. Each of the walls includes a lower edge attached to the base assembly and at least one lateral edge joined to an adjacent wall panel. At least one shelf assembly, and preferably a plurality of shelf assemblies, is also provided which are secured to the wall assemblies and protrude into an interior of the container body. A first shelf assembly includes a first shelf support member and a second shelf support member for structural support of the shelf assembly. Each shelf support member includes at least a first block portion or shelf bearing portion, and a second block portion or shelf bearing portion integral thereto, wherein the first and second block portions together define a first recessed slot or notch therebetween. At least one shelf member extends between the first and second shelf support members, thereby forming a shelf extending substantially across the interior of the container. A preferred embodiment includes two shelf assemblies containing more than two block portions, thereby accommodating a plurality of shelf members. [0007] Stated another way, the present invention includes a container including at least one shelf assembly and preferably a plurality of shelf assemblies. Each shelf assembly includes a first shelf support member containing a first plurality of adjacent and integral block portions and a second shelf support member containing a second plurality of adjacent and integral block portions. Each one of the second plurality of block portions corresponds to one of the first plurality of block portions. A first plurality of slots is contained within the first shelf support member wherein each slot is defined between two sequential or adjacent block portions of said first plurality of block portions for support of a shelving member described below. A second plurality of slots is contained within the second shelf support member wherein each slot is defined between two sequential or adjacent block portions of said first plurality of block portions for support of a shelving member described below. A first plurality of shelf members is provided wherein each shelf member includes a first tab, a second tab, a third tab, and an aperture, wherein each first tab is fixed within a respective one of the first plurality of slots, each second tab is fixed within a respective one of the second plurality of slots, and each third tab mates with an aperture of an adjacent shelf member. [0008] Other shelf assemblies may be formed in the same manner and employed within the interior of the shipping container. In general, containers formed in accordance with the present invention will preferably contain two shelf assemblies on opposite sides of the shipping container interior. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; [0011] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; [0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the shelf assemblies in accordance with the present invention; [0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the shelf assemblies in conjunction with the wall assemblies; [0014] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a laminate of multiple layers of corrugated material for forming shelf support members in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shelf support member in accordance with the present invention; [0016] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a shelf member in accordance with the present invention; [0017] FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; [0018] FIG. 10 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; [0019] FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention; Continue reading about Shipping container... Full patent description for Shipping container Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shipping container patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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