Container having sliding support members

Abstract

The present invention provides a container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse that has a body, tracks attached to opposite sides of the body, and a plurality of support members supported by the tracks. Rollers are located at the ends of the support members which roll in the tracks to move the support members. The support members have product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between adjacent support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles.

1 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the: container comprising: 
 a body;    tracks supported by the body; and    a plurality of support members, select support members having rollers at the ends thereof, the rollers being adapted to roll along the tracks, wherein the support members have a plurality of product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one space limiter attached to the support members for limiting the distance adjacent support members may be spaced from each other.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising at least one stabilizer for preventing rotation of the support members.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the product receptacles are notches in the support members.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising dividers attached to the support members.  
   
   
       6 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body;    a plurality of support members inside the body, each of the support members having product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between adjacent support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles; and    stabilizers acting on the support members to prevent rotation of the support members.    
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  further comprising at least one space limiter attached to the support members for limiting the distance adjacent support members may be spaced from each other.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6  further comprising tracks attached to the body, each of the support members having rollers for rolling in the tracks.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the product receptacles are notches in upper surfaces of the support members.  
   
   
       10 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body;    a plurality of tracks supported by the body at different heights; and    a plurality of support members having rollers attached thereto for suspending the support members from the tracks, the rollers adapted to roll in the tracks and move the support members from a spaced condition to a collapsed condition.    
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the support members have product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between adjacent support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the product receptacles are notches in the upper surfaces of the support members.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10  further comprising at least one space limiter attached to the support members and limiting the distance adjacent support members may be spaced from each other.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the container has multiple levels of support members.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 10  further comprising stabilizers passing through the support members to prevent the support members from rotating.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 10  wherein pouches hang from the support members.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 10  further comprising dividers attached to the support members.  
   
   
       18 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body;    multiple levels of support members, each of the support members having product receptacles whereby products may be suspended between adjacent support members, portions of the products residing in the product receptacles.    
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 18  further comprising stabilizers for preventing rotation of the support members.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein opposed ends of the stabilizers are secured to opposed walls of the body.  
   
   
       21 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body;    retainers secured to the body; and    multiple levels of support members, select support members having opposed end portions engaged with the retainers, wherein the opposed end portions of the support members are slidable in the retainers.    
   
   
       22 . A method of unloading product from a container comprising the steps f: 
 removing product suspended by a proximal support member and a medial support member;    moving the medial support member alongside the proximal support member; and    removing additional product suspended by the medial support member and a distal support member.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising moving the distal support member towards the medial support member.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the steps of: 
 moving the proximal, medial, and distal support members to a position farthest from the unloader, thereby exposing a lower layer of suspended products;    removing more product suspended between a lower proximal support member and a lower medial support member;    moving the lower medial support member alongside the lower proximal support member; and    removing more product suspended between the lower medial support member and a lower distal support member.    
   
   
       25 . A method of loading product into a container comprising the steps of: 
 inserting products between a distal support member and a medial support member so the products are suspended therefrom;    moving the medial and distal support members having products suspended therefrom away from a loader; and    inserting additional products between the medial support member and a proximal support member so the additional products are suspended therebetween.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising moving the proximal support member and medial support members having products suspended therefrom away from the loader so additional products may be loaded in the container.