Container having sliding support member assemblies for supporting dunnage

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 extending between the tracks. Sliders are located at the ends of tubular supports, the sliders being slidable in the tracks to move the support members. The support members support dunnage for supporting products for storage or shipment.

1 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the: container comprising: 
 a body having a bottom and at least two walls;    tracks supported by the body; and    a plurality of support member assemblies generally inside the container, each of said support member assemblies comprising a pair of sliders slidable along the tracks and a support extending between the sliders; and    dunnage supported by the support member assemblies.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said dunnage comprises pouches.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each of the sliders has a pair of heads, one of the heads being inside the track and the other head being outside the track.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the sliders are plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said tracks are at different vertical levels.  
   
   
       6 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body having a bottom and at least two walls extending upwardly from the bottom;    tracks secured to opposed walls of the container; and    support member assemblies inside the container, each of the support member assemblies comprising a pair of sliders engaged with and slidable along the tracks and a support extending between the sliders, said support surrounding a portion of each of the sliders; and    dunnage supported by the support members.    
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said tracks and said support member assemblies are arranged in layers vertically spaced from each other.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6  wherein opposed ends of some of said supports are secured to some of said sliders.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 6  wherein said dunnage comprises pouches.  
   
   
       10 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a collapsible body;    a plurality of tracks supported by the body at different heights; and    a plurality of slidable support member assemblies engaged with the tracks, each of said slidable support member assemblies comprising a tubular support extending between two sliders engaged with the tracks, the sliders being adapted to move in the tracks; and    dunnage suspended by the slidable support member assemblies.    
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the tubular elongate support is made of metal.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the container has multiple levels of support member assemblies and dunnage.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10  wherein pouches hang from the support member assemblies.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10  wherein at least some of the tracks have openings for removal of at least some of the support member assemblies.  
   
   
       15 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: 
 a body;    tracks secured to the body and having openings therein covered by removable caps; and    support member assemblies engaged with said tracks, select support member assemblies having opposed sliders slidably engaged with the tracks and a support extending between the opposed sliders.