Industrial container having removable dunnage

Abstract

An industrial container apparatus for the shipment and movement of components therein. The industrial container apparatus comprises a container body, a dunnage insert, and a releasable connector. The container body has a base and at least two walls extending from the base. The dunnage insert is configured to receive and retain the components. The releasable connector removably attaches the dunnage insert to the container body in a fixed position and a detached position. The dunnage insert is retained in the container body in the fixed position. The dunnage insert is removed from the container body in the detached position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An industrial container apparatus for the shipment and movement of components therein, the industrial container apparatus comprising:
 a container body having a base and at least two walls extending from the base;   a dunnage insert configured to receive and retain the components; and   a releasable connector for removably attaching the dunnage insert to the container body in a fixed position, wherein the dunnage insert is fixedly retained in the container body, and a detached position, wherein the dunnage insert is removed from the container body.   
     
     
         2 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable connector further comprises:
 one of the container body or the dunnage insert having at least one aperture; and   the other of the container body or the dunnage insert having at least one tab receivable by the at least one aperture to retain the dunnage insert in the fixed position and to allow the dunnage insert to be removed from the container body in the detached position.   
     
     
         3 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the at least one tab having a substantially elongated planar configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable connector further comprises:
 at least one of the at least two walls of the connector body having at least one aperture; and   the dunnage insert having at least one tab receivable by the at least one aperture to retain the dunnage insert in the fixed position and to allow the dunnage insert to be removed from the container body in the detached position.   
     
     
         5 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the at least one aperture being formed adjacent to the base of the container body.   
     
     
         6 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the at least one aperture being formed in the base of the container body.   
     
     
         7 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the at least two walls of the container body having an offset portion, wherein the at least one aperture is formed in the offset portion to receive and prevent the at least one tab of the dunnage insert from being exposed outside of the at least two walls.   
     
     
         8 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the at least one aperture having a substantially elongated configuration that extends parallel to the base of the container body.   
     
     
         9 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 the at least one aperture having a substantially elongated configuration that extends perpendicular to the base of the container body.   
     
     
         10 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable connector further comprises:
 at least one flange integrally formed in at least one of the at least two walls of the container body; and   at least one tab formed in the dunnage insert, the at least one tab adaptable for releasably engaging the at least one flange of the container body in the fixed position and allowing the dunnage insert to be removed from the container body in the detached position.   
     
     
         11 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dunnage insert further comprises:
 a dunnage perimeter having substantially the same configuration as the container body;   at least one retaining structure adaptable to receive and secure the components; and   at least one connector that integrally connects the at least one retaining structure to the dunnage perimeter.   
     
     
         12 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one retaining structure further comprises:
 a bottom portion having at least one landing area for supporting the components; and   at least two side walls to retain and separate the components.   
     
     
         13 . An industrial container apparatus for the shipment and movement of components therein, the industrial container apparatus comprising:
 a container body having a base, at least two walls extending from the base, and at least one aperture; and   a dunnage insert configured to receive and retain the components, the dunnage insert having a dunnage perimeter having substantially the same configuration as the container body, at least one retaining structure being adaptable to receive and secure the components, at least one connector integrally connecting the at least one retaining structure to the dunnage perimeter, and at least one tab being adaptable to be received by the at least one aperture in the container body and to removably attach the dunnage insert to the container body in a fixed position, wherein the dunnage insert is fixedly retained in the container body, and a detached position, wherein the dunnage insert is removed from the container body.   
     
     
         14 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 the at least two walls of the container body having an offset portion, wherein the at least one aperture is formed in the offset portion to receive and prevent the at least one tab of the dunnage insert from being exposed outside of the at least two walls of the container body.   
     
     
         15 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the at least one tab of the dunnage insert having a substantially elongated planar configuration extending from the dunnage perimeter of the dunnage insert.   
     
     
         16 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the at least one aperture being formed adjacent to the base of the container body.   
     
     
         17 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one retaining structure further comprises:
 a bottom portion having at least one landing area for supporting the components; and   at least two side walls to retain and separate the components.   
     
     
         18 . An industrial container apparatus for the shipment and movement of components therein, the container comprising:
 a container body having a base, a first set of two parallel side walls extending from the base, a second set of two parallel side walls extending from the base, wherein the first set of two parallel side walls are perpendicular to the second set of two parallel side walls, and a plurality of apertures formed in the first set of two parallel side walls; and   a dunnage insert configured to receive and retain the components, the dunnage insert having a dunnage perimeter having substantially the same configuration as the container body, at least one retaining structure being adaptable to receive and secure the components, at least one connector integrally connecting the at least one retaining structure to the dunnage perimeter, and at least one tab being adaptable to be received by the at least one aperture in the container body and to removably attach the dunnage insert to the container body in a fixed position, wherein the dunnage insert is fixedly retained in the container body, and a detached position, wherein the dunnage insert is removed from the container body.   
     
     
         19 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the first set of two parallel side walls having an offset portion, wherein the plurality of apertures are formed in the offset portion to receive and prevent the plurality of tabs of the dunnage insert from being exposed outside of the first set of two parallel side walls.   
     
     
         20 . The industrial container apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of tabs of the dunnage insert have a substantially elongated planar configuration extending from the dunnage perimeter of the dunnage insert, and the plurality of apertures in the first set of two parallel side walls is adjacent to the base of the container body.