Container for shipping chairs, shipping assembly and method for packing chairs for shipping

Abstract

A container for shipping chairs includes a floor and first and second side walls having bottoms hingedly connected to opposite sides of the floor. First and second holders configured to engage the bottom of first and second chairs, and first and second mounting members are disposed on the first and second side walls. First and second straps extend between the first and second mounting members and the first and second chairs. A shipping assembly and method for packing chairs for shipping are also provided

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for shipping chairs configured with height adjustable components comprising:
 a floor comprising opposite first and second ends and opposite first and second sides;   a first side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to the first side of the floor, a top, a first mounting surface defined between the bottom and the top, a first holder disposed on the first mounting surface, and a first mounting member disposed on the first mounting surface, wherein the first holder is configured to engage a bottom of a first height adjustable support column of a first chair, wherein the first side wall is pivotable from a loading position wherein the first side wall has a horizontal orientation to a shipping position wherein the first side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the first mounting member is disposed above the first holder when the first side wall is in the shipping position;   a second side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to the second side of the floor, a top, a second mounting surface defined between the bottom and the top of the second side, a second holder disposed on the second mounting surface of the second side, and a second mounting member disposed on the second mounting surface, wherein the second holder is configured to engage a bottom of a second height adjustable support column of a second chair, wherein the second side wall is pivotable from a loading position wherein the second side wall has a horizontal orientation to a shipping position wherein the second side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the second mounting member is disposed above the second holder when the second side wall is in the shipping position;   a first strap engaged with the first mounting member and configured to engage the first chair; and   a second strap engaged with the second mounting member and configured to engage the second chair.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first holder comprises a first socket shaped to receive the bottom of the first height adjustable support column of the first chair, wherein the first socket opens upwardly when the first side wall is in the loading position and wherein the first socket opens horizontally toward an interior of the container when the first side wall is in the shipping position, and wherein the second holder comprises a second socket shaped to receive the bottom of the second height adjustable column of the second chair, wherein the second socket opens upwardly when the second side wall is in the loading position and wherein the second socket opens horizontally toward the interior of the container when the second side wall is in the shipping position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the first and second holders are each tapered from a bottom to a top, with the first and second sockets each open at the top. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a first end wall connected to the first end of the floor and a second end wall connected to the second end of the floor. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the first and second side walls are hingedly connected to the first and second sides of the floor about first and second axes lying in a first plane, and wherein the first and second end walls are hingedly connected to the first and second ends of the floor about third and fourth axes lying in a second plane vertically spaced from the first plane. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the first and second straps are configured to extend inwardly and downwardly from the first and second mounting members respectively when the first and second side walls are in their respective shipping positions. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising first and second bumpers disposed respectively on the first and second mounting surfaces and spaced apart from the first and second holders, wherein each of the first and second bumpers are configured to engage a portion of the first and second chairs respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall comprises a pair of first side walls independently hingedly connected to the first side of the floor, and wherein the second side wall comprises a pair of second side walls independently hingedly connected to the second side of the floor. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a base extending downwardly from the floor, wherein the base defines a downwardly opening recess. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the base defines at least one opening configured to receive a pair of lift tines. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the bottom of each of the first and second side walls comprises a lift opening vertically spaced above and aligned with the at least one opening defined by the base. 
     
     
         12 . A shipping assembly comprising:
 a floor comprising opposite first and second ends and opposite first and second sides;   a first side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to the first side of the floor, a top, a first mounting surface defined between the bottom and the top, a first holder disposed on the first mounting surface, and a first mounting member disposed on the first mounting surface, wherein the first side wall is pivotable from a loading position wherein the first side wall has a horizontal orientation to a shipping position wherein the first side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the first mounting member is disposed above the first holder when the first side wall is in the shipping position;   a first chair comprising a support column having a bottom engaged by the first holder and a height adjustable component;   a second side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to the second side of the floor, a top, a second mounting surface defined between the bottom and the top of the second side, a second holder disposed on the second mounting surface of the second side, and a second mounting member disposed on the second mounting surface, wherein the second side wall is pivotable from a loading position wherein the second side wall has a horizontal orientation to a shipping position wherein the second side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the second mounting member is disposed above the second holder when the second side wall is in the shipping position;   a second chair comprising a column having a bottom engaged by the second holder and a height adjustable component;   a first strap engaged with and extending between the first mounting member and the first chair; and   a second strap engaged with and extending between the second mounting member and the second chair.   
     
     
         13 . A method of packing chairs for shipping comprising:
 positioning a first chair on a first mounting surface of a first side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to a first side of a floor, wherein the first side wall is in a first loading position;   engaging a support column of the first chair with a first holder disposed on the first mounting surface of the first side wall;   engaging a first mounting member disposed on the first mounting surface of the first side wall with a first strap;   engaging the first chair with the first strap;   adjusting a height of a height adjustable component of the first chair and thereby tightening the first strap;   pivoting the first side wall to a first shipping position wherein the first side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the first mounting member is disposed above the first holder;   positioning a second chair on a second mounting surface of a second side wall comprising a bottom hingedly connected to a second side of the floor, wherein the second side wall is in a second loading position;   engaging a support column of the second chair with a second holder disposed on the second mounting surface of the second side wall;   engaging a second mounting member disposed on the second mounting surface of the second side wall with a second strap;   engaging the second chair with the second strap;   adjusting a height of a height adjustable component of the second chair and thereby tightening the second strap; and   pivoting the second side wall to a second shipping position wherein the second side wall has a vertical orientation, and wherein the second mounting member is disposed above the second holder.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first holder comprises a first socket and wherein engaging the support column of the first chair comprises inserting a bottom of the support column of the first chair into the first socket, and wherein the second holder comprises a second socket and wherein engaging the support column of the second chair comprises inserting a bottom of the support column of the second chair into the second socket, wherein the first socket opens horizontally when the first side wall is in the first shipping position, and wherein the second socket opens horizontally when the second side wall is in the second shipping position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first and second straps inwardly and downwardly from the first and second mounting members toward the first and second chairs respectively when the first and second side walls are in the first and second shipping positions respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein positioning the first chair on the mounting surface of the first side wall comprises engaging a portion of the first chair with a first bumper disposed on the first mounting surface, wherein the first bumper is spaced apart from the first holder, and wherein positioning the second chair on the mounting surface of the second side wall comprises engaging a portion of the second chair with a second bumper disposed on the second mounting surface, wherein the second bumper is spaced apart from the second holder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the support column of the first chair comprises the height adjustable component of the first chair and wherein the support column of the second chair comprises the height adjustable component of the second chair, wherein adjusting the height of the height adjustable component of the first chair comprises adjusting the height of the support column of the first chair, and wherein adjusting the height of the height adjustable component of the second chair comprises adjusting the height of the support column of the second chair. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the floor and first and second side walls define a container, and further comprising inserting a pair of lift tines through at least one opening defined by a base extending downwardly from the floor, lifting the container with the lift tines, positioning the container with the lift tines, and disengaging the lift tines from the container. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the bottom of each of the first and second side walls comprises a lift opening vertically spaced above and aligned with the at least one opening defined by the base, and further comprising inserting the pair of lift tines through the lift opening and lifting the container with the lift tines. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising pivoting the first and second side walls to the first and second loading positions respectively, disengaging the first and second straps from the first and second chairs, removing the first and second chairs from the first and second side walls, pivoting the first and second side walls inwardly to overlapping first and second storage positions overlying the floor.