Bin panel construction

Abstract

Detachable panels for use in construction of rectangular enclosures such as grain bins. The side edges of each panel are provided with mounting frames adapted to be easily secured to adjoining panels. The bottom edge of the panel is provided with a channel member to provide lateral support for the panel, and with a pair of flat connector portions that extend downwardly therefrom so that the top edge of a similar panel can be inserted between them and secured to them.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said top and bottom edges;   (b) a side frame attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) a bottom frame member comprising a pair of bottom sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, said bottom sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and a connector portion extending downwardly therefrom;   (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; and   (e) one of said bottom sections being integrally formed with said sheet, and the other connected thereto.   
     
     
       2. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said top and bottom edges;   (b) a side frame attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) a bottom frame member comprising a pair of bottom sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said bottom sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending downwardly therefrom;   (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; and   (e) each of said side frames being formed from a single sheet of material and being symmetrical with respect to the plane of said sheet and including a flat central portion secured to said side edge with a pair of outer portions converging inwardly from the outer edges of said central portion at a predetermined angle with respect to said central portion.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 including a flat guide portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of each of said connector portions and forming an acute angle with respect to a plane extending therethrough. 
     
     
       4. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a first end edge, a second oppositely disposed end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said first and second end edges;   (b) a side frame, having first and second ends, attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) end frame means comprising connector means on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, extending a predetermined distance beyond said second end edge, said connector means each having a flat guide portion extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof and forming an acute angle with respect to a plane extending therethrough;   (d) means for spacing said connector means a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; and   (e) said first edge extending beyond said first ends of said side frames and said connector means terminating in line with the second ends of said side frames.   
     
     
       5. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a first end edge, a second oppositely disposed end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said first and second end edges;   (b) a side frame, having first and second ends, attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) frame means on said second end edge comprising a pair of sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending therefrom beyond said second end edge;   (d) said connector portions having a flat guide portion extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof and forming an acute angle with respect to a plane extending therethrough;   (e) means for spacing said two connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; and   (f) said first end edge extending beyond said first ends of said side frames and said frame means terminating in line with the second ends of said side frames.   
     
     
       6. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a first end edge, a second oppositely disposed end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said first and second end edges;   (b) a side frame formed from a single sheet of material attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels, said side frames each having a relatively wide, flat central portion secured to said side edge with a pair of outer portions converging inwardly from the outer edges of said central portion at a predetermined angle with respect to said central portion;   (c) frame means on said second end edge comprising a pair of sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending therefrom beyond said end edge;   (d) said connector portions each having a flat guide portion extending outwardly from the lower edge thereof and forming an acute angle with respect to a plane extending therethrough; and   (e) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet.   
     
     
       7. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said top and bottom edges;   (b) a side frame attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) a bottom frame member comprising a pair of bottom sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said bottom sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending downwardly therefrom;   (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; .[.and.].   (e) the bottom ends of said side frames terminating in line with the bottom of said bottom frame member, and the top edge of said sheet extending upwardly beyond the top ends of said side frames.Iadd.; and   (f) the corner portions of said sheet at the opposite ends of said top edge being removed to reduce the length of said top edge for easier insertion between the connector portions of another bin panel. .Iaddend. .[.   
     
     
       8.  The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the corner portions of said sheet at the opposite ends of said top edge are removed to reduce the length of said top edge for easier insertion between the connector portions of another bin panel..]. 
     
     
       9. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said top and bottom edges;   (b) a side frame attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) a bottom frame comprising a pair of bottom sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said bottom sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending downwardly therefrom;   (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet; .[.and.].   (e) said bottom frame member extending beyond the bottom ends of said side frames and the top edge of said sheet terminating in line with the top ends of said side frames.Iadd.; and   (f) said connector portions each having an outwardly flaring guide portion extending from the lower edge thereof. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       10. A bin panel comprising: (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a first end edge, a second oppositely disposed end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said first and second end edges;   (b) a side frame, having first and second ends, attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) frame means on said second end edge comprising a pair of sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending therefrom beyond said second end edge spaced a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet;   (d) said connector portions each having an outwardly flaring guide portion extending from the lower edge thereof; and   (e) said frame means extending beyond said second ends of said side frames and said first end edge terminating in line with the first ends of said side frames. .[.   
     
     
       11.  A bin panel comprising:  (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a first end edge, a second oppositely disposed end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said first and second end edges;    (b) a side frame formed from a single sheet of material attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels, said side frames each having a relatively wide, flat central portion secured to said side edge with a pair of outer portions converging inwardly from the outer edges of said central portion at a predetermined angle with respect to said central portion;    (c) frame means on said second end edge comprising a pair of sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending therefrom beyond said end edge; and    (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet..]. .Iadd. 12. A bin panel comprising:   (a) a generally rectangular, imperforate sheet having first and second sides and having a top end edge, a bottom end edge, and a pair of side edges connecting said top and bottom end edges;   (b) a side frame attached to each of said pair of side edges of said sheet for connecting said bin panel to the side edges of other bin panels;   (c) a bottom frame member at said bottom end edge comprising a pair of bottom sections on said first and second sides of the plane of said sheet, at least one of said bottom sections having a channel member portion to lend rigidity to said sheet and both having a connector portion extending downwardly therefrom;   (d) means for spacing said connector portions a distance apart generally equal to the thickness of said sheet;   (e) one of said bottom end edge and said top end edge protruding beyond the ends of said side frames, and the other thereof terminating in line with the opposite ends of said side frames; and   (f) the corner portions of said sheet at the opposite ends of said protruding end edge being removed to reduce the length of said edge for easier connection with another bin panel..Iaddend.