US 2018/0319535 A1Published application

Container apparatus and method

OwnerPaul J. Elstone, SR.inventor

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Abstract

A container having a base, with a bottom surface, a first support tube fixed to the base at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base; a second support tube fixed to the base at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the first support tube; a third support tube fixed to the base, at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface, and below and substantially parallel to the first level; and a fourth support tube fixed to the base, at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to the third support tube. The first and second support tubes may be substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth support tubes.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

a container having a base, a lid, and walls, wherein the base has a bottom surface, wherein there is an inner chamber enclosed by the base, the lid and the walls;
a first support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the first support tube is fixed at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base;
a second support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the second support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the first support tube;
a third support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the third support tube is fixed at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and below and substantially parallel to the first level;
a fourth support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the fourth support tube is fixed at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to the third support tube;
wherein the first and second support tubes are substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth support tubes;
wherein the third and four support tubes are configured to receive, at the same time, first and second tines, respectively, of a forklift while the container is fixed to the third and fourth support tubes, while the lid is fixed to the walls, and while the walls are fixed to the base of the container;
wherein the first and second support tubes are configured to receive first and second horizontal members of first and second supports, while the container is fixed to the first and second support tubes, while the lid is fixed to the walls, and while the walls are fixed to the base of the container;
wherein the first and second supports include first and second bases, which are fixed to first and second vertical members which are fixed to the first and second horizontal members, respectively.

6 more elements

A method of using an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is comprised

of a container having a base, a lid, and walls, wherein the base has a bottom surface, wherein there is an inner chamber enclosed by the base, the lid and the walls;
a first support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the first support tube is fixed at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base;
a second support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the second support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the first support tube;
a third support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the third support tube is fixed at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and below and substantially parallel to the first level;
a fourth support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the fourth support tube is fixed at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to the third support tube;
wherein the first and second supports tubes are substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth support tubes;
wherein the third and four support tubes are configured to receive, at the same time, first and second tines, respectively, of a forklift while the container is fixed to the third and fourth support tubes, while the lid is fixed to the walls, and while the walls are fixed to the base of the container;
wherein the first and second support tubes are configured to receive first and second horizontal members of first and second supports, while the container is fixed to the first and second support tubes, while the lid is fixed to the walls, and while the walls are fixed to the base of the container;
wherein the first and second supports include first and second bases, which are fixed to first and second vertical members which are fixed to the first and second horizontal members, respectively;
the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a first support into a first support tube, while a second support is simultaneously inserted into a second support tube, while a first forklift tine of a forklift is inserted into a third support tube, and while a second forklift tine of the forklift is inserted into a fourth support tube;
wherein the first support tube is fixed to a base of a container, such that the first support tube is fixed at a first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base;
wherein the second support tube is fixed to the base of the container, such that the second support tube is fixed at the first level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, substantially parallel to the first support tube;
wherein the third support tube is fixed to the base of the container, such that the third support tube is fixed at a second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and below and substantially parallel to the first level;
and
wherein the fourth support tube fixed to the base of the container, such that the fourth support tube is fixed at the second level below and substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the base, and spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to the third support tube;
and
wherein the first and second supports tubes are substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth support tubes.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.