Cradle type shipping container

Abstract

A reuseable shipping container for manufactured subcomponents and parts suitable for use on a manufacturing assembly line. The parts are not individually wrapped, but are suspended upon flexible cradle-like supports, the ends of which are carried upon elongated bars carried by the container for relative movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the bars. One vertical side of the container is removable to provide access to the interior thereof. The container is loaded by engaging the parts on the cradle-like supports in a vertical stack, carried by a bar, following which the bar is moved in a direction away from the opening. A second bar is engaged with the container, and a second vertical stack is formed. This process is continued until the container is substantially filled. Unloading takes place in reverse order. When emptied, the container may be collapsed for return to a point of reloading.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.