T or L-SLOT DIVIDERS WITH INTERFERENCE SECTION FOR USE WITH INDUSTRIAL BINS

Abstract

The present invention provides a bin having an interference fit divider, including a bin having a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed side walls; at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, a first rail having a spacer section and an end cap section and a second rail having a spacer section forming a T or L-slot, the slot having a gap that is wider at the top than at the bottom; a divider, having a T or L-shaped end section; and an interference bump formed on the divider to form an interference fit when the divider is inserted in the T or L slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bin having an interference fit divider, comprising:
 a bin having a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls;   at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, each rail having a spacer section and an end cap section forming a T-slot therebetween, the T-slot having an upright gap and a cross piece gap, the upright having an upright gap width at upper end (UGW 1 ) and at the bottom (UGW 2 ) and the cross piece having a cross piece gap width at upper end (CPGW 1 ) and at the bottom (CPGW 2 ) such that CPGW 1 >CPGW 2  and cross piece gap height at upper end (CPGH 1 ) and at the bottom (CPGH 2 ) 2 ;   a divider, having a T-shaped cross piece at the opposed ends, the divider having a width less than the upright gap width of the T-slot, and the cross piece having width less than the cross piece gap width and a height less than the cross piece gap height; and   an interference bump formed on the divider.   
     
     
         2 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the T-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that UGW 1 >IBC>UGW 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the T-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that CPGW 1 >CPGW 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the T- shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that GPGH 1 >IBC>GPGH 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The bin of  claim 1 , further comprising a second set of raised rails on each sidewall proximate the base of the bin. 
     
     
         6 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene and the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene, the material of the divider having a higher hardness than the material of the bin. 
     
     
         9 . A bin having an interference fit divider, comprising:
 a bin having a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls;   at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, a first rail having a spacer section and an end cap section and a second rail having a spacer section forming an L-slot therebetween, the L-slot having an upright gap and a cross piece gap, the upright having an upright gap width at upper end (LUGW 1 ) and at the lower end (LUGW 2 ) and the cross piece having a cross piece gap width at upper end (LCPGW 1 ) and at the lower end (LCPGW 2 ) and cross piece gap height at upper end (LCPGH 1 ) and at the lower end (LCPGH 2 );   a divider, having a L-shaped cross piece at the opposed ends, the divider having a width less than the upright gap width of the L-slot, and the cross piece having width less than the cross piece gap width and a height less than the cross piece gap height; and   an interference bump formed on the divider.   
     
     
         10 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the L-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that LUGW 1 >IBC>LUGW 2 . 
     
     
         11 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the divider proximate the L-shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that LCPGW 1 >LCPGW 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the interference bump is formed on the L- shaped cross piece, the interference bump having a circumference (IBC) such that LGPGH 1 >IBC>LGPGH 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The bin of  claim 8 , further comprising a second set of raised rails on each sidewall proximate the base of the bin. 
     
     
         14 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         16 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene and the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene, the material of the divider having a higher hardness than the material of the bin. 
     
     
         17 . A bin having an interference fit divider, comprising:
 a bin having a base, a front wall, a rear wall and opposed sidewalls;   at least one upper set of raised rails on each side wall, each rail having a spacer section and an end cap section forming a slot therebetween, the slot tapering from a wider top to a narrower bottom in at least one dimension;   a divider, having a cross piece formed to mate with the slot formed on each side wall at the opposed ends of the divider, the divider being smaller than the slot, and the cross piece being smaller than the slot; and   an interference bump on the divider that is sized to form an interference fit in the slot on at least one sidewall.   
     
     
         18 . The bin of  claim 17 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         19 . The bin of  claim 17 , wherein the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene. 
     
     
         20 . The bin of  claim 17 , wherein the bin is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene and the divider is formed by injection molding of a polymer selected from the group consisting essentially of from ABS, acetyl polymers, nylon, polystyrene (HIPS), polypropylene and polyethylene, the material of the divider having a higher hardness than the material of the bin.