Base section for a collapsible container

Abstract

A base section for a collapsible container for transporting a liquid. The base section has a rectangular base with four sides, two opposite end sections and two opposite side sections pivotally connected to each side of the base, a top section pivotally connected to a side section or an end section, and a liner for storing a liquid. The base section includes a base frame with two opposite end bars, two opposite side bars, a number of cross bars connecting the side bars, with the base resting on the cross bars. Along two opposite sides on the base, vertical flanges are made which, in the free state of the base, have a larger mutual spacing at the top edges than the width of the base. The opposite side faces of the side bars have a lower section which, at a given location along the side bars, is extending upwards from the cross bars to a height that mainly corresponds to the height of the base flanges at the same location in the longitudinal direction, and an upper section extending upwards in tandem of the lower section. The mutual spacing between the opposite side faces of the side bars is larger than the width of the base at both the lower and the upper sections whereas the mutual distance between the two lower sections is smaller than the mutual spacing between the upper edges of the flanges in the free state of the base. This allows the base to be less expensive and easier to fasten in the base section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of the US national stage designation of International application PCT/DK01/00313 filed May 5, 2001, the content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The invention relates to a collapsible container for transporting a liquid whereby the collapsible container comprises a mainly rectangular base section, two opposite end sections and two opposite side sections pivotally connected to each their respective side of the four sides of the base section, a top section pivotally connected to a side section or an end section, and a liner for storing the liquid, The base section generally comprises a frame with two opposite end bars, two opposite side bars, a number of cross bars connecting the side bars, and a base resting on the cross bars.

[0003] Transport of liquid takes place to a great extent in transportable reusable receptacles that often are filled in one place and emptied at another place at greater or smaller distance from the first place. The emptied receptacles obviously weigh less than the full ones but the space they occupy is the same when the containers are permanent which e.g. is the case with steel tanks. These permanent receptacles are therefore costly and difficult to return when they are to be re-filled.

[0004] In order to make good this deficiency, liquid containers have been devised such that after emptying they can be made to assume a highly reduced volume. These containers generally consist of a flexible liner in form of a large bag and a box with wall-shaped sections hinged on a pallet-like base section. The sections can be folded up around the liner and thereby support the liquid-filled, flexible liner on all sides. When the liner is empty, the sections can be collapsed into a stack over the base section and the liner laid flat. In this state, the container occupies relatively little space.

[0005] The base section is normally a plate-shaped base for supporting the weight of the liquid in a filled liner. This base is typically welded onto the base section. However, this job is costly and difficult especially when the base section and its base are made of galvanized iron or other materials that are difficult to weld as is often the case.

[0006] Alternatively, the base can be riveted or screwed onto the base section but this job is time-consuming and also costly.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for collapsible containers that do not have the drawbacks of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention relates to a base section for a collapsible container for transporting a liquid. This base section is less expensive and easier to fasten than conventional designs.

[0009] The novel and unique features according to the invention, whereby this is achieved, is the fact that along two opposite sides on the base are made vertical flanges which, in the free state of the base, have a mutual spacing at the top edges that is larger than the base is wide. Also, the opposite side faces of the side bars have a lower section which, at a given location along the side bars, are extending upwards from the cross bars to a height that mainly corresponds to the height of the base flanges at the same location in the longitudinal direction, and an upper section extending upwards in tandem with the lower section. The mutual spacing between the opposite side faces of the side bars is larger than the width of the base at both the lower and the upper section, whereas the mutual spacing between the two lower sections is smaller than the mutual spacing between the top edges of the flanges in the free state of the base. Thereby, the base can be pressed down into the base section in one simple operation where it then will be automatically locked in a compact configuration. The locking is effectively secured when the lower section passes into the upper section along a transverse edge area extending crosswise to the respective side face.

[0010] The base will be particularly inexpensive to manufacture when the flanges and the base are made in one piece of the same plate. This can e.g. take place by edge bending of the plate. Depending on the properties of the plate material used, the plate can in some cases be bent an angle of about 90° whereby the natural resilience of the plate will ensure that the spacing between the top edges of the flanges will be a little larger than the width of the base. It is advantageous that the base form an acute angle with each flange of between 60° and 89°, preferably between 75° and 89°, and especially between 85° and 89°.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment the two opposite side bars can include a lower and an upper bar whereby the transverse edge area is formed by a piece of the underside of the upper bar extending out over the lower bar. In order to facilitate the emptying of a filled liner, the base can advantageously be placed inclined towards an end bar in which is made an opening for a discharge spout for the liner of the container.

[0012] The base can be securely locked in the base section when other vertical flanges are made along the two other opposite sides on the base, and when those flanges are arranged to cooperate with the opposite side faces of the side bars in the same way as the first opposite sides on the base cooperate with the opposite side faces of the side bars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention will be explained in greater detail below, describing only an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing, in which

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container with a base section according to the invention,

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the base section of FIG. 1 with a base and a base frame,

[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the base,

[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the base frame, and

[0018] FIG. 5 is a view of the base and the base frame in assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The collapsible container of FIG. 1 is intended for storing and transporting a liquid which during this is filled in a liner in form of a large bag of e.g. plastic. The filled liner is not dimensionally stable in itself and it is therefore supported along its total outer side by a total of six sections in the form of solid walls pivotally connected to each other and in the unfolded state forming a closed box with a chamber for containing the liner.

[0020] When the liner has been emptied, these walls can be collapsed so that they will lie stacked on top of each other (not shown). In this collapsed state, the container occupies relatively little space, and it can therefore now be shipped or transported and returned in a convenient and economically advantageous manner for re-use.

[0021] The six walls of the container are a base section 1, two opposite end sections 2;3, two opposite side sections 45, and a top wall 6 which in FIG. 1, as indicated with the arrow, is being taken to its final position on top of the end and side sections.

[0022] The base section is constructed as a pallet with legs 7 allowing for insertion of the fork arms of a fork-lift truck (not shown) under the base section so that the fork-lift truck can lift the container.

[0023] The collapsible container is described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,409 and 6,401,953, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

[0024] The base section 1 comprises a base frame 8 with two opposite end bars 9 and 10, two opposite side bars 11 and 12, a number of cross bars 13 connecting the side bars, and a plate-shaped base 14 resting on the cross bars (FIG. 5) and inclining towards a discharge point 15 for the discharge spout (not shown) at the foremost end bar 9.

[0025] The base 14 is made of a plate of e.g. metal, such as galvanised iron. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate has a bent flange 16 with top edges 17 along each side of the base. The height h of the flanges is so much higher at the front edge of the base than at the its rear edge that the top edges will be positioned mainly horizontally when the base is in position in the base frame. At the front edge, the base furthermore has a cut-out section 18 for the discharge spout of the liner.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the spacing a between the top edges 17 of the flanges 16 is larger than the width b of the base, each flange 17 forming an acute angle with the base 14.

[0027] The opposite side faces 19,20 of the side bars 11;12 have a lower section 19 extending upwards to a height h′ from the inclined plane that the cross bars 13 are forming, and an upper section 20 extending upwards via a transverse edge area 21 in tandem of the lower section 19.

[0028] Just as the height h of the base flanges, the height h′ of the lower section is greater at the front edge of the base than at its rear edge. At the same position seen in longitudinal direction, the height h′ of the lower section is equal to or slightly higher than the height h of the base flanges.

[0029] The spacing d between the two opposite lower sections 19 is larger than the spacing c between the two opposite upper sections 20. The spacing d between the two opposite lower sections 19 is furthermore smaller than the spacing a between the top edges 17 of the flanges 16.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 14 is pushed in the direction of the arrow down into the base frame at mounting. During this the base can pass between the two upper sections 20 as the spacing c between these is larger than the width b of the base.

[0031] Even if the spacing a between the top edges 17 of the flanges 16 is larger than the spacing c between the two upper sections 20, the flanges can still pass between these sections as the flanges 16 during this are bent resiliently in towards each other.

[0032] As the height h′ of the lower section 19 at any location in the longitudinal direction is equal to or slightly higher than the height h of the base flanges 16 at the same location, the flanges 16 will now spring resiliently in towards the lower sections 19 with the top edges 17 of the flanges located under the transverse edge areas 21. The flanges now function as barbs that effectively lock the base in the base frame 8.

[0033] When the width e of the transverse edge areas 21 correspond to the thickness t of the base flanges, a smooth and even transition is advantageously obtained between the side faces of the upper sections 20 and the internal side of the flanges 16.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the base has now been mounted in this way in the base frame quickly and easily without any kind of costly joints, such as welded joints, screwed joints or rivet joints.

[0035] In the case shown, the side bars 11 and 12 each consist of a lower bar 22 and an upper bar 23. The transverse edge area 21 that locks the base 14 to the base frame 8 is formed by a piece of the underside of the upper bar 23 which is extending out over the lower bar 22.

[0036] In the example described above and shown in the drawing, the base was only locked along the side bars 11 and 12. Alternatively, the base can correspondingly be locked along the end bars 9 and 10.

[0037] The base does not have to be inclined towards a discharge point in the container either. In such case, the base flanges have the same height in their entire longitudinal extent.

[0038] Furthermore, the base section according to the invention can advantageously be used for collapsible containers for transporting solid goods.

Claims

1. A base section for a collapsible container for transporting a liquid whereby the collapsible container comprises a generally rectangularly shaped base section having four sides, two opposite end sections and two opposite side sections pivotally connected to each side of the base section, a top section pivotally connected to a side section or an end section, and a liner for storing the liquid, with the base section comprising a base frame with two opposite end bars, two opposite side bars, a number of cross bars connecting the side bars, and a base resting on the cross bars, wherein vertical flanges are made along two opposite sides on the base, said flanges have a mutual spacing at the top edges which is larger than the width of the base in the free state of the base, that the opposite side faces of the side bars each have a lower section which, at a given location along the side bars, is extending upwards from the cross bars to a height that mainly corresponds to the height of the base flanges at the same location in the longitudinal direction, and an upper section extending upwards in tandem with the lower section, that the mutual spacing between the opposite side faces of the side bars is larger than the width of the base at both the lower and the upper sections whereas the mutual spacing between the two lower sections is smaller than the mutual spacing between the top edges of the flanges in the free state of the base.

2. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the lower section passes into the upper section along a transverse edge area extending crosswise to the respective side face.

3. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the width of the transverse edge areas corresponds to the thickness of the base flanges.

4. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the flanges and the base are made in one piece of the same plate.

5. A base section according to claim 4, wherein the flanges and the base are made from a single metal plate.

6. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the base forms an acute angle with each flange of between 60° and 89°.

7. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the base forms an acute angle with each flange of between 75° and 89°.

8. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the base forms an acute angle with each flange of between 85° and 89°.

9. A base section according to claim 1, wherein at least the two opposite side bars each consist of a lower bar and an upper bar, and that the transverse edge area is formed by a piece of the underside of the upper bar extending out over the lower bar.

10. A base section according to claim 1, wherein the base is placed in an inclined position towards an end bar in which is made an opening for a discharge spout for the liner of the container.

11. A base section according to claim 1, wherein other vertical flanges are made along the two other opposite sides on the base, said flanges are arranged to cooperate with the opposite side faces of the end bars in the same way as the first opposite sides on the base cooperate with the opposite side faces of the side bars.