Patent Application
20120205369
N/A
The present invention generally relates to a bulk bin container having a side wall that can be removed when the container is in a fully set up position.
Bulk bin containers are used to store and transport items. The containers include generally rectangular base portions and four side walls hingedly connected to the base portion. The side walls can be positioned in an upright, set up position, or can be collapsed inward for more efficient transport when empty.
One or more side walls of a bulk bin container can be provided with a hingedly connected door forming a portion of the side wall. The door allows for access to the interior of a set up container when another container (or other obstruction) covers the opening on top of the container. However, the door is typically only a portion of the side wall and limits such access.
In certain circumstances it is advantageous to remove an entire side wall of the container while the container is set up in a non-collapsed state (i.e., all four side walls are upright). However, in prior bulk bin designs, it is necessary to push the side wall into the interior of the container (e.g., about 1½ inches) in order to clear the coupling structure between the side walls in the corners of the container. This can be problematic if the container is filled. In contrast, the present design provides a unique corner joint that allows the side wall to be raised up straight vertically and then pulled out without requiring any movement toward the internal space of the container.
The present invention provides a bulk bin container with a removable side wall to provide additional access to the interior of the container.
The present invention provides a bulk bin container typically formed primarily from molded plastic components and metal or plastic hinge rods. The container includes a side wall that can be removed when all of the side walls are in a set up upright position without moving the side wall into the internal space of the container.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a bulk bin container with a removable side wall comprises a base portion, a first side wall connected to a first side of the base portion, a second side wall connected to a second side of the base portion, a third side wall connected to a third side of the base portion, and a fourth side wall connected to a fourth side of the base portion. The first side wall includes a first structure proximate a first edge of the side wall for removable connection to the second side wall, and a second structure on a second edge of the side wall for removable connection to the fourth side wall when all of the side walls are in an upright position. The first and second structure are configured to allow the side wall to be removed by raising the side wall straight upward (i.e. without requiring movement of the side wall into the internal space of the container). The second and fourth side walls can also include structure for cooperating with the first structure and second structure on the first side wall, respectively. Additionally, the container includes a hinge element, such as a hinge pin that is removably connected to the base portion and the first side wall. Other hinge configurations can also be used. It is only necessary that the hinge element allow the side wall to disengage from the base portion.
The first structure can be a plurality of L-shaped projections extending from the first edge of the first side wall. The second side wall can include a corresponding plurality of pockets configured to receive the L-shaped projections.
In another embodiment, the first structure is a plurality of pegs extending from the first edge. In this embodiment, the second side wall can include a corresponding plurality of slots configured to receive the pegs (e.g., slots open at the top so that upward movement of the side wall—once disengaged from the base—is unobstructed).
Each side wall can include an upper portion and a lower portion. Additionally, the side walls can be inwardly collapsible. In an alternative embodiment, the side wall can be a single unit. That is, the lower portion of the side wall (typically referred to as a collar or sleeve) can be absent, and the single side wall portion can be connected directly to the base portion of the bulk bin container. The side walls can be hingedly connected to collapse inward when not in use.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a collapsible bulk bin container having a side wall that is removable when the container is in a set up un-collapsed state is provided. The container comprises a rectangular base portion having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A first side wall is pivotably connected to the first side of the base portion by a disengage-able hinge element, such as a removable hinge pin The first side wall has a plurality of L-shaped projections extending from a first side edge, and a plurality of re-shaped projections extending from a second side edge. The container includes a second side wall pivotably connected to the second side of the base portion. The second side wall has a plurality of pockets on a first side edge for receiving the L-shaped projections on the first side edge of the first side wall. A third side wall is pivotably connected to the third side of the base portion and includes a plurality of pockets on a first side edge for receiving the L-shaped projections on the second side edge of the first side wall. A fourth side wall is pivotably connected to the fourth side of the base portion.
The collapsible container is formed from plastic. However, when a removable pin is utilized, the pin is preferably formed from metal, though can be engineered grade resins.
The collapsible container can farther include an access door in one or more of the first, second, third and fourth side wails.
The L-shaped projections are configured so that straight upward movement of the first side wall by about 3¼ inches disengages the L-projections from the pockets and allows one to remove the side wall. The L-shaped projections include an outermost portion extending downward.
In accordance with another embodiment, a collapsible bulk bin container having a side wail that is removable when the container is in an un-collapsed state is provided, The container comprises a rectangular base portion having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side. A first side wall pivotably connected to the first side of the base portion by a disengage-able hinge element. The first side wail has a plurality of pockets along a first side edge, and a plurality of pockets along a second side edge. A second side wall is pivotably connected to the second side of the base portion. The second side wall has a plurality of projections on a first side edge for connection to the pockets on the first side edge of the first side wall. A third side wall is pivotably connected to the third side of the base portion. The third side wall has a plurality of projections on a first side edge for connection to the pockets on the second side edge of the first side wall. A fourth side wall is pivotably connected to the fourth side of the base portion.
The plurality of projections on the second side wall and the plurality of projections on the third side wall can be L-shaped projections. The L-shaped projections include an outermost portion extending downward.
Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the description of the invention including the Figures.
To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to die accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
The bulk bin container of the present invention is preferably sized to be 48″×45″×50″. However, other dimensions can be used as desired or as required for a particular need or use of the container.
The container is configured to he stackable both when in an open set up, un-collapsed state (i.e. the side walls are positioned upward perpendicular to the base of the container) as well a when in a collapsed state with the side walls collapsed inward (the side walls are pivotably attached to the base portion to allow the container to be set up or collapsed). This container just happens to have a collapsed height of 29″.
The bulk bin unit color is preferably black. However, other colors can be utilized as desired. A 4″×6″ placard can be positioned on a front side of the bulk bin container for customer identification or instructions.
In accordance with the present invention, one of the side walls of the bulk bin container is removable when the bulk bin container is in a fully set-up state, allowing full access to the interior of the container while the other three side walls remain upright. The side wall can be removed by disengaging the side wall from the container (e.g., from a base portion or a collar connected to the base portion), lifting the side wall straight up vertically and pulling the side wall and collar away from the remainder of the container. The removable side wall, as well as the other side walls of the bulk bin container can also include a separate, smaller access door forming part of the side wall.
Before the second side wall 24 can be removed from the container 20, it must be disengaged. A disengage-able hinge element, such as a removable hinge pin or rod 36 can be provided. The hinge pin 36 can be removed by pulling it out of the container. A handle is provided to facilitate removal as illustrated in
Other disengage-able hinge elements can be utilized with the present invention. For example, spring-loaded pins can be used or molded-in leaf spring type lugs.
In one preferred embodiment, the side wall (including the lower side wall portion—or collar/sleeve) is removed by raising die side wall up by 3¼ inches as a unit to clear a hinge line to the base portion, and then pulled straight outward (away from the container) after removal of the hinge rod. The bulk bin container utilizes steel, removable hinge rods at the bottom of the side wall and a new corner joint design for the side walls (including the collar/sleeve).
In
The structure along the side edges of the side walls 22, 24 is more evident in
The L-shaped projections 40 are sized to mate with pockets 42 on the side edge of the first side wall 22 as shown in
The embodiments shown include a collar or sleeve (i.e., the lower section of the various side walls) positioned proximate the base portion of the container. However, the container can implement the present invention without the collar or sleeve. In these embodiments, the upper sections of the side walls would be connected directly to the base portion.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.
The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/443,538 filed Feb. 16, 2011, and Provisional Application No. 61/480,465 filed Apr. 29, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61443538 | Feb 2011 | US | |
| 61480465 | Apr 2011 | US |
