N/A
The present invention generally relates to a bulk bin container having a central support structure between a first hinge and a second hinge connecting a drop door to the side wall of the container.
Large plastic bulk bin containers typically are provided with a drop door in one or more of the side walls of the container. The door typically filled a squared off U-shaped opening in the side wall. When upright, the top edge of the door formed part of the top edge of the side wall.
The drop door is connected to the side wall by two or more hinge elements along a bottom edge of the door. Such doors are used to provide access to the interior of the bulk bin. This is particularly useful when access through the top of the bulk bin is restricted, such as when other items (e.g., additional bulk bins, etc.) are stacked on the bulk bin.
In the past, a gap is formed between the drop door and the side wall in the central area between the hinge elements (see e.g.,
The present bulk container provides improved structure between the door and the side wall designed to overcome some or all of the deficiencies found in prior bulk bin containers.
The present invention provides a bulk bin container having a central support structure between the hinge elements connecting a drop door to a side wall.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a bulk bin container having support structure between a drop door and a side wall is provided. The bulk bin container comprises a base and a first side wall extending upward from a first side of the base. The first side wall includes a generally rectangular opening. A first drop door is connected to the first side wall by a first articulated hinge and a second articulated hinge spaced from the first articulated hinge. The first drop door fills the opening and forms part of the first side wall when in an upright position. The door exposes the opening when in a collapsed position allowing access to the interior of the container. A central support structure is provided that extends downward from a lower edge of the first drop door between the first articulated hinge and the second articulated hinge. The central support structure is designed to contact an upper edge of the first side wall defining a lower limit of the opening such that loads applied to a top of the drop door are transferred to the first side wall through the central support structure.
The central support structure is designed to prevent the first drop door from moving inward. In this regard, the central support structure can include a first lower portion extending from an exterior side of the drop door and a second upper portion extending from an interior side of the drop door. The side wall can include a lip extending from the interior side of the side wall that contacts a side of the first lower portion to prevent the drop door from moving inwardly.
The central support structure can be an extension of the door that comprises a rib. Alternatively, the extension can comprise two or more ribs.
The first side wall can be hingedly connected to the base. Additionally, the container can comprise a second side wall extending upward from a second side of the base, a third side wall extending upward from a third side of the base, and a fourth side wall extending upward from a fourth side of the base. Each of the second through fourth side walls can also be hingedly connected to the base.
The container can include more than one drop door with a central support structure. In this regard, the container can include a second drop door connected to the second side wall by a first articulated hinge and a second articulated hinge spaced from the first articulated hinge. The second drop door fills the opening and forms part of the second side wall when in an upright position. The door exposes the opening when in a collapsed position. A central support structure extends downward from a lower edge of the second drop door between the first articulated hinge and the second articulated hinge. The central support contacts an upper edge of the second side wall defining a lower limit of the opening such that loads applied to a top of the drop door are transferred to the second side wall through the central support structure of the second drop door.
The central support structure can be a single piece, or it can comprise a first segment and a second segment separated from the first segment by a gap. Similarly, the central support structure can comprise a plurality of segments separated by gaps.
In an alternative embodiment, the support structure can extend upward from the side wall to contact a lower edge of the drop door. In this regard, a bulk bin container is provided that comprises a base, a first side wall extending upward from a first side of the base and including an opening, and a first drop door connected to the first side wall by a first articulated hinge and a second articulated hinge spaced from the first articulated hinge. The first drop door fills the opening and forms part of the first side wall when in an upright position and exposes the opening when in a collapsed position. A central support structure extends upward from an upper edge of the first side wall between the first articulated hinge and the second articulated hinge. The central support contacts a lower edge of the first drop door such that loads applied to a top of the first drop door are transferred to the first side wall through the central support structure.
Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the Figures, and are described herein.
To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the 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 present invention is directed to an improvement for a bulk container having a drop door in a side wall. Specifically, the drop door is provided with a central extension that contacts the side wall along a bottom edge of the drop door. This allows loads applied to the upper edge of the drop door to be transferred to the side wall and inhibits buckling of the door or undue pressure on the hinge elements. An embodiment of the present invention having the central extension is illustrated in
Referring to
The first and second articulated hinges 18, 20 define or border a central portion therebetween. In prior bulk containers, this portion had a gap 22 between the bottom edge 16 of the drop door and an upper edge 24 of the side wall 12 forming a bottom of the opening for the drop door 14 as shown in
The present bulk bin includes reinforcing structure to relieve the stress on the hinge components. Referring also to
The extension 26 provides a central support structure that fills in the continuous gap 22 found between the hinge elements 18, 20 in prior bulk bins (again, as shown in
The extension 26 includes a first lower portion 30 that mates with a lower portion 32 along an exterior of the side wall 12 and an upper portion 34 that mates with a lip 36 on an interior side of the side wall 12 when in the upright position as shown in
Known bulk bin container drop door designs, such as that shown in cross-section in
In an alternative embodiment, the extension can be an upward extension from the upper edge of the side wall 12. In a further alternative embodiment, one or more extensions (whether from the drop door or the side wall) can be formed on the right and/or left side of the central portion (i.e., between one of the first and second hinge elements and the edge of the door or opening).
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 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/039,767 filed Sep. 27, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/721,240 filed Nov. 1, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14039767 | Sep 2013 | US |
Child | 14577612 | US |