1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a system for storage and transportation of containers where a primary container system is adapted for mounting one or more secondary containers in a secured and protected condition. More particularly, it is concerned with a protection and containment system whereby the secondary containers can be stored and transported in combination with the primary container, and the system can be stacked atop a similarly configured protection and containment system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is often necessary to store chemicals in liquid and dry form in containers. Small containers in a variety of different configurations have been developed from which chemicals can poured for use, and also larger containers from which the chemicals can be dispensed through gravity feed or pumping. One type of container which has heretofore been used for the storage and transport of chemicals is called an intermediate bulk container. During storage, it is often desirable to provide outlets through which selected quantities of the contents can be obtained for use. Often, the contents are dispensed from the containers through gravity feed, or alternatively pumps can be mounted to the container for pumping the contents for use. Also, it is often desirable to stack the containers during transport and storage.
Various types of apparatus for storage of liquids and dry materials have heretofore been developed. Examples of such apparatus include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,430,927, 5,490,603, 6,079,580, 6,193,099, 6,247,594, 6,474,496 and 6,484,899, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, these systems are designed for use with a single container. In some instances, two or more chemicals in liquid or dry (e.g., powder, granular, etc.) form need to be stored separately and then mixed or otherwise combined at or near the time of use.
Thus, a need has developed for a system whereby containers can be securely stored and transported in a single system.
The present invention provides a system which facilitates the transportation and storage of a primary container in combination with one or more secondary containers in a single, economical, stackable arrangement. That is to say, the present system presents a significant advance in handling, transporting and storing chemicals where secondary containers are protected and stored in a system housing a primary container.
The system hereof broadly includes a base, a primary container nested into the base, and a top protector configured and arranged for mounting on top of the primary container, wherein the top protector is provided with a retainer and complementally configured with the primary container to receive one or more secondary containers in a nested configuration. The top protector is configured to receive a base of the same or similar configuration in stacked relationship on the top protector. Thus, a plurality of such systems in accordance with the present invention, each including the primary container and the secondary containers, can be stored and transported in stacked arrangement, thereby reducing the floor space necessary for storing a plurality of such systems.
Advantageously, the system is integrated such that the base, primary container, top protector and secondary containers all contribute to the stability and support of the system. This is particularly beneficial in transportation situations to inhibit relatively movement between the components of the system and to maintain the integrity of the system during dynamic conditions. In this regard, the top protector is preferably configured with a plurality of corner sections sized and arranged to support the base thereon, with connecting walls between the corner sections. A retainer is preferably provided to hold the secondary containers in nested positions between the corner sections, or alternatively in side by side arrangement extending into the interior of the top protector which is surrounded by the corner sections and connecting walls. The retainer can be integrally formed with the top protector, or more preferably provided as a separate member removably mounted to the top protector. The secondary containers may be bottles, jugs or the like of various sizes, and can include both containers which are substantially rigid as well as containers which are flexible such as bags which can contain liquid or dry ingredients such as those in granular, powder, pellet or other dry forms.
These and other advantages will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art with reference to the drawings and detailed description which follows.
Referring now to the drawing, a protection and containment system for co-packaged containers 20 broadly includes a base 22, a primary container 24, and a top protector 26 which includes a retainer 28 for retaining at least one secondary container 30. The primary container 24 and secondary containers 30 may be used to hold chemicals in liquid or dry form. The base 22 is complementally configured with the primary container 24 so that the primary container 24 rests atop and is supported by the base 22 and is at least partially received therein. Similarly, the top protector 26 is complementally configured to mount on top of the primary container 24 and mate therewith.
In greater detail, the base 22 may be rotationally molded of synthetic resin such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) and is configured with legs 32 preferably located to extend downwardly at the corners of a generally rectangularly configured sidewall 34. In addition, opposed stands 36 extend downwardly from the sidewall 34 between the legs 32 along two sides of the sidewall 34, and feet 38 extend downwardly on the alternative two sides of the sidewall 34. One of the stands 36 preferably includes an opening 40 for access to a tubular extension of the primary container 24 on which an outlet valve 42 may be mounted.
The primary container 24 is preferably rotationally molded of HDPE and is hollow to receive a chemical, most typically a liquid chemical, therein. The primary container 24 preferably includes a bottom wall 44 (seen in
The top protector 26 is configured to be complemental with the primary container 24 so as to fit therewith. In that regard, the top protector includes side walls 74 each having a downwardly extending lug 76 for receipt into the channels, the bottom surface of the lugs 76 being sized and configured to sit in the channels and rest on the planar floors 60. The lugs 76 are unitary with and connect corner modules 78. The corner modules 78 preferably include upright, generally planar risers 80, configured such that two risers 80 of any corner module 78 are generally perpendicular to one another and each riser 80 of a corner module 78 is generally parallel to and opposite another riser 80 of an adjacent corner module 78 to which it is connected by a lug 76. As seen in
The retainers 28 may be provided of metal, nylon or other synthetic resin material, but more preferably are made of an elastomeric material such as, for example, natural or synthetic rubber or other synthetic resin material. The retainers 28 when mounted to the corner modules 78 have an elongated bight 96 and a pair of ends 98 and 100. Each of the ends 98 and 100 is configured for mounting to the corner modules 78. While this may be accomplished in various ways, such as by mounting lugs molded into the corner modules with complemental attachment receivers on the retainers, as shown in the drawings the ends 98 and 100 each have holes 102 and are temporarily attached by bolts 104 threaded into metal anchors 106 molded into the risers 80 of the corner modules 78. Alternatively, the retainers 28 may be coupled directly to the top protector 26 using threaded fasteners, such as double-pitched self-tapping screws. As may be seen in
The secondary containers 30 have a smaller in volume than the primary container 24 and are configured so that several such secondary containers 30 may be nested into the top protector 26 in the gap between opposed risers 80. The secondary containers 30 are typically synthetic resin jugs for containing liquid or dry chemical materials, and preferably have a height which, when the system 20 is assembled and the secondary container 30 is positioned resting atop the planar floor 60 and between opposed risers 80, no part of the secondary containers 30 extend upwardly beyond the rim 90. The secondary containers 30 when held by the retainers rest between two opposed risers 80 and against an interior surface 108 of a lug 76 or against another secondary container 30 as shown in the drawings.
The base 22, primary container 24 and top protector 26 may be rotationally molded as separate components as is well known to those skilled in the art. Once molded, the retainers 28 are attached to the anchors 106 molded into the corner modules 78 by the bolts 104 as described above. The primary container 24 is inserted into the base 22, and the top protector 26 is mounted atop the primary container 24. It may be appreciated from the foregoing description and the drawings that the lugs 76 are received in the channels 54 and 56 of the primary container, with the corner feet 84 positioned atop the corner shelves 68. When so assembled, the primary container 24 resists lateral movement with respect to the base 22, and the top protector 26 resists lateral movement with respect to the primary container 24. The secondary containers 30 may then sit atop the planar floors of the channels 54 and 56 and thus held in position not only by the channel walls 62 but also by the risers 80. The retainers 28 further resist lateral movement of the secondary containers 30, the secondary containers 30 being held between the bight of the retainer 28 and the interior surface 108 of the lug 76. The top protector 26 not only permits stacking of several systems 20 one atop another, but because rim 90 extends upwardly above the height of each of the secondary containers 30 as shown in
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the secondary containers may be bottles, jugs or the like of various sizes, and can include both containers which are substantially rigid as well as containers which are flexible such as bags which can contain liquid or dry ingredients such as those in granular, powder, pellet or other dry forms.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110100869 A1 | May 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61258031 | Nov 2009 | US |