Bulk bin, bulk bin sleeve pack, and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11993451-B2
Application number	US-202016943237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Jul 30, 2020
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

A bulk bin sleeve pack is repeatably erected to form a bulk bin having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall and collapsed when not in use. The bulk bin sleeve pack includes a base that forms the bottom wall of the bulk bin. First and second wall members form the perimeter wall and are attached to one another and the base. The first and second wall members overlap a portion of the base. Locking tabs are associated with at least one of the base and the first and second wall members. Locking openings are associated with at least one of the base and the first and second wall members. The locking openings oppose the locking tabs when the first and second wall members are attached to the base to form the perimeter wall of the bulk bin. The locking tabs are lockingly inserted into the locking openings to secure the first and second wall members to the base to form the bulk bin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bulk bin sleeve pack for being repeatably erected to form a bulk bin having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall and collapsed when not in use, the bulk bin sleeve pack comprising:
a base configured to form the bottom wall of the bulk bin, the base including a rim;
a first wall member configured to form a portion of the perimeter wall of the bulk bin, the first wall member having a bottom edge margin, a top edge margin, and first and second side margins, the bottom edge margin configured for attachment to the base so that the first wall member overlaps at least a portion of the base;
a second wall member configured to form another portion of the perimeter wall of the bulk bin, the second wall member having a bottom edge margin, a top edge margin, and first and second side margins, the bottom edge margin of the second wall member being configured for attachment to the base so that the first side margin of the first wall member overlaps the second side margin of the second wall member, the second side margin of the first wall member overlaps the first side margin of the second wall member, and the second wall member overlaps at least a portion of the base;
the first and second wall members configured for attachment to the base so that the first and second wall members overlap the rim;
locking tabs formed as one piece with the base;
locking openings associated with the first and second wall members, the locking openings opposing the locking tabs when the first and second wall members are attached to the base to form the perimeter wall of the bulk bin;
the locking tabs being configured to be lockingly inserted into the locking openings to secure the first and second wall members to the base to form the bulk bin, and to be nondestructively removed from the locking openings to permit separation of the first and second wall members from the base;
wherein the rim includes a plurality of sides, each side of the rim including at least one locking tab of the locking tabs, each locking tab having a secured end attached to the base and a free end above the secured end, the free end of the locking tab being disposed to form a portion of an upper edge of the rim.

2. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the locking tabs are configured to be repeatedly inserted into and withdrawn from the locking openings to erect and collapse the bulk bin.

3. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the locking tabs comprising a spine portion and a pair of wing portions connected to the spine portion at a free end thereof, the spine portion having a width less than a width of the locking openings and the locking tab at the free end having a width greater than the locking openings.

4. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the locking tabs are connected to the base for folding about a generally horizontal fold line.

5. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the locking tabs are hingedly connected to the base.

6. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the base, the first wall member and the second wall member are each formed from a single board.

7. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 6 , wherein each of the boards comprises fluted plastic.

8. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of the locking tabs comprising a spine portion and a pair of wing portions connected to the spine portion at a free end thereof, the spine portion having a width less than a width of the locking openings and the locking tab at the free end having a width greater than the locking openings.

9. The bulk bin sleeve pack as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first and second wall members are sized to be received in the base in a collapsed configuration of the bulk bin sleeve pack.

10. A bulk bin comprising:
a base having a perimeter and including a rim;
a perimeter wall extending circumferentially around a bulk bin interior and having a top edge margin and an opposite bottom edge margin arranged adjacent the perimeter of the base such that the base defines a bottom end of the bulk bin interior;
the perimeter wall being configured for attachment to the base so that the first and second wall members overlap the rim;
an interlocking connection securing the base and the perimeter wall together, the interlocking connection including a plurality of openings formed in the perimeter wall and a plurality of locking tabs formed as one piece with and extending from the base each locking tab extending through a respective one of the plurality of openings and locking the base and perimeter wall together;
the rim further including a plurality of sides, each side of the rim including at least one locking tab of the plurality locking tabs, each locking tab having a secured end attached to the base and a free end above the secured end, the free end of the locking tab being disposed to form a portion of an upper edge of the rim when no received in one of the plurality of openings;
the locking tabs being arranged to be lockingly inserted into the locking openings to secure the perimeter wall to the base to form the bulk bin, and to be nondestructively removed from the locking openings to permit separation of the perimeter wall from the base.

11. The bulk bin as set forth in claim 10 , wherein each locking tab extends substantially perpendicular to the perimeter wall when received in one of the openings.

12. The bulk bin as set forth in claim 10 , wherein each locking tab extends through one of the openings and into the bulk bin interior to lock the base and perimeter wall together.

13. The bulk bin as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the perimeter wall includes a plurality of sides, at least one opening of the plurality of openings being located on each side of the perimeter wall.

14. The bulk bin as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the perimeter wall comprises a first wall member having a first side margin and a second side margin and a second wall member having a first side margin and a second side margin, the first side margin of the first wall member attached to the second side margin of the second wall member and the second side margin of the first wall member attached to the first side margin of the second wall member.

Assignees

• Inteplast Group Corp

Inventors

• Carman Gregory A

Classifications

• B65D88/52 Primary

  collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected · CPC title

• B31B50/26

  Folding sheets, blanks or webs · CPC title

• B31B50/734

  interengaging tongues and slots · CPC title

• B31B2110/35

  rectangular, e.g. square · CPC title

• B31B2120/10

  provided with covers, e.g. lids · CPC title