Bulk bin with panel to panel interlock features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9487326-B2
Application number	US-201414548493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2013
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A collapsible bulk bin container with structures for improved strength is provided. The bulk bin container includes wrap-around portions in the short sidewalls with a horizontal top plate and a horizontal rib proximate the top plate. The bulk bin container also includes ramp structure in the long side sidewall and base for lifting and dropping the sidewall when pivoted upright. The upright sidewall and base include surfaces to inhibit or prevent buckling due to compressive loads. The bin can also include post and pocket interlock structures.

First claim

We claim:

1. A collapsible bulk bin container comprising:
a base having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side;
a first sidewall pivotably connected to the first side of the base;
a second sidewall pivotably connected to the second side of the base;
a third sidewall pivotably connected to the third side of the base;
a fourth sidewall pivotably connected to the fourth side of the base;
the first sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface and an edge on a first side perpendicular to the outer surface, the first sidewall connected to a first wrap-around portion at the first side of the first sidewall extending outward beyond the edge of the first sidewall that contacts a first side portion of the second sidewall when the first and second sidewalls are pivoted upright, the first wrap-around portion having a first horizontal plate at a top portion of the first wrap-around portion extending outward over the first wrap-around portion; and,
the second sidewall having a lift and lock feature, wherein the lift and lock feature includes the second sidewall having a first lower edge portion with a first ramp surface and the base having an upward projection including a first upper edge portion with a second ramp surface positioned to contact the first ramp surface of the second sidewall, the first ramp surface and second ramp surface configured to lift the second sidewall as the second sidewall is pivoted into an upright position.

2. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 1 further comprising the first sidewall having a second wrap-around portion at a second side of the first sidewall that contacts a first side portion of the fourth sidewall when the first and fourth sidewalls are pivoted upright, the second wrap-around portion having a second horizontal plate at a top portion extending outward over the second wrap-around portion.

3. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 2 further comprising a horizontal rib in the first wrap-around portion positioned below the first horizontal plate proximate the top portion of the first wrap-around portion.

4. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 3 further comprising a horizontal rib in the second wrap-around portion positioned below the second horizontal plate proximate the top portion of the second wrap-around portion.

5. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 2 further comprising the third sidewall having a first wrap-around portion at a first side of the third sidewall that contacts a second side portion of the second sidewall when the third and second sidewalls are pivoted upright, the first wrap-around portion of the third sidewall having a third horizontal plate extending outward over the first wrap-around portion at a top portion of the first wrap-around portion.

6. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 5 further comprising the third sidewall having a second wrap-around portion at a second side of the third sidewall that contacts a second side portion of the fourth sidewall when the third and fourth sidewalls are pivoted upright, the second wrap-around portion of the third sidewall having a fourth horizontal plate extending outward over the second wrap-around portion at a top portion of the second wrap-around portion.

7. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 6 further comprising a horizontal rib in the first wrap-around portion of the third sidewall positioned below the third horizontal plate proximate the top portion of the first wrap-around portion.

8. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 7 further comprising a horizontal rib in the second wrap-around portion of the third sidewall positioned below the first horizontal plate proximate the top portion of the second wrap-around portion.

9. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 2 wherein the first wrap-around portion extends at about a 90° angle from the first sidewall.

10. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 9 wherein the second wrap-around portion extends at about a 90° angle from the first sidewall.

11. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 1 wherein the first wrap-around portion of the first sidewall includes projections for interlocking with the second sidewall.

12. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 1 further comprising a vertical surface connected to the second ramp surface.

13. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 1 wherein the first ramp surface and the second ramp surface are curved.

14. A collapsible bulk bin container comprising:
a plastic base having a first upward projection proximate a first end of a first side;
a plastic first sidewall pivotably connected to the first side of the base, the first sidewall having a first lower edge portion with a first ramp surface and the upward projection having a first upper edge portion with a second ramp surface positioned to contact the first ramp surface of the first sidewall, the first ramp surface and second ramp surface configured to lift the first sidewall as the first sidewall is pivoted into an upright position.

15. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 14 wherein the first ramp surface of the first lower edge portion of the first sidewall and the second ramp surface of the first upper edge portion of the upward projection are curved.

16. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 15 wherein the first lower edge portion of the first sidewall has an inwardly vertical surface connected to the first ramp surface.

17. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 15 further comprising the first side sidewall having a second lower edge portion spaced from the first lower edge portion with a first ramp surface and the base having a second upward projection proximate a second end of the first side of the base, the second upward projection having a second upper edge portion spaced from the first upper edge portion with a second ramp surface positioned to contact the first ramp surface of the second lower edge portion of the first sidewall.

18. The collapsible bulk bin container of claim 14 wherein the first upper edge portion of the upward projection along the first side of the base has an outwardly vertical surface connected to the second ramp surface.

Assignees

• Orbis Corp

Inventors

• Banik Joachim
• Greiveldinger Link Jay
• Wagner Leslie Allen

Classifications

• B65D2519/009

  whereby all side walls are hingedly connected to the base panel · CPC title

• B65D2519/00069

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65D19/18

  made wholly or mainly of plastics material · CPC title

• B65D2519/00174

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65D11/26 Primary

  Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent to closures · CPC title