Bulk Container

Abstract

The present invention relates to a foldable bulk container (10) including a base (12) and a plurality of walls (14&16) surrounding the base (12). In use, the walls (14&16) are adapted to fold down over the base (12). At least one of the walls (14&16) includes reinforcing means in the form of a first elongate hollow (18). The elongate hollow, in use, is substantially parallel to the base (12).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2007906882, filed on Dec. 17, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a bulk container and relates particularly but not exclusively to a foldable bulk container.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Bulk containers, such as crates for carrying beverage bottles and bins, often have fixed walls with ribs as reinforcing means. It is commonplace for bulk containers having movable or collapsible walls to have the same kind of ribs and even vertical hollow columns as reinforcing means.[0004]While bulk containers with collapsible walls have the advantage of facilitating easy storage, ribs used for reinforcement or strength can be a problem when the container is stored with the walls folded down in that they often create indents or recesses, which prov...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Preferably, each wall is pivotally connected to the base to facilitate folding down thereof over the base. More preferably, each wall in use is adapted to engage of the other walls. Even more preferably, each wall has at least one elongate hollow which is adapted to correspond to the elongate hollow of one or more of the other walls so as to maximise rigidity of the bulk container.

[0010]There are preferably four walls in the container of the invention in a square or rectangular configuration, but it is within the scope of this invention to provide fewer or more walls. More than one of the walls may include one or more of the elongate hollows. The elongate hollow may be mechanically formed by a precision machined horizontally sliding core so as to achieve precise and geometric wall thickness.

Problems solved by technology

While bulk containers with collapsible walls have the advantage of facilitating easy storage, ribs used for reinforcement or strength can be a problem when the container is stored with the walls folded down in that they often create indents or recesses, which provide areas of entrapment where dirt such as leaves and other debris are collected.

This typically leads to blockage of drainage holes that may have been provided for draining rain or water, with the further problem that water collects in the indents or recesses, as well as the debris.

This problem is of particular concern during and after rainy days when the bulk containers are exposed in the open.

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