Container designed to obstruct sight lines through its drainage openings

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a container shaped to prevent line of sight through its drainage holes.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers are known. Containers with holes in the sides are known. Drainage holes in the containers ensure that if the containers are filled with liquid such as water, then the liquid can drain out of the containers to minimise any weight increase of the containers. This is useful, for example, if a warehouse sprinkler system is activated or if rainwater enters the containers. Drainage holes ensure that any storage racking on which the containers are placed can always support the weight of the containers.

[0003] In an automated factory or warehouse, containers may be moved by a moving conveyor. A container moving on the conveyor may break the beam of a light gate or equivalent line of sight sensor. The light gate may comprise a light transmitter to one side of the conveyor, and a light receiver to the other side of the conveyor. The light gate may output a signal indicating a presence of the container on the conveyor.

[0004] It is possible that a first hole in a first side of the container may be aligned with the beam. If a corresponding opposite second hole in a second opposite side of the container is aligned with both the first hole and the beam, then the beam may be temporarily unbroken as the aligned holes in the sides of the container move through the beam. Therefore, there is a chance that the light gate may briefly output a signal indicating an absence of any containers, when in fact the container is still passing through the light gate.

[0005] The chances of unbreaking the beam can be reduced by designing smaller holes. Further, the chances can be reduced by horizontally offsetting the locations of opposite holes.

[0006] IT 2019 0000 4263 A1 relates to a container having a bottom wall and a perimeter side wall together defining a containment volume. The perimeter side wall is equipped with a system for the drainage of water comprising at least one opening spaced from the bottom wall in such a way as to allow the drainage of water towards an area underneath the container.

[0007] US 2021 / 229863 A1 relates to a stackable container including a step-shaped edge at upper ends of side walls and, on the outer side of the side walls, a projection resting on the step-shaped edge. Openings at lower edges of the side walls open into a collecting channel which extends along the base and is connected in one piece with the base and which collects small quantities of liquids passing through the openings.

[0008] US 4 499 997 A relates to a tote box for use in automated storage. The tote box includes a drain slot. A divider grid is inserted into the interior of the tote box to subdivide the tote box into smaller compartments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of the invention there is provided a container comprising: a base; a side wall arrangement extending up from the base and supported by the base; and drainage holes above the base and fluidly connected to a load space of the container, the drainage holes including a first drainage hole to a first side of the container, and a second drainage hole to a second, opposite side of the container, wherein the container is shaped to provide a barrier arrangement connected to the base of the container, the barrier arrangement comprising a plurality of upstanding ribs to prevent line of sight through the first and second drainage holes.

[0010] The container is shaped to provide a barrier arrangement to block a line of sight through the first and second drainage holes. This is advantageous if the drainage holes are upright drainage holes (drain laterally). Alternatively, the container may be shaped such that the drainage holes are orientated in a horizontal plane (drain downwardly), preventing line of sight through the first and second drainage holes.

[0011] An advantage is that a beam of a light gate or similar sensor will remain broken by the container on a moving conveyor. This enables the provision of larger drainage holes and / or more drainage holes without a corresponding risk of unbreaking the beam.

[0012] A further advantage is that the line of sight is blocked even if the container is at a skewed orientation on the conveyor. This is advantageous compared to horizontally offsetting the opposite drainage holes, because merely offsetting the holes will not work if the container rotates to a skewed orientation that aligns the offset holes with the beam.

[0013] There are advantages to the drainage holes being above the base, rather than through the base. A shallow pool of liquid can form in the container, below the elevation of the drainage holes, to help extinguish any fire therein. Further, the liquid drains in an outboard direction instead of draining into the middle of the load space of the underlying container. Further, the base is smooth and free from any holes that could act as detents that might catch on parts of a conveyor apparatus (e.g., spherical balls of a transfer unit). Therefore, the container is optimised for usage in automated warehouses comprising conveyors and line of sight sensors.

[0014] Therefore, the container has neither the disadvantages associated with base holes nor the disadvantages associated with wall holes (line of sight issues). The side wall arrangement can be referred to as a 'set of one or more side walls'. The barrier arrangement may be 'at least one barrier'. Alternatively, the barrier arrangement may be 'a barrier'.

[0015] The barrier arrangement may block line of sight through all the drainage holes.

[0016] The barrier arrangement may be an interior barrier arrangement, inboard of the side wall arrangement. The barrier arrangement may be between the first and second drainage holes. The term 'inboard' means towards the centre of the container, and the term 'outboard' means away from the centre of the container. A floor level of the container may be above the base of the container. The drainage holes may be at least partially recessed below the floor level of the container. The drainage holes may be fully recessed below the floor level of the container.

[0017] The drainage holes may be inboard of a perimeter edge of the base.

[0018] The barrier arrangement may extend upwardly to the floor level of the container. The barrier arrangement may extend up to the floor level of the container while blocking line of sight through the drainage holes.

[0019] An advantage of the barrier arrangement being sub-floor level is minimising or avoiding any encroachment of the barrier arrangement into a load space of the container.

[0020] If the drainage holes are upright, the barrier arrangement may be taller than the drainage holes. The barrier arrangement may extend from the first side of the container to the second side of the container. The barrier arrangement may be connected to opposite side walls of the side wall arrangement, at the first and second sides of the container.

[0021] The drainage holes may comprise a first plurality of drainage holes spaced along the first side of the container, including the first drainage hole. The drainage holes may comprise a second plurality of drainage holes spaced along the second side of the container, including the second drainage hole.

[0022] The barrier arrangement may block line of sight between any arbitrary one of the first plurality of drainage holes and any arbitrary one of the second plurality of drainage holes.

[0023] Alternatively, the first and / or second plurality of drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane, preventing line of sight between any arbitrary one of the first plurality of drainage holes and any arbitrary one of the second plurality of drainage holes.

[0024] An advantage is that the container, having many drainage holes, may be at a highly skewed orientation on a conveyor and there would still be no chance of unblocking the beam.

[0025] The container may have a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side. The third and fourth sides of the container may be perpendicular to the first and second sides of the container. Each side of the container may comprise a corresponding side wall of the side wall arrangement. The container may be in the form of a four-sided tray or four-sided box.

[0026] The drainage holes may comprise a third drainage hole to the third side of the container, and a fourth drainage hole to the fourth side of the container.

[0027] An advantage of having the drainage holes to each side / all sides of the container is that full drainage can be reliably ensured. Therefore, if the container is on a slope, liquid will not be able to pool because there will always be a submerged drainage hole.

[0028] The container may be shaped to prevent a line of sight extending through the third and fourth drainage holes. If the barrier arrangement is provided, the barrier arrangement may block line of sight through the third and fourth drainage holes. Alternatively, the third and fourth drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane, preventing line of sight through the third and fourth drainage holes.

[0029] An advantage is that the container can be placed on the conveyor in any orientation (e.g., lengthways or widthways), without a chance of the drainage holes unbreaking the beam.

[0030] The barrier arrangement may extend from the third side of the container to the fourth side of the container. The barrier arrangement may be connected to opposite side walls of the side wall arrangement, at the third and fourth sides of the container.

[0031] The barrier arrangement may block all possible lines of sight through all possible pairs of the first to fourth drainage holes.

[0032] Alternatively, the first to fourth drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane, preventing line of sight through all possible pairs of the first to fourth drainage holes.

[0033] The drainage holes may comprise a third plurality of drainage holes spaced along the third side of the container, including the third drainage hole. The drainage holes may comprise a fourth plurality of drainage holes spaced along the fourth side of the container, including the fourth drainage hole.

[0034] The barrier arrangement may block line of sight between any arbitrary one of the third plurality of drainage holes and any arbitrary one of the fourth plurality of drainage holes. The barrier arrangement may block all possible lines of sight through all possible pairs of the first to fourth pluralities of drainage holes.

[0035] Alternatively, the third and / or fourth plurality of drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane, preventing line of sight between any arbitrary one of the third plurality of drainage holes and any arbitrary one of the fourth plurality of drainage holes. The first to fourth pluralities of drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane, preventing line of sight through all possible pairs of the first to fourth pluralities of drainage holes.

[0036] The container comprises a plurality of upstanding ribs.

[0037] A height of the upstanding ribs above the base may be greater than an elevation of the drainage holes above the base. The upstanding ribs may therefore block line of sight between the drainage holes including the first and second drainage holes. Therefore, in this example, the upstanding ribs define the barrier arrangement.

[0038] An advantage is that the same feature strengthens the base of the container while blocking line of sight between the drainage holes. The strengthening effect of the upstanding ribs resists load-induced bowing of the base. Excessive bowing could cause the container to become unstable and susceptible to vibration-induced movement on the conveyor. Therefore, the upstanding ribs make the container even more suitable for use on conveyors.

[0039] In other examples, the elevation of the drainage holes above the base may be equal to or greater than the height of the upstanding ribs above the base. The drainage holes may be orientated in the horizontal plane to prevent the line of sight between the first and second drainage holes. Alternatively, a separate barrier arrangement may be provided, other than the upstanding ribs, which is at the elevation of the drainage holes.

[0040] Top edges of the upstanding ribs may define the floor level of the container. Articles placed in the container may rest on the top edges of the upstanding ribs. Bottom edges of the upstanding ribs may be connected to the base of the container. Alternatively, the container may comprise a floor plate supported above the base of the container, and defining the floor level of the container. The floor plate may be supported above the base by the upstanding ribs. The top edges of the upstanding ribs may be connected to the floor plate.

[0041] The upstanding ribs may be interconnected ribs. The upstanding ribs may extend continuously and interconnectedly from the first side of the container to the second side of the container. The upstanding ribs may extend continuously and interconnectedly from the third side of the container to the fourth side of the container. The upstanding ribs may extend continuously and interconnectedly between all of the first to fourth sides of the container.

[0042] An advantage is improved rigidity.

[0043] The upstanding ribs may be connected to multiple side walls of the side wall arrangement.

[0044] An advantage is providing rigid connections between the base and side walls of the container.

[0045] The upstanding ribs may comprise diagonal ribs extending along the base and diagonally relative to the side wall arrangement.

[0046] An advantage is that diagonal bracing resists shear forces.

[0047] The upstanding ribs may define a repeating reinforcing pattern. At least some of the upstanding ribs may define a repeating diamond-shaped reinforcing pattern.

[0048] An advantage is that the container has a high density of reinforcement.

[0049] The container may be shaped to define a plurality of drainage channels for the drainage holes.

[0050] If the upstanding ribs act as the barrier arrangement, the upstanding ribs may also be arranged to define the plurality of drainage channels. Each drainage channel may be a recess bounded by a subset of the upstanding ribs and a portion of the base.

[0051] An advantage is that liquid can flow through the drainage channels to the drainage holes. The drainage holes are defined as the open outlets of the drainage channels. The drainage holes define the direction in which the liquid exits the container.

[0052] Alternatively, the side wall arrangement of the container may comprise upwardly-extending wall ribs arranged to provide the plurality of drainage channels. The side wall arrangement may comprise a wall section to which a plurality of the wall ribs are connected. The wall ribs may be spaced apart from each other to provide the drainage channels, to enable liquid to descend through the drainage holes. The drainage channels may be descending channels defined between the wall ribs, a raised periphery of the floor plate, and the corresponding wall section of the side wall arrangement. The raised periphery allows a shallow pool of liquid to form, to help extinguish a fire in the container. When liquid overflows the raised periphery of the floor plate, the liquid descends through the drainage channels between the raised periphery of the floor plate, the corresponding wall section of the side wall arrangement, and the wall ribs.

[0053] The side wall arrangement may extend between the floor level of the container and a top of the container, defining a top opening of the container.

[0054] The side wall arrangement may also be held above the base of the container, providing a peripheral gap between the base and the side wall arrangement. The drainage holes may be arranged to drain through the peripheral gap. The peripheral gap may be sub-floor (below the elevated floor level).

[0055] A structure may hold the side wall arrangement above the base of the container.

[0056] The structure holding the side wall arrangement above the base may comprise the upstanding ribs. If the elevated floor plate is provided, above the base, the structure holding the side wall arrangement above the base may further comprise the floor plate.

[0057] Perimeter edges of the base may be free edges cantilevered outboard from the structure and disconnected from the side wall arrangement. The perimeter edges may be cantilevered from the structure (e.g., upstanding ribs) by at least approximately one centimetre. The perimeter edges of the base may be unbraced against vertical flexing.

[0058] An advantage is noise reduction along a roller conveyor because the perimeter edges of the base can flex up and down. For this reason, the upstanding ribs may start inboard of the perimeter edges of the base.

[0059] The drainage holes may be demarcated from each other by the structure holding the side wall arrangement above the base. The upstanding ribs or the wall ribs, as defined earlier, may demarcate adjacent drainage holes from each other.

[0060] If the drainage holes are upright drainage holes, each upright drainage hole may comprise a lower edge and an upper edge, and lateral side edges connecting the lower and upper edges. The upper edges of the upright drainage holes may be sub-floor level. The base of the container may define the lower edges of the upright drainage holes. The side wall arrangement (raised) of the container may define the upper edges of the upright drainage holes. If the upstanding ribs define the barrier arrangement, outboard ends of the upstanding ribs may define the lateral side edges of the upright drainage holes.

[0061] Alternatively, if the drainage holes are orientated in the horizontal plane, each drainage hole may comprise an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and lateral side edges connecting the inboard and outboard edges. If the drainage holes are between the floor plate, the corresponding wall section of the side wall arrangement, and the wall ribs as described earlier, the floor plate may define the inboard edges of the drainage holes. The wall section or parts of the side wall arrangement of the container may define the outboard edges of the drainage holes. The wall ribs may define the lateral side edges of at least some of the drainage holes.

[0062] In further examples, the drainage holes may inclined so as to be partially upright and partially along the horizontal plane.

[0063] The base of the container may be plate-shaped. An underside of the plate-shaped base may be substantially flat.

[0064] An advantage is ease of use with a conveyor transfer unit, because there are no detents for spherical balls of a conveyor transfer unit to settle into.

[0065] The container may be formed from a plastics material.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of the present invention reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container; FIG. 2 illustrates an end view of a cross-section through the container; FIG. 3 illustrates a detail perspective view of a cross-section through the container; and FIG. 4 illustrates a detail end view of a cross-section through the container; and FIG. 5 illustrates a detail perspective view of a cross-section through another container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0067] FIG. 1 illustrates a container 100 in the form of a four-sided tray. The container 100 comprises a base 102 and an arrangement of four side walls 104. The side walls 104 extend up from the base 102 and are supported by the base 102. A side wall 104 is provided at each side 118, 120, 122, 124 of the container 100.

[0068] The base 102 is plate-shaped. As shown in FIG. 2, the plate-shaped base 102 is generally flat, although in this case the base 102 is slightly raised towards its centre to resist downward bowing.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 1, the side walls 104 include a pair of long side walls 106 parallel to each other, and a pair of short side walls 108 parallel to each other. The side walls 104 may be rectilinear.

[0070] The base 102 comprises a plurality of upstanding ribs 112 upstanding from the base 102, to strengthen the container 100. The ribs 112, the base 102, and side walls 104, may be integrally moulded from any appropriate plastics material.

[0071] As shown in the detail views of FIGS. 2-3, the top edges 114 of the ribs 112 provide a floor level 110 of the container 100, onto which articles can be placed. The bottom edges 116 of the ribs 112 are directly connected to the top surface of the base 102. The side walls 104 are taller than the ribs 112, so that the floor level 110 and the side walls 104 together define a load space 101 of the container 100 for retaining articles. The container 100 has a top opening 126 defined by the side walls 104, thorough which articles can be placed.

[0072] The ribs 112 are shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, as being interconnected to define a repeating reinforcing pattern. In the illustrated non-limiting example, the repeating reinforcing pattern is mostly or entirely diamond-shaped, and is formed by inboard, diagonal ribs 134 of the ribs 112. It would be appreciated that various other rib patterns and shapes could be defined.

[0073] In FIG. 1, the repeating reinforcing pattern of ribs 112 extends continuously to all sides 118, 120, 122, 124 of the container 100, to connect to each of the side walls 104.

[0074] In FIGS. 3-4, the ribs 112 connect to each other and cross each other to form cells 136, 138 therebetween. Each cell 136, 138 is a recess having an open top, and a closed bottom defined by the base 102, and closed sides defined by the ribs 112.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 3, diagonal inboard ribs 134 of the ribs 112 connect to each other in such a way that the inboard cells 136 are diamond-shaped.

[0076] Diagonal and non-diagonal outboard ribs 134, 128 of the ribs 112 connect to each other to define outboard cells 138 that may have a different shape, such as half-hexagons as shown in FIG. 3.

[0077] Further, the upper edges 114 of the outermost ribs 128 of the outboard ribs 112 are directly connected to the side walls 104.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the side walls 104 may not be directly connected to the base 102. Instead, the illustrated side walls 104 are held above the base 102 by the outermost ribs 128. The manner of the connection is described later in relation to FIG. 4. The result of the separation is a peripheral gap 130 between the bottoms of the side walls 104 and the base 102. The peripheral gap 130 may extend continuously along multiple sides 118, 120, 122, 124, or the whole perimeter, of the container 100. The side walls 104 therefore may not directly touch the base 102.

[0079] As a result, the perimeter edges 132 of the base 102, defining the perimeter of the base 102, are free edges whereas usually they would be connected to the side walls 104. The perimeter edges 132 of the base 102 are therefore flexible because they are disconnected from the side walls 104.

[0080] Further, the outboard cells 138 do not have fully closed sides. Each outboard cell 138 comprises an open side facing the peripheral gap 130. A drainage flow path extends from the load space 101, into the outboard cells 138, out through the open sides of the outboard cells 138, and through the peripheral gap 130 to exit the container 100.

[0081] The combination of the open sides of the outboard cells 138 and the peripheral gap 130 therefore define upright 'drainage holes' 140 of the container 100. 'Upright' means that the drainage holes 140 occupy an upright plane, allowing lateral flow therethrough. Each outboard cell 138 provides a drainage channel 139 for a corresponding individual drainage hole 140. Water can enter the drainage holes 140 from the load space 101 through the open tops of the outboard cells 138. Therefore, the drainage holes 140 are fluidly connected to the load space 101. Each drainage hole 140 is separately fluidly connected to the load space 101, via a separate drainage channel 139 (separate outboard cell 138).

[0082] More precisely, FIGS. 3 and 4 show that a drainage hole 140 can be defined as having left and right lateral side edges 158, 160, an upper edge 154, and a lower edge 156. The lateral side edges 158, 160 of a drainage hole 140 are defined by respective adjacent outermost ribs 128, wherein the outermost ribs 128 can therefore be described as dividers / demarcators between adjacent drainage holes 140 / outboard cells 138. The upper edge 154 of a drainage hole 140 is defined by the underside of a side wall 104 of the container 100. The lower edge 156 of a drainage hole 140 is defined by the base 102 of the container 100.

[0083] By analogy to hydraulic engineering, the outboard ribs 134, 128 defining the outboard cells 138 can be defined as 'weirs', over which water can overflow into the outboard cells 138. The water can escape from the outboard cells 138 because the cells 138 are open. The water can escape through the drainage holes 140 to the peripheral gap 130 of the container 100, and spill out over the perimeter edges 132 of the base 102.

[0084] Since the separation between adjacent drainage holes 140 is only equal to the thickness of the outermost rib 128 separating them, a large number of drainage holes 140 can be provided. Each short side of the container 100 can comprise more than ten drainage holes 140, and each long side can comprise more than twenty drainage holes 140, for example.

[0085] FIG. 3 shows that the outermost ribs 128 supporting the side walls 104 may not extend in a diagonal direction, and instead may extend in a perpendicular outboard direction, perpendicular to the supported side wall 104. This gives the outboard cells 138 a half-hexagon shape. As stated above, other shapes may be formed in other examples.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows how an outermost rib 128 can directly connect to a side wall 104. Each outermost rib 128 is shown in FIG. 4 as being connected to the inboard toe 144 of a lower flange 142 of a side wall 104. The side wall 104 has a lower flange 142 and a web 146 (wall section) extending up from the lower flange 142 to a top edge 148 (FIG. 2) of the side wall 104. Therefore, a vertical load path from the side wall 104 passes through the web 146 to the lower flange 142, through the lower flange 142 to the toe 144 of the lower flange 142, through the toe 144 of the lower flange 142 to the outermost rib 128, and through the outermost rib 128 to the base 102. Any lateral force components received by the outermost rib 128 may additionally spread to adjacent connected ribs 112.

[0087] The upper surface of each lower flange 142 may be planar with the floor level 110 of the container 100, or in other words planar with the top edges 114 of the ribs 112 to form part of a boundary of the load space 101 of the container 100. The lower surface of each lower flange 142 may define the upper edges 154 of drainage holes 140, as well as an upper edge of the peripheral gap 130 between the side wall 104 and the base 102.

[0088] FIGS. 3 and 4 also show that the outermost ribs 128 may be recessed inboard relative to the nearest perimeter edges 132 of the base 102. This is to ensure that the perimeter edges 132 of the base 102 are flexible free edges. As shown in FIG. 4, the recess depth may be substantial, wherein the illustrated outermost ribs 128 terminate inboard of the web 146 of the side wall 104. As a result, where the lower flange 142 of the side wall 104 is double-sided relative to the web 146, the outermost ribs 128 only connect to one side of the lower flange 142 (the inboard side)

[0089] To block a straight light beam from passing through an opposite pair of the drainage holes 140, a barrier arrangement 150 is provided to block line of sight between the drainage holes 140. Blocking line of sight means blocking most (>80%) or all possible straight lines of sight between the drainage holes 140.

[0090] In the illustrated example, the drainage holes 140 are provided at a recessed, sub-floor level elevation. Therefore, the ribs 112 act as interior ribs defining the barrier arrangement 150. In the illustrated example, the term 'barrier arrangement' refers to whichever ones of the ribs 112 block lines of sight between the drainage holes 140.

[0091] In the illustrated example, the ribs 134, 128 defining an outboard cell 138 can be described as barriers of the barrier arrangement 150. As shown in FIG. 4, if a beam 152 extends in the horizontal direction through the peripheral gap 130 into a drainage hole 140, the beam will intersect the surfaces of the ribs 112, 128 that define the corresponding outboard cell 138.

[0092] The barrier arrangement 150 of the Figures is arranged such that there is no straight path that the horizontal beam 152 can follow in which the beam 152 intersects any arbitrary pair of the drainage holes 140 of the container 100.

[0093] Further, it can be seen from FIG. 4 that the container 100 would have to be highly tilted before the top opening 126 of the container 100 can be seen through a drainage hole 140, despite the fact that the container 100 shown is a low-walled tray. This is partially the result of the top edges 114 of the ribs 112 being higher than the upper edges 154 of the drainage holes 140. This is also partially the result of the bottom of the side wall 104 being a flange 142 and therefore having a greater horizontal depth than the web 146.

[0094] FIG. 5 illustrates another container 100' having another design of the drainage holes 140'. The drainage holes 140' are orientated in a horizontal plane, so that liquid drains downwardly through the drainage holes 140'. The horizontal orientation of the drainage holes 140' ensures that there is no line of sight between the drainage holes 140'. Therefore, a barrier arrangement is not required.

[0095] The shape of the container 100' of FIG. 5 is now described in more detail. It would be appreciated that a different geometry could be used.

[0096] The container 100' has a floor plate 162 connected to the top edges 114 of the ribs 112. The floor plate 162 provides a flat horizontal floor onto which articles can be placed. The top surface of the floor plate 162 defines the floor level 110 of the container 100'.

[0097] The floor plate 162 comprises a raised periphery in the form of a lip 164. The lip 164 extends vertically above the floor level 110 to define a raised rim of the floor plate 162.

[0098] As with the previous container 100, the side walls 104' are not connected directly to the base 102. The side walls 104' of the container 100' are instead connected to the floor plate 162. Specifically, each side wall 104' is connected to the lip 164 of the floor plate 162 by a plurality of parallel, upwardly-extending wall ribs 168.

[0099] Therefore, the web 146 (wall section) of each side wall 104' is held outboard from the perimeter of the floor plate 162, resulting in a horizontal gap between the web 146 of the side wall 104' and the lip 164 of the floor plate 162. The gap provides a plurality of drainage channels 139', each separated from the adjacent drainage channel 139' by an intervening wall rib 168.

[0100] When liquid overflows the lip 164 of the floor plate 162, the liquid flows down the drainage channels 139' and out through the drainage holes 140'.

[0101] Each drainage hole 140' (and drainage channel 139') can be defined as having an inboard edge, an outboard edge, and lateral side edges. The lip 164 of the floor plate 162 defines the inboard edges. The wall ribs 168 define the lateral side edges. The webs 146 of the side walls 104' define the outboard edges.

[0102] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. In some examples, a different drainage hole 140 may be provided such as a hole through the side wall 104 itself. Upright drainage holes 140 may be sub-floor level as shown, or above floor level 110 if a barrier arrangement correspondingly extends above the floor level. In some examples, the reinforcing pattern of ribs 112 may be replaced by a different barrier arrangement, such as one or more ribs extending parallel to the perimeter edges 132 of the base 102, at a generally constant distance from each drainage hole 140. In still further examples, the barrier arrangement may be to the exterior of the container 100, rather than to the interior. In still further examples, a floor plate 162 may have holes or slots fluidly connected to drainage holes 140.

[0103] Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

[0104] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not. Although features have been described with reference to certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other embodiments whether described or not.

Claims

1. A container (100) comprising: a base (102); a side wall arrangement (104) extending up from the base and supported by the base; and drainage holes (140) above the base and fluidly connected to a load space (101) of the container, the drainage holes including a first drainage hole to a first side (118, 120, 122, 124) of the container, and a second drainage hole to a second, opposite side (118, 120, 122, 124) of the container, characterized in that the container is shaped to provide a barrier arrangement (150) connected to the base of the container, the barrier arrangement comprising a plurality of upstanding ribs (112, 128) to prevent line of sight through the first and second drainage holes.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of upstanding ribs comprise diagonal ribs (134) extending along the base and diagonally relative to the side wall arrangement.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is shaped to define a plurality of drainage channels (139) for the drainage holes, wherein the plurality of upstanding ribs define the plurality of drainage channels.

4. The container of any preceding claim, wherein a structure holds the side wall arrangement above the base of the container, and wherein the structure holding the side wall arrangement above the base comprises the upstanding ribs.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the drainage holes are demarcated from each other by the structure holding the side wall arrangement above the base.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the upstanding ribs demarcate adjacent drainage holes from each other.

7. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the side wall arrangement comprises a pair of long side walls (106) parallel to each other, and a pair of short side walls (108) parallel to each other, wherein each short side wall of the container comprises more than ten drainage holes, and wherein each long side wall of the container comprises more than twenty drainage holes.

8. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the drainage holes (140) are upright or inclined drainage holes.

9. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the drainage holes (140) are holes through the side wall arrangement (104), and are upright drainage holes above a floor level (110) of the container, and wherein the barrier arrangement (150) correspondingly extends above the floor level (110).

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the barrier arrangement (150) is an interior barrier arrangement, inboard of the side wall arrangement (104), and between the first and second drainage holes (140).

11. The container of claim 10, wherein a floor level (110) of the container is above the base (102) of the container, wherein the drainage holes (140) are at least partially recessed below the floor level of the container, and wherein the barrier arrangement (150) is sub floor level and extends upwardly to the floor level of the container while blocking line of sight through the drainage holes.

12. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the drainage hole (140) comprise a first plurality of drainage holes spaced along the first side (118, 120, 122, 124) of the container, including the first drainage hole, wherein the drainage holes comprise a second plurality of drainage holes spaces along the second side (118, 120, 122, 124) of the container, including the second drainage hole, and wherein the barrier arrangement (150) blocks line of sight between any arbitrary one of the first plurality of drainage holes and any arbitrary one of the second plurality of drainage holes.

13. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the drainage holes (140) drain in an outboard direction away from the load space (101).

14. The container of any preceding claim, wherein perimeter edges (132) of the base (102) are free edges cantilevered outboard from the structure and disconnected form the side wall arrangement (104).