A storage container

Abstract

A storage container (10) comprising a container body (100), one or a plurality of channels (160), and at least one outlet opening (170) and the use of the storage container (10) to store wet or unwashed products. The container body (100) has a double-layered structure. The plurality of channels (160) located in the side walls (130) penetrate through the side walls (130), forming fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the double-layered structure. The outlet opening (170) is adapted to drain water and / or moisture out of the storage container (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates, amongst others, to a container and the use of the container. More particularly, it relates to a storage container comprising a container body, a plurality of channels and at least one outlet opening, and the use of the storage container to store wet or unwashed products.Background

[0002] Storage containers for storing wet or unwashed products are well-known in the art. Basically, the storage container needs to be robust enough to store a large amount / weight of wet or unwashed products under controlled temperature and / or humidity conditions. However, due to the lack of airflow, mold and bacteria may grow on the stored wet or uncleaned products and storage containers, which may pose a potential hygiene risk. Therefore, air permeability is required to continuously discharge water and / or moisture from the storage container. In addition, the proper cleaning of the storage container can be challenging. Storage containers are usually designed in regular shapes, such as cuboids or cubes, because in reality, hundreds of storage containers are stacked together and adjacent to each other to save space. The corners between the storage container walls are actually difficult to clean, especially when the storage container is large in volume. Negligence in proper cleaning may bring additional hygiene risks. Moreover, the storage container is designed for certain applications and may be difficult to adapt to store other sorts of products.

[0003] Nowadays new requirements have risen for the efficient and intelligent storage of a wide variety of wet or unwashed products. The storage containers are deposited in a refrigerated warehouse fully automatically by a warehouse crane. The corresponding software records the locations of the storage containers. Upon processing the stored products, the same warehouse crane retrieves the selected storage container out of the warehouse, so that not a single fork-lift truck is required in the entire process. However, this brings with it the new challenge of making the storage containers light enough not to impose an additional burden on handling machines (e.g., warehouse cranes). Moreover, the storage containers need to be adapted to suit different handling situations, such as being retrieved by a warehouse crane and mounted on a tube frame for transport.Summary

[0004] Overall, there is a need to provide a storage container that is strong, has sufficient capacity, is breathable, and is suitable for storing a variety of wet or unwashed products. In addition, the storage container is light enough and can be easily cleaned properly while meeting the requirements of warehouse automation.

[0005] According to the first aspect of the invention, a storage container is provided. The storage container comprises a container body, one or a plurality of channels, and at least one outlet opening. The container body has a double-layered structure. The plurality of channels located in the side walls penetrate through the side walls, forming fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the double-layered structure. The outlet opening is adapted to drain water and / or moisture out of the storage container. The use of the storage container is preferably to store wet or unwashed products.

[0006] Hence, the storage container according to the first aspect of the invention comprises: a container body defining an accommodating space that has a top side, one or a plurality of side walls, and a bottom, wherein the side walls have a double-layered structure comprising an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a first open space; a plurality of channels located in the side walls, which plurality of channels penetrate through the double-layered structure, the channels debouching through both the inner surface and the outer surface, and wherein the channels form fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the structure; and at least one outlet opening located in the bottom for draining water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space.

[0007] In addition to a storage function, the storage container is adapted to pass fluid, such as moisture and air and / or water for aeration of the goods, such as potatoes. A plurality of channels in the side walls cause the side walls to allow air to circulate from and to the accommodating space, thereby ventilating the accommodating space. As a result, the accommodating space is ventilated through the channels in the side walls. In addition, at least one outlet opening located in the bottom of the storage container is adapted to drain water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space. More preferably, the moisture goes out of the accommodating space via the channels in the side walls and / or through the at least one outlet opening in the bottom of the storage container.

[0008] It is advantageous to have a plurality of channels and at least one outlet opening in the storage container, because by draining water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space, mold and / or bacteria growth on the stored wet or unwashed products and the storage container are / is prevented to some extent. This improvement ameliorates the sanitary conditions of the stored wet or unwashed products and reduces the potential hygiene risk. For products that are sensitive to temperature and / or humidity conditions, this improvement is helpful in ensuring the expected lifespan of the products due to the improved storage conditions. Moreover, this improvement reduces the burden of cleaning the storage container as there is less chance of mold and / or bacteria growth.

[0009] The storage container comprises the container body. The container body defines an accommodating space that has a top side. Preferably, the top side is at least partially openable, in order to receive goods in the accommodating space. The top side can be at least partially openable, or fully openable. The top side can be at least partially open, fully open and can be closeable by e.g. a closing lid. The top side can be partially closed to meet certain requirements, such as being partially closed to block light, protect from dust, prevent spillage, increase the sturdiness of the storage container, etc.. Alternatively, the top side can be completely open to promote efficient and sufficient ventilation. Preferably, the container body is a cuboid, being large enough to store a large amount / weight of products, e.g. with a length and a width of two meters and a height of one meter. Alternatively, the container body can be in other shapes, such as a cube, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, etc.. Preferably, the container body is a prism, such as a three-sided prism or a four-sided prism like a trapezoidal prism, a cuboid or a cube-like prism.

[0010] The container body comprises a plurality of side walls. The container body may comprise two, three, four, five, six or even more side walls. The side walls have a double-layered structure comprising an inner surface and an outer surface. The edge of the inner surface and the edge of the outer surface can merge at the top side of the storage container, thereby forming the first open space between the inner surface and the outer surface. Preferably, the edge of the inner surface and the edge of the outer surface merge smoothly and / or seamlessly. The first open space can be hollow, meaning that the first space can be filled with no physical material but with e.g. air. Preferably, the first open space is filled with supporting materials to increase the overall sturdiness of the storage container. The first open space can end at the virtual interface between the side walls and the bottom of the storage container. Alternatively, the first open space can end around the virtual interface between the side walls and the bottom of the storage container. In these embodiments, the virtual interface between the side walls and the bottom of the storage container can refer to the place at which the side walls and the bottom of the storage container meet and act on or communicate with each other. In other words, virtual interface between the side walls and the bottom of the storage container can refer to a surface forming a common boundary of the side walls and the bottom of the storage container. In these embodiments, being the virtual interface can refer to the interface being such in effect though not formally recognized or provided.

[0011] A plurality of channels are located in the side walls. Possibly one of the side walls or more than one of the side walls may have one or more channels. All side walls may have one or more channels. According to an alternative, one of the side walls or more than one of the side walls may be free of channels. More specifically, only one of the side walls may have only one channel, while all the other side walls may be free of channels. Alternatively, only one of the side walls may have more than one channels, e.g. two, three, four, five, or any other suitable number of channels, while all the other side walls may be free of channels. The channels form fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the structure, which means that the channels are independent from the first open space and there is no interaction or communication at the interface between the channels and the first open space. It is advantageous to form the channels as fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the structure, because this ensures that there is no communication between the channels and the first open space. In other words, possible dirt and / or moisture and / or water residue in the channels cannot enter the first open space, in which case the first open space may be substantially difficult to clean properly and keep dry. This improvement prevents the accumulation of dirt and the growth of moths and / or bacteria in the open space to some extent, thereby extending the service life of the storage container.

[0012] The channels on the same side wall may have the same or a similar shape and the channels on the same side wall may have the same or a similar dimension. Alternatively, the channels on the same side wall may have different shapes and / or different dimensions. The channels on different side walls may have the same shape or a similar shape and the channels on different side walls may have the same or a similar dimension. Alternatively, the channels on different side walls may have different shapes and / or different dimensions. In other words, the channels on some of the side walls may have the same or a similar dimension, and / or the same or a similar shape, while the channels on other side walls may have different shapes and / or different dimensions. The shape and / or dimension of any of the channels can be adapted to certain products stored in the storage container. Preferably, the dimension(s) of the channels is / are large enough to ensure sufficient and efficient aeration, but not so large that the products get out of the storage container, even get into any of the channels. As an example, the total average surface of a radial cross section of the channel may be in the range of 0.7 mm 2< to 1300 mm 2< , such as in the range of 75 mm 2< to 1250 mm 2< , more preferably in the range of 100 mm 2< to 500 mm 2< , e.g. 100 mm 2< or 300 mm 2< . Possibly the channels may be conical or cylindrical, the total average diameter of a radial cross section of the channel may be in the range 1 mm to 50 mm, more preferred in the range of 10 mm to 40 mm, such as 20 mm. The channels may have a substantially rectangular radial cross section. They are so-called slit-like. The short side of the radial cross section may be on average between 1 mm and 20 mm, such as in the range of 2 mm to 15 mm, e.g. 10 mm. The long side of the radial cross section may be on average between 25 mm and 125 mm, such as in the range of 50 mm to 100 mm, e.g. 75 mm. The rims of the channels at the inner surface, the outer surface, or both the inner and outer surface, may be rounded.

[0013] The channels debouch through both the inner surface and the outer surface, and the channels form fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the structure. The channels may be evenly distributed over the side walls. The channels may be evenly distributed over one or more of the side walls, such as according to a matrix- or checkerboard pattern distribution. The channels may be non-evenly distributed over the side walls. The channels may be non-evenly distributed over one or more of the side walls. The channels may be evenly distributed over some of the side walls, while non-evenly distributed over the rest of the side walls. The channels may be evenly distributed over one or more of the side walls, while non-evenly distributed over the rest of the side walls. In some of the side walls, the channels may locate on the upper part of the side walls, such as the upper half of the side wall, while the lower part of the side walls, e.g. the lower half of the side wall, can be free of channels. In one or more of the side walls, the channels may locate on an upper part of the side walls, such as the upper half of the side walls, while a lower part of the side walls, e.g. the lower half of the side wall, can be free of channels. The upper part of the side walls refer to the part of the side walls more close to the upper side of the container body. The lower part of the side walls refer to the part of the side walls more close to the bottom of the storage container. In general, possibly the open area of the channels on the inner and / or outer surface provides 5% to 95% of the surface area of this inner or outer surface. More preferably, the open area of the channels on the inner and / or outer surface may provide 10% to 75% of the surface area of this inner or outer surface, such as 15% to 60% of the surface area of this inner or outer surface, e.g. 15% to 25% of the surface area of this inner or outer surface, e.g. about 20% of the surface area of this inner or outer surface.

[0014] The shape of the channel can be a right cylinder, where the two bases of the right cylinder are parallel and aligned to each other. In other words, the channel can be a cylinder whose height from the center of the cylinder's one base meets the center of the cylinder's the other base. Alternatively, the shape of the channel can be an oblique cylinder, where the two bases of the oblique cylinder are parallel but not directly aligned to each other. In other words, the channel can be a titled or a slanted cylinder, the sides of the titled or the slanted cylinder not being perpendicular to the two bases of the tilted or the slanted cylinder. An axis of a right / oblique cylinder is the segment that contains the centers of the two bases of the right / oblique cylinder. An angle at which the oblique cylinder leans over is the angle between the normal line to the inner surface and the axis of a right / oblique cylinder. The angle can be from 80 degrees to - 80 degrees. The angle is preferably between 45 degrees and -45 degrees, such as between 30 and -30 degrees, even preferably between 20 and -20 degrees, e.g. between 10 and -10 degrees, e.g. 5, 0 and -5 degrees. The angle being 0 degrees refers to the fact that channel is a right cylinder being perpendicular to the inner surface. Each of the channels' shape can be varied, and each of the channels' shape can be a right cylinder or an oblique cylinder. Each of the two bases of the right cylinder and / or each of the two bases of the oblique cylinder is in the same plane as either the inner surface or the outer surface of the side walls. It is understandable that the channels can be in any other suitable shape, such as a cuboid, a cuboid with rounded corners, a trapezoidal prism, a trapezoidal prism with rounded corners, etc..

[0015] In the context of the invention, unless otherwise explicitly indicated, when reference is made to a range, the range is to be understood as inclusive.

[0016] The storage container comprises at least one outlet opening. Alternatively, the storage container may comprise more than one outlet opening, e.g. two, three, four, five outlet openings. It is advantageous to have at least one outlet opening located at the bottom for draining water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space. The water and / or moisture may accumulate at the bottom of the storage container due to gravity and / or limited natural ventilation. As a result, at least one outlet opening located in the bottom drains the water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space and improves the natural ventilation conditions by at least partially replacing single-sided ventilation with cross ventilation. Therefore, the chance of water and / or moisture accumulating at the bottom of the storage container is reduced to some extent, thereby providing improved storage conditions for the products stored in the storage container.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the container body can be formed from a one-piece integral structure.

[0018] In the embodiments where the container body is formed from a one-piece integral structure, this one-piece integral structure hence is free of seams. In this disclosure, being free of seams means that interfaces between the side walls, the top side, the at least one outlet opening, and the bottom can be free of any coupling, any well or any seam, and the interfaces may pass uninterruptedly from one to the other. It is advantageous to form the container body as a one-piece integral structure being free of seams. The seams which can be present at the interfaces between the parts tend to accumulate dirt and / or water and / or moisture and can damage the products held in the storage container. Cleaning dirt and / or removing water and / or moisture from seams can be difficult, especially for large storage containers. Special tools may be required to remove dirt and / or water and / or moisture. Additional effort and time can be required to maintain a sanitary storage container. Being free of seams can effectively protect the storage container against entrapment or residue, improving the hygiene conditions and reducing the burden in cleaning and maintenance. In addition, this improvement can prevent to some extend the damage to the products held in the storage container, e.g. food-related products, such as potatoes, carrots, or any other possible vulnerable product.

[0019] Preferably, the container body is formed from a one-piece integral structure. An integral structure means that all the parts of the container body form a unit. A one-piece structure means that the storage container is provided in one piece rather than separate pieces, which may require extra assembly steps. Furthermore, the one-piece integral structure can be provided by rotomoulding, or rotational molding, or rotocasting, or rotacasting, or blow molding, and / or any other suitable solution, or combinations thereof.

[0020] Preferably, the plurality of interfaces between the side walls, the top side, the at least one outlet opening, and the bottom, are rounded off. This may lead to less sticking and lasting of foreign material inside the accommodating space. This is also in case the side walls, the top side and / or the bottom are connected to each other by welding, gluing, and any other method to connect two walls. It is understandable that one or more of the plurality of interfaces among the side walls, the top side, the at least one outlet opening, and the bottom may not be rounded off and / or may have one or more seams.

[0021] It is advantageous to round off the interfaces between the side walls, the top side, the at least one outlet opening, and the bottom. Rounding an interface off may refer to making a possibly pointed or sharp interface into a smooth, curved shape by some treatment. Alternatively, rounding an interface off may refer to manufacturing the interface in such a way that the interface is smooth and in a curved shape. The plurality of rounded-off interfaces are beneficial in reducing residue and entrapment compared to pointed or shape interfaces. This improvement can improve the sanitary conditions of the storage containers and reduce the burdens in cleaning and maintenance of the storage containers. Moreover, this improvement can prevent to some extent damaging the products held in the storage container, e.g. food-related products, such as potatoes, carrots, or any other possible vulnerable product. An interface between two parts refers to a place at which independent parts meet and act on or communicate with each other. In this disclosure, there can be interfaces between the adjacent side walls, between each of the side walls and the bottom, between the bottom and the at least one outlet opening, between each of the side walls and the outlet opening, and between each of the side walls and the top side. Preferably, at least one of the interfaces between the adjacent side walls, between each of the side walls and the bottom, between the bottom and the at least one outlet opening, between each of the side walls and the outlet opening, and between each of the side walls and the top side can be rounded off. More preferably, all of the interfaces between the adjacent side walls, between each of the side walls and the bottom, between the bottom and the at least one outlet opening, between each of the side walls and the outlet opening, and between each of the side walls and the top side can be rounded off.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the storage container can be provided from polymeric materials.

[0023] The polymeric materials refer to a polymer or a composite from a polymer and reinforcing fibers. The fibers can be steel fibers, like stainless steel fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers, or any other suitable solution, or combinations thereof. The polymer is preferably thermoplastic polymer when using rotational molding or rotomoulding to provide the storage container. More preferably, the polymer can be materials from a polyethylene family, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and / or crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), etc., and / or from a polypropylene family, and / or from a polyvinyl chloride family, and / or from a nylon family, and / or from a polycarbonate family, etc.. Alternatively, the polymer can be self-curing or UV-curable resins when using rotocasting or rotacasting to provide the storage container. When the storage container is used to store food-related products, the storage container is required to be made of materials that meet the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Alternatively, all or selected surfaces of the storage container can be treated to be hydrophobic and / or stain resistant. The storage container may comprise additional reinforcement constructions, such as one or more profile, one or more rod, one or more rib, and / or one or more of any other suitable reinforcement construction, or combinations thereof.

[0024] It is advantageous to provide the storage container with polymeric materials. Firstly, polymeric materials can be light because the density of the polymeric materials are significantly lower than the density of alternative metallic equivalents. Less weight means lower shipping costs, less fuel consumption for vehicles, and easier portability and installation. In many examples, less weight does not compromise strength and durability expectations. Secondly, polymeric materials can be more resilient, especially to moisture and / or other chemical threats and / or other environmental threats. In the case of storing wet or unwashed products, the use of polymeric materials can reduce the damage to the polymeric materials due to moisture and / or chemical influences and / or environmental influences, thereby expanding the lifespan of the storage container and improving the overall usability of the storage container on more occasions. Thirdly, the cost of producing and manufacturing polymeric materials can be lower than that of metallic materials. Polymeric raw materials can be cheaper than alternative metallic raw materials. Moreover, the polymeric materials can be resistant to corrosion and chemical attacks, which can further reduce the maintenance and storage costs of polymeric materials.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the bottom can be concave.

[0026] The bottom of the container body can be concave, which means that the bottom comprises at least one inwardly curved surface, like the interior of a sphere. In other words, adjacent normals to at least one inwardly curved surface converge at the side of the container body's accommodating space. The concavity can be in the range between 2 degrees and 20 degrees, such as in the range between 2 degrees and 10 degrees, even in the range of 2 degrees and 7 degrees, e.g. 3 degrees, 4 degrees, 5 degrees or 6 degrees. It is understandable that the concavity can be optimized to be the same, similar, or different according to the requirements of each and every situation.

[0027] It is advantageous that the bottom can be concave. A concave bottom can better collect water droplets and / or moisture that remain on the bottom's top surface. On the one hand, a concave bottom helps to enlarge the contact area with the products in the storage container, thereby increasing the amount of water that the concave bottom can capture compared to a flat bottom. On the other hand, water naturally flows to a lowest point. A concave bottom allows water to accumulate at the lowest point of the concave bottom, preferably around the center of the concave bottom. As a result, a small reservoir of water can be formed at the lowest point after a certain period of storage. The water in the small reservoir can be readily drained through at least one outlet opening preferably located around the lowest point of the concave bottom. This configuration can help reduce the number of outlet openings required in the storage container to properly drain the accommodating space. Instead of having multiple outlet openings in the alternative flat bottom to increase the chance of drainage, preferably only one outlet opening may be required around the lowest point of the concave bottom. Furthermore, a concave bottom can promote condensation. The cool top surface of the concave bottom causes the moisture in the accommodating space to condense into liquid droplets and then the liquid droplets can accumulate in and / or around the lowest point of the concave bottom. This is particularly beneficial for draining the water through at least one outlet opening preferably located around the lowest point of the concave bottom.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the bottom may be double-layered and may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface and the bottom surface being separated by a second open space.

[0029] It is advantageous that the bottom can be double-layered. The double-layered bottom provides higher strength and durability compared to an alternative single-layered bottom. The double-layered bottom provides extra structural support, allowing the storage container to withstand heavier loads with reduced risk of breaking or cracking. This improvement makes the storage container more durable over time, especially when storing heavier or bulkier products. Moreover, the double-layered bottom can create a better temperature insulation compared to the alternative single-layered bottom. Furthermore, the double-layered bottom can help absorb possible shock happening during handling of the storage container, thereby reducing the risk of damage to both the container and the products held in the storage container during transport or storage. This improvement can be beneficial especially for food-related products, which can be vulnerable, fragile, or delicate.

[0030] The top surface and the bottom surface of the bottom can be separated by a second open space. Preferably, the second open space can be hollow, meaning that the second space is filled with no physical material but with e.g., air. Alternatively, the second open space can be filled with supporting materials to increase the overall sturdiness of the storage container.

[0031] In one example embodiment, the second open space can be independent from the first open space and there can be no communication between the first open space and the second open space. More specifically, there is no fluid or fluidic communication between the first open space and the second open space, meaning that fluid like water cannot pass from one open space to the other open space. The first open space can be filled with supporting materials and the second open space can be hollow. This configuration makes it possible to store the water from the accommodation space in the second open space for later release, or to drain the water directly from the storage container without storage.

[0032] In one alternative example embodiment, the first open space and the second open space may form one integral open space all together. As a result, the first open space and the second open space can be in communication. The integral open space can be hollow or can be filled with supporting materials or can be any other suitable configuration.

[0033] Possibly the top surface, the bottom surface, or both are concave. The top surface and the bottom surface may have an identical concavity or may differ in concavity. One of the top surface and the bottom surface may be substantially planar, i.e., flat, while the other of the top surface and the bottom surface is concave. Most preferably at least the bottom surface is concave, the top surface being either substantially planar, i.e., flat, or concave.

[0034] According to some embodiments, at least one inlet opening is located on the top surface of the bottom for draining the water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space into or through the second open space.

[0035] In one of the above example embodiments, the first open space can be independent of the second open space, and the water discharged from the products held in the accommodating space can be stored in the second open space for later release. This configuration may require at least one inlet opening located on the top surface of the bottom and at least one outlet opening located on the bottom surface of the bottom. The water from the accommodating space may enter the second open space through the at least one inlet opening located on the top surface of the bottom and be stored in the second open space. At an appropriate occasion or selected time, one or more of the at least one outlet opening located on the bottom surface of the bottom can be opened to release the water out of the storage container. The inlet opening can be in the shape of a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, or any other suitable shape.

[0036] It is advantageous that the water drained from the products can be stored in the second open space for later release. In fact, in order to save space and appear organized, a large number of storage containers may be stacked on top of each other or stored closely adjacent to each other in a warehouse. If the water in the storage containers cannot be controlled and is continuously drained throughout the storage or transportation process, the water in one storage container may drip into the storage container below it or the water may drain onto the floor. Wet floors caused by water draining from the storage container may pose safety issues. Moreover, the water on the floor may interfere with humidity and / or temperature controls that can be precisely set in the warehouse. Furthermore, the water draining from the above-located storage container may cause harm to the products held in the storage container. In total, being able to store the drained water in the second open space alleviates these concerns to some extent, thereby facilitating the proper storage and transport of the storage containers.

[0037] In another example embodiment, the at least one inlet opening can be located on the top surface of the bottom for draining the water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space through the second open space. Preferably, the water and / or moisture do / does not enter the second open space but just though the second open space. In other words, substances from the accommodating space, such as water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance, has no communication with the second open space. The inlet opening can be in the shape of a circle, an oval, a square, a rectangle, or any other suitable shape.

[0038] One or more of the interfaces between the adjacent side walls, between each of the side walls and the bottom, between the bottom and each of the at least one outlet opening, between the bottom and each of the at least one inlet opening, and between each of the side walls and the top side can be rounded off. Alternatively, none of the interfaces between the adjacent side walls, between each of the side walls and the bottom, between the bottom and each of the at least one outlet opening, between the bottom and each of the at least one inlet opening, and between each of the side walls and the top side is rounded off.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the bottom surface of the bottom can be concave.

[0040] It is advantageous that the bottom surface of the bottom can be concave. In one of the above example embodiments, the first open space is independent from the second open space and the second open space is hollow. The water drained from the products held in the accommodating space can accumulate and be stored in the second open space for later release. The concave bottom surface of the bottom is advantageous in properly releasing all the stored water out of the second open space. Water flows naturally to the lowest point of the bottom surface of the bottom. Preferably, at least one outlet opening can be located at and / or around the lowest point of the bottom surface. Therefore, the water stored in the second open space can flow towards the lowest point of the bottom surface and drain from the storage container through at least one outlet opening located at and / or around the lowest point of the bottom surface. The improvement helps to drain the water out of the storage container without tilting or flipping over the storage container, which can be substantially difficult and not practical for large storage containers.

[0041] According to some embodiments, a seal member may cover the outlet opening. The seal member can be adapted to be opened and resealed and adapted for discharging water / moisture when opened.

[0042] Preferably, the opening or the resealing of the at least one outlet opening can be regulated by the seal member, such as a valve, a check-valve, a plug, a one-way valve, a magnetic valve, or alike. The at least one inlet opening located on the top surface of the bottom may remain open without further sealing. Alternatively, the at least one inlet opening located on the top surface of the bottom can also be covered with another seal member. Alternatively, some of the at least one inlet opening may be covered with another seal member, while the rest of the at least one inlet may remain open without further sealing. In one example embodiment, each of the at least one inlet openings can be coupled to each of the at least one outlet openings while sharing the same sealing member, such as a plug, a check-valve, or any other suitable seal member. When the seal member to cover the outlet opening is opened, the water / moisture is discharged from the storage container. When the seal member to cover the outlet opening is resealed, the outlet opening is closed and the water cannot leave the storage container through the outlet opening, thereby being stored in the storage container.

[0043] According to some embodiments, the bottom may comprise at least one bottom cavity, debouching through the top surface of the bottom via the at least one inlet opening and debouching through the bottom surface of the bottom via the at least one outlet opening, and wherein the at least one bottom cavity can be adapted to drain water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space.

[0044] In another example embodiment of this invention, the water and / or moisture from the accommodating space can be drained out of the storage container through the at least one bottom cavity. The at least one bottom cavity is formed between the top surface and the bottom surface of the bottom, being independent of the second open space. This means that there is no fluid or fluidic communication between the at least one bottom cavity and the second open space. As a result, preferably, water and / or moisture and / or dirt from the products held in the accommodating space would not enter the first open space and the second open space. This configuration is advantageous when national and / or local regulations prohibit the storage of water and / or moisture in the storage containers, which may bring certain hygiene risks.

[0045] In the example embodiment of this invention with at least one bottom cavity, preferably, the top surface of the bottom is concave while the bottom surface of the bottom is substantially planar, i.e., flat.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the accommodating space can taper inward from the top side towards to the bottom.

[0047] The accommodating space can be provided with varied dimensions from the top side towards to the bottom. Preferably, the accommodating space may become progressively smaller from the top side toward the bottom. In other words, a perimeter of a contour of the accommodating space decreases from the top side towards to the bottom. Preferably, the perimeter of the contour of the accommodating space gradually decreases from the top side towards to the bottom with no abrupt change in the perimeters. It is advantageous that the accommodating space tapers inward from the top side towards to the bottom because the inclined side walls facilitate the flow of the water droplets to the bottom, thereby facilitating the draining of the water and / or moisture out of the storage container. Moreover, one or more inclined inner surfaces of the side walls can be beneficial when pouring the products out of the storage container. By tilting the storage container to a certain angle, the products can be easier to flow or get out of the storage container. An inclination angle is an angle between the inner surface and the respective vertical reference planes to the bottom of the storage container. The inclination angle of 0 degrees means that the inner surface is perpendicular to the bottom, such as in the case of a cuboid. The inclination angle of 90 degrees means that the inner surface is in plane with the bottom. The inclination angle of the inner surface may be in the range of 0.5 to 40 degrees, such as in the range from 0.5 to 30 degrees, even in the range from 1 to 20 degrees, preferably in the range from 1 to 10 degrees, e.g., 5 degrees and 6 degrees. Only one inner surface of the side walls may be inclined. Alternatively, all inner surfaces of the side walls may be inclined. Alternatively, some of the inner surfaces of the side walls may be inclined. Alternatively, parts of the inner surfaces of the side walls may be inclined. The inclination angle of each of the inclined inner surfaces can be all the same with each other. Alternatively, the inclination angle of each of the inclined inner surfaces can be all different from each other. Alternatively, the inclination angle of each of the inclined inner surfaces can be partly the same with one another and partly different from one another.

[0048] The accommodating space tapers inward from the top side towards to the bottom, wherein: some or all the inner surfaces are tapered; some or all the inner surfaces and outer surfaces are tapered; all the inner surfaces and all the outer surfaces are tapered; the corresponding inner and outer surfaces of a side walls are parallel or non-parallel, so that one surface is more inclined than the other; and alike.

[0049] According to some embodiments, one or more supports can be provided between the inner surface and the outer surface of the side walls.

[0050] It is advantageous to provide one or more supports between the inner surface and the outer surface of the side walls. The supports can provide extra strength and extra durability to the storage container, which can be beneficial for applications of the storage container in storing large amount / weight of products and can potentially extend the service life of the storage container.

[0051] The one or more supports can be made from one or more polymeric materials, wherein each polymeric material can be a polymer or a composite from a polymer and reinforcing fibers. The fibers can be steel fibers, such as stainless steel fibers, carbon fibers, glass fibers, or any other suitable solution, or combinations thereof. The polymer can be a thermoplastic polymer, or a self-curing or UV-curable resin, or any other suitable polymer. More preferably, the polymer can be materials from a polyethylene family, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and / or crosslinked polyethylene (PEX), etc., and / or from a polypropylene family, and / or from a polyvinyl chloride family, and / or from a nylon family, and / or from a polycarbonate family, etc.. The one or more supports are preferably lightweight but strong and durable. In one example embodiment of the present invention, one or more supports may have a honeycomb geometry to allow the minimization of the amount of material used, thereby achieving minimum weight and minimum material cost. The honeycomb geometry may vary widely. A common feature of such a honeycomb can be an array of hollow cells formed between thin vertical walls. The shape of the holes is preferably columnar and hexagonal. The honeycomb structure is advantageous to provide a material with minimum density and relatively high out-of-plane compression and out-of-plane shear properties. Preferably, the honeycomb structural materials can be layered between the inner surface and the outer surface of the side walls. It is understandable that one or more supports may have one or more different geometries other than a honeycomb geometry, such as a supporting rib, a grid, or any other suitable geometry.

[0052] According to some embodiments, at least one RFID-tag can be positioned on the inner surface of one of the side walls.

[0053] The at least one RFID-tag can be secured to the inner surface of one of the side walls via gluing, and / or screwing, and / or riveting, and / or any other suitable solution. Alternatively, the at least one RFID-tag can be embedded into the inner surface of one of the side walls. It is advantageous to position the at least one RFID-tag on the inner surface of one of the side walls. Nowadays for the efficient and intelligent storage of a wide variety of products, RFID-tags are widely used to track and manage the storage containers. By positioning at least one RFID-tag on each of the storage container, the location and the status of each of the storage containers can be readily tracked and monitored, which can be beneficial in managing the entire group of storage containers and achieving automative warehouse. Moreover, by positioning the RFID-tag on the inner surface of one of the side walls, the risk of the RFID-tag being lost or damaged due to impact and / or abrasion during handling and / or transportation can be reduced. Alternatively, the at least one RFID-tag can be secured to the bottom via gluing, and / or screwing, and / or riveting, and / or any other suitable solution. Alternatively, the at least one RFID-tag can be embedded into the bottom. Possibly, more than one RFID-tag is provided on the inner surface of one of the side walls, e.g. two, three, four or even more RFID-tags. Alternative solutions for inventory management, storage container tracking, and storage container identification can be used, such as for example barcode labels (1D or 2D), and / or Bluetooth low energy (BLE) tags, and / or near field communication (NFC), and / or GPS trackers, and / or any other suitable solution.

[0054] According to some embodiments, at least one reinforcement rib can be provided on the outer surface of the container body.

[0055] Preferably, the at least one reinforcement rib can be provided on the side walls. More than one reinforcement rib can be provided on the side walls, e.g. two, three, four, five and even more reinforcement ribs. The at least one reinforcement rib can be preferably vertical or diagonal or combinations thereof. The thickness (es) of the at least one reinforcement rib can be less than the thickness(es) of the side walls. The height of the at least one reinforcement rib may not be higher than four times the thickness(es) of the side walls, such as for example the height of the reinforcement rib being three times the thickness(es) of the side walls, or the height of the reinforcement rib being 1.5 times the thickness(es) of the side walls, or any other suitable solution. Preferably, the more than one reinforcement rib can be properly distributed on the outer surface of the container body and can be arranged in a staggered manner to reduce possible contraction imbalance.

[0056] It is advantageous to have at least one reinforcement rib on the outer surface of the container body. The at least one reinforcement rib can improve the strength and stiffness of the storage container, probably reducing the distortion phenomenon.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the storage container can be mounted on a frame.

[0058] To facilitate the transport of the storage container on roller conveyers, as well as the storage of the storage container in an automatic warehouse, the storage container can be mounted on a frame. The frame is preferably sturdy to support the storage container, and the products held in the storage container. Preferably, the frame is a sturdy stainless steel tube frame. Preferably, the frame fits together with the bottom of the storage container, thereby preventing the storage container from tumbling when transported on roller conveyers. The frame is possibly made of polymeric materials or metallic materials or wood, such as for example a polymer, a composite from a polymer and reinforcing fibers, aluminum, Corton steel, Corton steel variations, and / or combinations thereof.

[0059] Optionally, according to some embodiments, and for particular uses, one, more than one or all side walls may have additional holes in the inner surface only. This in particularly when the bottom is also double walled, the second open space being in fluidic communication with the first open space between the two surfaces of the wall or walls. These additional holes preferably are in the lower half of the side wall or walls, more preferred near the bottom wall and most preferably at a position between the lowermost channel and the bottom. Such holes may function so-to-say as a safety measure, allowing liquid to more quickly drain into the second open space, when goods are loaded in the container with an extremely high content of liquid, like water, e.g. extremely wet crops. The presence of such holes may avoid liquid spillage. The dimensions of these holes may be similar to the dimensions of the channels.

[0060] According to the second aspect of the invention, the storage container is used to store wet or unwashed products, such as one or more of the following: food-related products, raw materials, waste to be recycled, plastic. Hence, the storage container according to the first aspect of the invention can be used according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0061] In other words, the storage container is adapted to store wet or unwashed products. According to the first aspect of the invention, the water and / or moisture from wet or unwashed products are / is drained from the storage container and the storage container is ventilated due to the channels located in the side walls of the storage container, thereby effectively reducing the growth of moth and / or bacteria on the products held in the storage container and on the storage container. This improvement largely ameliorates the storage conditions of food-related products, such as for example potatoes, carrots, corns or any other suitable food-related products, thereby improving food safety, preserving the quality and nutritional value of the food-related products, preventing spoilage, reducing food waste, and improving food safety. Furthermore, the storage container can also be used to store raw materials, waste to be recycled, plastic, and etc., such as for example, rubble, building waste, concrete, asphalt, stone rubble, granulated rubble, metals to be recycled, chicken waste, gravel, wood chips, paper, cardboard, glass to be recycled, PMD (plastic bottles, metal packaging and drink cartons) to be recycled, etc..

[0062] It is clear that one or more features of one of the aspects of the invention may be construed with one, more or all aspects of one or more other aspects of the invention.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0063] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a first variant of a storage container according to the present disclosure. Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container with a cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure. Fig. 3 depicts a perspective view of a second variant of a storage container according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 depicts a perspective view of the second variant of a storage container with a cross-section B-B' according to the present disclosure. Fig. 5 depicts a perspective view of a third variant of a storage container according to the present disclosure. Fig. 6 depicts a perspective view of the third variant of a storage container with a cross-section C-C' according to the present disclosure. Fig. 7 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container with the cross-section A-A' and a cross-section D-D' at zone E according to the present disclosure. Fig. 8 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container with the cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure, wherein a RFID-tag is positioned on the inner surface of one of the side walls. Fig. 9 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container with the cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure, wherein the storage container is mounted on a frame. Fig. 10 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container with the cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure, wherein the storage container is partially filled with potatoes.

[0064] In different figures, identical references / signs refer to the same or a similar feature.Detailed Description of Embodiment(s)

[0065] Fig. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a first variant of a storage container 10 according to the present disclosure. Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of the storage container 10 according to the disclosure.

[0066] The storage container 10 comprises a container body 100, a plurality of channels 160 and one outlet opening 170. The container body 100 defines an accommodating space 110 that comprises a top side 120, four side walls 130, and a bottom 140. The top side 120 as indicated in Fig. 1 is completely open to receive goods in the accommodating space 110. It is understandable that the top side 120 can also be partially open, can be closeable by e.g. a closing lid, or any other suitable configuration. The side walls 130 comprise an inner surface 131 and an outer surface 132. The storage container 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is formed from a one-piece integral structure and this one-piece integral structure is free of seams. A plurality of interfaces between the adjacent side walls 130, between each of the side walls 130 and the bottom 140, and between each of the side walls 130 and the top side 120 are rounded off.

[0067] The storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 is provided from polymeric materials. The polymeric material is a polymer or a composite from a polymer and reinforcing fibres. The polymer is preferably thermoplastic polymer. Accordingly, the storage container 10 is preferably made by rotomoulding, or rotational molding. It is understandable that the storage container 10 can be provided from any other suitable material and the storage container 10 can be manufactured with any other corresponding suitable method.

[0068] A plurality of channels 160 are located in each of the four side walls 130, which penetrate through the side walls 130. The channels 160 debouch though both the inner surface 131 and the outer surface 132. The channels 160 form fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the side walls 130. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the channels 160 have identical shape and identical dimension. It is understandable that the channels can have identical shape but varied dimensions, or varied shapes but identical dimensions, or varied shapes and varied dimensions, or combinations thereof. The channels 160 in the side walls 130 cause the side walls 130 to allow air to circulate from and to the accommodating space 110, thereby ventilating the accommodating space 110. Moisture and / or water from the products held in the accommodating space 110 can exit the accommodating space 110 through the channels 160.

[0069] One outlet opening 170 is located in the bottom 140 for draining water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space 110. Preferably, the moisture goes out of the accommodating space 110 via the channels 160 in the side walls 130 and / or through the outlet opening 170 in the bottom 140 of the storage container 10. A seal member 172 covers the outlet opening 170. The seal member 172 can be opened to discharge the water and / or moisture out of the storage container 10 and the seal member 172 can be resealed to store the water and / or moisture in the storage container 10.

[0070] The storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 can have a width of two meter, a length of two meter and a height of one meter. It is understandable that the storage container 10 can have any other suitable dimension and / or any other suitable shape, such as for example a three-sided prism, or a four-sided prism like a trapezoidal prism, a cuboid or a cube-like prism, etc.. The storage container 10 can be used to store wet or unwashed products, such as one or more of the following: food-related products, raw materials, waste to be recycled, plastic, combinations thereof, and etc..

[0071] Fig. 2 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container 10 with a cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure. The side walls 130 have a double-layered structure comprising an inner surface 131 and an outer surface 132 separated by a first open space 150. The bottom 140 of the storage container 10 is concave. The bottom 140 is double-layered and the bottom 140 comprises a top surface 141 and a bottom surface 142. The top surface 141 and the bottom surface 142 are separated by a second open space 180. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the second open space 180 is hollow. The first open space 150 and the second open space 180 are independent from each other with no communication in water or moisture or dirt or any other possible substance. The top surface 141 and the bottom surface 142 of the bottom 140 are both concave, while with different concavity. It is understandable that each of the bottom surface 142 and the top surface 141 can have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 2. It is understandable that only the bottom surface 142 may have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 2 or only the top surface 141 may have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 2.

[0072] One outlet opening 170 is located in the bottom surface 142, as indicated by the dashed circle. One inlet opening 171 is located on the top surface 141, as indicated by the solid circle. A seal member 172, such as a valve as indicated in Fig. 2, covers the outlet opening 170. It is understandable that the seal member 172 can be any other suitable solution being adapted to be opened and resealed and adapted for discharging water / moisture when opened.

[0073] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the first open space 150 and the second open space 180 are independent from each other and the first open space 150 and the second open space 180 are separated from each other. There can be no communication in water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance between the first open space 150 and the second open space 180. The water and / or moisture drained from the products held in the accommodating space 110 can be condensed on the top surface 141 of the bottom 140, be accumulated at and / or around the lowest point of the top surface 141 of the bottom 140, and then be discharged out of the accommodating space 110 through the inlet opening 171 into the second open space 180. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the seal member 172 is closed, thereby storing the water and / or moisture in the second open space 180. It is understandable that when opening the seal member 172, the water and / or moisture in the second open space 172 can be discharged out of the storage container 10. It is also understandable that the dirt and / or any other substance existing in the accommodating space 110 may be taken by the water and / or moisture and follow(s) a path of the water and / or moisture to be discharged from the accommodating space 110 into the second open space 180, and / or from the second open space 180 out of the storage container 10.

[0074] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the container body 100 is formed from a one-piece integral structure. The interfaces between the adjacent side walls 130, between each of the side walls 130 and the bottom 140, between the bottom 140 and the inlet opening 171, between the bottom 140 and the outlet opening 170, and between each of the side walls 130 and the top side 120 are rounded off. Preferably, the interfaces between the inner surface 131 and the channels 160, and the interfaces between the outer surface 132 and the channels 160 can be rounded off. The accommodating space 110 tapers inward from the top side 120 towards to the bottom 140. In the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 2, all the inner surfaces 131 are tapered while all the outer surfaces 132 are not tapered. The inner surfaces 131 and the corresponding outer surfaces 132 are unparallel.

[0075] Fig. 3 depicts a perspective view of a second variant of a storage container 10 with a cross-section B-B' according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 depicts a perspective view of the second variant of a storage container 10 with the cross-section B-B' according to the present disclosure.

[0076] The second variant of the storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is similar to the first variant of the storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The mere differences between the first variant of the storage container 10 and the second variant of the storage container 10 refer to the seal member 172, the inlet opening 171, the outlet opening 170 and the second open space 180.

[0077] A plurality of interfaces between the adjacent side walls 130, between each of the side walls 130 and the bottom 140, between the top surface 141 and the inlet opening 171, between the bottom surface 142 and the outlet opening 170, and between each of the side walls 130 and the top side 120 are rounded off.

[0078] As illustrated in Fig. 4, the second open space 180 is hollow. It is understandable that the second open space 180 can also be filled with one or more supports. The first open space 150 and the second open space 180 are independent from each other with no communication in water or moisture or dirt or any other possible substance. Alternatively, the first open space 150 and the second open space 180 may form one integral open space all together.

[0079] The top surface 141 and the bottom surface 142 of the bottom 140 are both concave, while with different concavity. It is understandable that each of the bottom surface 142 and the top surface 141 can have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 4. It is understandable that only the bottom surface 142 may have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 4 or only the top surface 141 may have a different concavity from the example embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 4. It is also understandable that the present invention preferably comprises another example embodiment wherein only the top surface 141 is concave, while the bottom surface 142 is substantially planar, i.e., flat. The concavities preferably have an angle of about 0° to 5°, 0° referring to a flat , planar surface.

[0080] As illustrated in Fig. 4, a bottom cavity 173 debouches through the top surface 141 of the bottom 140 via one inlet opening 171 and debouches through the bottom surface 142 of the bottom 140 via one outlet opening 172. The bottom cavity 173 can drain water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance from the accommodating space 110 out of the storage container 10.

[0081] The water and / or moisture drained from the products held in the accommodating space 110 can be condensed on the top surface 141 of the bottom 140, be accumulated at and / or around the lowest point of the top surface 141 of the bottom 140, and then be discharged out of the accommodating space 110 through the inlet opening 171 through the second open space 180 out of the storage container 10. Therefore, the water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance are / is not stored in the storage container 10. It is also understandable that the dirt and / or any other substance existing in the accommodating space 110 may be taken by the water and / or moisture and follow(s) a path of the water and / or moisture to be discharged from the accommodating space 110 through the second open space 180 out of the storage container 10.

[0082] Fig. 5 depicts a perspective view of a third variant of a storage container 10 according to the present disclosure. Fig. 6 depicts a perspective view of the third variant of a storage container 10 with a cross-section C-C' according to the present disclosure.

[0083] The third variant of the storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is similar to the first variant of the storage container 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The mere difference between the first variant of the storage container 10 and the third variant of the storage container 10 refers to the channels 160. The channels 160 can be larger in dimension and can be less in amount, as illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 compared to the first variant of the storage container 10.

[0084] Fig. 7 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container 10 with the cross-section A-A' and a cross-section D-D' at zone E according to the present disclosure.

[0085] The cross-section D-D' at zone E illustrates one example of the supports provided between the inner surface 131 and the outer surface 132 of the side walls 130. The supports 190 have a honeycomb geometry being an array of hollow cells formed between thin vertical walls. The shape of the holes is columnar and hexagonal. The honeycomb geometry may vary widely. The honeycomb structural materials are layered between the inner surface 131 and the outer surface 132 of the side walls 130, meaning that there is no communication in substance, such as water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance, between the supports 190 and the space inside the channels 160. Preferably, the supports 190 are made from polymeric materials, such as a polymer or a composite from a polymer and reinforcing fibers. It is understandable that the one or more supports 190 between the inner surface 131 and the outer surface 132 can have been made from any other suitable material. It is also understandable that the one or more supports 190 between the inner surface 131 and the outer surface 132 may have any other suitable morphology to provide extra strength to the storage container 10, such as for example square structure honeycomb, triangular structure honeycomb, even completely solid structure, one or more rib, one or more grid, etc.. It is understandable that the dimension of a single honeycomb structure, e.g. the dimension of a single hexagonal structure can be varied from the embodiments as illustrated in Fig. 7. It is also understandable that the thickness of the walls of each of the single honeycomb structures can be varied from the embodiments as illustrated in Fig. 7.

[0086] Fig. 8 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container 10 with the cross-section A-A' according to the present disclosure, wherein a RFID-tag 200 is secured to the inner surface 131 of one of the side walls 130.

[0087] As illustrated in Fig. 8, the RFID-tag 200 is secured to the inner surface 131 of one of the side walls 130. It is understandable that the RFID-tag 200 can also be embedded into the inner surface 131 of one of the side walls 130. It is understandable that the RFID-tag 200 can be secured to any other side wall 130, which is different from the side wall 130 as illustrated in Fig. 8. It is understandable that the RFID-tag 200 can be secured to other locations inside the storage container 10, such as on the bottom surface 142, on the top surface 141, on a different location on any of the side walls 130. It is also understandable that the storage container may comprise two, or three, or four, or even more RFID-tags.

[0088] Fig. 9 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container 10 with the cross-section A-A' with according to the present disclosure, wherein the storage container 10 is mounted on a frame 300.

[0089] As illustrated in Fig. 9, the storage container 10 is mounted on a frame 300 to facilitate the transport on roller conveyers and / or the storage of the storage container 10 in an automatic warehouse. The frame 300 is sturdy and can well fit together with the bottom 140 of the storage container 10. The frame 300 can be made from stainless steel or any other suitable solution. The frame 300 is a separate piece from the storage container 10, but can also be secured to the storage container 10.

[0090] Fig. 10 depicts a perspective view of the first variant of a storage container 10 with the cross-section A-A' with according to the present disclosure, wherein the storage container 10 is partially filled with potatoes, which are illustrated with dashed ovals.

[0091] The storage container 10 can be used to store wet or unwashed products, such as one or more of the following: food-related products, raw materials, waste to be recycled, plastic, combinations thereof, and etc.. Fig. 10 illustrates the application of the storage container 10 in storing potatoes. The dimension of the channels 160 of the storage container 10 are smaller than the dimension of the products held in the accommodating space 110, i.e. potatoes, so that no potato gets out of the storage container 10 through the channels 160 or even gets into any of the channels 160. The potatoes can be wet or unwashed. The water and / or moisture from the potatoes can exit the storage container 10 via the channels 160 on the side walls 130. Moreover, the water and / or moisture from the potatoes may condense on the top surface 141 of the bottom 140, flow due to gravity and accumulate at / around the lowest point of the bottom 140. The water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance from the products can enter the second open space 180 through the inlet opening 171. As the seal member 172 is closed, the water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance can store in the second open space 180. By opening the seal member 172, the water and / or moisture and / or dirt and / or any other possible substance can be discharged out of the storage container 10 at a specific location and at a specific time. The container is sturdy enough to hold 140 Liter to 5000 Liter products. For example, the container is sturdy enough to hold around 3 tons of food-related products, e.g. potatoes, and / or to hold around 5 tons of other possible products.

[0092] Although the present invention has been illustrated by reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be embodied with various changes and modifications without departing from the scope thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the scope of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

[0093] It will furthermore be understood by the reader of this patent application that the words "comprising" or "comprise" do not exclude other elements or steps, that the words "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality, and that a single element, may fulfil the functions of several means recited in the claims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the respective claims concerned. The terms "first", "second", third", "a", "b", "c", and the like, when used in the description or in the claims are introduced to distinguish between similar elements or steps and are not necessarily describing a sequential or chronological order. Similarly, the terms "top", "bottom", "over", "under", and the like are introduced for descriptive purposes and not necessarily to denote relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and embodiments of the invention are capable of operating according to the present invention in other sequences, or in orientations different from the one(s) described or illustrated above.

Claims

1. A storage container (10) comprising: - a container body (100) defining an accommodating space (110) that has a top side (120), a plurality of side walls (130), and a bottom (140), wherein the side walls (130) have a double-layered structure comprising an inner surface (131) and an outer surface (132) separated by a first open space (150); - a plurality of channels (160) located in the side walls (130), which plurality of channels (160) penetrate through the double-layered structure, the channels (160) debouching through both the inner surface (131) and the outer surface (132), and wherein the channels (160) form fully enclosed, continuous side cavities within the structure; and - at least one outlet opening (170) located in the bottom (140) for draining water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space (110).

2. The storage container (10) according to claim 1, wherein the container body (100) is formed from a one-piece integral structure.

3. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container (10) is provided from polymeric material.

4. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (140) is concave.

5. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (140) is double-layered and comprises a top surface (141) and a bottom surface (142), the top surface (141) and the bottom surface (142) being separated by a second open space (180).

6. The storage container (10) according to claim 5, wherein at least one inlet opening (171) is located on the top surface (141) of the bottom (140) for draining the water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space (110) into or through the second open space (180).

7. The storage container (10) according to claim 5 and 6, wherein the bottom surface (142) of the bottom (140) is concave.

8. The storage container (10) according to claim 7, wherein a seal member (172) covers the outlet opening (170), said seal member (172) being adapted to be opened and resealed and adapted for discharging water / moisture when opened.

9. The storage container (10) according to claim 7 and 8, wherein the bottom (140) comprises at least one bottom cavity (173), debouching through the top surface (141) of the bottom (140) via the at least one inlet opening (171) and debouching through the bottom surface (142) of the bottom (140) via the at least one outlet opening (170), and wherein the at least one bottom cavity (173) is adapted to drain water and / or moisture out of the accommodating space (110).

10. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accommodating space (110) tapers inward from the top side (120) towards to the bottom (140).

11. The storage container (10) according to according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more supports (190) are provided between the inner surface (131) and the outer surface (132) of the side walls (130).

12. The storage container (10) according to according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one RFID-tag (200) is positioned on the inner surface (131) of one of the side walls (130).

13. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one reinforcement rib is provided on the outer surface (132) of the container body (100).

14. The storage container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container (10) is mounted on a frame (300).

15. The use of the storage container (10) to store wet or unwashed products, such as one or more of the following: food-related products, raw materials, waste to be recycled, plastic.

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