IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0217638
(2002-08-12)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Jones, Robert J.
- Jones, Michael R.
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
31 인용 특허 :
33 |
초록
▼
A container assembly for bulk materials and a kit for assembling same are disclosed. A forming member having a plurality of sidewalls defines an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials. The sidewalls are arranged relative to one another and are locked into position so as to define a geometric v
A container assembly for bulk materials and a kit for assembling same are disclosed. A forming member having a plurality of sidewalls defines an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials. The sidewalls are arranged relative to one another and are locked into position so as to define a geometric volume of predetermined shape, by means of a locking assembly. The locking assembly can be integrally attached to or can be separable from the sidewalls, and can form a bottom of the container assembly. A tubular sleeve of continuous material is sized to snugly engage and overlie substantially the entire outer surface area of the sidewalls. The sleeve provides the containment strength, while the forming member provides structural shape and stability to the container assembly. Additional layers of corrugated material or woven polypropylene material or their combination may be used as inserts engaging the inner peripheral sidewall areas of the forming member to provide additional strength to the container assembly. The forming member sidewalls may be freely slidable relative to one another or may be slidably affixed to one another by releasable glue.
대표청구항
▼
1. A container for bulk materials comprising:(a) a forming member, comprising: (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and (ii) a locking assembly c
1. A container for bulk materials comprising:(a) a forming member, comprising: (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and (ii) a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls to define and fix predetermined relative positions thereamong; and (b) a sleeve with opposed open ends, the sleeve made of continuous, woven material sized to snugly engage and to overlie substantially the entire said outer surface of said sidewalls between said upper and lower edges, wherein said sleeve is configured with a fold extending from the lower edges of the sidewalls towards said internal cavity. 2. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said forming member comprises a single piece of material.3. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said sidewalls comprise corrugated material.4. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said forming member is collapsible when said locking assembly is not operable to fix the positions of said sidewalls.5. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said locking assembly engages said sidewalls along said lower edges.6. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve can be operatively positioned overlying said forming member by sliding the sleeve over the sidewalls, from either their said upper or lower edges.7. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is tubular in shape and of substantially the same cross-sectional dimension across its entire length.8. The container as recited in claim 7, wherein said sleeve comprises polypropylane material.9. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is further folded back upon itself adjacent said lower edge of the sidewalls to provide additional strength to said sleeve.10. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said sidewalls include foldable tabs alongside some of said upper edges of said sidewalls of said forming member for enhancing stacking of containers upon each other.11. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of said sidewalls are configured to slidably engage one another to provide for limited relative movement thereof.12. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of said sidewalls are glued to each other.13. The container as recited in claim 12, wherein said glue is of a releasable type that allows said glued sidewalls to slidably move relative to one another when subjected to predetermined sheer forces.14. The container as recited in claim 1, further including a liner of impervious material, sized and configured for placement within said internal cavity.15. The container as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower edges of the sidewalls are configured to lie adjacent to and supported by an upper surface of a pallet.16. A rigid container for bulk materials comprising:(a) a forming member defining un outer side surface and encircling an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials which extend outward radial forces on the side surface; and (b) a flexible sleeve with opposed open ends and made of continuous material, the sleeve configured to engage substantially the entire outer side surface of the forming member; (c) wherein the sleeve configured to support a majority of the radial forces exerted by bulk materials contained within the container, wherein, as compared to that provided by the sleeve, the forming member is configured to provide a majority of the rigidity of the container, wherein the outer side surface defines upper and lower edges and wherein the sleeve is configured with a fold extending from the lower edge of the side surface towards the internal cavity. 17. A container for bulk materials comprising:(a) a forming member, comprising: (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and (ii) a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls to define and fix predetermined relative positions thereamong; (b) a sleeve with opposed open ends, the sleeve made of continuous, woven material sized to snugly, slidably engage and to overlie substantially the entire said outer surface of said sidewalls between said upper and lower edges, wherein said sleeve is configured to retain the upright shape of said forming member outer surface as bulk materials are loaded into said internal cavity; and (c) an insert member sized and configured for placement within said internal cavity. 18. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said insert member comprises corrugated material.19. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said insert member comprises a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and slidably interconnected to cooperatively encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials.20. The container as recited in claim 19, wherein said insert member comprises a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls of said insert member to define and fix predetermined positions of the sidewalls of said insert member relative to one another, while permitting limited movement of said sidewalls of said insert member relative to each other and to said locking assembly.21. The container as recited in claim 20, wherein said insert member is collapsible when said locking assembly is not operable to fix the positions of said sidewalls of the insert member.22. The container as recited in claim 20, wherein said locking assembly engages said sidewalls generally along said lower edges of the insert member.23. The container as recited in claim 22, wherein said locking assembly forms a bottom of the insert member and extends across the internal cavity.24. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said insert member comprises continuous, woven material.25. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said insert member is slidably disposed relative to said forming member.26. The container as recited in claim 24, wherein said insert member is tubular in shape and of substantially the same cross-sectional dimension across its entire length.27. The container as recited in claim 26, wherein said insert member comprises polypropylene material.28. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein at least two of said sidewalls of said forming member are configured to slidably engage one another to provide for limited relative movement thereof.29. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein at least two of said sidewalls of said forming member are glued to each other.30. The container as recited in claim 29, wherein said glued sidewalls are glued by a releasable glue that enables said glued sidewalls to slide relative to one another.31. The container as recited in claim 17, further including a liner of impervious material, sized and configured for placement within said insert.32. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said sleeve can be operatively positioned overlying said forming member by sliding the sleeve over the sidewalls, from either their said upper or lower edges.33. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said sleeve is tubular in shape and of substantially the same cross-sectional dimension across its entire length.34. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said sleeve comprises polypropylene material.35. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said sleeve is configured with a fold extending upward from the lower edges of the sidewalls to provide double strength resistance to forces directed outwardly from the internal cavity.36. The container as recited in claim 17, wherein said sleeve is configured with a fold extending from the lower edges of the sidewalls towards said internal cavity to provide strength resistance to forces directed outwardly and downwardly from the internal cavity.37. The container as recited in claim 36, wherein said sleeve is further folded back upon itself adjacent said lower edge of the sidewalls to provide additional strength to said sleeve adjacent the lower edge.38. A container for bulk materials comprising:(a) a forming member, comprising: (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and (ii) a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls to define and fix predetermined relative positions thereamong; and (b) a sleeve of continuous, woven material sized to snugly engage and to overlie substantially the entire said outer surface of said sidewalls between said upper and lower edges, wherein said sleeve is configured with a fold extending from the lower edges of the sidewalls towards said internal cavity and wherein said sleeve is further folded back upon itself adjacent said lower edge of the sidewalls to provide additional strength to said sleeve. 39. A container for bulk materials comprising;(a) a forming member, comprising: (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and (ii) a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls to define and fix predetermined relative positions thereamong; (b) a sleeve of continuous material sized to snugly, slidably engage and to overlie substantially the entire said outer surface of said sidewalls between said upper and lower edges, wherein said sleeve is configured to retain the upright shape of said forming member outer surface as bulk materials are loaded into said internal cavity, wherein said sleeve is configured with a fold extending from the lower edges of the sidewalls towards said internal cavity to provide strength resistance to forces directed outwardly and downwardly from the internal cavity, and wherein said sleeve is further folded back upon itself adjacent said lower edge of the sidewalls to provide additional strength to said sleeve adjacent the lower edge; and (c) an insert member sized and configured for placement within said internal cavity.
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