AU2009351312A1

AU2009351312A1 - Collapsible shipping bin of variable capacity

Info

Publication number: AU2009351312A1
Application number: AU2009351312A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lawrence Joseph Bongailas
Original assignee: LAWRENCE BONGAILAS
Current assignee: LAWRENCE BONGAILAS
Priority date: 2009-08-18
Filing date: 2009-12-08
Publication date: 2011-02-24
Also published as: WO2011020134A1

Description

WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 1 COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING BIN OF VARIABLE CAPACITY This invention relates generally to shipping bins of the type widely used in industry and commerce for the shipping of materials, components, sub-assemblies and completed goods. More specifically, it relates to such shipping bins that are collapsible or may be knocked down or partially dismantled to reduce the cost of and generally facilitate their empty return. In business and commerce, it is common for materials, components, sub assemblies and completed goods to be shipped in a standardised form of shipping bin. The use of a particular form of shipping bin may be restricted to a plant or industrial group or may be a standardised item throughout an industry. A typical example is the range of collapsible bins made by CEVA Logistics of Hoofddorp, Netherlands. These bins, assembled from injection-moulded plastic panels, are widely used throughout the world for industrial shipping purposes. In an example taught by Mansouri in US 6,029,839, a shipping container is made in a form permitting it to be knocked down for return shipment. The shipping container comprises four fabricated walls supported on a pallet and covered by a skirted top The panels are fixed together to create a box form by means of notched tabs on their edges engaging complementary upturned "J" posts on adjacent panel edges or, similarly, posts with enlarged heads engaging complementary elongated receiving holes. In another example taught by Keenan et al in US 4,735,331, a collapsible bin for automotive industry use is made with injection moulded plastic side panels. The panels are pivoted at their lower edges to fold down flat onto a bottom wall, one side incorporating pivotally supported, openable doors to facilitate loading or unloading of the bin from the side, and two sides incorporating pivotally supported panels at their upper edges forming parts of a top wall to facilitate loading or unloading of the bin from the top. In the assembled form of the bin, the panels and doors, etc are locked one to another by suitable latches, pins or the like. In another example taught by Barr in US 6,908,004, a storage bin comprises a base member incorporating base walls and an upper containment member incorporating containment walls and no floor. The lower edges of the walls of the upper containment member are provided with a lip adapted to engage a complementary lip formed on the upper edges of the walls of the base member, permitting the two members to be assembled together. The two members are retained together in their assembled form by a locking tab on the containment member engaging a recess on the base member. The walls of the two members are made WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 2 tapered and the base member is configured to nest within the containment member to provide a more compact form for empty shipment. In another example taught by Taravella et al in US 5,452,817, a collapsible bin comprises wall panels fitted at the edges with reinforcing casements joined by siding T sections or anchor pins into complementary slots formed in the casement edges. The assembled wall panels are supported on a floor provided at the corners with anchor slots which are adapted to receive the upper ends of the anchor pins of a bin beneath in stacked configuration. In another example taught by Streich et al, a collapsible cargo container comprises top and bottom elements and side wall elements which, when erected for use are joined by releasable plug-in connectors. In the collapsed state for empty shipment, the top element is joined to the bottom element with the same plug-in connectors and the side wall elements are accommodated between them. Doors are provided in one side wall element to permit loading and unloading from the side. Feet formed at the corners of the bottom element index with angle strips formed at the corners of the top element and act to positively locate containers one to another in stacked array. In another example taught by Webb in US 4,673,087, a collapsible, re-useable container comprises plastic side wall panels assembled together in box form with their edges slidingly captured in complementary channels formed in corner connectors. The corner connectors incorporate T-shaped ribs which index with and retain the wall panel edges. The upper and lower edges of the assembled wall panels are inserted into complementary grooves formed in base and cover members to complete assembly of the container. For empty shipment, the wall panels are laid within the base and the cover is used to form a closed package. In another example taught by Kridle in US 3,266,656, a demountable shipping case is made by capturing the edges of side panels in complementary channels formed in joint or corner posts. The assembled panels are then located with their lower edges within an upstanding lip or flange formed around the edges of a base pan or tray forming a base and with the upper ends of the joint or corner posts located within a downturned lip or flange formed around the edges of a cover. The cover is similar in arrangement to the base pan except that it is sized to interfit telescopically with it. In its assembled and loaded form, the elements of the shipping case are retained together by straps. For empty shipment, the wall panels are nested within the cover and the cover accommodated within the base, In another example taught by Fulton et al in US 7,004,344, a collapsible bin comprises base member, lid and four wall members.

WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 3 Unique hardware components in the form of engagement, supporting or attachment members are provided along the edges of the base member, the wall members and the lid to locate and attach them one to another, the lid being slid into position and secured by means of a bolt. The bin is collapsed by dismantling for empty shipment. Collapsible shipping bins of a well known form comprise a base member upon which are pivotally supported four side members. The side members normally take the form of a frame fabricated from metal tubing, to which is attached a strong metal mesh. In the erected positions of the side members, their adjacent edges are secured one to another by means of suitable clamps. The pivots of the side members are set at different heights on the base member to permit the side members, after release of the clamps, to be sequentially folded down onto the base member parallel to each other for compact empty shipment. Many of the prior art inventions cited are insufficiently robust in their structural and connective elements to tolerate carriage of heavy industrial loads. Some are complex and, therefore, inconvenient to dismantle or knock down for empty shipment or to reassemble for use. Most comprise a plurality of elements that must be carefully preserved to ensure that they are available for reassembly when required. Excepting the example taught by Barr (US 6,908,004), the capacity of shipping bins cannot be varied. The object of the present invention is to provide a shipping bin which is robust and able to tolerate the carriage of heavy industrial loads; which may be collapsed into compact form for empty shipment; which is simple and straightforward to collapse into compact form; which is adapted to having its capacity varied; which may be securely lifted while heavily loaded; which is adapted to having multiple, heavily-loaded units stacked; which is adapted to having heavily-loaded units lifted by forklift; and which may be securely locked to prevent pilfering. According to the present invention, a shipping bin comprises a fabricated steel base member, four telescopic pillars positioned at the corners of said base member and roller shutter-type panels, the edges of which are slidingly deployable along telescopic tracks fixed to said pillars. Said pillars are pivotally supported from corner frames fixed to the corners of said base member and comprise two or more telescopic sections which may be optionally locked at predetermined heights, thereby varying the height of the sides and, therefore, the capacity of said shipping bin. Said roller shutter-type panels are deployed throughout the adjusted height of said pillars and locked into position by means of suitable latches. Covers of various types are optionally employed to protect the WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 4 contents of said bin from the elements or to prevent their theft or loss. Provision is made to optionally securely lock said roller shutter-type panels in their raised position to prevent theft or loss of the contents of said bin. Provision is made to optionally lift said bin in its loaded form. A suitable space is provided between the floor structure of said shipping bin and a false floor fixed to the lower surface of said base, the undeployed parts of said roller shutter-type panels being accommodated within said space. When emptied, said bin is optionally collapsed for return transport by releasing said latches on said roller shutter-type panels and retracting them into said underfloor space; releasing said latches on said telescopic pillars and telescopically collapsing them to their minimum height; and pivotally displacing said collapsed pillars to lie against the floor of said base member. Said base member corner frames are provided at their lower ends with foot elements, the undersides of which are made hollow. When multiple loaded units of said bin are stacked, the upper ends of said pillars of one said bin are accommodated within said foot elements of another said bin stacked upon it. When multiple collapsed units of said bin are stacked, the upper ends of said base unit corner frames of one said bin are accommodated within said foot elements of another said bin stacked upon it. Said roller shutter type panels optionally take a variety of forms. The various aspects of the present invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following description of preferred embodiments given in relation to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a frontal view of the complete invention in its fully erected state; Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view through a vertical plane parallel to one side of the invention, certain features being deleted; Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view of a partially extended pillar of the invention with certain features deleted; Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded side view of the lowest section of a pillar of the invention and its supporting means; Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of the upper part of a pillar of the invention showing a latch to retain its roller shutter-type panel in its raised position; Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view through a vertical, medial plane of a pillar of the invention showing a latch to retain a WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 5 section of the pillar in its raised position; Figure 7 is a fragmentary face view of the pillar and latch of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view of an alternative form of the latch depicted at Figures 6 and 7. It should be noted that the figures are all drawn to different scales and no meaning should be inferred from this. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a shipping bin 1 comprises a fabricated steel base member 2, four pillars positioned at the corners of said base member incorporating two or more telescopically-arranged elements 3, 4, 5 and roller shutter-type panels 6, the edges of which are slidingly deployable along telescopic tracks 7, 8, 9 fixed to said pillar telescopically-arranged elements. The lowest said telescopically-arranged elements are pivotally supported on pivots 11 in corner frames 10 fixed to the corners of said base member such that said pillars, in their telescopically collapsed state, are able to be pivotally displaced into a horizontal position. Said telescopically-arranged elements are optionally locked at predetermined heights by means of latches 12, 13 engaging apertures 14, 15 provided in said elements, thereby varying the height of the sides and, therefore, the capacity of said shipping bin. Said roller shutter-type panels are deployed along said telescopic tracks throughout the adjusted height of said pillars and locked into position by means of locking elements (not shown) provided in the upper rails 31 of said panels being engaged by latches 16 provided in uppermost telescopic tracks 9. As strength and toughness are principal requirements, obviously said base structure and other components of the present invention may be manufactured or fabricated from any suitable metal alloy material, including steel. Obviously, where clearances between the external and internal surfaces of said telescopically-arranged elements are excessive, as might be the case where standard sections are used, this may be remedied by suitably joggling the lower edge of said internal element and fixing a suitable bearing to the upper edge of said external element. Various forms of cover are employed to protect the contents of said bin from the elements or to prevent their theft or loss. In the preferred embodiment, said cover takes the form of a tarpaulin-like sheet 17 stretched over said shipping bin by means of bungee cords 18 passed around the upper ends of uppermost pillar telescopically arranged elements 5. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), said cover takes the form of a moulded or fabricated cover of a more or less rigid material with cut-outs at WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 6 the corners to accommodate the upper ends of uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements 5. Said cover incorporates a broad downturned flange, at the lower edge of which is formed a narrow up-turned flange. Suitable strong eyes are fixed at appropriate heights on the exposed outer corners of said uppermost pillar elements. A strong metal cable passed around said shipping container through said eyes and over said downturned flange is tightened by means of an over-centre tensioning device which is then locked by means of a padlock. Any attempt to lift off said cover is frustrated by said upturned flange engaging said tensioned cable. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), said cover is fabricated from a heavy, cut-proof fabric and side flaps are secured to the sides of said shipping bin by tensioned and locked cables of the type described. Suitable locking means (not shown) are optionally provided to securely lock said roller shutter type panels in their raised positions to prevent theft or loss of the contents of said bin. In the preferred embodiment, said locking means take the form of similarly tensioned and locked cables passed around said shipping bin to frustrate any attempt to operate latches 16. Similar locking means (not shown) are optionally provided to prevent operation of latches 12, 13. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), latches are protected from unauthorised operation by metal covers secured in place by tensioned and locked cables. Suitable lifting means (not shown) are optionally provided to facilitate the lifting said shipping bin in its loaded form. In the preferred embodiment, said lifting means take the form of suitable eye bolts fixed to the upper ends of uppermost pillar telescopically arranged elements 5. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), suitable hooks or lifting eyes are fixed in appropriate positions to said base member. A suitable space 22 is created between the underside of the floor 23 supported upon floor frame 24 of said shipping bin and a false floor 20 fixed to the underside of sub-frame 74, the undeployed parts of said roller shutter-type panels being accommodated within said space. Said false floor acts to protect said roller shutter-type panels while they are contained within said space. A suitable gap 21 is provided between outer floor frame 24 and said base member to facilitate the ingress of said roller shutter-type panels into said space. To further facilitate the ingress of said roller shutter type panels into said space, guide rails 25, 71, 72, 73 curved upwardly at their outer ends are fixed to the upper, inner faces of corner frames 10. One pair of parallel said tracks passes into said space from each side of said bin to guide each of the four said roller shutter-type panels into, and then support them within, said space. The heights of said WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 7 pairs of tracks are adjusted to position and maintain said roller shutter-type panels in superimposed layers within said space. The upper ends 26 of said guide rails are flared and accommodate the lower ends of telescopic tracks 7 of lowermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements 3 in the erected positions of said elements. The lower edges 27 of said telescopic tracks are rounded or otherwise eased to prevent catching of said roller shutter-type panels during their transition from said guide rails to telescopic tracks 7. In the preferred embodiment, floor frame 24 and sub-frame 74 are fabricated from suitable metal tubing and comprise a peripheral frame, pairs of opposed side elements of which are joined by from one to five transverse supporting elements which intersect and are joined to similar transverse supporting elements arranged normal to them. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), base member 2 is deleted and sub frame peripheral elements 74 are fixed to corner frames 10 with their exterior surfaces flush with those of said corner frames. A safety guard rail 75 made from a stiff, strong metal is fixed to the exterior surface of said corner frames and said base member or, alternatively, to said corner frames and said sub-frame peripheral elements, and serves to transfer lifting forces to said shipping bin structure when said shipping bin is being lifted by means of a forklift. In the preferred embodiment (not shown), said roller shutter-type panels take the form of sheets of strong, flexible fabric to which a plurality of narrow, parallel, horizontally-arranged metal or polymer stiffening bars are attached. In the preferred embodiment, the outer surfaces of said bars are rounded and a narrow space is provided between said bars to confer flexibility upon said panels. Such panels are well known in the art. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), said panels take the form of sheets of a thick stiffly flexible polymer mesh with edge lugs which are captured in and slidingly accommodated in a suitably modified form of said pillar element telescopic tracks. In this embodiment, said polymer mesh is made from moulded or fused monofilaments with a thickness in the range 3 millimetres to 12 millimetres and with a mesh size in the range 20 millimetres to 100 millimetres. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), said panels take the form of a plurality of narrow, articulated, pressed metal slats of the type commonly used in security shutters and well known in the art. When emptied, said bin is optionally collapsed for return transport by releasing said locks on said roller shutter-type panels and retracting said panels into said underfloor space of said base member; releasing said locks on said telescopic pillars, WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 8 telescopically collapsing them to their minimum height and pivotally displacing said collapsed pillars into a horizontal position to lie against said base member. Said base member corner frames are provided at their lower ends with foot elements 19, the undersides of which are made hollow. When multiple loaded units of said bin are stacked, the upper ends of uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements 5 of one said shipping bin are accommodated within said foot elements of another said shipping bin stacked upon it. When multiple collapsed units of said bin are stacked, the upper ends of said base unit corner frames of one said bin are accommodated within said foot elements of another said bin stacked upon it. In the preferred embodiment, said foot elements are tied together with a strong perimeter strap 28 passing between adjacent pairs of said foot elements. Also in the preferred embodiment, short struts 29 are provided between the mid underside of base member 2 and said perimeter strap and act to transmit deflection loads from said base member to supporting surface 30. The space between the lower edge of safety guard rail 75 and said perimeter strap is standard to accommodate the forks of a forklift and said safety guard rail is made sufficiently strong to accommodate lifting of a heavily-loaded said shipping bin by means of a forklift. With further reference to Figure 3, telescopically-arranged elements 3, 4, 5 have telescopic tracks 7, 8, 9 fixed to them on short spacers 34, 34, 33, 33, 32, 32 of suitable length which maintain said tracks in correct alignment for their telescopic co-operation. In the preferred embodiment, each said telescopic track element is supported at its upper end on two said short spacers, while its lower part is cantilevered. In this way, said spacers do not interfere with said telescoping co-operation of said tracks. With reference to Figure 4, the lowest said telescopically-arranged elements 3 are pivotally supported on pivots 11 provided in corner frames 10 fixed to the corners of said base member. Said corner frames are of U-section, with one inner side open, permitting said pillars, in their telescopically collapsed state, to be pivotally displaceable into a horizontal position as indicated by arc 39. Said lowest telescopically-arranged elements are each provided at their lower ends with pivot slot 35 through which a said pivot passes, said slot being angled upwardly to a small degree away from the closed back walls of said corner frames. The lower, inner corner of said elements adjacent said closed back walls of said corner frames are provided with a suitable cut-away 56 to facilitate pivotal displacement of said elements. Said positioning and angled arrangement of said pivot slots is such that, when said elements are bodily raised, they WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 9 are displaced away from said closed back walls of said corner frames, thereby permitting their pivotal displacement. Similarly, when said elements are bodily lowered, said positioning and angled arrangement of said pivot slots acts to displace the inner faces of said elements into wedging contact with said closed back walls of said corner frames. With reference to Figure 5, said roller shutter-type panels are deployed along said telescopic tracks throughout the adjusted height of said pillars and locked into position by means of locking elements (not shown) provided in said upper rails of said panels being engaged by panel latches 16 provided in uppermost telescopic tracks 9. Said panel latches are pivotally supported on pivots 50 carried in parallel cheek plates (positions depicted in broken line as 54) fixed to said uppermost telescopic tracks. Said latches comprise body part 51, manipulating lug 52, upper latch element 42 and lower latch element 69. Said upper and lower latch elements pass through slots 41, 40 formed in said uppermost telescopic tracks. The shape of the upper surface of said upper latch element conforms to an arc of a circle centred on pivot 50 which just clears the upper edge of slot 41. Said upper latch element is provided at its upper, outer end with lug 43 which limits the outward pivotal displacement of said latch (as indicated by are 53) to position 70 (as depicted in broken line) by its abutting the wall of said uppermost telescopic track adjacent the upper edge of slot 41. Said lower latch element comprises oblique edge 45 on its underside, latch recess 44 on its upper side and abutment faces 48 and 46. With said latches acting to support said roller shutter-type panels and with the weight of said panels bearing on latch recesses 44, said latch is deflected fully inwards in which position abutment face 48 is urged against edge 49 of slot 41 and abutment face 46 is urged against edge 47 of slot 40. In this way, the load of said roller shutter-type panels is supported on edges 49, 47 with little, if any, load on said pivot. Where a said roller shutter-type panel is raised in track 9, locking elements (not shown) in its said upper rail strike oblique edges 45, displacing said latches and said lower latch elements outwardly, such that said locking elements contact the lower surfaces of said upper latch elements. Said latches are then displaced inwardly and the weight of said roller shutter type panels is taken by said locking elements resting in latch recesses 44. In the preferred embodiment, a latch return spring (not shown) is provided at pivot 50 to urge said latch towards the inward position. Also in the preferred embodiment, suitable apertures (depicted in broken line as 55) are provided in cheek plates (position depicted in broken line as 54), said apertures corresponding with complementary apertures in said WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 10 latch body part. Said latches are locked in their inward positions by a suitable tie or blocking element being passed through said apertures. With reference to Figures 1, 4, 6 and 7, pillar telescopically-arranged element 3 is locked to element 4 (or telescopically-arranged element 4 is locked to element 5) by suitable pillar latches 57. A said pillar latch comprises arm 62 to which is fixed bearing 61 pivotally supported on pivot 60 carried in cheek plates 38 fixed to the lower of two said elements. The axis of said pivot is depicted in broken line as 37 in Figure 4. The upper part of said arm adjacent pivot 60 is deflected inwardly and accommodated in slot 36 formed in the upper end of the lower of two said elements. The upper end of said arm is formed into an expanded head 57 in the form of an upright, truncated triangle, the upper end 63 of which is deflected inwardly to be coplanar with and abut the upper edge 64 of aperture 14, 15. At the same time, the lower width of said expanded head is considerably greater than that of slot 36, causing lower edges 59 of said head to abut the upper edges 58 of the lower of two said elements. A suitable spring 65 is provided to urge the lower part of arm 62 outwardly, thereby maintaining said abutments. In the preferred embodiment, cheek plates 38 are formed from a single piece of metal joined at the lower end, the arrangement serving to better protect said spring. Said abutments cause a load applied to the upper of two said telescopically-arranged elements to be transmitted to the lower via said expanded head without imposing an excessive load upon said pivot, the abutment of the inner surface of that part of arm 62 above pivot 60 with the exterior surface of inner telescopic element 4 (or 5, as appropriate) also acting to prevent inward displacement of head 57. The arrangement is such that very heavy loads may be accommodated, permitting a number of heavily-loaded said shipping bins to be safely stacked. To permit said telescopically-arranged elements to be telescopically collapsed, arm 62 is deflected inwardly against the urging of spring 65, thereby removing expanded head upper edge 63 from abutment with aperture upper edge 64 and removing expanded head lower edges 59 from abutment with upper edges 58 of the lower of two said elements. With reference to Figure 8, aperture 14, 15 of figures 6 and 7 are replaced by narrow slot 66 and the upper end of arm 62 of said pillar latch is formed into an expanded head 57 in the form of an upright, truncated triangle (as depicted in Figures 6 and 7), the upper end of which is formed into horizontally-arranged flange 67 which passes through narrow slot 66. The upper surface of said flange abuts the upper edge of WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 11 slot 66. At the same time, the lower width of said expanded head is considerably greater than that of slot 36, causing lower edges 59 of said head to abut the upper edges 58 of the lower of two said elements (all as depicted in Figures 6 and 7). A suitable spring (as depicted in Figure 6) is provided to urge the lower part of arm 62 outwardly, thereby maintaining said abutments. Said abutments cause a load applied to the upper of two said telescopically-arranged elements to be transmitted to the lower via said expanded head without imposing an excessive load upon said pivot. The arrangement permits said shipping bins to be lifted from the upper ends of uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements 5 (as depicted in Figure 1) without breaking the effect of said latch. Under such ,lifting conditions, the lower edge 68 of said slot is urged against the underside of said flange, the load so applied to said pillar latch being carried by pivots 61 which are made sufficiently strong to accommodate said load. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), said pillar telescopically-arranged elements are locked one to another against lifting-induced (extensive) forces by means of latches pivotally supported from said lower, outer elements, said latches each having a sprag which engages a suitable recess in said upper, inner elements, said sprags being urged to engage said recesses by suitable spring. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), said pillar telescopically-arranged elements are locked one to another against lifting-induced (extensive) forces by means of suitable strong pins passing through said lower, outer elements and said upper, inner elements. Where said bins are intended for heavy industrial use they will obviously be made principally from metal alloy materials, however, where intended for lighter duty, they may also obviously be made from lighter materials, such as a suitable injection moulded polymer.

Claims

1. A collapsible shipping bin, the sides of which may be raised to a range of heights, said bin comprising: (a) a fabricated metal base structure incorporating corner frames extending above and below said base structure and maintaining said base structure clear of the supporting surface; (b) four pairs of parallel guide rails, the horizontal alignment of each said pair being separated from that of adjacent pairs by an angle of 90 degrees, the upper, more or less vertical parts of said guide rails being fixed to the inner faces of said corner pillars, the lower parts of said guide rails turning through 90 degrees and extending horizontally into and substantially through the interior of said base structure; (c) four pillars comprising a plurality of telescopically-arranged elements, said pillars being pivotally supported from the upper parts of said corner frames, each said pillar being pivotally displaceable from a telescopically-collapsed, horizontal position in which it is parallel to and resting upon one edge of said shipping bin floor, into a vertical position in which it is locked; (d) strong pillar latches which retain said telescopically-arranged elements of said pillars in their fully telescopically-extended or partially telescopically extended positions; (e) tracks fixed to the two inner faces of said telescopic elements of said pillars; roller shutter-type panels being slidingly supported in said tracks and deployable upwardly to enclose the contents of said bin or downwardly via said guide rails to be accommodated almost wholly within the interior of said base structure prior to telescopic collapsing of said pillars; (f) panel latches which retain said roller shutter-type panels in their raised positions; (g) a strong, load-supporting floor forming the upper surface of said base structure; (h) a strong, peripheral safety guard rail passing fully along all sides of said base structure to accept lifting forces; and (i) optional covers to protect the contents of said shipping bin from the elements or to prevent theft or loss. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 13

2. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said corner pillars take the form of square or rectangular channels open on one side, the open side of each said corner pillar facing the closed side of the adjacent said corner pillar and separated from the open side of the adjacent said corner pillar by an angle of 90 degrees.

3. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said guide rails take the form of square or rectangular channel sections with their open sides orientated laterally, the lower, horizontal parts of said guide rails being fixed to the inner surfaces of said fabricated steel base structure.

4. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said telescopic elements of said pillars are made in square or rectangular section with their external dimensions being such as to permit a sliding fit within the interior of the next larger element, suitable latching apertures being provided in one outer face of the inner element of each said telescopic pair to be engaged by locking elements of said pillar latches.

5. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 4 in which the mechanism of a said pillar latch comprises an arm with an integral bearing pivotally supported on a pivot carried in a pair of parallel cheek plates fixed to said telescopic elements; the upper part of said arm being deflected or joggled inwardly to become co-planar with the upper edge of the outer element of the telescopic pair and to be freely accommodated within a slot formed in said upper edge; the upper end of said arm being expanded into a head in the form of an upright, truncated triangle, the upper edge of said head being further deflected or joggled inwardly to be coplanar with and abut the upper edge of a said latching aperture, the lower edges of said expanded head abutting the upper edge of said outer element of said telescopic pair; a suitable spring being provided to urge the lower part of said arm outwardly, thereby maintaining said abutment position of said head.

6. The shipping bin of Claim 5 in which said cheek plates are formed from a single piece of metal joined at the lower end, the arrangement serving to better protect said spring.

7. The shipping bin of Claim 5 in which said abutments cause a load applied to the upper pillar element of a telescopically-arranged pair to be transmitted to the lower via said expanded head without imposing an excessive load upon said pivot, the arrangement permitting the safe stacking of a number of heavily loaded said shipping bins. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 14

8. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 5 in which the upper end of said expanded head is formed into a horizontally arranged flange which passes through a narrow slot formed in one outer face of an upper pillar element of a telescopically-arranged pair, the lower edges of said expanded head abutting the upper edge of said lower pillar element of said telescopically-arranged pair in the manner described, the arrangement permitting an upward, lifting force to be applied to said telescopic pillars without disengaging said strong latch, said lifting force being carried by said pivots which are made sufficiently strong to accommodate it.

9. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said tracks supported from said telescopic elements of said pillars are made in the form of square or rectangular channels open on their inner sides, the dimensions of their closed sides being such as to permit each track to be slidingly accommodated within the interior of the next larger track, with the edges of the open sides of all tracks being co-planar.

10. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said tracks are supported in cantilever from said telescopic elements of said pillars by means of shot spacers which maintain said tracks in proper telescopic alignment, said short spacers being located at the upper end of each said track so as to not obstruct the telescopic collapsing of each said track into the next larger.

11. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which the lower ends of said tracks are rounded or otherwise eased to prevent catching of said roller shutter-type panels during their transition from said guide rails and along said tracks.

12. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said fabricated base incorporates upper and lower frames fabricated from suitable metal tubing, each said frame comprising a peripheral member joined by from one to five transverse supporting elements which intersect and are joined to similar transverse supporting elements arranged normal to them

13. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said corner posts are joined to and supported by a strong base member passing along all four sides.

14. The shipping bin of Claims 1, 12 and 13 in which said base member is deleted and said outer peripheral frames are joined to and support said corner posts, the outer surfaces of said peripheral frames and said corner posts along each side being co-planar. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 15

15. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 12 in which said strong floor is fixed to the upper surfaces of said upper frame.

16. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 12 in which the underside of said fabricated steel base structure is closed by a false floor fixed to the lower surfaces of said lower frame.

17. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said roller shutter-type panels take the form of sheets of strong, flexible fabric to which a plurality of narrow, parallel, horizontally-arranged metal or polymer stiffening bars are attached.

18. The shipping bin of Claim 17 in which said stiffening bars are made rounded and a narrow space is provided between them to confer flexibility upon said panels.

19. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said roller shutter-type panels take the form of sheets of a thick stiffly flexible polymer mesh with edge lugs which are captured in and slidingly accommodated in a suitably modified form of said pillar element telescopic tracks.

20. The shipping bin of Claim 19 in which said roller polymer mesh comprises moulded or fused monofilaments with a thickness in the range 3 millimetres to 12 millimetres and with a mesh size in the range 20 millimetres to 100 millimetres.

21. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said roller shutter-type panels comprise a plurality of narrow, articulated, pressed metal slats of the type commonly used in security shutters.

22. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said roller shutter-type panels are locked in their raised positions at the adjusted heights of said telescopic pillars by means of locking elements at the upper edges of said panels being engaged by latches provided in the uppermost said telescopic tracks, said latches incorporating upper and lower latch elements which pass through suitable latch slots provided in said uppermost telescopic tracks to engage said locking elements.

23. The shipping bin of Claim 22 in which each said panel latch comprises a body part pivotally supported on a pivot carried in a pair of parallel cheek plates fixed to the outer surface of a said uppermost telescopic track; a latch spring positioned at said pivot acting to urge said latch inwardly towards its locked position; a manipulating lug provided at the upper end of said body part by means of which said latch is released; an upper latch element formed on said body part having its WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 16 upper edge shaped to conform to the are of a circle struck from said pivot, said upper latch element extending through said latch slot with a small clearance from its upper edge and having at its outer, upper edge an upwardly-projecting lug which acts to limit the outward pivotal displacement of said upper latch element by contacting the interior surface of said uppermost telescopic track nearest said pivot; a lower latch element formed on said body part extending through said latch slot and having on its underside an upwardly oriented oblique edge and on its upper side a latch recess, said latch recess being centred between the walls of said uppermost telescopic track when said latch is deployed to its said locked position, said locking element of said roller shutter-type panels being captured or accommodated within said latch recess; abutment faces formed at the inner and outer ends of said oblique edge bearing against the appropriately positioned lower edges of said latch slot when said latch is deployed to its said locked position, the weight of said roller shutter-type panels exerted through said locking element bearing upon said latch recess urging said abutment faces against said latch slot lower edges such that the weight of said roller shutter-type panel is supported upon said latch slot lower edges with little, if any, load on said pivot.

24. The shipping bin of Claims 22 and 23 in which, where a said roller shutter-type panel is displaced upwardly to the upper edges of said uppermost telescopic tracks, said locking elements in its said upper rail strike said oblique edges, thereby pivotally displacing said lower latch elements outwardly against the urging of said latch springs, continued upward displacement of said panel resulting in its said locking elements being arrested by their contacting the lower, outer edges of said upper latch elements, said latches then being displaced inwardly under the urging of said latch springs into their locked positions in which the weight of said roller shutter-type panel is supported by its said locking elements resting in said latch recesses of said lower latch elements.

25. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 23 in which suitable apertures are provided in said cheek plates, said apertures corresponding with complementary apertures in said latch body parts, said latches being retained in their said locked (inward) positions by suitable ties or blocking elements being passed through all said apertures. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 17

26. The shipping bin of Claim I in which, to raise the sides to a selected height, said telescopic pillars (in their telescopically-collapsed state) are pivotally displaced to a vertical orientation and the lowest said element of each locked into position; said pillars are extended to the required height and their said telescopic elements locked one to another by their said pillar latches; the upper rails of said roller shutter-type panels are raised, drawing said panels out from the interior of said base structure and slidingly displacing them upwardly in said tracks until said panel latches can be engaged to lock said panels in their raised positions.

27. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which each said pillar lowest telescopically arranged element is provided at its lower end with a pivot slot angled upwardly to a small degree away from the closed back wall of said corner frame, said pivot passing through said pivot slot; the lower, inner corner of said element adjacent said closed back wall of said corner frames being provided with a suitable cut away to facilitate pivotal displacement of said element; the positioning and said angled arrangement of said pivot slot being such that, when said element is bodily raised, it is displaced away from said closed back wall of said corner frame, thereby permitting its pivotal displacement; and, when said element is bodily lowered, it is displaced towards said closed back wall of said corner frame, bringing the inner face of said element into wedging contact with said closed back wall.

28. The shipping bin of Claims 1, 12, 13 and 14 in which said safety guard rail is fixed to the exterior surfaces of said corner pillars and said base member or, alternatively, to said corner pillars and said peripheral members of said upper and lower frames.

29. The shipping bin of Claim I in which said base member corner frames are provided at their lower ends with flared foot elements, the undersides of which are made hollow, said foot elements engaging the upper ends of said uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements of a said bin below when multiple units of said bin are stacked.

30. The shipping bin of Claim 29 in which the lower edges of said foot elements are tied together with a strong perimeter strap passing between adjacent pairs of said foot elements.

31. The shipping bin of Claim 30 in which short struts are provided between the mid WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 18 underside of said base member and said perimeter strap, said struts acting to transmit deflection loads from said base member to the supporting surface below.

32. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 30 in which the space between the lower edge of said safety guard rail and said perimeter strap is made sufficiently deep to accommodate the forks of a standard forklift, said safety guard rail being made sufficiently strong to safely accommodate the forces imposed in lifting a heavily loaded said shipping bin by means of a forklift.

33. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which various forms of cover are employed to protect the contents from the elements or to prevent their theft or loss.

34. The shipping bin of Claim 33 in which a said cover takes the form of a tarpaulin like sheet stretched over the open top of said shipping bin by means of bungee cords passed around the upper ends of said uppermost pillar telescopically arranged elements.

35. The shipping bin of Claim 33 in which a said cover takes the form of a moulded or fabricated cover of a more or less rigid material with cut-outs at the corners to accommodate the upper ends of said uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements, said cover incorporating a broad downturned flange at the lower edge of which is formed a narrow up-turned flange; suitable strong eyes being fixed at appropriate heights on the exposed outer corners of said uppermost pillar elements and a strong metal cable passing around said shipping container through said eyes and over said downturned flange being tightened by means of an over-centre tensioning device which is then locked by means of a padlock, any attempt to lift off said cover being frustrated by said upturned flange engaging said tensioned cable.

36. The shipping bin of Claim 33 in which said cover is fabricated from a heavy, cut proof fabric, side flaps of which are secured to the sides of said shipping bin by tensioned and locked cables passing around said shipping container.

37. The shipping bin of Claims 1, 22 and 23 in which means are optionally provided to secure said roller shutter-type panels in their raised positions to prevent theft or loss of the contents of said bin, said security means taking the form of tensioned and locked cables passing around said shipping bin and over said panel latches to frustrate any attempt to release said latches. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 19

38. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 5 in which means are optionally provided to secure said telescopic pillars in their extended positions to prevent theft or loss of the contents of said bin, said security means taking the form of tensioned and locked cables passing around said shipping bin and over said pillar latches to frustrate any attempt to release said latches.

39. The shipping bin of Claims 1 and 5 in which means are optionally provided to secure said telescopic pillars in their extended positions to prevent theft or loss of the contents of said bin, said security means taking the form of metal covers secured in place over said said pillar latches to prevent their release, said covers being secured in place by tensioned and locked cables.

40. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which suitable means are optionally provided to facilitate the lifting of said shipping bin in its loaded form, said lifting means taking the form of suitable eye bolts fixed to the upper ends of said uppermost pillar telescopically-arranged elements

41. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which suitable means are optionally provided to facilitate the lifting of said shipping bin in its loaded form, said lifting means taking the form of suitable hooks or lifting eyes fixed in appropriate positions to said base member.

42. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which the upper ends of said guide rails are flared to facilitate entry into them of the lower ends of said lowermost telescopic tracks.

43. The shipping bin of Claim 1 which is collapsed into compact form for empty shipment by: releasing of said panel latches, lowering of said roller shutter-type panels almost wholly into the interior of said base structure, releasing of said pillar latches, telescopic collapsing of said pillars, lifting of said lower telescopic elements of said pillars to release them from their said wedging contact with said corner frames, and pivotal displacement of said telescopically collapsed pillars through 90 degrees to bring them to rest upon said load-supporting floor parallel to its side edges.

44. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which, where clearances between the external and internal surfaces of said pillar telescopically-arranged elements are excessive, the lower edges of said internal elements of telescopic pairs are suitably joggled and suitable bearings are fixed to the upper edges of said external elements of telescopic pairs. WO 2011/020134 PCT/AU2009/001585 20

45. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said pillar telescopically-arranged elements are locked one to another against lifting-induced (extensive) forces by means of strong latches pivotally supported from each lower, outer element of a telescopic pair, said latches each having a sprag which engages a suitable recess in the upper, inner element of said telescopic pair, said sprags being urged to engage said recesses by a suitable spring.

46. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which said pillar telescopically-arranged elements are locked one to another against lifting-induced (extensive) forces by means of suitable strong pins passing completely through said the lower, outer element and the upper, inner element of each said telescopic pair.

47. The shipping bin of Claim 1 in which the terms, telescopic pair, or, telescopically-arranged pair, refer to two said pillar elements in telescopic co operation.