AU2019100712A4 - A bulk shipping container - Google Patents

Abstract

A bulk shipping container 10 having a body 11 and a lid 12. The lid 12 being removably attachable to the body 11 and being engagable by a lifting arrangement 20 to lift the lid 12 from the bodyl1. The lid 12 including a releasable locking 5 arrangement 30 to lock the lid 12. The locking arrangement 30 includes a rod 31 that extends across the lid 12 and that is fixed to the lid 12 for rotation. A pair of rotatable latches 32 are fixed to the rod 31 for rotation with the rod 31. The latches 32 are respectively positioned for locking cooperation with the side walls 14 of the body 11. The latches 32 have a first locked position with the side walls 10 14 and a second unlocked position following rotation of the rod 31 and the pair of latches 32. The locking arrangement 30 includes an actuator 35 for rotating the rod 31 and the pair of latches 32. The actuator 35 being engagable by the lifting arrangement 20 during engagement of the lid 12 by the lifting arrangement 20, so that as the lid 12 is engaged by the lifting arrangement 20, the actuator 35 rotates 15 the rod 31 and the pair of latches 32, so as to shift the latches 32 from the first locked position, to the second unlocked position. <filename> '99

Description

A Bulk Shipping Container

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a bulk shipping container, such as a road 5 or seagoing shipping container that has a top lid and arrangements to lock the lid against removal.

Background of Invention [0002] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that 10 the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] It will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to bulk shipping containers used for transporting mining material such as coal or iron ore, although it is 15 to be understood that the invention could be applied to bulk shipping containers used for different materials, such as mineral sands or agricultural materials (wheat, canola etc),.

[0004] Containers used for shipping mining material can employ a top lid that is opened or removed for the purpose of loading and unloading the container. The top 20 lid is provided in order to prevent the escape of dust from the containers during transport. While large or heavy material is unlikely to escape out of the container opening, small or fine particulate matter can blow out of the container if it is not properly closed. Discharge of such particulate matter is problematic, as the matter can form an airborne pollutant as well as a pollutant to surrounding land and 25 waterways. Moreover, certain councils have rules relating to containers that travel through their boundaries which require the containers to be closed.

[0005] The lid usually covers the entire top of the container so that when it is opened or removed, an opening of maximum size is provided for loading and unloading. For many containers, the lid is completely removed for loading and

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 unloading and the removal is by way of a lifting structure that engages the lid and lifts it completely away from the remaining body of the container. The lifting structure usually can employ an overhead crane or a gantry structure, or a forklift can be employed.

[0006] When a container is not being loaded or unloaded, the lid is normally in place. For security, once the lid is in place, it is preferable that the lid be locked shut against lifting or removal in order to prevent access to dangerous goods that might be loaded within the container and to prevent lifting or complete displacement of the lid during high speed transport of the container. For this, a locking arrangement can be 10 employed that locks the lid to the body of the container. However, such locking arrangements need to be unlocked when the container is to be loaded or unloaded, and this needs to occur prior to the lifting structure engaging the lid and commencing lifting it away from the body of the container.

[0007] Current locking arrangements for bulk shipping containers can be 15 automatically or manually unlocked. Manual unlocking is required if a lid has to be removed when a lifting structure is not available, or if the lifting structure has broken down or is not otherwise operational. In current arrangements, manual locking and unlocking requires each lock of a locking arrangement to be individually locked and unlocked. This can be tedious and time consuming, as it means that personnel need 20 to access each lock to lock and unlock it and if a container is one of a large number of containers, such as containers being transported by rail or the containers of a road train, then the time personnel take to unlock each lock can be significant. Moreover, there is always the potential for an unlocked lock to be left unlocked inadvertently in the locking process and vice versa. Where a lock is left locked and the lifting 25 structure is applied to the lid, the lock can be damaged.

[0008] The applicant has recognised that current locking arrangements can be improved and has endeavoured to provide an improved arrangement.

Summary of Invention [0009] According to the present invention there is provided, a bulk shipping container having:

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 a body and a lid, the body having a base, and a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls upstanding from the base, and the body having an opening opposite the base, the lid being removably attachable to the body to close the opening of the body and the lid being engagable by a lifting arrangement to lift the lid from the body, the lid including a releasable locking arrangement to lock the lid against lifting from the body, the locking arrangement including a rigid connector that extends across the lid and that is fixed to the lid for rotation and a pair of rotatable latches 10 which are fixed to the connector for rotation with the connector, a first of the pair of latches being positioned for cooperation with a locking component associated with the first side wall of the body, and a second of the pair of latches being positioned for cooperation with a locking component associated with the second side wall of the body, the latches having a first locked position in locking engagement with the locking components associated with the first and second side walls when the lid is attached to the body and a second unlocked position following rotation of the connector and the pair of latches, the locking arrangement including an actuator for rotating the connector and the pair of latches, the actuator being engagable by the lifting arrangement during engagement of the lid by the lifting arrangement, so that as the lid is engaged by the lifting arrangement, the actuator rotates the connector and the pair of latches, so as to shift the latches from the first locked position, to the second unlocked position.

[0010] In a bulk shipping container according to the present invention, the lid of the container is advantageously automatically unlocked from the body of the container during engagement of the lid by the lifting arrangement. Thus, there is no requirement for manual unlocking of the lid prior to engagement of the lid by the lifting arrangement. This has the clear advantage that a manual operation is removed from the process of lifting a lid from the body of a container, while it also has the safety

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 advantage that loading personnel are not in the vicinity of the container when the lifting arrangement is being deployed.

[0011] The rigid connector can take any suitable form. In some forms of the invention, the connector is an elongate rod. In those forms of the invention, the rotatable latches can be attached to opposite ends of the rod. The rod can have a length that is slightly longer than the width of the lid from side to side. As the periphery of the lid will often be within the periphery of walls of the body, the rod can extend slightly beyond the sides of the lid so that the latches are positioned to the sides of the container lid, but the latches will still be within the periphery of the container and therefore somewhat protected from damage by contact with external objects. The latches can thus be arranged to rotate generally parallel to the side edges of the lid of the container. A locking component can extend from the upper edges of the side walls of the body for engagement by the latches.

[0012] The actuator can take any suitable form. In some forms of the invention, the actuator can form part a latch of the pair of latches. In those forms of the invention, the lifting arrangement can be arranged to engage the actuator of the latch as the lifting arrangement moves to engage the lid for lifting the lid from the body of the container. In other forms of the invention, the actuator can form part of each of the latches of the pair of latches. In those forms of the invention, the lifting arrangement can be arranged to engage the actuator of each of the latches as the lifting arrangement moves to engage the lid. In this form of the invention, the lid may potentially engage one of the actuators of one of the latches in advance of the actuator of the other of the latches if the lifting arrangement is not accurately lowered into engagement with the lid, but engagement of one of the actuators advantageously is sufficient for both of the latches to be shifted to the second unlocked position from the first locked position.

[0013] The inclusion of an actuator as part of both of the latches advantageously means that if one of the actuators of one of the latches is damaged, movement of the latches between the locked and unlocked positions can still occur by engagement of the undamaged or still operational actuator of the other latch.

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 [0014] Where the actuator forms part of one or both of the pair of latches, the actuator can be an integral arm that drives rotation of the latch with which it is associated. Thus, the arm can extend from the latch in a direction that presents for engagement by the lifting arrangement, so that engagement load applied to the arm by the lifting arrangement rotates the latch. In some forms of the invention, the latch can thus comprise a downwardly extending latch portion and an upwardly extending arm with the axis of rotation of the latch being intermediate the latch portion and the arm. The latch portion and the arm can be aligned to extend in directly opposite directions, ie 180° to each other. Alternatively, the latch portion and the arm can extend at a different angle to each other, such as about 135° to each other. In these forms of the invention, the in the locked position of the latch, the latch portion can extend substantially vertically downward and the arm can extend upward at about 45° to horizontal.

[0015] The arm can have a cam surface for engagement with the lifting arrangement, and for example, the cam surface can be rounded or curved.

[0016] It is to be noted that while the actuator is intended to be engaged by the lifting arrangement during engagement of the lid by the lifting arrangement, the actuator can also present for manual actuation, so that if the lid of the container is to be removed other than by a lifting arrangement that is normally employed during loading and unloading of the container, the actuator can be manually manipulated to achieve this.

[0017] The latches can connect to the connector in any suitable manner. In some forms of the invention, the latches can have an opening for receipt of a boss or spigot of the connector. The portion of the connector that engages with the opening of latches can extend into or fully through the openings. Likewise, the connector can have openings for receipt of a boss or spigot of the latches. Where the connector is a rod, the latches can each have an opening for receipt of one end of the rod. The connection between the latches and the connector can be a threaded connection, or a welded, brazed or soldered connection. The opening of the connector or the latches can be a non-round opening to accept a non-round boss, spigot or rod end, so that the latches are fixed to the connector against relative rotation.

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 [0018] The latches can be formed from any suitable material but typically will be metal. The latches typically will be stamped or cut, such as laser cut from sheet metal.

[0019] The latches can also be arranged to cooperate with a manual lock for locking the latches in the open position when required. The cooperation can be by way of surface engagement of the latches with the manual lock, or by pin engagement whereby the latches include an opening into which a pin of the manual lock can be inserted.

[0020] The actuator can alternatively be separate to the latches and can for example, be attached to the connector inboard of the latches. Where the connector is a rod, the actuator can be attached to the connector between opposite ends of the rod, such as centrally of the rod. In this form of the invention, the actuator can be an arm that extends from the rod for engagement with the lifting arrangement as the lifting arrangement moves to engage the lid for lifting the lid from the body of the container. The actuator can be attached to the rod in any suitable manner and in some forms of the invention, the actuator has an opening through which the rod extends and the actuator is welded, brazed or soldered to the rod about the opening.

[0021] Still further, more than one actuator can be attached to the connector inboard of the latches. Any suitable number of actuators can be provided and the benefit of multiple actuators is, as expressed above, that if one of the actuators is damaged, movement of the latches between the locked and unlocked positions can still occur by engagement of one or more of the undamaged or still operational actuators.

[0022] The latches can be biased towards the locked positon to maintain the locked position until shifted from that position during movement of the lifting arrangement to engage the lid for lifting the lid from the body of the container, or until manually moved to the unlocked position and retained in that position by a manual lock. The bias can also act to return the latches to the locked position once the lifting arrangement has returned the lid back to attachment with the body of the container, or once the manual lock has been released.

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 [0023] The connector can be rotatably fixed to the lid in any suitable manner.

Suitable fittings that extend from the lid can be employed, such as sleeves or brackets. The fittings can be formed integrally with the lid or can be connected to the lid. In some forms of the invention, saddles are connected to the lid adjacent opposite 5 sides of the lid and a rotatable portion of the connector extends through the saddle and is thus rotatably fixed in place relative to the lid. Suitable bushings can be employed to resist or minimise wear of the connector and to ensure reliable rotation of the connector.

[0024] The locking component can be relatively simple. In some forms of the invention, the locking component is a bar that extends from the side wall of the container and the latch moves to a position beneath the bar in the locked position of the latch. The bar can include an angled portion so that any sideways movement of the latch relative to the bar brings the latch into contact with the angled portion, so preventing disengagement of the latch with the bar. Thus, the bar can include a first portion that extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the side wall and a second portion that extends downwardly and generally parallel to the plane of the side wall. The bar can thus be formed to have a generally right-angle shape.

[0025] It is to be noted that where two or more rigid connectors are employed, they can be connected so that rotation of one of the connectors drives rotation of the 20 other of the connectors. A simple arrangement would be to apply and eccentric member to each of the connectors and to connect the eccentric member by a connecting rod. That would mean that drive of one of the connectors would cause drive of the other of the connectors and so all of the latches would be rotated simultaneously.

[0026] The present invention also provides for a locating facility for locating a container lid on a container body. The locating facility comprises a cooperating arrangement between cooperating parts associated with both of the lid and the side and/or end walls of the body.

[0027] In some forms of the invention, the locating facility comprises a male member associated with one of the lid or the side and/or end walls of the body and a female member associated with the other of the lid or the side and/or end walls of the

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 body. The locating facility can thus comprise a male member in the form of a post and a female member in the form of an opening for example. The post can be received within the opening as the lid is lowered onto the body. The opening can be a tapered or chamfered opening for example, to guide the post into the opening as the lid is lowered onto the body.

[0028] In other forms of the invention, the opening can be a channel or groove or slot for example, which has a length dimension and the male member can also have a length dimension. The male member can for example, be a rod that locates within the base of the channel, groove or slot when the lid is located on the body. In one specific form of the invention, the opening is formed as a channel with an apex forming a base and opposite side walls diverging outwardly from the base to create a V-shaped channel. In this form of the invention, the male member can for example, be a rod or bar that is fixed to the lid or the body, and that has the same lengthwise orientation as the apex, and that can slide along either of the side walls while the lid is 15 being lowered onto the body and into the apex of the channel. The side walls guide the rod or bar into the apex and by that guiding movement, the lid is guided into the correct position on the body.

[0029] The locating facilities discussed above can be provided at one or more locations so that one or more locating facilities are employed to locate the lid on the 20 body. A pair of locating facilities could be provided, or four locating facilities could be provided, one each for example, at each corner where the side walls of the body intersect. Alternatively, one or more locating facilities could be provided inboard of the corners. In the specific form of the invention discussed above, the lid can include the V-shaped channel with the channel opening downwardly. The rod or bar can be 25 fixed to an upper surface of the edge of a side wall of the body.

[0030] In one specific form of the invention, the rod or bar of the locating facility forms, or is part of the locking component that the latches of the releasable locking arrangement engage in the first locked position of the latches. The rod or bar of the locating facility can thus have a portion for receipt within the V-shaped channel and 30 can present a portion under which a latch of the releasable locking arrangement can move to reach the first locked position. Each of these portions can be provided by a generally straight section of rod or bar. As discussed above however, the rod or bar

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 can be formed to have second portion that extends downwardly so that the rod or bar is formed to have a generally right-angle shape.

[0031]

Brief Description of Drawings [0032] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a bulk shipping container with a lid in place on a base.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the bulk shipping container of Figure 1 with the lid from the base.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a prior art lifting arrangement for lifting the lid from a container.

[0036] Figure 4 shows a locking arrangement in a locked position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 5 shows the locking arrangement of Figure 4 in an unlocked position.

[0038] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the locking arrangement of Figure 4.

Detailed Description [0039] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a bulk shipping container 10 according to the invention illustrated. The bulk shipping container 10 includes a body 11 and a lid 12. The body 11 has a base 13 a pair of side walls 14 and a pair of end walls 15 upstanding from the base 13. The body 11 has an opening 16 opposite the base 13 that is shown in Figure 2.

[0040] The lid 12 is removably attachable to the body 11 to close the opening

16. To remove the lid being from the body 11, a lifting arrangement 20 illustrated in

Figure 3 can be employed. The lifting arrangement 20 comprises a gantry support 21 which is supported by suitable framework (not shown) at a set height and a lifting structure 22 that can be lifted and lowered relative to the gantry support 21. Cables

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 can be wound up or down to lift or lower the lifting structure 22. Electric power is provided between the gantry support 21 and the lifting structure 22 by electric cabling 24.

[0041] In Figure 3, the lifting structure 22 is shown engaged with the lid (which is obscured in Figure 3) of a container 25. The container 25 is a prior art container of similar but different configuration to the container 10. In particular, the construction or configuration of the lid of the container 25 differs from the lid 12 of the container 10. However the manner in which the lifting structure 22 engages and lifts the lid of the container 25 is generally similar to the manner in which the lid 12 would be engaged and lifted. The major difference between the container 10 and the container 25 is in respect of the manner in which the lid 12 is locked to the body 11 of the container 10.

[0042] The lifting structure 22 includes corner legs 26 that locate the lifting structure 22 on the container 25 as it is lowered onto the container 25. The lifting structure 22 cooperates with the lid once the lifting structure 22 has been lowered onto the container 25 to grab or engage lifting lugs of the lid so that the lifting structure 22 can be lifted and lift the lid with it. This cooperation can take various forms but is not important for the present invention.

[0043] In terms of Figure 3, the lifting structure 22 will be lowered to the position shown in Figure 3 and will grab or engage lifting lugs of the lid of the container 25 and once engaged, the cables 23 can be wound up to lift the lid from the container 25.

The container 25 can thereafter be loaded or unloaded and the lid returned.

[0044] The releasable locking arrangement of the present invention is one of differences the present invention provides over the prior art. The releasable locking arrangement 30 is illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, while its position is shown in Figures 1 25 and 2.

[0045] With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, the locking arrangement 30 includes a rigid connector in the form of an elongate rod 31 that extends across the lid 12 and that is fixed to the lid 12 for rotation.

[0046] The locking arrangement 30 further includes rotatable latches 32 that are fixed to opposite ends of the rod 31 for rotation with the rod 31. The latches 32 are

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 not clearly visible in Figures 1 and 2, but their position at each end of the rod 31 is evident in those figures. Also evident in Figures 1 and 2 is the lifting lugs 33 which are engaged by a lifting structure 22 to lift the lid 12 from the body 11.

[0047] With reference to Figures 4 to 6, the locking arrangement 30 is shown in the locked position in Figure 4, in the unlocked position in Figure 5 and in an exploded condition in Figure 6. From these figures, the locking arrangement 30 includes the rod 31 and a latch 32 attached to each end of the rod 31. The latches 32 are identical and each have a downwardly extending latch portion 34 and an upwardly extending arm 35. The latch portion 34 is arranged to rotate to a position to cooperate with a locking component in a locked position of the latch 32.

[0048] The arm 35 forms an actuator for rotating the rod 31 and the latches 32. The arm 35 is at an angle of about 135° to the latch 32. The arm 35 has a rounded or curved cam surface 36 for engagement with the lifting structure 22.

[0049] The latch 32 has an opening 37 for receipt of one end of the rod 31. The latch 32 is secured to the end of the rod 31 on one side by a collar 38 and on the other side by a hinge saddle 40 although a plastic spacer 41 is interposed between facing surfaces of the latch 32 and the hinge saddle 40. Also, a spring 42 can be positioned to act between the rod 31 and the latch 32 to bias the latch 32 towards the locked positon of Figure 4. The spring 42 can be fixed against rotation relative to the rod 31 and the distal end 43 of the spring 42 can engage under the arm 35 so that the latch 32 is biased in a clockwise direction.

[0050] The latch portion 34 of the latch 32 includes a recess 45 formed by a curved tail 46. The recess 45 has an upward extending lip 47 at one end. The latch 32 is arranged for cooperation with a locking component 48 that has the form of a right-angle bar that has a first portion 49 of the right-angle mounted by welding to an upper surface 50 of the body 11 of the container 10 (see Figure 2) and a second portion 51 of the right-angle extending downwardly and generally parallel to the plane of the side wall 14 of the body 11, but spaced from the side wall 14. The latch 32 cooperates with the locking component 48 by the latch 32 moving to the position shown in Figure 4 in which the first portion 49 is within the recess 45 and the curved tail 46 is positioned beneath the first portion 49. The upward extending lip 47

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 presents an abutment against the latch 32 shifting inadvertently and releasing the locking component 48, while the second portion 51 can preclude sideways movement of the latch 32.

[0051] An alternative to the latches 32 including the actuator arm 35, an actuator

55 is shown in Figure 6 secured to the rod 31 such as by welding. The actuator 55 can operate in a similar manner to the arms 35 of the latches 32, by presenting a actuation surface 56 for engagement with the lifting structure 22. The actuator 55 can be a single actuator that is attached to the rod 31 centrally of the rod, or multiple actuators 55 can be attached to the rod 31 along the length of the rod.

[0052] Rotation of the rod 31 will rotate the latch 32. Rotation of the rod 31 in a clockwise direction shifts the latch 32 from the locked positon of Figure 4 to the unlocked positon of Figure 5 and vice versa. Noting that the spring 42 biases the latch 32 towards the locked positon of Figure 4, as soon as any actuation load is released, the latch 32 will return to the locked positon of Figure 4.

[0053] The latch 32 is driven to the unlocked positon of Figure 5 by engagement of the arm 35 by the lifting structure 22. The lifting structure 22 will engage the curved cam surface 36 and will rotate the latch 32 in the anti-clockwise direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, that rotation shifts the curved tail 46 from beneath the first portion 49 so that the latch 32 no longer prevents the lid 12 from being lifted from body 11.

Advantageously, because the latches 32 are attached to the same rod 31, both latches 32 will rotate at the same time and so both sides of the lid 12 will be released at the same time.

[0054] Simultaneously with unlocking of the latches 32, the lifting arrangement provided for lifting the lid 12 from the body 11 can engage the lifting lugs 33 (see

Figures 4 and 5) by insertion of a lifting member within the openings 57 to lift the lid from the body 11.

[0055] While the locking arrangement 30 is intended for automatic operation through contact with the lid lifting arrangement, it is also manually operational. Manual operation is through manual drive of the rod 31 to rotate by pressing on the arm 35 of 30 the latches 32, or on the actuator 55. Alternatively, the rod 31 can be rotated by engaging it with a suitable tool. If the locking arrangement 30 is to be actuated

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 manually, the latches 32 can be arranged to cooperate with a manual lock for locking the latches in the open position. A manual lock 60 is shown in Figures 4 to 6. The lock 60 is rotatably secured within a sleeve 61 which is welded to a flat surface 62 of the hinge saddle 40. The mounting portion 63 of the manual lock 60 extends through the sleeve 61 and is secured from release by a transverse pin 64. A lock portion 65 extends from a connecting portion 66. In Figure 4, the manual lock 60 is shown disengaged and not operational. In that figure, the latch 32 is in the locked position. However, in Figure 5, the latch 32 has been rotated to the unlocked position and the manual lock 60 has been rotated manually so that the lock portion 65 overlies the arm

35 and prevents the latch 32 from returning to the locked positon. The latch 32 will retain the unlocked position until the manual lock 60 is released and the latch 32 can return to the locked position.

[0056] It is to be noted that the two rods 31 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 could be connected so that rotation of one of the rods 31 drives rotation of the other of the rods 31. A simple arrangement would be to apply the actuator 55 to each of the rods 31 and to connect the two actuators 55 by a connecting rod. That would mean that drive of one of the actuators 55 would cause drive of the other of the actuators 55 and so all four ofthe latches 32 shown in Figures 1 and 2 would be rotated simultaneously.

[0057] The present invention also provides for a locating facility for locating a container lid on a container body. One such locating facility is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and comprises a female V-shaped channel 70 formed in the edge of the lid 12 and a male member formed by the first portion 49 ofthe locking component 48 that is fixed to the body 11. The first portion 49 is received within the channel 70 as the lid

12 is lowered onto the body 11. The channel 70 is tapered as shown to guide the first portion 49 into the channel 70 as the lid 11 is lowered onto the body 11. The first portion 49 is located in the apex 71 ofthe channel 70 once the lid 12 is properly located on the base 11.

[0058] Where any or all of the terms comprise, comprises, comprised or comprising are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019 components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0059] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It 5 is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0060] Future patent applications may be filed in Australia or overseas on the basis of or claiming priority from the present application. It is to be understood that the following provisional claims are provided by way of example only, and are not 10 intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future application.

Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. A bulk shipping container having:

a body and

2. A bulk shipping container according to claim 1, the rigid connector being an elongate rod.

SPCN-1147971.docx

2019100712 28 Jun 2019

3. A bulk shipping container according to claim 2, the rotatable latches being attached to opposite ends of the rod.

4. A bulk shipping container according to claim 2 or 3, the rod having a length that is slightly longer than the width of the lid from side to side so that the rod

5 channel with an apex forming a base and opposite side walls diverging outwardly from the base and the male member being a rod or bar that has the same lengthwise orientation as the apex, and that can slide along either of the side walls while the lid is being lowered onto the body and into the apex of the channel.

5. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, latches being attached to opposite ends ofthe rod for engaging a locking component that extends from the sides of the container.

5 extends slightly beyond the sides of the lid.

5 a lid, the body having a base, and a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls upstanding from the base, and the body having an opening opposite the base, the lid being removably attachable to the body to close the opening of the body and the lid being engagable by a lifting arrangement to lift the lid from 10 the body, the lid including a releasable locking arrangement to lock the lid against lifting from the body, the locking arrangement including a rod that extends across the lid and that is fixed to the lid for rotation and a pair of rotatable latches which are fixed to the rod for rotation with the rod, a first of the pair of 15 latches being positioned for locking cooperation with a first side wall of the body, and a second of the pair of latches being positioned for locking cooperation with a second side wall of the body, the latches having a first locked position with first and second side walls when the lid is attached to the body and a second unlocked position following 20 rotation of the rod and the pair of latches, the locking arrangement including an actuator for rotating the rod and the pair of latches, the actuator being engagable by the lifting arrangement during engagement of the lid by the lifting arrangement, so that as the lid is engaged by the lifting arrangement, the actuator rotates the rod and the pair of 25 latches, so as to shift the latches from the first locked position, to the second unlocked position.

6. A bulk shipping container according to claim 4 or 5, the latches being arranged

10 to rotate generally parallel to an upper part of the sides of the container.

7. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the actuator forming part a latch ofthe pair of latches.

8. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the actuator forming part of each of the latches of the pair of latches.

15

9. A bulk shipping container according to claim 7 or 8, the actuator being an integral arm of the latch that presents for engagement by the lifting arrangement.

10. A bulk shipping container according to claim 9, the latch comprising a downwardly extending latch portion and an upwardly extending arm with the

20 axis of rotation of the latch being intermediate the latch portion and the arm.

11. A bulk shipping container according to claim 10, the latch portion and the arm being aligned to extend in directly opposite directions, ie 180° to each other.

12. A bulk shipping container according to claim 10, the latch portion and the arm extending at a different angle to each other, such as about 135° to each other.

25

13. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 9 to 12, the arm having a cam surface for engagement with the lifting arrangement.

<filename>

2019100712 28 Jun 2019

14. A bulk shipping container according to claim 13, the cam surface being rounded or curved.

15. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the actuator being manually actuated.

5

16. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 15, the latches being arranged to cooperate with a manual lock for locking the latches in the open position.

17. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the actuator being attached to the connector inboard ofthe latches.

10

18. A bulk shipping container according to claim 17, multiple actuators being attached to the connector inboard ofthe latches.

19. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 18, the latches being biased towards the locked positon.

20. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 19, the locking

15 component being a bar that extends from the side wall of the container and the latch moves to a position beneath the bar in the locked position ofthe latch.

21. A bulk shipping container according to claim 20, the bar including a first portion that extends generally perpendicular to the plane ofthe side wall and a second portion that extends downwardly and generally parallel to the plane ofthe side

20 wall to form \a generally right-angle shape.

22. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 21, two or more rigid connectors being employed and the connectors being connected so that rotation of one of the connectors drives rotation of the other of the connectors.

23. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 1 to 23, including a

25 locating facility for locating a container lid on a container body, the locating facility comprising a male member associated with one of the lid or the side and/or end walls of the body and a female member associated with the other of the lid or the side and/or end walls of the body.

<filename>

2019100712 28 Jun 2019

24. A bulk shipping container according to claim 23, the male member being a post and the female member being an opening, the opening being tapered to guide the post into the opening as the lid is lowered onto the body.

25. A bulk shipping container according to claim 23, the opening being a V-shaped

10 26. A bulk shipping container according to any one of claims 23 to 25, multiple locating facilities being provided at to locate the lid on the body.