AU758748B2

AU758748B2 - A collapsible container

Info

Publication number: AU758748B2
Application number: AU35052/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stuart Gordon Kinnear
Original assignee: COLDSTORE CONSULTANCY Ltd
Current assignee: CCL Bins Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-23
Filing date: 1999-06-16
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-16
Also published as: US20010045409A1; AU3505299A; NZ330768A; CA2274344A1

Description

DH Ref:

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

1243-1AU *e Applicant: COLDSTORE CONSULTANCY LIMITED of 1019 Manchester Street, Hastings, New Zealand Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: 0000 *5 0.

S

STUART GORDON KINNEAR Don Hopkins Associates Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33, St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- AUP3 2 A COLLAPSIBLE BIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a collapsible bin, particularly for use in the fruit industry.

When picking, storing or transporting large quantities of fruit it has long been common practice to deposit fruit directly into a relatively large walled pallet that holds S"several thousand fruit (eg. apples or kiwifruit). The walled pallet is simply referred to as a 'bin' oooo S:Fruit bins are generally of wooden construction and nailed together in a permanent box shape for use, transport and then eventual return for future use.

The major problem a 'fixed' bin construction poses is in the "return for future use" phase of its life cycle.

Exported produce is now often shipped in bulk bins for packing at a destination coolstore. The return of empty bins back to the country of origin incurs a large cost.

It is important to note that discarding the bins is not an option in many countries because of the high cost of waste disposal.

In an effort to solve this problem several attempts at producing a collapsible bin have been made. The return shipping costs of a collapsible bin are greatly reduced because the components of a bin can be more tightly 3 tightly packed. However, previous attempts at developing a collapsible bin have fallen short of providing a sufficient standard in the basic requirements of ease of use and strength equivalent to that of a fixed bin construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible bin that is stable when assembled and is easy to use or at least provides the industry with a suitable alternative to available bins.

In one broad aspect of the invention there is a collapsible bin including side walls and a base, said side walls being adapted to receive an adjacent side wall at each corner in an interengaging but disengageable arrangement the interengaging arrangement being a tongue-in-groove construction, connector means at a lower most part of the side walls for demountable connection of the side walls with the base, and an elongate element surrounding, in the assembled bin, the side walls to maintain the side walls in S engagement with the base member and in an interengaging relationship.

In a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible bin including: a pallet base; side walls an edge of each side wall being engageable with the base member; each side wall including at least one tongue member which, in the assembled bin, non-fixedly engages under a surface at or near a peripheral edge of the base member; each of the side walls further including a tongue section Z Spec 1441 10 December 2002

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3a and a groove section, the tongue section of one side wall engaging, in the assembled bin, with a groove section of an adjacent side wall; and an elongate element surrounding, in the assembled bin, the side walls to maintain the side walls in engagement with the base member and in an interengaging relationship.

Yet a further broad aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible bin including pallet based which has an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge; side walls, an edge of each side wall being engageable with aid upper surface; each side wall, in the assembled bin being demountably engaged with an adjacent side wall; each side wall including at least one engagement surface which, in the assembled bin, is engagable against the peripheral edge of the base member and at least one tongue which nonfixedly engages with the lower surface; and an elongate element surrounding the side walls to maintain the side walls engaged with the base member and in an interengaging 20 relationship.

The collapsible bin of the present invention will now be described in its preferred embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several further embodiments will be possible which remain within the scope and spirit of the invention as it is intended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description of the present invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: December 2002 3b Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the collapsible bin according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a nail plate used for fixing the side walls to the base according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a plan view of an individual side wall, O *e 0 0* 23 October 2002 and Figure 4 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of the collapsible bin according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The collapsible bin of the present invention will now be described in its preferred embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several further embodiments will be possible which remain within the scope and spirit of the invention as it is intended.

Figure 1 illustrates a general view of a collapsible bin 10 where all the components are visible. The bin 10 is principally comprised of four side walls 11, a base 12, connectors 13 preferably of nail plate form (as herein described) and a pair of straps 14.

The base 12 in this embodiment is in the form of a standard pallet construction which can be used with fork hoist type lifting apparatus. It is intended that, when used in the fruit industry, the pallet 12 would go on to further transport uses (eg. for packed fruit to be stored upon) after a bin is received at a destination coolstore.

The remainder of disassembled components may then be returned to the point of origin for combining with a new pallet base.

For alternative applications the base 12 may be configured differently.

Each of the four side walls 11 are, in the preferred form, of substantially equivalent construction. Figure 3 best illustrates an individual plan view of a side wall 11 where detail of each end is shown.

The main length of the side wall 11 is made up of a plurality of elongate elements or panels lla (preferably four in number) which are suitably attached (eg. nailed) to transverse elements lb and llc which in the assembled form of the bin extend substantially perpendicular to S"base 12.

Elements llb and llc define the height of the side wall 11 and provide the construction by which interlocking of adjacent walls is possible as will be described hereinafter.

At one end of the side wall 11 is located the element llb which is substantially the same thickness as panels 1la to which it is nailed. The element llb overhangs panel lla creating a projection 15 which fits into groove 16 on an adjacent side wall as illustrated by Figure i. The grooved portion 16 is found in element llc located at the other end of the side wall 11.

The orientation of the groove 16 is substantially 900 to the projection 15 on the same sidewall 11 in order to create a suitable squared corner when the groove 16 interfits with projection 15 of another sidewall 11 when the side walls 11 are assembled together.

Other embodiments (not illustrated) may provide alternative interengaging or interlocking shapes for the same result.

The embodiment illustrated has proven to be particularly 10 effective because the four interengaged walls form a o• strong corner bond which remains relatively stable even before straps 14 are applied (as is described below).

oooo Figure 1 best illustrates the assembly method where four S 15 side walls 11 are arranged in a substantially square shape on the base 12 (in cases where a more rectangular shape is desired the two opposing side walls will be

S..

longer). Each projection 15 engages (preferably in an

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interference fit) into the corresponding groove 16 on the next adjacent sidewall to complete the wall assembly.

In order to secure a side wall 11 onto the base 12, two corner plates or connectors 13 are provided on each side wall 11 to engage with base 12. The connector 13 is preferably in the form of a nail plate 13 which is illustrated in more detail by Figure 2.

Nail plate 13 includes a plurality of sharp projections 13a which can be hammered into the wooden lower panel lla of a side wall 11. Below projections 13a is a return flange 13b which, in use, hooks under an edge of the base 12. Therefore, as shown by Figure 1, two nail plates 13 spaced at an interval on each side wall 11 are sufficient to secure it to base 12.

Nail plates 13 are preferably constructed of heavy duty steel for the requisite strength.

Finally, to lock the four side walls 11 in place, an elongate element or strap 14 is then passed around the walls 11 and fastened tightly (point F on Figure 1).

The bin 10 is now secure enough to be filled with produce. It has been found that the arrangement of the interengaging projections 15 and grooves 16 is easily sufficient to support the weight of fruit from within the bin 10. The strap 14 creates the necessary force to maintain the interengagement of the walls 11.

Once assembled the bin can withstand reasonable pressure from inside and out.

The strap 14 may be a steel ribbon but preferably is in the form of a standard plastic type which can be heat welded, buckled or clipped together under pressure. One strap is sufficient for holding the walls together but two (as illustrated in Figure 1) or more may be used as a precaution against failure.

In future embodiments a purpose built strap may be adopted for enabling quick-release and re-use.

Figure 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the collapsible bin wherein the connectors 13 are in the form of corner plates which are nailed/screwed to corners of the side walls 11 and base 12 simultaneously. This construction is not preferred because, over time, excessive nailing/screwing into the wooden construction will weaken the timber. Also, the nails/screws must be removed for disassembly which involves an extra S" operation.

When the bin 10 is empty and must be returned for re-use S"the strap 14 can be cut or otherwise removed and the side walls 11 disengaged. The bin effectively then collapses and all the components may be stacked flat. One will appreciate the considerable space saving in shipping a -stacked bin according to the present invention compared to an empty fixed bin.

The bin is generally to be constructed from wood but the concept of the collapsible system could be applied to bins made from any material where space saving is a critical issue.

The groove channels may be routered out of the end element llc or built up from layers.

The collapsible bin of the present invention is intended for use at a fruit coolstore for storing/transporting 9 fruit after grading. In most cases standard fixed bins will be used for storing the freshly picked fruit and subsequent transport to the coolstore. The economics of the present invention come into play where the fruit must be shipped internationally as the cost of returning empty fixed bins becomes prohibitive.

The novel features of construction and function of the collapsible bin according to the present invention are defined in and by the following claims.

oo* *e

Claims

2. A collapsible bin including: a pallet base; side walls an edge of each side wall being engageanble with the base member; each side wall including at least one tongue member 20 which, in the assembled bin, non-fixedly engages under a surface at or near a peripheral edge of the base member; each of the side walls further including a tongue section and a groove section, the tongue section of 25 one side wall engaging, in the assembled bin, with a groove section of an adjacent side wall; and an elongate element surrounding, in the assembled bin, the side walls to maintain the side walls in engagement with the base member and in an interengaging relationship. December 2002 11
3. The collapsible bin of claim 2 wherein the tongue is formed by a flange of a connector which is fixedly attached to the side wall.
4. A collapsible bin including:- a pallet based which has an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral edge; side walls, an edge of each side wall being engageable with said upper surface; each side wall, in the assembled bin being demountably engaged with an adjacent side wall; each side wall including at least one engagement surface which, in the assembled bin, is engagable against the peripheral edge of the base member and at least one tongue which non-fixedly engages with the lower surface; and an elongate element surrounding the side walls to maintain the side walls engaged with the base member and in an interengaging relationship. S" 5. The collapsible bin of claim 4 wherein said at least one tongue forms part of a connector which is fixedly attached to the side wall, said connector including a section which is engageable with said peripheral edge 25 of the base member.
6. The collapsible bin of any one of claims 1 to wherein there are four side walls.
7. The collapsible bin of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is a standard pallet construction capable of receiving forks of a fork hoist apparatus. December 2002 A, 12
8. The collapsible bin of claim 1 further including a connector means for each side wall to connect said side wall to the base.
9. The collapsible bin of claim 8 wherein each connector means includes a fastening portion for fastening of the connector to the base or side wall and an engagement portion for engaging with the side wall or base as the case may be. I10. The collapsible bin of claim 9 wherein the fastening portion includes apertures through which fasteners can locate.
11. The collapsible bin of claim 9 wherein the fastening portion includes a plurality of integrally formed nailing elements.
12. The collapsible bin of any one of claims 8 to wherein the engagement portion is a flange located .substantially transverse to the plane in which the fastening portion lies.
13. The collapsible bin of any one of the claims 8 to 12 wherein two connector means are provided for each side wall. December 2002 13
14. The collapsible bin of claim 12 wherein each connector means is fastened by the fastening portion to the side wall adjacent the edge of the side wall which engages with the edge of an adjacent side wall to form a corner. The collapsible bin of claim 13 wherein the engagement portion of the connector means engages with an edge of the base.
16. The collapsible bin of any one of the preceding claims o. wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap secured about the bin by securing or connecting means.
17. The collapsible bin of any one of preceding claims 1 to 13 wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap adapted for quick release and re-use.
18. The collapsible bin of any one of the preceding claims wherein the side walls are constructed substantially of wood.
19. The collapsible bin of any one of preceding claims 8 25 to 15 wherein the interengaging arrangement is such as to prevent relative inward movement of the edge of the side walls at a corner. A collapsible bin substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. December 2002 4 14 DATED this 23 rd Day of October 2002 COLDSTOEE CONSULTANCY LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person DON HOPKINS ASSOCIATES 6* S S 5.5. S 9 S 5 *5 S S S *5 S *5 5* S SS December 2002