MX2011000315A

MX2011000315A - Folding seed box with fork lift base.

Info

Publication number: MX2011000315A
Application number: MX2011000315A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Juan Neufeld; Bernie Thiessen
Original assignee: Woodhaven Capital Corp
Priority date: 2010-01-08
Filing date: 2011-01-07
Publication date: 2011-07-19
Also published as: US20110168593A1; CA2727029A1

Abstract

A collapsible bulk container for dry, flowable particulate material is provided with a frame to support a bottom wall having a discharge opening and a gate moveable between opened and closed positions relative to the discharge opening. Four side walls are pivotally connected to the frame, with the pivot axes being at different elevations, such that the side walls can be folded between an upright use position and a substantially flat storage position. A lid is pivotally connected to opposite side walls for moving between an open position adjacent the connected side wall and a closed position over the bottom wall. Multiple containers can be stacked one upon another in both the use and storage positions. The base or frame of the container can receive forks from a lift truck on all four sides of the container.

Description

FOLDING BOX FOR SEEDS WITH FORK LIFT BASE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the art, collapsible and collapsible containers are known for storing dry and fluid material in bulk particles, such as agricultural seeds. For example, the SeedBox Buckhorn container has telescopic side walls formed by a lower case portion and an upper annular portion, wherein the upper annular portion is inverted to nest around the lower walls of the case. The Buckhorn container requires two people to assemble and disassemble it. The folded and nested height of the Buckhorn container has approximately 40% of the full height used to store seeds. The Buckhorn container also has a lid that must be removed completely before folding and reassembling the container after assembling it.

Other types of bulk containers with walls that can be disassembled for storage and assembled for use are also known in the art. However, these containers do not have discharge openings in the bottom to disperse material and do not have permanently attached covers or covers.

Some prior art containers are adapted to receive the truck forks with forklifts. Normally, the slots of the fork they allow the entrance of forks from only one side and, sometimes, from the opposite side, but not from the four sides. The inability to lift the container from either side limits the versatility and use of the containers.

Therefore, a main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved bulk collapsible container for particulate material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved seed box with foldable side walls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bulk container that can be quickly and easily folded between a compact storage condition and a straight use position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding seed box with a hinged lid mounted to the box permanently. ! Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bulk container with an opening in the bottom for discharging particulate material from the container.

. A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bulk seed container with a sloping bottom wall.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding box for seeds that a person can convert between a position of use and a storage position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a folding seed box with one or more lid panels.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a folding seed box with a lid hinged to one of the side walls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding seed box with a base adapted to receive the forks of a forklift truck from any of the four sides of the box.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved bulk container where the base is free of obstructions that prevent the use of a forklift from either side of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved bulk container with economic, durable and safe manufacture to use.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

The improved foldable bulk container of the present invention includes a frame supporting a wall bottom that has a discharge opening. A gate is provided on the bottom wall to open and close the discharge outlet. Four side walls are pivotally connected to the frame, to move between a straight use position and a folded storage position. Removable bolts block the side walls with one another when the walls are folded up in the position of use. Each side wall pivots with a different elevation above the lower wall, so that the side walls fold down substantially flat, one above the other, in the storage position.

A cover is formed in two sections that are pivotally connected with opposite side walls to be folded between an open position adjacent to the side wall and a closed position on the bottom wall. Several collapsible containers can be stacked on top of each other in the position of use and storage position.

In an alternative embodiment, the improved collapsible bulk container of the present invention has a single lid hinged to a side wall to be folded between the open position and the closed position. The walls are kept in the straight position by means of removable bolts or, alternatively, by blocking arms deflected by spring. The bolts can be removed quickly or, alternatively, the locking arms can be uncoupled quickly to allow the walls to fold down.

Yet another alternative embodiment of the container has a base with forklift slots on each side. The base, which is free of obstructions, allows a forklift truck to approach a container from either side, where the forks are received in the respective slots, without interference, to lift the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible bulk container of the present invention with the walls in the straight position of use and the lid sections closed. : Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container and the first step of folding down with an open lid panel.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container and the second stage of folding down, with the second lid panel open.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container and the third stage of folding down, with a side wall folded inwardly.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the container and the fourth stage of folding down, with the second side wall folded inward.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container and the fifth step of folding down,! with the third side wall folded inwards.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the container and the sixth stage of folding down, with the fourth side wall folded inward, so that the container is in a storage condition.

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the container with the side walls folded upwards in the position of use.

Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the container with the side walls folded upwards in the position of use.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of the container with the gate in the closed position.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the container with the walls folded down in the storage position.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view showing a right angle joint of the reinforced side walls with a locking bolt in place.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 12, showing the locking bolt in retractable position, so that the walls can be folded down.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the collapsible bulk container according to the present invention, with a single panel cover and an improved forklift base.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the container shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an extreme elevation view of the container shown in Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the container shown in Figure 14.

Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the first folding step for the container of Figure 14, with the folded lid open.

Figure 19 is a perspective view showing the second step of folding down the container of Figure 14, with an end wall folded downwards.

Figure 20 is a view showing the third step of folding down, with the opposite end wall folded downwardly for the container of Figure 14.

Figure 21 is a perspective view showing the fourth step of folding down, with one of the side walls of the container of Figure 14 folded down.

Figure 22 is a perspective view showing the fifth folding step down, with the second side wall of the container of Figure 14 folded down.

Figure 23 is an enlarged view of a corner of the container, taken along line 23-23 of Figure 18.

The improved folded bulk container or seed box of the present invention is generally designated in the drawings with the reference numeral 10. The container includes a base or frame 12 with four corner legs 14. The frame 12 supports a lower wall 16 having a discharge outlet or opening 18 with a gate 20 movable between the open position and the closed position relative to the discharge opening 18. Preferably, the gate is manually moved between the open position and the closed position, although an electrical gate can also be provided. The lower wall 16 includes inclined segments, as seen in Figures 8-11, so that the particulate material in the container can flow into the discharge opening 18.

Four side walls 22, 24, 26 and 28 are pivotally connected to the frame adjacent their lower ends to move between a raised straight use position and a collapsed storage position. The pivot axes of the walls are at different elevations, so that the walls can be folded sequentially down from the position of use to the storage position and lie substantially flat, one over the other, as seen in Figure 7.

The container 10 also includes a lid or cover, which is preferably formed in two halves by the panels 30, 32. Each panel 30, 32 is pivotally connected to the third and fourth side walls 26, 28, respectively, so that that the panels 30, 32 can be folded between a position of use on the lower wall 16 to cover the contents of the container, and a storage position adjacent the respective side walls 30, 32.

The process for folding the container 10 from the position of use shown in Figure 1 to the storage position shown in Figure 7 involves the following steps. First, the first lid panel 30 is folded and opened from the horizontal use position above the lower wall 16 to a vertical position adjacent to the third side wall 26, as shown in Figure 2. second cover panel 32 is folded from the horizontal use position on the lower wall 16 to a vertical position adjacent to the side wall 28, as shown in Figure 3. Subsequently, the first side or end wall 22 is folded down to a vertical use position to a storage position substantially horizontal, as seen in Figure 4. Next, the second side or end wall 24 is folded down from a vertical use position to a substantially horizontal storage position on top of the first side wall 22, as shown in FIG. Figure 5. Subsequently, the third side wall 26 is folded down from a vertical use position to a substantially horizontal storage position on top of the second side wall 24, as shown in Figure 6. Finally, the fourth wall 28 The side is folded down from a vertical use position to a substantially horizontal storage position on top of the third side wall 26, as shown in Figure 7. The side walls 22, 24, 26, and 28 and the panels 30 , 32 of lid are stacked inside the frame 12 in the storage position, without separating the walls of the frame or the cover panels of the walls 26, 28. The stages are reversed for convection. Rotate the container from the storage position to the position of use.

Figures 12 and 13 show one of the corners of the container 10 when the walls 22-28 are assembled in a position of use. The four corners are identical. More particularly, each of the first and second side walls 22, 24 has a tube or post 34 at the opposite side edges. Each of the third and fourth walls 26, 28 have channels or flanges 36 in the form of L at the opposite lateral edges. The corner posts 34 are received in the corner channels 36 when the walls 22-28 are straight. Holes 38 aligned in the post 34 and the channel 36 allow a locking bolt 40 to be inserted through them, to keep the walls in their straight position. The bolts 40 are pushed from the holes 38 before the walls fold down. Preferably, the first and second side or end walls 22, 24 have a tubular sleeve 42 arranged horizontally to guide the bolt 40 and a bolt retaining lug 44 which prevents the bolt 40 from being completely removed from the sleeve 42 at to be removed from the holes 38. Therefore, the bolt 40 can not be lost or disconnected accidentally from the walls 22, 24.

Several containers 10 can be stacked one on top of the other in the position of use and the storage position. Corner posts 34 and channels 36 provide structural support for containers stacked in the position of use. The upper corners 46 of the frame 12 support stacked containers in the storage position.

The height of the walls 22-28 is slightly less than the width of the container 10. When the walls 22-28 are folded down in the storage position, the height of the container 10 is less than half the height of the container when the walls are folded to the position of use. In this way, the container 10 can be folded down to a substantially lower height for shipment and storage. The ability to stack containers minimizes space requirements during transportation and storage. The frame 12 allows to move, stack and uncouple the containers using a forklift truck.

Preferably, the walls 22-28 and the cover panels 30-32 are made of steel or other lightweight, but thin, durable and durable material. The container 10 can replace or eliminate the use of large bags of bulk seeds and the known problems associated with the handling of such bags.

The hinged design of the container, walls, and lid panels allows a person to assemble and disassemble the container simply by pivoting a panel or side wall of the container at the same time. Also, the permanent pivoting connection of the cover panels 30, 32 with the side walls 26, 28 eliminates the danger of the cover being ejected from the container during transit. The design of the sloping bottom wall prevents the particulate material from becoming clogged at the corners of the container 10 and creates a constant discharge material flow during discharge.

A farmer can take the loaded container 10 directly to the field of a tow truck, cart or on the platform of a delivery truck to load it in a selective seed distributor or directly in a seed planter.

The invention has been shown and described in the foregoing with the preferred embodiments and it is understood that it is possible to make many modifications, substitutions and additions that are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. For example, an alternative corner structure and locking means may be used, unlike posts 34, channels 36 and pins 40, shown in the drawings. Also, the dimensions of the container 10 can be varied as desired.

Figures 14-23 show an alternative embodiment of the collapsible container 10A of particulate material according to the present invention. The container 10A or seed box of the alternative embodiment is essentially similar to the container or box 10 shown in Figures 1-13 which includes the base 12A, the legs 14A, the bottom wall 16A with a discharge opening 18A, and the four lateral walls 22A, 24A, 26A and 28A. The side walls 22A-28A are pivotally connected to the frame adjacent their lower ends to move between a raised upright use position and a position of Folded or folded storage. The pivot axes of the walls 22A-28A are at different elevations, so that the walls can be folded down sequentially from the position of use shown in Figure 14 to the storage position shown in Figure 22, where the walls 22A-28A lie substantially flat, one above the other.

One of the differences between the container 10A, compared to the box 10, is that the base 12A includes rails 50 extending between each of the legs 14A, where each rail 50 has a pair of notches or slots 52 for receive the forks of a truck with forklift trucks (not shown). In this way, a forklift can be driven to either side of the container 10A and the forks can be inserted through the slots 52 to lift the container 10A. The container 10A is free of any interferent structure, which may prevent the forks from being fully inserted from either side of the container.

The lid 30A of the container 10A is formed as a single panel, as compared to the double panels 30, 32 of the container 10. The lid or cover 30A is hinged with one of the side walls 22A-28A to move between the position of use that covers the contents of the container, and a low folded position adjacent to the joined side wall.

Another difference between containers 10 and 10A is the structure of the corners of the containers. In the container 10A, the opposite edges of each wall 22A, 24A include a vertically extending flange 54 adapted to be received in a C-shaped flange 56 at the opposite edges of each side wall 26A, 28A. The flange 54 and flange 56 form a tongue and groove assembly. The locking bolt 40 of the container 10 has been replaced with a sliding blocking member or arm 40A in the container 10A. The locking arm 40A is slidably mounted in a bracket 58 on the side walls 22A, 24A and moves between a locked position engaging the flange 56 and an unlocked position uncoupled from the flange 56. The arm 48 of The blockage is deflected by a spring 60 to the locked position.

The container 10A is folded down in a manner substantially identical to the folding action of the container 10, except that there is a single cover 30A, unlike the double covers 30, 32. The fold-down sequence is shown in Figures 18-22 and reversed to fold the container 10A upwards, from a storage position to the position of use.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention achieves at least all of the above-mentioned objects.

Claims

1. A collapsible container for particulate material, characterized in that it comprises: a lower wall; a top wall; four side walls extending between the upper and lower walls and having opposite upper and lower side edges; the upper wall is pivotally connected to the upper edge of one of the side walls to move between a position of use on the lower wall and a storage position adjacent to a side wall; and each of the side walls pivots about the lower edges to move between an essentially vertical use position and a substantially horizontal storage position.

2. The collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls are folded down to be stacked flat on one another in the storage position.

3. The foldable container according to claim 1, characterized in that each side wall has a pivot axis and the pivot axes move vertically one with respect to the other.

4. The collapsible container according to the claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a base on which the lower wall and the side walls are mounted.

5. The collapsible container according to claim 4, characterized in that the side walls are locked to each other in the use position and are unlocked from each other in the storage position.

6. The collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower wall includes a discharge opening.

7. The collapsible container according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower wall slopes in a downward direction towards the discharge opening.

8. The collapsible container according to claim 6, further characterized in that it comprises a gate in the lower wall for opening and closing the discharge opening.

9. The container of particulate material according to claim 1, characterized in that the walls are folded down sequentially.

10. The collapsible container according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises legs for supporting the lower wall above the floor.

11. The collapsible container according to the claim 1, characterized in that the top wall includes a pair of lid panels secured in pivot to opposite side walls.

12. The collapsible container according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls form four corners of the container, wherein each corner has an overlapping edge and an overlapping edge of adjacent side walls in the position of use; and a blocking member adjacent each overlapping edge, movable between the locked position and the unlocked position in relation to the overlapping edge.

13. The collapsible container according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking member extends removably through holes aligned in the overlapping and overlapping edges to secure the side walls adjacent to each other in the position of use.

1 . The container of particulate material according to claim 12, characterized in that the overlapping edge has a C-shaped flange and the overlapping edge has a flange that can be received in the flange.

15. The container of particulate material according to claim 14, characterized in that the locking member is mounted on the side wall with the edge superposed, and engages with the flange in the locked position and disengages from the flange in the unlocked position.

16. The container of particulate material according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a base on which the lower wall and the side walls are mounted.

17. The container of particulate material according to claim 16, characterized in that the base has a pair of slots on each side, so that forklift trucks with forks can be received on each side without interference from the bottom wall.

18. The container of particulate material according to claim 16, characterized in that the base includes four corner legs that support the side walls and four perimeter rails that extend between the legs, with a pair of recesses formed in each rail to receive the Forklift trucks with forks from all sides of the container.