US 6,631,821 B2 · Reinforced double-wall knock-down bin

Abstract

A reinforced double-wall knock-down bin molded of plastic resin, comprising a pallet-base, two vertical side-walls, and two vertical end-walls. The pair of side-walls are rigidly secured to the pallet-base. The end-walls are secured to the pallet-base with a tongue and groove arrangement. The side and end wall extended plurality of members intermesh at the corner are secured by a vertical reinforcing post inserted from the bottom of the pallet-base up through the intermeshed corner members. A bottom end-rod secures the end-wall to the pallet and retains the corner posts. A reinforcing rod with end loops is molded inside the upper longitudinal portion of the double side-wall. A top reinforcing end bar inserted horizontally through the top corner side-wall interleave member and passed through the top of the inside of the double end-wall and the opposite top corner side-wall interleave and secured. The top horizontal reinforcing end bar engaged with the side-wall and molded-in side rod end loop provides internal reinforced structure protection against inward and outward forces at the corners and around the top perimeter in the critical area of abuse. The engagement of the top end bar and side rod end loop rests on top of the corner post to provide added vertical stacking strength for a stack of multiple bins. The center underside of the pallet-base has two parallel horizontal bars to limit center load sag where center load support is not otherwise provided.

A reinforced double-wall knock-down bin, comprising;

a) a pallet-base having a vertical side-panel at two opposite sides perpendicular to said pallet-base and said pallet-base having a vertical end-panel at two opposite ends perpendicular to said pallet-base, forming an enclosure bin with an open top enabling containment of material placed within, wherein the vertical side-panel and vertical end-panel enable a plurality of bins to be stacked one on top of the other perpendicular to a floor surface;
b) said pallet-base, side-panel and end-panel each having a double-wall formed of a semi-rigid material providing resiliency to withstand impact forces each pallet-base, side-panel and end-panel double-wall having a void between adjacent walls, a foam material, defined as an expandable cellular plastic, inserted into the void to provide reinforcement to said double-walls;
d) each side-panel having a plurality of bottom male extensions and said pallet-base having a plurality of female receptacles on each side of said pallet-base top surface, said bottom male extensions configured to engage within the female receptacles of said pallet-base and each side-panel and each end-panel having a plurality of segmented horizontal end extensions on opposing ends, said end-panel segmented horizontal end extensions engage and inter-mesh with said side-panel segmented horizontal end extensions and said end-panel and side-panel corner extensions having at least one opening on top and one opening on the bottom, said top and bottom openings concentrically match in perpendicularity;
e) said end-panel having means for securing the end of said end-panel at the bottom of said end-panel to the end of said pallet-base, said end-panel having corner end extensions engaging with said end-panel segmented horizontal end extensions on opposing ends, said end-panel corner end extensions having at least one opening on top and one opening on the bottom, said top and bottom openings concentrically match in perpendicularity;
f) said side-panel, and said end-panel having means for holding together a corner point where said side-panel extensions and said end-panel extensions inter-mesh, wherein the openings in the horizontal end extensions of said side-panel and said end-panel corner extensions inter-mesh vertically and concentrically;
g) said side-panel and said end-panel and said pallet-base having means for ventilation and air circulation when required by food handling applications;
h) said pallet-base having means for supporting a load within said bin at said pallet-base center when a bin is stacked on top of another bin;
i) said side-panel and said end-panel having means for reinforcing respective top corners of engagement to provide suitable strength minimizing the tearing out of the top corner of said side-panel;
j) said side-panel having means for internal supporting and reinforcing the side-panel longitudinally at the top, and at both ends for protection against forklift truck abuse;
k) said end-panel having reinforcing means for internal supporting and reinforcing the end-panel at the top and the top corner of said side-panel for protection along the full horizontal length of the top front edge of said end-panel to provide protection against forward impact by front fork tine edges of a forklift truck, and said end panel having fastening means at opposing ends to secure top reinforcing means to said side-panel at the corners;
and
l) said side-panels and said end-panels each having a plurality of notches at an outer vertical edge of the corners to provide a location to accommodate tie-down rope placement.

9 more elements

Reinforced double-wall knock-down bin

Life of this patent

Reinforced double-wall knock-down bin

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19