Reinforced bulk bin and methods for making same
AssigneeSmurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc.
InventorJames Watson Barner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforced bulk bin, and methods for making same, wherein a collapsible bulk bin, preferably fabricated from paper, paperboard and/or corrugated paperboard, is provided with a reinforcing plastic sleeve, which is placed on the bin while in its collapsed configuration. When in place, and prior to the bin being deployed, the sleeve is under tension. When the bin is deployed, the sleeve exerts restraining force, distributed over the surfaces of the side walls of the bin. The sleeve may be positioned on the collapsed bin either manually or mechanically.
Claims12
A method for making a composite, reinforced collapsed bulk bin assembly, capable of being erected to a deployed, articulated configuration, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one blank, operably configured to form, upon manipulation and adhesion along a manufacturer's joint thereof, a collapsed bulk bin body;
- manipulating and adhering the at least one blank, along the manufacturer's joint to provide a bulk bin body, with at least one bottom panel and a plurality of side walls, operably configured to be disposed substantially perpendicular to the at least one bottom panel, when the bulk bin body is in a deployed configuration;
- positioning the bulk bin body in a collapsed configuration, wherein some of the side walls are disposed in juxtaposed, overlying, parallel orientation relative to remaining ones of the side walls;
- providing at least one substantially stretchable reinforcing sleeve, the at least one reinforcing sleeve being formed with a tubular portion, having a longitudinal axis and a circumference which, when the tubular portion is flattened and in an unstressed state, is less than an external circumference of the bulk bin body, when the bulk bin body is in a flat, collapsed configuration;
- and
- placing the at least one reinforcing sleeve, snugly about the plurality of side walls, of the bulk bin body, when the bulk bin body is in its collapsed configuration, so that when the at least one reinforcing sleeve is in position about the plurality of side walls of the bulk bin body, the reinforcing sleeve is slightly stretched, relative to an at-rest, unstressed state of the reinforcing sleeve, wherein placing the at least one reinforcing sleeve onto the bulk bin body further includes:
- bowing the collapsed bulk bin body, so that a chord distance between opposing edges of the bowed, collapsed bulk bin body is substantially less than a corresponding distance between opposed edges of the collapsed bulk bin body, when in an at-rest, unstressed configuration;
- sliding the at least one reinforcing sleeve onto the bowed, collapsed bulk bin body;
- and
- releasing the bowed, collapsed bulk bin body, to permit it to reconfigure toward its at-rest, unstressed configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.