# US 8,770,421 B2 · Collapsible refuse bin

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,770,421 B2
- Document ID: US8770421B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/657,834
- Filed: 2010-01-28
- Published: 2011-07-28
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-28
- Assignees: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
- Applicants: Henry F. Hay; Leslie Kirby; Alan Schrob
- Inventors: Henry F. Hay; Leslie Kirby; Alan Schrob
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770421B2

## CPC

- B65D 19/18: made wholly or mainly of plastics material
- B65F 1/02: without removable inserts
- B65D 2519/00034: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00069: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00174: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00208: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00268: made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00288: made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00318: made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00338: contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
- B65D 2519/00422: on the walls
- B65D 2519/00497: whereby at least one side wall is made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00502: whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
- B65D 2519/00587: side walls directly connected to each other
- B65D 2519/00611: side walls maintained connected to each other by means of auxiliary locking elements, e.g. spring loaded locking pins
- B65D 2519/00646: by means of hinges
- B65D 2519/00721: hinged lids
- B65D 2519/00805: Means for facilitating the removal of the load
- B65D 2519/00925: with semi-detachable components, i.e. with some side walls hinged to each other or to a base panel and the other side walls being detachable to allow collapsing of the container
- B65F 2220/101: assembled from a plurality of panels
- B65F 2220/106: Collapsible
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36})

## Abstract

A collapsible refuse bin which has two ends walls and two side walls atop a base. The end walls, side walls and base are twinned wall plastic components. The side walls are made of two panels which are pivotally attached to one another along vertical axis. The end walls are pivotally attached to the base. The side walls engage a base along a tongue and groove means. Side walls and end walls have mutually engaging edges. Removal of the side walls followed by folding down the end walls converts the refuse bin to a collapsed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A collapsible container comprising:
a base comprising spaced apart top and bottom surfaces joined by a pair of base end walls and a pair of base side walls,
a pair of integral end walls, and
a pair of removable side walls;
wherein,
said end walls are pivotally attached to said base;
a lower offset edge of said side walls reversibly and directly engages a groove in a top peripheral surface of said base by a tongue and groove interaction, said groove in said top peripheral surface of said base extending along the entire length of said base side wall;
said end walls and said side walls reversibly and directly engage one another along adjacent edges by a tongue and groove interaction;
said end walls and said side walls are a twinned wall structure defined by inner and outer wall members made of plastic; and
each of said side walls comprises two side wall panels pivotally attached to one another along a vertical axis, the vertical axis being substantially perpendicular to said base, when the container is in an erect condition; and
wherein at least one of said side walls and said end walls has a plurality of elongated concave indentations, each concave indentation independently forming a substantially vertical internal arch between said inner and outer wall members, said arch being arcuately shaped and spanning the length of said concave indentation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The container of claim 1, wherein said end walls are pivotally attached to end retaining walls extending upwardly from said base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The container of claim 2, wherein said end walls, said end retaining walls and said side walls have, along one lateral edge, a perpendicular corner extension; wherein said corner extension on said end walls and said end retaining walls reversibly engages an adjacent edge of said side walls by a direct tongue and groove interaction, and wherein said corner extension on said side walls reversibly engages an adjacent edge of said end walls by a direct tongue and groove interaction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 3)

The container of claim 1 or claim 3, wherein a slide lock is present on one or both of said side walls, said slide lock comprising a partially tubular member riding along a track present in common upper edges of adjacent side wall panels and having a locked and unlocked position; wherein in said locked position, said partially tubular member prevents the folding of a side wall along said vertical axis by traversing said vertical axis; wherein in said unlocked position, said partially tubular member allows the folding of a side wall along said vertical axis by residing within a portion of the track which is entirely within one or the other side wall panels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The container of claim 3, wherein said base has forklift tine pockets.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The container of claim 3, additionally comprising a liner.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The container of claim 3, additionally comprising a lid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The container of claim 3, additionally comprising a canvass top.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1, 3)

The container of claim 1 or 3, wherein said ends walls and side walls are held to one another along said adjacent edges with a fastening means.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The container of claim 1, wherein said side walls and said end walls are rotomolded plastic components.

### Claim 11

A collapsible container comprising:
a base comprising spaced apart top and bottom surfaces joined by a pair of base end walls and a pair of base side walls,
a pair of integral end walls, and
a pair of removable side walls;
wherein,
said end walls are pivotally attached to said base;
a lower offset edge of said side walls reversibly and directly engages a groove in a top peripheral surface of said base by a tongue and groove interaction, said groove in said top peripheral surface of said base extending along the entire length of said base side wall;
said end walls and said side walls reversibly and directly engage one another along adjacent edges by a tongue and groove interaction;
said end walls and said side walls are a twinned wall structure defined by inner and outer wall members made of plastic; and
each of said side walls comprises two side wall panels pivotally attached to one another along a vertical axis, the vertical axis being substantially perpendicular to said base, when the container is in an erect condition;
wherein a slide lock is present on one or both of said side walls, said slide lock comprising a partially tubular member riding along a track present in common upper edges of adjacent side wall panels and having a locked and unlocked position; wherein in said locked position, said partially tubular member prevents the folding of a side wall along said vertical axis by traversing said vertical axis; wherein in said unlocked position, said partially tubular member allows the folding of a side wall along said vertical axis by residing within a portion of the track which is entirely within one or the other side wall panels;
and wherein at least one of said side walls and said end walls has a plurality of elongated concave indentations, each concave indentation independently forming a substantially vertical internal arch between said inner and outer wall members, said arch being arcuately shaped and spanning the length of said concave indentation.