GB2191172A - Containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A box-like container of cardboard, corrugated board or similar lightweight sheet material, suitable for mounting therewithin an impermeable bag for the transportation and/or storage of bulk material, comprises two opposed side walls 2,2' having associated therewith strengthening posts 8,8'. The remaining pair of opposed side walls 3,3' do not have any strengthening posts but are preferably of multi-ply formation. The strengthening posts 8,8' are interconnected by metal straps. Preferably the container is provided with an inner sleeve of heavier duty material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Containers This invention relates to containers made ofcard- board, corrugated board, or similar lightweightfoldable sheet material, and relates in particularto a containersuitablefor mounting therewithin an inner flexible fluid-tight bag adapted to receive liquids, semi-solids or other bulk materials.

Containers formed e.g. of cardboard incorporating innerfluid-tight bagsarewell known, and it has previously been proposed to use such containers for transportation and/or storage of bulk materials such as liquids orsemi-solids. Such containers have significant practical advantages over traditional bulk con tainers such as steel drums as regards, for example, cost, ease of stacking and handling.

However, with containers of this type, there can be problems as regards stacking strength and as regards the tendency for the outside box-like container, e.g. of cardboard, to bulge after loading.

These problems can be of particular significance in the case of larger containers. To this end, prior art proposals have included various means intended to increase the strength of the container, such as multiply sides, vertical reinforcing members, and laterally extending bracing straps. However, with previously proposed containers experience shows thatthere can still bea problem concerning bulging ofthecontainer in the direction in which adjacent containers are closely packed together when loadedforex- ample into a lorry. Clearly such bulging causes the containerstightlyto engage one anotherso thatsub- sequent removal may be difficult.

Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a box-like container of cardboard, corrugated board or similar light weight sheet material, such container being suitable for mounting therewithin an impermeable bag for the transportation and/or storage of bulk material, wherein two opposed side walls of the container have associated therewith strengthening posts extending the height of the container, the posts being mutually opposed and being interconnected at their upper and lower ends by means of inextensible straps extending across the container in one lateral direction thereof, whereby bulging of the container in said one direction is limited by the posts and straps, whilst in the other lateral direction at least a limited degree of bulging may be accommodated.

In accordance with the invention containers may be packed, e.g. in a transporter, closely side by side in the direction ofthe inextensible straps, since bulging of the container owing to the weight of its contents will mainly occur in the other sideways direction. Such bulging will not impede removal ofthe containers. Thus containers in accordance with the invention can accommodate a degree of bulging, which is inevitable under heavy loading, whilst atthe same time side by side packing problems can be avoided. This is not the case in eariier proposals which have sought to limit bulging equally in both lateral directions of the container.

Preferably the container in accordance with the invention includes, in addition to the outer box-like structure, an inner sleeve of similar or of heavier duty sheet material. On the opposed sides of the containers not associated with the strengthening posts the walls of the inner sleeve are preferably flush with the respective outer side walls, whilst along the other two sides of the container the walls of the inner sleeve are preferably inclined inwardly from the outerwallsto define recesses therebetween in which the posts are located. The inner sleeve assists in spreading the load ofthefull bag and helps to avoid the possibility of the loaded bag causing bulging of the side walls either side of the strengthening posts.

As discussed above an advantage of the present invention is that whilst a degree of bulging ofthe container is permitted, any bulging which occurs is largely restricted to one lateral direction. However, excessive bulging in such direction can be undesirable. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the side walls of the container not associated with the strengthening posts are preferably of multi-ply formation.

The multi-ply layer may conveniently form part of the inner sleeve of the preferred container discussed above.

Afurther advantage of the strengthening posts is thatthey improve the stacking strength of the container. Moreover, the straps have the additional advantage of assisting in correctly locating the posts, and in the embodiment discussed above wherein the posts are located between an inner sleeve of the container and its outerwalls, the posts do not require any additional fixing means to hold them in place.

In a preferred embodiment the lwer strap is loc- ated externally, i.e. beneath the base of the container, and includes box-like post connectors which extend through apertures formed in the container base. Such connectors embrace and thus locate the lower ends of the posts. During assembly, the impermeable bag is typically mounted within the container before the upper strap is connected, preferably by means of similar box-like connectors, between the upper ends of the posts. In a preferred embodiment, the box-like post connectors are so formed, e.g.

through the provision of suitable punched outteeth, as to tightly engage the ends ofthe posts without the need for separate fastening means such as screws.

In a preferred embodiment the lower strap, located beneath the base of the container, is provided with means, e.g. screw holes, enabling the container to be fixedly mounted in position e.g. on a supporting pallet. Furthermore, the upper strap may conveniently be provided with means for holding the neck of an impermeable bag mounted within the container to assist the filling thereof. If necessary, when the bag is filled and capped, the neck can be released from the upper strap.

In the preferred container including an inner sleeve, itis possible to mount a bottom discharge device between the inner sleeve and an outerwall of the container in the space defined adjacent one of the strengthening posts. Access may be gained to such device via a perforated section in the outer wall.

A container in accordance with the invention is particularly suitablefor large capacity bags, e.g. capable of receiving 1000 litres or 1 tonne of material.

An embodiment of the invention will now be des cribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view, partly broken away, of a container in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a partial cross-section on an enlarged scaletaken along line ll-ll of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the manner of engagement of the lower strap with each post adjacent the base ofthe container.

Referring to the drawings, a box-like container 1 formed of corrugated board includes opposed side walls 2,2' and 3,3' and a base 4. The container may be fabricated from a suitable blank in a known manner which will not be described further herein.

The container additionally includes an inner sleeve 5which is preferably formed of a heavier duty board.

The side walls of the sleeves adjacent the side walls 3,3' ofthe container form multi-ply sections 6 as shown in Figure 1. The other side walls 7 ofthe inner sleeve taper inwardly so that in the central region of each sidewall 2,2' ofthe container a space is defined which receives a respective wooden strengthening post 8,8' extending verticallyoverthe entire height of the container.

The strengthening posts 8,8' are interconnected at their upper and lower ends by means of inextensible metal straps 9,9'. The straps 9,9' include box-like connections 10 adjacenttheirfree ends adapted to receive and embrace the ends of the respective posts 8,8'. As shown in Figures2 and 3, the lower strap 9' is located externally of the container, i.e. below its base, and the connections 10 extend through respective apertures 11 provided in the base of the containerso asto engage the lower ends of the posts 8,8'. The upper strap 9 similarly engages the posts 8,8' at their upper ends, although the strap 9 is disposed beneath the container lid (shown in broken lines in Figure 1). The lid maytake any convenient form, and is preferably fabricated from heavy duty corrugated board.

In use of the container, an impermeable bag for receiving bulk materials such asfluids orsemi-solids is mounted therewithin. To aid offilling ofthe bag, its neck can be secured by suitable means to the upper strap 9 during filling. As discussed in the introduction above, the effect of the straps 9 is to restrain bulging ofthe container in the lateral direction ofthe straps, i.e. between the sidewalls 2,2'. However, at least limited bulging is permitted in the other lateral direction, i.e. between the side walls 3,3', excessive such bulging being avoided by the provision ofthe multi-ply portions 6 ofthe inner sleeve.

Conveniently, the container may be secured to an underlying pallet by means of screws extending through apertures of the lower strap 9'. A discharge deviceforthe bag can conveniently be mounted adjacent one ofthe posts 8,8', in the space defined between a respective outer side wall 2,2' and inner wall 7 ofthe sleeve.

Whilst certain broad aspects and specific features of a novel container have been discussed herein, modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art which retain one or more of the advantages engisaged. The disclosure hereof is intended to encompass any such modification, regardless of whether any particularfeature presently described or illustrated is omitted.

Claims (11)

1. A box-like container of cardboard, corrugated board or similar light weight sheet material, such container being suitable for mounting therewithin an impermeable bag for the transportation and/or storage of bulk material, wherein two opposed side walls ofthe container have associated therewith strengthening posts extending the height of the container, the posts being mutually opposed and being interconnected at their upper and lower ends by means of inextensible straps extending across the container in one lateral direction thereof, whereby bulging ofthe container in said one direction is limited by the posts and straps, whilst in the other lateral direction at least a limited degree of bulging may be accommodated.

2. A container according to claim 1 furthercomprising, in addition to the outer box-like structure, an inner sleeve of heavier duty sheet material.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein on the opposed sides of the container not associated with the strengthening posts the walls of the inner sleeve are flush with the respective outer side walls, whilst along the other two sides of the containerthe walls of the inner sleeve are inclined inwardly from the outer walls to define recessestherebetween in which the posts are located.

4. A container according to any of claim 2 or3 wherein a bottom discharge device is mounted be tween the inner sieeve and an outerwall of the con- tainer in the space defined adjacent one of the strengthening posts.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the side walls ofthe container not associated with the strengthening posts are of multi-ply formation.

6. A container according to claim 4when dependent on claim 2,3 or4 wherein the multi-ply layer forms part ofthe inner sleeve.

7. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the lower strap is located externally ofthe container and includes box-like post connectors which extend through apertures formed in the container base.

8. A container according to claim 6 wherein the post connectors are so formed as to tightly engage the ends of the posts without the need for separate fastening means.

9. A container according to claim 6 or7 wherein the lower strap is provided with means enabling the container to be fixed ly mounted in position on a supporting pallet.

10. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the upperstrap is providedwith meansfor holding the neck of an impermeable bag mounted within the container to assist the filling thereof.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore de scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.