Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SHIPPING CONTAINER HAVING INTEGRAL
SIDE AND BOTTOM WALLS
TECHNICAL FIELD
Provided is a shipping container used for transporting and storing a wide
variety of materials. More particularly, provided is a nestable shipping
container for transporting and storing materials.
BACKGROUND
A large percentage of products used in the world either comprise
materials transported or stored in conventional transport containers or are
themselves materials transported or stored in conventional shipping
containers.
Some sources report this percentage as high as 85% of all products. As such,
use and transport of these containers are important in global commerce. These
containers are not usually considered disposable, as the general life cycle of
conventional shipping containers includes reuse. Such reuse normally requires
return of empty containers to a manufacturer where they are processed and
refilled. As such, transport of these containers both in a laden condition
(containing contents), and in the unladen condition (empty) is a very common
shipping activity.
Transporting empty shipping containers has traditionally been by tractor
trailer or railroad car. Unfortunately, transporting empty shipping containers
is
inefficient as the shipping volume of the trailer or railroad car, when filled
with
empty shipping containers, is dominated by the lost volume inside the
containers. Thus, the transport agent is mostly hauling the air in the
containers,
The problem is compounded if the empty shipping containers are not nestable.
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Attempts have been made to address this problem. In some limited
instances, manufacturers shipping to one another may use and produce
complementary products which the manufacturers ship to one another such that
a shipping container flowing along transport lines between such manufacturers
is
always shipped in a laden form. For example, an agricultural products producer
may ship corn syrup to an ethanol producer in the shipping containers, the
ethanol producer then empties the shipping containers, fills them with
ethanol,
and ships them back to the agricultural products producer. Shipping containers
in these commerce lines are always shipped laden such that the above noted
inefficiency is minimized. Unfortunately, such complementary shipping
arrangements are specialized and are very rare.
In the more common scenario, where it is not feasible to ship containers
laden with products in both directions, it is desirable that shipping
containers
being shipped be arranged in such a manner that the number of shipping
containers which can be stowed for shipping in a given volume be maximized.
One manner in which to accomplish this end is to use nestable shipping
containers. A nestable container is one which may be placed, at least
partially,
inside another similarly shaped shipping container.
Previous attempts at providing nestable shipping containers have been
poorly received, because such containers have proven to be of poor integrity,
prone to leakage, and unable to reliably comply with shipping container
standards. This presents a major obstacle, as containers used in international
commerce are required to be of sufficient integrity to pass certain
international
performance standards. In addition, it is been found to be difficult to
separate
previous nestable shipping containers from each other. Furthermore, previous
nestable shipping containers are difficult to handle with conventional
handling
technology such as pallets, fork trucks, hand trucks, and in-house plant
conveyor systems.
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SUMMARY
Provided is a nestable shipping container comprising a cold worked,
integral, tapered container body comprising an upstanding side wall, a bottom
wall, and an open top.
According to certain embodiments, the nestable shipping container
comprises a tapered container body comprising an upstanding side wall, a
bottom wall, an open top, and a chime disposed at the upper end of said side
wall of said container body, said chime comprising a flat top surface
extending
outwardly from said side wall of said container body.
According to other embodiments, the nestable shipping container
comprises a cold worked, integral, tapered container body comprising an
upstanding side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top, and projections
extending
outwardly from the bottom wall.
According to further embodiments, the nestable shipping container
comprises a tapered container body comprising an upstanding side wall having
an upper chime, a bottom wall, and an open top, a lid comprising a top plate,
a
skirt depending from said top plate, and a flange extending inwardly from a
lower end of said skirt; and outwardly extending projections from said side
wall
of said container body for engaging said flange of said lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a section view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container.
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FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap
closure flange for closure engagement in the partially engaged condition.
FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap
closure flange for closure engagement in the fully engaged condition.
FIG. 2A is a section view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container.
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap
closure tab for closure engagement in the partially engaged condition.
FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap
closure flange for closure engagement in the fully engaged condition.
FIG. 3A is a sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container including vertically extending, external ribs.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container including external ribs vertically extending through spaces
between a discontinuous stacking ring.
FIG. 3C is a cross section taken along AA-AA of the nestable shipping
container shown in FIG. 3B.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a nestable shipping container including feet
elements.
FIG. 5A is an exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container having a bolt-on closure.
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=
FIG. 5B is a view of an illustrative embodiment of a lid for a nestable
shipping container having a bolt-on closure.
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a nestable shipping
container having a bolt-on closure.
FIG. 7 is a view of an illustrative embodiment of a lid and body for a
shipping container having a threaded closure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A shipping container comprising a side wall, a bottom wall, and an open
top is disclosed. Together, the side wall, bottom wall and open top constitute
a
shipping container body. According to certain embodiments, the shipping
containers may comprise 55 gallon or 70 gallon shipping containers. According
to certain embodiments, the shipping container body is provided with a taper
to
facilitate nesting or stacking of a plurality of shipping containers.
The shipping containers may be nestable or non-nestable. The nestable
containers necessarily comprise a self-nestable geometry. The geometry of a
nestable container may include, without limitation, a geometry which is
substantially conical or frusto-conical or which is substantially a polygonal
pyramid or a truncated polygonal pyramid. Without limitation, in some
embodiments the nestable geometry is a truncated square pyramid. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that these geometries each have distinct and
advantageous properties. In the case of a container having substantially
conical
or frustoconical geometry, it will have a very high radial crush strength and
be a
very tough, durable container. In the case of a container having a
substantially
square pyramid geometry, it will easily stand together with other containers
in a
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side-by-side, rank and file, arrangement without creating wasted interstitial
spaces so as to maximize storage volume for a given amount of floor space.
According to certain embodiments, the side wall and bottom wall are
integral. As used throughout this specification, the term "integral" means
that
the side wall and bottom wall of the shipping container are manufactured as a
single piece from a common blank of deformable material. As the side and
bottom walls of the shipping container are manufactured from a single blank of
deformable material, the traditional joining operations such as seaming and
welding to connect the side wall and bottom wall manufactured from separate
blanks of materials, are unnecessary.
According to other embodiments the side wall and bottom wall are not
integral. In such embodiments, the side walls and bottom walls are
manufactured from separate blanks of deformable material. Because these walls
are manufactured from separate blanks, seaming or welding operations are
necessary to connect the side wall to the bottom wall.
The upper end of the side wall of the shipping container includes a
chime. The term "chime" as used in this specification is well known to those
having ordinary skill in the art to refer to the upper edge or rim of a
shipping
container. As used herein, a chime refers to an edge or rim geometry which
may be hollow or solid. In certain embodiments, and without limitation, a
chime may be formed by rolling, stamping, or machining. According to certain
embodiments, the nestable shipping container comprises a container body
comprising an upstanding side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top, and a
chime disposed at the upper end of said container body, which has a flat top
surface that extends outwardly from the exterior surface of the side wall of
the
shipping container.
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As described above, a chime is an expanded surface of a container fully
or partially circumscribing the side wall perimeter. As noted above, the chime
geometry may be either hollow or solid. In certain embodiments the chime is a
rolled, tubular geometry comprising the top surface of the side wall. In some
embodiments the chime is circular, that is, the cross-section of the chime is
circular. In other embodiments, the chime has a flat surface, that is, cross-
section of the chime has a flat surface. In some embodiments, the chime is a
substantially closed cross-sectional geometry having a flat surface in which
the
flat surface of the chime is the top surface of the chime. In certain
embodiments, where the chime has a flat top surface, the top surface of the
chime is coplanar with the open top of the container.
The side wall of the shipping container, whether nestable or non-
nestable, may also include elements to increase strength of the container.
Without limitation, the strength-increasing elements may include vertically
extending ribs or flutes in the side walls. The ribs of the side walls may be
introduced into the side walls during the container drawing process, or they
may
be subsequently provided by a material expanding process in a single or
progressive sequence.
The ribs may be of any width, height and thickness, depending on the
desired additional strength to be imparted to the shipping container. Further,
the number of ribs on the side walls may be chosen to provide a predetermined
strength. The ribs may be formed by extrusion, drawing, stamping, or other
operations. The ribs may be solid or hollow. The ribs may be internal,
external, or both internal and external. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will
recognize that all of these described ribs will promote structural integrity.
In
certain embodiments, without limitation, the ribs are vertical and are
integral to
the side walls. Vertical ribs promote integrity and reliability. Vertical ribs
increase the vertical load which a container may withstand without failure.
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Also provided are means for facilitating nesting and denesting
operations. Nestable containers may be nested tightly or loosely with like
shaped containers. Provided are geometric elements, such as stacking rings,
which allow tight nesting while facilitating denesting. The side wall of the
nestable shipping container may include at least one stacking ring disposed
about
the outer circumference of the side wall of the shipping container. The
stacking
ring is typically located in the side wall of the shipping container at a
position
below the chime. According to certain embodiments, the stacking ring is
located approximately 3 to 5 inches below the chime. Like the strength
increasing ribs, the stacking ring may be introduced into the side walls
during
the container drawing process, or may be subsequently provided by a material
expanding process in a single or progressive sequence.
Tight nesting is desirable for maximizing storage density, the number of
containers which can be shipped within a given volume. Loose nesting
promotes ease of nesting and denesting containers. In some situations, tight
nesting can create difficulty in separating nested containers. Without being
bound to any particular theory, such difficulty may result from connected
surfaces or regions between containers which result in adhesive forces or from
connected surfaces or regions between containers which result in cohesive
forces, or from connected surfaces or regions between containers which result
in
isolation of internal regions from the external environment. These or other
mechanisms may produce forces which resist denesting operations. Without
being bound to any particular theory, some of the forces which resist
denesting
may result from air volumes trapped between nested containers. In order to
avoid the production of forces which resist denesting operations, while still
providing a high storage density, provided are geometric elements, such as
stacking rings, which allow tight nesting but prevent, reduce, or break-up
connected surfaces or isolated regions. Without being bound to any particular
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theory, maintaining flow paths for air between the exterior atmosphere and
volumes within the nested containers, may reduce forces which resist denesting
which result from air volumes trapped between nested containers. In certain
embodiments, and without limitation, the geometric elements which allow tight
nesting but prevent, reduce, or break-up connected surfaces or isolated
regions
comprise a stacking ring. The stacking ring is a geometry integral with the
external geometry of the side walls forming a bump or ring or lobe or other
eccentricities on the exterior surface of the side wall. In certain
embodiments,
the stacking ring is a horizontal ring about the perimeter of the sidewall
located
a predetermined distance below the chime of the side wall.
The stacking ring may be continuous about the entire circumference of
the side wall of the shipping container. Alternatively, the stacking ring may
include one or more discontinuity gaps. The discontinuous stacking ring may be
a horizontal discontinuous ring or series of elongated lobes in a single
horizontal
plane located about the perimeter of the sidewall and further located a
predetermined distance below the top edge of the side wall. Alternatively, the
discontinuous stacking ring may be formed in the nature of a peak and valley
structure about the side wall of the container body. Without limitation, by an
expanding process the stacking ring portions are peaks and the spaces between
each discontinuous stacking ring portion form valleys.
The vertical location of the stacking ring provides a limit to the amount
to which a container may be inserted into a sister container. Limiting the
amount to which a container may be inserted into a sister container, preserves
a
connection volume between internal and external spaces, prevents the isolation
of internal regions from the external environment, and reduces forces that
resist
denesting operations. Limiting the amount to which a container may be inserted
into a sister container also prevents, reduces, or breaks up connected
surfaces or
isolated regions and reduces forces which resist denesting operations.
Further,
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leaving a margin at the top of each container facilitates grasping upon the
container during nesting and denesting. In addition to functioning to promote
ease of nesting and denesting stacking rings promote integrity and
reliability.
Horizontal stacking rings increase the radial load which a container may
withstand without failure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize
that
this increased radial load tolerance corresponds to a higher expected field
life
for the container.
For embodiments where the stacking ring includes one or more
discontinuity gaps, the vertically extending ribs may pass through the
stacking
ring gap and terminate above the stacking ring.
The side wall of the nestable shipping container may also include
elements to facilitate the transfer and storage of a stack of nested shipping
containers. These elements are referred to as "base elements" or "feet." For
the integral shipping containers, the feet of the shipping container are
manufactured from the same blank of deformable material. For embodiments of
the shipping container in which the side wall and bottom of the shipping
container are manufactured from separate blanks, the feet are integral with
the
bottom wall. That is, the bottom wall includes the protruding feet.
Integral feet may be formed by protrusions from the bottom wall of the
container. Without limitation, the protrusions forming the integral feet may
be
created by deep drawing processes. The geometry and positions of the feet may
take diverse embodiments. In certain embodiments, the feet are a pair of
parallel, substantially rectangular prisms protruding from and integrally
connected to the bottom wall. The feet create a support surface for the
container below the bottom wall such that the container need not rest upon the
bottom wall. In some embodiments the feet are designed to facilitate access
for
fork truck forks to a lifting position under the container. In certain
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embodiments the feet are designed to facilitate access for hand trucks to a
lifting
position under the container. Because the feet permit access for handling
equipment to engage and lift the container, palleting is not necessary.
The nestable containers also include a closure. Without limitation, in
certain embodiments, such a closure comprises a top plate and engagement
elements for releasably attaching the closure to the side walls or integral
elements which are part of the side walls.
The closure may be releasably attached to the container by a snap-on
connection, a threaded connection, or a bolt connection. In
certain
embodiments, the interface between lid and the container may comprise a
sealing gasket or other seal promoter. In certain embodiments the closure may
be releasably attached to the container by threads integral to the closure. In
certain embodiments the closure may be releasably attached to the container by
snap closure tabs.
In embodiments wherein the container comprises a chime there are
embodiments for the engagement elements for releasably attaching the closure
to
engage the chime. In certain embodiments, the closure may be screwed or
bolted to the chime. Corresponding holes for accepting the screws or bolts may
also be provided in a surface of the chime, although this is not required. In
such embodiments, a series of bolt holes are provided in the top plate of the
closure corresponding to the position of holes for accepting the screws or
bolts.
In other embodiments, the fasteners are self-tapping screws so that making a
separate tapping operation through the holes in the chime is unnecessary. In
other embodiments, the fasteners are self-tapping, self-drilling screws so
that
they make both the holes and the thread for engagement so that neither a
separate drilling operation to make the holes on the lid or chime nor a
separate
tapping operation to thread the holes, is necessary.
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In certain embodiments the top plate of the closure conforms to the
geometry of the chime such that the fastener shanks are not exposed. In
certain
embodiments the chime has a flat top edge coplanar with the top of the side
walls such that the planar top plate conforms to the geometry of the chime
such
that the fastener shanks are not exposed. In embodiments where the chime has a
flat top edge, creating and tapping precise holes to accept threaded fasteners
is
simpler than in embodiments where the chime has a curved top surface since a
flat surface, unlike a curved surface, induces less random surface wander
forces
in a drill bit, fastener bit, or other tool or fastener contact point.
In certain embodiments, the closure may be releasably attached to the
chime by threads integral to the closure. In such embodiments, the closure
includes a top plate and a skirt depending from the top plate. In some
embodiments, the skirt coincides with the perimeter of the closure. The skirt
has an interior surface which has threads integrally attached to it. A set of
mating threads are integral to the exterior surface of the side walls or to a
geometry which is in turn integral to the side walls. In some embodiments the
set of mating threads are integral to an exterior surface of a chime.
In certain embodiments wherein the closure is releasably attached to the
chime by threads integral to the closure, the closure may further comprise
notches, grooves, recesses, pins, studs, blocks, or other geometry to receive
a
tool for screwing the closure on or off. When in use the, tool improves
leverage for applying a torque about the axis about which the lid rotates when
being fastened or unfastened.
In certain embodiments, the closure may be releasably attached to the
chime by snap closure tabs integral to the closure. In such embodiments, the
closure includes a top plate and a skirt depending from the top plate. The
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interior surface of the skirt further includes an inwardly extending flange.
In
some embodiments, the skirt coincides with the perimeter of the top plate.
Each
flange has an upper and lower surface. Said upper surfaces releasably engage a
downwardly facing engagement surface disposed on the side wall of the shipping
container.
In embodiments where the container body is integrally formed from a
single blank of deformable material, the closure may be attached to the chime
by
conventional seaming, conventional welding, or by a conventional bolt ring.
According to further embodiments, the lid may be provided with a top
plate. The lid may include a plurality of spaced, crimped protrusions that are
separated by spaced rim sections. The rim sections are turned under toward the
center of the lid and are flat therewith. The crimped protrusions then screw
into
the straight top portion of the shipping container that has no chime by mating
and interlocking with rounded off intermittent spiraling protrusions stamped
out
of the top portion the shipping container. A gasket is provided inside the lid
protrusions to provide a leak-proof closure when subject to a screw-on motion
under pressure.
The nestable containers may comprise metal, metal alloy, plastic,
composite materials, or any combination of these materials. Composite
materials are those material comprising matrix material and reinforcing
material. Without
limitation, composite materials include fiber-reinforced
plastics and metal-filled plastics. Fiber reinforced plastics include glass-
fiber
filled plastics, such as glass fiber filled nylon.
According to certain embodiments, the nestable shipping container
having integral side and bottom walls without seams or welds is manufactured
by cold working a deformable material. Accordingly, the nestable shipping
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container may comprises cold worked metal, cold worked metal alloy, cold
worked plastic, cold worked composite materials, and combinations thereof.
According to an illustrative embodiment, the shipping container comprises cold
worked steel.
The shipping containers have particular geometries or properties
imparted by forming operations. Forming
operations include, without
limitation, cold working and hot working. Cold working operations are those
operations which alter the shape or size of a material by plastic deformation
and
may be performed below the recrystallization point of the material. Without
limitation, in certain embodiments, cold working operations may include
rolling, stamping, drawing, and deep drawing. In drawing operations a blank
is restrained at the edges, and the middle section is forced by a press into a
die
to stretch the metal into a cup shaped drawn part. Deep drawing is a
particular
kind of drawing operation. Deep drawing is an operation in which the depth of
draw is equal to or greater than the smallest dimension of the opening. Many
forming operations, including drawing operations, can be performed in a
progressive manner.
Progressive forming operations utilize a series of
operations wherein the input for operations subsequent to the first operation
are
the output from prior operations.
By way of comparison, hot working operations are those which must be
performed above the recrystallization point of the material. Hot working
comprises molding operations. Molding operations include, without limitation,
injection molding, blow molding, and vacuum molding.
Illustrative embodiments of the nestable container will be described in
further detail with reference to the drawing FIGURES. It should be noted that
the embodiments show in the drawing FIGURES are intended to be merely
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illustrative and should not be considered to limit the nestable container in
any
manner.
FIG. 1A shows one illustrative embodiment of nestable shipping
container 10. Shipping container 10 includes side wall 11, bottom wall 12 and
lid 13. Lid 13 includes top plate 14 with depending skirt 15. Lid 13 includes
a
raised rim portion 16 that is located about the outer perimeter of the top
plate
14. The raised rim 16 defines a sealing element retention cavity 17. The side
wall 11 of the container 10 includes a stacking ring 18 about the outer
circumference of the side wall 11.
FIG. 1B is a fragmentary view showing the connection of the lid 13 to
the side wall 11 of the container 10. A closure engagement is designed to
releasably hold the lid 13 in place over the open end of the container 10 of
FIG.
1A. As shown in FIG. 1B, the upper end of the side wall 11 includes a rolled
chime 19. Positioned below the chime 19 is the engagement element 20. FIG.
1B shows the closure engagement in the partially engaged condition. A sealing
gasket 17A may be included within the sealing element retention cavity 17 to
promote a seal between the lid 13 and the top edge of side wall 11 of the
container 10. Skirt 15 includes an inwardly extending flange 21. The skirt 15
is shown slightly bent out of its free position as the flange 21 slides over
the
exterior surface of the engagement element 20. The downward facing
engagement surface 22 of the engagement element 20 is shown disengaged from
the flange 21.
FIG. 1C shows the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1B in the fully
engaged condition. The skirt 15 and closure flange 21 are shown in their free
position as the flange 21 has cleared the exterior surface of the chime 19.
The
downward facing engagement surface 22 of the engagement element 20 is shown
engaged with the flange 21.
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FIG. 2A shows another illustrative embodiment of the nestable shipping
container 10, designated by reference numeral 30. Shipping container 30
includes side wall 31, bottom wall 32 and lid 33. Lid 33 includes top plate 34
with depending skirt 35. Unlike the shipping container 10 shown in FIGS. 1A-
1C, the lid 33 does not include a raised rim portion located about the outer
perimeter of the top plate 34. The side wall 31 of the container 30 includes a
stacking ring 36 about the outer circumference of the side wall 31.
FIG. 2B is a fragmentary view of FIG. 2A showing the connection of the
lid 33 to the side wall 31 of the container 30. A closure engagement is
designed
to releasably hold the lid 33 in place over the open end of the container 30.
As
shown, the upper end of the side wall 31 includes a chime 37. Chime 37
includes a flat top surface 38 extending outwardly from the exterior surface
of
the side wall 31. Chime 37 also includes leg 39 which is bent back against
side
31. Positioned below the chime 37 is the engagement element 40. FIG. 2B
shows the closure engagement in the partially engaged condition. A sealing
element 41, such as a gasket or an 0-ring may be included along bottom surface
of the lid 33 to promote a seal between the lid 33 and the top flat surface 38
of
chime 37 of the container 30. Skirt 35 includes an inwardly extending flange
42. The skirt 35 is shown slightly bent out of its free position as the flange
42
slides over the exterior surface of the engagement element 40. The downward
facing engagement surface 43 of the engagement element 40 is shown
disengaged from the flange 42.
FIG. 2C shows the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2B in the fully
engaged condition. The skirt 35 and closure flange 42 are shown in their free
position as the flange 42 has cleared the exterior surface of the engagement
element 40. The downward facing engagement surface 43 of the engagement
element 40 is shown engaged with the flange 42.
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FIG. 3A shows another one illustrative embodiment of a nestable
shipping container, designated by reference numeral 50. Shipping container 50
includes side wall 51, bottom wall 52 and lid 53. Lid 53 includes top plate 54
with depending skirt 55. Lid 53 includes a raised rim portion 56 that is
located
about the outer perimeter of the top plate 54. The raised rim 56 defines a
sealing element retention cavity 57. The side
wall 51 of the container 50
includes a stacking ring 58 about the outer circumference of the side wall 51.
The side wall 51 of shipping container 50 includes a plurality of vertically
extending rib elements 59. Ribs 59 extend from the bottom wall of shipping
container 50 to a position below stacking ring 58.
FIG. 3B shows a variation of the illustrative embodiment of FIG 3A.
Shipping container 60 includes side wall 61, bottom wall 62 and lid 63. Lid 63
includes top plate 64 with depending skirt 65. Lid 63 includes a raised rim
portion 66 that is located about the outer perimeter of the top plate 64. The
raised rim 66 defines a sealing element retention cavity 67. The side wall 61
of
the container 60 includes a discontinuous stacking ring 68 about the outer
circumference of the side wall 61. Portions of the stacking ring 68 are
horizontally spaced about the periphery of the side wall 61. The side wall 61
of
shipping container 60 includes a plurality of vertically extending rib
elements
69. Ribs 69 extend from the bottom wall of shipping container 60 and through
the spaces between stacking ring 68 portions, and terminate at a position
above
stacking ring 68 but below chime 70.
FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a nestable shipping
container, designated by reference numeral 80. Shipping container 80 includes
side wall 81, bottom wall 82 and lid 83. Lid 83 includes top plate 84 with
depending skirt 85. Lid 83 includes a raised rim portion 86 that is located
about
the outer perimeter of the top plate 84. The raised rim 86 defines a sealing
element retention cavity 87. The side wall 81 of the container 80 includes a
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stacking ring 88 about the outer circumference of the side wall 81. Spaced
apart
feet 89 protrude from bottom wall 82.
The feet may be deep drawn from the bottom wall of the shipping
container. The feet may also be provided with strength imparting ribs. The
process for forming the ribbed feet would include deep drawing the feet from
the single blank of material used for the side and bottom walls of the
shipping
container, and then pushing the feet into a mating die to impart the ribs in
the
feet. Thus, the ribbed feet would impart an additional strength increasing
property to the bottom wall of the shipping container.
Assume a non-limiting embodiment of the shipping container having a
about 20.0 to about 20.5 inch outer diameter. Without limitation, the shipping
container could include feet having feet that are approximately 1 inch wide
and
4 inches in height. The feet may be positioned approximately 3 inches from an
edge of the bottom wall of the shipping container. This positioning of the
feet
would leave approximately 12.5 inches between the feet.
A shipping container or a stack of nested shipping containers can be
transported or moved around a facility by either a hand truck, motorized
forklift
or any similar device that would allow a pallet or equivalent to move shipping
containers. To move a single vertical stack of nested shipping containers, the
forks of the hand truck or fork lift would be inserted in the space between
the
feet on the bottom wall of the shipping container. According to other
embodiments, a number of shipping containers could be banded together to form
a unit. The forks of the hand truck or fork lift would be inserted into the
space
between feet on adjacent shipping containers or on outermost feet of the
shipping containers. Thus, the use of the feet on the bottom wall of the
shipping
container obviates the use of separate, wooden, plastic or metal pallets.
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FIGS. 5A and 5B show an exploded view of an illustrative embodiment
of a shipping container, designated by reference numeral 90. Shipping
container
90 includes tapered side wall 91, bottom wall 92 and lid 93. Lid 93 includes
top
plate 94 and a raised rim portion 95 that is located about the outer perimeter
of
the top plate 94. The raised rim 95 defines a sealing element retention cavity
96. The side wall 91 of the container 90 includes a stacking ring 192 about
the
outer circumference of the side wall 91 and vertically extending ribs 97. Lid
93
includes a plurality of holes for receiving fasteners 98. Lid 93 is attached
to the
top of the shipping container 90 via fasteners 98. The lid 93 is positioned
above
the container 90 and the raised rim 95 of top plate 94 is brought into contact
with rolled, tubular chime 99 located at the top of side wall 91. Sealing
gasket
100 is located within the retention cavity 96 and therefore is disposed
between
the raised rim 95 and the chime 99. The fasteners are inserted into the holes
in
the raised rim 96 and are engaged with the chime 99. According to other
embodiments, the chime 99 may also be provided with corresponding holes that
are aligned with the holes in the raised rim 96.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of a
shipping container, designated by reference numeral 101. Shipping container
101 includes tapered side wall 102, bottom wall 103 and lid 104. Lid 104
includes top plate 105 having an outer perimeter 106. The side wall 102 of the
container 101 includes a stacking ring 106 about the outer circumference of
the
side wall 102 and vertically extending ribs 107. Lid 104 includes a plurality
of
holes for receiving fasteners 108. Lid 104 is attached to the top of the
shipping
container 101 via fasteners 108. The lid 104 is positioned above the container
101 and the outer perimeter 106 of top plate 105 is brought into contact with
a
flat chime 110 located at the top of side wall 102. Sealing gasket 111 is
located
near the outer perimeter 106 of top plate 104 and therefore is disposed
between
the outer perimeter 106 and the chime 110. The fasteners are inserted into the
holes located near the outer perimeter 106 of top plate 104 and are engaged
with
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the chime 110. According to other embodiments, the flat chime 110 may also
be provided with corresponding holes that are aligned with the holes in the
top
plate 104.
FIG. 7 shows another illustrative embodiment of a shipping container,
designated by reference numeral 120. Shipping container 120 includes side wall
121, bottom wall 122 and lid 123. Side wall 121 and bottom wall 122 are an
integral structure manufacture from a single blank of deformable metal. Lid
123
includes top plate 124 with depending skirt 125. Skirt 125 includes interior
and
exterior surfaces. Located on the interior surface of skirt 125 are threads
126.
The upper portion of the side wall 121 of the container 120 includes a
stacking
ring 127 about the outer circumference of the side wall 121. Disposed above
stacking ring 127 are mating threads 128. Lid 123 is attached to shipping
container 120 via mating threads 126 and 128.
Without limitation, the integral drum can serve as an overpack for
shipping a wide range of smaller size shipping containers.
As used herein the term "international commerce drum" is a subset of
containers which meets or exceeds certain performance criteria. More
specifically, an international commerce drum is a container that does not leak
or
rupture or otherwise become unsafe to use as a container after being subject
to
any of the following: a drop of 0.8 meters onto a rigid, non-resilient, flat
and
horizontal surface; being held underwater and filled to a gauge pressure of 20
kPa for 5 minutes; being filled to a gauge pressure of 100 kPa for 5 minutes.
While the nestable container has been described above in connection with
certain illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that other similar
embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the
,
described embodiments for performing the same function without deviating
CA 02656830 2013-08-16
. .
therefrom. It will be understood that the scope of the claims
should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the
examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the description as a whole.
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