Abstract:
A nestable shipping container including side walls, a bottom wall, and an open top is disclosed. The nestable shipping container has a geometry which permits insertion into and reception of similarly shaped containers to facilitate empty shipment and storage in a minimum amount of space. The nestable shipping container may be manufactured by a cold working method from a single blank of material. The containers may be manufactured to meet the performance criteria required of international commerce shipping drums.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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. 
         [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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 
         [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a section view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable shipping container. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap closure flange for closure engagement in the partially engaged condition. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap closure flange for closure engagement in the fully engaged condition. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a section view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable shipping container. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap closure tab for closure engagement in the partially engaged condition. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a cross-sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a snap closure flange for closure engagement in the fully engaged condition. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable shipping container including vertically extending, external ribs. 
           [0018]      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. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  is a cross section taken along AA-AA of the nestable shipping container shown in  FIG. 3B . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a nestable shipping container including feet elements. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of an illustrative embodiment of a nestable shipping container having a bolt-on closure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a view of an illustrative embodiment of a lid for a nestable shipping container having a bolt-on closure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of another embodiment of a nestable shipping container having a bolt-on closure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a view of an illustrative embodiment of a lid and body for a shipping container having a threaded closure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    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. 
         [0026]    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 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. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    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. 
         [0029]    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. 
         [0030]    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. 
         [0031]    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. 
         [0032]    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. 
         [0033]    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. 
         [0034]    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 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. 
         [0035]    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. 
         [0036]    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, 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. 
         [0037]    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. 
         [0038]    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. 
         [0039]    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 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. 
         [0040]    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. 
         [0041]    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. 
         [0042]    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. 
         [0043]    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. 
         [0044]    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. 
         [0045]    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. 
         [0046]    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 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. 
         [0047]    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. 
         [0048]    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. 
         [0049]    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. 
         [0050]    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 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. 
         [0051]    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. 
         [0052]    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. 
         [0053]    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 illustrative and should not be considered to limit the nestable container in any manner. 
         [0054]      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 . 
         [0055]      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  17 A 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 . 
         [0056]      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 . 
         [0057]      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 . 
         [0058]      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 O-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 . 
         [0059]      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 . 
         [0060]      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 . 
         [0061]      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 . 
         [0062]      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 stacking ring  88  about the outer circumference of the side wall  81 . Spaced apart feet  89  protrude from bottom wall  82 . 
         [0063]    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. 
         [0064]    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. 
         [0065]    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. 
         [0066]      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 . 
         [0067]      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 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 . 
         [0068]      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 . 
         [0069]    Without limitation, the integral drum can serve as an overpack for shipping a wide range of smaller size shipping containers. 
         [0070]    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. 
         [0071]    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 therefrom. Further, all embodiments disclosed are not necessarily in the alternative, as various embodiments may be combined to provide the desired characteristics. Variations can be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the nestable container should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the attached claims.