Patent Publication Number: US-4549673-A

Title: Collapsible container for liquids

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of collapsible shipping containers of relatively large dimensions which are suitable for use in conjunction with palletized loads, and more particularly to an improved form adapted for use in the shipping of fluid loads. 
     Traditional containers of this type have found wide acceptance in the field of air transport and other fields where the larger rigid type container used on ships and freight cars is not suitable. The collapsible container normally consists of a rectangular box mounted on a rigid pallet or the equivalent, to permit convenient handling by a fork lift truck. Because of the rigidity of reinforcing bottoms, depending upon the type of cargo, such containers are readily stackable when in loaded condition. 
     When the containers have been unloaded, the same are readily collapsed upon the pallet or equivalent, and the collapsed side walls thereof are placed in mutually parallel relation, following which a removable cover which is part of the erected container overlies the collapsed walls and forms a unit only several inches high which may also be stacked for return shipment. 
     Depending upon the nature of the intended cargo, the containers have been modified to include side walls having spouts and small sliding doors in addition to the removable top cover. In the case of particulate loads, it is also known to provide flexible cords interconnecting between opposed side walls to prevent bulging. Because of potential leakage problems, no attempt, to the best of my knowledge has been made to accommodate liquid loads. 
     It is known in the art to provide relatively small containers with an inner liquid-proof fused lining of polyethylene or the like to make them waterproof, such containers normally not being intended for reuse. It is also known to package relatively inert liquid, such as milk in polyethylene bags which are supported prior to use in a relatively rigid frame element which permits the milk to be poured from the bag, following which the bag is discarded and the frame reused. However, such expedients are not suitable for shipping relatively larger quantities of liquids which would otherwise normally be shipped in heavy steel drums, which are expensive and space-consuming when return shipment is made in empty condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of an improved shipping container of the class described particularly adapted for use in shipping relatively large quantities of liquids and fine particulate materials in collapsible containers of relatively light weight and suitable for air freight and similar transportation modes using a construction which may be totally collapsed prior to return to a shipper for reuse. 
     To this end, there is provided a collapsible outer container of a type known in the prior art including a wood or synthetic resinous pallet or equivalent slip sheet. Disposed internally of the outer container, when in erected condition is a blow-molded synthetic resinous bottle, an upper wall of which is provided with a filler opening and stopper. At a lower edge of at least one side wall is a fitting to which a drain cock or other suitable device may be attached to extend outwardly through a flap or other opening in the collapsible container. During a loading operation, the outer container is brought to erected condition. The bottle is then inflated using a source of compressed air or the like whereby it will be expanded to substantially fill the rectangular void within the outer container. With the drain cock or other fitting closed, the bottle is filled to capacity and the filler opening then sealed. 
     Upon arrival at designation, the container is preferably positioned upon a raised supporting horizontal surface, and the flap in the side wall is opened to expose the drain cock through which the contents of the bottle are drained. When empty, the bottle is collapsed and carefully folded to planar condition, and placed upon the bottom wall of container above the pallet, or upon the collapsed side walls of the outer container, so as to be protected by the cover element overlying the entire collapsed structure. In this condition, the collapsed container along with others in similar condition may be stacked for return shipment. 
     In another embodiment, the collapsible container is provided with a collapsible liner which serves to reinforce the lower portion thereof against bulging when loaded, and serves to provide greater vertical compressive strength to facilitate stacking. The liner is of multiply constuction and includes a recess to which that part of the drain fitting which is integrally molded to the bottom is fitted to prevent rotation, so that the draincock or similar structure can be easily threadedly engaged outside the container. 
     In lieu of the molded bottle element, it is also possible to employ a relatively thin synthetic resinous bag to which a fitment has been secured on the outer surface thereof in sealed relation. The fitment is engaged with the recess in the liner is similar fashion. When employing this construction, the draincock is provided with an arcuate cutting edge which, upon the threaded engagement of the cock with the fitting penetrates the bag to establish communication with the fluid contents of the bag. Where the viscosity of the liquid being transported is relatively heavy, the flow of liquid may be improved by pressurizing the interior of the bottle or bag to a limited degree. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof. 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevational view thereof, partly in section as seen from the right hand portion of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a collapsible inner element in separate collapsed condition. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to that seen in FIG. 3, but showing the entire construction collapsed for return shipment. 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of inner element in fully expanded condition. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a developed view of an inner insert or liner element forming a part of the second embodiment. 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on an integrally molded fitment in engaged condition with the insert element shown in FIG. 8. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the fitment shown in FIG. 9. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a third embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: an outer collapsible container element 11 and a collapsible bottle element 12. 
     The container element 11 is of generally conventional and known construction, and may be permanently positioned upon a pallet 20 or equivalent having a horizontal floor 21 and skids 22 and 23 permiting the entry of a fork lift (not shown) therebetween. The cardboard container body 24 includes a flap type bottom wall 25, a pair of side walls 26, and a pair of end walls 27 interconnected at vertically extending corners 28. As is known in the art, the side walls 27 may be provided with score lines 29 for folding the same to planar condition. 
     A lid member 30 is also conventional, and includes an upper horizontal wall 31, a pair of long side walls 32, and a pair of short side walls 33 defining an upper continuous edge 34 adapted to overlie the continuous upper edge 35 of the body 24. 
     The bottle element 12 is formed by blow molding from a flexible non-porous synthetic resinous material, such as polyethylene or polystyrene. In inflated condition it is of rectangular configuration conforming to the void formed by the walls 26 and 27 of the element 11. It thus includes a lower wall 41, an upper wall 42, side walls 43 and end walls 44. Disposed within the upper wall 42 is an integrally molded upper opening 45 selectively closed by a closure 46. A similar opening 47 may be fitted with a drain cock (not shown) or provision for the same. A flap opening 48 is provided in one of the walls 26 to provide access to the opening 47 to permit the device to be drained in selective fashion. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end walls 44 are provided with fold lines 50 to permit the element 12 to be folded to planar condition as shown in FIG. 4 when not in use. In this condition, it may be placed on top of the collapsed walls 26 and 27 of the element 11 to be subsequently covered and protected by the lid member 30 for return shipment of the device, as is known in the art. 
     In the alternate form of bottle element 12 shown in FIG. 6, the fold lines 50 are replaced by the provision of side walls which are formed in accordion fashion to permit collapse along a vertical axis without the necessity of folding. Thus, the bottle element 60 includes an upper wall 61, a lower wall 62, side walls 63 and end walls 64, the walls 63 and 64 being formed as bellows folds 65. This type of construction results in a collapsed vertical height somewhat greater than that of the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but not appreciably so, with the added convenience of ease in collapsing the bottle element, which may be of very substantial dimensions. 
     To ready the device for use, it is necessary only to erect the outer collapsible element 11 in accordance with the prior art, and position the bottle element 12 within the void formed thereby prior to inflation. Inflation is best accomplished by introducing a compressed air hose into the opening 45, with the drain opening closed, an operation which permits the side and end walls 43 and 44 to be moved to congruent relation with respect to the corresponding walls 32 and 33. The opening 45 may then be stoppered until the liquid contents are ready for introduction, and during loading, the load will displace the air previously injected and thus maintain the bottle element in erected condition as loading proceeds. 
     Once loaded, the upper opening 45 is again stoppered and the lid member 30 placed on the body 24 to be secured in position, and sealed, if required. 
     Upon arriving at its designation, the container may be moved to a suitable horizontal supporting surface (not shown) for draining, and once emptied, the bottle element 12 may be removed from the container element for manually folding the same to relatively planar condition. This may be best accomplished with both the filler and drain opening left opened, so that air entrapped therein my be readily vented. 
     The element 10 is ready for return shipment by placing the collapsed bottle element 12 upon the folded walls of the container element 11, so that the lid member 30 may by then employed as a cover to protect both elements. In this condition, the device 10 is normally only an inch or two thicker than the container element itself, and multiple devices may be stacked for either storage or shipment without difficulty. 
     Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7-10, inclusive, the device, generally indicated by reference character 70 includes a main body element 71, an insert element 72, a lid element 73 and a bottle element 74. 
     The main body element 71 is of known type, including a bottom wall 75 which may be supported by a pallet (not shown), a pair of side walls 76, and a pair of end walls 77 forming a continuous upper edge 78. A continuous horizontal score line 79 defines that portion of the lower part of the element 71 which does not fold when the element is collapsed. Angular score lines 80 extend above the noncollapsible lower part 81 only over the collapsible upper part 82. As this type of collapsible container is known in the art, it need not be further considered in detail in the present disclosure. 
     The insert element 72 is also collapsible, and is most conveniently formed to include first and second members 84 and 85 which are substantially similar. Each member includes an outer side wall 86, and an outer end wall 87, an inner side wall and an inner end wall 89. To facilitate folding, the walls 89 are relatively narrow, and a separate insert panel 90 is provided at each end. Top flaps 91 &amp; 92 overlie the upper surface of the bottom wall of the main body element 71. 
     Referring to FIG. 9 in the drawing, the insert element 72 is formed of triple ply corrugated board, to include an inner ply 95, a medial ply 96, and an outer ply 97. In one of the outer side walls 86 a slot 98 is provided which is of keyhole configuration, as indicated by reference character 98 in the plies 95-97, and of square configuration as indicated by reference character 99 in the ply 96. 
     Reference character 100 designates an inner bottle element generally similar to that in the first embodiment having an opening 101 adjacent a lower edge of a side wall. The opening 101 is surrounded by a heat sealed molded fixture 102 having an inner flange 103, a generally tubular body 104 and an outer flange 105 of rectangular configuration. The flange 105 is bounded by rectilinear peripheral edges 106 (FIG. 10). A threaded through opening 107 is provided with a temporary plug 108 during filling and shipment. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, it will be observed that the rectangular configuration of the outer flange 105 corresponds to the square slot 99, so that when the bottle element 100 is positioned within an erected container, the flange 105 may be prevented from rotating relative to the slot 99, thereby permitting the removal of the plug 108 and installation of a threaded draincock from the exterior of the container as a manual operation, without the use of tools. 
     Turning now to the third embodiment, generally indicated by reference character 110, in this embodiment, the bottle element of the first and second embodiments is substituted by a thin synthetic resinous bag 111, a lower portion 113 of a side wall being provided with a fixture 114 similar to that in the second embodiment. 
     A plug corresponding to the plug 108 of the second embodiment is not employed. Instead, a draincock 116 is provided with a threaded shank 117 having an inner end 118 provided with an angularly disposed edge 119, which, when rotated as it engages the fixture, 114 cuts an opening through the wall 113 to provide communication with the contents. 
     I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.