Collapsible bin

Abstract

A collapsible bin ( 10 ) is described which includes side walls ( 11 ) and a base ( 12 ). The side walls ( 11 ) are adapted to receive an adjacent side wall ( 11 ) at each corner in an interengaging arrangement ( 15/16 ) and, to secure the side walls ( 11 ), an elongate strap element ( 14 ) is provided to surround the walls ( 11 ) during assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible bin including side walls and a base, said side walls being adapted to receive an adjacent side wall at each corner in an interengaging arrangement wherein an elongate element is provided to surround the interengaging side walls.  
     
     
         2 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the interengaging arrangement is a tongue-in-groove construction.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    or    2    wherein there are four side walls.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the base is a standard pallet construction capable of receiving a fork hoist apparatus.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    further including connector means for releasable connecting of the side walls to the base.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    further including a connector means for each side wall to connect said side wall to the base.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible bin of    claim 6    wherein each connector means includes a fastening portion for fastening of the connector to the base or side wall and an engagement portion for engaging with the side wall or base as the case may be.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible bin of    claim 7    wherein the fastening portion includes apertures through which fasteners can locate.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible bin of    claim 7    wherein the fastening portion includes a plurality of integrally formed nailing elements.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible bin of    claim 7    wherein the engagement portion is a flange located substantially transverse to the plane in which the fastening portion lies.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible bin of    claim 7    wherein two connector means are provided for each side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The collapsible bin of    claim 11    wherein each connector means is fastened by the fastening portion to the side wall adjacent the edge of the side wall which engages with the edge of an adjacent side wall to form a corner.  
     
     
         13 . The collapsible bin of    claim 12    wherein the engagement portion of the connector means engages with an edge of the base.  
     
     
         14 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap secured about the bin by securing or connecting means.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the elongate element is in the form of a strap adapted for quick release and re-use.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the side walls are constructed substantially of wood.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible bin of    claim 1    wherein the interengaging arrangement is such as to prevent relative inward movement of the edge of the side walls at a corner.  
     
     
         18 . A method of constructing a collapsible bin including the steps of arranging four side walls to form a polygonal container shape upon a pallet base and securing said side walls together by the use of a strapping element about the substantial periphery of said side walls.  
     
     
         19 . The method of constructing a collapsible bin as claimed in    claim 18    further including the step of coupling the lowermost part of each side wall to the pallet base by releasable connector means.