Moulded plastic bulk container

Abstract

A molded plastic bulk container for the storage, transport and handling of large quantities of bulk material such as fruit. The container includes: (a) a base which may be internally concave; (b) a number of walls, for example four, extending upwardly from the base, wherein at least one, and preferably all, of the walls is adapted to have an internally concave configuration under a neutral load, i.e. when the container is empty.

1 . A molded plastic bulk container including 
 (a) a base;    (b) walls extending upwardly from the base,    wherein at least one of the walls is adapted to have an internally concave configuration under a neutral load.    
     
     
         2 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base has an internally concave configuration under a neutral load.  
     
     
         3 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base is inclined radially upwardly from its center towards a lower edge of each of the walls.  
     
     
         4 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes reinforcing ribs.  
     
     
         5 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall includes a lateral ledge substantially along the top of the at least one wall.  
     
     
         6 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container includes four walls, each pair of adjacent walls separated by a corner post.  
     
     
         7 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the corner posts have a hollow configuration.  
     
     
         8 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the corner posts have a substantially cylindrical configuration.  
     
     
         9 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the corner posts have a substantially constant cross section substantially along their length.  
     
     
         10 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is stackable.  
     
     
         11 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each corner post includes a foot which is configured to sit on the top surface of a corresponding corner post of a similar or identical vertically adjacent container.  
     
     
         12 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall includes no reinforcing ribs on the majority of its surface.  
     
     
         13 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall includes no reinforcing ribs on its surface.  
     
     
         14 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is adapted to permit minimal flexing under a normal load.  
     
     
         15 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is adapted to be substantially rigid under a normal load.  
     
     
         16 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the at least one wall is in the range 3 mm to 6 mm.  
     
     
         17 . The container claimed in  claim 3 , wherein four planes extending between the external surfaces of each pair of corner posts define the boundaries of the cubed volume of the container and whereby the external surfaces of the walls and the base do not extend beyond the boundaries of the cubed volume of the container.  
     
     
         18 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of the four walls hits an internally concave configuration.  
     
     
         19 . The container claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the base and each of the four walls have an internally concave configuration.  
     
     
         20 . The container claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container further includes a planar lid.