Container

Abstract

An impact resistant container ( 1 ) for trees or other large plants. The container ( 1 ) comprises: side walls ( 3 ) fabricated from a plurality of layers of steel beams ( 7 ), the beams having a rectangular open cross-section; and a rigid base member ( 5 ) arranged within the side walls ( 3 ), wherein at least one of the side walls ( 3 ) comprises a deformation initiating means ( 11 ) for initiating deformation of the steel beams ( 7 ) in an impact.

1 . An impact resistant container for trees or other large plants, the container comprising:
 side walls fabricated from a plurality of layers of steel beams, the beams having a rectangular open cross-section; and   a rigid base member arranged within the side walls,   wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a deformation initiating means for initiating deformation of the steel beams in an impact.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a side wall thickness provided by an upper layer of the beams is greater than a side wall thickness provided by lower layers of the beams. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the upper layer of the beams is inwardly extending. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the deformation initiating means is provided in the upper layer of the beams. 
   
   
       5 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the deformation initiating means comprises cuts and/or depressions formed in the beams. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the cuts and/or depressions are formed in an inner portion of the beams. 
   
   
       7 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the cross-section of the beams has a length in the range 150 mm to 300 mm and a width in the range 50 mm to 150 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein a wall thickness of the beams is in the range 3 mm to 10 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the beams are welded together at discrete locations. 
   
   
       10 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the side walls together have a rectangular cross section in plan view. 
   
   
       11 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein ends of the beams of adjacent sidewalls are overlapped. 
   
   
       12 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the side walls have a height in the range 600 mm to 1200 mm. 
   
   
       13 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the base member comprises a block of concrete. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the block of concrete comprises concrete reinforced with steel mesh. 
   
   
       15 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the base member has a height in the range 200 mm to 400 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The container of any preceding claim, wherein the base member has a number of apertures for anchoring the container to the ground. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the apertures is angled towards one of the side walls. 
   
   
       18 . An arrangement comprising the container of  claim 16  or  17  positioned on a ground surface, wherein the arrangement further comprises a number of threaded bars anchoring the container to the ground, the bars extending through respective ones of the apertures in the base member and received in corresponding holes in the ground surface. 
   
   
       19 . The arrangement of  claim 18 , further comprising a cement for bonding the bars in the apertures and holes through which they extend/are received. 
   
   
       20 . The arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the cement is a resin cement. 
   
   
       21 . The container of any preceding claim, clad in a decorative sheet material.