Folding seed box with fork lift base

Abstract

A collapsible bulk container for dry, flowable particulate material is provided with a frame to support a bottom wall having a discharge opening and a gate moveable between opened and closed positions relative to the discharge opening. Four side walls are pivotally connected to the frame, with the pivot axes being at different elevations, such that the side walls can be folded between an upright use position and a substantially flat storage position. A lid is pivotally connected to opposite side walls for moving between an open position adjacent the connected side wall and a closed position over the bottom wall. Multiple containers can be stacked one upon another in both the use and storage positions. The base or frame of the container can receive forks from a lift truck on all four sides of the container.

1 . A particulate material container, comprising:
 a four-sided base;   a bottom wall mounted to the base and having an outlet;   four side walls hinged to the base for pivotal movement between a raised use position and a lowered storage position;   a lid hinged to one of the side walls for pivotal movement between storage and use positions; and   the base having a pair of slots on each side so that lift forks can be received on each side without interference from the bottom wall.   
     
     
         2 . The particulate material container of  claim 1  wherein the side walls fold down to stack flat one above another in the storage position. 
     
     
         3 . The particulate material container of  claim 1  wherein each side wall has a pivot axis, and the pivot axes are vertically offset with respect to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The particulate material container of  claim 1  wherein the side walls are locked together in the use position and unlocked from one another in the storage position. 
     
     
         5 . The particulate material container of  claim 1  wherein adjacent side walls form a corner for the container, with an edge of one of the side walls overlapping an edge of the other adjacent side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The particulate material container of  claim 5  further comprising a lock member on the other side wall moveable between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the overlapped edge of the one side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The particulate material container of  claim 5  wherein the corner has a tongue and groove assembly for the overlapped edges. 
     
     
         8 . The particulate material container of  claim 5  wherein the one side wall has a C-shaped flange and the other side wall has a lip receivable in the flange. 
     
     
         9 . The particulate material container of  claim 8  further comprising a lock arm releasably engaging the flange to retain the adjacent side walls in the use position. 
     
     
         10 . The particulate material container of  claim 1  wherein the base includes four corner legs supporting the side walls and four perimeter rails extending between the legs, with the pair of slots being formed in each rail. 
     
     
         11 . A particulate material container for particulate material, comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a top wall;   four side walls extending between the top and bottom walls and having upper and lower edges and opposite lateral edges;   the top wall being pivotally connected adjacent the upper edge of one of the side walls for movement between a use position over the bottom wall and a storage position adjacent the one side wall;   the side walls each being pivotal about the lower edges for movement between a substantially vertical use position and a substantially horizontal storage position;   the side walls forming four corners of the container, with each corner having an overlapping edge and an overlapped edge of adjacent side walls; and   a lock member adjacent each overlapped edge, moveable between locked and unlocked positions relative to the overlapping edge.   
     
     
         12 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  wherein the side walls fold down to stack flat one above another in the storage position. 
     
     
         13 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  wherein each side wall has a pivot axis, and the pivot axes are vertically offset with respect to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  further comprising a base to which the bottom wall and side walls are mounted. 
     
     
         15 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  wherein the base having a pair of slots on each side so that lift forks can be received on each side without interference from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The foldable container of  claim 11  wherein the bottom wall includes a discharge opening. 
     
     
         17 . The foldable container of  claim 16  wherein the bottom wall is sloped downwardly toward the discharge opening. 
     
     
         18 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  wherein the corner has a tongue and groove assembly for the overlapped edges. 
     
     
         19 . The particulate material container of  claim 11  wherein the one side wall has a C-shaped flange and the other side wall has a lip receivable in the flange. 
     
     
         20 . The particulate material container of  claim 19  wherein the lock member is mounted on the other side wall, and engages the flange in the locked position and disengages the flange in the unlocked position.