Bulk bin

Abstract

The bulk bin of the present invention comprises four sides and a base. The interior of the bulk bin comprises a substantially smooth and continuous surface, without any sharp or abrupt corners or edges. Each of the sides comprises a top strip portion and a curved wall portion. The top strip is substantially straight in the horizontal direction, whereas the curved wall portion is curved (in a concave manner) in the horizontal direction. A chamfer provides a smooth transition between the relative straightness of the top strip portion and the concavity of the curved wall portion, while maintaining the overall smooth and continuous interior surface of the bulk bin.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A bin comprising:
 a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a base;   wherein said first side and said second side are attached to a first corner column, said second side and said third side are attached to a second corner column, said third side and said fourth side are attached to a third corner column, and said fourth side and said first side are attached to a fourth corner column;   wherein each of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side comprises:
 a top strip, said top strip being substantially straight in a horizontal direction; 
 a curved wall; and 
 a chamfer, said chamfer being in between said top strip and said curved wall and providing a substantially smooth and continuous transition surface between said top strip and said curved wall; and 
   wherein each of said first side, said second side, said third side, said fourth side, said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column are attached to said base.   
     
     
         2 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column comprises a corner surface, wherein said corner surface is curved. 
     
     
         3 . The bin of  claim 2 , wherein each of said corner surfaces further joins, in a smooth and continuous manner, with an inner surface of two curved walls of adjacent ones of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side. 
     
     
         4 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein each of said curved walls comprises a curvature in a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         5 . The bin of  claim 4 , wherein said curvature is concave, as from within said bin. 
     
     
         6 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side comprises a plurality of horizontal ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The bin of  claim 6 , wherein said horizontal ribs extend away from an outer surface of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side. 
     
     
         8 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said chamfers' heights vary along said chamfers' lengths. 
     
     
         9 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein said chamfers' heights are greatest at a middle of said chamfers' longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         10 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein said chamfers' heights are least near an end of said chamfers' longitudinal axes. 
     
     
         11 . The bin of  claim 8 , wherein said chamfers are substantially semi-elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         12 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said curved walls comprise a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         13 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         14 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a curved top surface, said curved top surface being concave, as from within said bin. 
     
     
         15 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column are substantially exterior to said curved walls of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side. 
     
     
         16 . The bin of  claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of supports extending away from said bin's bottom. 
     
     
         17 . The bin of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of feet, wherein one of each of said feet is fitted upon each one of said supports. 
     
     
         18 . A bin comprising:
 a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, and a base;   wherein said first side and said second side are attached to a first corner column, said second side and said third side are attached to a second corner column, said third side and said fourth side are attached to a third corner column, and said fourth side and said first side are attached to a fourth corner column;   wherein each of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side comprises a curved wall;   wherein each of said first side, said second side, said third side, said fourth side, said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column are attached to said base; and   wherein each of said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column comprises a curved corner surface, said curved corner surface joining, in a smooth and continuous manner, with an inner surface of two curved walls of adjacent ones of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side.   
     
     
         19 . The bin of  claim 18 , wherein each of said curved walls comprises a curvature in a horizontal direction, wherein said curvature is concave, as from within said bin. 
     
     
         20 . The bin of  claim 19 , wherein said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column, and said fourth corner column are substantially exterior to said curved walls of said first side, said second side, said third side, and said fourth side. 
     
     
         21 . The bin of  claim 20 , wherein said first corner column, said second corner column, said third corner column and said fourth corner column lie at four corners of a rectangle. 
     
     
         22 . The bin of  claim 21 , wherein said curved walls lie substantially within a perimeter of said rectangle. 
     
     
         23 . The bin of  claim 18 , wherein said curved walls comprise a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         24 . The bin of  claim 18 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of vents. 
     
     
         25 . The bin of  claim 18 , wherein said base comprises a curved top surface, said curved top surface being concave, as from within said bin. 
     
     
         26 . The bin of  claim 18 , wherein said base comprises a plurality of supports extending away from said bin's bottom. 
     
     
         27 . The bin of  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of feet, wherein one of each of said feet is fitted upon each one of said supports.