Stackable pallet container fitted with a top reinforcement frame

Abstract

A stackable pallet container ( 1 ) for transportation and/or storage of substances has at least an inner parallelepiped-shaped pouch ( 20 ) fit with a tap and has a filling opening closed by a cap. A peripheral protective cage ( 30 ) surrounds the internal pouch ( 20 ) to reinforce the container ( 1 ). The cage ( 30 ) takes the form of a wire mesh ( 31 ) with vertical ( 32 ) and horizontal ( 33 ) bars welded together at their respective points of intersection ( 34 ). The container ( 1 ) further has a pallet ( 10 ) on which the internal pouch ( 20 ) rests, and a top reinforcement frame ( 40 ) connects the sides ( 35 ) of the peripheral cage ( 30 ) at the top thereof to rigidify the container ( 1 ). The reinforcement frame ( 40 ) has at least four independent rigid bars ( 41 ) arranged in the same plane and each is connected removably and diagonally to two adjacent sides of the cage ( 30 ) by fixing brackets ( 50 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stackable pallet container ( 1 ) for transportation and/or storage of hazardous substances, chemical or food products or powdered solids, comprising:
 an inner parallelepiped-shaped high-density polyethylene pouch ( 20 ) fit at the bottom with a tap and having at the top a filling opening closed by a cap,   a peripheral protective cage ( 30 ) surrounding the internal pouch ( 20 ) to reinforce the container ( 1 ), the protective cage ( 30 ) taking the form of a wire mesh ( 31 ) with vertical ( 32 ) and horizontal ( 33 ) bars welded together at their respective points of intersection ( 34 ),   a bottom pallet ( 10 ) made of wood, plastics material or metal, on which the internal pouch ( 20 ) rests,   a top reinforcement frame ( 40 ) connecting the sides ( 35 ) of the peripheral cage ( 30 ) at the top thereof to rigidify the container ( 1 ),   wherein the reinforcement frame ( 40 ) comprises at least four independent rigid bars ( 41 ) arranged in the same plane and each being connected removably and diagonally to two adjacent sides of the cage ( 30 ) by fixing brackets ( 50 ).   
     
     
         2 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 1 , wherein all of the bars ( 41 ) of the reinforcement frame ( 40 ) are identical and each comprises a straight main central portion ( 42 ) continued on both sides by a bent portion ( 43 ) so that the end ( 43 ) of each of the bent portions ( 43 ) is perpendicular to the side ( 35 ) of the reinforcement cage ( 20 ) to which the bar ( 41 ) is connected. 
     
     
         3 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 2 , wherein each fixing bracket ( 50 ) is welded to the end of each bar ( 41 ) and has a general inverted “U” shape straddling an upper edge ( 36 ) of the mesh and comprises a first segment ( 51 ) attached to the outside of the peripheral cage ( 30 ) and a second segment ( 52 ) connected to the bar ( 41 ). 
     
     
         4 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the segments ( 51 ,  52 ) of each fixing bracket ( 50 ) are connected together with by at least one screw ( 50 ) configured to bring the segments ( 51 ,  52 ) together to form a clamping jaw so as to hold the bar ( 42 ) firmly on the peripheral cage ( 30 ). 
     
     
         5 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the internal pouch ( 20 ) has a top ( 23 ) with a recess ( 26 ) in which the reinforcement frame ( 40 ) is housed. 
     
     
         6 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the recess ( 26 ) has a depth such that the reinforcement frame ( 40 ) does not extend beyond the top ( 23 ) of the internal pouch ( 20 ), or is flush with it. 
     
     
         7 . The container ( 1 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the recess ( 26 ) matches the shape of the bars ( 41 ) and for this purpose has a straight portion ( 27 ) continued by at least one bent portion ( 28 ) to receive one of the bent portions ( 43 ) of each bar ( 41 ).