Blow molded container for storing and transporting fluids

Abstract

A blow molded container structure is defined by a rectangular-shaped body having a top, a bottom, and four walls, defining a closed interior volume. The top may include a handle and at least one sealed opening. The rear wall may include an inwardly formed engagement slot, extending transversely across the rear wall. A pair of wheels are provided on opposite ends of a transverse axle. The axle is retained within the engagement slot. The handle may be integrally formed with the container body or separately formed and attached to the body by a number of contemplated means. The handle may further selectively extend from the container body or pivot relative to the top of the container body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a rectangular-shaped body having a top, a bottom, and four walls, the walls forming a front wall, a rear wall and two sidewalls, each wall connected to two adjacent walls at a corner, the top, bottom and four walls having a unitary construction and defining a closed interior volume,
 the top having a handle and at least one opening therein, the at least one opening providing sealable access into the interior volume, 
 the rear wall having a transverse engagement slot extending between the two sidewalls, and a recessed portion positioned between the engagement slot and the bottom; and 
   a pair of wheels, the wheels positioned on opposite ends of and rotatable about a transverse axle, the transverse axle retained within the engagement slot, and the wheels positioned parallel to the two sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the walls further comprise a corrugation structure for strengthening the container body. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is integrally formed with the top. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the two sidewalls each comprise a wheel well for receiving one of the pair of wheels. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein an outside surface of each respective wheel is generally planer with an outside dimension of the corresponding sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs formed on an outside surface of the bottom of the container body. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising in combination a separate extension handle, the extension handle having engagement means for removably securing the extension handle to the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the engagement means of the extension handle comprises at least one bend portion for engaging a surface on the fixed handle. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the extension handle further comprises a wrench structure, the wrench structure formed for engagement with a cap releasably secured to and sealing the at least one opening. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the opening further comprises a projecting wall and a peripheral flange. 
     
     
         11 . A container comprising:
 a rectangular, unitary body formed by a blow molding process, the body having a top, a bottom, and four walls, the walls forming a front wall, a rear wall and two sidewalls, the top, bottom and each wall connected to adjacent walls at a corner, the top, bottom and four walls combining to create a hollow interior volume, the walls having a corrugated surface for stiffening the wall structures,   an opening formed on the top providing access to the hollow interior, the opening formed to releasably receive a cap for sealing the opening and preventing access into the interior volume, and   a handle projecting from the top of the container body.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a pair of wheels rotatably attached to an axle and positioned adjacent opposing sidewalls of the container body.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , further comprising an engagement structure for securing the wheels to the body. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the engagement structure comprises a molded retention slot formed in the rear wall of the container body, the retention slot receiving and frictionally retaining the axle. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is integrally formed with the walls of the container body. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is separately formed from the container body and attached to the container body. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the handle is attached to the container body by over molding a base portion of the handle within the top of the container body. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein a top portion of the handle is pivotably attached to the base port. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the handle is attached to the container body bay frictional engagement within contours formed within one of both of the top and rear wall. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the handle is slidable within the formed contours so as to selectively extend and retract a handle gripping portion relative to the container body.