Collapsible bulk material container

Abstract

A container assembly for bulk materials and a kit for assembling same are disclosed. A forming member having a plurality of sidewalls defines an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials. The sidewalls are arranged relative to one another and are locked into position so as to define a geometric volume of predetermined shape, by means of a locking assembly. The locking assembly can be integrally attached to or can be separable from the sidewalls, and can form a bottom of the container assembly. A tubular sleeve of continuous material is sized to snugly engage and overlie substantially the entire outer surface area of the sidewalls. The sleeve provides the containment strength, while the forming member provides structural shape and stability to the container assembly. Additional layers of corrugated material or woven polypropylene material or their combination may be used as inserts engaging the inner peripheral sidewall areas of the forming member to provide additional strength to the container assembly. The forming member sidewalls may be freely slidable relative to one another or may be slidably affixed to one another by releasable glue.

1 - 46 . (canceled)  
   
   
       47 . A container for bulk materials comprising: 
 (a) a forming member, comprising: 
 (i) a plurality of sidewalls extending between first and second edges and interconnected to cooperatively form an outer surface and to encircle an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials; and  
 (ii) a locking assembly cooperatively engaging the sidewalls to initially define and fix predetermined relative positions thereamong; and  
   (b) a sleeve with opposed open ends, the sleeve made of continuous, woven material sized to snugly engage and to overlie substantially the entire said outer surface of said sidewalls between said first and second edges.    
   
   
       48 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said forming member comprises a single piece of material.  
   
   
       49 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said sidewalls comprise corrugated material.  
   
   
       50 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said locking assembly engages said sidewalls along said lower edges.  
   
   
       51 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said sleeve can be operatively positioned overlying said forming member by sliding the sleeve over the sidewalls, from either said first or second edges.  
   
   
       52 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said sleeve comprises polypropylene material.  
   
   
       53 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein at least two of said sidewalls include foldable tabs alongside said upper edges of said sidewalls of said forming member for enhancing stacking of containers upon each other.  
   
   
       54 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein at least two of said sidewalls are configured to slidably engage one another to provide for limited relative movement thereof.  
   
   
       55 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein at least two of said sidewalls are glued to each other.  
   
   
       56 . The container as recited in  claim 55 , wherein said glue is of a releasable type that allows said glued walls to slidably move relative to one another when subjected to predetermined sheet forces.  
   
   
       57 . The container as recited in  claim 47 , wherein said locking assembly forms a bottom of the forming member and extends across the internal cavity.  
   
   
       58 . A rigid container for bulk materials comprising: 
 (a) a forming member defining an outer side surface and encircling an internal cavity for receiving bulk materials which exert outward radial forces on the side surface; and    (b) a flexible sleeve with opposed open ends and made of continuous, woven material, the sleeve configured to engage substantially the entire outer side surface of the forming member;    (c) wherein the sleeve is configured to support a majority of the radial forces exerted by bulk materials contained within the container and wherein, as compared to that provided by the sleeve, the forming member is configured to provide a majority of the rigidity of the container.    
   
   
       59 . The container recited in  claim 58 , wherein the forming member comprises a plurality of sidewalls extending between upper and lower edges and interconnected to cooperatively form the outer side surface and encircle the internal cavity.  
   
   
       60 . The container recited in  claim 59 , wherein the sidewalls are configured to slidably engage one another to provide for limited relative movement thereof.  
   
   
       61 . The container recited in  claim 59 , wherein at least two of said sidewalls are glued to each other.  
   
   
       62 . The container recited in  claim 61 , wherein said glue is of a releasable type that allows said glued sidewalls to slidably move relative to one another when subjected to predetermined sheer forces.