Recyclable container

Abstract

A container is provided comprising a polygonal shaped external wall with integral floor tabs folded upon one another to form a floor of the container. Concentrically disposed within, and immediately adjacent an interior wall of the polygonal shaped external wall is a complementary shaped internal wall. Disposed within the confines of the internal wall and resting upon the floor of the container is a tray assembly for retaining a package containing the contents to be transported within the container. Provision may be made through a portion of the tray and the complementary walls for emptying of the package within the container. Reinforcement of the walls of the container is obtained by a one or more reinforcement provisions made along the upper edges of the container walls and the container may be closed and covered by a removable cap assembly. Once the container is used, the materials forming the container may easily be recycled or reduced in size for disposal.

We claim as our invention: 
     
         1 . A container, comprising: a floor assembly; a multi-faceted exterior sidewall integrally connected to and extending upwardly from the floor assembly defining an upper edge; a tray assembly disposed within the multi-faceted exterior sidewall and resting upon the floor assembly; a bladder disposed upon the tray assembly for containing the contents to be transported within the container; an outlet valve assembly attached to said bladder and extending through a hole formed in said multi-faceted exterior sidewall; and a cap assembly disposed atop and closing said multi-faceted exterior sidewall. 
     
     
         2 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one channel member disposed over said upper edge of said multi-faceted exterior sidewall for reinforcing said multi-faceted exterior sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tabs extending from an upper edge of said multi-faceted exterior sidewall for folding inwardly and reinforcing said exterior sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The container as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one channel member includes a first and a second leg, said first leg being substantially longer than said second leg. 
     
     
         5 . The container as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said first leg is immediately adjacent and adhered to an interior of said multi-faceted exterior sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The container as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said tray includes a plurality of sidewalls configured to lie adjacent an interior of said multi-faceted sidewall, at least one of said sidewalls of said tray having a port for receiving there through said outlet valve assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said multi-faceted exterior sidewall is comprised of a plurality of laminated sheets of corrugated paper, a first plurality of said laminated sheets of corrugated paper having at least one edge overlapping and compressed against an edge of a second plurality of said laminated sheets of corrugated paper. 
     
     
         8 . The container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said floor assembly is comprised of a plurality of folding tabs, each integral with and extending from a lower edge of an opposing facet of said multi-faceted exterior sidewall, each of said plurality of folding tabs including a plurality of end tabs configured to interweave with and interlock with a corresponding plurality of end tabs on an opposing folding tab. 
     
     
         9 . A recyclable container for use in transporting bulk materials, comprising a primary panel assembly having an upper edge, a lower edge, and opposing ends, said opposing ends interconnected together along a staggered joint to form a plurality of interconnected sidewall panels; a plurality of tabs extending from said lower edge of said primary panel and integrally connected to opposing ones of said plurality of sidewall panels, said plurality of tabs foldable toward one another and interlocking with an opposing one of said plurality of tabs to form a floor assembly, portions of at least two opposing tabs extending beyond a perimeter of said interconnected sidewall panels; at least one of said plurality of interconnected sidewall panels having a port formed therein; a tray assembly disposed within the recyclable container upon said floor assembly and having a plurality of sidewalls for nesting within the recyclable container, at least one sidewall of said tray assembly having a port aligned with said at least one port formed in one of said plurality of interconnected sidewall panels; a bladder disposed upon said tray assembly and having a nozzle extendable through said port formed in said tray assembly and through said at least one port formed in one of said plurality of interconnected sidewall panels to allow contents of said bladder to exit through said nozzle; at least one channel received over and reinforcing said upper edge of said primary panel, said at least one channel having at least one leg extending along and lying immediately adjacent one of said plurality of sidewall panels; and a cap assembly for closing said an upper end of said recyclable container. 
     
     
         10 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a rigid carrier upon which said floor assembly rests. 
     
     
         11 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said primary panel assembly is comprised of a plurality of layers of corrugated paper, overlapping at staggered intervals with an opposite end of said primary panel assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of tabs extending from said lower edge of said primary panel further comprise a plurality of end tabs configured to alternately interleave with a corresponding end tab on the opposing tab for holding the floor assembly in place. 
     
     
         13 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of tabs extending from an upper edge of said primary panel and foldable to lie substantially adjacent said primary panel for reinforcing the container. 
     
     
         14 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of sidewalls panels form a polygon. 
     
     
         15 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of sidewall panels form an octagon. 
     
     
         16 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of sidewall panels form a cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . The recyclable container as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said portions of at least two opposing tabs extending beyond a perimeter of said interconnected sidewall panels are attached to said rigid carrier. 
     
     
         18 . A recyclable bulk container, comprising a sidewall, a floor assembly integrally connected to a lower edge of said sidewall, said floor assembly including tabs extending outwardly beyond a perimeter of said sidewall for supporting the container; a tray assembly disposed within said sidewall and upon said floor assembly; and a cap assembly closing an upper end of said sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The recyclable bulk container as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising a bladder disposed within said sidewall and upon said tray assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The recyclable bulk container as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising a means for emptying contents from said container through at least one port formed in said sidewall.