Ibc with shock absorbing feet

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a pallet container ( 1 ) comprising a base portion ( 10 ) and a cage portion ( 20 ), wherein the cage portion ( 20 ) is connected with the base portion ( 10 ) to define an inner region ( 21 ) which is sized and shaped to accept a container ( 30 ). The pallet container ( 1 ) comprises shock absorbing means ( 40 ) to absorb and dissipate Shockwaves, preventing the shock from propagating through the pallet container.

1 . A pallet container comprising:
 a base portion and a cage portion, wherein the cage portion is connected with the base portion, and defines an inner region which is sized and shaped to accept a container; wherein   the base portion comprises a base member to which one or more feet are attachable on the underside thereof, the underside being the side opposite the cage portion; wherein further   the pallet container comprises at least one shock absorbing device.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device comprise a deformable, energy absorbing portion, which is adapted to bend, compress or crumple so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load vs. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and container. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device comprise a longitudinal deformation zone which is adapted to bend, compress or crumple so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load 's. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and container. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device comprise one or more metallic plates or pieces positioned in a region of the pallet container such that the weight of the pallet container above the one or more metallic plates or pieces acts generally along the plane of the one or more metallic plates or pieces, and the metallic plates comprise a deformation zone running perpendicular to the direction in which the weight of the pallet container acts, when the pallet container is positioned in its normal resting orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device comprise a corrugation running generally perpendicular to the direction that the weight of the pallet container acts, when the pallet container is positioned in its normal resting orientation, wherein the corrugation is adapted to deform so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load vs. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and container. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet container according to  claim 5 , wherein the corrugation has a profile chosen from one or more of the following:
 one or more generally sinusoidal ridges extending out of the plane of the surrounding material;   two or more generally sinusoidal ridges one extending out of the plane of the surrounding material the other extending inward through the plane of the surrounding material;   one or more generally triangular ridges extending out of the plane of the surrounding material;   two or more generally triangular ridges one extending out of the plane of the surrounding material the other extending inward through the plane of the surrounding material.   
     
     
         7 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device is provided in the one or more feet. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more feet are made from folded or bent metal sheets or tubes. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorbing device are located in the one of more feet which are generally hollow and constructed from bent or shaped metal plates or tubes, and the shock absorbing device comprises a corrugation running parallel with the plane of the base member forming a pre-crush region, wherein the corrugation is adapted to deform so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load vs. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and container. 
     
     
         10 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the force or load required to deform, bend or crumple the shock absorbing device is chosen to be higher than the possible maximum force or load generated by a full pallet container under gravity, when the pallet container is resting on the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a plastic container suitable for holding fluids. 
     
     
         12 . The pallet container according to  claim 1 , wherein the base member comprises an upper surface and the cage portion comprises one or more vertical struts extending from the upper surface of the base member to an upper rim which is approximately the same size as the periphery of the base member and runs around the top of the cage portion. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet container according to  claim 12 , wherein the vertical struts have a cross-section which resembles a four-pointed star, or a square in which the corners are extended outward along the direction of the diagonal. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet container according to  claim 13 , wherein the upper rim has an inner portion and a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section and the vertical struts are located within the inner portion between the parallel sides thereof, and the corner portions of the vertical struts are attached to the inner portion of the U-shaped upper rim. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet container according to  claim 14 , wherein the vertical struts are attached to the inner portion of the U-shaped upper rim by resistance welding. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet container according to  claim 12 , wherein the cage portion comprises one or more horizontal ribs which encircle the vertical struts. 
     
     
         17 . The pallet container according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more horizontal ribs have a profile comprising a triangular ridge with flat sections either side thereof, wherein the flat sections are used for attachment to the vertical struts with the triangular ridge extending away from the vertical struts. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet container of according to  claim 12 , wherein one or more plastic bands or straps are positioned around the vertical struts in order to help maintain the shape of the cage portion when under stress.