Collapsible container with integrated wrap tray closure system

Abstract

The present invention is a reliable, lightweight, environmentally friendly, highly reusable, highly durable, fully collapsible container for use in transporting solid and liquid materials, including those materials governed by the dangerous goods code of the UN regulations. The container employs a selectively sealed lid, a truss system for preventing bulge at the rim of the container so that the rim remains within the footprint of the lid, and an integrated closure system for securing transported contents.

1 ) A collapsible industrial shipping container comprising:
 a) a continuous rigid structure having four planar sides defining four inner surfaces and four outer surfaces, two opposed planar sides each having a scoring line rendering the continuous rigid structure collapsible;   b) a five-walled inelastic wrap tray made of a flexible, inelastic fabric affixed to a lower portion of each the four outer surfaces and defining a bottom surface of the collapsible industrial shipping container;   c) at least three side closure strips fixedly disposed on the outer surfaces of three consecutive planar sides, one end of each of the at least three side closure strips securely connecting to the inelastic wrap tray, the other end of each of the at least three closure strips terminating in an inwardly facing closed retention loop positioned adjacent the top rim of the continuous rigid structure;   d) a closure means fixedly positioned along the length of each of the at least three side closure strips at a point below the top rim of the continuous rigid structure and above the five-walled inelastic wrap tray;   e) a lid defining at least one hingedly attached flap affixed to the fourth outer surface such that a fourth inwardly facing retention loop is securely affixed between the flap and the fourth outer surface and positioned adjacent the top rim of the continuous rigid structure, wherein a system of one or more top closure straps affixed to the top surface of the lid are adapted for engaging with the attachment means; and   f) an inelastic member that passes through each of the inwardly facing closed retention loops of the at least three side closure strips and the fourth inwardly facing retention loop, thus preventing the top rim of the continuous rigid structure from bulging under load conditions.   
     
     
         2 ) The container of  claim 1  wherein the closure means is an outwardly extending loop formed in each of the at least two side closure strips. 
     
     
         3 ) The container of  claim 2  wherein the closure means further comprises an eyelet formed in the outwardly extending loop for receiving a tie therethrough. 
     
     
         4 ) The container of  claim 2  wherein the outwardly extending loop further comprises a metal ring securely affixed thereto. 
     
     
         5 ) The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein a five-walled inelastic wrap tray is made of a material selected from a group consisting of woven polypropylene, woven polyurethane, reinforced polyethylene, woven fiberglass, and other polymeric materials. 
     
     
         6 ) The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the inelastic member is comprised of polypropylene or polyester. 
     
     
         7 ) The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the inelastic member is polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 ) The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the inelastic member is polyester. 
     
     
         9 ) The collapsible container of  claim 1  wherein the inelastic member is comprised of a single length of material that is fastened to itself to form a continuous member. 
     
     
         10 ) The collapsible container of  claim 9  wherein the inelastic member is sonic welded to itself to form a continuous member. 
     
     
         11 ) The container of  claim 1  wherein the continuous rigid structure is comprised of fiberboard. 
     
     
         12 ) The container of  claim 11  wherein the fiberboard is coated with a water resistant coating. 
     
     
         13 ) The container of  claim 11  wherein the fiberboard is doubled walled. 
     
     
         14 ) The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid is comprised of singled walled fiberboard. 
     
     
         15 ) The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an impervious liner disposed within the continuous rigid structure. 
     
     
         16 ) The container of  claim 15  wherein the liner is form fitted and uniformly adhesively affixed across substantially all of each interior surface of the four planar sides 
     
     
         17 ) The container of  claim 15  wherein the liner is fixedly adhered to the inner surfaces of the four planar surfaces but only adjacent the top rim of the continuous rigid structure. 
     
     
         18 ) The container of  claim 1  further comprising an eyelet disposed in each of the ends of the top closure strip. 
     
     
         19 ) The container of  claim 18  further comprising a tie element suspended through the eyelet for engagement with the attachment member. 
     
     
         20 ) The container of  claim 1 , wherein the system of one or more top closure straps comprises at least one top closure strap extending across the top surface of the lid and having both free ends aligned with two of the at least three side closure strips. 
     
     
         21 ) The collapsible container of  claim 20  wherein the at least one top closure strap is made of a material selected from a group consisting of woven polypropylene, woven polyurethane, reinforced polyethylene, woven fiberglass, and other polymeric materials. 
     
     
         22 ) The container of  claim 20  wherein the free ends of the at least one top closure strap are adapted for engaging with the closure means fixedly positioned along each of two of the at least three side closure strips. 
     
     
         23 ) The container of  claim 22  wherein the free ends of the at least one top closure strap support eyelets fixedly secured therein for receiving a tie strap. 
     
     
         24 ) The container of  claim 1 , wherein the system of one or more top closure straps comprises at least one top closure strap attached at one end to the wrap tray, extending across the fourth outer surface and the top surface of the lid, and having a free end aligned with the closure means on the opposed planar side. 
     
     
         25 ) The collapsible container of  claim 24  wherein the at least one top closure strap is made of a material selected from a group consisting of woven polypropylene, woven polyurethane, reinforced polyethylene, woven fiberglass, and other polymeric materials. 
     
     
         26 ) The container of  claim 24  wherein the free end of the at least one top closure strap is adapted for engaging with the closure means fixedly positioned along each of the at least two side closure strips. 
     
     
         27 ) The container of  claim 25  wherein the free end of the at least one top closure strap supports an eyelet fixedly secured therein for receiving a tie strap.