Interlocking container

Abstract

An interlocking container for the storage and transport of flowable material. The container is provided with a plurality of interlocking top panels. The panels are provided with catches that alternately engage the top and bottom of adjacent panels to prevent the panels from becoming dislodged from one another and to maintain the side panels at an angled orientation relative to the side panels of the container, to prevent distortion of the side panels by hydrostatic pressure toward a circular orientation. The panels define an opening in the top of the collapsible through which a fill head may engage a top cap of a flexible liner provided within the collapsible container, to fill the liner with flowable material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a) a first side panel;   b) a second side panel;   c) a third side panel coupled to the second side panel;   d) a fourth side panel coupled to the third side panel;   e) a first top panel coupled to the first side panel, the first top panel comprising:
 i) a top; 
 ii) a bottom; and 
 iii) a first interlock coupled to the first top panel, wherein the first interlock comprises:
 A) a first catch; 
 B) a second catch; and 
 C) a first span, coupling the first catch to the second catch; 
 
   f) a second side top panel coupled to the second side panel, the second side panel comprising:
 i) a top; 
 ii) a bottom; and 
 iii) a second interlock coupled to the second top panel, wherein the second interlock comprises:
 A) a third catch; 
 B) a fourth catch; and 
 C) a second span, coupling the third catch to the fourth catch; 
 
   g) a third side top panel coupled to the third side panel;   h) a fourth side top panel coupled to the fourth side panel;   i) wherein the first interlock is frictionally engaged to the second interlock in a manner in which the first catch is frictionally engaged to the bottom of the second top panel and the second catch is frictionally engaged to the top of the second top panel in a manner that locks the first top panel in an angled relationship relative to the first side panel and the second top panel in an angled relationship relative to the second side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the first to panel, the second top panel, the third top panel, and the fourth top panel comprise a top defining an opening at least 20% of the area defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible container of  claim 2 , further comprising a fluid nozzle provided in the opening. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth side panel is coupled to the first side panel. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible bag provided within an interior defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a first supplemental side panel coupled to the first side panel;   b) a second supplemental side panel coupled to the second side panel;   c) a third supplemental side panel coupled to the third side panel;   d) a fourth supplemental side panel coupled to the fourth side panel;   e) a first supplemental top panel coupled to the first supplemental side panel;   f) a second supplemental top panel coupled to the second supplemental side panel;   g) a third supplemental top panel coupled to the third supplemental side panel; and   h) a fourth supplemental top panel coupled to the fourth supplemental side panel.   
     
     
         7 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein the first supplemental side panel is secured to the first side panel against sliding in relationship thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible container of  claim 7 , wherein the first supplemental top panel is in slidable engagement with the first top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein a lid is provided over the first top panel, the second top panel, the third top panel, and the fourth top panel. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the second top panel comprises a third interlock comprising:
 a) a fifth catch;   b) a sixth catch; and   c) a third span coupling the fifth catch to the sixth catch;   d) wherein the third top panel comprises:
 i) a top; 
 ii) a bottom; and 
 iii) a fourth interlock comprising:
 A) a seventh catch; 
 B) an eighth catch; and 
 C) a fourth span coupling the seventh catch to the eighth catch; and 
 
   e) wherein the third interlock is frictionally engaged to the fourth interlock in a manner in which the fifth catch is frictionally engaged with the bottom of the third top panel and the sixth catch is frictionally engaged with the top of the third top panel in a manner that locks the third top panel in an angled relationship relative to the third side panel.   
     
     
         11 . The collapsible container of  claim 10 , wherein the third top panel comprises a fifth interlock comprising:
 a) a ninth catch;   b) a tenth catch; and   c) a fifth span coupling the ninth catch to the tenth catch;   d) wherein the fourth top panel comprises:
 i) a top; 
 ii) a bottom; and 
 iii) a sixth interlock comprising:
 A) an eleventh catch; 
 B) a twelfth catch; and 
 C) a sixth span coupling the eleventh catch to the twelfth catch; and 
 
   e) wherein the fifth interlock is frictionally engaged to the sixth interlock in a manner in which the ninth catch is frictionally engaged with the bottom of the fourth top panel and the tenth catch is frictionally engaged with the top of the fourth top panel in a manner that locks the fourth top panel in an angled relationship relative to the fourth side panel.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible container of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth top panel comprises a seventh interlock comprising:
 a) a thirteenth catch;   b) a fourteenth catch; and   c) a seventh span coupling the thirteenth catch to the fourteenth catch;   d) wherein the first top panel comprises:
 i) a fifteenth catch; 
 ii) a sixteenth catch; and 
 iii) an eighth span coupling the fifteenth catch to the sixteenth catch; and 
   e) wherein the seventh interlock is frictionally engaged to the eighth interlock in a manner in which the thirteenth catch is frictionally engaged with the bottom of the first top panel and the fourteenth catch is frictionally engaged with the top of the first top panel.   
     
     
         13 . A collapsible container, comprising:
 a) a first side panel;   b) a second side panel coupled to the first side panel;   c) a third side panel coupled to the second side panel;   d) a fourth side panel coupled to the third side panel;   e) a first top panel pivotably coupled to the first side panel, the first top panel comprising:
 i) a first catch; 
 ii) a second catch; 
   f) a second top panel pivotably coupled to the second side panel, the second top panel comprising a top and a bottom; and   g) wherein the first catch is frictionally engaged to the bottom of the second top panel, and the second catch is frictionally engaged to the top of the second top panel in a manner that locks the first top panel in an angled relationship relative to the first side panel and the second top panel in an angled relationship relative to the second side panel.   
     
     
         14 . The collapsible container of  claim 13 , wherein the first to panel, the second top panel, the third top panel, and the fourth top panel comprise a top defining an opening at least 20% of the area defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible container of  claim 14 , wherein the first to panel, the second top panel, the third top panel, and the fourth top panel comprise a top defining an opening at least 20% of the area defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible container of  claim 13 , further comprising a flexible bag provided within an interior defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel. 
     
     
         17 . A collapsible container, comprising:
 a) a first side panel;   b) a second side panel coupled to the first side panel;   c) a third side panel coupled to the second side panel;   d) a fourth side panel coupled to the third side panel;   e) a first top panel pivotably coupled to the first side panel, the first top panel comprising:
 i) a first catch having a top; 
 ii) a second catch having a bottom; 
   f) a second top panel pivotably coupled to the second side panel, the second top panel comprising:
 i) a third catch having a bottom; 
 ii) a fourth catch having a top; and 
   g) wherein the top of the first catch is frictionally engaged to the bottom of the third catch, and the bottom of the second catch is frictionally engaged to the top f the fourth catch in a manner that locks the first top panel in an angled relationship relative to the first side panel and the second top panel in an angled relationship relative to the second side panel.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible container of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a) a third top panel, pivotably coupled to the third side panel;   b) a fourth top panel, pivotably coupled to the fourth side panel; and   c) wherein the first top panel, the second top panel, the third top panel, and the fourth top panel comprise a top defining an opening at least 20% of the area defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible container of  claim 18 , further comprising a fluid nozzle provided in the opening. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible bag provided within an interior defined by the first side panel, the second side panel, the third side panel, and the fourth side panel.