Shipping Container with a Protective Coating

Abstract

A shipping container is coated, at least in part, with a protective polymer coating. Commercial shipping containers may be handled roughly, so damage is common especially with plastic containers. The protective coating improves the durability, scuff and chip resistance to make the container more safe for long life and use.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reusable container comprising:
 a base, two folding sidewalls, two folding end walls and latches and hinges;   wherein the base comprises a rectangular platform having four corner portions fixed at each of the four corners of the base platform respectively;   bottom sides of the end walls and bottom sides of the sidewalls include the hinges and are hingedly connected to the base, wherein the end walls and the sidewalls are mounted on opposite sides of the base respectively; and further wherein each end wall comprises a latch that engages an adjacent sidewall when the sidewall and end wall are rotated in the up position substantially normal to the plane of the bottom of the box;   wherein the base comprises a plurality of feet attached thereto on the opposite side of the platform from the corner portions;   wherein the base, sidewalls and end walls are at least partially coated with a protective polymer.   
     
     
         2 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the base, two folding sidewalls and two folding end walls are comprised of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the plastic further comprises a polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, polyurethane, fiberglass, carbon fiber, polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, or nylon or other polymer. 
     
     
         4 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the feet are substantially monolithic and include essentially no exposed crevices therein. 
     
     
         5 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the feet are comprised of polyurethane and are mechanically fastened to the base of the box. 
     
     
         6 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the base is entirely coated with the polymer. 
     
     
         7 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the protective polymer coating is a urethane product that is applied to the container by overmolding, insert molding, cast molding, compression molding or compression injection molding. 
     
     
         8 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the protective polymer coating has a thickness of about 0.01 mm to 15 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A reusable container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the protective coating is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of polyether polyois blend, diethyltoluenediamine, Zeolites, titanium dioxide, Epichlorhydrin, Bisphebol-A,4-Nonyl Phenol Branched, Benzl Alcohol, Silicon Dioxide, Poly(Terephthaloyl-chloride/p-Penylene-Diamine, 4,4′-Methylenebis 2-methyl-Cyclohexanamine, Tetraecthylene-pentamine, Glycol, Glycerol/EC/PO polymer, Polurea, prepolymer, and amine-hydroxyl resin.