Pallet container

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses relating to a pallet container for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials are disclosed. The pallet container can comprise a container including an upper base that defines a plane; a frame surrounding at least some of the container and including horizontal and vertical rods joined to form at least one pair of opposing walls; and a cross-member that is detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls, defines a length along a line of curvature that is greater than a distance between the pair of opposing walls, and is oriented on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pallet container for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials, the pallet container comprising:
 a container including an upper base that defines a first plane;   a frame surrounding at least a portion of the container, the frame including horizontal tubular rods and vertical tubular rods, the horizontal tubular rods being joined to the vertical tubular rods to form a pair of opposing walls and an upper region that is adjacent to the upper base of the container;   a base pallet connected to the frame opposite the upper region of the frame and configured to support the container; and   a cross-member detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls, the cross-member extending across the upper region when attached to the pair of opposing walls and defining a length along a line of curvature that is greater than a distance between the pair of opposing walls,   wherein the cross-member is oriented on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane of the upper base.   
     
     
         2 . The pallet container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a curve of the cross-member defines a resilient spring element. 
     
     
         3 . The pallet container of  claim 1 , wherein a concave portion of the cross-member faces a center point of the frame that is on the second plane. 
     
     
         4 . The pallet container of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-member is hollow. 
     
     
         5 . The pallet container of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-member is detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls via a first threaded fastener attached to a first end face of the cross-member and a second threaded fastener attached to a second end face of the cross-member. 
     
     
         6 . The pallet container of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cross-member is a first cross-member defining a first length along a line of curvature; and   the pallet container further comprises a second cross-member extending across the upper region when attached to the pair of opposing walls and defining a second length along a line of curvature that is greater than the distance between the pair of opposing walls, the second cross-member being oriented on the second plane.   
     
     
         7 . The pallet container of  claim 6 , wherein the second cross-member is detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls. 
     
     
         8 . The pallet container of  claim 6 , wherein a first concave portion of the first cross-member faces a center point of the frame that is on the second plane and a second concave portion of the second cross-member faces the center point of the frame that is on the second plane. 
     
     
         9 . The pallet container of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a first end of the first cross-member is attached to a first wall of the pair of opposing walls at a first position along the first wall that is offset from a first midpoint of the first wall;   a second end of the first cross-member is attached to a second wall of the pair of opposing walls at a second position along the second wall that is offset from a second midpoint of the second wall;   a first end of the second cross-member is attached to the first wall at a third position along the first wall that is offset from the first midpoint; and   a second end of the second cross-member is attached to the second wall at a fourth position that is offset from the second midpoint.   
     
     
         10 . The pallet container of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a first distance between the first position and the first midpoint is approximately equal to a second distance between the second position and the first midpoint; and   a third distance between the third position and the second midpoint is approximately equal to a fourth distance between the fourth position and the second midpoint.   
     
     
         11 . A pallet container for storing and transporting fluid or flowable filling materials, the pallet container comprising:
 a container including an upper base that defines a first plane;   a frame including horizontal rods joined to vertical rods, the frame surrounding at least a portion of the container and including a pair of opposing walls and an upper region that is adjacent to the upper base of the container;   a base pallet connected to the frame opposite the upper region of the frame and configured to support the container; and   a cross-member extending across the upper region and defining a length along a line of curvature that is greater than a distance between the pair of opposing walls, the cross-member being oriented on a second plane that is parallel to the first plane.   
     
     
         12 . The pallet container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a curve of the cross-member defines a resilient spring element. 
     
     
         13 . The pallet container of  claim 11 , wherein a concave portion of the cross-member faces a center point of the frame that is on the second plane. 
     
     
         14 . The pallet container of  claim 11 , wherein the cross-member is hollow. 
     
     
         15 . The pallet container of  claim 11 , wherein the cross-member is detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls. 
     
     
         16 . The pallet container of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the cross-member is a first cross-member defining a first length along a line of curvature; and   the pallet container further comprises a second cross-member extending across the upper region and defining a second length along a line of curvature that is greater than the distance between the pair of opposing walls, the second cross-member being oriented on the second plane.   
     
     
         17 . The pallet container of  claim 16 , wherein the second cross-member is detachably attached to the pair of opposing walls. 
     
     
         18 . The pallet container of  claim 16 , wherein a first concave portion of the first cross-member faces a center point of the frame that is on the second plane and a second concave portion of the second cross-member faces the center point of the frame that is on the second plane. 
     
     
         19 . The pallet container of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a first end of the first cross-member is attached to a first wall of the pair of opposing walls at a first position along the first wall that is offset from a first midpoint of the first wall;   a second end of the first cross-member is attached to a second wall of the pair of opposing walls at a second position along the second wall that is offset from a second midpoint of the second wall;   a first end of the second cross-member is attached to the first wall at a third position along the first wall that is offset from the first midpoint; and   a second end of the second cross-member is attached to the second wall at a fourth position that is offset from the second midpoint.   
     
     
         20 . The pallet container of  claim 19 , wherein:
 a first distance between the first position and the first midpoint is approximately equal to a second distance between the second position and the first midpoint; and   a third distance between the third position and the second midpoint is approximately equal to a fourth distance between the fourth position and the second midpoint.