U.S. patent application number 11/351813 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-09 for bulk container with liquid barrier lip.
This patent application is currently assigned to Macro Plastics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Charles Burnham, Joshua Eli Een.
Application Number | 20070181587 11/351813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38332969 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070181587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burnham; Jeffrey Charles ;
et al. |
August 9, 2007 |
Bulk container with liquid barrier lip
Abstract
A bulk container has a liquid barrier lip portion formed in an
upper rim portion of the container side walls. The liquid barrier
lip portion extends about the entire periphery of the container and
provides a pooling region to prevent liquid condensate on the
outside wall surfaces from coursing along the side walls and mixing
with the container contents when the container is raised and tilted
during unloading by a lifting and rotating mechanism.
Inventors: |
Burnham; Jeffrey Charles;
(Vacaville, CA) ; Een; Joshua Eli; (Vacaville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Warren P. Kujawa
461 Indigo Springs St.
Henderson
NV
89014
US
|
Assignee: |
Macro Plastics, Inc.
Fairfield
CA
|
Family ID: |
38332969 |
Appl. No.: |
11/351813 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/669 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2231/005 20130101;
B65D 25/38 20130101; B65D 1/22 20130101; B65D 25/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/669 |
International
Class: |
B65D 6/00 20060101
B65D006/00 |
Claims
1. In a bulk container having front, rear, side and bottom sections
forming a containment volume with upper corner portions, said
front, rear, and side sections having an upper rim portion
extending about the upper periphery of said container, said upper
rim portion having an outwardly extending segment with an outer
edge surface, an upper surface, and a lower surface; the
improvement comprising a liquid barrier lip portion located along
said lower surface of said upper rim portion providing a liquid
pooling region for collecting liquid coursing along said sections
when said container is tilted.
2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said container is a unitary
molded structure and said liquid barrier lip portion is integrally
formed in said upper rim portion.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier lip portion
has a convex surface extending between said lower surface and said
outer edge surface of said upper rim portion.
4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said convex surface is
arcuate.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier lip portion
comprises a concave surface formed in said lower surface and
terminating adjacent said outer edge surface.
5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier lip portion
comprises an angled essentially flat lip surface which extends
downwardly and outwardly along said lower surface of said upper rim
portion and terminates at a lower end of said outer edge surface of
said upper rim portion.
6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier lip portion
comprises a segment of said lower surface of said upper rim portion
which is angled downwardly in the outward direction to provide a
sloping undersurface and terminates at the lower end of said outer
edge surface of said upper rim portion.
7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said outer edge surface has an
inwardly angled lower portion terminating in said lower end.
8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said liquid barrier lip portion
comprises a downwardly depending surface extending from said lower
surface of said upper rim portion to a free end, and a wall surface
extending outwardly from said free end to a lower end of said outer
edge surface.
9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said upper corner portions of
said bulk container each has a downwardly depending recess; and
wherein said liquid barrier lip portion extends around each of said
corner portions below said recess.
10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said container is a unitary
molded structure and said liquid barrier lip portion is integrally
formed in said upper rim portion.
11. The invention of claim 9 wherein said liquid barrier lip
portion has a convex surface extending between said lower surface
and said outer edge surface of said upper rim portion.
12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said convex surface is
arcuate.
13. The invention of claim 9 wherein said liquid barrier lip
portion comprises a concave surface formed in said lower surface
and terminating adjacent said outer edge surface.
14. The invention of claim 9 wherein said liquid barrier lip
portion comprises an angled essentially flat lip surface which
extends downwardly and outwardly along said lower surface of said
upper rim portion and terminates at a lower end of said outer edge
surface of said upper rim portion.
15. The invention of claim 9 wherein said liquid barrier lip
portion comprises a segment of said lower surface of said upper rim
portion which is angled downwardly in the outward direction to
provide a sloping undersurface and terminates at a lower end of
said outer edge surface of said upper rim portion.
16. The invention of claim 15 wherein said outer edge surface has
an inwardly angled lower portion terminating in said lower end.
17. The invention of claim 9 wherein said liquid barrier lip
portion comprises a downwardly depending surface extending from
said lower surface of said upper rim portion to a free end, and a
wall surface extending outwardly from said free end to a lower end
of said outer edge surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to bulk containers of the type used
to store and transport large quantities of food items, such as
agricultural produce, and industrial and other products.
[0002] Bulk containers are used for the storage and transport of
large quantities of various kinds of items, such as agricultural
produce, various other food items, industrial products and the
like. Representative examples of such containers are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,064 issued Jan. 19, 1993 for "CONTAINER" and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,113 issued Aug. 8, 1995 for "BULK CONTAINER",
the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Such
containers are typically a unitary structure fabricated by
injection molding, rotational molding, or other molding techniques,
using a suitable molding material such as high density
polyethylene, polypropylene or other suitable polyolefins. Typical
lateral dimensions for bulk containers of this type are on the
order of forty to forty-eight inches by forty-eight inches; typical
height dimensions range from about twenty five to about forty
inches. As will be appreciated, bulk containers having this size
range have a capacity of more than one thousand pounds, and such
containers are manipulated by means of heavy duty moving machinery,
such as fork lifts, when loaded.
[0003] Bulk containers of this type are quite durable, and have
smooth interior wall surfaces, which reduces the probability of
damage to delicate items, such as fruits and vegetables, during
filling, storage, and unloading. Consequently, such containers have
been found to be especially useful for the storage and transport of
agricultural produce and other food items.
[0004] When a bulk container filled with contents is unloaded, the
container is first lifted by a lifting mechanism, such as a fork
lift, and then tilted about a tilt axis. As the tilt angle
increases, the contents begin to spill out under the influence of
gravity into the desired depository. Thereafter, the tilt angle is
increased until the bulk container is emptied of its contents. The
tilt axis is usually parallel to two facing walls and normal to the
other two facing walls. One of the two walls which are parallel to
the tilt axis is lowered during the tilting motion, while the other
facing wall is raised. During this unloading procedure, any liquid
condensate on the outer surfaces of the outside walls can course
down the outer surfaces of the side walls and possibly mix with the
deposited items. If mixing occurs and the items are
comestibles-such as agricultural produce, poultry, pizza dough, or
other food items, the items can be contaminated by the external
liquid condensate and must either be washed completely or
discarded. While known bulk containers typically incorporate a
strengthening peripheral rim portion which extends completely about
the upper wall portions of the container, this rim portion provides
no significant protection against liquid condensate mixing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention comprises an improved bulk container having a
liquid barrier lip which eliminates the problem of liquid
condensate run-off and mixing with deposited items when unloading a
bulk container.
[0006] In a broadest aspect, the invention comprises a bulk
container having front, rear, side and bottom sections forming a
containment volume with upper corner portions. An upper rim portion
extends about the upper periphery of the front, rear, and side
sections, with the upper rim portion having an outwardly extending
segment with an outer edge surface, an upper surface, and a lower
surface. The upper rim portion has a liquid barrier lip portion
located along the lower surface thereof, the liquid barrier lip
portion providing a pooling region for collecting liquid coursing
along said sections when the container is lifted and tilted during
unloading.
[0007] Several alternate embodiments are provided. In a first
embodiment, the liquid barrier lip portion has a convex surface,
preferably arcuate, extending between the lower surface and the
outer edge surface of the upper rim portion. In a second
embodiment, the liquid barrier lip portion comprises an angled
essentially flat lip surface which extends downwardly and outwardly
along the lower surface of the upper rim portion and terminates at
the lower end of the outer edge surface of the upper rim portion.
In a third embodiment, the liquid barrier lip portion comprises a
segment of the lower surface of the upper rim portion which is
angled downwardly in the outward direction to provide a sloping
undersurface which terminates at the lower end of the outer edge of
the upper rim portion. In a fourth embodiment, the liquid barrier
lip portion comprises a concave surface formed in the lower surface
of the upper rim portion and terminating adjacent the lower end of
the outer edge surface of the upper rim portion. In a fifth
embodiment, the outer edge surface of the upper rim portion has an
inwardly angled lower portion terminating in a lower end, and the
liquid barrier lip portion comprises a segment of the lower surface
of the upper rim portion which is angled downwardly in the outward
direction to provide a sloping undersurface which terminates at the
lower end of the outer edge of the upper rim portion. In a sixth
embodiment, the liquid barrier lip portion comprises a downwardly
depending surface extending from the lower surface of the upper rim
portion to a free end and a wall surface extending outwardly from
the free end to a lower end of the outer edge surface of the upper
rim portion.
[0008] The container is preferably a unitary molded structure, and
the liquid barrier lip portion is integrally formed in the upper
rim portion.
[0009] The invention is incorporated into a first type of bulk
container having an upper rim portion which extends about the
periphery in substantially a single plane; and a second type of
bulk container having downwardly depending recessed corner
portions. In this latter type of bulk container, the liquid barrier
lip portion extends around each of the corner portions below the
recess.
[0010] Bulk containers provided with a liquid barrier lip portion
according to the invention prevent liquid condensate on the outside
surfaces of the side wall from coursing along these surfaces and
mixing with the contents of the container during tilting and
unloading of a container.
[0011] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of
the invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top corner perspective view of a first bulk
container incorporating the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a first embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a third embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top corner perspective view of a second bulk
container incorporating the invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 5 illustrating the side wall profile of the first
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the first
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 5 illustrating the side wall profile of the second
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the second
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 5 illustrating the side wall profile of the third
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the third
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 5 illustrating the side wall profile of the fourth
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0025] FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the fourth
embodiment of the lip for the bulk container of FIG. 5;
[0026] FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1; and
[0027] FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a sixth embodiment of the lip for the bulk
container of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a top corner
perspective view of a first bulk container incorporating the
invention. As seen in this Fig., a bulk container 10 has four
upstanding side walls 12-15 interconnected at the bottom by a base
wall 16. Each corner of bulk container 10 is provided with an
upwardly extending corner portion 17-20. The lower extremities of
corner portions 17-20 extend below the lower surface of bottom wall
16 to provide a clearance opening with the surface on which bulk
container 10 rests in order to provide adequate clearance space for
the tines of a fork lift or other heavy duty lifting mechanism when
the bulk container 10 is to be moved. A peripheral rim portion 22
extends along the top portion of side walls 12-15 and corner
portions 17-20. Bulk container 10 is preferably a unitary structure
fabricated by injection molding, rotational molding or other known
molding techniques, using a suitable molding material such as high
density polyethylene, polypropylene or other suitable polyolefins.
The combination and arrangement of side walls 12-15 and base wall
16 forms an open containment volume for the bulk storage of a wide
variety of items, including comestible items such as agricultural
produce (fruits and vegetables),poultry, and pizza dough. Typical
lateral dimensions for bulk container 10 are on the order of forty
to forty-eight inches by forty-eight inches; typical height
dimensions range from about twenty five to about forty inches. As
will be appreciated, bulk containers having this size range have a
capacity of more than one thousand pounds of produce, and such
containers are manipulated by means of heavy duty machinery, such
as fork lifts, when loaded.
[0029] During unloading, bulk container 10 is raised by a fork lift
or other lifting mechanism and increasingly tilted until the
contents begin to spill out under the influence of gravity into the
desired depository. Thereafter, the tilt angle is increased until
the bulk container 10 is emptied of its contents. The tilt axis is
usually parallel to two facing walls and normal to the other two
facing walls. One of the two walls which are parallel to the tilt
axis is lowered during the tilting motion, while the other facing
wall is raised. To prevent any liquid condensate on the outer
surfaces of the outside walls 12-15 from coursing down the outer
surfaces of the side walls and mixing with, and potentially
contaminating, the deposited contents, a peripherally extending
liquid barrier lip is incorporated into peripheral rim portion
22.
[0030] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a first embodiment of a liquid barrier lip.
As seen in this Fig., an upwardly extending outwardly angled upper
wall segment 21 blends into peripheral rim portion 22. Peripheral
rim portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24 terminating in
an outer edge 25. Segment 24 has an essentially flat upper surface
26, and an essentially flat lower surface 27 terminating at the
outer end in a downwardly depending, convex arcuate lip surface 28
which blends into outer edge 25. This profile extends about the
entire periphery of rim portion 22. The volume defined by the
intersection of an imaginary plane tangent to the apex of arcuate
surface 28 and the outer surface of upper wall segment 21 comprises
a pooling region P (illustrated by cross-hatching in FIG. 2) for
containing liquid condensate.
[0031] When bulk container 10 is tilted during the process of
unloading the contents, any liquid condensate residing on the outer
surface of that one of walls 12-15 which is lowered courses down
the outer surface and is collected in pooling region P. Any liquid
condensate residing on the outer surfaces of the remaining walls
may course along these surfaces, but is prevented from reaching the
area of content spill by the combination of the pooling region P of
these walls and the tilting geometry. Should the amount of liquid
condensate collected in the pooling region P of the lowered wall
exceed the volumetric capacity of the pooling region P, any excess
flows over arcuate lip surface 28 away from the direction of
content spill. Thus, no liquid condensate can mix with the
deposited contents.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternate
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24a
terminating in an outer edge 25a. Segment 24a has an essentially
flat upper surface 26a, and an essentially flat lower surface 27a
terminating at the outer end in an angled essentially flat lip
surface 31 which extends downwardly and outwardly and terminates at
the lower end of edge 25a. This profile extends about the entire
periphery of rim portion 22. The pooling region P is illustrated by
cross-hatching. The embodiment of FIG. 3 functions in essentially
the same manner as the FIG. 2 embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another alternate
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24b
terminating in an outer edge 25b. Segment 24b has an essentially
flat upper surface 26b, and an essentially flat lower surface 27b
extending outwardly and terminating at the lower end of edge 25b.
Segment 24b is angled downwardly in the outward direction to
provide a sloping undersurface 27b, which partially defines the
pooling region P of bulk container 10 for confining liquid
condensate when tilting occurs.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a top corner perspective view of a second type of
bulk container incorporating the invention. This version
incorporates the upper corner nesting recesses and lower nesting
protrusions described in detail in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.
5,439,113. As seen in this Fig., a bulk container 50 has four
upstanding side walls 52-55 interconnected at the bottom by a base
wall 56. Each corner of bulk container 50 is provided with a
downwardly extending corner portion 57-60 which extends below the
lower surface of bottom wall 56 to afford clearance with the
surface on which bulk container 50 rests in order to provide
adequate clearance space for the tines of a fork lift when the bulk
container 50 is to be moved. A peripheral rim portion 51 extends
along the top portion of side walls 52-55. At the corners,
peripheral rim portion 51 has a downward excursion defining corner
recesses 61-64 with sloping walls. Bulk container 50 is preferably
a unitary structure fabricated by injection molding, rotational
molding, or other known molding techniques, using a suitable
molding material such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene
or other suitable polyolefins. The combination and arrangement of
side walls 52-55 and base wall 56 forms an open containment volume
for the bulk storage of a wide variety of items, including
comestible items such as agricultural produce (fruits and
vegetables), poultry, and pizza dough. Typical lateral and height
dimensions, as well as loading capacity, for bulk container 50 are
similar to the FIG. 1 embodiment. Use and handling are also
similar. However, Bulk container 50 differs from bulk container 10
of FIG. 1 in that container 50 has the corner recesses required for
providing the interlocking, interstacking capability.
[0035] Bulk container 50 is provided with a liquid barrier lip
having sectional lip profiles essentially identical to those shown
in FIGS. 24 for bulk container 10. The major difference lies in the
fact that peripheral rim portion 51 incorporates a downward
excursion at the corners 61-64.
[0036] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 5 illustrating the side wall profile of a first embodiment
of the liquid barrier lip having the arcuate profile of the FIG. 2
embodiment. This sectional view is taken along the side wall 52. As
seen in this Fig., peripheral rim portion 51 has an upwardly
directed extension 66 blending into an outwardly extending segment
67 terminating in an outer edge 68. Segment 67 has an essentially
flat upper surface 69 and an essentially flat lower surface 71
terminating at the outer end in a downwardly depending, convex
arcuate lip surface 72 which blends into outer edge 68. This
profile extends along those sections of peripheral rim portion 51
which traverse the region between corners of bulk container 50.
Pooling region P is illustrated by cross-hatching in FIG. 6.
Visible in FIG. 6 is the facing one 79 of the angled sloping
surfaces at one of the recessed corners.
[0037] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the arcuate
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 51 has an outwardly extending segment 74
terminating in an outer edge 75. Segment 74 has an essentially flat
upper surface 76 and an essentially flat lower surface 77
terminating at the outer end in a downwardly depending, convex
arcuate lip surface 78, which is a continuation of arcuate surface
72 and blends into outer edge 75. Pooling region P is illustrated
by cross-hatching in FIG. 7. Also visible in this Fig. is corner
surface 79.
[0038] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrating the adaptation of the second liquid barrier profile
embodiment of FIG. 3 to the bulk container 50. As seen in FIG. 8,
the run of peripheral rim portion 51a between corners has a profile
which includes an upwardly directed extension 66a blending into an
outwardly extending segment 67a terminating in an outer edge 68a.
Segment 67a has an essentially flat upper surface 69a and an
essentially flat lower surface 71 a terminating at the outer end in
an angled essentially flat lip surface 81 which extends downwardly
and outwardly and terminates at the lower end of edge 68a. This
profile extends along those sections of peripheral rim portion 51a
which traverse the region between corners of bulk container 50.
Pooling region P is illustrated by cross-hatching. Visible in FIG.
8 is the facing one 79 of the angled sloping surfaces at one of the
recessed corners.
[0039] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the second
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 51a has an outwardly extending segment
74aterminating in an outer edge 75a. Segment 74a has an essentially
flat upper surface 76a and an essentially flat lower surface 77a
terminating at the outer end in an angled essentially flat lip
surface 81a which extends downwardly and outwardly and terminates
at the lower end of edge 75a.
[0040] FIGS. 10 and 11 are views similar to FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrating the adaptation of the third liquid barrier profile
embodiment of FIG. 4 to the bulk container 50. As seen in FIG. 10,
the run of peripheral rim portion 51b between corners has a profile
which includes an upwardly directed extension 66b blending into an
outwardly extending segment 67b terminating in an outer edge 68b.
Segment 67b has an essentially flat upper surface 69b, and an
essentially flat tapered lower surface 83 which tapers downwardly
in the outward direction and terminates at the lower end of edge
68b. The downward taper of lower surface 83 provides a sloping
undersurface, which partially defines the pooling region P of bulk
container 50 for confining liquid condensate when tilting
occurs.
[0041] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the third
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 51b has an outwardly extending segment 74b
terminating in an outer edge 75b. Segment 74b has an essentially
flat upper surface 76b and an essentially flat lower surface 77b
terminating at the outer end in an angled essentially flat tapered
lower lip surface 83 which tapers downwardly in the outward
direction and terminates at the lower end of edge 75b.
[0042] FIGS. 12-16 illustrate other liquid barrier lip profiles.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG.
1 illustrating a fourth embodiment of a liquid barrier lip. As seen
in this Fig., an upwardly extending outwardly angled upper wall
segment 21 blends into peripheral rim portion 22. Peripheral rim
portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24c terminating in an
outer edge 25c. Segment 24chas an essentially flat upper surface
26c, and a concave lower surface 27c which terminates at the lower
end of outer edge 25c. This profile extends about the entire
periphery of rim portion 22. The pooling region P is illustrated by
cross-hatching.
[0043] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the fourth liquid barrier lip
profile as incorporated into bulk container 50 of FIG. 5. As seen
in FIG. 13, an upper portion 85 of each of side walls 52-55 blends
into an outwardly extending segment 67c terminating in an outer
edge 68c. Segment 67c has an essentially flat upper surface 69c and
a concave lower surface 71c terminating at the lower end of outer
edge 68c. This profile extends along those sections of peripheral
rim portion 51 which traverse the region between corners of bulk
container 50. Pooling region P is illustrated by cross-hatching.
Visible in FIG. 13 is the facing one 79 of the angled sloping
surfaces at one of the recessed corners.
[0044] FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines B-B
of FIG. 5 illustrating the corner wall profile of the fourth
embodiment of the liquid barrier lip. As seen in this Fig.,
peripheral rim portion 51c has an outwardly extending segment 67c
terminating in an outer edge 68c. Segment 67c has an essentially
flat upper surface 69c and a concave lower surface 71c terminating
at the lower end of outer edge 68c. Pooling region P is illustrated
by cross-hatching in FIG. 14. Also visible in this Fig. is corner
surface 79.
[0045] FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a fifth embodiment of a liquid barrier lip.
As seen in this Fig., an upwardly extending outwardly angled upper
wall segment 21 blends into peripheral rim portion 22. Peripheral
rim portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24d terminating
in an outer edge 25d. The lower end of outer edge 25d blends into
an inwardly angled downwardly depending segment 86. Segment 24d has
an essentially flat upper surface 26d, and a essentially flat lower
surface 27d terminating at the outer end in an angled essentially
flat lip surface 31d which extends downwardly and outwardly and
terminates at the lower end of segment 86. This profile extends
about the entire periphery of rim portion 22. The pooling region P
is illustrated by cross-hatching.
[0046] FIG. 16 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines A-A
of FIG. 1 illustrating a sixth embodiment of a liquid barrier lip.
As seen in this Fig., an upwardly extending outwardly angled upper
wall segment 21 blends into peripheral rim portion 22. Peripheral
rim portion 22 has an outwardly extending segment 24e terminating
in an outer edge 25e. Segment 24e has an essentially flat upper
surface 26e, and a essentially flat lower surface 27e terminating
at the outer end in a downwardly extending flat surface 87. The
lower ends of outer edge 25e and surface 87 are joined by a lower
surface 89. This profile extends about the entire periphery of rim
portion 22. The pooling region P is illustrated by cross-hatching.
The manner in which the embodiments of FIGS. 15 and 16 are
incorporated into bulk container 50 of FIG. 5 is the same as
already described with reference to the previously described
embodiments.
[0047] As will now be apparent, bulk containers provided with a
liquid barrier lip according to the invention afford a low cost
solution to the problem of external surface liquid condensate
mixing with container contents during unloading. The barrier can be
formed into the peripheral rim portion during the container molding
process at only nominal cost by providing appropriate tooling. In
use, the liquid barrier lip provides a pooling region for
collecting any external surface liquid condensate during unloading.
This prevents any mixing of liquid condensate with bulk container
contents during the unloading process.
[0048] While the invention has been described with reference to
particular preferred implementations, various modifications,
alternate constructions and equivalents may be employed without
departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, other lip
profiles than those illustrated and described above may be
employed, if deemed necessary or desirable. In addition, although
extensions 66, 66a, and 66b have been described and illustrated as
essentially vertical segments, they may be angled outwardly in a
manner similar to upper wall segments 21, if desired. Moreover,
other methods of manufacturing the invention may be employed. For
example, vacuum forming of plastic materials and tool stamping are
two alternate techniques for making containers incorporating the
invention. Further, the invention may be incorporated into existing
containers by adding the liquid lip barrier using suitable
retrofitting techniques, such as ultrasonic welding, gluing,
adhesive bonding, hot welding, staking, riveting, bolting, etc.
Therefore, the above should not be construed as limiting the
invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *