Technical Field

The present invention relates to attachments for parts of containers, to such parts of containers, to such containers and to related methods. In particular, such containers may be containers for the transportation of dry goods, such as foldable large containers or “FLCs”, that is large containers which may be assembled and disassembled. More particularly, the present invention relates to attachments for lids of such containers, to such lids, to containers and/or container assemblies comprising such lids and related methods.

Background

Containers for transporting dry goods across distribution networks are well known. These goods may include dry ingredients, components, packaging materials, packaged products and/or bulk goods. These containers are often described as freight containers or transportation containers. In one example, a container may have a total volume, i.e. a volumetric capacity, of around 700 litres, but a variety of sizes and geometries are otherwise available. For example, these containers may each have a volume of anywhere up to between around 1000 litres and around 1500 litres. The container body is usually sized to correspond to the footprint of the base, which usually corresponds to that of a standard pallet.

A type of such containers can be referred to as “Foldable Large Containers”, or “FLCs”. Typically, FLCs comprise relatively rigid, individually collapsible and erectable side panels (these are alternatively called “walls”).

Another type of such containers is commonly referred to as “Sleeve Pack Containers”, or “SPCs”. Typically, SPCs comprise a relatively flexible side sleeve, which is also collapsible and erectable, but as a whole.

FLCs and SPCs are particularly beneficial when pooled (i.e., when used as reusable containers), because they improve the efficiency and thus the cost effectiveness of reverse logistics in the supply chain. In addition to the side panels and/or sleeve, FLCs and SPCs generally also comprise a base and a removable lid. It is when the lid is removed that the body (i.e. the side panels and/or sleeves) may be conveniently collapsed, or folded, on the base of these containers. The lid is then usually recovered and placed over the collapsed container. In this way, an empty, folded container assembly is prepared for transportation back to a service centre, after use. It will be understood that in the context of the present application, the wording “container assembly” refers to a collapsed or folded container, for example of the FLC or SPC type, with the folded or collapsed body of the container arranged within the corresponding base, with the lid covering said base and folded body, and any shelves that may be provided with the container (for a short description of which, read further below).

In the assembled state, the base, body and lid of the containers define an enclosed space in which contents may be stored. One or more removable shelves may be provided to divide up the enclosed space in, for example, two or more compartments. This may allow for a more efficient use of the enclosed space, during transportation of the goods. Once the goods have been offloaded, however, the shelves are removed, just like the lid, and placed in the folded container assembly for return to the service centre, so that a new pooling cycle for the container may begin.

The lids and any shelves may be particularly problematic, since they may become misplaced. This may cause at least some waste of time, and therefore inefficiencies in the logistics chain, due to the time necessary to retrieve these parts to complete the container loading or unloading operations. It is therefore desirable to implement attachments for such parts of containers that may solve this problem, or at least mitigate the problem with respect to the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a container system comprising a detachable lid for a container and a container side wall, wherein the detachable lid comprises at least one lid attachment projecting inwardly from a lid underside, and wherein the container side wall comprises at least one corresponding lid receiver for receiving said lid attachment, the at least one lid attachment and corresponding lid receiver being configured such that the lid can be rested on the container side wall by accommodating said at least one lid attachment within said at least one corresponding lid receiver, with at least a majority and, preferably, all of the lid underside facing a portion of an outer face of said container side wall. The lid can thus be conveniently rested on the container side wall, in a position that does not obstruct any container loading or unloading operations.

Said at least one lid attachment may generally be T-shaped, with a stem extending generally perpendicularly from said lid underside, and a head extending generally transversally with respect to said stem. With such as T-shaped lid attachment, resting the lid on the side wall will be particularly convenient and intuitive.

The lid may comprise a skirt that surrounds at least partially said lid underside, and said stem may extends adjacent to said skirt, thus resulting in an arrangement whereby nearly all or effectively all of the lid underside is arranged face-to-face with said outer portion of the container side wall.

Said stem may extends in a first direction which is parallel to a depth-wise extension of said skirt, that is inwardly towards the container when the lid covers the container. This makes the attachment particularly discreet in that it will only minimally invade an enclosed space of the container. To further advantageously shape the stem with this advantage in mind, said stem may extends in a second direction which is perpendicular to a peripheral extension of said skirt, that is being effectively configured as a projecting, in addition, from said skirt. This makes the attachment particularly easy to mould, for example, by injection moulding, and/or to repair, for example if the attachment needs to be replaced, and a new attachment put in place, for example by welding it into position against said skirt. Further advantageously, therefore, the stem may extend from, and be formed integrally with, said skirt.

Unobtrusively, the head of the lid attachment may also extend adjacent to said skirt, but alongside said skirt, rather than inwardly towards the enclosed space of the container. In particular, said head may extend in a first direction which is parallel to a peripheral extension of said skirt. However, the head may also extend in a second direction which is perpendicular to said skirt, and, in a preferred configuration, said head extends from, and is integrally formed with, said skirt.

So that the lid attachment can withstand adequate forces, and to prevent having to repair or replace the lid attachment too often, the lid attachment may be shaped so as to define a first T-shaped portion and a second T-shaped portion, wherein the first and second T- shaped portions together may form said generally T-shaped lid attachment, with the first T- shaped portion being disposed outwardly of the second T-shaped portion, with respect to the enclosed space of the container when the lid is positioned so as to cover the container, and having a footprint that is larger than a corresponding footprint of the second T-shaped portion.

The lid attachment may comprise at least one hooked end for retaining the lid attachment within the lid receiver, so that the lid may not be inadvertently removed from the resting position on the container side wall. Optionally, said at least one hooked end may be provided at an end of said head. Optionally, said head comprises two hooked ends disposed at opposite ends of said head.

It is advantageous that the lid attachment and therefore the lid, together with the lid attachment, may relatively freely rock in the lid receiver, so that the rest position of the lid can naturally fall at a slight angle with respect to said outer face, and not be precisely parallel. This will be the case if, for example, a second lid attachment (as described further below) will determine the position of the lid, at rest, by abutting against said outer face. To favour this rocking, the lid attachment may comprise at least one of: a distal recess; a distal rounded corner; a distal bevelled corner; and, a distal chamfered corner, each of which may be configured to enable or encourage rocking of the lid attachment within the corresponding lid receiver, when the lid attachment is received in the lid receiver to rest the lid on the container side wall.

Turning now to the lid receiver, the lid receiver may be simply formed as a recess. For ease of access, said recess may be formed on an upper edge of said container side wall.

The recess may comprise first and second recessed portions disposed contiguously with respect to each other, wherein the first recessed portion has a width that is less than a corresponding width of the second recessed portion, said widths being measured in a direction alongside and parallel to said edge of the container side wall. This configuration adequately retains the lid attachment in place within the lid receiver, yet minimising unintended disengagement.

The first and second recessed portions may have the same depths measured in a direction perpendicular to said edge of the container and extending on a same notional plane as said container side wall. The receiver may be provided as a retractable receptacle configured to be deployed and stowed away within said container side wall. In some versions, said retractable receptacle may be pivotally deployable and stowable and in other versions said retractable receptacle may be slidably deployable and stowable.

In the case of the FLCs introduced above, the container lid is generally rectangular, and comprises at least two, opposed lid attachments, which may be symmetrically disposed on the lid underside with respect to a central long symmetry axis of the lid laying on the plane of the lid. Since the lid may be rested on the container side wall via either lid attachment, then it is of course convenient to position each lid attachment midway along a corresponding, adjacent side of the lid.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the at least one lid attachment is positioned on the lid underside such that, when the lid is positioned on the container to cover the enclosed space defined by the container, said at least one lid attachment is received within said corresponding lid receiver so as to reduce or prevent contamination of said enclosed space of the container from any external agents. In other words, on this configuration, the lid attachments work effectively as plugs and the corresponding lid receivers, at least partially, as sockets. In a more particularly preferred arrangement, the recessed portions of the lid receiver are swapped compared the configuration described above, that is the narrow recessed portion is positioned inwardly, that is towards the enclosed space of the container, and the wide recessed portion is positioned outwardly, that is towards the outer space around the container, to further reduce and/or eliminate any contamination, with the head completely obstructing any passageway from said outer space to said enclosed space of the container.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a container comprising the container system as described above.

The container may be generally in the shape of a cuboid comprising two opposite short side walls and two opposite long side walls, and a base, wherein said side walls may each comprise a container side panel each of which may be foldable over said base, and can be erected back from said folded configuration. Further, said base may comprises a pallet base.

The container may be made of a substantially rigid plastic material. The container lid may be adapted to conform with interference to an erected container body, or to a container base adapted to receive a collapsed container body, such that the lid is retained firmly, yet removably, on said container body or base.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a container assembly comprising a container base and a collapsed container body disposed on said container base, said container assembly comprising the container system as described above. The footprint of said container assembly, or of the corresponding container, may be sized according to a standard pallet size.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of resting a detachable lid for a container on a container side wall, wherein the detachable lid comprises at least one lid attachment projecting inwardly from a lid underside, and wherein the container side wall comprises at least one corresponding lid receiver for receiving said lid attachment, the method comprising accommodating said at least one lid attachment within said at least one corresponding lid receiver, with at least a majority and, preferably, all of the lid underside facing a portion of an outer face of said container side wall.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an FLC comprising a removable lid;

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of an SPC comprising another removable lid;

Figure 3 illustrates a method of collapsing, or folding, an FLC comprising the removable lid of the container of Figure 2, into a container assembly ready for transportation;

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a container assembly comprising a lid as described herein;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing detailed features of an underside of the lid of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a container system as described herein, with the lid of Figure 5 coupled to a long side wall of a container; Figure 7 is a perspective view showing in more detail a first lid attachment of the lid of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing in more detail a second, opposite lid attachment of the lid of Figures 5 and 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a lid receiver formed on an upper edge of one of the long side walls of the container referred to in Figure 6;

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the lid receiver of Figure 9 with the first lid attachment of Figure 7 accommodated therewithin;

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the container system of Figure 6;

Figure 12 shows the same cross section as Figure 11 , but rotated of about 45 degrees around axis “y” of Figure 6;

Figure 13 is a detail view of an upper portion of the container system as seen in Figure 11 , revealing a cross section of the first lid attachment of Figure 7;

Figure 14 is a detail view of a lower portion of the container system of Figure 6, revealing the position of the second, opposite lid attachment of Figure 8;

Figure 15 is a different perspective view of the underside of the lid of Figure 5;

Figure 16 is a detail view of the first lid attachment of Figure 7, with the lid positioned as shown in Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of parts of a container as described herein, with a retractable lid receiver as described herein;

Figure 18 is a detail view of the lid receiver of Figure 17, in a retracted position;

Figure 19 is a detail view of the lid receiver of Figure 18, in an extended position;

Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of the parts of the container of Figure 17, showing one of the lid attachments of Figures 7 and 8 being received in the lid receiver of Figures 17 to 19;

Figure 21 shows the lid attachment referred to in Figure 20, accommodated in the lid receiver of Figure 19;

Figure 22 illustrates schematically the effect of providing the lid receiver of Figures 17 to 21 , that is of providing a lid as described herein with a less obstructive rest configuration on one of the long side walls of a container as described herein;

Figure 23 shows a further lid attachment, which projects from a skirt of a lid as well as from the lid underside;

Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view of the lid attachment of Figure 23, accommodated in a different lid receiver;

Figure 25 is a front perspective view of a removable shelf; Figure 26 is a front perspective view of an FLC, with a front door open and two removable shelves wherein the first removable shelf is being attached to a rear wall of the container, and the second removable shelf is being lowered into the container;

Figure 27 is a side perspective view of the container of Figure 26, with a side door open, wherein the first removable shelf is still being attached to the rear wall of the container, and the second removable shelf is further inside the container;

Figure 28 shows the same container as Figures 26 and 27, with the first removable shelf attached to the rear wall of the container and the second removable shelf in position within the container; and,

Figure 29 F is an expanded perspective view of a portion of the container of Figures 26 to 28, showing the first removable shelf being attached to the rear wall of the container.

Specific Description

Figure 1 shows a rigid container 100 for the transportation of dry goods. This container falls in the category of FLCs described above. The general shape and configuration of this rigid container 100 will now be described. The rigid container 100 defines an enclosed space 105 in which goods to be transported can be stored. The enclosed space 105 is delimited laterally by a body which includes one or more container wallsl 06, each of which includes a panel 101 (there are a total of four panels 101 , including front and back short panels 101 and two long side panels 101), at the bottom by a container base 104, and at the top by a removable or detachable container cap or lid 110, which may be foldable in halves longitudinally, as shown in Figure 1 , to facilitate access to the goods. The detachable lid 110, however, is usually provided as a single part.

The front wall 106 which includes the front short panel 101 incorporates an openable front door 109, which may be opened to facilitate access to the goods (or any shelves that may be provided inside the container 100, which may support these goods). One of the side walls 106 includes a long side panel 101 which incorporates an openable side door 107, which can be used similarly to the front door 109. One or more removable shelves (not shown in Figure 1 , but described further below) can be disposed within the container 100 so as to divide up a container’s enclosed space 105 in two or more compartments respectively. The focus of the present specification is, however, on the detachable lid 110, and how this detachable lid 110 may be supported on the container 100 during a container unloading operation. Detachable lids 110 of this type are generally rectangular, and usually made by injection moulding as a single piece from a polymeric material such as a plastic. Before progressing further with the description, it is noted that the term “side wall” 106 of the container 100 as used above relates to the whole side of the container 100, whether in the erected or folded configuration, whereas “side panel” 101 generally denotes the portion of the side wall 106 which may be folded and erected back in position, if the container 100 is foldable, otherwise the portion of the side wall 106 that actually delimits the container’s enclosed space 105.

Figure 2 shows an SPC-type container 100 with another detachable lid 110. The container body 101 is in this instance provided in the form of a flexible sleeve, as known. The lid 110 comprises a set of radially extending ribs 120. While these radially extending ribs 120 still provide the lid 110 with the required reinforcement (in the sense that they increase the bending stiffness of the lid 110), they are also effective in acting as water guides 200 for displacing water centrifugally, when the lid 110 is rotated around for example around an axis perpendicular to the lid 110, which passes through its centre C, which is shown in Figure 2. These aspects of the lid 110, however, are not within the focus of the present application.

On the contrary, the present application focusses on those features, also shown in Figure 2, that the detachable lid 110 is supported by T-shaped hooks 10 on one of the short side panels of the SPC container 100. Supporting the detachable lid 100 in this manner is convenient, because otherwise the lid 110 might become displaced and difficult to retrieve, after the completion of a container loading or unloading operation. However, the outwardly projecting half of the detachable lid 110 might still constitute an obstacle to said loading/unloading operations. The present application provides a solution to this problem. Whilst the solution put forward herein is suitable to both SPCs and FLCs 100, it will be understood that it may be preferably applied to FLCs, which have side panels 101 that can be more easily or effectively adapted as described herein.

Figure 3, and particularly Figures 3-1 to 3-4, illustrate schematically a method of preparing for reverse logistics the foldable rigid container (or “FLC”) 100 of Figure 1 , equipped with a single-part, detachable lid 110 as shown in Figure 2. The container 100 is folded, in this example, by folding in turn the short side panels 101 (Figures 3-1 and 3-2) first, one on the other, and both over the base 104 of the container 100, then by folding the long side panels 101 over said front and back panels 101 , as shown in Figures 3-3 an 3-4. All the panels 101 are hinged, but the details of these hinges are not within the scope of the present specification. Alternatively, the panels 101 may be collapsible in different fashion, for example by removing each of the panels 101 or all of the panels 101 collectively from the base 104 of the container 100 and lying them flat over the container base 104. In Figure 3- 5 the detachable lid 110 is accommodated over the base 104 and the folded body panels 101 of the container 100.

Figure 4 shows the resulting container assembly 100, that is a folded FLC-type container 100, with the detachable lid 110 accommodated thereon, ready to be transported back to a service centre for reconditioning (if required) and re-deployment.

Figure 5 shows in greater detail the features of an underside 111 of the lid 110. In particular, of interest is the presence of two lid attachments 10, protruding from a peripheral area 112 of the lid underside 111 , and disposed each half-way along opposite long sides of the lid underside 111. Each lid attachment 10 is equally distant from nearby corners 114 of the lid underside 111. The lid 110 also includes a skirt 117 that surrounds the lid underside 111. The lid attachments 10 are disposed in proximity of said skirt 117 and are symmetrically disposed along a central symmetry axis of the lid 110, extending parallel to said long sides passing through the centre C of the lid 107, as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows parts the container 100 of Figures 4 and 5 with the lid 110 coupled to one of the long side panels 101 of the container. Figure 6, therefore, shows a system as described herein. The system comprises a detachable lid 110 with one or more lid attachments 10, and a container side panel 101 , which is more generally part of a container side wall 106, as discussed above, which includes a corresponding lid receiver 20, as shown in Figure 6. One of the lid’s attachments 10 is received in the lid receiver 20 of one of the long side panels 101 of the container 100, and the lid 110 is accordingly rested on said side panel 101 , and thus on the corresponding container’s side wall 106. The lid receiver 20 is provided on an upper edge 102 of the side panel 101 , half-way along the length of said side panel 101. Figure 6 shows the solution put forward by the present application. The lid 110 is neatly accommodated on the side panel 101 , in this case via a single attachment 10 and a single, dedicated lid receiver 20 formed on one of the container’s side panels 101.

Compared to the lid 110 of Figure 2, only one lid attachment 10 is used for attaching the lid 110 to a wall 106 of the container 110. More lid attachments could be alternatively used. However, it is important to note that the rectangular lid 110 is rested in andscape’ orientation on the container 100 rather than in ‘portrait’ orientation, with essentially all of the lid underside 111 ‘hidden’ behind one of the long side panels 101 of the container. All of the lid underside 111 rests in face-to-face configuration against a portion of the outer surface 103 of said wall 106. Therefore, the lid is stored in a convenient position, which however in addition minimizes obstruction during any loading/unloading operations, compared to the configuration of the lid 110 shown in Figure 2. This was made possible by the provision of the lid receiver 20, as described above.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing in more detail the shape of one of the lid attachments 10 of Figure 5. The lid attachment 10 is generally T-shaped, and projects from the lid underside 111, and more precisely from a periphery 112 thereof, near the skirt 117. The lid attachment comprises a stem 11 that terminates with a head 12. The stem 11 extends generally perpendicularly from the lid underside 111 and the head 112 extends generally parallel to the skirt 117. The T-shaped lid attachment 10 comprises two T-shaped portions: an outer T-shaped portion 13 (which faces the lid’s skirt 117) and an inner T-shaped portion 14 (that faces the container’s enclosed space 105).

The outer T-shaped portion 13 has a plant or footprint that is wider and encompasses all of the footprint of the inner T-shaped portion 14. The head 12 terminates with two hooked ends 15 that make it more difficult for the lid attachment to disengage from the lid receiver 20, when the lid 110 is rested on the container’s panel 101. A recess 16 is formed at the distal end of the lid attachment 10, on the attachments’ head 12, and all along the attachments’ head 12. The purpose of this recess 16 is to allow for the lid attachment 10 to rock relatively freely inside the lid receiver 20, so that the lid 110 can be rested at a slight angle and not perfectly parallel with respect to the wall’s outer surface 103. This configuration, as it will be further described below, is determined by the abutment of the second lid attachment 10 and/or of the lid’s skirt 117 with said outer face 103, when the lid 110 rests on the container 100.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing in more detail the shape of the second lid attachment 10 of Figure 5. This view also better shows the inner side of the lid attachment 10 of Figure 7 (the two lid attachments 10 being essentially the same as regards shape, but being symmetrically arranged on the lid underside 111).

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lid receiver 20 introduced with the description of Figure 6. As mentioned earlier, the lid receiver 20 is formed on the upper edge 102 of one of the long side walls 106 of the container 100. The lid receiver defines a recess 21. The recess 21 in turn is defined by two recessed portions: a first, narrow recessed potion 22 disposed outwardly, towards the exterior of the container 100, and the second, wider recessed portion 23 which instead faces the container’s enclosed space 105. This configuration facilitates attachment of the lid 110 from above, whilst the protruding flanges that define the narrow recessed portion 23 function as retainers which cooperate with the hooked ends 15 of the head 12 of the lid attachment 10 to retain the lid 110 in place within the lid receiver 20, as desired.

Figure 10 shows the lid attachment 10 of Figure 7 accommodated within the recess 21 of the lid receiver 20 of Figure 9. The lid 110 can only be disengaged by first moving the lid 110 upwardly, then pulling the lid 110 away outwardly, to overcome the retaining action of the flanges described above. As it will be appreciated from Figure 10, the lid attachment

10 and the lid receiver 20 are complementarily, that is, correspondingly shaped, such that the lid attachment 10 may sit snugly within the recess 21 of the lid receiver 20.

Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views that have been included to show in greater detail the angle at which the lid 110 rests with respect to the container’s side wall 106, when one of the lid attachments 10 is received in the lid receiver 20. It will be observed that said angle is very small, probably in the region between 5 and 15 degrees, and is determined by the skirt 117 of the lid 110 and/or the second, in this case unused lid attachment 10 abutting against a lower part (not shown) of said side wall 106.

Figure 13 shows in greater detail the angular relation between the lid attachment 10 and the recess 21 inside the lid receiver 20. The same angle described above is formed between the lower surface of the recess 21 , which is where the lid attachment 10 rests, in use, and the stem 11 of the lid attachment 10. Thanks to the recess 16 formed at the distal end of the lid attachment 10, on its head 12, the lid attachment 10 is relatively free to rock in its seat, so that the lid 110 can take its naturally hanging configuration, a seen in Figures

11 and 12.

Figure 14 show in greater detail how the lower part of the lid 110 and the side panel 101 on which the lid 110 is accommodated are arranged relative to each other when the lid 11o is rested on said side panel 101. The second lid attachment 10 and/or a portion of the lid’s skirt 117 abut against a portion of the base 104 of the container, which together with the side panel 101 defines the side wall 106 of the container 100 on which the lid 110 is accommodated. So that the lid attachment is visible, the base 104 is not shown in Figure 14.

Figure 15 is a different perspective view of the underside 111 of the lid 110. Figure 15 has been included since it allows the viewer to appreciate how the lid attachments 10 are disposed when the lid 110 is in use to cover the enclosed space 105 of the container 100.

Figure 16 is simply an enlarged view of a portion of the lid 110 of Figure 15, showing the lid attachment 10 in greater detail in said orientation. The lid attachment 10 is positioned close enough to the lid’s skirt 117 such that, when the lid 110 covers the container 100, the lid attachment 10 is at least partially received within the lid receiver 20 in order to limit or prevent contamination of the enclosed space 105 of the container 100 during transportation.

Figures 17-22 are self-explanatory: they show a variation of the lid receiver 20 previously described. In this variation, the lid receiver 20 is not provided merely as a recess formed on the upper edge 102 of one of the side panels 101 of the container 100. Rather, the lid receiver 20 is provided as a retractable receptacle 24 which can be deployed and stowed away inside the side panel 101 , in the upper region thereof, close to the upper edge 102 thereof. Figure 17 shows the location of the retractable receptacle 24. Figure 18 shows a detail of the pivotally operated receptacle 24, in a stowed configuration. Figure 19 shows a detail of the receptacle 24 in a deployed configuration. The receptacle 24, in the deployed configuration of Figure 18, defines a recess 21 similar to the previously described recess of the previous lid receiver 20. Figure 20 shows the lid’s attachment 10 being accommodated in said recess 21. Figure 21 shows a particular of the lid attachment 10 received in the recess 21 of the retractable receptacle 24. Figure 22 illustrates the purpose of this variation, which is to bring the lid slightly further away from the edge 102 of the side panel 101 , to improve access to the enclosed space 105 of the container even further.

Finally, Figures 23 and 24 show a variation of the lid attachment 10 previously described. Here, the lid attachment 10 is provided as a single T-shape, without first and second T- shaped portions. This lid attachment 10 can be described as a single stem 11 and a single head 12, without hooked ends. Further, the lid attachment 10, in this variation, not only projects from the lid underside 111 , but also from the lid’s skirt 117.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of a detail of the lid underside 111 showing this variation of lid attachment 10, in isolation. Figure 24, interestingly, shows a cross section taken cutting according to a plane substantially parallel to the lid 110, just below the lid underside 111 , with the lid in use to cover the container enclosed space 105. Figure 24 reveals a different lid receiver 20, in that the lid receiver is still provided as a recess 21 formed on the side panel’s upper edge 102, but the narrow and wider recessed portions 22, 23 are swapped around. The narrow recessed portion 22 is now provided inwardly, toward the container’s enclosed space 105, while the wider recessed portion 23 is provided outwardly, towards the container’s exterior. In this way, access by potential contaminants into the container’s enclosed space 105 via the narrow recess 22 is nearly completely or completely prevented, with the lid attachment 10 acting effectively as a ‘plug’ and the wider recessed portion 23 of the lid receiver 20 acting effectively’ as a corresponding ‘socket’, when the lid is in use as described.

This lid attachment 10 not only better prevents contaminants from potentially entering the enclosed space 105 of the container 100, but in addition it can be argued to be easier to repair or replace. Further, it can be argued to be stronger than the previous version, as it is in addition attached to the lid’s skirt 117, not only to the lid’s underside 111. Repairing a damaged lid attachment 10 can be achieved by cutting away any remaining part of a damaged lid attachment 10, and then by replacing the lid attachment 10 by welding a new lid attachment tin place by plastic welding (these techniques being well known in the arts). The fact that this version of lid attachment 10 also projects from the skirt 117 of the lid 110 as well as from the lid underside 111 , makes additional welding surfaces available for any welding operations to repair the lid attachment 10. This is preferred to welding a new lid attachment 10 only against the surface of the lid underside 111.

Shelves with shelf locators in the shape of pins, using similar attachment principles as described here above

In an attempt to reduce misplaced or lost removable shelves for rigid containers for the transportation of dry goods, the inventors have appreciated that it may be desirable to provide a removable shelf 201 , 202 with one or more shelf locators 210 ,211 as shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25 shows a removable shelf 201 , 202 for rigid containers for dry goods. The described removable shelf 201 , 202 is essentially a continuous panel 209 which may be made from one or more rigid pieces of plastics. The removable shelf 201 , 202 may thus come as a single or integral panel 209 or may be assembled and/or assemblable from a number of subcomponents. It will be appreciated that the removable shelf 201 , 202 may be manufactured according to different methods or techniques and may be made of or include parts which are not made of plastics, although for the present purposes and applications plastics are advantageous since they may readily provide light weight and suitable rigidity, as known in the arts.

The removable shelf 201 , 202 comprises at least one shelf locator 210, 211. Each shelf locator 210, 211 or the shelf locators 210, 211 collectively, are usable by a user after removing the removable shelf 201 , 202 from the container to prevent the removable shelf 201 , 202 from becoming misplaced or lost. To do so, the user can attach the removable shelf 201 to the container, as will be described further below, via the shelf locator(s) 210, 211. The removable shelf 201 , 202 can thus be easily located. A removable shelf 201 , 202 may comprise two and only two shelf locators 210, 211 which may be provided on a front face 203 of the shelf 201. However, a different number of shelf locators would likewise be possible, as an example just one.

In the removable shelves 201 , 202 described herein, for example, there are actually provided four shelf locators 210, 211 , 212, 213 in total, on each removable shelf 201 , 202 - in the form of two front shelf locators 210, 211 as shown in Figure 25, provided on the front face 203 of the shelf 201 , 20 2 and two rear shelf locators 212, 213 provided on a rear shelf face 203, which are not shown in Figure 25 but can be seen in Figure 27. The importance of the rear shelf locators 212, 213 is that a further removable shelf 201 , 202 may then be attached to any removable shelf 201 , 202. Before describing further the removable shelf 201 , the shelf locators 210, 211 and the containers, a few definitions which will help to describe particularly the removable shelf 201 , 202 will now be introduced.

The removable shelf 201 , 202 comprises a pair of opposed faces 203 (only one being shown in Figure 25) one of which, in use (as an upper face), provides support for goods (not shown). The faces 203 are surrounded by an edge 208, which delimits the removable shelf 120, 202. Figure 25 shows a generally rectangular shelf shape, but other shapes are in principle possible. Also, each removable shelf 201 , 202 may be provided as a complete shelf, or a complete shelf may be made up of two or more smaller shelves that together may provide the required supporting surface. The edge 208 surrounds the rectangular removable shelf 201 on each of its four sides 204. Each shelf face 203, accordingly also has corresponding rectangular face sides 204. In the described removable shelf 201 , 202 the shelf locators 210, 211 , 212, 213 are provided at opposed ends 206 of the shelf 201 , near adjacent corners 205 of the shelf 201 and close to the edge 208 and one of the sides 204 of the shelf 201 , 202, as shown in Figure 25. The removable shelf 201 , 202 has two short sides 204 that extend along a first axis and two long sides 204 that extend along a second axis.

Returning now to the operation of the removable shelves 201 , 202 described herein, the removable shelves 201 , 202 can each 201 advantageously be removably attached to a container side panel 101 , optionally via another shelf 202, i.e. an intermediate shelf 202, already attached to the container side panel 101 , so that the removable shelf 201 will not be misplaced in relation to the container 100. It will be understood that the removable shelves 201 , 202 described herein can be attached one at a time, or simultaneously in groups of pre-attached two or more removable shelves 201 , 202.

Figure 26 shows a rigid container 100 for the transportation of dry goods. One or more removable shelves 201 , 202 as described herein can be disposed within the container 100 so as to divide up the enclosed space 105 in two or more compartments 306 respectively, and this will now be better described in connection with Figures 26 to 29.

Figures 26 to 28 show the container of Figures 1 and 2 with one removable shelf 201 being lowered in position inside the container 100 to support the goods. The removable shelf 201 is rested on appropriate protrusions (not described herein) provided internally, along the vertical sides of the container 100, via shelf rests 215 (shown in Figure 1) disposed on the four corners 205 of the removable shelf 201 . This operation is greatly facilitated, as can be imagined, by the provision on the shelf 201 of one or more handles 214 (also shown in Figure 25). There is another removable shelf 202 shown in Figures 26 to 28, and this second removable shelf is attached face-to-face to the rear panel 101 of the container 100 via two of its shelf locators 210, 211 and two corresponding and complementary shelf locators 212, 213 provided on a rear panel 101 of the container 100. This removable shelf 202 also has additional shelf locators 212, 213, which may be similar or the same with respect to the shelf locators 212, 213 provided on the container rear wall 101 , which shelf locators 212, 213 are provided on the shelf rear face 203 for receiving the shelf locators 210, 211 of the removable shelf 201 now placed inside the container 100, when the removable shelf 201 will no longer be needed for the transportation of the goods, but will be attached to and stored in the container 100. Vice versa, the now attached removable shelf 202 could be detached from its location on the rear panel 101 of the container 100 and be deployed as an additional shelf 202 inside the container 100, so as to divide the enclosed space 105 not in just two but three compartments 306 for transporting the goods.

It will now be appreciated that the front shelf locators 210, 211 shown in Figures 25 and 26 to 28 are male shelf locators 210, 211 adapted to be received in corresponding female shelf locators 212, 213 provided on an edge of the container side panel 101 , or on the edge 208 of the intermediate shelf 202 attached to the container side panel 101. Also, the edge 208 of the shelves 201 , 202 close to the shelf locators 210, 211 is an upper edge of the shelf 201 , 202, when the shelf 201 , 202 is vertically attached to the container panel 101 , face-to- face, as shown in Figures 26 to 28. However, these configurations are not mandatory.

The one or more male shelf locators 210, 211 could for example be replaced by one or more female shelf locators 212, 213 on one of the shelf faces 203, and vice versa the one or more female shelf locators 212, 213 on the other face 203 of the shelf 201 , 202 or on the container side panel 101 could for example be replaced by one or more corresponding male shelf locators 210, 211 , so long as the shelf locator(s) 210, 211 , 212, 213 are collectively usable to attach (in the particular case of the described shelf 120, 202, attach by hanging) the shelf 201 , 202 to the container side panel 101 or to one or more intermediate shelves already hung to said container side panel 101. It is therefore important that the shelf locator(s) 210, 211 , 212, 213 are positioned and shaped to achieve this outcome, independently of their specific conformation and position on the shelf 201 , 202.

It is also similarly not mandatory that the shelf locator(s) 210, 211 , 212, 213 be disposed close to the upper side 204 or edge 208 of the shelf 201 , 202, in the configuration where the shelf 201 , 202 is vertically attached face-to-face to the rear wall 101 of the container 100; the shelf locator(s) 210, 211 , 212, 213 could otherwise be disposed close to a bottom edge or side of the shelf 201 , 202, or laterally. It is however important that the male shelf locator(s) 210, 211 and female shelf locator(s) 212, 213 be disposed in spatially corresponding positions 207 on the nominal plane of the removable shelves 201 , 202, such that the male and female shelf locators 210, 211 , 212, 213 may form, in use, pairs of engaged male-female shelf locators 210, 212; 211 , 213 for attaching the panels 209 as desired on the containers 100. Such positions are shown in Figure 27, for example.

The advantages brought forward by providing shelf locators 210, 211 , 212, 213 as described herein resonate with the provision of a foldable container 100. With a foldable container 100, at least one of the container panels 101 is folded so that the container 100 can be configured into a more compact form for transportation back to a service centre, together with any attached removable shelves 201 , 202. Any removable shelves 201 , 202 can therefore be neatly stored away in the folded container 100. At the service centre, the use cycle of the container 100 may start again: the containers 100 would first be reconditioned and then shipped to a place of use, where they would be erected and loaded with the goods to be transported. The removable shelves 201 , 202 at this moment will still be stacked inside the container 100 but will be ready to be installed in the enclosed space 105 when the container is prepared for transporting the goods.

In principle, any manner of removably attaching the shelf face-to-face to the container wall or to an intermediate shelf attached to the container wall may be considered. Further, multiple shelves could alternatively be attached to multiple container walls, and these multiple container walls may all be individually collapsible. An advantageous way of removably attaching the shelf face-to-face against the container wall or to another shelf is by simply hanging the shelf. Alternative to the designs described herein, therefore, it will be appreciated that the shelf locators may each be provided in the form of a hanger or a hook. In such cases, the shelves 201 , 202 may be directly hung to the container side panel 101 , or to any intermediate shelves, internally or externally, without the need for corresponding shelf locators, such as the female shelf locators 212, 213 described herein.

With reference now to Figure 29, the at least one male shelf locator 210, 211 is provided, in the described shelves 201 , 202, generally in the form of a pin 220. The at least one female shelf locator 212, 213 is instead provided generally in the form of a slot 222, which in shape is at least to some extent complementary to that of the pin 220 so that the pin 220 can be straightforwardly and intuitively received in the slot 220, so that the shelves 201 , 202 can as a consequence be attached as intended.

Each pin 220 comprises an enlarged head portion 224 and each complementary slot 222 comprises an opening in the form of a mouth 226, that opens on the edge 208 of the shelf 201 , 202, (or of the container side panel 101 , in case this shelf locator 212, 213 is provided thereon). This mouth or opening 226 is adapted to receive at least the enlarged head portion 224 of the pin 220 but may otherwise receive all of the pin 220. The mouth 226 enables attachment of the removable shelf 201 , 202 by the user engaging each pin 220 with the respective slot 22 and then sliding the pin 220 in the ‘w’ direction shown by the arrow in Figure 29. A narrow or stem pin portion 232 joins the enlarged pin head 224 and the face 203 of the shelf 201 , 202. A user is accordingly able to easily identify the shelf locators 210, 211 , 212, 213, 220, 222 both on the shelf and/or the container wall, or intermediate shelf attached to the container wall, and to use them in the intended manner. Further, the enlarged head portion 224 of the pin 220 prevents the removable shelf 201 , 202 from becoming easily or involuntarily detached or disassembled, once the shelf 201 , 202 has been attached in place as intended. It will not be possible to detach the shelf 201 , 202 by pulling the shelf 201 , 202 away perpendicularly to direction ‘w’. To detach any of the shelves 201 , 202 the user will need to slide one shelf 201 , 202 at a time, or both shelves 201 , 202 together along the ‘w’ line, in a direction which is reverse to that of the arrows shown.

Alternatively, the pin could have had a cylindrical shape and the slot the shape of a correspondingly cylindrical cavity and the shelf could have been placed in the intended position by translation and coupling along the w direction. An alternative manner of retention could have been devised, for example in the form of an interference fitting between the pin and the slot, but this would have been a less preferred solution.

It will be clear to the skilled reader, that the solutions described above in connection with the container’s lid 110 and shelves 201 , 202 are in principle similar. Accordingly, the following clauses also form part of the present disclosure:

A removable panel for rigid containers for transporting dry goods, the removable panel comprising at least one panel locator usable such that the removable panel can be attached face-to-face to a wall of the containers, or to an intermediate removable panel attached to said wall.

The removable panel described above, wherein the at least one shelf locator is provided on a face of the removable panel; optionally, at or near a side thereof; optionally, at or near a corner thereof.

The removable panel described above, wherein the removable panel comprises at least two panel locators disposed at or near opposed ends of the panel, respectively; optionally, along said side; optionally, or at or near adjacent corners of the shelf; alternatively, wherein the removable panel comprises at least one panel locator disposed about midway along a long side thereof. The removable panel described above, wherein the removable panel comprises at least one male panel locator and at least one complementary, female panel locator, said male and female panel locators being provided at corresponding opposed positions on either face of the panel, respectively; alternatively, the female panel locator may be provided on a side panel of the containers.

The removable panel described above, wherein the at least one male shelf locator is provided generally in the form of a pin, and the at least one female shelf locator defines a slot or recess complementary to said pin.

The removable panel described above, wherein the pin comprises an enlarged head portion and the complementary slot comprises a mouth that opens on an edge of the removable panel or of the above-referenced side panel, said mouth being adapted to receive said enlarged head portion.

A system for rigid containers for the transportation of dry goods, the system comprising a removable panel as described above and a side panel for said container, optionally wherein said side panel is foldable.

Features and aspects of the present disclosure that have been disclosed in connection with the container’s lid may equally be applied to the container’s shelves, or vice-versa, as it will be apparent to the skilled person.

List of reference signs:

10 Lid attachment

11 Stem

12 Head

13 First T-shaped portion

14 Second T-shaped portion

15 Hooked end

16 Distal recess of lid attachment

20 Lid receiver

21 Recess

22 First (narrow) recessed portion

23 Second (wide) recessed portion 24 Retractable receptacle

100 Container (erected) or container assembly (folded)

101 Container side, front and back panels (whether designated individually or collectively)

102 Upper edge of container panel

103 Outer face of container panel/wall

104 Container base

105 Enclosed space of container

106 Container walls (whether designated individually or collectively)

107 Side door of container

109 Front door of container

110 Detachable lid or cap

111 Lid underside

112 Periphery of lid underside

114 Corners of lid (whether designated individually or collectively)

117 Skirt

120 Radially extending ribs

C centre of lid

201 First removable shelf

202 Second (intermediate) removable shelf

203 Shelf face

204 Side of shelf (or of face of shelf)

205 Shelf corner

206 End of shelf

207 Corresponding positions on shelf faces

208 Shelf edge

209 Shelf panel

210, 211 First and second male shelf locators

212, 213 First and second female shelf locators

214 Shelf handle

215 Shelf rest

220 Pin

222 Slot or recess

224 Enlarged head portion of pin

226 Mouth of slot

232 Stem of pin (narrow portion of pin) w direction of insertion of shelf pin