FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a modular bin and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a modular bulk produce bin for fruit and vegetables. Even more particular, the present invention relates to a modular bulk produce bin constructed predominantly from a plastics material .

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Wooden bulk produce bins are commonly used to store and transport fruit and vegetables. The wooden bin has a base constructed from two or more wooden load bearing members with a series of wooden planks nailed to and running perpendicularly across each of the load bearing members . The wooden bin has four side walls each consisting of a series of spaced apart wooden battens nailed to a triangular-shaped corner gusset. An angle-iron is then nailed to each corner gusset through the spaced apart wooden battens, and at one end nailed to a load bearing member so as to connect the side walls to the base of the wooden bin.

The wooden bulk produce bin has several drawbacks . The wooden bins are generally unhygienic as they are difficult to clean out after use. Consequently, decaying fruit and/or vegetable matter, and dirt can build up on the wooden bins and decay with time contaminating fresh fruit or vegetables. The wooden bins deteriorate with use and it is not uncommon for planks and/or battens to be broken or splintered after only several months of use. Because of this deterioration the wooden bins often have broken or splintered timber, and exposed nail heads which can cut or grate the skin of people using the bins.

With a view to overcoming some of the abovementioned problems there are also plastic bulk produce bins. The plastic bulk produce bin is moulded in a single piece in a variety of sizes. Some of the plastic bins include openings in the base and/or side walls to allow the fruit or vegetables to breathe and for ease of cleaning the plastic bin. The plastic bin may also include a pair of galvanised steel handles each pivotally connected to opposing side walls of the plastic bin for carrying the plastic bins.

The plastic bulk produce bins are limited in their size, compared to the wooden bulk produce bins, because of the reduced strength of the plastic material from which the plastic bins are constructed. The wooden and to a lesser extent the plastic bulk produce bins also consume a relatively large amount of space when they are stored or transported in an empty state.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An intention of the present invention is to provide a modular bin that is relatively strong and when disassembled occupies relatively little space.

According to the present invention there is provided a modular bin for holding produce comprising: a base section; at least one perimeter wall detachably coupled to the base section; and reinforcing means connected to each of the perimeter walls so that the reinforcing means strengthens the perimeter wall whereby, in use, with the perimeter wall coupled to the base section the modular bin is in an assembled condition and can hold a relatively large weight of produce, and with the perimeter wall detached from the base section the modular bin is in a disassembled condition wherein the base section and the perimeter wall occupy a

significantly reduced amount of space compared to when the modular bin in the assembled condition.

Typically, the reinforcing means is integral with each of the perimeter walls.

Typically, the modular bin comprises four perimeter walls, the reinforcing means of each perimeter wall designed to releasably couple to an adjacent perimeter wall.

Typically, the modular bin further comprises at least one support post detachably coupled to both the base section and at least one of the perimeter walls so that the support post strengthens said perimeter walls.

Typically, the reinforcing means of one of the perimeter walls detachably connects to one of the support posts adjacent said perimeter wall so that the modular bin in the assembled condition can hold a relatively large weight of produce.

Typically, the modular bin comprises fou_r support posts each detachably connected to a pair of adjacent perimeter walls.

Typically, the reinforcing means comprises an elongate member formed integral with one of the perimeter walls wherein each end of the elongate member is exposed so that each end can detachably engage one of the support posts when the modular bin is in the assembled condition.

More typically, the elongate member is constructed of a relatively high tensile material.

Even more typically, the high tensile material is steel.

Typically, the modular bin further comprises a reinforcing panel removably received between the perimeter walls so that the reinforcing panel rests on the base section so that, in use, the reinforcing panel substantially increases the flexural strength of the base section.

More typically, the reinforcing panel comprises a sheet with a series of strengthening ribs connected to at least one surface thereof.

Typically, the base section, perimeter walls, reinforcing panel, and/or the support posts or a substantial portion thereof are- constructed of a plastics material.

More typically, the plastics material is a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material or a derivative thereof.

Alternatively, the plastics material is a reconstituted or recycled plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of a modular bin will now be described in some detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular bin shown in an assembled condition;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a base section taken from the modular bin shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a support post taken from the modular bin shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view of a perimeter wall section taken from the modular bin shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan and a sectional view of part of a liner designed to rest in the base section of the modular bin shown in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figure 1 there is a modular bin generally denoted as 10 for holding produce, in this example fruit and vegetables (not shown) . The modular bin 10 comprises four (4) perimeter walls, in this embodiment wall panels 12 detachably connected to a base section 14. Four corner posts 16 are also detachably connected to the base section 14 and each of the corner posts 16 is detachably engaged by a pair of adjacent wall panels 12. Each of the corner posts 16 projects perpendicularly from the base section 14 and the base section 14 is square-shaped.

As illustrated in Figure 2 the square base section 14 comprises a pair of opposing load bearing members 18 disposed parallel to each other, a planar base 20 connected between the pair of load bearing members 18, a rim 22 extending upwardly from each edge of the planar base 20, and a socket post 24 located on each end of each load bearing member 18. The planar base 20 has a series of drainage holes 27 designed in use to drain water and other liquids to avoid contamination or decay of fruit and/or vegetables. Each of the socket posts 24 has a pentagonal- shaped socket 26 of a complementary shape to a lower section of the support post 16.

As depicted in Figure 3 the support post 16 is pentagonal- shaped in cross-section having a pair of longitudinal channels 28 formed in opposing sides of the post 16. The channels 28 are oriented perpendicular to each other and parallel to adjacent sides of the post 16. The width of each channel 28 is substantially equal to the thickness of a wall panel 12 which, in use, is received in the channel 28.

As shown in Figure 4 each of the wall panels 12 iias a substantially planar inner wall 30 with a series of vent holes 32, and an array of stiffening ribs 34 located on an

outer surface of the inner wall 30. Located on opposing edges of the inner wall 30 is a rectangular-shaped member 36 sized to be slidably received in one of the channels 28 of the post 16. Located on an upper edge of the inner wall 30 is an upper rim 38 which, in this example, is also rectangular-shaped in cross-section.

With reference to Figure 4 the modular bin 10 further comprises reinforcing means, in this embodiment a rod 40 formed integral with each of the wall panels 12. The rod 40 is constructed of steel and has an elongate portion 42 which extends through the upper rim 38 of the wall panel 12 and an end portion 44 which extends perpendicularly to the elongate porion 42 and projects outside the upper rim 38.

As illustrated in Figure 3 the support post 16 has a recess 45 formed in each of the longitudinal channels 28. On a lower surface of the recess 45 there is a circular keyway 46 designed to be detachably engaged by the end portion 44 of the rod 40. The keyway 46 is thus substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the end portion 44 of the rod 40. The circular keyway 46 extends parallel to the channels 28 formed in each of the support posts 16.

As shown in Figure 5 the modular bin 10 further comprises a reinforcing panel, in this example a mat 50, which is substantially the same shape and size as the base section 14. The mat 50, when in use, rests in the base section 14 of the modular bin 10. The mat 50 has a series of strengthening ribs 52 extending perpendicularly from a lower surface of the mat 50 designed to rest on the planar base 20 of the base section 14. The rigidity of the base section 14 and particularly the planar base 20 is improved by the use of the mat 50.

Assembly of the modular bin 10 described above will now be explained so as to illustrate some of the advantages of the

present invention.

The lower portion of each of the corner posts 16 is inserted into one of the sockets 26 of the base section 14. Each of the side panels 12 is then slid between adjacent corner posts 16 and the end portion 44 of the rod 40 releasably engages the circular keyway 46 of each corner post 16. Finally the mat 50 is lowered onto the planar base 20 of the base section 14. The modular bin 10 is now in an assembled condition as depicted in Figure 1. The modular bin 10 is disassembled by performing the above procedure in reverse order detaching or removing each of the components. The modular bin 10 is then in a disassembled condition.

In this embodiment of the present invention the base section 14, the wall panels 12, the corner posts 16, and the mat 50 are each moulded from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) material. The steel rod 40 is moulded integral with each of the wall panels 12. Advantageously the HDPE material is lightweight and hygienic being relatively easy to clean after use without accumulating dirt and bacteria.

When the modular bin 10 is in the assembled condition a relatively large weight of produce can be held within the bin 10. The reinforcing means, or rods of the above embodiment of the present invention, lock adjacent wall panels 12 to each of the corner posts 16 and give the bin 10 increased strength. Relatively large bins holding relatively large amounts of produce can, therefore, be used with a reduced risk of breakage or structural damage to the bin 10.

When the modular bin 10 is in the disassembled condition, for example during transportation of bins 10 to produce farms, the components of the modular bin can be stacked in

such a way that they consume relatively little space. In the example described above three (3) disassembled modular bins consume approximately the same amount of space as one (1) assembled modular bin 10.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that the modular bin described has at least the following advantages over the admitted prior art:

1. relatively large modular bins can be constructed which are strong and can thus hold a relatively large weight of produce;

2. the modular bins when in a disassembled condition occupy a relatively small amount of space; and

3. the modular bins when constructed from a plastics material are lightweight and relatively hygienic when in use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the described embodiment of the modular bin which are still within the scope of the present invention. For example, the modular bin may not in fact be square-shaped but rather cylindrical wherein the perimeter wall is a resiliently flexible cylinder and the reinforcing means is a steel ring designed to engage or connect to an upper rim of the resiliently flexible cylinder. The perimeter walls may be detachably coupled to the base section in a variety of ways. All such variations and/or improvements are to be considered within the ambit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.