Background Art Containers for transporting products from one place to another are known. Generally the containers include side walls which define a storage space for the receipt of goods to enable the goods to be transported from one place to another. When the container is unloaded, the container is collapsed so that an empty container can be returned for re-use. The reason for enabling the container to collapse is to ensure that empty container takes up as little space as possible when it is being returned.

The walls of known containers are generally made collapsible by simply hinging the walls to a base part of the container.

One problem with conventional containers is the lack of flexibility in opening the container so that access can be obtained to the goods in the container. This is a particular problem if the container is accessed frequently over a relatively lengthy period to remove goods from the container, as happens in some environments. Furthermore, further difficulties arise if containers are stacked one above the other. In some circumstances, it is necessary to lift the upper container off the lower container by a fork lift truck so that access can be gained to the goods stored in the lower container.

Summary of the Invention An object of a first aspect of the invention is to provide

a container which overcomes the above problems.

The first aspect of the invention provides a container including: a base; three side walls; coupling means for connecting the side walls to the base so the side walls are moveable from an upright position to a collapsed position; a front wall which, with the three side walls, defines a storage space when the three side walls are in the upright position; the front wall having a first door and a second door; first releasable coupling means for coupling the first and second doors in the front wall so the first and second doors can selectively be moved from a closed position to an open position to enable access to the storage space, and completely separated from the front wall and therefore the container to facilitate collapsing of the container; a top for location on the container; third and fourth doors provided in the top; and second releasable coupling means for connecting the third and fourth doors to the top so the third and fourth doors can be moved between a closed position and an open position to allow access to the storage space through the top and the third and fourth doors being completely separable from the top to facilitate collapsing of the container.

The container according to this aspect of the invention thereby provides greater flexibility to enable the container to be both loaded and emptied because access can be gained to the container through any one of the first to fourth doors, or the first to fourth doors can be completely removed to facilitate loading and unloading of

the container as well as collapsing of the container.

Furthermore, if one container is stacked above another, access is still able to be gained to the container through the first and second doors, either by opening those doors or completely removing the doors. To return the container, the container is collapsed by completely removing the first to fourth doors, and those doors can be stowed inside the container and the three side walls moved to the collapsed position to enable an empty container to be returned for re-use in the collapsed position so that it occupies as little as possible storage space during return of the container.

Preferably the top includes a cross beam which extends between two opposed walls of the said three side walls to hold the opposed walls in the upright position, and the second releasable coupling means for coupling the third and fourth doors comprises a respective first hinge component on the third and fourth doors for engagement with a pair of second hinge components on the beam.

Preferably each of the first hinge components comprises a first channel member having a cavity and a pair of side portions, and an opening between the side portions, and wherein each of the second hinge components comprises a bead for location in the cavity through the opening so that the bead can pivot in the cavity between the opened position and the closed position, and wherein when the third and fourth doors are in the closed or fully open position the bead is prevented from being pulled laterally out of the cavity by the side walls, but when the third and fourth doors are in an intermediate position between the fully opened and closed position the bead is releasable from the cavity by being pulled out through the opening to enable complete release of the third and fourth doors from the top.

Preferably the front wall includes an upper abutment beam extending between the two opposed walls of the said three side walls, and wherein the first releasable coupling means comprises a first hinge component on the base and a second hinge component on the first door, and a first hinge component on the first door, and a second hinge component on the second door.

Preferably each of the first hinge components comprises a first channel member having a cavity and a pair of side portions, and an opening between the side portions, and wherein each of the second hinge components comprises a bead for location in the cavity through the opening so that the bead can pivot in the cavity between the opened position and the closed position, and wherein when the third and fourth doors are in the closed or fully open position the bead is prevented from being pulled laterally out of the cavity by the side walls, but when the third and fourth doors are in an intermediate position between the fully opened and closed position the bead is releasable from the cavity by being pulled out through the opening to enable complete release of the third and fourth doors from the top.

Preferably the base includes three upstanding flanges and the three side walls are pivotally connected to a respective one of the three flanges so that the three flanges define a region in which a pallet can be contained when the three side walls are moved to the collapsed position adjacent the base.

Preferably the two opposed side walls include latches for engaging a third of the three side walls to hold the three side walls in the upright position.

Preferably the latches also serve as struts for holding the fourth door in a partly open position.

Preferably the first and second hinge components are formed from extruded metal and include a connecting leg for coupling the respective hinge components to the container.

Preferably the three side walls of the container are reinforced by reinforcing members so as to enable the stacking of loaded containers one above another.

Preferably the first, second, third and fourth doors also include reinforcing members to further strengthen the container to allow containers to be stacked one above another.

Preferably the base includes channels for receiving tines of a fork lift truck to enable the container to be lifted by a fork lift truck.

This aspect of the invention also provides a container including: four side walls; coupling means for connecting the side walls to the base so the side walls are locatable in an upright position or a collapsed position, the side walls defining a storage space when the side walls are in the upright position; a top for location on the container; at least one door arranged in one of the side walls and top; a releasable hinge for connecting the at least one door to the container so the door can pivot from a closed position through an intermediate position to an open position; the hinge having a first hinge component comprising an elongate channel having first and second sides which define a cavity, the first and second sides

having free ends and an opening being provided between the free ends, and a second hinge component comprising a bead having a bead head for location in the cavity through the opening so that the bead head can pivot relative to the channel to in turn allow the at least one door to pivot relative to the container from the closed position towards the open position and vice versa; and wherein the door is in the closed or fully open position, the bead head is prevented from being withdrawn from the cavity laterally out through the opening by the first and second walls, but when the door is in the intermediate position between the first and second position, the bead head is able to be released from the cavity by moving laterally out through the opening between the first and second walls to enable complete release of the first component from the second component to enable complete release of the door from the container.

Preferably both of the said one of the side walls and the top include a said door, the doors being connected to the container by a respective said hinge.

Preferably the said one of the side walls and the top each include a second said door connected to the container by a respective said hinge.

Preferably the said one wall of the container is comprised of two doors and a top beam, and the top of the container is comprised of two doors and a cross beam arranged between the two doors.

The two doors of the said one wall comprising first and second doors, and the two doors of the top comprising third and fourth doors.

Preferably the hinge which connects the first door to the container has a said first hinge component formed on a

base of the container, and a said second hinge component formed on an edge of the first door.

Preferably the hinge which connects the second door to the container comprises a said first component connected along an opposite edge of the first door and a said second component connected to one edge of the second door.

Preferably the hinge which connects the third door to the container comprises a said first component formed along one edge of the third door, and a said second component located on one edge of the cross beam.

Preferably the hinge which connects the fourth door to the container has a first said hinge component connected to one edge of the fourth door, and a said second hinge component connected to the opposite edge of the cross beam.

Preferably three of said four walls are pivotally connected to the base and are moveable into the collapsed position by pivoting from an upright position to the collapsed position.

Preferably the said at least one of the walls is moveable from the upright position to the collapsed position by removing the said doors and the top beam and stowing the first and second doors and the top beam in the container prior to pivoting the said three walls into the collapsed position.

Preferably the third and fourth doors and the cross beam are also stowable in the container prior to pivotal movement of the said three walls from the upright position to the collapsed position, to thereby form a collapsed container package for transportation for reassembly and reuse.

Preferably the base includes three upstanding flanges and the said three side walls are pivotally connected to a respective one of the three flanges by a non-releasable hinge.

Preferably the two opposed side walls include latches for engaging a third of the three side walls to hold the third wall in the upright position.

Preferably the latches also serve as struts for holding the fourth door in a partly open position.

Preferably the first and second hinge components are formed from extruded metal and include a connecting leg for coupling the respective hinge components to the container.

Preferably the three side walls of the container are reinforced by reinforcing members so as to enable the stacking of loaded containers one above another.

Preferably the first, second, third and fourth doors also include reinforcing members to further strengthen the container to allow containers to be stacked one above another.

Preferably the base includes channels for receiving tines of a fork lift truck to enable the container to be lifted by a fork lift truck.

Preferably the bead includes a flange arranged inwardly of the free end of the leg to limit the penetration of the leg into the second member.

Preferably the cavity is part circular in transverse cross-section.

Preferably the bead head includes a pair of flat side portions and a part circular crown portion which matches the contour of the cavity.

Preferably the bead head includes first and second shoulders which respectively abut the first and second walls when the bead is in the first and second positions to prevent lateral withdrawal of the bead head from the channel, but when the bead head is in the intermediate position, the shoulders are aligned with the opening and the flat sides enable withdrawal of the bead head laterally out of the channel through the opening.

A second aspect of the invention is concerned with a hinge which enables pivotal movement of one member relative to another and also release of one member relative to the other. The hinge has particular application in the container described above, but also can be used in other environments.

This aspect of the invention provides a hinge including: a first hinge component comprising an elongate channel having first and second sides which define a cavity; an opening being provided between free ends of the first and second sides; a second hinge component comprising a bead having a bead head for location in the cavity through the opening so that the bead head can pivot relative to the channel to in turn allow a first member couplable with the channel to pivot relative to a second member couplable with the bead between a first position and a second position; and wherein when the bead is in the first or second position, the bead head is prevented from being withdrawn from the cavity laterally out through the opening by the first and second walls, but when the bead is in an

intermediate position between the first and second position, the bead head is able to be released from the cavity by moving laterally out through the opening between the first and second walls to enable complete release of the first component from the second component.

Thus, this aspect of the invention enables a hinge to be formed which enables members to pivot relative to one another between the first and second position, but also allows complete release of the members with respect to one another by locating the hinge in the intermediate position and then moving the bead laterally out of the cavity through the opening.

Thus, members can be provided which are pivotally moveable from one position to another position, and which allow complete release of one member from the other member to provide great flexibility in the manner in which access is gained through the members or to allow disassembly of the members.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the members are in the form of doors of a container. However, in other embodiments, the hinge could be used to pivotally couple other members with respect to one another.

Preferably the channel member includes a leg for securing the channel to the first member.

Preferably the bead includes a leg for securing the bead to the second member.

Preferably the legs have ribs for locking the channel and the bead to the respective members.

Preferably the bead includes a flange arranged inwardly of the free end of the leg to limit the penetration of the

leg into the second member.

Preferably the cavity is part circular in transverse cross-section.

Preferably the bead head includes a pair of flat side portions and a part circular crown portion which matches the contour of the cavity.

Preferably the bead head includes first and second shoulders which respectively abut the first and second walls when the bead is in the first and second positions to prevent lateral withdrawal of the bead head from the channel, but when the bead head is in the intermediate position, the shoulders are aligned with the opening and the flat sides enable withdrawal of the bead head laterally out of the channel through the opening.

This aspect of the invention also provides a support structure including: a plurality of structural members, at least a first and a second of the structural members each including a body and respectively including cooperating male and female connecting portions; the female connecting portion including a channel having a channel opening extending longitudinally along the channel; a male portion including a head portion and a neck portion; wherein the head portion has a first width in a first direction less than the channel opening width to facilitate insertion of the head portion in the channel through the channel opening; and the head portion has a second width in a second direction greater than the channel opening width so that upon rotation of the head portion in the channel removal of the head portion from the channel through the channel

opening is prevented.

Preferably the head portion may be rotated in a first direction so that the first and second structural members are substantially perpendicular to each other, and in a second opposing direction so that the first and second structural members are substantially parallel to each other.

The channel may have a cylindrical shape, which may be circular. The head may have a substantially cylindrical cross section adapted to fit snugly within the channel.

The cylindrical cross section may be circular, and include at least one chamfered face along the second direction to enable insertion of the head portion in the channel.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention ; Figure 2 is a view of the container in a partly opened condition; Figure 3 is a container in a more open condition; Figure 4 is a side view of the container of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a view of the container with the front wall removed; Figure 6 is an exploded view showing removal of the top of the container; Figure 7 is a view of the container in the partly collapsed condition; Figure 8 is a view of the container in a fully collapsed condition; Figure 9 is a view of a hinge used in the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figures 10,11, 12 and 13 are views showing operation of the hinge of Figure 9; Figure 14 is a view of a latch arrangement used in the preferred embodiment in a first position; Figure 15 is a view of the latch in a second position; Figure 16 is a view of part of the container in a separated condition; Figure 17 is a side view of part of the container of Figure 16; and Figure 18 is a view of the parts of Figures 16 and 17 in a connected condition.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figure 1, a container 10 is shown which has a base 12. The base 12 has a first set of channels 14 and a second set of channels 16 which are arranged perpendicular to the channels 14. The channels 14 or 16 enable location of the tines of a fork lift truck beneath the base 12 to enable the container 10 to be lifted and moved from one place to another by a fork lift truck. The base 12 includes side flanges 20,22 and 24 (see Figures 4 and 5) and a bottom wall 26 (see Figure 5) on which a pallet 27 can be located.

The flanges 20,22 and 24 have side walls 28,30 and 32 pivotally connected to them by hinges 33. The hinges 33 are preferably conventional barrel and pin type hinges or any other conventional hinge which enables pivotal movement of the walls 28 to 32 from the upright position shown in Figures 1 to 5, to a collapsed or folded position shown in Figure 8, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The hinges 33 need not allow complete release of the side walls 28 to 32 from the base 12, as will be apparent from the following description. However, if desired, the hinges 33 could be of the same type as that which will be described with reference to Figures 9

to 13, and which is used to couple other parts of the container, as will also be described in detail hereinafter.

The container 10 is completed by a top 38 and a front wall 40.

The front wall 40 has a first door 41 and a second door 42, and the top 38 has a third door 43 and a fourth door 44. The doors 41 to 44 are pivotable from the closed position shown in Figure 1 to a fully open position and also completely releasable from their respective front wall 40 or top 38. The top 38 includes a central beam 49 which extends between opposed side walls 28 and 32 and which serves to hold the side walls 28 and 32 in the upright position shown in Figure 1. The front wall 40 includes an upper beam 50 which connects to the side walls 28 and 30, as will be described with reference to Figures 16 to 18 hereinafter.

As shown in Figure 2, the second door 42 being the uppermost of the doors of the front wall 40 is pivotally moveable towards an open position. Although not shown in Figure 2, this door can be completely released from the front wall 40. As is shown in Figure 3, the second door 42 has been removed and the first door 41 is shown in a partly open position.

It should be noted in Figures 1 and 2, two sets of channels 14 and 16 are provided to allow four-way access to a fork lift truck to lift the container. However, in Figures 5 to 8, only channels 14 are included which would provide two-way access for a fork lift truck to the container.

Figure 5 shows the first door 41 and the second door 42 completely removed from the container so that access can

be obtained through the front of the container to load or empty the container. In particular, a pallet 27 with a full load can be moved into the container and deposited into the container by a fork lift truck to load the container.

In Figure 5, it should be noted that the top beam 50 is also not shown simply for ease of illustration. The top beam 50 is generally not removed until the top 38 of the container is removed, as will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

In Figure 6, the side wall 28 is not shown simply to allow detail inside the container to be seen. The top 38 is comprised of the third door 43 and the fourth door 44, together with the beam 49. The beam 49 has two downwardly extending spaced apart plates 51 and 52 at one end, and two downwardly extending and spaced apart plates 53 and 54 at the other end. The walls 28 and 32 have square notches 55 cut from them and the beam 49 is locatable in place by inserting the plates 51 and 52, and 53 and 54 over the respective side walls 32 and 28 so that the side walls 32 and 28 are sandwiched between the plates 51 and 52,53 and 54, and with the beam 49 registering in the cut-outs 55.

This locates the top of the beam 59 flush with the top of the walls 28 and 32. The plates 51,52, and 53,54 therefore sandwich the side walls 32 and 28 and hold the side walls in an upright position. The doors 43 and 44 are releasable from the top and the beam 49 in the same manner as the doors 41 and 42 are releasable so that the top can be completely opened to allow loading of the container or unloading of the container through the open top if desired.

Figure 7 shows how the side walls 28 to 32 are collapsed.

As is shown in Figure 7, the side walls simply pivot on their respective hinges 33 from the upright position to a

collapsed position in which they are adjacent the base 12, and in the embodiment shown in the drawing, effectively resting on the pallet 28. However, it should be noted that prior to collapse of the side walls 28 to 32, the removed doors 41,42, 43,44 and the beams 49 and 50 can be located onto the pallet and sit flat on the pallet, and the doors then collapse on top of those components so that a complete collapsed pallet with all components available is ready for transport back to a user for reassembly and reloading.

The sequence of collapsing the walls is to firstly collapse the side wall 32, then collapse the side wall 28 and then collapse the side wall 30. As is shown in Figure 8, this will enable the walls to collapse down so that they sit flat on top of one another. In this regard, it should be noted that the height of the flanges 20,22 and 24 are not the same. The flange 24 is of the lowest height. The flange 20 is about the size of the hinge 33, higher than the flange 24, so that when the wall 32 is collapsed, the wall 28 can sit down flat onto the collapsed wall 32. The height of the flange 22 is about one hinge thickness higher than the flange 20 so that the third wall 30 can collapse flat onto the wall 28.

The doors 41,42, 43 and 44 are hinged by hinges 59 which are shown in Figures 9 to 13. Each hinge 59 comprises two components, with a first component being in the form of a channel 60 and the second component being in the form of a bead 70. Figure 9 shows the arrangement of the hinge between the doors 41 and 42, and in order to allow the door 42 to pivot into the open position, the channel 60 is connected to the door 41 and the bead 70 is connected to the door 42. Thus, the door 42 is pivotable in the direction of arrow A in Figure 9 between a fully closed position and a fully open position.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the hinge 59 which enables opening of the door 41, has the component 60 connected to the base 12 and the component 70 connected to the bottom of the door 41. The hinge 59 which enables opening of the third door 43 has the component 60 connected on one side of the beam 49 and the component 70 connected to the edge of the door 38. The hinge 59 which allows opening of the door 44 has the component 60 connected to the other side of the beam 49 and the component 70 connected to the edge of the door 44.

As is shown in Figure 9, the channel 60 comprises a first wall 61 and a second wall 62 which extend at right angles with respect to one another, and which have free ends 63 and 64. An opening 65 extends between the free ends 63 and 64. The walls 61 and 62 define a part circular cavity 66, and which is defined by a part circular wall 67 which extends from the free end 64 to the free end 63.

The bead 70 has a bead head 71 which has two flat sides 72 and 73 and a part circular crown 74 which matches the circular contour of the wall 67. The bead head 71 has a pair of shoulders 76 which join with a neck 78. The neck 78 is formed integral with a flange 79.

It will be noted from Figure 9 that the bead head 71 has a dimension in a first direction which is clearly less than the dimension of the opening 65, but a dimension in a second direction at right angles to the first direction which is clearly longer than the sides of the opening 65.

This dimensioning of the bead head 71 and also engagement of the bead head 71 with the sides 60 and 61 selectively allow release of the bead head 71 from the cavity 66 or retain the bead head 71 in the cavity 66, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Figures 10 to 13 show operation of the hinge of Figure 9.

It should be understood that the orientation shown in Figures 10 to 13 is that which would apply to the hinge 59 which allows opening of the door 41. As is shown in Figure 10, the channel 60 is provided with an integral leg 80 and the bead 70 is provided with an integral leg 81.

The legs 80 and 81 are provided with ribs 82. In order to connect the channel 60 and the bead 70 to the respective components (in the case of Figure 10, the door 42 and the base 12), slots are cut into the door 42 and the base 12 and the legs 81 and 82 forced into the slots so that the ribs 82 engage in the slots to securely fasten the channel 60 and the bead 70 to their respective components, being the base 12 and the door 42 in Figure 10.

As is apparent from Figure 10, when the hinge is in the position in which the door 42 is closed, one of the shoulders 76 is in contact with the wall 61 and the crown 74 is in contact with the wall 63. This prevents the bead head 71 from being pulled laterally out of the opening 65.

As is apparent from Figures 11 and 12, the door 42 can be pivoted from the closed position shown in Figure 10, through to a fully open position shown in Figure 12 by the crown 74 simply moving on the part circular wall 67 of the cavity 66. When in the fully open position shown in Figure 12, the bead 71 is also prevented from being pulled laterally out of the cavity 66 by abutment of the other shoulder 76 with the wall 63. In this position, the crown 74 is in engagement with the wall 61.

However, when the door is in an intermediate position between the fully opened position shown in Figure 12 and the fully closed position shown in Figure 10 (which intermediate position is shown in Figure 11), the door 42 can be removed by disengaging the bead head 71 from the channel 60. This is simply achieved by moving the door laterally out from the component 60 in the direction of arrow A in Figure 11 so that the bead head 71 pulls out

through the opening 65 (as is shown in Figure 13). It should be noted in this position that the shoulders 76 register with the opening 65 and are not prevented from moving through the opening 65 by the walls 61 and 63. The flat sides 72 and 73 also provide clearance for the bead head 71 to move out through the opening so the bead 70 can be completely detached from the channel 60 to enable the door 42 to be completely released.

The hinge 59 can also be released by sliding a respective one of the doors so that the bead head 71 moves longitudinally in the cavity 66. The bead 71 is able to slide longitudinally in the cavity regardless of the position the doors take up. However, because of the reinforcing angle on the doors, which will be described hereinafter, and which overlap walls of the container, the doors do need to be pivoted towards the open position so they can be removed by that sliding action if desired.

The ability to release the hinge in this fashion may provide some advantage particularly when releasing the top doors 43 and 44 because the container may be relatively high and it therefore may be difficult to release the doors by pulling the doors laterally so the bead head 71 releases through the opening 65. If it is desired to only provide for release of the hinge by movement of the bead head 71 through the opening 65, abutments (not shown) can be provided at the ends of the cavity 66 to prevent the bead head 71 from sliding longitudinally in the cavity.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the hinge components 60 and 70 are arranged on the doors 43 and 44 and the cross beam 49 so that the doors 43 and 44 can be engaged and disengaged simply by sliding the doors on the tops of the side walls 28 and 30 so the bead 71 does engage through the opening 65. In some environments where the doors 43 and 44 are particularly heavy, and if the container is relatively high, this provides a safer method

of connecting the doors 43 and 44 and releasing the doors, particularly in windy or other hazardous conditions, because the doors 43 and 44 are properly supported and do not need to have their weight held or taken by a workman in order to engage the doors 43 and 44, or disengage the doors 43 and 44. In this preferred embodiment of the invention the beam 49 and the doors 43 and 44 are provided with the hinges 59 so that the beam 49 carries the beads 70 and the doors 43 and 44 carry the channels 60. In this arrangement the beads 70 will be arranged with the longitudinal axis of the bead head 71 generally horizontal as, for example, shown in Figure 12. It will be observed that the bead head 71 are spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of the component to which they are connected (which in Figure 12 is the door 42) but which, in the case of the top 38, will be the beam 49. The doors 43 and 44 can then be engaged by locating the doors on the sides 28 and 32 and sliding the doors towards the beams 49. When the doors reach the beams 49 so that the channels 60 are adjacent the bead 70, the door can simply be tilted upwardly slightly into the intermediate position. This will locate the edge 63 beneath the bead head 71. Further forward movement of the door in this position will locate the side 63 beneath the bead head 71 and allow the bead head 71 to pass through opening 65 into the channel 66.

When the bead head 71 is located in the channel 66, the doors 43 or 44 can simply be rotated down into the flat position and the bead head 71 will become locked in the channel 66 in the manner previously described.

Disengagement of the doors 43 and 44 occurs in the reverse manner by lifting the doors 43 and 44 into the intermediate position and then simply sliding them backwards slightly so the channel 66 can disengage from the bead head 71. The doors can then be lowered back down onto the sides 28 and 32 and slid off the sides 28 and 32.

The doors 41,43 and 44 are removed from the container in

exactly the same manner. Thus, all of the doors 41,42, 43 and 44 can be selectively moved between the open and closed position while attached to the container or completely removed from the container to provide considerable flexibility in loading and unloading the container. This is particularly important when the container is loaded with small bags or the like which are removed spasmodically one or two at a time over a given period. The bags can be stored on a pallet which is wrapped in plastic material, and the pallet can be either moved into the container through the open front after the doors 41 and 42 are removed, or loaded through the top after the doors 38,44 and beam 49 are removed.

Individual bags can be removed by removing the plastic wrap from the pallet and then taking the bags out by simply pivoting the door 40 into an open position. This enables the bags to be moved from the upper half of the front wall whilst the door 41 remains fully closed, thereby providing a support to prevent the stack of bags from falling out of the container. As the amount of bags reduces, the door 42 can be completely removed if desired, and the door 41 then open and close to enable the bags at the bottom of the pallet 28 to be removed.

After all of the contents of the container 10 is removed, the container is collapsed in the above manner and returned back for reloading.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pallet is reinforced by angle iron sections 90 which are provided on the edges of the doors 41 and 42, and also by iron reinforcing strips 91 which are provided on the edges of the walls 28,30 and 32. The doors 43 and 44 are also provided with angle iron edging 90. The angle iron edging 90 provides significant reinforcing which enables loaded pallets to be stacked one above the other, and avoids possibility of the lower pallet collapsing. This is

particularly important because when the pallets are being unloaded by a workman, the workman may have to reach some distance into the pallet. If another pallet is stacked above the pallet and the lower pallet was to collapse, obviously significant injury could occur. The angle iron 90 which extends around the periphery of the doors 43 and 44 distributes the load of an upper pallet onto the entire area of the walls 28,30 and 32, and also the front beam 50 and through to the front wall 40 to prevent a lower container from collapsing when a similar container is stacked on that lower container.

With reference to Figures 14 and 15, in order to facilitate locking of the side walls 28 and 32 to the side wall 30, the side walls 28 and 32 (only the side wall 30 shown in the drawings) are each provided with a latch 100 which is mounted on a pivot pin 101. The rear wall 30 is provided with a cut-out notch 102 and the latch 100 has a finger 103 and groove 104 which matches the configuration of the notch 102. The latch 100 is pivoted from the position shown in Figure 15 to the position shown in Figure 14 where the latch engages with the cut-out 102 to lock the walls 28 and 32 to the wall 30.

The walls 28 and 32 also carry abutment pins 105 on which the latch 100 rests when in the unlocked position shown in Figure 15.

The latch 100 can also form a strut for holding the fourth door 44 in a partly open position if desired, by simply pivoting the latch 100 into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 15 so that the door 43 can rest on the latch 100 and therefore be held in a partly open position.

Figures 16 to 18 show how the top beam 50 is connected to the remainder of the container. The top beam 50 includes an angle iron section 120 having a top face 121 and a

vertical face 123. A panel 124 is connected to the front face 123. The upper face 121 carries a pair of pins 125 at each end (only one shown). The side walls 28 and 32 (only the side wall 28 being shown) are provided with bores 127 in which the pins 125 are located so as to connect the beam 50 to the side walls 28 and 32 so the beam 50 extends between the side walls as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the top beam 50 is simply removed and located in position by lifting the beam 50 upwardly so that the pins 125 engage with or disengage from the bores 127.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the doors 41,42, 43 and 44 remain in their closed position without the need for additional latching. However, if desired, conventional latches could be provided for holding the doors 41,42, 43 and 44 in a closed position.

The latches may be provided with a lock such as a padlock to prevent unauthorised access to the container 10 if desired.

The side walls 28,30 and 32, together with the doors 41, 42,43 and 44, can be formed from panels made from recycled plastic material.

In other embodiments of the invention, two latches of the type shown in Figures 14 and 15 could be provided on each of the side walls 28 and 32. The latches could be arranged one above the other and an additional could be provided in the wall 30 which engage by the second latch on each of the side walls.

In a still further embodiment of the invention, the beam 59 can be provided with pins similar to those on the top beam 50 shown in Figures 16 to 18, which engage in holes in the tops of the side walls 28 and 32 to further facilitate holding of the beam 59 in place, and preventing movement of the beam 59 or rotation of the beam 59 when

the doors 43 and 44 are engaged with the beam 59 and pivoted between the open and closed positions.

In still further embodiments of the invention the container can be made smaller than that shown in the drawings, where the base 12 effectively forms the pallet onto which goods are loaded. In this embodiment the front 40 may form a single door hinged by hinge 59 between the base 12 and the single door, and the top 38 may also include a single door which is hinged by hinge 59 between the door and a beam which is located adjacent the wall 30.

In this arrangement an intermediate beam could also be provided simply to assist in supporting the top 38, should it be desired to stack pallets one above the other.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.