Paperboard bulk bin

Claim 1

A paperboard blank for use in the construction of a bulk bin and having opposed first and second surfaces said blank comprising: first and second rectangular side wall panels hingedly connected to each other in side-by-side relationship by a vertical fold line defining the inner edge of each side wall panel; a glue flap hingedly connected to the outer side edge of said second side wall panel; and a cover flap hingedly connected to the bottom edge of each side wall panel, each of said side walls having four, parallel, horizontal fold lines, the two outermost fold lines being scored into said first blank surface, and the two innermost fold lines being scored into said second blank surface, thus subdividing each of said side walls into a top portion, a bottom portion, and three intermediate portions, said outermost horizontal fold lines extending across the width of said glue flap, said side walls further including a first cutout disposed on the outer lateral edge of said first side wall panel, second and third cutouts disposed on the interior edges of said first and second side wall panels, said second and third cutouts being diagonally opposed to one another and partially overlapping one another, a fourth cutout disposed on the outer edge of said second side wall panel, and a fifth cutout partially extending across the entire width of the glue flap such that said glue flap comprises a top portion, a bottom portion and two spaced apart intermediate portions, said fifth cutout being diagonally opposed to and partially overlapping said fourth cutout such that when two of said blanks are connected side by side and folded to form the bin, said cutout portions cooperate with the three intermediate portions to form on each side wall an integrally locked inwardly protruding, substantially rectangular, horizontal rib portion such that one of said intermediate portion being substantially perpenticular to the other intermediate portions which are substantially parallel to each other, said rib portion reinforcing said wall to prevent bulging as said bin is filled to near capacity.