Author: claimsbot

1. A machine handle assembly, comprising:
a handle mechanism, comprising:
a base assembly;
a cover assembly;
a torsion assembly;
a switch assembly; and

wherein the machine handle assembly is adapted to mount on the exterior of a machine.
2. The machine handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handle.
3. The machine handle assembly of claim 1, further comprising an illumination assembly;
4. The machine handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the torsion assembly comprises:
a shaft;
a bearing;
a spring;
a stop plate;
a spring collar;
a spacer;
a bearing spacer;
a spring post; and
a spring pawl.
5. The machine handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the base assembly comprises:
a base;
a support bracket;
a lock pin;
a ratchet pin;
a bumper bracket;
a bumper; and
a retaining member.
6. The machine handle assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover assembly comprises:
a base cover;
a center cover; and
an illumination member cover.
7. The machine handle assembly of claim 3, wherein the illumination assembly comprises:
a substrate;
a mounting bracket; and
an illumination member.
8. The machine handle assembly of claim 7, wherein the illumination member is a light emitting diode (LED).
9. The machine handle assembly of claim 8, wherein the LED is one of a white LED and a red-green-blue (RGB) LED.
10. A gaming machine, comprising:
a housing;
a game assembly;
a machine handle assembly, comprising:
a handle mechanism, comprising:
a base assembly;
a cover assembly;
a torsion assembly;
a switch assembly; and

a handle; and

wherein the machine handle assembly is mounted on the exterior of the housing.
11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the machine handle assembly further comprises an illumination assembly.
12. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.
13. A method of assembling a gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
assembling a game assembly, wherein at least a portion of the game assembly is within a housing;
assembling a machine handle assembly, comprising:
a handle mechanism, comprising:
a base assembly;
a cover assembly;
a torsion assembly;
a switch assembly; and

a handle; and

attaching the machine handle assembly to an exterior surface of the housing.
14. The machine handle assembly method of claim 13, wherein the machine handle assembly further comprises an illumination assembly.
15. The machine handle assembly method of claim 13, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An external breast prosthesis, comprising: (a) front skin formed entirely from a mixture of an elastomeric polymer, a non-volatile additive and a plasticizing oil, said front skin configured and dimensioned in a shape that approximates a form of a human breast; (b) a rear skin joined with said front skin and forming a cavity therebetween; (c) a gel disposed in said cavity; and (d) wherein said front skin has a cratered outer surface formed from said mixture by mixing together said plasticizing oil, said polymer, that together with said plasticizing oil forms said elastomeric polymer, and a predetermined amount of at least one additive to form said mixture; the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; increasing the temperature of the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; and allowing the mixture to cool to form said elastomeric polymer under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the surface of the elastomeric polymer, leaving craters on the surface of the elastomeric polymer.
2. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric polymer comprises: a triblock copolymer comprising styrene and at least one of ethylene, butatiene, butylene, isoprene, or propylene; and a plasticizing agent.
3. The breast prosthesis of claim 2, wherein the triblock copolymer is any of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene), polystyrene-b-(ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenebutylene)-b-polystyrene, or polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene.
4. The breast prosthesis of claim 2, wherein said plasticizing oil is any of a paraffinic oil, napthenic oil, a mineral oil, or a synthetic oligomer comprising polybutene, polypropene, or polyterpene.
5. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said gel comprises any of a silicone or water-based gel.
6. The breast prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said gel is amorphous and conforms to the shape of the cavity between said front and rear skins.
7. The breast prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said gel has a defined shape when not confined in the cavity between said front and rear skins.
8. The breast prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said gel comprises microspheres.
9. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said front skin comprises a solid elastomeric nipple.
10. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a fabric bonded with said rear skin or said front skin.
11. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said front skin is adhered with said rear skin at a perimeter seal.
12. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said front skin and said rear skin are formed as a contiguous skin.
13. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said front skin has a color approximating a natural skin tone.
14. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said front skin is translucent and said gel has a first color approximating a natural skin tone.
15. The breast prosthesis of claim 14, wherein said front skin comprises a solid elastomeric nipple and said gel further comprises a region of gel underneath and substantially adjacent to the nipple, said region of gel having a second color of a darker tone than the first color.
16. The breast prosthesis of claim 15, wherein the second color has a fading of intensity from a center of the nipple towards a periphery of the nipple.
17. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the form of a human breast is a partial breast form.
18. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said rear skin comprises a concave rear surface adapted to fit against a breast of a user.
19. The breast prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the user is a mastectomy patient and the breast of the user is a partial breast.
20. The breast prosthesis of claim 18, wherein the breast is a full breast and said front skin is dimensioned to provide an external breast enhancement.
21. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, said rear skin further comprising a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is greater than said second thickness.
22. The breast prosthesis of claim 21, wherein said first portion protrudes into said cavity toward said front skin and said second portion is superior to said central region.
23. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising a fastener adapted to attach said prosthesis against a user.
24. The breast prosthesis of claim 23, wherein said fastener is attached to a surface of the rear skin opposite the cavity.
25. The breast prosthesis of claim 23, wherein the fastener is further adapted to attach to a garment having a feature for receiving the fastener.
26. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising an inner barrier disposed within said cavity and separating said cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said gel comprises a first gel disposed in said first chamber and a second gel disposed in said second chamber.
27. An external breast prosthesis, comprising: (a) an elastomeric skin formed entirely from a mixture of a triblock copolymer, at least one non-volatile additive and a plasticizing oil to form said elastomeric skin, said skin having a shape approximating a form of a human breast; (b) a gel surrounded and contained by said skin; and (c) wherein said skin has a cratered outer surface formed by mixing together said plasticizing oil, said triblock copolymer, that together with said plasticizing oil forms an elastomeric triblock copolymer, and a predetermined amount of said at least one additive to form said mixture; the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; increasing the temperature of the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; and allowing the mixture to cool to form said elastomeric triblock copolymer under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the surface of the elastomeric triblock copolymer, leaving craters on the surface of the elastomeric triblock copolymer.
28. The breast prosthesis of claim 27, wherein said triblock copolymer comprises any of a hydrogenated poly(styrene-b-isoprene), a hydrogenated poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene), a hydrogenated poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene), or a hydrogenated poly(styrene-b-isoprenebutadiene-b-styrene).
29. The breast prosthesis of claim 27, wherein said gel comprises a silicone gel or a hydrogel.
30. The breast prosthesis of claim 29, wherein said gel substantially conforms to the shape of said skin.
31. The breast prosthesis of claim 27, wherein said elastomeric skin further comprises a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion having the shape approximating a form of a human breast, and said rear portion adapted to conform to a user.
32. The breast prosthesis of claim 31, wherein said rear portion is adapted to conform to a breast of a user to provide an external breast enhancement.
33. The breast prosthesis of claim 31, further comprising a fabric bonded with said skin.
34. A breast prosthesis of claim 33, wherein said fabric is bonded with said rear portion of said skin.
35. An external breast prosthesis, comprising: (a) a front skin configured and dimensioned in a shape that approximates a form of a human breast and comprising a molded nipple; (b) a rear skin sealed with said front skin and forming a cavity therebetween; (c) a fabric bonded with an outer surface of said rear skin; (d) an inner material disposed in said cavity between said front and rear skins, said inner material comprising a hydrogel and microspheres, wherein said front and rear skins are formed entirely of a mixture of a copolymer of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, at least one non-volatile additive, and a plasticizing oil; and (e) wherein at least said front skin has a cratered outer surface formed by mixing said plasticizing oil and said polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, that together with said plasticizing oil forms an elastomeric copolymer, and a predetermined amount of said at least one additive to form said mixture; the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; increasing the temperature of the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; and allowing the mixture to cool to form said elastomeric copolymer under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the surface of the elastomeric copolymer, leaving craters on the surface of the elastomeric copolymer.
36. The breast prosthesis of claim 35, wherein the hydrogel comprises water and a super absorbent polymer, the additive comprises pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate)), and the plasticizing oil comprises mineral oil.
37. A method of making an external breast prosthesis with a cratered outer surface, comprising: (a) mixing together a polymer, at least one non-volatile additive and a plasticizing oil to form an elastomeric polymer; (b) mixing said elastomeric polymer with a predetermined amount of said at least one additive to form a mixture, wherein the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; (c) heating the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; (d) forming the mixture into a front elastomeric skin having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the front elastomeric skin has a shape approximating a form of a human breast; (e) allowing the mixture to cool to form said front elastomeric skin under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the front surface of the front elastomeric skin, leaving craters on the front surface of the front elastomeric skin; (f) forming a rear elastomeric skin having a shape adapted to seal with the front elastomeric skin; (g) sealing the front elastomeric skin with the rear elastomeric skin so as to form a cavity therebetween; and (h) filling a cavity between the front elastomeric skin and the rear elastomeric skin with a gel.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein the polymer comprises a triblock copolymer comprising styrene and at least one of ethylene, butadiene, butylene, isoprene, or propylene.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the triblock copolymer is any of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene), polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenebutylene)-b-polystyrene, or polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene.
40. The method of claim 37, wherein the plasticizing oil is any of a paraffinic oil, napthenic oil, a mineral oil, or a synthetic oligomer comprising polybutene, polypropene, or polyterpene.
41. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one additive precipitates from the front elastomeric skin after the step (d) of forming the front elastomeric skin.
42. The method of claim 37, wherein the gel comprises any of a silicone gel, a hydrogel, or a combination thereof.
43. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming an intermediate barrier, and wherein: the step (g) of sealing the front elastomeric skin with the rear elastomeric skin further comprises sealing the intermediate barrier between the front skin and said rear skin such that the cavity comprises a front cavity between the front skin and the intermediate barrier and a rear cavity between the rear skin and the intermediate barrier; and the step (h) of filling the cavity further comprises filling the front cavity with a gel and filling the rear cavity with a second material.
44. The method of claim 43, wherein the gel comprises any of a silicone gel, a hydrogel, or a combination thereof.
45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second material comprises any of a gel, a foam, a liquid, a polymer, or any combination thereof.
46. A method of making an external breast prosthesis with a cratered outer surface, comprising: (a) mixing together a polymer, at least one non-volatile additive and a plasticizing oil to form an elastomeric polymer; (b) mixing said elastomeric polymer with a predetermined amount of said at least one additive to form a mixture, wherein the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; (c) heating the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; (d) forming the mixture into an elastomeric skin surrounding a hollow cavity, said skin having a front portion configured and dimensioned to approximate the shape of a human breast; (e) allowing the mixture to cool to form said elastomeric skin under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the outer surface of the elastomeric skin, leaving craters on the outer surface of the elastomeric skin; and (f) filling the cavity with a gel.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step (d) of forming the mixture into the elastomeric skin comprises: transferring the heated mixture into a mold; and cooling the mixture to form the elastomeric skin.
48. The method of claim 46, wherein the polymer comprises any of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene), polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenebutylene)-b-polystyrene, or polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene.
49. The method of claim 46, wherein the gel comprises a silicone gel, a hydrogel, or a combination of a silicone gel and a hydrogel.
50. A kit comprising in a container the breast prosthesis of claim 1, 27 or 35.
51. An external breast enhancement, comprising: an elastomeric skin formed entirely of a mixture of a triblock copolymer, at least one non-volatile additive and a plasticizing oil; a gel surrounded and contained by said skin, wherein said skin further comprises a rear surface dimensioned to accommodate a breast of a user and a front surface approximating a form of a human breast and dimensioned to enhance a shape of the breast of the user; wherein at least said front surface comprises a cratered surface formed by (a) mixing together said copolymer and said plasticizing oil to form said elastomeric copolymer; (b) mixing said elastomeric copolymer with a predetermined amount of said at least one additive to form said mixture, wherein the predetermined amount of additive being in excess of an amount of additive that is soluble in the mixture at room temperature; (c) heating the mixture to at least a melting point where the mixture becomes molten and the additive is soluble in the molten mixture in a stable solution; (d) forming the mixture into said elastomeric skin surrounding a hollow cavity, said skin having said front surface configured and dimensioned to approximate the shape of a human breast; (e) allowing the mixture to cool to form said elastomeric skin under conditions whereby the additive precipitates and migrates from the mixture to the front surface of the elastomeric skin, leaving craters on the front surface of the elastomeric skin.
52. The external breast enhancement of claim 51, wherein the triblock copolymer is any of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene), polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene, polystyrene-b-poly(ethylenebutylene)-b-polystyrene, or polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-ethylenepropylene)-b-polystyrene.

1. An electronic display assembly comprising:
a first power supply;
a second power supply;
an LED backlight;
a first LED control circuit accepting backlight control signals and in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies;
a second LED control circuit accepting backlight control signals and in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies;
a multiplexer in electrical connection with the first and second LED control circuits and the LED backlight; and
a liquid crystal display (LCD) positioned in front of the LED backlight.
2. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a monitoring circuit in electrical connection with the first and second power supply and first and second LED control circuit.
3. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the monitoring circuit is adapted to analyze the signals from the first and second power supply to determine if the signal has been interrupted.
4. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein:
the monitoring circuit is adapted to instruct the multiplexer as to which LED control circuit signal to send to the LED backlight.
5. The display assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
a first luminance sensor in electrical connection with the first LED control circuit; and
a second luminance sensor in electrical connection with the second LED control circuit.
6. The display assembly of claim 5 wherein:
the monitoring circuit is adapted to analyze the signals from the first and second luminance sensors to determine if the signal has been interrupted.
7. The display assembly of claim 6 further comprising:
a first temperature sensor in electrical connection with the first LED control circuit; and
a second temperature sensor in electrical connection with the second LED control circuit.
8. The display assembly of claim 7 wherein:
the monitoring circuit is adapted to analyze the signals from the first and second temperature sensors to determine if the signal has been interrupted.
9. An electronic display assembly comprising:
a first power supply;
a second power supply;
a liquid crystal display (LCD);
a first LCD control circuit in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies;
a second LCD control circuit in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies; and
a first multiplexer in electrical connection with the first and second LCD control circuits and the LCD.
10. The display assembly of claim 9 further comprising:
a second multiplexer which multiplexes the incoming video data before sending it to the first and second LCD control circuits.
11. The display assembly of claim 10 further comprising:
a first monitoring circuit in electrical connection with the first power supply, first LCD control circuit, and the first multiplexer.
12. The display assembly of claim 11 further comprising:
a second monitoring circuit in electrical connection with the second power supply, second LCD control circuit, and the first multiplexer.
13. The display assembly of claim 12 wherein:
the first and second monitoring circuits are adapted to analyze the electrical signals from the power supplies and control circuits to determine if an electrical connection has been interrupted.
14. The display assembly of claim 13 wherein:
the first and second monitoring circuits are further adapted to instruct the first multiplexer as to which power supply and associated control circuit signals to send to the LCD.
15. An electronic display assembly comprising:
a first power supply;
a second power supply;
an LED backlight;
a first LED control circuit in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies;
a second LED control circuit in electrical connection with the first and second power supplies;
a multiplexer in electrical connection with the first and second LED control circuits and the LED backlight;
a liquid crystal display (LCD) positioned in front of the LED backlight. a third power supply;
a fourth power supply;
a first LCD control circuit in electrical connection with the third and fourth power supplies;
a second LCD control circuit in electrical connection with the third and fourth power supplies; and
a first multiplexer in electrical connection with the first and second LCD control circuits and the LCD.
16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a second multiplexer accepting video data and in electrical connection with the first and second LCD control circuits.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:
a first LCD monitoring circuit which analyzes the electrical connections from the third power supply and first LCD control circuit; and
a second LCD monitoring circuit which analyzes the electrical connections from the fourth power supply and second LCD control circuit.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein:
the first and second LCD monitoring circuits are further adapted to direct a third multiplexer to communicate either the electrical connection from the first LCD control circuit or second LCD control circuit to the LCD.
19. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a first luminance sensor in electrical connection with the first LED control circuit; and
a second luminance sensor in electrical connection with the second LED control circuit.
20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a first temperature sensor in electrical connection with the first LED control circuit; and
a second temperature sensor in electrical connection with the second LED control circuit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners; and
wherein at least some of the side panels include lateral flanges which overlap with a portion of the other side panel forming the corner;
wherein at least some of the side panels are joinable to the base panel by slots and hooks andor by a groove and shoulder whereby the side panels are disassembleable from the base panel;
wherein the four side panels comprise a first panel and a second panel arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a third panel and a fourth panel arranged substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels; and wherein:
the first and second panels each have a box-interior surface, a box-exterior surface, a bottom edge, a top edge, and a lateral flange on each lateral edge of the respective panel; and
each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond the box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg.
2. A bulk box as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
the third and fourth panels each have a box-interior surface, a box-exterior surface, a bottom edge, a top edge, and a lateral flange.
3. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners; and
wherein at least some of the side panels include lateral flanges which overlap with a portion of the other side panel forming the corner;
wherein at least some of the side panels are joinable to the base panel by slots and hooks andor by a groove and shoulder whereby the side panels are disassembleable from the base panel;
wherein the four side panels comprise a first panel and a second panel arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a third panel and a fourth panel arranged substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels; wherein:
the third and fourth panels each have a box-interior surface, a box-exterior surface, a bottom edge, a top edge, and a lateral flange on each lateral edge of the respective panel;
each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond the box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg.
4. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners;
wherein at least some of the side panels include lateral flanges which overlap with a portion of the other side panel forming the corner;
wherein the four side panels comprise a first panel and a second panel arranged substantially parallel to each other, and a third panel and a fourth panel arranged substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the first and second panels;
wherein the third and fourth panels each have a box-interior surface, a box-exterior surface, a bottom edge, a top edge, and a lateral flange on each lateral edge of the respective panel;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond the box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg; and
wherein the first and second panels each have a shoulder extending downward from the bottom edge for mating with a groove in the base panel.
5. A bulk box as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first and second panels each have slots, and the third and fourth panels have hooks which mate with the slots in the first and second panels to join the four panels together.
6. A bulk box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the side panels each have a top edge, wherein at least some of the side panels have tabs extending upward from the top edge, and wherein the base panel has notches aligned with the tabs and sized to receive such tabs.
7. A bulk box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base panel comprises a matrix of pedestals having lower ground-contacting platforms, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes corner pedestals and wherein the ground-contacting platforms of each of the corner pedestals extend to the cornermost region of the respective corner pedestal.
8. A bulk box as set forth in claim 7, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes four corner pedestals.
9. A bulk box as set forth in claim 7, wherein the matrix of pedestals defines at least two recessed rows sized and shaped to accommodate forklift tines.
10. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners;
wherein at least some of the side panels include lateral flanges which overlap with a portion of the other side panel forming the corner;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond a box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg;
wherein at least some of the side panels are joinable to the base panel by slots and hooks andor by a groove and shoulder whereby the side panels are disassembleable from the base panel; and
wherein the base panel has an all-plastic construction without structural members of another material.
11. A bulk box as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of the side panels has an all-plastic construction without structural members of another material.
12. A bulk box as set forth in claim 1, wherein the four side panels each have an all-plastic construction without structural members of another material.
13. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners;
wherein at least some of the side panels include lateral flanges which overlap with a portion of the other side panel forming the corner;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond a box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg;
wherein at least some of the side panels are joinable to the base panel by slots and hooks andor by a groove and shoulder whereby the side panels are disassembleable from the base panel; and
wherein the base panel and the four side panels each have an all-plastic construction without structural members of another material.
14. The bulk box of claim 1, with the panels being disassembled from each other.
15. A plurality of the bulk boxes of claim 1 stacked one on top of the other.
16. A plurality of the bulk boxes of claim 6 stacked one on top of the other, wherein the tabs of a lower bulk box are received within the notches of an upper bulk box.
17. A plurality of bulk boxes as set forth in claim 16, wherein receipt of the tabs within the notches can be seen from the outside of the stacked boxes, thereby providing visual verification of interlocking between the boxes.
18. A method of transporting goods from a first location to a second location, said method comprising the steps of:
filling the bulk box of claim 1 with goods at the first location;
transporting the filled bulk box to the second location;
emptying the goods from the bulk box at the second location; and
transporting the bulk box back to the first location or to another location.
19. A method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of filling the bulk box with other goods after said emptying step but prior to the second transporting step.
20. A method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the step of disassembling the panels of the bulk box prior to the second transporting step.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20, further comprising the step of re-assembling the panels of the bulk box after the second transporting step and then repeating the filling, transporting, and emptying steps.
22. A method of making the bulk box of claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:
individually forming the base panel and the side panels; and
assembling the panels together into the container.
23. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels individually formed and assembledassemble-able into a container;
wherein the base panel comprises a matrix of pedestals having lower ground-contacting platforms, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes corner pedestals and wherein the ground-contacting platform of each of the corner pedestals extends to the cornermost portions of the respective corner pedestal;
wherein the four side panels are positioned to provide four corners aligned with the corner pedestals;
wherein each of the four corners comprises a pair of flanges interlocking to form a double-thickness union between the adjacent side panels;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond a box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg;
wherein the flanges are formed in one piece with the side panels; and
wherein the four side panels are joined together with slots and hooks.
24. A bulk box as set forth in claim 23, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes four corner pedestals.
25. A bulk box as set forth in claim 24, wherein the matrix of pedestals is an at least three-by-three matrix.
26. A bulk box as set forth in claim 24, wherein the matrix of pedestals defines at least two recessed rows sized and positioned to accommodate forklift tines.
27. A bulk box as set forth in claim 23, wherein at least some of the corner pedestals include notches, and wherein at least some of the side panels include upper tabs vertically aligned with the notches and sized for receipt therein.
28. A plurality of the bulk boxes of claim 27 stacked one on top of the other, wherein the tabs of a lower bulk box are received within the notches of an upper bulk box.
29. A plurality of bulk boxes stacked one on top of the other, each bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels individually formed and assembledassemble-able into a container, wherein the base panel comprises a matrix of pedestals having lower ground-contacting platforms, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes corner pedestals and wherein the ground-contacting platform of each of the corner pedestals extends to the cornermost portions of the respective corner pedestal, wherein the four side panels are positioned to provide four corners aligned with the corner pedestals, wherein each of the four corners comprises a pair of flanges interlocking to form a double-thickness union between the adjacent side panels, wherein the flanges are formed in one piece with the side panels, and wherein at least some of the corner pedestals include notches, and wherein at least some of the side panels include upper tabs vertically aligned with the notches and sized for receipt therein
wherein the tabs of a lower bulk box are received within the notches of an upper bulk box; and
wherein receipt of the tabs within the notches can be seen from outside of the stacked boxes, thereby providing visual verification of box-to-box interlocking.
30. A bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assembled into a container;
wherein the side panels are positioned to provide four corners;
wherein the side panels each have a main body with a box-interior surface and a box-exterior surface;
wherein the side panels include lateral flanges with the lateral flange of one of the side panels overlapping with the lateral flange of another of the side panels forming the corner therewith;
wherein the lateral flanges are formed in one piece with the main body of the respective side panel;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond a box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg;
wherein the base panel comprises a matrix of pedestals having lower ground-contacting platforms, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes corner pedestals and wherein the ground-contacting platforms of each of the corner pedestals extend to the cornermost region of the respective corner pedestal; and
wherein the four side panels are joined together with slots and hooks.
31. A bulk box as set forth in claim 30, wherein the matrix of pedestals includes four corner pedestals.
32. A bulk box as set forth in claim 31, wherein the matrix of pedestals defines at least two recessed rows sized and shaped to accommodate forklift tines.
33. A plurality of the bulk boxes stacked one on top of the other, each bulk box comprising a base panel and four side panels formed individually and assemble-able into a container and wherein in each bulk box:
the side panels are positioned to provide four corners;
the side panels each have a main body with a box-interior surface and a box-exterior surface;
the side panels include lateral flanges with the lateral flange of one of the side panels overlapping with the lateral flange of another of the side panels forming the corner therewith;
the lateral flanges are formed in one piece with the main body of the respective side panel;
wherein each lateral flange comprises a first leg extending perpendicularly inward and beyond a box-interior surface and a second leg extending perpendicularly outward from the first leg;
wherein at least some of the side panels have tabs extending upward from a top edge, wherein the base panel has notches aligned with the tabs, and wherein the tabs of a lower bulk box are received within the notches of an upper bulk box; and
wherein receipt of the tabs within the notches can be seen from outside of the stacked boxes, thereby providing visual verification of box-to-box interlocking.