MOLDED CONTAINER, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A shipping container includes a rotationally-molded plastic shell defining a closed volume, and at least one reinforcing beam, which may be internal or external to the shell. A method of molding the container includes providing a mold forming an enclosed volume in a preselected shape of a container. The mold is charged with a plastic material, directly heated so as to melt the plastic material by conduction, and rotated to distribute the plastic material in the mold. A method of using the container includes shipping the container to a destination, and then reducing the shell to a mass of plastic of a small volume which can be shipped to a second destination.