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1. Field of the Invention
The apparatus of the present invention relates to fabric bulk bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bulk bag having a floor portion which includes a pair of spaced apart pockets for receiving a rigid member to define a channel through which tynes of a forklift may enter, for lifting the bag, and the rigid members being maintained in the pockets for defining a flat surface for the bag to rest upon the floor or other bags.
2. General Background of the Invention
Bulk bags are for the most part bags constructed of a polypropylene material which would normally be of the type having four side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and means such as loops for lifting the bag with a forklift after the bag has been loaded with bulk. The prior art bulk bags utilized the lifting loops at each corner in order to lift the loaded bag, which may weigh thousands of pounds, so that the filled bags may be stored in a warehouse or the like. Lifting loops are difficult to access by a forklift and usually takes a second person to assist. When filled, bulk bags may also be moved on pallets. Pallets, although easily accessible, are usually made of wood, and over time will be susceptible to splintering, mold, or insects. Plastic pallets may eliminate these problems, but are very expensive to produce.
One problem with transporting and storing bags of this type is that the bags, in order to conserve space, would typically be stacked upon one another to a height, so long as the bags did not risk of toppling over. However, because of the soft underside of the bags, when the bags, filled with dry, powdery bulk, are stacked upon one another, the bulk within the bag may shift, and in doing so, may cause the bag to lose its center of gravity and fall from its resting place, which could be both dangerous to persons working in the area, and cause the loss of thousands of pounds of what may be expensive bulk material.
Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a bag which, when filled with bulk material, can be easily and safely transported by a forklift, and can be safely and securely stored atop other filled bulk bags, so that the possibility of the filled bag falling from its perch due to shifting of material, or deforming its floor portion, is eliminated.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,305, entitled “Bulk Bag,” the patent disclosed the use of two rigid members placed within sleeves on the bottom of the bag, the rigid members formed to receive tynes of a forklift through the opening formed by the members. The members were secured within the sleeves with elastic bands. This attempt has fallen short of solving the problems in several reasons. First, the elastic bands need sufficient tension to hold the rigid members within the channel, which is difficult. Also, the rigid members, if not properly secured within the channels will tend to slide from the channels when the tynes of the forklift go into or out of the sleeves. Also, plastic inserts, which have been provided which are thick, extruded plastic, rectangular tubes. Such four-sided tubes cannot be nested when shipped or stored. Additionally, the rigid inserts do not provide any protection to the sleeves making direct contact with the floor where a bag may be slid along the floor, thus wearing or even tearing the sleeves on the bottom of the bag.
Therefore, there is a need for improving the art of inserts into channels on the floor of bulk bags which solves these aforesaid problems.
Applicant is submitting herewith the prior art statement regarding patents which have been reviewed which may be pertinent to the subject matter of this invention.
The improved bulk bag of the present invention solves the problems in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is an improved fabric bulk bag, of the type having wall portions, a top portion, and a floor portion, all defining a space for storing bulk therein, and further providing a pair of channels, substantially parallel in relation, secured along the outer surface of the floor portion, each channel having two open ends; a substantially elongated rigid three-sided U-shaped support member insertable into each channel, the upper wall of the member contacting the outer surface of the bulk bag, and the two arms of the U-shaped member providing a travel space through the channel for receiving the tynes of a forklift, and allowing the tynes to contact the upper wall of the member when the bag is lifted; the two arms of the support member-also providing a stable pallet-like foundation for the bag when the bag is positioned atop another filled bag. There is further provided finger-like openings between the walls of the U-shaped member and the channels, to secure the edges of each channel to maintain the U-shaped member within each channel when the forklift tynes are engaging or disengaging from the channels. There is further provided blocks along the outer walls of the channel walls for filling any gaps between the fabric channels and the U-shaped members inserted therein. An additional embodiment may provide cut away portions along the channel walls for defining portions of the support member wall to make direct contact with the surface upon which the bag rests to avoid contact between the bag sleeves and the surface.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved bulk bag which can be easily and safely transported by forklift and safely stacked on another filled bulk bag.
It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide an improved bulk bag which includes a pallet support structure incorporated therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bottom portion of the bag adapted with rigid members for defining a level, secure means to both transport the filled bag and allow the bag to be safely stacked on other such bulk filled bags.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide support members insertable into sleeves on the bottom of a bulk bag which allows the support members to contact the surface upon which the bag rests without contacting the sleeves.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide rigid inserts for bulk bags made of high density polyethylene which can be injection molded rather than extruded plastic, to allow for geometric shaping of the insert and to use a variety of plastic materials.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide plastic inserts for bulk bags which are inexpensive to mold, and can be nested when shipped or stored.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide removable inserts which are not permanently positioned within sleeves on bag bottoms allowing the inserts to be easily positioned into and removed from the bag, do not have to be shipped with the bags, and easily removed when refurbishing of the bag is necessary.
It general, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a three sided insert for cost reduction and nestability, which can protect the fabric of the bag, and injection molded to allow for geometric shaping that strengthens the inserts against deflection.
For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:
As illustrated in
Turning again to
Reference is now made to
As seen further in
Reference is now made to
Reference is now made to
Another critical function of the members 40 within sleeves 24 is the function of support in all of the embodiments of the members 40 as discussed previously. Most bulk bags need to be placed on pallets in order to be stacked. However, due to the nature of a pallet construction, the strength of a pallet is along is out perimeter, not across its center. This is not a favorable construction for supporting a filled bulk bag. Therefore, by utilizing the present invention, the pair of members 40 placed within the sleeves 24, in the manner as discussed previously, defines an improved portable pallet-like system that would accompany each filled bulk bag 10. Therefore, as seen in
The following is a list of suitable parts and materials for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
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