Pallet for bulk bag

Abstract

A pallet for bulk bags consists of a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members and a bulk bag. Each of the tine receiving members have a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and an interior surface. At least one strap receiving channel runs along the interior surface at the top. The exterior surface is devoid of appendages. The interior surface is being devoid of obstructions. The bulk bag has sides and a bottom. Straps are secured to the bulk bag, which are adapted to engage the at least one strap receiving channel of each of the tine receiving members for the purpose of securing the tine receiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pallet for bulk bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's manufacturing environment, most providers try to utilize the cube of their facility, as opposed to the square foot area. In order to do this, they use not only one or two methods of handling bulk bags, but in some cases a whole series of methods integrated into one overall system. The types of equipment employed include: a counterbalanced fork lift truck, a straddle fork lift, a straddle reach fork lift, a turret stacker, a turret reach stacker, a remote control stacker, a roller conveyor system, a power and free conveyor system, a belt conveyor system, a hand operated pallet truck, or a power operated hand truck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is required is a pallet for bulk bags, which is sufficiently versatile as to permit use with a wide variety of handling systems.

According to the present invention there is provided a pallet for bulk bags which consists of a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members and a bulk bag. Each of the tine receiving members have a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and an interior surface. At least one strap receiving channel runs along the interior surface at the top. The exterior surface is devoid of appendages. The interior surface is being devoid of obstructions. The bulk bag has sides and a bottom. Straps are secured to the bulk bag, which are adapted to engage the at least one strap receiving channel of each of the tine receiving members for the purpose of securing the tine receiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a bulk bag equipped with tine receiving members in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top rear perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom front perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom rear perspective view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the bulk bag illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom rear perspective view of a second embodiment of a bulk bag equipped with tine receiving members;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of the bulk bag of a third embodiment of a bulk bag equipped with tine receiving members.

FIG. 9 is perspective view of the bulk bag equipped with tine receiving members illustrated in FIG. 1 in use with a lift truck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, a pallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6 and FIG. 9. A second embodiment of a pallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 100, will be described with reference to FIG. 7. A third embodiment of a pallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 200, will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a pallet 10 for bulk bags, which includes a combination of a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members 12 and a bulk bag 14. Each of tine receiving members 12 has a top 16 and opposed sides 18 which define both an exterior surface 20 and an interior surface 22. A receiving channel 24 runs along interior surface 22 at top 16. Exterior surface 20 is devoid of appendages and interior surface 22 is devoid of obstructions. Bulk bag 14 has sides 26 and a top 28 and a bottom 30. Top 28 can have a cover 32 as illustrated in FIG. 2, or could be left open as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, straps 34 are secured to bulk bag 14 which are adapted to engage receiving channels 24 of each of tine receiving members 12 for the purpose of securing tine receiving members 12 to bottom 30 of bulk bag 14. In the illustrated embodiment, straps 34 are provided with an adjustment buckle 36 for adjusting the length of straps 34. Lifting loops 38 are provided at top 28 of bulk bag 14.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, an inwardly extending edge reinforcement 40 extends longitudinally along a bottom edge 42 of each of opposed sides 18 of tine receiving members 12. In the illustrated embodiment, tine receiving members 12 are made from polymer plastic, although it will be appreciated that they could be manufactured from other materials.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a second embodiment of a pallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 100. Second embodiment 100 is similar to first embodiment, except that adhesive 110 has been used along top 16 of tine receiving members 12 for the purpose of securing tine receiving member 12 to bulk bag 14.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a third embodiment of a pallet for a bulk bag generally identified by reference numeral 200. Third embodiment 200 is similar to first embodiment except that lengths of rope 210 are used for securing for the purpose of securing tine receiving member 12 to bulk bag 14.

Operation:

Referring to FIG. 9, pallet 10 for bulk bags is suitable for use with handling equipment such as a lift truck 44. Forks 46 provided on lift truck 44 are received in pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members 12. Lift truck 44 is then able to lift and transport pallet 10 and bulk bag 14 along with any material contained in bulk bag 14.

Features and Advantages:

The main features of this design can best be described with the following emphasis

It will accommodate and facilitate the use of either a singular peace of handling equipment (lift truck) or any combination there of.

The means of attachment of the pallet member to the bulk bag is a simple strap, that can be either of semi ridged material or of an elastic nature. The means of fixation at the terminal ends can be adapted to the most desirable method for a given situation. For example one end can be sewn or glued to the bulk bag, while the other end can be affixed by means of “D” rings, or couplings commonly used on golf bags, seat belts, or Velcro, to name a few.

A slotted eye and pin combination located in the recessed section, so as not to obstruct or restrict the movement of the lifting device member, (fork, tine, or wheel).

Since the only tension forces between the pallet member and the bulk bag exist only if and when the bulk bag is held in suspension, and those forces are limited to the weight of the individual pallet member. Therefore all the vertical forces between the bag and the pallet member are in compression irrespective of whether the unit load is in a stationary position on the floor, or on a pallet rack, or in transit with one or more of the handling means.

Another feature of this design in addition to the obstruction free access of the handling system is that this configuration adds significantly to the structural integrity of the member, a major factor in weight reduction.

Another important feature of this design is that in many applications of the handling system the transfer from a truck to a loading dock or the reverse there of, over what is referred to as a dock leveler where the differential in height can be as much as ten percent grade. Any obstruction such as ties, or cross members, not only tends to destroy these elements but in doing so also affects the structural integrity of the system.

It is important to note that both the interior and the exterior of the pallet sleeve are free of obstruction.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A pallet for bulk bags, comprising in combination: a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members, each of the tine receiving members having a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and an interior surface, with at least one receiving channel running along the interior surface at the top, the exterior surface being devoid of appendages and the interior surface being devoid of obstructions; and a bulk bag having sides and a bottom, and means for securing tine receiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

2. The pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bulk bag to the tine receiving member are straps secured to the bulk bag which are adapted to engage the at least one receiving channels of each of the tine receiving members.

3. The pallet as defined in claim 2, wherein the straps are elasticized.

4. The pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bulk bag to the tine receiving member is adhesive applied to the top of each tine receiving member such that the bottom of the bulk bag adheres to the top of each of the tine receiving members.

5. The pallet as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for securing the bulk bag to the tine receiving member are ropes secured to the bulk bag which are adapted to engage the at least one receiving channels of each of the tine receiving members

6. The pallet as defined in claim 1, wherein inwardly extending edge reinforcement extends longitudinally along a bottom edge of each of the opposed sides.

7. The pallet as defined in claim 1, wherein the tine receiving members are made from polymer plastic.

8. A pallet for bulk bags, comprising in combination: a pair of elongate “C” channel tine receiving members, each of the tine receiving members having a top and opposed sides defining both an exterior surface and an interior surface, with at least one strap receiving channel running along the interior surface at the top, the exterior surface being devoid of appendages and the interior surface being devoid of obstructions; and a bulk bag having sides and a bottom, straps being secured to the bulk bag which are adapted to engage the at least one strap receiving channel of each of the tine receiving members for the purpose of securing the tine receiving members to the bottom of the bulk bag.

9. The pallet as defined in claim 8, wherein inwardly extending edge reinforcement extends longitudinally along a bottom edge of each of the opposed sides.

10. The pallet as defined in claim 8, wherein the tine receiving members are made from polymer plastic.