SHIPPING BAG

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a shipping container comprises a tubular body extending between top and bottom ends, first and second bottom panels extending from the bottom end, the first and second bottom closing panels rotatable from a co-planar configuration with the tubular body to a position extending perpendicularly across the bottom of the tubular body and at least one fastener adapted to secure the bottom closing panels across the bottom end of the tubular body. The shipping container may also be formed by a planar body having top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface is adapted to support a load, at least one pocket extending across the bottom surface and at least one spacing element sized to be received within the pocket. The apparatus may include at least one rigid body between the top and bottom surfaces of the planar body and side walls extending upwardly therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This disclosure relates generally to shipping and in particular to a method and apparatus for shipping materials.

2. Description of Related Art

In many fields, it is necessary to ship raw materials from one location to another. In particular, it is difficult to ship loose or shredded materials due to the need to contain such particles within a container. One example of such materials is shredded or particles of recycled materials such as, by way of non-limiting example, plastic. Such recycled materials frequently need to be transported significant distances from where it is reclaimed and broken up to locations in need of such materials.

Conventionally, such loose particulate material would be shipped in one of several methods. In one method, the particulate material may be shipped in in a bag or other flexible container. Such bags disadvantageously, are difficult to empty requiring a crane or other heavy lifting device to enable the bag to be dumped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shipping container comprising a tubular body extending between top and bottom ends, first and second bottom panels extending from the bottom end, the first and second bottom closing panels rotatable from a co-planar configuration with the tubular body to a position extending perpendicularly across the bottom of the tubular body and at least one fastener adapted to secure the bottom closing panels across the bottom end of the tubular body.

The bottom closing panels may be positioned on opposite sides of the tubular body from each other. The bottom closing panels may be connected to the tubular member along fold lines. The bottom closing panels may include side flaps extending laterally therefrom, the side flaps sized to be operable to extend up a portion of a side of the tubular member.

The at least one fastener may comprise hook and loop fasteners between the side flaps and the sides of the tubular portion. The at least one fastener may includes a pin receivable within a bore in the side flaps.

The bottom closing panels may include side skirts extending therebetween in a direction downwardly from the tubular portion. The side skirts may include fold lines formed therein so as to be folded into an interior of the tubular body when the bottom closing panels are secured to the tubular body.

The at least bottom closing panel may include pockets adapted to receive spacing elements. The spacing elements may comprise inflatable tubes. The pockets may extend across the bottom of the container parallel to the fold lines of the flaps.

According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed a method for forming a shipping container comprising providing a tubular body extending between top and bottom ends, rotating first and second bottom panels extending from the bottom end, the first and second bottom closing panels from a co-planar configuration with the tubular body to a position extending perpendicularly across the bottom of the tubular body and securing the bottom closing panels across the bottom end of the tubular body.

According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shipping platform comprising a planar body having top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface is adapted to support a load at least one rigid body locate within the planar body between the top and bottom surfaces, at least one pocket extending across the bottom surface and at least one spacing element sized to be received within the pocket.

The at least one rigid body may comprise slats. The at least one spacing element may comprise inflatable members. The at least one rigid body and the spacing elements may be perpendicular to each other. The apparatus may further comprise a base connecting member extending below the at least one pocket.

According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for forming a shipping support comprising a planar body having top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface is adapted to support a load, at least one pocket extending across the bottom surface and at least one spacing element sized to be received within the pocket.

Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings constitute part of the disclosure. Each drawing illustrates exemplary aspects wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for forming a shipping container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure at an open configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 at a closed configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 at a closed configuration with air bladders being inserted thereinto.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for forming a pallet according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 with slats and air bladders being inserted thereinto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure are now described with reference to exemplary apparatuses, methods and systems. Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for forming a shipping container according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The apparatus 10 comprises a tubular body 12 having an open top 14 and a bottom 13. The apparatus 10 includes at least one foldable bottom closing panels 20 operable to close the bottom 13 of the apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the tubular body 12 may have a substantially square cross section although it will be appreciated that other cross-sectional shapes such as, by way of non-limiting example, rectangular may be useful as well. As Illustrated in FIG. 1, the tubular body 12 may have end and side walls 17 and 18, respectively wherein the bottom closing panels 20 are hingedly connected to the end walls 17. The tubular body 12 extends to a bottom edge formed by folding in the bottom closing panels 20 as will be more fully described below.

The bottom closing panels 20 may be formed as extensions of the end walls 17 with a fold line 21 therebetween so as to be rotatable to a position under the bottom 13 of the body 12 and spanning the opening of the body to close it. The bottom closing panels 20 may include side extensions 22 extending from the side walls 18 of the body 12 as well which are connected to the side walls 18 with a fold line 23. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the side extensions 22 may include angular seams or fold lines 24 formed therein so as to aid in the side extensions 22 being folded within the interior of the body 12 when the bottom closing panels 20 are folded up.

The bottom closing panels 20 include connecting flaps 26 extending from the edges thereof. The connecting flaps 26 include fasteners thereon adapted to secure the flaps in the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2. In particular, the connecting flaps 26 may include hook and loop fasteners cooperating with a corresponding hook and loop strip 28 extending along the bottom of the side walls 18. It will be appreciated that other types of fasteners may also be utilized such as by way of non-limiting example, snaps, hooks or clasps. Additionally, the side walls 18 may include a pin 30 extending therefrom adapted to pass through a bore 32 in the closure flaps so as to provide an additional securing means of the connecting flaps 26 to the side walls 18. Additionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the flaps 26 may have a greater length than the bottom closing panels 20 such that the flaps 26 overlap each other to be connected to a common pin as will be further set out below. As illustrated in FIG. 2, both bottom closing panels are fold up however only the flaps 26 of one side are connected over the pin 30.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the bottom closing panels 20 include spacing members 38 such as an air bladder therein adapted to space the bottom closing panels (which form the bottom of the container) above a floor or other surface. The spacing member may also include another body adapted to raise the bottom closing panels 20 above a ground surface. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the bottom closing panels 20 may include pockets 40 extending therealong. The pockets may be filled with any objects to provide such spacing of the flaps and body 12 above the ground. In particular, the pockets may be filled with inflatable air bladders 38 which are slidably inserted into the pockets 40. As illustrated, the pockets are spaced apart by a sufficient distance to permit a forklift to lift the assembled body. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pockets 40 may extend parallel to the fold lines 21. The body 12 may be formed of any flexible material so as to permit folding and compact storage of the body 12 when not in use such as, by way of non-limiting example, fabrics plastics or canvas.

Turning now to FIG. 4, according to a further embodiment, the present apparatus 50 may be formed as a pallet without side walls. Optionally, a small flexible 55 side wall may be formed therearound which may be deformed or folded to permit access to the pockets 56 and 58. In particular, the pallet 50 may be formed of a flexible sheet of material 52 with having a top and bottom surface, 51 and 53, respectively and top pockets 56 formed therebetween. The top pockets 56 may be sized to receive a slat 54 or other rigid material, such as, by way of non-limiting example strips of wood or bamboo. The bottom 53 of the sheet of material 52 may include bottom pockets 58 similar to as set out above which are adapted to receive spacing elements such as inflatable bladders 60. As illustrated the top and bottom pockets 56 and 58 may be perpendicular to each other to aid in rigidity of the apparatus 50. The pallet may also include wear strips 62 which are formed of a durable material to provide a smooth surface for fork lift forks or other lifting objects to pass under the apparatus without damaging the other portions thereof. The wear strips also assist in maintaining desired spacing of the bottom pockets. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sheet 52 may be folded for storage or transportation when the slats 54 and bladders 60 are not installed therein.

While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the disclosure as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a shipping container comprising: a tubular body extending between top and bottom ends;first and second bottom panels extending from the bottom end, the first and second bottom closing panels rotatable from a co-planar configuration with the tubular body to a position extending perpendicularly across the bottom of the tubular body; andat least one fastener adapted to secure the bottom closing panels across the bottom end of the tubular body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom closing panels are positioned on opposite sides of the tubular body from each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bottom closing panels are connected to the tubular member along fold lines.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bottom closing panels include side flaps extending laterally therefrom, the side flaps sized to be operable to extend up a portion of a side of the tubular member.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least one fastener comprise hook and loop fasteners between the side flaps and the sides of the tubular portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least one fastener includes a pin receivable within a bore in the side flaps.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bottom closing panels include side skirts extending therebetween in a direction downwardly from the tubular portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein side skirts include fold lines formed therein so as to be folded into an interior of the tubular body when the bottom closing panels are secured to the tubular body.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the at least bottom closing panel include pockets adapted to receive spacing elements.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the spacing elements comprise inflatable tubes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pockets extend across the bottom of the container parallel to the fold lines of the flaps.

12. A method for forming a shipping container comprising: providing a tubular body extending between top and bottom ends;rotating first and second bottom panels extending from the bottom end, the first and second bottom closing panels from a co-planar configuration with the tubular body to a position extending perpendicularly across the bottom of the tubular body; andsecuring the bottom closing panels across the bottom end of the tubular body.

13. An apparatus for forming a shipping platform comprising: a planar body having top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface is adapted to support a load;at least one rigid body locate within the planar body between the top and bottom surfaces;at least one pocket extending across the bottom surface; andat least one spacing element sized to be received within the pocket.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one rigid body comprises slats.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the at least one spacing element comprises inflatable members.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the at least one rigid body and the spacing elements are perpendicular to each other.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a base connecting member extending below the at least one pocket.

18. An apparatus for forming a shipping support comprising: a planar body having top and bottom surfaces wherein the top surface is adapted to support a load;at least one pocket extending across the bottom surface; andat least one spacing element sized to be received within the pocket.