Abstract: A fabric bulk bag and a method for constructing the same, the bag including a continuous sidewall, a top portion, and a bottom, all defining a bulk storage space therein; the bottom further comprising eight sides which define an octagonal shape having an enlarged footprint so that the bag wall is sewn to the bottom in less time than a round shaped bag, yet when filled stands more upright with less tendency to lean than the current square shaped bags thereby providing a safer more dependable stacking bulk bag. In the method of producing the fabric bulk bag, the bag is constructed in less time than the prior art round bottom bags, uses less wall fabric than prior art square bottomed bags and when constructed and filled, supports itself more stable on a floor or pallet because it provides substantially more base for the product to rest on. In other embodiments, the bag would be multi-sided with greater than four sides.

Abstract: A pot belly bag which includes a bag portion having four walls and a top portion, and a floor portion; a portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the floor portion, which defines the pot belly portion; a pair of channels formed along either sidewall of the pot belly portion with the channel sleeves secured along the underside of the pot belly portion of the bag which results in the two sleeves and the pot belly functioning as a united unit to overcome various stresses normally placed upon the bag. The bag also provides a free flowing product which may attempt to push the sidewalls of the pot belly outward contacts the plastic channels in an attempt to outwardly displace the channel, but as the channel begins to move outwardly it immediately encounters the outer sleeve which is tied to the pot belly which restricts outer movement and spreads the forces out along its entire length.

Abstract: A pot belly bag which includes a bag portion having four walls and a top portion, and a floor portion; a portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the floor portion, which defines a pot belly portion; a pair of sleeves formed along either sidewall of the pot belly portion with the sleeves tied to the pot belly portion of the bag which results in the pair of sleeves and the pot belly portion functioning as a united unit to overcome various stresses normally placed upon the bag by a free flowing product in the bag which may attempt to push sidewalls of the pot belly portion outward and contact the plastic channels in an attempt to outwardly displace the channel. As the channel begins to move outwardly it immediately encounters the sleeve which is tied to the pot belly portion which restricts outer movement of the channel and spreads the forces out along its entire length.

Abstract: An improved bulk bag with an upper portion of the sidewalls that is sloped inward from vertical so that when the fabric is stretched upward in the lifting process, thereby creating tension in the vertical fabric, the tension will be maintained after the bag is no longer in a lift position, as the fabric cannot slide back down around the product due to the restricted size of the fabric and such tension provides stronger restrictions to product movement to provide increased stability.

Abstract: An improved fabric bulk bag with pallet combination, of the type having wall portions, a top portion, and a floor portion, all defining a space for storing bulk therein, and in a first embodiment 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 support member insertable into each channel, for receiving the tines of a forklift, while providing a stable pallet foundation for the bag when the bag is positioned atop another filled bag. A bulk containing portion of the floor of the bag extending between the two support members when the bag has sufficient bulk, so that the portion filled with bulk defines a continuous support surface between the two support members and together define a continuous support across the floor of the bag.

Abstract: 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 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 member also providing a stable pallet-like foundation for the bag when the bag is positioned atop another filled bag.

Abstract: A method for cleaning bulk bags which have been utilized to transport dry bulk, the method including the steps of providing a first bulk bag to be cleaned; mounting the bulk bag on a frame through its inlet and outlet spouts; providing a vertically inclined brush substantially the same length as the mounted bulk bag; introducing air in the mounted bulk bag from the frame to inflate the bulk bag to its filled configuration; rotating the brush against the wall of the bag which in turn causes the bag to rotate on its axis, thus cleaning the exterior wall of the bag, and shaking material off of its interior wall; suctioning off material removed from the brush; collecting the material from the interior of the bag in a collection compartment; and mounting a second bag on the frame while the first bag is being cleaned; following the cleaning of the first bag, rotating the frame to place the second bag in alignment with the brush; inflating the second bag; and rotating the brush against the wall of the second bag to

Abstract: A bulk material transport bag of the type having four walls, a top portion with the top portion including a bulk inlet spout, and a bottom, with the bottom portion including a discharge port. The bag would incorporate a cone to flat bottom feature on the bottom of the bag, which would allow the bottom of the bag to form a conical configuration when bulk material is pouring from the discharge spout, but when the discharge spout is closed off, the material of the bottom is pulled inwardly by the closure of the spout and the cone would form from the conical shape to the flat shape. When the discharge end is opened, the flat bottom of the bag would return to the conical shape serving as a discharge bottom of the bag. There would further be included a drawstring formed in a pocket around the closure so that a pulling of the drawstring would tighten the closure to form the closed end of the bag.

Abstract: A bulk material transport bag has a plurality of sidewalls, a lower end wall, and an upper wall, defining a bulk material space therewithin. The surrounding sidewalls are formed by a panel of fabric, positioned at each corner of the bag, the panel of fabric formed into a right triangle, so that the first and second legs of the triangle form the outer wall of the bag at each corner, and the third leg (or hypotenuse) of the triangle forms the internal baffle wall of the bag. Each corner triangle is stitched to a flat panel of fabric, defining the remaining central portion of each sidewall, so that when the eight portions of fabric are joined, there is defined the enclosed wall of the bag, together with the baffles formed in the interior of the bag. The bag includes a plurality of rectangular or triangular shaped openings in each of the baffle walls for allowing bulk material to flow therethrough in order to completely fill the bag.

Abstract: A process for adhering a polyethylene liner to the interior of a fabric bulk bag, which would include the steps of providing a source of pressurized air flow; attaching the upper pour spout of the fabric bag to the source of air flow; causing the bag to inflate when the bag becomes filled with air; providing a means for applying adhesive to the interior wall of at least a portion of the interior wall of the fabric bag after the fabric has been inflated; providing a valving means for routing a quantity of the pressurized air through a second air flow chamber; providing a plastic liner in the air flow chamber so that as the secondary air flow makes contact with the liner, the liner is forced into the interior of the fabric bag and inflated against the inner surface of the walls of the fabric bag; and adhering the plastic liner to the wall of the fabric bag when the liner makes contact with the adhesive that has been applied to the wall of the fabric bag.

Abstract: The improved bag and method of the present invention introduces relates to a bulk bag which would include four (4) side portions, each of the side portions joined at their edges for forming a bulk container space therewithin, a susbstantially flat bottom portion attached to the side portions, with the bottom portion including a centrally positioned discharge spout, which would allow bulk contained within the bag to be discharged through the discharge spout. The bag would further include an upper top portion attached to the four (4) walls of the bag, the upper top portion being substantially cone - shaped, which may include an inlet spout at the top of the cone, for allowing bulk material to be poured into the bag. When bulk material is poured into the bag portion, the bulk material would form a cone of material within the cone portion of the bag, thus assuring that the walled portion of the bag has been filled with bulk.

Abstract: A plastic or like material liner inserted within a fabric type bulk bag so that the liner is secured in position within the bag with an adhering means along substantially the outer surface of the liner for adhering to the inner most surface of the bulk bag at strategic points, and a second adhering means for adhering the lower portion of the bulk bag to the liner at substantially the point of exit of bulk contained within the bag, so that release bulk from a lower spout would not tend to dislodge the liner from its lined position within the bag.

Abstract: A plastic or like material liner inserted within a fabric type bulk bag so that the liner is secured in position within the bag with an adhering means along substantially the outer surface of the liner for adhering to the inner most surface of the bulk bag at strategic points, and a second adhering means for adhering the lower portion of the bulk bag to the liner at substantially the point of exit of bulk contained within the bag, so that release bulk from a lower spout would not tend to dislodge the liner from its lined position within the bag.