FLEXIBLE BULK CONTAINERS CONSTRUCTED TO BE LIFTABLE FROM BELOW BY A FORKLIFT
Flexible bulk containers are configured to be liftable without the necessity of a pallet. A base of a bulk bag has a pair of tine-receiving members secured thereto. The tine-receiving members have a cross-section for creating a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the filled container. The tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. The tine-receiving members can be formed of paperboard that is treated to increase its water-resistance. For example, the tine-receiving members can each be a portion of a round or non-round paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard of which the tube is constructed can comprise paperboard that is sized to increase its water-resistance.
The present disclosure relates to flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), also referred to herein as flexible bulk containers, or bulk bags. The present disclosure particularly relates to bulk bags that features integrated into the base of the bag permitting the bag to be lifted from below by a forklift or the like.
Various types of flowable bulk materials are contained and transported using bulk bags. A typical bulk bag comprises a large bag constructed principally of woven fabric and having a generally cuboid or cylindrical shape when filled. Bulk bags include both single-use and reusable bulk bags. Many bulk bags have some kind of bottom closure that allows the bag to be emptied by releasing the closure, while the bag is supported above the container or vessel into which the contents are to be emptied. Some bulk bags have a bottom wall defining an opening connected to a discharge spout or funnel through which the bag is emptied, and a bottom closure such as a petal or star closure, pajama or bonnet closure, or the like, is used to keep the discharge spout closed until it is time to empty the bag. In other bulk bags, particularly for materials that tend to bridge or that otherwise do not flow well, the bag has a bottom closure that opens up to the full cross-sectional size of the bag, and the bag includes a bottom flap (sometimes called a “diaper”, dust flap, or hygiene flap) that covers the bottom closure and that is releasable to allow the bottom closure to open up so the bag can be emptied. Bags having discharge spouts can also include such a bottom flap.
It is conventional to employ wood pallets for transporting bulk bags from place to place. It would be desirable, however, to eliminate the requirement for pallets, in view of the many well-known drawbacks associated with wood pallets.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREDescribed herein are various configurations of flexible bulk containers that are constructed to be liftable from below by a forklift or the like, such that the containers do not have to be supported atop a pallet.
In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a flexible bulk container comprises a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base. The base optionally can define a discharge opening, and the bag can further comprise a bottom closure movable between a closed position in which the discharge opening is closed and an open position in which the discharge opening is open for emptying the bag therethrough. The bag is made to be “palletless” (i.e., to have its own means for receiving the tines of a forklift or the like, so that the bag does not have to be supported atop a conventional pallet) by incorporating into the base of the bag a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members that define channels into which the tines of a forklift can be inserted for lifting and transporting the bag. Each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. For example, the tube can be cut in half longitudinally to produce two substantially identical tine-receiving members. The tube can be round or non-round in cross-section; in the case of non-round tubes, the cross-section can be generally oval or elliptical, for example. The paperboard tube can be formed of paperboard that is sized (or otherwise treated) to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. The tine-receiving members can be secured to the base of the bag in any suitable way, and the first aspect of the invention is not limited in that respect.
In a second aspect of the disclosure, the tine-receiving members can be formed from paperboard tubes as described above, or can comprise other types of tine-receiving members. For instance, the tine-receiving members can have a configuration other than half of a tube, and/or can be made from materials other than paper, such as virgin plastic, recycled plastic, plastic mixed with fibrous material (e.g., fiber-reinforced plastic, wood-plastic composite, or the like), metal, etc. The second aspect concerns various ways of securing the tine-receiving members to the bag. In one embodiment according to the second aspect, the flexible bulk container comprises a bag that includes a bottom closure, and a bottom flap having opposite ends affixed to a lower end of the bag at opposite sides thereof. The bottom flap in a closed position extends beneath and covers the bottom closure of the bag. The bottom flap is narrower than the bottom wall of the bag, such that two portions of the bottom wall on opposite sides of the bottom flap are not covered by the bottom flap. At least one of the ends of the bottom flap is releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed.
The container includes a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members respectively secured to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap. The tine-receiving members can have any cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container. Accordingly, a pallet is not required for supporting and lifting the bulk container.
In accordance with one variation of this embodiment, the tine-receiving members can be secured to the bag by using a pair of sleeves that are respectively affixed to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap, the sleeves being disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom wall and extending parallel to each other. The tine-receiving members are inserted into the sleeves, which secure the tine-receiving members to the bag and position the tine-receiving members parallel to each other and spaced apart at the proper spacing corresponding to the spacing of the forklift tines.
In accordance with other variations, the tine-receiving members can be secured to the bag in other ways. For example, the walls of the tine-receiving members can have holes therethrough, and the bag can have straps fastened to the bottom wall of the bag and extending downwardly therefrom and terminating at free ends of the straps. The free ends of the straps are inserted through the holes in the walls of the tine-receiving members and are secured to the bag (e.g., by buckles, hook-and-loop fasteners such as VELCRO®, or other fastening devices) so as to secure the tine-receiving members to the bottom wall of the bag. As another example, small loops can be affixed to the bottom wall of the bag (e.g., at least two loops per tine-receiving member, aligned with one another along the lengthwise direction of each tine-receiving member), and straps or ties can be passed around each tine-receiving member (or through holes in the walls of the tine-receiving member) and secured to the bag using the loops as anchor points for the straps or ties.
A flexible bulk container in accordance with the above-described embodiment is particularly suitable for configurations of bulk containers that are emptied through a central opening in the bottom wall (e.g., bulk bags having a discharge spout). The bottom flap can be released to expose the opening or discharge spout, while the tine-receiving members can be kept in place. If the bag has a discharge spout, it can extend down between the two tine-receiving members. Accordingly, if desired, the container can be emptied while the container is supported above the ground by a forklift. This is advantageous, compared to bulk bags that must be suspended from upper lifting loops, because the forklift does not have to lift its forks as high in order to raise the bottom end of the bag to the height necessary for positioning the bag above the container or vessel into which the bag contents are to be emptied. This may also provide a safety advantage for the person who must release the bottom closure to empty the bag.
In accordance with another embodiment described herein, a flexible bulk container comprises a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base that defines a discharge opening, the bag further comprising a bottom closure movable between a closed position in which the discharge opening is closed and an open position in which the discharge opening is open for emptying the bag therethrough. The container includes a bottom flap comprising a flexible sheet and having opposite ends affixed to the bag at opposite sides thereof proximate the base. The bottom flap in a closed position extends beneath and covers the bottom closure, at least one of the ends of the bottom flap being releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed.
A pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members are secured to the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom flap and extending parallel to each other. The tine-receiving members have any suitable cross-section for creating a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container. In this embodiment, the assembly comprising the bottom flap and tine-receiving members is released and moved away from the base of the bag to allow the bag to be emptied.
The tine-receiving members can be secured to the bottom flap in any of the ways previously described (e.g., using sleeves, straps, ties, etc.).
In accordance with yet another embodiment described herein, a flexible bulk container comprises a bag having a bottom flap to which tine-receiving members are secured, as in the previously described embodiment. The container further includes a pair of fastening lines respectively extending through the channels of the pair of tine-receiving members and each having opposite end portions of sufficient length to be releasably fastened to the bag so as to secure the bottom flap in the closed position. The bottom flap, upon disconnecting the fastening lines from the bag, is movable into an open position to expose the bottom closure. Alternatively, the fastening lines can be affixed to the bottom flap rather than extending through the channels of the tine-receiving members.
The present disclosure also includes a third aspect directed to a support system for supporting and facilitating the lifting and transportation of an item. The item, for example, can be a stack of small bags each containing a bulk material, wherein the stack is wrapped with a plastic film such as stretch film. Alternatively, the item can be a bale of non-bulk goods, or a large bulk bag. The support system includes a flexible sheet for underlying the item, and securing members affixed to the flexible sheet, extending upwardly therefrom, and configured for being secured to the item.
A pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members are secured to the flexible sheet (in any of the various ways previously described, e.g., using sleeves, straps, ties, etc.) and are disposed beneath a lower surface of the flexible sheet. The tine-receiving members have a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the support system with the item thereon.
The securing members can be configured so that their ends are fastened to each other to secure the members about the item. Alternatively, fastening lines can be affixed to the securing members and can be configured for being releasably connected to each other to secure the securing members about the item.
In the various embodiments as noted above, the tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. In some embodiments, the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. For example, each of the tine-receiving members can comprise a portion of a round or non-round paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard tube can be formed of paperboard that is sized (or otherwise treated) to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
Having thus described the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
The illustrated bag 110 also includes a top wall 128 that defines a fill opening, and a fill spout 130 connected to the top wall for filling the bag through the spout and fill opening. However, the present invention is equally applicable to flexible bulk containers of the open-top type in which there is no top wall. The container optionally can include lifting loops 132 secured to a top end of the bag for facilitating lifting and supporting the bag during filling and emptying.
The flexible bulk container 100 also includes a bottom flap 140 having opposite ends affixed to a lower end of the bag 112 at opposite sides thereof. The bottom flap in a closed position extends beneath and covers the bottom closure 126. The bottom flap is narrower than the bottom wall 122 such that two portions of the bottom wall on opposite sides of the bottom flap are not covered by the bottom flap. The bottom flap can comprise any of various materials, non-limiting examples of which include fabric (e.g., woven fabric made from synthetic yarns such as multifilament polypropylene yarns or the like), heavy-gauge polymer film, water-resistant cardboard, or combinations thereof. At least one of the ends of the bottom flap is releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement 142 so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure 126 is exposed. The fastening arrangement generally includes one or more first fastening elements mounted on the end of the bottom flap 140 and a corresponding number of cooperating second fastening elements mounted on the bag adjacent its base and engageable with the first fastening elements. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening arrangement 142 comprises ties affixed to the end of the flap 140 and to the bag, but any other suitable releasable fastening arrangement could be used.
The container 100 further comprises a pair of sleeves 150 respectively affixed to the two portions of the bottom wall 122 not covered by the bottom flap 140. The sleeves are disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom wall 122, and extend parallel to each other. The sleeves can be formed of fabric (similar or identical to the fabric described above for the bottom flap) or other flexible material.
The container 100 also includes a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members 160 respectively inserted into the pair of sleeves 150. The right-hand tine-receiving member 160 in
The tine-receiving members 160 have a cross-section suitable for creating a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the filled container. The members can be open-sided (e.g., generally U-shaped in cross-section) or can be tubular or lumen-shaped members. The tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. In some embodiments of the invention, the tine-receiving members can be formed of paperboard that is treated to increase its water-resistance. For example, the tine-receiving members can each be a portion of a cylindrical paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard of which the tube is constructed can comprise paperboard that is sized to increase its water-resistance. The paperboard can be sized with any of various sizing compositions, including alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alum, rosin, or the like. Alternatively, the paperboard tine-receiving members can be made water-resistant in other ways, such as by coating or impregnating the members with a water-resistant material (e.g., wax-based, polyolefin-based, phenolic resin-based, etc.).
The tine-receiving members 160 can be secured to the bottom wall 122 of the bag in other ways that do not require sleeves 150. For example, as shown in
In another example as shown in
In operation, the flexible bulk container 100 is filled with a quantity of bulk material through the fill spout 130, which is then closed by a suitable closure. The container 100 can then be lifted and transported using a forklift or the like, by inserting the tines of the forklift into the channels defined by the tine-receiving members 160. To empty the container, the container is lifted and supported and the fastening arrangement 142 is released and the bottom flap 140 is swung down to its open position, thereby exposing the discharge spout 126 (
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The container 200 further differs from the prior embodiment in that the sleeves 250 for the tine-receiving members 260 are affixed to the flap 240 rather than to the bottom wall of the bag. As in the prior embodiment, it is important to secure the sleeves 250 to the flap 240 in a manner that minimizes as much as possible the ability of the sleeves to be moved toward from or away from each other. This can be done, for example, by sewing the sleeves to the flap using a stitching technique designed to immobilize the sleeves as much as possible. Additionally, the fastening arrangement 242 advantageously puts the flap 240 in tension so as to further help immobilize the sleeves, and hence the tine-receiving members.
In operation, the flexible bulk container 200 is filled with a quantity of bulk material through the fill spout 230, which is then closed by a suitable closure. The container 200 can then be lifted and transported using a forklift or the like, by inserting the tines of the forklift into the channels defined by the tine-receiving members 260. To empty the container, the container is lifted and supported (e.g., by the lifting loops 232) and the fastening arrangement 242 is released and the bottom flap 240 is swung down to its open position (
The tine-receiving members 260 can be secured to the flap 240 in ways other than using sleeves 250. For example, the tine-receiving members can be secured to the flap using straps, ties, and/or loops generally as described above in connection with
A flexible bulk container in accordance with a further (unillustrated) embodiment of the invention is substantially similar to the container 200 described above, the chief difference being that the bottom flap has both of its ends releasably affixed to the bag by respective fastening arrangements such as the fastening arrangement 242 of the container 200. Any suitable fastening arrangements can be used as previously noted, including but not limited to the illustrated ties.
A flexible bulk container 300 in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The fastening lines 370 alternatively can be affixed to the bottom flap 340 rather than extending through the channels of the tine-receiving members 360.
As in the prior embodiments, it is important to secure the sleeves 350 to the flap 340 in a manner that minimizes as much as possible the ability of the sleeves to be moved toward from or away from each other. This can be done, for example, by sewing the sleeves to the flap using a stitching technique designed to immobilize the sleeves as much as possible. Additionally, the fastening lines 370 advantageously put the flap in tension so as to further help immobilize the sleeves, and hence the tine-receiving members.
A further aspect of the invention is now explained with reference to
As in the prior embodiments, it is important to secure the sleeves 450 to the sheet 440 in a manner that minimizes as much as possible the ability of the sleeves to be moved toward from or away from each other. This can be done, for example, by sewing the sleeves to the sheet using a stitching technique designed to immobilize the sleeves as much as possible. Additionally, the securing members 470 advantageously put the sheet 440 in tension so as to further help immobilize the sleeves, and hence the tine-receiving members.
The tine-receiving members 460 can be secured to the flexible sheet 440 in ways other than using sleeves 450. For example, the tine-receiving members can be secured to the sheet using straps, ties, and/or loops generally as described above in connection with
The tine-receiving members 460 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape that creates channels for receiving the tines of a forklift. Advantageously, the tine-receiving members have a cross-sectional shape that gives the members a load-bearing capacity adequate to support the weight of the bags stacked on the flexible sheet 440. Thus, at least the upper sides of the tine-receiving members 460 advantageously can be generally arch-shaped, since arches are good load-bearing structures. The members can be open-sided (e.g., generally U-shaped in cross-section) or can be tubular or lumen-shaped members of any suitable cross-section.
The flexibility of the sheet 440 allows the sheet to assume non-planar configurations, which is advantageous. In particular, the sheet allows the small bags to be stacked such that a lowermost layer of the stack fits completely within the space between the tine-receiving members 460 as shown in
A support system 500 for supporting and facilitating the lifting and transportation of an item I in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The tine-receiving members 560 can be secured to the sheet 540 in ways other than using sleeves 550. For example, the tine-receiving members can be secured to the sheet using straps, ties, and/or loops generally as described above in connection with
In the various embodiments described herein, the tine-receiving members 160, 260, 360, 460, and 560 have any suitable cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the filled flexible bulk container or the support system and item. The tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. In the present description and claims, “substantially water-resistant” means that the tine-receiving members can be exposed to liquid water or other aqueous liquids to the same extent that conventional wood pallets are so exposed during normal use in environments in which palleted flexible bulk containers are typically used, without losing their ability to maintain the channels open for receiving the tines of a forklift.
In some embodiments of the invention, the tine-receiving members can be formed of paperboard that is treated to increase its water-resistance. For example, the tine-receiving members can each be a portion of a cylindrical paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard of which the tube is constructed can comprise paperboard that is sized to increase its water-resistance.
As noted, the tine-receiving members in some embodiments can be secured to the bag by being inserted into sleeves that are affixed to the bag. In such embodiments, the length of the sleeves can be different from the length of the tine-receiving members. For instance, the sleeves can be shorter than the tine-receiving members, and in some cases can be very short (e.g., half or even one-third the length of the tine-receiving members). The use of such short sleeves allows the bulk bag to be lifted and transported using a hand-operated pallet jack.
In the various embodiments described above, the bulk bag or items being supported is separated from the floor by the underlying bottom flap or flexible sheet. Often, the floor is an unsealed concrete floor, which can harbor moisture and/or contaminants that should not be allowed to contact or affect the contents of the bulk bag or items being supported. In this regard, it may be advantageous in certain usage environments for the bottom flap or sheet to have barrier properties to protect the bag or items from exposure to the floor, and particularly to any moisture on the floor. Thus, it may be advantageous for the bottom flap or sheet to provide a moisture-barrier function. As an example, the bottom flap or sheet can be woven synthetic fabric (e.g., polypropylene fabric) that is coated with a moisture-barrier coating of any suitable type.
In embodiments in which the tine-receiving members are constructed from paperboard, certain advantages are realized over prior-art palletless bulk bags that employ plastic members. For example, the paperboard members are formed from a recycled and renewable material (recycled paper fibers), and this material is also recyclable and/or disposable in existing recycling or waste streams. Additionally, the manufacture of the paperboard members entails a lower amount of carbon emissions than for plastic members. Furthermore, in the case of paperboard half-tube members, the members are nestable with one another for efficient use of space during storage and transportation of the members prior to their being integrated into bulk bags, whereas many existing palletless bulk bags employ tubular or lumen-shaped members that are not nestable.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
- a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base; and
- a pair of tine-receiving members secured to the base of the bag, the tine-receiving members defining channels into which the tines of a forklift can be inserted for lifting and transporting the bag, each of the tine-receiving members comprising a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube.
2. The flexible bulk container of claim 1, wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
3. A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
- a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and comprising at least a side wall assembly, a bottom wall affixed to a lower end of the side wall assembly, the bottom wall defining a discharge opening, and a bottom closure operable for closing the discharge opening, the bottom closure being openable for emptying the bag through the discharge opening;
- a bottom flap having opposite ends affixed to a lower end of the bag at opposite sides thereof, the bottom flap in a closed position extending beneath the bottom closure so as to cover the bottom closure, the bottom flap being narrower than the bottom wall such that two portions of the bottom wall on opposite sides of the bottom flap are not covered by the bottom flap, at least one of the ends of the bottom flap being releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed; and
- a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members respectively secured to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom wall and extending parallel to each other;
- the tine-receiving members having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container.
4. The flexible bulk container of claim 3, wherein the tine-receiving members are substantially water-resistant.
5. The flexible bulk container of claim 4, wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
6. The flexible bulk container of claim 5, wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube.
7. The flexible bulk container of claim 6, wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
8. The flexible bulk container of claim 3, further comprising a pair of sleeves respectively affixed to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the bottom wall, the tine-receiving members being inserted through the sleeves so as to secure the tine-receiving members to the bag and position the tine-receiving members parallel to each other and spaced apart.
9. A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
- a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base that defines a discharge opening, the bag further comprising a bottom closure movable between a closed position in which the discharge opening is closed and an open position in which the discharge opening is open for emptying the bag therethrough;
- a bottom flap comprising a flexible sheet and having opposite ends affixed to the bag at opposite sides thereof proximate the base, the bottom flap in a closed position extending beneath and covering the bottom closure, at least one of the ends of the bottom flap being releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed; and
- a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members secured to the bottom flap and disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being parallel and spaced apart, and having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container.
10. The flexible bulk container of claim 9, wherein the bag includes a pair of spaced-apart sleeves affixed to the bottom flap, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being inserted into the sleeves and thereby being secured to the bottom flap.
11. The flexible bulk container of claim 9, wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
12. The flexible bulk container of claim 11, wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube.
13. The flexible bulk container of claim 12, wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
14. The flexible bulk container of claim 9, wherein each of the ends of the bottom flap is releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement.
15. The flexible bulk container of claim 10, further comprising:
- a pair of fastening lines respectively extending through the channels of the pair of tine-receiving members and each having opposite end portions projecting out from the channels and fastened to the bag so as to releasably secure the bottom flap in the closed position, at least one end portion of each fastening line being releasably fastened to the bag;
- the bottom flap, upon disconnecting the end portions of the fastening lines from the bag, being movable into an open position exposing the bottom closure.
16. A support system for supporting and facilitating the lifting and transportation of an item, comprising:
- an assembly comprising a flexible sheet for underlying the item and a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members secured to the flexible sheet and disposed beneath a lower surface of the flexible sheet, the tine-receiving members having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the support system with the item thereon;
- securing members attached to the assembly, extending upwardly therefrom, and configured for being secured to the item.
17. The support system of claim 16, further comprising fastening lines affixed to the securing members and configured for being releasably connected to each other to secure the support system about the item.
18. The support system of claim 16, wherein the securing members are configured to be releasably connected to one another to secure the support system about the item.
19. The support system of claim 16, wherein the tine-receiving members are substantially water-resistant.
20. The support system of claim 19, wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
21. The support system of claim 20, wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube.
22. The support system of claim 21, wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance.
23. The support system of claim 16, further comprising:
- a pair of spaced-apart sleeves affixed to the flexible sheet, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the flexible sheet and extending parallel to each other;
- wherein the tine-receiving members are inserted into the sleeves, thereby being secured to the flexible sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 22, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 23, 2010
Inventors: Greg L. Powell (Hartsville, SC), Juan Jose Islas de La Vega (Nuevo Leon), Jesus Javier Requenes Nava (Nuevo Leon), Xiaokai Niu (Hartsville, SC)
Application Number: 12/489,221
International Classification: B65D 30/10 (20060101); B65D 33/00 (20060101); B65D 88/22 (20060101);