GB1581437A

GB1581437A - Containers

Info

Publication number: GB1581437A
Application number: GB2417276A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LOLIFT UK Ltd
Current assignee: LOLIFT UK Ltd
Priority date: 1977-09-06
Filing date: 1977-09-06
Publication date: 1980-12-17

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CONTAINERS (71) We, LOLIFT (U.K.) LIMITED, a British Company, of Halfpenny Lane, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:the same as then no relative forces are induced because of differential stretching of the two materials. When the additional fabric extends round the complete loop then preferably the additional fabric is constituted by folding over the edges of the continuous loop of material to form a multiple thickness band along each This invention relates to containers for bulk edge thereof, each band being held by stitching.

material and has for its object to provide a very simple and cheap disposable container.

According to the invention a container comprises a substantially cube-shaped structure having a bottom wall, two side walls and a top wall formed from one or more pieces of fabric stitched to form a continuous loop, opposite end walls each stitched to the bottom wall and both side walls, but not to the top wall, and an opening in the top wall, the opening preferably being a slot running parallel to those edges of the top wall which are not stitched to the end walls. Alternatively the opening could be circular or of diamond or any other shape.

In use, a filling tube may be inserted into the opening in the top wall and the container filled with material. Once full the container may be transported by inserting the tines of a fork-lift truck into the space between an end wall and the top wall and lifting with the tines engaging the inner surface of the top wall. When the container is to be emptied a cut is made in the bottom wall so that the contents merely fall from the container, which can then be disposed of.

The strength of a container as aforesaid stems entirely from the strength of the fabric from which the continuous loop is made and in a simple structure consisting of one single layer of fabric this strength is limited. Preferably, therefore, the edges of the continuous loop are each reinforced by additional fabric extending around at least the upper part of the complete loop. These lengths of additional fabric effectively act as reinforcements of stronger material passing round the container at the edges thereof, and enable much heavier loads to be carried with safety.

Each length of additional fabric may be constituted by a separate strip of material sewn to the fabric of the continuous loop. The separate strip may be of the same fabric as the loop or of a different fabric, although preferably it is The width of each band is preferably from 1/2'' to 5" with the preferred range being about 2" to 3". The band may be constituted by form- ing a single fold in the material in which case the band will be of double thickness or by forming multiple folds so that the band contains three or more thicknesses of the fabric, the number of thicknesses being chosen according to the strength of the material. Two or three thicknesses are preferred.

When the additional fabric extends only part way round the loop it preferably extends along the top wall and at least one third of the way down each side wall.

Conveniently the material of the container is woven from a high tenacity synthetic fibre, for example polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, rayon, nylon and mixtures there of. It may be possible to use a strong natural fibre such as jute, but generally synthetic fibre are stronger and more resistant to deterioratio A particularly preferred material for the container is 15 x 15 per sq. inch woven polypropylene of 2000 denier, which is relatively chea and possesses the required strength. Using suci fabric a container made on the basis of a 48 inch cube may carry one tonne of powdered o comminuted material with a factor of safety ir excess of 5.

Apart from increasing the strength of the container the provision of a full reinforcing band is especially useful when polypropylene is used for the material of the container. Polypropylene is subject to degradation by exposure to ultra-violet light and the provision of reinforcing bands according to the invention shields the inner layers of those bands from ultra-violet, so that strength is maintained in those bands even though the outer layers thereof may degrade.

A container according to the invention preferably has the continuous loop of fabric forming the bottom wall, two side walls and top wall formed from a single piece of fabric, the two ends of which are stitched together at the top wall of the container to form the continuous loop, the lines of stitching extending perpendicular to those edges of the top wall which are not stitched to the end walls.

With this arrangement when the filling opening is a slot it is preferably formed by making slits in the top ends of the fabric to form each fabric end into two adjacent flaps, and each flap of one end is stitched to the respective confronting flap of the opposite end to complete the continuous loop.

Provision of the stitching in the top wall of the container has many advantages which are not immediately apparent. Firstly, it eliminates any weak point in the bottom wall of the container, allowing the wall to be constituted by a continuous piece of fabric. Secondly, it allows a discharge spout arrangement to be fitted to the bottom wall of the container, for example as described in Patent Specification No.

1,431,582 or co-pending application No. 22952/ 77 (Serial No. 1,536,237), which would be impossible with a construction wherein the seam extended across the bottom wall. Thirdly, it allows a protective skirt to be stitched to the upper part of the container.

Examples of containers according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of container; Figure 2 is a cross-section on the line II to II of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 show part of the container of Figure 1 in two positions of use; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of container; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of container; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of container.

The container shown in Figure 1 has a top wall 1, bottom wall 2 and side walls 3 and 4 all constituted by a single length of fabric, for example polypropylene. Slits 5 and 6 are cut in the free ends of the length of fabric parallel to the length in order to form two flaps 7 and 8 at one end of the length and a further two flaps 9 and 10 at the other end of the length. Two end walls 11 and 12 are stitched to the side walls 3 and 4 and to the bottom wall 2. None of the flaps are stitched to the end walls 11 and 12 so that spaces such as 16 are left between each end wall and the top wall. The two confronting flaps 7 and 9 are overlapped and stitched together at 13 and the two confronting flaps 8 and 10 are overlapped and stitched together at 14 in order to form the fabric into a continuous loop with slits 5 and 6 forming a slot 15 through the top wall.

The length of fabric forming the top, bottom and side walls has each of its edges folded over twice, as more clearly seen in Figure 2, in order to form a triple-thickness band 17 of fabric extending continuously around each edge of the length. The three thicknesses are held together by stitching. The preferred width d of the band in Figure 2 is from 2" to 3" when the bag is designed to be substantially a 48" cube.

The base of the container may be formed with an outlet spout 18 which may be of the form described in Patent Specification No.

1,431,582 or co-pending application No. 22952/ 77 (Serial No. 1,536,237).

Use of the container according to the invention will now be described. In order to fill the container the sections of the top wall lying to each side of the slot 15 are gathered together and held by clips 19 as shown in Figure 3. A filling tube 20 is then inserted into the slot and the container filled with material through the tube. While being filled the container is supported by the tines 21 of a fork-lift truck or other supporting means, which are inserted into the space 16 between an end wall and the top wall with the tines engaging the inner surface of the top wall. After filling, the container is then ready for transporting. Transporting can again be effected by a fork-lift truck or by a crane.If crane transport is to be used it is desirable for the two bands of the top wall to be gathered together and held by a further clip 22 so that there is a single hook engagement point as shown in Figure 4. When the container is to be emptied it is suspended either by crane or forklift truck and the discharge spout 18 is released in order for the material to flow from the container. The spout can then be closed and the container re-used.

The bands of material 17 around the edges of the container give the container very great strength during lifting, furthermore the inner layers of fabric in the bands, layers 23 and 24 in Figure 2. are protected from direct exposure to ultra-violet light and are therefore not subject to degradation in the same way as the outer walli of the container.

Figure 5 shows the upper part of a container with a protective skirt fitted thereto, before completion of manufacture of the container.

After the end walls 11 and 12 are stitched in place a fabric skirt 25 is secured around the upper edges of the side and end walls by stitching 26, the skirt having a length such that it can be folded over to cover the open upper end of the container. After the skirt is secured it is folded into the container and the confronting flaps 7, 9 and 8, 10 are stitched together as described. To fill the container that part of the skirt not covered by the tines of the fork-lift truck is unfolded, and after filling, the skirt is gathered together over the top of the contents and tied off to protect the contents from the weather and other contamination.

It will be appreciated that containers can be made with or without the skirt and also that containers may be made just with a plain bottom without the discharge spout. In this case discharge is effected merely by cutting a hole in the bottom wall and the container is discarded after one trip.

Figure 6 shows a simplified version of the container wherein a top wall 31, bottom wall 32 and side walls 33 and 34 are all constituted by a single length of fabric having free ends stitched together at 40 to form a loop. Clearly a loop of tubular-woven fabric could be used, or the loop could be formed by a number of separate lengths of fabric stitched one to another at their ends. The edges of the loop of fabric are not turned over as they are in the bag of Figure 1. Two end walls 35 and 36 are stitched to the side walls 33 and 34 but not to the top wall 31, so that spaces 37 are left between the top wall and the upper edge of each end wall. The top wall is formed with a filling slot 38 extending parallel to the upper edges of the end walls.

In use, tines 39 of a fork-lift truck may be inserted in the spaces 37, and the container may generally be handled in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure 1.

The container shown in Figure 7 comprises a top wall 51, bottom wall 52 and side walls 53 and 54, all constituted by a single length of fabric stitched together at 60 to form a loop.

Two reinforcing strips 55 and 56 of additional fabric are stitched to opposite edges of the loop to extend along the top wall 51 and the side walls 53 and 54, each strip terminating about one-third of the way down each side wall. Two end walls 61 and 62 are stitched to the side walls 53 and 54 and to the bottom wall 52, but not to the top wall, so that spaces such as 63 are left between each end wall and the top wall, wherein the tines of a fork-lift truck may be inserted.

The top wall of the container is formed with a central opening 57, shown as being circular.

Other shapes of opening could clearly be used, a diamond shape being one other particularly suitable form. The opening could equally well be a slot as shown in Figure 1.

Obviously the openings in the top wall of each of the containers shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6 could be of circular, diamond or other shape rather than the slot shown.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A container for bulk material comprising a substantially cube-shaped structure having a bottom wall, two side walls and a top wall formed from one or more pieces of fabric stitched to form a continuous loop, opposite end walls each stitched to the bottom wall and both side walls, but not to the top wall, and an opening in the top wall.

2. A container according to Claim 1 in which the opening is a slot runnipg parallel to those edges of the top wall which are not stitched to the end walls.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the edges of the continuous loop are each reinforced by additional fabric extending round at least the upper part of the loop.

4. A container according to Claim 3 in which each length of additional fabric is constituted by a separate strip of material sewn to the fabric of the continuous loop.

5. A container according to Claim 4 in which each separate strip is of the same fabric as the loop.

6. A container according to any one Claims 3 to 5 in which the additional fabric extends along the top wall and at least one-third of the way down each side wall.

7. A container according to Claim 3 in which the additional reinforcing fabric extends round the complete loop and is constituted by folding over the edges of the continuous loop of material to form a multiple thickness band along each edge thereof, each band being held by stitching.

8. A container according to Claim 7 in which the width of each band is from " to 5".

9. A container according to Claim 7 in which the width of each band is from 2"to 3".

10. A container according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 in which each band contains two or three thicknesses of the fabric.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the material of the bag is woven from polypropylene.

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the continuous loop is formed from a single piece of fabric, the two ends of which are stitched together at the top wall of the container to form the continuous loop, the lines of stitching extending perpendicular to those edges of the top wall which are not stitched to the end walls.

13. A container according to Claim 10 in which the filling opening is a slot formed by making slits in the two ends of the fabric to form each fabric end into two adjacent flaps, and each flap of one end is stitched to the respective confronting flap of the opposite end to complete the continuous loop.

14. A container according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 in which a discharge spout arrangement is fitted to the bottom wall of the container.

15. A container according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 in which a protective skirt is stitched to the upper part of the container.

16. A container for bulk material, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, or to these Figures as modified by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A container for bulk material, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A container for bulk material, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. discharge is effected merely by cutting a hole in the bottom wall and the container is discarded after one trip. Figure 6 shows a simplified version of the container wherein a top wall 31, bottom wall 32 and side walls 33 and 34 are all constituted by a single length of fabric having free ends stitched together at 40 to form a loop. Clearly a loop of tubular-woven fabric could be used, or the loop could be formed by a number of separate lengths of fabric stitched one to another at their ends. The edges of the loop of fabric are not turned over as they are in the bag of Figure 1. Two end walls 35 and 36 are stitched to the side walls 33 and 34 but not to the top wall 31, so that spaces 37 are left between the top wall and the upper edge of each end wall. The top wall is formed with a filling slot 38 extending parallel to the upper edges of the end walls. In use, tines 39 of a fork-lift truck may be inserted in the spaces 37, and the container may generally be handled in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figure 1. The container shown in Figure 7 comprises a top wall 51, bottom wall 52 and side walls 53 and 54, all constituted by a single length of fabric stitched together at 60 to form a loop. Two reinforcing strips 55 and 56 of additional fabric are stitched to opposite edges of the loop to extend along the top wall 51 and the side walls 53 and 54, each strip terminating about one-third of the way down each side wall. Two end walls 61 and 62 are stitched to the side walls 53 and 54 and to the bottom wall 52, but not to the top wall, so that spaces such as 63 are left between each end wall and the top wall, wherein the tines of a fork-lift truck may be inserted. The top wall of the container is formed with a central opening 57, shown as being circular. Other shapes of opening could clearly be used, a diamond shape being one other particularly suitable form. The opening could equally well be a slot as shown in Figure 1. Obviously the openings in the top wall of each of the containers shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6 could be of circular, diamond or other shape rather than the slot shown. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container for bulk material comprising a substantially cube-shaped structure having a bottom wall, two side walls and a top wall formed from one or more pieces of fabric stitched to form a continuous loop, opposite end walls each stitched to the bottom wall and both side walls, but not to the top wall, and an opening in the top wall.