GB2357746A

GB2357746A - Bag holder to facilitate filling

Info

Publication number: GB2357746A
Application number: GB9927734A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Beveridge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-11-25
Filing date: 1999-11-25
Publication date: 2001-07-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-25
Also published as: GB9927734D0; GB2357746B

Abstract

A bag, sack or sandbag holder comprises two fixed hooks 3 opposite two hooks under tension 6 to hold the bag open below a funnel 8. A portable base 1 may be provided which comprises a vertical support 2 to support the fixed hooks and funnel. Two swing arms 4 may be pivoted 5 to the base to support the hooks 6, tension may be provided by weights, pulleys, levers or springs 7. The funnel may be smaller than the opening of the bag and mounted on a pivot 9 to allow it to swing out of the way. The height of the hooks may be such that the bottom of the sandbag is not filled until the bag is released from the hooks, therefore leaving space in the top of the bag once lifted to allow tying. The hooks may be positioned to allow the bag to be secure in use but easily released once the swing arms are moved towards the fixed hooks.

Description

2357746 BAG HOLDER TO FACILITATE FILLING.

This invention relates to a portable framework designed to facilitate filling a flexible bag or sack or sandbag. A typical use could be for filling sandbags for flood control or protection from blast or ordinance where speed of manual filling could be of importance.

Currently, sandbags are usually filled by hand with one person holding the neck of the bag open while another person fills the bag with sand or other material using a spade or shovel. Due to the shape of the normal sandbag with a small cross section area relative to the length of the bag, it is difficult to fill the sandbag fast without considerable spillage. Various methods have been tried to improve the filling rate of the sandbags such as inverted cutoff traffic cones and simple funnels inserted into the top of the bags, but most of these systems still involve a team of two people to fill one sandbag. After filling, the sandbag has to be tied round the neck to retain the sand or other material in the sandbag. This tying operation either requires a third operative or a delay in the filling cycle while one of the team of two ties the sandbag.

This invention provides for a framework to hold a bag, sack or sandbag to allow a single operator to manually fill sandbags, or other flexible containers, in less time than a team of two operators working without the benefit of this invention.

This invention consists of a base on which is mounted a fixed vertical framework at the top of which two hooks are arranged to hold one side of the top opening of the bag, sack or sandbag such that the bottom of the bag, sack or sandbag rests on the base. A separate framework, pivoted at the bottom of the vertical frame adjacent to the base, and consisting of two separate side members each of which has a hook at the upper end to correspond with the hooks of the vertical framework and so arranged that these hooks hold open the opposite side of the bag, sack or sandbag. This separate pivoted framework is under spring tension such that the top of the bag, sack or sandbag is held open and and level when the hooks are correctly engaged into the fabric or substance of the bag, sack or sandbag. With the top opening of the sandbag correctly positioned on the two hooks of the vertical framework and the two hooks of the pivoted framework, the opening at the top of the sandbag is approximately square and at such a height that a proportion of the bag is lying on the ground such that when the bag is filled to the top and subsequently removed from the framework, there is sufficient space at the bottom of the bag to allow the contents to drop into the bottom and allow space at the top of the bag for the top of the bag to be drawn together and tied or otherwise secured. To further facilitate the filling operation, a funnel is mounted on the top of the vertical framework such that the smaller bottom of the funnel is positioned directly above the top opening of the bag, sack or sandbag while the larger top of the funnel is at a height convenient for filling by shovel or other means. The whole funnel is so mounted at the top of the vertical framework that the complete funnel may be tipped, tilted or swung away from the (-,-)en top of the bag, sack or sandbag to facilitate the installation of the empty 'bag onto the two hooks on the pivoted framework and the two hooks on the fixed vericai framework and the later removal of the bag, sack or sandbag after Filling.

Specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example fvith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the complete bag holder without a bag installed. Figure 2 shows a side view of the bag holder with a typical bag installed. Figure 3 shows the front view of the bag holder with a typical bag installed. Figure 4 shows a side view of the bag holder without a bag and with the funn( l in the raised position. Figure 5 shows the front view of the bag holder with the funnel in the raised (, r tilted position.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the complete bag, sack or sandbag holder where, by way of example, a base frame (1) has a vertical framework (2) mourted upon it such that the top horizontal member of this framework is at such a height to conveniently mount the two fixed bag holding books (3) and the pivoting or hinging mechanism (9) for the funnel (8). A pair of swinging arms (4), pivoted at the base (5) and a hook (6) at the top of each arm so that the hooks (6) align with the fixed hooks (3) mounted on the vertical framework (2) such that the four hooks (3 & 6) may he engaged with the open top of a bag, sack 6 r sandbag as will be described under Figs. 2 & 3. The two swinging arms (4), which may be pivoted at the base (5) individ ally or joined as a single U shaped frame with a fixed strut joining the the two arms a. or near the pivot points (5), are pulled away from the vertical structure (2) so 1 hat anything connected between the fixed bag holding hooks (3) mounted on the vertical structure (2) and the swinging arm bag holding hooks (6) is kept under tension by the action of springs (7) or similar means to pull the swinging arms (4) away from the vertical framework (2). A funnel (8) is so mounted that it is positioned above the two fixed bag hooks (3) and the two swinging arm bag hooks (6) such that the bottom tapered exit of the funnel will discharge any material fed into the funnel (8) into the open top of any bag, sack or sandbag held by the bag hooks (3 & 6). The funnel (8) is so mounted that it may be tipped, tilted or swung away from it's operating position above the four bag hooks to facilitate the installation and removal of any bag, sack or sandbag attached to the four bag books. Typically this rnay be as shown by mounling the funnel (8) on a hinge or pivot mechanism (9) from the vertical framework (2). 1 Figure 2 shows a side view of the bag, sack or sandbag holder with the open nee of a typical sandbag (10) held by the two fixed bag hooks (3) mounted on the vert cal structure (2) and the two swinging arm books (6) attached to the swinging armsl(4) which are pivoted at the base (5) and which are pulled away from the vertical fram6 by the compression action of the springs (7). This action ensures that the open top of the bag, sack or sandbag (10) is securely held on the four bag hooks (3 & 6). The spacing of the four bag hooks is so arranged that the open neck of the bag, sack or sandbag is positioned under the discharge bottom of the funnel (8) which is so made to be smaller in section than the open neck of the appropriate bag, sack or sandbag to ensure the free flow of material from the funnel (8) into the open neck of the bag, sack or sandbag (10). The funnel (8) is shown hinged to the vertical framework (2) by the pivot (9) and in the down or filling position.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the bag, sack or sandbag holder where the funnel (8) is positioned over the open neck of the bag, sack or sandbag (10) held by the four bag hooks such that anything fed into the funnel (8) will fall into the sack, typically a sandbag (10). The bag hooks (3 & 6) are so positioned relative to the height of the bag, sack or sandbag to be used, that a proportion of the bag, sack or sandbag rests at the level of the bottom of the base (1) so that after the appropriate bag is filled to the top and disengaged from the bag hooks (3 & 6) it is possible to manually lift the filled bag, sack or sandbag to allow the contents to drop into the unfilled bottom part of the bag to permit the now unfilled top portion of the bag, sack or sandbag to be gathered and tied or otherwise secured to prevent spillage of the contents.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the bag, sack or sandbag filler where the swinging arms (4) are pulled away from the vertical framework (2) by the action of the springs (7) but restrained by stops (11) so that the swinging arm bag hooks (6) are at a convenient position for an operator to engage one side of the top opening of a bag, sack or sandbag onto the hooks before forcing the opposite side of the bag against the pressure of the springs (7) to engage onto the fixed bag hooks (3) mounted on the vertical framework (2) thus securing thd bag, sack or sandbag ready for filling through the funnel (8) once the funnel has been lowered into the filling position as shown in Figures 1, 2 & 3.

Figure 5 shows the front view of the bag, sack or sandbag filler as in Figure 3 but without the bag (10) held by the bag hooks (3 & 6) and with the funnel (8) in the raised or tilted position necessary for the fitting or removal of the bag (10) onto or from the bag hooks (3 & 6).

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A bag, sack or sandbag holder, hereafter referred to as a sandbag holder, where the neck of the bag, sack or sandbag is held open by four hooks, two fixed and two under tension and with a funnel positioned over the neck of the sandbag to guide filling material into the bag.

2. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claim 1 consisting of a base structure which may be rested on the ground, or other surface, and a vertical structure to support the two fixed hooks and the funnel.

3. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1 & 2 which has two swinging aims pivoted at or near the base to vertical framework connection.

4. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1, 2 & 3 where the two swinging ai ms each have a hook at their upper ends to engage with the open top of the sand)ag opposite the two fixed hooks.

5. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claim 1 which is fully hand portable.

6. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1 & 4 where the open neck of the tlag, sack or sandbag is held by two fixed hooks and two opposing hooks under tension such that the opening of the receptacle is approximately square in section.

7. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 4 & 6 where the top of the sandbag or other receptacle is held at such a height above the ground that a proportion of the the bottom of the sandbag is allowed to rest on the ground or the base of the holder so that when the bag is filled, the part of the bag resting on the ground remains empty.

8. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claim 7 where the sandbag, once fillec & removed from the sandbag holder and lifted, the contents may fall into the unfil led bottom section of the sandbag to allow the top of the sandbag to be gathered ind tied, or otherwise secured.

9. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1, 2 & 6 where a funnel is positioned above the top of the sandbag, which is held open by the four books, such that the bottom discharge of the funnel is smaller in section that the open top of the sandbag allowing material fed into the funnel to be discharged directly into the open top of the sandbag.

10. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claims 1, 2 & 9 where the funnel is so mounted that it may be tipped, tilted or swung away from the top of the open sandbag, or other receptacle, to allow easy installation and removal of the sandbag from the mounting hooks.

CLAIMS. (cont).

11. A sandbag holder as claimed in Claim 4 where the two swinging arms are so arranged by means of weights, pulleys, levers or springs that the two sandbag mounting hooks at their upper ends are pulled away from the two fixed hooks mounted on the vertical structure to ensure that when the open neck of the sandbag, or other receptacle, is held by the four hooks, the tension on the open neck of the sandbag is sufficient to allow the sandbag to be filled with any granular material without becoming dislodged from the four retaining hooks.

12. A sandbag holder as described in the previous claims such that when the sandbag has been filled and the funnel has been tipped, tilted or swung away from the open top of the filled sandbag and the two swinging arms are moved towards the two fixed hooks against the pressure of the weights, pulleys, levers or springs, the top of the sandbag, or other receptacle, held by the two fixed hooks and the two swinging arm hooks may easily become detached from the hooks to allow removal of the sandbag from the sandbag holder framework.

13. A sandbag holder substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.