NZ286764A - Bulk bag includes base that has walls extending up to define load space and has horizontal arms for engaging a forklift - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible bulk bag has two longitudinal and parallel recesses (21,23 and 22,24) at the outer parts of its bottom (15) for engagement with the forks of a fork-lift. The recesses maintain their form because of flexible tension elements ( 25-32) inside the bag. Thus, a fork-lift can lift the bag without the use of a pallet. <IMAGE>

Description

New Zealand No. 286764 International No. PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: Complete Specification Filed: 07.06.1996 Classification:^) B65D88/30; B65D90/00 Publication date: 24 June 1997 Journal No.: 1417 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Pallet base design for bulk bag Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: NATTHI CHOLSAIPANT, a citizen of Thailand of 125 Trock Chan Sapan 2, Soi Wat-Pai-Ngern, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand 286764 Priority Date(s)'- romoteta Fltad- ^uWleitton Dtfe: *\Q. Journ** No: •/-••'• Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: RL801085 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PALLET BASE DESIGN FOR BULK BAG I, NATTHI CHOLSAIPANT, a citizen of Thailand of 125 Trock Chan Sapan 2, Soi Wat-Pai-Ngern, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120, Thailand, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT0516758 Z PATENT Office ~ 7 JUN 1336 6764 The present invention relates to a bulk bag.

The invention has been developed primarily for transporting bulk material, for example, cement, plastic, grains or the like, and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, it will be appreciated that it is also suitable for transporting other materials such as dust, powder or pellets.

Hitherto conventional bulk bags are normally lifted by loops extending from the tops or sides of the bags. However, these bags are not suited to repeated handling as they loose their shape. A partial solution to this problem is to mount the bags on respective pallets. This is inconvenient, however, as the loops become redundant and the bag must be moved with the pallet.

It is an object of the present invention, at least in the preferred embodiment, to overcome or substantially ameliorate this disadvantage of the prior art.

According to the invention there is provided a bulk bag including a base for cooperating with a forklift to allow transportation of the bag, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base to collectively define a load space, wherein the base, in use, includes two spaced apart substantially horizontal engagement members for abutting respective arms of the forklift and a reinforced cavity disposed between and downwardly extending from the engagement members for providing structural support to the bag.

Preferably, the cavity provides an extension of the load space. More preferably, the cavity includes opposed base walls, each of which extend downwardly from an upper edge to a lower edge, the lower edges being joined by a substantially planar base portion.

Preferably also, the cavity includes at least one reinforcing member. In one preferred embodiment the reinforcing member extends between the respective upper edges of the base walls. More preferably, the member includes a plurality of openings between the load space and the cavity.

In other embodiments, the reinforcing members extend from respective upper edges of the base wd* to the base portion. Alternatively, a first set of the reinforcing members are spaced apart and extend between the upper edge of one of the base walls and the lower edge of the other base wall, while a second set of the reinforcing members are spaced apart and extend between the upper edge of the o ther base wall and the lower edge of the said one of the base walls. Most preferably, members of the first and second set are alternately spaced.

In further alternative embodiments, reinforcing members extend between the opposed base walls.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bulk bag according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the walls of the bag of Figure 1; Figure 3 is another perspective view of the walls of the bag of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the base, omitting any reinforcing members; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including one form of reinforcing member; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a second form of reinforcing member; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a third form of reinforcing member; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a forth form of reinforcing member; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a fifth form of reinforcing member; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a sixth form of reinforcing member; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including a seventh form of reinforcing member; and Figure 12 is a perspective view of the base of Figure 4 including an eighth form, of reinforcing member.

Referring to Figure 1, a bulk bag 1 includes a base 2 and four upwardly extending walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 which are connected to adjacent walls by seams 7, 8, 9 and 10 for defining a load space L. Bag 1 includes four loops 11,12,13 and 14 which extend between respective adjacent walls to facilitate handling of bag 1.

Bag 1 also includes a top 16 having a chute 17 defining an opening 18 for allowing passage of material into load space L. In alternative embodiments bag 1 includes an open top.

Preferably, bag 1 is produced from woven polypropylene fabric and is essentially self- supporting. The fabric can be coated with polypropylene, if required. Other embodiments are made from alternative materials, as would be known to those skilled in the art.

The stitching between adjacent components of bag 1 is preferably polypropylene, although nylon or polyethylene stitching is also suitable.

Base 2. as best shown in Figure 4, includes two opposed substantially horizontal engagement members 21 and 22 for abutting respective arms of a forklift. A cavity 23 is 286784 disposed between and downwardly extends from members 21 and 22. This cavity includes reinforcing members (not shown in Figure 4) for providing structural support to the bag. A number of alternative reinforcing members are contemplated by the invention, as will be exemplified by the following description. In all the illustrated embodiments, cavity 23 is defined by a substantially planar base portion 24 and two opposed side walls 25 and 26.

Walls 25 and 26 extend between respective top edges 27 and 28 to respective lower edges 29 and 30.

A first reinforcing member configuration is illustrated in Figure 5 where a single rectangular member 35 is attached to and extends horizontally between opposed top edges 27 and 28. Member 35 includes an array of spaced apart apertures 36 for allowing passage of the material contained within the load space L into cavity 23. Accordingly, portion 24, in some embodiments, includes an opening for allowing discharge of the material in the bulk bag.

Referring to Figure 6, another embodiment of the invention includes two opposed reinforcing members 37 and 38. These members extend downwardly from respective top edges 27 and 28 to base portion 24, where they are stitched or otherwise fixedly connected along seams 39 and 40.

Figure 7 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of Figure 6. More particularly, the two reinforcing members 41 and 42 coterminate at their lower edges in a common seam 43.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 8 includes two sets of reinforcing members, wherein a first set extend from top edge 27 to lower edge 30. The reinforcing members of the second set, however, are alternately disposed between the reinforcing members of the first set and extend between top edge 28 and lower edge 29. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, if the width of the individual reinforcing members is narrow, material contained within load space L will easily and quickly pass into cavity 23. Conversely, wider reinforcing members will hinder that passage.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 through 12 all include substantially vertical reinforcing members. More particularly, the embodiment of Figure 9 includes three reinforcing members 46,47 and 48. Member 46 includes two opposed broad sides 46a (only one shown). This member engages at a first end wall 25 and at a second end wall 26. Those ends are stitched or otherwise fixedly attached to the respective adjacent walls 25 and 26, while the lower edge of member 46 is stitched to base portion 24. This ensures that broad sides 46a are maintained in a tensioned and substantially planar configuration. Members 47 and 48 are similarly attached about their lower edges and ends, although their orientation is angularly displaced from that of member 46.

The reinforcing members 50 in the remaining figures are configured differently to that of Figure 9. However, in all cases the reinforcing members are attached to the adjacent walls and base portion to provide structural support to base 2, and consequently, to bag 1.

The placement and configuration of the reinforcing member or members in accordance with the described embodiments allows the material placed in bag 1 to move into cavity 23 and into engagement with both broad sides of each member, thereby facilitating the reinforcement function. It is preferred that the reinforcing members are maintained in tensioned engagement with base 2 so that their supporting function is performed whether or not material is contained within bag 1.

A bulk bag constructed in accordance with the invention can be easily transported with forklift and/or a crane or the like. Furthermore, the reinforced cavity ensures the bag walls will retain their shape, even after repeated handling. 286764 • 7 - The invention facilitates the speedy transfer of the bags between modes of transportation, for example, between ships and land based transport and vice versa.

In the preferred embodiments the bag includes a substantially square horizontal cross section. In some alternative embodiments the horizontal cross section is rectangular, while other embodiments utilise different shapes.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be embodied in other forms as defined in the accompanying claims.

ASPEC96556

Claims (9)

28 6764 -8- WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A bulk bag including a base for co-operating with a forklift to allow transportation of the bag, and a plurality of walls, in use, extending upwardly from the base to collectively define a load space, wherein the base includes two spaced apart engagement surfaces for abutting respective arms of the forklift and a downwardly depending reinforced cavity disposed between the engagement surfaces for providing structural support to the walls.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the cavity provides an extension of the load space.

3. A bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the engagement surfaces, in use, are substantially horizontal and the cavity includes opposed base walls downwardly depending from respective upper edges to lower edges, the lower edges being joined by a substantially planar base portion.

4. A bag according to claim 3 wherein the base includes at least one reinforcing member.

5. A bag according to claim 4 wherein the reinforcing member extends between the upper edges of the base walls.

6. A bag according to claim 5 wherein the member is perforated.

7. A bag according to claim 4 wherein the reinforcing members extend from respective upper edges of the base walls and the base portion.

8. A bag according to claim 4 wherein the reinforcing members alternately extend between one of the upper edges and the opposed lower edge, and the other upper edge and the opposed lower edge.

9. A bag according to claim 4 wherein the reinforcing member extends between a set of closed base walls. 28 676* -9- 10 A bulk bag substantially as hereindescribed with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and any one Figures 5 to 12. NATTHI CHOLSAIPANT AREY