NZ330010A

NZ330010A - Bulk bag comprising a slip sheet permanently fixed to the lower surface of the bag to cover an opening

Info

Publication number: NZ330010A
Application number: NZ330010A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Henri Jacques Burkhardt
Original assignee: Paul Jonathan Harris; Henri Jacques Burkhardt
Priority date: 1998-03-20
Filing date: 1998-03-20
Publication date: 2000-09-29
Also published as: AU748067B2; US20020164093A1; AU2132099A; US20010008567A1

Abstract

Cover 10 is fixed to the lower surface of container 1. When container 1 is lifted (typically via loops 5) cover 10 falls open as shown allowing product to discharge (typically via chute 6).

Description

Patents Form # 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL# DATED: TITLE : We, Address: Nationality: 330010 March 1998 Bulk Bag 1) Henri Jacques Burkhardt 2) Paul Harris 1) 33 Ladies Mile, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand 2) 12 Alaunia Place, Lynfield, Auckland, New Zealand 1) New Zealand 2) New Zealand 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: p , PF05.JWP FEE CODE 1050 o £ :3 TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a Bulk Bag, that is to say a bag which is of substantial dimension and is designed to hold for example 500 - 1000 kgs of granular or powder material. Such 5 bulk bags are often manufactured of woven poly propylene material but could be formed of other materials.

BACKGROUND Traditional bulk bags which have not been designed for pushing and pulling can only be transported by hanging them from hook straps located at the top of the bag.

Bulk bags of the type referred to above have the disadvantage that in particular the lower surface may be damaged during transportation of the bag, particularly if the bag is pulled or pushed over a surface. Even minor obstructions such as small stones or the like can cause damage such as cuts to the surface of the bag thereby allowing some or all of the contents to escape prior to the desired discharge time, Transportation of the bags may also be difficult, requiring either pushing or pulling the bag along a surface in many cases or alternatively placing the bag on an alternative support such as a pallet.

OBJECT It is an object of the present invention to provide a bulk bag which will obviate or minimise 20 the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

E839QPS1.399/CW/:q 2-> 17 3 15E9 STATEMENT OF INVENTION Accordingly the invention consists in a container including a surface comprising the lower surface in normal use of the container, an outlet in the lower surface, a cover attached to the lower surface, which cover provides a slip sheet for the container, the cover being positioned 5 so that it can move between a position wherein the cover covers the outlet and a position wherein the cover does not cover the outlet, the cover being substantially permanently affixed to the container over at least part of the area of the cover, the cover covering at least substantially the whole of the lower surface.

Preferably the container has a substantially square or rectangular lower surface.

Preferably the cover is engaged with the container at least along one edge of the container.

Preferably the cover is engaged along part of the edges of the container meeting the edge set forth in the preceding paragraph hereof.

Preferably the cover extends outwardly beyond at least one edge of the lower surface.

Preferably the outlet is positioned substantially centrally in the lower surface.

Preferably the cover is a slip sheet.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any 20 sense limiting.

E 3 3 9Q F 3 2 . 7 0 0 / CW / j q 7 JUL 2000 £S£EIVED DRAWINGS One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIG 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a bulk bag according to a preferred form of the invention, FIG 2 is a diagrammatic perspective representation of the bag of FIG 1 whilst being discharged.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the invention a bulk bag 1 is provided which is preferably square or rectangular at the lower surface 2 thereof. The bag itself may be a substantially rectangular or cube like structure. The invention is not limited to these shapes but it is expected that they will be the most common shapes.

At the upper surface 3 may be provided an inlet 4 to the bag and also means by which the bag may be lifted, such as suspension loops 5 positioned for example at each corner of the upper surface 3.

In a preferred form of the invention the lower surface 2 of the bag has an outlet (not shown) and the outlet may be surrounded by a chute 6 through which granular or powder material 7 inserted into the bag may be discharged at a desired time. Other bags may be provided without the outlet and chute. -. ■ .

To allow discharge the bag, where an outlet and chute 6 is provided, the bag may be for example suspended on a suitable support 8 passing through the loops 5 otherwise as desired.

The lower surface 2 is provided with a cover 10. The cover 10 covers substantially the whole of the lower surface 2 when abutted thereagainst but with an extension 11 extending outwardly on at least one side of the bag for example outwardly beyond side surface 12. The cover 10 is in the nature of a slip sheet as slip sheets are usually square or rectangular plastic sheets having a thickness in the range of 0,5 -6.0 mm depending on the use to which the slip sheet is to be put.

The slip sheet when positioned as shown in FIG 1 that is to say abutting the lower surface 2 enables the bag to be transported and shipped in the manner known for slip sheets.

However the slip sheet 10 of the invention is attached to the lower surface 2 at least along edge 13 preferably being the edge between the side surface 12 of the bag and the lower surface 2. Such engagement may be for example by heat bonding, glueing, or sewing or otherwise as desired.

The slip sheet may also be connected along side edges 14 that is to say the two edges meeting the edge 13 of the bag. As can be seen in FIG 2 such connection does not extend the whole way along the edge 14 but only for a selected distance which will allow the cover 10 to hang loose when the bag is lifted so that the outlet is unobstructed, and material can be discharged through the outlet and chute 7.

Where no outlet is provided the cover 10 can be connected to the bag 1 in the same fashion, or can be connected about the whole periphery of the cover 10, or substantial parts of its area if desired.

The use of the invention is as follows: Initially the bag or container 1 is sitting above the slip sheet 10 although connected thereto. Material to fill the bag is inserted therein for example through the aperture 4 in the upper surface 3.

The bulk bag 1 may then be transported or stored in the manner of bulk bags utilising the advantages of the slip sheet and for example the extension 11 allows the slip sheet to be pulled onto adapted fork-lift trucks or pulled into other places as desired.

When it is desired to empty the bag, and the bag 1 has an outlet, the bag is lifted for example by being suspended by the loops 5 and the weight of the cover 10 will cause the cover to fold away from the outlet and the chute 6. The material 7 contained within the bulk bag will then be discharged as required. The empty bag can then be dropped back onto the slip sheet 10 and reused as desired.

Where no such outlet is provided the bag can be opened in any fashion, such as through the opening at the top, or by cutting the bag or otherwise as desired.

Thus it can be seen that at least in the preferred form of the invention a bulk bag is provided which has the advantage that accidental damage during transit or storage is obviated or E839QP£i,329/CW/;q , r, f..;? T? I . . J *i S •».- nj minimised. The bag also has the advantage that it can be utilised without having to place the bag structure itself onto a separate carrying means.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A container including a surface comprising the lower surface in normal use of the container, an outlet in the lower surface, a cover attached to the lower surface, which cover provides a slip sheet for the container, the cover being positioned so that it can move between a position wherein the cover covers the outlet and a position wherein the cover does not cover the outlet, the cover being substantially permanently affixed to the container over at least part of the area of the cover, the cover covering at least substantially the whole of the lower surface.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has a substantially square or rectangular lower surface.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cover is engaged with the container at least along one edge of the container.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the cover is engaged along part of the edges of the container meeting said at least one edge.

5. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover extends outwardly beyond at least one edge of the lower surface.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet is positioned substantially centrally in the lower surface. E839QPS2.7C0/CW/;q

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding clain sheet. 4P -9 -

8. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. PIPER KNOWLES Attorneys for: 1) Henri Jacques Burkhardt 2) Paul Harris