WO1997037897A1

WO1997037897A1 - Reusable flexible transport container

Info

Publication number: WO1997037897A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/005990
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stewart E. Erickson; Richard Sommerstad; Cathy Sherin; Jeffrey Carpenter
Original assignee: Seec, Inc.
Priority date: 1996-04-10
Filing date: 1997-04-10
Publication date: 1997-10-16
Also published as: AU2454497A

Abstract

A container (10) which allows users to reliably reuse it to transport and store flowable materials may include one or more novel and inventive features. These novel features include a composite lifting strap (30) which will increase durability of the lifting interface; a cinch strap (130) for closing a flexible spout (100) which can be used for filling and emptying; handles (110) placed on the flexible spout to improve the ease of filling and emptying the containers using semi-automated equipment; and a support platform which is adapted to support the bottom of the container in a configuration to make it easier to dispense flowable products from the container.

Description

REUSABLE FLEXIBLE TRANSPORT CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to containers for transporting a wide range of flowable materials. More particularly, this invention provides an improved container suitable for sustained, repeated reuse.

BACKGROUND Flowable materials are commonly transported in railcars, trucks, barges or the like, but the manner in which they are transported varies widely depending on the nature of the material and its intended use. For example, some materials, such as coal or specific chemicals are transported in dedicated railcars or trucks. Other types of materials are placed in bulk containers which can be loaded onto any suitable transport vehicle.

Such bulk containers are increasingly popular because they allow a manufacturer the ability to deliver to a customer a fully contained product without having to employ a fleet of dedicated, special use vehicles. If so desired, a manufacturer can ship a variety of different materials in a single shipment by providing different containers for each product. One further advantage of bulk containers is that they provide the user with a viable storage system - the containers can be stored in a warehouse or staging area without having to build any specialized hoppers or the like to contain the material.

Some containers are intended to be used only once and destroyed. An example of such a container is a common cardboard box or the like. These containers are usually fairly inexpensive and at least some of them allow the user to fully pack a cavity in a truck, for example, with containers. Others, such as metal drums, have a much longer useful life and are often used hundreds of times. Rigid metal containers tend to be rather expensive and more difficult to handle, though. Furthermore, their cylindrical shape leads to a lot of wasted interstitial space in the transport vehicle. Reusable, flexible containers are commercially available. One commercial supplier of such containers is Super Sack Manufacturing

Corporation of Dallas, Texas, USA. The designs shown in US Patent No.s

4,479,243 (the "Derby '243 patent")and 4,224,970 (the "Williamson '970 patent"), both owned by Super Sack and the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, typify many aspects of most containers of this type. Most reusable flexible containers offer a compromise between useful life and handling ease, but suffer from additional problems as well. As compared to metal drums or the like, their useful life is rather limited - although some "reusable" containers can be used 50-100 times before the end of their useful life, many such containers last only a few times before they must be thrown away. This is problematic in a number of respects. The container may rupture during use, leading to loss of the contents of the bag. Even if the container is removed from service before it catastrophically fails, there is rather likely residual material left in the folds of the bag. Over time, residual material thrown away with the containers can amount to a significant volume of product.

In addition, such containers frequently are poor storage alternatives.

Although a user may be able to keep the containers on the floor of a warehouse, many of these containers are not strong enough to permit them to be stacked one on top of the other. If one attempts to do this, even one container could be stably balanced atop another, it is likely that the bottom container will rupture under the combined load of the stacked containers. As a single height of containers takes up more storage area in a warehouse, users may not find such containers to be suitable for warehousing product prior to use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a container which, due to its improved construction and ease of use, can allow users to reliably reuse the container to transport and, if so desired, store flowable materials. A container of the invention may include one or more of a number of novel and inventive features. These novel features include 1 ) a composite lifting strap which will increase durability of the lifting interface, 2) a cinch strap system for closing a flexible spout which can be used for filling and emptying, 3) handles placed on the flexible spout to improve the ease of filling and emptying the containers using semi-automated equipment, and 4) a support platform which is adapted to support the bottom of the container in a configuration to make it easier to dispense flowable products from the container.

In accordance with a first embodiment, a reusable container of the invention has a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material, a port for filling or emptying the cavity, and a plurality of straps for lifting the container. The upper portions of these straps are composite lifting straps which comprise an outer strap attached to the container and attached to itself, defining a loop for receiving a lifting mechanism, the loop having an inner surface; a wear- resistant intermediate strap contiguous with the outer strap along at least a length of the inner surface of the loop; and a low-friction inner strap attached to at least one of the outer strap and the intermediate strap. In this composite strap, the coefficient of friction of the inner strap is desirably less than that of the intermediate strap, and the resulting composite lifting strap is stiffer than the outer strap, the intermediate strap or the inner strap taken alone. A second embodiment of the invention provides a container with a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; a port for filling or emptying the cavity; and a flexible spout having a bottom in communication with the port and a top spaced away from the body. This spout has attached to an external surface thereof a pair of manually graspable handles, each handle being attached to the spout adjacent the top thereof at a location diametrically opposite that of the other handle of the pair. Such handles will greatly improve the ease of use of the containers, allowing an operator to readily attach the containers to an outlet of a hopper for filling or emptying. If so desired, more than one pair of such handles can be provided. In accordance with third embodiment, a container of the invention includes a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; a port for filling or emptying the cavity; a flexible spout having a bottom in communication with the port and a top spaced away from the body, the spout having attached to an external surface thereof a belt loop providing an opening oriented generally longitudinally along the length of the spout; and an elongate, flexible cinch strap received in the loop.

This cinch strap has a first end, a second end, an inner surface facing toward the spout when the strap is in its open position and an outer surface facing away from the spout when the strap is in its open position. This cinch strap further includes a ring attached adjacent the first end of the strap, a first fabric patch comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener (e.g. Velcro®) attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap at a location spaced from the ring, and a second fabric patch comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener. The second fabric patch is attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the first fabric patch, defining a folding area between the first and second fabric patches.

This cinch strap can be used to close the flexible fabric spout for transport. One end of the strap is passed through the ring with the spout received in the circumference of the cinch strap. The strap can be pulled fairly snug around the spout to position a portion of the folding area within the ring, drawing the spout closed against itself. The first fabric patch can be brought into mating contact with the second fabric patch to hold the spout closed.

In a further embodiment of such a cinching design, the cinch strap further comprises third and fourth fabric patches, one of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener and the other of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener. The third fabric fastener is optimally attached to the inner surface of the cinch strap and the fourth fabric patch is optimally attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the third fabric patch.

In use, the top of the spout extending above the closure provided by the first and second cinch straps can then be folded downwardly over the cinch strap, the length of the cinch strap including the third and fourth fabric patches being wrapped about the folded length of the spout such that the third fabric patch is in mating contact with the fourth fabric patch. This will help hold the spout in its folded position. RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of a container of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic isolation view of the upper portion of the lifting strap of the container shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a cinch strap in accordance with the invention;

Figure 4 shows the cinch strap of Figure 3 used to help close a flexible spout of a container of the invention;

Figure 5 shows the cinch strap and spout of Figure 4 wherein the cinch strap is used to help hold the spout in a folded position; Figure 6 shows the container of Figure 1 in an emptied, collapsed configuration;

Figure 7 schematically shows an end of a container of the invention closed for transport or storage; Figure 8 is a schematic cross sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the container is especially well suited for use in connection with fluids; and

Figure 9 is a schematic top view of the container of Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a container 10 of the invention. This container 10 generally includes a body 20 defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material, a port (not shown) for filling or emptying the cavity, and a plurality of straps 30 for lifting the container. The body can take on any desired shape. For example, the body can be generally cylindrical with rounded joints with the top and bottom of the body, as shown in the attached drawings. Alternatively, the body can be generally cube-shaped, being generally square in cross section and having relatively sharp corners.

The body may be formed of any suitable material. For example, in keeping with the disclosure of the Derby '243 patent, this body can be formed of jute, cotton, polyethylene or polypropylene or the like and, if desired, can include an impermeable liner such as a polybutylene film. In a preferred embodiment, though, the body of the container is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rubbers, aromatic polyamide fibers, and nitrylvinyl nylon cloth. Containers made of such materials are commercially available from Engineered Fabrics Corporation of Rockmart, Georgia, USA.

In one particularly preferred embodiment, the body of the container is formed of multiple layers of material, with adjacent layers chemically bonded to one another. For example, the body of the container can be formed of an inner layer of a woven material comprising both kevlar fibers and nylon fibers. The kevlar fibers are optimally oriented in a generally horizontal (lateral) direction while the nylon fibers are optimally oriented in a generally vertical (longitudinal) direction, at least on the sides of the container to improve hoop strength.

A single layer of such a superior fabric may be more than sufficient for many purposes. If greater durability or strength is desired, though, this nylon/kevlar material can be bonded to one or more layers of the same or a different fabric by coating the layers with a polymeric material such as a rubber material (e.g. a vinyl rubber) or another vinyl material (e.g. a nitrylvinyl compound). Such polymers will server to both help make the fabric more durable and to "chemically" bond adjacent plies to one another. Such a bond is likely more durable than merely stitching adjacent fabric plies together.

The container 10 desirably includes a plurality of lifting straps 30 spaced about its periphery. In a preferred embodiment, these straps are placed at the corners of a container which is square in cross section or four straps are spaced substantially equiangulariy about the circumference of a generally cylindrical body 20. The lifting strap may be attached to the container in any suitable fashion. For example, it may be simply sewn to the container (e.g. as illustrated in Figures 35-42 of the Derby '243 patent) or each strap can be sewn both to the container and to a loop of fabric extending about the container adjacent its bottom, with the loop itself being sewn to the container (e.g. as shown in Figures 1-3 of the Williamson '970 patent).

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 , though, the straps 30 are received in sleeves 32. These sleeves 32 are themselves attached to the body 20 of the container, desirably by chemical bonding with rubber, vinyl, etc. as discussed above. The straps 30 can be slidably received in these sleeves if provision is made to other wise attach the straps 30 to the container, or at least to a loop attached to the container, as noted above. In the embodiment of Figure 1 , the straps 30 are attached to their respective sleeves 32 before the sleeve is bonded to the container. For example, the strap may be sewn to the sleeve using stitching 34. When the sleeve is subsequently bonded to the container, the strap will also likely be bonded to the container, making the joint between the strap and the container very secure and sturdy.

A lifting loop 40 may extend upwardly above the top of the container, as shown. This permits an operator to more easily engage the lifting loops with a lifting mechanism to lift the container. For example, an operator can move the container with a forklift or the like, with each fork of the lift being received in two adjacent lifting loops 40. Such loops 40 can be readily made by doubling the top of each strap upwardly and sewing the end of the strap either to itself or to the sleeve 32. Figure 2, however, shows a particularly preferred embodiment of a lifting loop 40 of the invention. In accordance with this embodiment, each lifting strap 30 is optimally formed of a continuous piece of fabric. The body of this piece of fabric is attached to the container (e.g. as discussed above in connection with the sleeves 32 and stitching 34), but a length of the strap material extends above the attachment of the strap to the container to define an outer strap 42 of the lifting loop 40. This outer strap 42 is doubled back and attached to itself at its end 44 to define the loop. This end 44 may be directly attached to the rest of the strap or, if the intermediate and inner straps (discussed below) extend along more than the length of the outer strap defining the loop, the one or more thicknesses of the intermediate and inner straps can be positioned between the layers of the outer strap 42.

A wear-resistant intermediate strap 50 is contiguous with the outer strap along at least a length of the inner surface of the loop in the outer strap. If so desired, the intermediate strap can extend along a length of the body of the strap extending below the end 44 of the outer strap. As a matter of fact, this intermediate strap can extend down to the body 20 of the container and be attached thereto of so desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate strap 50 extends along only an upper portion of the loop 40, with a length of the outer strap extending downwardly beyond each end of the intermediate strap.

A low-friction inner strap 60 is contiguous with the intermediate strap along at least a portion of its length. The inner strap is desirably attached to at least one of the outer strap and the intermediate strap. As with the intermediate strap, the inner strap can extend along the entire inner length of the loop 40 and can even extend beyond the bottom of the loop for attachment to the body 20 of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner strap 60 only extends along an upper portion of the loop 40, with the intermediate strap extending beyond each end of the inner strap. The materials of the outer, intermediate and inner straps are selected to provide an inner strap with a coefficient of friction less than that of the intermediate strap. Technically, a coefficient of friction has to be defined by friction with respect to a particular material, e.g. the coefficient of friction of rubber on glass will be different from that of rubber on steel or glass on steel. The coefficient of friction referred to in this context, though, assumes a 97/37897 PC17US97/05990

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common third element against which friction of the intermediate and inner straps are measured. For example, most forks of forklifts are formed of steel and the intermediate strap of a loop 40 of the invention has a higher coefficient of friction against steel than does the inner strap. For example, the intermediate strap 50 can be formed of a rubber- coated fabric (e.g. a fabric coated with a vinyl rubber) or a vinyl-coated fabric. This fabric can be, for example, woven nylon, kevlar, or polyethylene. These coated fabrics can be very wear resistant, giving the loop 40 excellent durability for long-term reuse. Such coated fabrics tend to have a relatively high coefficient of friction with many materials, such as steel, though. This would make it more difficult for an operator to move the loops 40 onto and off of the forks of a forklift.

Using an inner strap of a material having a lower coefficient of friction with, e.g., steel will allow the operator to more easily move the loops onto and off of the forks of a forklift without sacrificing durability. The inner strap can be formed of any suitable material, such as woven nylon, kevlar, polyethylene, etc.

As noted above, at least a portion of the loop 40 has a composite structure including the outer, intermediate and inner straps. This composite length of the loop is stiffer than the outer strap, the intermediate strap or the inner strap. This helps the loop maintain an open shape even when not in use to transport the container. Most conventional lifting straps on flexible containers are fairly "floppy". This makes it difficult for an operator to easily align more than one strap with the forks of a forklift, frequently requiring a person to manually place each loop on the forks. The increased stiffness of the present composite loop 40, though, helps keep the loop open and, to some extent, maintain the loop in a shape adapted to conform to the forks of a forklift, e.g. This makes it easier for an operator to place the loops onto the forks, speeding handling and transport of a large number of containers.

The three straps 42, 50, 60 comprising the composite loop 40 can be attached to one another in any useful fashion. It may be desirable to make it easy to replace one or both of the intermediate and inner plies without having to remove or replace the outer strap. For example, if the inner strap were to wear through due to repeatedly sliding onto and off of a forklift, one could replace the worn inner strap 60 with a new length of the same fabric without having to replace the intermediate or outer straps. The advantage of this approach is that it makes it easy to keep the same connection (e.g. the sleeve 32 and stitching 34 of Figure 1) to the body 20 of the container, minimizing the difficulty and expense of repairing worn lifting loops 40. If one wishes to replace both the intermediate and inner straps at one time, the intermediate strap and the inner strap can be sewn together along the entire length of the intermediate strap.

The width and length of each component of the loop 40 can be varied as desired. As one example of a suitable lifting loop 40, the outer strap may be woven nylon having a width of about 0.5-2 inches; the intermediate strap may comprise a rubber-coated fabric strap having a width of about 0.5-2 inches, but which is no wider than is the outer strap; and the inner strap may comprise a strap of woven nylon having a width of about 0.5-2 inches, but is no narrower than is the intermediate strap. This will yield a durable lifting loop and the provision that the intermediate strap not be any wider than either the inner or outer straps reduces the likelihood that its higher friction properties will interfere with use of the container.

Bottom loops 36 may also be provided to further facilitate handling of the containers. If these loops are made sturdy enough, they can be used to hold the container as it is inverted for emptying. For example, these bottom loops can have substantially the same structure as that discussed immediately above in connection with Figure 2 and the lifting loops 40. Even if the bottom loops 36 are relatively Iight weight and are not designed to carry the entire load of a filled container, they can be used to make handling of emptied containers easier. Figure 6 illustrates an empty container which has been collapsed to minimize volume for storage, return shipping, etc. In this somewhat idealized drawing, the container fully collapses to provide a relatively flat, pancake shape with the bottom loops 36 extending upwardly. An operator can then readily grasp these loops 36 to move the emptied container either by hand or with a forklift or the like. If so desired, bottom loops can be provided on only some of the straps 30 (e.g. one pair of opposed straps but not the other pair).

Referring again to Figure 1 , a container 10 of the invention may also include one or more flexible spouts 100 to facilitate filling and/or emptying of the container 10. In the embodiment shown, the container includes two spouts 100, one in the top 21 of the container and one in the bottom 22 of the container. In the following discussion, only the top spout will be discussed, but it is to be understood that the bottom spout can be essentially identical. The only difference would be that references to the "top" or "bottom" of the spout would have to be reversed as the bottom spout has a different vertical orientation with respect to the body 20 of the container.

The spout 100 is desirably formed of a flexible material, such as a rubber-coated or vinyl-coated fabric. The bottom 102 of the spout is attached to the body 20 of the container in communication with the port formed therein. In one preferred embodiment, the spout and the body are each formed of a polymer-coated fabric, the spout being chemically bonded to the body in much the same fashion as the multiple ply construction of the body 20 discussed at the outset of this discussion. In one particularly preferred design (not shown in detail in the drawings), the bottom of the body 20 is formed of inner and outer plies of fabric bonded to one another by a polymer coating. The spout may include a base flaring generally outwardly from its bottom and this base can be chemically bonded between the inner ply and the outer ply of the body. This will provide a strong, reliable connection between these components with a minimum of wear.

A somewhat different connection between the spout and the bottom 22 of the container are shown in Figure 7. In this embodiment, the bottom is once again constructed of at least an inner ply and an outer ply. However, the spout (shown in phantom at 100) is bonded to only the inner ply. (The "inner ply" could itself be more than one ply and the same structure discussed above can be used to connect the spout to this "inner ply".) The inner and outer plies are bonded to one another, e.g. with a polymer coating, along an annular peripheral bonding area 70, with the inner portion of the outer ply being free to move with respect to the inner ply.

A series of slits 74 are formed in this central portion of the outer ply, defining a series of independently moveable petals 72. The number of petals may be varied as desired, but in the preferred embodiment of Figure 7, four slits are provided at about 90° degrees from one another. The container also includes four lifting straps 30 separated at 90° from one another, but the slits 74 are oriented to fall between the straps, e.g. at about a 45° offset from the straps 30. This makes it easier for an operator to see the spout 100 when the container is mounted on standard filling and/or emptying equipment by 11

positioning the petals toward the straps rather than between the straps where the operator must gain access to the spout.

Each petal 72 may be provided with a metal eyelet or grommet 76 attached to the central edge thereof, optimally leaving a slight gap (shown as a square in Figure 7) in the center of the bottom ply. A drawstring 78 can be threaded through these grommets 76 to pull the petals toward one another to seal the container. When the container has been filled, an operator can seal the spout 100 (either as detailed below or, perhaps, simply by rolling the spout down its length) and pull the petals closed over the spout by drawing the drawstring tight.

Another novel feature of the container of Figure 1 is the manually graspable handles 110 placed on the spouts 100. These handles are desirably positioned adjacent the top 104 of the spout. This allows an operator to easily grab the top of the spout and place the spout on standardized filling and/or emptying equipment. For example, an operator can grab the handles and place the spout over a feed tube at the bottom of a hopper. Optimally, these handles are formed of a flexible material (perhaps the same polymer-coated fabric as that used to form the spout 100) and are sewn or otherwise bonded (e.g. chemically bonded with the common polymeric coating) to the spout 100. The exact number and placement of the handles 110 can be varied as needed. In one preferred version, the handles are provided in pairs, with each handle being attached to the spout 100 adjacent the top 104 thereof at a location diametrically opposite that of the other handle of the pair. If two pairs are used (which may make sense for a container using four lifting straps, for example), each of the handles of the second pair may be positioned approximately 90° away from each of the handles of the other pair. Figure 1 shows the handles 110 angularly aligned on the spout with the lifting straps. Contrary to this schematic illustration, however, the handles are more desirably oriented at about a 45° offset from the lifting straps 30 (i.e. in much the same position with respect to the lifting straps as are as the slits 74 shown in Figure 7) to make it easier to access the handles when the container is suspended by the lifting straps.

The container 10 of Figure 1 is also provided with an improved cinching system for closing the spouts 100. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, the spout may be provided with a belt loop 120 attached to an external surface of the strap. The loop can provide an opening oriented generally longitudinally along the length of the spout. This loop 120 can be attached to the spout in any desired fashion, such as by sewing, chemical bonding or the like. The belt loop is desirably positioned at a location spaced below the top of the spout, leaving an upper length of the spout above the loop. In the illustrated embodiment, the loop 120 is positioned substantially closer to the bottom 102 of the spout than to the top 104 of the spout, leaving a fairly long upper length above the loop.

An elongate, flexible cinch strap 130 (best seen in Figure 3) can be received in the loop 120. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the belt loop 120 is eliminated and the cinch strap is sewn directly to the spout. Care should be taken to sew a relatively short length of the strap 130 the spout 100 to allow most of the length of the strap to slide with respect to the spout, for reasons made more clear below. This cinch strap 130 includes a first end 132, a second end 134, an inner surface 138 (see Figure 4) facing toward the spout when the strap is in its open position (e.g. as illustrated in Figure 1 ) and an outer surface 136 facing away from the spout when the strap is in its open position. The cinch strap includes a ring 140 attached adjacent the first end 132. This ring 140 may be made larger than the opening of the belt loop 120 to keep the strap from falling out of the 120 loop too readily.

The strap 130 also includes at least a first fabric patch 142 and a second fabric patch 144. Each of these fabric patches 142 and 144 comprises either the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener, with the other of the two patches 142, 144 comprising the other of the hook portion or loop portion. (Such hook and loop fasteners are widely known in the art and are typified by the product commercially available under the trade name Velcro.) The first fabric patch can be attached to the outer surface 136 of the cinch strap at a location spaced from the ring, while the second fabric patch is attached to the same outer surface 136 of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the first fabric patch. In one embodiment, the cinch strap 130 is formed of a strip of a flexible fabric, and each of the first and second fabric patches are sewn to that fabric strip.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second fabric patches are spaced from one another, providing a folding area 146 therebetween. When the strap is folded along this folding area (e.g. along the line 146), the first and second patches 142, 144 are brought into mating contact with one another, effectively preventing the adjacent lengths of the strap from sliding with respect to one another. The strap can be received in the belt loop 120, as explained above. To close the spout, an operator can wrap the cinch strap 130 around the spout with the inner surface 138 in contact therewith. The operator can then pass the second end 134 of the strap through the ring 140 and pull the strap through the ring until a portion of the folding area 146 is positioned within the ring. By providing a cinch strap of the proper dimensions, this will enable the operator to easily pull the spout closed against itself. Folding the strap along the folding area to bring the first and second fabric patches 142, 144 into mating contact will secure the cinch strap and help hold the spout closed. This condition is schematically illustrated in Figure 4. If so desired, the cinch strap need not include any further structure and the spout can either be left as shown in Figure 4 or rolled down and covered - such as with the petals 74 of Figure 7 - during transport and storage.

In a further embodiment of the cinch strap 130 of the invention, however, the cinch strap also includes third 150 and fourth 152 fabric patches. As with the first 142 and second 144 fabric patches, one of the third and fourth fabric patches comprises the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener and the other of the third and fourth fabric patches comprises the other of the hook portion or the loop portion.

The fourth fabric patch 152 is attached to the outer surface 138 of the cinch strap, as are the first and second fabric patches. The third fabric 150 fastener is attached to the inner surface of the cinch strap, though (and is therefore shown in phantom lines in Figure 3). The fourth fabric patch is attached closer to the second end 134 of the cinch strap than is the third fabric patch and there may be (but need not be) a space 154 provided between these two patches 150, 152. Much like the first and second fabric patches, the third and fourth fabric patches can also be attached to the strap 130 by sewing or the like.

As noted above, an upper length of the spout 100 desirably extends above the belt loop, leaving a structure generally as illustrated in Figure 4 when the spout is drawn closed against itself with the cinch strap 130. The upper length of the spout can then be folded downwardly over the cinch strap. A length of the cinch strap including the third and fourth fabric patches is then wrapped about the exterior of the folded length of the spout, as shown in Figure 5. This brings the third fabric patch 150 into mating contact with the fourth fabric patch 152 to help hold the spout in the folded position shown in Figure 5.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. In accordance with this embodiment, the container 200 includes a body 210, an upper fill spout 220 and a support 250. The body 210 and the upper fill spout may be formed of the same materials and in much the same fashion as are the body 20 and spout 100 shown in the preceding figures and detailed above. It should be noted that the container 200 shown in Figures 8 and 9 is not as close to cylindrical as is the container 10 of the preceding figures. Instead, the top 212 desirably has a somewhat smaller diameter than does the bottom 214, with the side wall 216 tapering outwardly downwardly. Particularly with less stable loads (e.g. a highly flowable material such as a liquid), making the bottom larger will help stabilize the container and help keep it upright during shipping.

The container also includes a bottom port 230. The bottom port can be provided with a spout similar to the spout 100 shown in the preceding drawings, this is not necessarily optimal. The specific design of the bottom port can be arranged as desired to optimize ease of emptying the container. For example, a quick release valve can be used to open this bottom port 230 to empty material from the cavity through the port. If so desired, the port can be recloseable, such as by providing a metering valve, so that limited quantities of product can be dispensed fairly readily, permitting the user to use only a portion of the container's contents rather than having difficulty stopping the flow of material after the port is opened.

The support 250 shown in Figures 8 and 9 can be used to lift the container from the bottom, help maintain the container in an upright position during shipping and handling, and/or easily empty the container in a controlled fashion. Although the support can be permanently attached to the body, it is preferred that the body 210 can be released from the support 250. For example, tie-down straps 240 can be attached at one end to the side wall 216 of the body and at the other to a tie-down attachment 242 on the support. These straps 240 can be manufactured and attached to the body of the container in much the same fashion as are the straps 30 attached to the container 20 discussed above. In the embodiment shown, there are four such tie-down straps, each spaced equiangulariy about the circumference of the container. Of course, more or fewer straps could be employed if desired.

The support 250 desirably includes a recess 260 for receiving a bottom portion of the body, with the recess optimally being adapted to support the bottom 214 of the body. The recess optimally should be shaped to direct flow of material within the body to the lower port 230 and through a dispensing orifice 254 in the support. As noted above, the lower port 230 can include a valve for selectively controlling the flow of material therethrough. If so desired, such a valve could instead be provided on this dispensing orifice of the support.

In one optimal embodiment, the support 250 includes a pair of parallel lifting channels 252 therein. These lifting channels can be spaced apart from one another a predetermined distance, such as having the channels spaced from one another the standard distance between the tines of a forklift. This would permit the container system 200 to be handled and stored in a warehouse using readily available equipment. Although Figures 8 and 9 do not show such handles, lifting handles such as the handles 40 provided on the container 10 discussed above can be provided either instead of or in addition to the lifting channels 252.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A reusable container for transporting flowable materials, the container having a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material, a port for filling or emptying the cavity, and a plurality of straps for lifting the container, wherein each of the lifting straps comprise: a. an outer strap attached to the body of the container and attached to itself to defining a loop extending beyond the attachment of the outer strap to the container, the loop having an inner surface; b. a wear-resistant intermediate strap contiguous with the outer strap along at least a length of the inner surface of the loop; and c. a low-friction inner strap contiguous with the intermediate strap along at least a portion of its length, the inner strap being attached to at least one of the outer strap and the intermediate strap; d. the coefficient of friction of the inner strap being less than that of the intermediate strap, the length of the lifting strap comprising all three of the outer, intermediate and inner straps being stiffer than the outer strap, the intermediate strap or the inner strap.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner strap is releasably attached to the intermediate strap.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the inner strap is attached to the intermediate strap by sewing.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate strap is releasably attached to the outer strap.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the intermediate strap is attached to the outer strap by sewing.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate strap is formed of a rubber-coated fabric.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein the rubber of the rubber-coated fabric comprises vinyl.

8. The container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate strap is formed of a vinyl-coated fabric.

9. The container of claim 1 wherein the inner strap is formed of woven nylon.

10. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer strap comprises a strap of woven nylon having a width of about 0.5-2 inches; the intermediate strap comprises a rubber-coated fabric strap having a width of about 0.5-2 inches, but is no wider than is the outer strap; and the inner strap comprises a strap of woven nylon having a width of about 0.5-2 inches, but is no narrower than is the intermediate strap.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein the outer strap, the intermediate strap and the inner strap are sewn together along the length of the intermediate strap.

12. The container of claim 1 wherein the intermediate strap extends along only an upper length of the loop, the inner strap being shorter than the intermediate strap.

13. A container comprising: a. a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; b. a port for filling or emptying the cavity; c. a flexible spout having a bottom in communication with the port and a top spaced away from the body, the spout having attached to an external surface thereof a belt loop providing an opening oriented generally longitudinally along the length of the spout; and d. an elongate, flexible cinch strap received in the loop and having a first end, a second end, an inner surface facing toward the spout when the strap is in its open position and an outer surface facing away from the spout when the strap is in its open position, the cinch strap comprising a ring attached adjacent the first end of the strap, a first fabric patch comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap at a location spaced from the ring, and a second fabric patch comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the first fabric patch.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the ring of the cinch strap is larger than the opening of the belt loop.

15. The container of claim 13 wherein the cinch strap is formed of a strip of a flexible fabric, each of the first and second fabric patches being sewn to the fabric strip.

16. The container of claim 13 wherein the first and second fabric patches are positioned along the length of the cinch strap to effectively close the spout when the strap is passed through the ring and folded back on itself so that the first fabric patch and the second fabric patch are in mating contact with one another.

17. The container of claim 13 wherein the cinch strap further comprises third and fourth fabric patches, one of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener and the other of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener, the third fabric fastener being attached to the inner surface of the cinch strap and the fourth fabric patch being attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the third fabric patch.

18. The container of claim 17 wherein the cinch strap is formed of a strip of a flexible fabric, each of the first, second, third and fourth fabric patches being sewn to the fabric.

19. The container of claim 13 wherein the loop is chemically bonded to the spout.

20. The container of claim 13 wherein the spout and the body are each formed of a polymer-coated fabric, the spout being chemically bonded to the body.

21. The container of claim 20 wherein the body is formed of an inner ply and an outer ply of fabric bonded to one another by said polymer coating, the spout including a base flaring generally outwardly from the bottom of the spout, the base of the spout being chemically bonded between the inner ply and the outer ply of the body.

22. The container of claim 13 wherein the belt loop is positioned at a location spaced below the top of the spout, leaving an upper length of the spout above the loop.

23. The container of claim 13 wherein the spout further comprises at least one manually graspable handle attached to the exterior thereof.

24. A container comprising: a. a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; b. a port for filling or emptying the cavity; c. a flexible spout having a bottom in communication with the port and a top spaced away from the body, the spout having attached to an external surface thereof at a location spaced from the top a belt loop providing an opening oriented generally longitudinally along the length of the spout; and d. an elongate, flexible cinch strap received in the loop and having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the cinch strap comprising a ring attached adjacent the first end of the strap, a first fabric patch comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap at a location spaced from the ring, a second fabric patch comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the first fabric patch defining a folding area between the first and second fabric patches; e. the spout being drawn closed against itself by the cinch strap, the strap being passed through the loop to position a portion of the folding area within the ring, the first fabric patch being in mating contact with the second fabric patch to hold the spout closed.

25. The container of claim 24 wherein an upper length of the spout extends between the belt loop and the top of the spout and the cinch strap further comprises third and fourth fabric patches, one of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener and the other of the third and fourth fabric patches comprising the other of the hook portion or the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric fastener, the third fabric fastener being attached to the inner surface of the cinch strap and the fourth fabric patch being attached to the outer surface of the cinch strap closer to the second end of the cinch strap than is the third fabric patch, the upper length of the spout being folded downwardly over the cinch strap, a length of the cinch strap including the third and fourth fabric patches being wrapped about the folded length of the spout such that the third fabric patch is in mating contact with the fourth fabric patch to hold the spout in its folded position.

26. A container comprising: a. a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; b. a port for filling or emptying the cavity; c. a flexible spout having a bottom in communication with the port and a top spaced away from the body, the spout having attached to an external surface thereof a pair of manually graspable handles, each handle being attached to the spout adjacent the top thereof at a location diametrically opposite that of the other handle of the pair.

27. The container of claim 26 further comprising a second pair of handles, each of the handles of the second pair being positioned approximately 90° away from each of the handles of the other pair.

28. A container comprising: a. a body defining a cavity for receiving a flowable material; b. an upper port for filling the cavity; c. a lower port for emptying the cavity; d. a support having a recess for receiving a bottom portion of the body, the recess being shaped to direct flow of material within the body to the lower port and through a dispensing orifice in the support, one of the support and the lower port having a valve for selectively controlling the flow of material through the port.

29. The container of claim 28 wherein the recess is generally frustoconically shaped and the dispensing orifice is positioned adjacent the center of the recess.

30. The container of claim 28 further comprising retaining straps releasably attached to a fitting on a side of the body to retain the container on the support.