US 4,194,652 A · Collapsible receptacle for flowable materials

Abstract

A collapsible receptacle for handling flowable materials in semi-bulk quantities comprises a generally cylindrical container supported by a sling. The container features top loading and bottom discharge. The container can be constructed of a strong weave material. Preferably, the container is constructed of a unique laminate material formed of an inner liner of polybutylene film noncontinuously adhered to an outer layer of woven polypropylene. The sling is constructed of straps of polyester webbing, which are sewn to the container so that support stresses are distributed between the sling and the container. In one embodiment, the sling includes a ring for supporting the bottom of the container and lift straps attached to the ring. The ring surrounds a unique discharge spout in the container bottom. In another embodiment, the lower ends of the lift straps include guide loops for a draw rope. The draw rope surrounds a wire tie which functions to gather and close the bottom of the container. Release of the wire tie and draw rope permits discharge of the contents across the entire bottom of the container.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A collapsible receptacle for handling flowable materials, comprising:

a substantially flexible container having upper and lower ends and defining a generally cylindrical collapsible chamber for the flowable materials;
said container including an upstanding sidewall comprised of one substantially rectangular panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges with the sides of the panel secured together inwardly of the side edges to form one outwardly facing and longitudinally extending container sidewall seam;
the upper end of said container comprising a selectively closeable fill opening;
means for selectively closing the fill opening;
and
a flexible and substantially inextensible sling assembly for supporting the container, said sling assembly having a plurality of lift straps extending upwardly in circumferentially spaced relationship with the top ends of the straps terminating a predetermined distance beyond the upper end of the container;
one of said lift straps being provided for the container sidewall seam and folded along its length so that longitudinal strap portions overlay the outwardly facing edges of the sidewall seam, with at least one of the other of said lift straps being folded along its length over a longitudinally folded portion of the sidewall panel, and with each of said folded lift straps being continuously secured therethrough over a major portion of the height of the container so that said folded straps are interconnected with at least two thicknesses of container material.

4 more elements

A collapsible receptacle for handling flowable materials in semi-bulk quantities, comprising:

a substantially flexible bag defining a collapsible chamber for the flowable materials and having a selectively closeable fill opening formed at the upper end of said bag;
means for selectively closing the fill opening;
said bag including an upstanding sidewall comprised of one substantially rectangular panel with the sides secured together inwardly of the side edges to form an outwardly facing and longitudinally extending bag sidewall seam, and a bottom wall;
and
a flexible and substantially inextensible sling assembly for supporting the bag, said sling assembly having a plurality of lift straps extending upwardly in circumferentially spaced relationship about the bag with the top end of the straps terminating a predetermined distance beyond the upper end of the bag;
one of said lift straps being provided for the bag sidewall seam and folded along its length so that longitudinal strap portions overlay the outwardly facing edges of the bag sidewall seam, with at least one of the other of said lift straps being folded along its length over a longitudinally folded portion of the sidewall panel, and with each of said folded lift straps being continuously secured therethrough over a major portion of the height of the container so that said folded straps are interconnected with at least two thicknesses of container material.

3 more elements

A collapsible receptacle for handling flowable materials in semi-bulk quantities, comprising:

a substantially flexible container having upper and lower ends and defining a collapsible chamber for the flowable materials;
said container including an upstanding sidewall comprised of one substantially rectangular panel with the sides secured together inwardly of the side edges to form an outwardly facing and longitudinally extending container sidewall seam;
the upper end of the container comprising a closeable fill opening for admitting flowable materials into the chamber;
means for selectively closing the fill openings;
the bottom end of the container comprising a closeable discharge opening for unloading flowable material from the chamber;
means for selectively closing the discharge opening;
and
a flexible and substantially inextensible sling assembly for supporting the container, said sling assembly comprising:
a plurality of lift straps extending upwardly in circumferentially spaced relationship about the container, with the top ends of said straps terminating a predetermined distance beyond the upper end of the container, the bottom ends of said straps terminating a predetermined distance inward of the lower end of said container and including guide loops formed thereon;
one of said lift straps being provided for the container sidewall seam and folded along its length so that longitudinal strap portions overlay the outwardly facing edges of the container sidewall seam, with at least one of the other of said lift straps being folded along its length over a longitudinally folded portion of the sidewall panel, and with each of said folded lift straps being continuously secured therethrough over a major portion of the height of the container so that each folded lift strap is interconnected with at least two thicknesses of container material;
and
a draw rope passing through said guide loops for supporting the container in selective predetermined surrounding engagement above the means for closing the discharge opening.

9 more elements

A method of manufacturing a collapsible receptacle for flowable materials, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of rectangular panels comprised of flexible material;
(b) circularly arranging the panels in edge to edge relationship;
(c) connecting adjacent panels inwardly of the adjacent edges to form a container sidewall having a plurality of outwardly facing sidewall seams;
(d) providing a circular bottom wall comprised of flexible material;
(e) connecting the bottom wall across the lower end of the container sidewall;
(f) providing a plurality of lift straps comprised of flexible but substantially inextensible material;
(g) positioning each lift strap over a container sidewall seam and folding each of said lift straps along its length over the corresponding sidewall seam such that at least two layers of container sidewall material are enclosed between longitudinal portions of each of said straps;
and
(h) interconnecting each of the thus folded lift straps and the enclosed layers of sidewall material over a portion of the height of the container.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Collapsible receptacle for flowable materials

Life of this patent

Collapsible receptacle for flowable materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31