Liner for a cargo container

A method of forming a connecting segment on a flexible liner for a cargo container, the flexible liner defining an interior to hold a bulk cargo and including at least first and second adjacent panels forming an edge, the method comprising:

• holding said first and second panels against each other over an area, said area extending from said edge and having a perimeter;
• holding a first section of a reinforcing member against the first panel over said area;
• holding a second section of the reinforcing member against the first panel over said area;
• forming at least one opening through said multitude of layers to help secure the liner to the cargo container, said opening being spaced from the perimeter of said area;
• and
• bonding the reinforcing member to both the first and second panels and bonding the first and second panels to each other completely over said area, to form a sealed region comprised of a multitude of layers laminated to each other, and to maintain the interior of the liner and a bulk cargo therein sealed from tears that develop in the connecting segment and extending outward from the through opening in the connecting segment to said edge of the liner.

A liner for a cargo container defining an interior cargo space, the liner comprising a flexible and expandable body adapted to fit inside the cargo space and defining an interior to hold a bulk cargo, the expandable body including at least first and second adjacent panels forming an edge, a multitude of first reinforcing members, a multitude of second reinforcing members, and a multitude of connecting segments located along said edge to help connect the liner to the cargo container;

• each connecting segment comprising a multitude of layers located one on top of another and held together within a given area, said given area defining a perimeter of the connecting segment;
• the multitude of layers of each connecting segment including
• i) a first layer comprising a respective one portion of the first panel,
• ii) a second layer comprising a respective one portion of the second panel,
• iii) a third layer comprising a first section of a respective one of the first reinforcing members,
• iv) a fourth layer comprising a second section of the respective one of the first reinforcing members, and
• v) a fifth layer comprising a respective one of the second reinforcing members,
• wherein said fifth layer is captured between a pair of other layers of the connecting segment, said fifth layer is spaced from the perimeter of the connecting segment, and said pair of other layers are bonded together completely over the portion of the given area outside said fifth layer to maintain the interior of the liner and a bulk cargo therein sealed from tears that develop in the connecting segment and extending outward through said fifth layer to said edge of the liner.

A cargo container, comprising:

• a container body defining an interior cargo space, and including a floor, a roof, and left and right side walls;
• a flexible and expandable liner secured inside the container body and defining an interior for holding a bulk cargo, the liner including a bottom panel, a top panel and left and right side panels, the bottom and left side panels being connected together and forming a left bottom edge, the bottom and right side panels being connected together and forming a right bottom edge, the top and left side panels being connected together and forming a left top edge, and the top and right side panels being connected together and forming a right top edge;
• a multitude of lower right connecting segments spaced apart along the bottom right edge of the liner, each of the lower right connecting segments comprising a multitude of layers located one on top of another within a given area, said given area defining a perimeter of the connecting segment, the layers of each lower right connecting segment including
• i) a respective one first portion of the bottom panel,
• ii) a respective one first portion of the right panel,
• iii) a respective one first reinforcing member, and
• iv) first and second sections of a respective one second reinforcing member;
• a multitude of lower left connecting segments spaced apart along the bottom left edge of the liner, each of the lower left connecting segments comprising a multitude of layers located one on top of another within a given area, said given area defining a perimeter of the connecting segment, the layers of each lower left connecting segment including
• i) a respective one second portion of the bottom panel,
• ii) a respective one first portion of the left panel,
• iii) a respective one third reinforcing member, and
• iv) first and second section of a respective one fourth reinforcing member;
• a multitude of upper right connecting segments spaced apart along the top right edge of the liner, each of the upper right connecting segments comprising a multitude of layers located one on top of another, the layers of each upper right connecting segment forming a through opening extending through the connecting segment, and including
• i) a respective one first portion of the top panel,
• ii) a respective one second portion of the right panel,
• iii) first and second sections of a respective one fifth reinforcing member;
• a multitude of upper left connecting segments spaced apart along the top left edge of the liner, each of the upper left connecting segments comprising a multitude of layers located one on top of another, the layers of each upper left connecting segment forming a through opening extending through the connecting segment, and including
• i) a respective one second portion of the top panel,
• ii) a respective one second portion of the left panel,
• iii) first and second sections of a respective one sixth reinforcing member;
• a multitude of first fasteners, each of the first fasteners extending through the first reinforcing member of a respective one of the lower right connecting segments and into the floor of the container body to secure said one lower right connecting segment to said floor;
• a multitude of second fasteners, each of the second fasteners extending through the third reinforcing member of a respective one of the lower left connecting segments and into the floor of the container body to secure said one lower left connecting segment to said floor;
• a multitude of third fasteners, each of the third fasteners extending through the opening of a respective one of the upper right connecting segments and being connected to the container body to connect said one upper right connecting segment thereto;
• and
• a multitude of fourth fasteners, each of the fourth fasteners extending through the opening of a respective one of the upper left connecting segments and being connected to the container body to connect said one upper left connecting segment thereto;
• wherein the first reinforcing member of each of the lower right connecting segments is captured between a pair of other layers of said each lower right connecting segment, said first reinforcing member is spaced from the perimeter of said lower right connecting segment, and said pair of other layers are bonded together completely over the portion of the given area of the connecting segment outside said first reinforcing member to maintain the interior of the liner and a bulk cargo therein sealed from tears that develop in the connecting segment and extending outward through said first reinforcing member to the bottom right edge of the liner;
• and
• wherein the third reinforcing member of each of the lower left connecting segments is captured between a pair of other layers of said each lower left connecting segment, said third reinforcing member is spaced from the perimeter of said lower left connecting segment, and said pair of other layers are bonded together completely over the portion of the given area of the connecting segment outside said third reinforcing member to maintain the interior of the liner and bulk cargo therein sealed from tears that develop in the connecting segment and extending outward through said third reinforcing member to the bottom left edge of the liner.