BULK MATERIAL TRANSPORT & STORAGE BAG

In some aspects, the invention relates to a bulk materials transport bag comprising a bottom panel; a plurality of side panels; a plurality of lifting straps; and a top panel, wherein the bottom panel and the plurality of side panels comprise a first material and the top panel comprises a second material. In other aspects, the invention relates to bulk materials transport bag comprised of a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is generally impervious to moisture and the second material is not impervious to water. In yet other aspects, the invention relates to a bag useful for the storage and transport of shelled peanuts comprising: a bottom panel and four (4) side panels, wherein the bottom panel and side panels are formed from a single sheet of polypropylene; a top panel formed from burlap cloth; and four (4) lifting straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Definitions

The terms “comprise” or “comprises” or “comprising” in the foregoing description and/or in the following claims, unless the context requires otherwise, are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are to be interpreted inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is to be so interpreted in construing the foregoing description and/or the following claims.

The terms “about” or “approximately” mean within a range of reasonable error around a central value. Such reasonable error may for example stem from the precision of an instrument or method used to measure the value. The error could also stem from the precision of a method of making a composition, such as the ability to measure particular ingredients within a margin of error.

Bulk Materials Bag

A bulk materials bag5is provided herein. In a general embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 1-2, the bulk materials bag5comprises a bottom panel10, a plurality of side panels15, a top panel20and a plurality of lifting straps25. Generally, the bulk materials bag5is configured as an enclosable rectangular structure with the bottom panel10located opposite the top panel20forming the ends of the structure with the plurality of side panels15forming the sides of the structure. Other configurations of the bulk materials bag5, including without limitation square, cylindrical and triangular shapes, should be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

The bottom panel10is generally flat and configured to rest upon a surface such as a floor or a crate. Bottom panel10is configured to provide enough structural integrity to withstand the weight of the contents of the bulk materials bag5and to resist wear and tear as the baa is reused over time. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom panel10is configured to withstand the weight of approximately 2,400 pounds of peanuts being stored or transported in the bag. The dimensions of the bottom panel10may be adjusted depending upon the desired overall size of the bulk materials bag5. In one embodiment, the bottom panel10is rectangularly shaped and is approximately thirty four (34) inches wide and forty-one (41) inches long. Other shapes of the bottom panel10, such as circular or triangular, should be considered within the scope of this disclosure.

In a preferred embodiment, the bottom panel10further comprises an elongated opening, or spout,30extending approximately from the center of the bottom panel10. The spout30is used to empty the contents of the bulk materials bag5. The spout30has a means for releasing the contents of the bulk materials bag5which allows the contents to evenly and effectively be dispensed from the bulk materials bag5. Such means comprise any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the spout30is securely closed by a plurality of straps tied around the spout30. The spout30may be opened by untying the straps. In one preferred embodiment, the spout30extends approximately twelve (12) inches from the bottom panel10and has a uniform diameter of approximately eighteen (18) inches.

The side panels15are configured to provide sufficient structural integrity to withstand the weight of the contents of the bag as well. For example, in one embodiment, the side panels15are configured to withstand the weight of approximately 2,400 pounds of peanuts being stored or transported in the bag. The bulk materials bag5may comprise any number of side panels15, depending in part upon the desired overall shape of the bulk materials bag5. In one embodiment, the bulk materials bag5comprises four (4) side panels attached to one another and to the top panel20and the bottom panel10by an attachment means. In one embodiment, the attachment means comprises stitching the various edges of the side panels15together with polypropylene or polyester sewing thread. It is also possible that said side panels15comprise a single, continuous piece of material. The dimensions of the side panels15may be adjusted depending upon the desired overall size of the bulk materials bag. The plurality of side panels15may be identical in shape and dimension or may have different shapes and dimensions. In one embodiment, as depicted inFIGS. 1-2, where the bulk materials bag5is rectangularly shaped and comprises four (4) side panels, two (2) of the sides panels15are approximately thirty four (34) inches wide at the base and sixty three (63) inches in length while two (2) of the other side panels are approximately forty-one (41) inches wide at the base and sixty three (63) inches in length.

The top panel20is located opposite the bottom panel10. In one embodiment, the top panel20approximately mirrors the shape and dimensions of said bottom panel10and further comprises a top spout35extending from said center of top panel20. In still another embodiment, and as depicted inFIGS. 1-2said top panel20comprises a plurality of top panel sections40a, b, c, dthat collectively define a surface area that is larger than the surface area of the bottom panel10, such that, when the bag is filled to capacity, the top panels sections40a, b, c, dangle upward from the intersection of side panels15and the top panel20. In another aspect, the top panel sections40a, b, c, dmay be flat when the bulk materials bag5is filled to capacity such that they collectively define a surface area that is approximately equivalent to the area of the bottom panel10and that the top panel20and the bottom panel10are generally parallel to one another. The top spout35is configured to allow the bulk materials bag5to be filled. The top spout35may be opened and closed by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the top spout35is securely closed by a plurality of straps tied around the top spout's35opening. The top spout35may be opened by untying the straps. In one preferred embodiment, the spout30extends approximately ten (10) inches from the top panel20and has a uniform diameter of approximately fourteen (14) inches.

In one embodiment, the plurality of sloping top panel sections40a, b, c, dfurther permit space (or a void) to exist within the boundaries formed by the top layer of the materials stored in the bulk materials bag5and the sloping top panel sections40a, b, c, d.This feature encourages any moisture that forms in the bulk materials bag5during the storage or shipping to collect within the excess space rather than on the contents. As described below, due to the materials from which the top panel20or the plurality of top panel sections40a, b, c, dare constructed, the collection of moisture within the cavity is advantageous because it allows the moisture to escape the bulk materials bag5rather than be trapped, thus alleviating the problem of the contents of the bulk materials bag5, such as peanuts, from being contaminated by the unwanted moisture. In addition to being breathable, the material used to comprise the top panel20has “wicking” properties that draw condensation and moisture away from the contents.

The bulk materials bag5also comprises a plurality of lifting straps25. In one embodiment, the bulk materials bag5comprises four (4) lifting straps25, though more or less lifting straps25may be desirable depending upon the use of the bulk materials bag5and should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. In one configuration, the lifting straps25comprise a handle comprised of a continuous looped material45affixed to side panels at attachment points50. Generally, the handle45is configured to accept a lifting implement from a machine (such as a hook from a crane or a tractor) to allow the bulk materials bag5to be lifted and manipulated. In one preferred embodiment, the handle45extends approximately eight (8) inches in height as measured from the top edge of a side panel15. The attachment points50may be configured in many different ways, but as will be appreciated, given the comparative strength of the materials preferentially involved, in the preferred embodiment attachment points are located on side panels15. In one embodiment, the lifting straps comprise woven polypropylene polymer. In one embodiment, each lifting strap25comprises at least two (2) attachment points50wherein each attachment point50is attached to a different side panel15. In another aspect, the lifting straps25comprises attachment points50that contact only one side panel15, as shown inFIGS. 1-2. The attachment point50may comprise reinforced material where it contacts the side panel15so that upon lifting, the side panel15is not torn or damaged. In an alternate embodiment, the side panel15comprises reinforced material where it receives said lifting straps25so that upon lifting, the side panel is not torn or damaged.

A novel aspect of the bulk materials bag5is that it is constructed from at least two (2) different materials. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom panel10and the side panels15of the bulk materials bag5are constructed from a material different than the material comprising the top panel20. The bottom panel10and the side panel15comprise a material that is generally more durable and impervious to moisture. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom panel10and the side panels15are constructed from a woven polymer fabric. In one embodiment, the woven polymer is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymer, ethylene vinyl alcohol or polyethylene. In another embodiment, the bottom panel10and side panels15comprise a thermoplastic material. The weight or thickness of the woven polymer fabric may be varied according to the intended use of the bulk materials bag5. In one non-limiting example, the weight of the woven polymer fabric may be of a range from 100 grams per m2to 270 grams per meter2(g/m2).

The bottom panel10and the side panels15may be formed of one piece of material, such as a single sheet of polypropylene which has been shaped as generally shown inFIGS. 1-2or may be formed from separate sheets of material attached to one another. For example, the bottom panel30may be attached to the plurality of side panels15at their respective edges. If the bulk materials bag5comprises four (4) side panels, each outer edge of a rectangular or square bottom panel10would be attached to a bottom horizontal edge of a separate side panel15. The side panels15are then attached to one another at their vertical edges. In some cases, as shown inFIG. 3, one continuous piece of material is used to construct two side panels15to and the bottom panel10(thereby forming a “U-Panel”) and two additional side panels15are affixed to this U-Panel to complete the lower portion of the bulk materials bag5. As referenced above, the side panels15may be attached to one another and/or the bottom panel10through any means known in the art including thermowelding/seaming, stitching or otherwise.

It is also possible to utilize a more durable, rugged fabric to form the bottom and side panels. In order to support heavy loads as often applied upon repeated lifting and lowering of the bulk materials bag5, as well as to be resistant to wear and tear, fabric, material often is heavy duty and not highly permeable. Under these conditions, it is necessary to have a different material comprising the top panel20.

The top panel20comprises a different material than the material or materials comprising said bottom panel10and said side panels15. In one embodiment, the top panel20comprises a breathable fabric configured to allow any unwanted moisture in the bulk materials bag5to escape via evaporation through the fabric or other means, or alternatively, to absorb any unwanted moisture and prevent it from contacting a large amount of the contents of the bulk materials bag5. In the preferred embodiment, burlap (also known as hessian) cloth is utilized. The weight of the burlap cloth may be altered depending upon the desired use of the bulk materials bag5, but in one embodiment the burlap cloth comprises approximately a woven five (5) ounce (141.75 grams) per lineal yard to twelve (12) ounce (340.27 grams) per lineal yard based (0.91 meter) on forty (40) inch (1.01 meter) wide burlap cloth. The top panel20may be attached to the top edges of the side panels15by any means known in the art. In one embodiment, the top panel20is stitched to the top edges of the side panels15, utilizing polyester or polypropylene thread using a lock-stitch or chain-stitch method. Generally, the top panel20is attached to the side panels15at their respective edges.