Flexible container for bulk goods and fluids

A container closed at one end by a supporting surface includes a vertical tubular inner member and an outer envelope secured to the outside of the inner member. The outer envelope comprises at least four vertical partial tubular outer members equal in vertical length to and parallel to the inner member, the partial tubular outer members having an open arc-shaped cross-section with free ends at either side of the arc, each outer member being secured along both of its free ends to the outside of the inner member. The radius and location of each of the outer members relative to that of the inner member are such that, viewing the container in cross-section, four lines may be drawn, each line drawn through at least two tangent points on the outer members with at least two of the lines being parallel and intersecting tangent points on the inner member, the four lines intersecting to form a rectangle, which rectangle encloses the entire outside perimeter of the container.

This invention relates to a container for bulk goods, fluids and the like, 
comprising an outer envelope, which can be closed at both ends, and an 
inner member, which is connected to the outer envelope at at least four 
points spaced about the circumference of the outer envelope and has a 
length that is 30-100% of the height of the container to be formed. 
Such a container is known from EP-A-247696. By providing the inner member 
that is connected to the outer envelope, a container is obtained which is 
characterized by very high dimensional stability and very high stacking 
strength. These particular properties are obtained by causing deformative 
and stacking forces to be absorbed by tensile forces generated in the 
inner member in the circumferential direction. The container thus obtained 
has a substantially square bottom surface. In practice, however, a strong 
need is felt for containers with a bottom surface of a rectangular form 
deviating from a square. 
It is an object of the invention to provide a container which has a bottom 
surface of a rectangular form deviating from a square in combination with 
the particular properties of the container with a square bottom surface as 
discussed above. 
This is achieved in accordance with the invention in a container of the 
type described in the opening paragraph hereof, in that for obtaining a 
substantially block-shaped container with a bottom and cross-sections 
parallel thereto, substantially in the form of a rectangle deviating from 
a square, the starting-point is a rectangle with the desired outer 
dimensions and at least one inscribed circle which touches both long sides 
but not at least one short side of the rectangle, with a first line 
extending parallel to the long side and through the centre of the 
inscribed circle and a second line extending parallel to a short side and 
through the centre of the inscribed circle, which first and second line 
divide the rectangle into subrectangles each having an angular point 
coinciding with one of the angular points of the rectangle, and a bisector 
being drawn in the rectangle from each coinciding angular point, the 
centre of a further circle lying each bisector, said further circle 
touching the long and the short side that meet at the angular point from 
which the corresponding bisector has been drawn, the intersections of said 
further circles and said inscribed circle defining the points where the 
outer envelope is connected to the inner member, which intersections do 
not lie outside the subrectangle with the bisector in which lies the 
centre of the corresponding further circle, and the length of the outer 
circumference of the outer envelope being defined by the sum of the four 
lengths of the arc of the four further circles between the points where 
said further circles intersect said inscribed circle and the sum of the 
lengths of such portions of the outer circumference of the inner member as 
are not covered by the further circles. 
By virtue of these features, starting from the substantially square 
container, a substantially rectangular container has been created by an 
imaginary bipartition of the outer envelope and by shifting one or both 
parts to the left or the right over a certain distance and, starting from 
this new "centre", constructing two angular compartments defined by the 
outer envelope, which compartments in turn exhibit a circular 
configuration such that any substantially vertical forces exerted are 
absorbed again by forces generated in the circumferential direction in the 
portions of the outer envelope referred to, which will assume the form of 
an arc of a circle owing to their configuration. By shifting the angular 
compartments outwardly in the direction of the first line, and hence 
enlarging them, two oppositely arranged sides of the enveloping square 
have thus been extended, whereby the desired enveloping rectangle has been 
obtained using the basic principle on which the substantially square 
container is based, which provides the characteristic stacking strength 
and very high dimensional stability, more particularly prevents lateral 
bulging. 
As in the known substantially square container discussed hereinabove, the 
inner member may be constructed such that, particularly in the case of 
free-flowing material, the length of the outer circumference of the inner 
member is equal to that of the inscribed circle, or, in the case of 
fluids, that the length of the outer circumference of the inner member is 
equal to the sum of the four distances between pairs of intersections of 
each further circle and the inscribed circle and the sum of the four 
shortest lengths of the arc of the inscribed circle between the points 
where the inscribed circle intersects two adjacent further circles. 
By virtue of the rectangular form, however, it is now also possible that 
the length of the outer circumference of the inner member is equal to the 
sum of such portion of the length of the circumference of the inscribed 
circle as is not covered by at least one further inscribed circle which 
touches both long sides and one of the short sides, plus such portion of 
the length of the circumference of the further inscribed circle or circles 
as in turn is not covered by said first inscribed circle. Here, not only 
the outer envelope, but the inner member as well, has been imaginarily 
divided into two parts. This last idea is most clearly expressed in an 
embodiment in which two inscribed circles are present, which intersect 
each other in the short axis of symmetry of the rectangle, which 
intersections are mutually connected by a wall member which extends along 
the short axis of symmetry in the fully filled condition of the container. 
A further possibility, in which the original one-piece cylinder idea is 
maintained, but in which at the same time the rectangular form is taken 
into consideration at the location of the first line, is that the length 
of the outer circumference of the inner member is equal to the sum of such 
portion of the length of the circumference of the inscribed circle as is 
not covered by at least one inner circle which touches one of the short 
sides and at most one of the long sides, plus such portion of the length 
of the circumference of the inner circle or inner circles as, in turn, is 
not covered by the inscribed circle. 
The angular compartments can be shaped in many ways. Thus, each further 
circle may have a different diameter. However, it is preferable that the 
further circles in pairs have the same diameter relative to the first line 
or that all further circles have the same diameter. 
The intersections of a further circle and the inner member do not lie 
outside the subrectangle within which the corresponding further circle is 
constructed. In the most extreme case, this means that of two adjacent 
further circles, whose centres are disposed on opposite sides of the first 
line and which have the same diameter, one of the intersections of the 
further circle and the inscribed circle lies in the first line. The other 
intersection will invariably be located within the subrectangle. 
The location of the inscribed circle within the rectangle may vary from a 
position where it touches one short side of the rectangle to a position 
where it touches the other short side of the rectangle, depending on the 
desired outer form of the container in filled condition, the ratio between 
short and long sides of the rectangle and the like. When maximum symmetry 
in the container is aimed for, the inscribed circle should not touch 
either short side of the rectangle, in such a way that the centre of the 
inscribed circle is located at the intersection of the diagonals of the 
rectangle, a further requirement being that the diameters of the further 
circles are all equal. 
In accordance with a further elaboration of the principle of the invention, 
there may be provisions such that between two adjacent further circles, 
whose centres are located on opposite sides of the first line, the outer 
envelope is defined by an additional circular arc which is part of an 
additional circle which touches the adjacent short side of the rectangle 
and touches or intersects the two adjacent further circles referred to. A 
container of maximum symmetry, i.e. a container that is mirror-symmetric 
relative to the first line, is then obtained when the two adjacent further 
circles referred to have the same diameter and the centre of the 
additional circle is located in the first line. Using the basic principle 
of the invention, by means of one or two of such additional circular arcs 
the rectangular form can be approximated even further; naturally with the 
very high dimensional stability and high stacking strength being 
maintained. Depending on the material that is used and the cost of 
manufacture, it must be determined in each case whether or not it is 
useful in practice to employ such additional circular arcs. 
The closest possible approximation of the rectangular form can also be 
obtained in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention when two 
inscribed circles are present, which intersect each other in the short 
axis of symmetry of the rectangle, which intersections are mutually 
connected by a wall member which extends along the short axis of symmetry 
when the container is in fully filled condition. 
When outer envelope and inner member both have an uninterrupted continuous 
circumference, this will result in a configuration in which the outer 
envelope and the inner member are in surface-to-surface engagement along 
the portions of the inner member's outer circumference that are not 
covered by bulging circular arcs. Further, in this embodiment it is very 
well possible for the inner member to consist of a net. 
When both outer envelope and inner member are made of a material that is 
impervious to the material to be packaged, it may be preferable, for 
reasons of economy regarding packaging material, that the outer envelope 
or the inner member is omitted along the portions of the inner member's 
outer circumference that are not covered by bulging circular arcs. 
Such a container can be realized in a relatively simple manner when it is 
made from four parts, all consisting of a sheet of material of a 
transverse dimension equal to the height of the container to be formed, 
with, respectively, a first, second, third, fourth part having a length 
equal to that of the outer envelope and inner member in, respectively, a 
first, second, third, fourth subrectangle, with a portion of each sheet of 
material being folded back, the portion that is not folded back having a 
length equal to that of the inner member in the corresponding 
subrectangle, the portion that is folded back being secured to the portion 
that is not folded back at the desired intersections of the inscribed 
circle and the further circle and the length of the sheet of material that 
is folded back, between the two points of attachment being equal to the 
length of the arc of the corresponding further circle between the 
intersections referred to, which four members are mutually connected by 
securing to each other pairs of folding-back lines and pairs of ends that 
have not been folded back, throughout the entire height of the container. 
Manufacture from two parts is also possible. Then these parts should 
consist of a sheet of material with a transverse dimension equal to the 
height of the container to be formed, with one part having a length equal 
to that of the outer envelope and the inner member in two adjacent 
subrectangles and the other part having a length equal to that of the 
outer envelope and the inner member in the two remaining subrectangles, 
with a portion of each sheet of material being folded back at both ends 
thereof, the portion that has not been folded back having a length equal 
to that of the inner member in the corresponding subrectangles, the 
portions that have been folded back being secured to the portion that has 
not been folded back at the desired intersections of the inscribed circle 
and the further circles and the length of each portion of the sheet of 
material that has been folded back, between two points of attachment in a 
subrectangle being equal to the length of the arc of the corresponding 
further circle in said subrectangle between said intersections, which two 
portions are mutually connected by securing to each other pairs of 
folding-back lines throughout the entire height of the container. 
Although the foregoing constructions mainly relate to containers with a 
single, cylindrical inner member and four bulging circular arcs, one end 
of each of which is located in the first line, the other configurations of 
the container according to the invention can be realized with 
comparatively simple adjustment of the stitching patterns and lengths of 
sheets of material to be used.

In FIG. 1 the desired rectangular circumference of a container is 
designated by rectangle 1 with two long sides 1a and two short sides 1b. 
Provided in the rectangle 1 is an inscribed circle 2, which has a diameter 
equal to a short side 1b and touches both long sides 1a. From each angular 
point 3a-3d of the rectangle 1 a bisector 4a-4d has been drawn, with pairs 
of bisectors starting from the same short side 1b (4a, 4b, and 4c, 4d, 
respectively) intersecting each other in the axis 2a of the inscribed 
circle 2, extending parallel to the long sides 1a. The distance between 
the intersection of one pair (4a, 4b) and that of the other pair (4c, 4d) 
of bisectors on the axis 2a is always equal to the difference in length 
between the long side 1a and the short side 1b, while the axis 2b of the 
inscribed circle 2, extending parallel to the short sides 1b, will 
intersect the axis 2a at right angles between the intersections or, in an 
extreme case, in an intersection. Intersection of axes in an intersection 
is a borderline case, in which the inscribed circle 2 touches one of the 
short sides 1b. The axes 2a and 2b divide the rectangle 1 into four 
subrectangles, each containing one of the angular points 3a-3d of the 
rectangle 1 and one bisector 4a-4d starting therefrom. 
Located in each of the bisectors 4a-4d is the centre of a further circle 
5a-5d, each further circle 5a-5d touching the long side 1a and the short 
side 1b which meet in the angular point 3a-3d from which the corresponding 
bisector 4a-4d starts. The diameters of the further circles 5a-5d are in 
fact mutually independent and can be selected within a wide margin, 
although the intersections of the further circles 5a-5d and the inscribed 
circle 2 must lie within the subrectangle which contains the bisector in 
which the centre of the corresponding further circle 5a-5d is disposed, or 
one intersection must lie within the subrectangle and the other in the 
axis 2a. 
In the foregoing the constructive configuration of the container has been 
described. The container itself comprises an inner member which in fully 
filled condition assumes the form of a cylindrical part with a 
cross-section equal to that of the inscribed circle 2, and an outer 
envelope which in fully filled condition assumes the form of four bulges 
in the form of a circular arc corresponding to such portions of the four 
further circles 5a-5d as are situated outside the inscribed circle 2, 
while between said circular arcs the outer circumference of the inner 
member is followed. Viewed in cross-section and fully filled condition, 
the container comprises the portions indicated in FIG. 1 by thick lines. 
In FIG. 1 the axis 2b extends symmetrically relative to the short sides 1b, 
i.e. precisely intermediate the two intersections of the bisectors 4a-4d 
and the axis 2a. As previously stated, that intersection may be located at 
any point between the two intersections referred to. A shift from the 
middle is illustrated in FIG. 2, where axis 12b intersects axis 12a at a 
point closer to the intersection of bisectors 4a and 14b than to the 
intersection of bisectors 14c and 14d. FIG. 2 differs further from FIG. 1 
in location and form of the further circles 15a-15d. The further circles 
15a and 15b have the same diameter, while their centres are located in the 
bisectors 14a and 14b, such that both intersect the inscribed circle 12 in 
the axis 12a, and accordingly do so at the same point. Circles 15c and 15d 
have a similar location, although their mutually equal diameter is smaller 
than that of the circles 15a and 15b. As in FIG. 1 and all other Figures 
to follow, the actual wall portions of the container are indicated by 
thick lines. 
Four equal further circles 25a-25d are shown in FIG. 3. Because the 
location of the axis 22b relative to the intersections of the bisectors 
24a-24d and the axis 22a is the same as that in FIG. 2, the further 
circles 25a and 25b will intersect the inscribed circle 22 at a distance 
from the axis 22a and hence within their corresponding subrectangles. 
FIG. 4 in turn shows a situation where four equal further circles 35a-35d 
are used and the axis 32b, as in FIG. 1, is arranged symmetrically 
relative to the two short sides 31b. Thus, a rectangular container of 
maximum symmetry can be obtained. 
A variant of the symmetrical container according to FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 
5. The dimensions of the further circles 45-45d are equal to those 
according to FIG. 4, but the length of the long side 41a has been selected 
to be smaller than that of the long side 31a in FIG. 4. As explained 
hereinbefore, as a result the intersections of the further circles 45a-45d 
and the inscribed circle 42 will not coincide in the axis 42a anymore. 
FIG. 6 shows a situation where the intersection of the axis 52b and the 
axis 52a coincides with the intersection of the bisectors 54a and 54b. As 
a result, the inscribed circle 52 will touch the short side 51b. 
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment comparable to FIG. 6 in terms of construction, 
but this embodiment is intended in particular for packaging fluids. Owing 
to the fact that in a fluid the pressure is transmitted uniformly and 
instantly, the form of the inner member may deviate from a cylinder, i.e. 
where a wall portion of the container is in contact with the packaged 
fluid on both sides, at least if the fluid on one side communicates with 
the liquid on the other side of the wall portion. As shown in FIG. 7, they 
are such portions of the inner member as are covered by bulging circular 
arcs of the outer envelope. It is important that the points of the 
container that define the multiple circular arc configuration of the outer 
circumference are retained in the proper position, i.e. the intersections 
of the inscribed circle 62 and the further circles 65-65d. To that effect, 
the two intersections of each further circle 65a-65d and the inscribed 
circle 62 are mutually connected by planar, straight wall portion 66a-66d, 
which wall portions are mutually connected by circular arc portions having 
a radius equal to that of the inscribed circle 62. 
FIG. 8 shows an embodiment comparable to that according to FIG. 5, but FIG. 
8 shows a configuration again which is intended in particular for 
packaging fluids. It is observed that in the case of certain free-flowing 
materials, similar conditions as in the case of fluids can be created, 
particularly when the inner member is made of a net, which readily allows 
the packaged material to move from one compartment to another within the 
outer envelope of the container. 
A third embodiment for packaging fluids in particular is shown in FIG. 9, 
which embodiment is comparable to that according to FIG. 4. 
It will be clear that a container according to the invention cannot contain 
any exact square angles. It will also be clear, however, that a square 
angle is approximated more closely according as the radius of a further 
circle is smaller. However, according as the radius of the further circles 
decreases, the space between two further circles on a short side of the 
rectangle increases. In cases where the further circles are chosen to be 
comparatively small and the free intermediate space is to be used as much 
as possible, the embodiment according to FIG. 10 can be opted for. In this 
embodiment, the outer envelope is extended to include two additional 
circular arcs, each following an additional circle 77a or 77b, which 
touches the short side 71b and intersects the inscribed circle 72 at the 
same points as the further circles 75a-75b or 75c-75d. In the embodiment 
shown, the centres of the additional circles 77a and 77b are located in 
the axis 72a and the diameters are equal. This is the consequence of the 
use of four identical further circles 75a-75d. When the circles mentioned 
last are mutually different, the diameters of the additional circles may 
also be mutually different and/or their centres may not be located in the 
axis 72a anymore. 
When a container is contemplated which is considerably longer than it is 
wide, for instance when the long side of the rectangle is to be twice as 
long as the short side of the rectangle, the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 
can be opted for. This embodiment comprises what may be called an extended 
inner member. The starting point is rectangle 81 with three inscribed 
circles 82, 82' and 82", all touching both long sides 81a of the 
rectangle, while the inscribed circle 82 is arranged symmetrically 
relative to the two short sides 81b of the rectangle, the inscribed circle 
82' touches one short side 81b of the rectangle and the inscribed circle 
82" touches the other short side 81b of the rectangle. In accordance with 
the teachings of the invention, from the angular points 83a-83d of the 
rectangle 81, bisectors 84a-84b have been drawn, in which the centres are 
located of further circles 85a-85d, which touch the adjacent short side 
and long side of the rectangle 81. It is observed that in this embodiment 
the inscribed circle 82' and/or 82" need not touch the short side 81b of 
the rectangle, but may be spaced from it, as shown in a number of the 
foregoing embodiments, while one or more additional inscribed circles can 
be used for an even longer container. 
FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which the inner member is formed by circular 
arcs of two inscribed circles 92 and 92" each touching both long sides 91a 
of the rectangle and each touching one of the short sides 91b of the 
rectangle. It is observed that, as in the previous embodiment, the 
inscribed circle 92 and/or 92' need not touch the adjacent short side of 
the rectangle. To enable the inner member of the container to function in 
the proper desired manner, the intersections of the two inscribed circles 
92 and 92' must be retained in their positions. This is provided for by a 
central planar wall member 98, which extends according to the axis 92b and 
connects the two intersections 92c and 92d of the inscribed circles 92 and 
92' and which may or may not be provided with passages. Naturally, in 
accordance with the invention, further circles 95a-95d are present again 
in the corner areas of the rectangle 91. 
FIG. 13 illustrates a further possibility of extending the inner member. To 
that effect, in addition to the inscribed circle 102, another two inner 
circles 109a and 109b have been provided within the rectangle 101, which 
circles each touch a short a short side 101b of the rectangle and have a 
diameter which is smaller than that of the inscribed circle 102. The 
diameters of the inner circles 109a and 109b need not be mutually equal, 
nor is it requisite for the centres thereof to be in the axis 102a, as 
shown in FIG. 13. Further, in accordance with the invention, again four 
further circles 105a-105d are provided within the rectangle 101. 
Comparison of FIG. 13 and, for instance, FIG. 1, shows that through the 
use of the inner circles 109a and 109b the outer envelope of the container 
approximates the desired rectangular form more closely, but also that the 
manufacture of the container is rendered more complicated and the required 
amount of material increases. In individual cases, therefore, it will 
mostly depend on a consideration of costs what container is chosen. 
A variant which can be seen as a combination of the embodiments according 
to FIGS. 10 and 13 is shown in FIG. 14. In this embodiment, the space 
between two further circles 115a and 115b or 115c and 115d on opposite 
sides of the axis 112a is filled up in the manner of FIG. 10 with a 
circular arc of an additional circle 117a or 117b. However, these 
additional circles are constructed in the manner of the inner circles as 
used in the embodiment according to FIG. 13, but in this embodiment at an 
intersection of an additional circle 117a or 117b and a further circle 
115a, 115b or 115c, 115d, the wall portion of the container which follows 
the circular arc of the corresponding further circle continues up to the 
inner member, instead of up to the wall portion which follows the circular 
arc of the inner circle, as is the case in the embodiment according to 
FIG. 13. 
An even closer approximation of the rectangle 111 can be realized when, in 
further elaboration of the principle of the invention, a second group of 
four further circles 115a'-115d' is constructed, which, like the first 
four, touch a short side and a long side of the rectangle and have a 
centre which is located in a bisector starting from the angular point of 
the rectangle 111 where the long and the short side of the rectangle meet. 
The diameters of the second four further circles 115a'-115d' will be 
comparatively small, as will appear from FIG. 14. Still, the second four 
further circles 115a'-115d' cannot just be considered of theoretical 
significance. A filling thereof, for instance when a fluid is to be 
packaged, can be accomplished in a comparatively simple manner. Further, 
the second four further circles 115a'-115d' can provide spaces for 
arranging, for instance, rods or bars of a stacking frame or an auxiliary 
frame for keeping the container open during filling. 
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the container according to the embodiment 
of FIG. 4 in the position the container will assume when in fully filled 
condition. The container consists of an inner member 132 in the form of a 
cylinder of circular cross-section in accordance with the inscribed circle 
32 in FIG. 4. Mounted on this inner member 132 are four bulging wall 
portions 135a-135d of circular arc configuration, which have been arranged 
in accordance with the teachings of the invention, i.e. as explained 
further with reference to the further circles 35a-35d of FIG. 4. The wall 
portions 135a-135d accordingly touch the lateral faces of a right block 
131 of rectangular, horizontal cross-section. As previously stated, a 
container according to the invention is characterized by, among other 
things, non-bulging sidewalls in fully filled condition. This means that, 
if so desired, without problems the fully filled container can be moved 
into an encasing box, bag or crate, which box, bag or crate has inner 
dimensions which correspond at least to those of the right block 131. 
Naturally, the container may also be arranged in such a box, bag or crate 
prior to filling. 
For closing the container at the top and bottom by means other than an 
encasing box, bag or crate, pieces of packaging material attached to the 
outer envelope may be provided. In addition, it is also possible to make 
the outer envelope longer than the inner member and to arrange for the 
outer envelope to extend beyond the inner member at the top and/or bottom, 
which portions are adapted to fold inwards and will form the cover and/or 
the bottom of the container, with optional securing. 
FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate two ways of realizing a container according to 
FIG. 15. In FIG. 16, the starting point is four sheets of material, each 
in principle having a length corresponding to a quarter of the 
circumference of the inner member 132 plus the length of the circular arc 
of one of the wall portions 135a-135d. Starting from a free end 136, the 
sheet of material is folded back after a length of a quarter of the 
circumference of the inner member 132, whereby a folding line 137 is 
formed. The portion that has been folded back is secured to the other 
portion of the sheet of material along a line 138 located at a point to be 
determined using an auxiliary construction figure, for example FIG. 4 in 
the present case. The point referred to is the intersection of a further 
circle 35a-35d and the inscribed circle 32 near the long side 31a of the 
rectangle. The sheets of material treated thus must be brought in the 
position relative to each other as shown in FIG. 16, after which the 
container can be obtained by means of mutually securing two pairs of 
folding lines 137 and two pairs of free ends 136. 
FIG. 17 starts from two sheets of material, with the two free ends of each 
sheet being folded back to form a folding line 139 and with the free ends 
being secured at a point corresponding with 138 in FIG. 16. The container 
can now be completed by interconnecting pairs of folding lines 139. 
It will be clear that many further variants and modifications are possible 
within the framework of the invention. Thus, the invention is not limited 
to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-14 and many combinations and mixtures 
other than those shown and discussed are likewise possible. Similarly, the 
realization forms for obtaining a container according to the invention as 
shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are given only by way of example and are not 
intended to limit the invention in any way.