Abstract:
A bulk bag for receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging liquids comprising four double layer side walls connected end to end to define four corners, four sleeves located at the four corners of the side walls, stiffener panels received between the double layers of the side walls, and stiffener rods received in the sleeves. The bulk bag may be provided with double layer baffles extending across the interior corners of the bulk bag and stiffeners received between the double layers of the baffles. The bulk bag may be provided with double layer dividers which extend across the interior of the bulk bag from the midpoints of the side walls and having stiffener panels therein.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to flexible intermediate bulk containers also known as bulk bags, and more particularly to a composite container for receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging liquids which is adapted for stacking. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Historically, flexible intermediate bulk containers (bulk bags) have been used for receiving, storing, transporting and discharging flowable materials of all types. Bulk bags are typically constructed in square, vertically rectangular, or circular shapes with lift straps attached to each of the uppermost corners of the square, rectangle or circle. 
     By way of example, flexible intermediate bulk containers are used for handling flowable materials in granular or powder form such as chemicals, minerals, fertilizers, foodstuffs, grains and agricultural products, etc. The advantages of such receptacles include relatively low weight, reduced cost, versatility and, in the case of reusable receptacles, low return freight costs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,859 discloses a bulk bag adapted for use with liquids. The bulk bag of the &#39;859 patent comprises four double layer side walls. Stiffeners formed from cardboard are inserted between the layers of the side walls thereby imparting sufficient rigidity to the container to permit its use with liquids. Although the bag of the &#39;859 patent has been generally well received, its utilization is somewhat limited by the fact that it cannot be stacked to facilitate the transportation and storage of the bags and the contents thereof. 
     The present invention comprises an improved bulk bag design which overcomes the foregoing and other problems long since associated with the prior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, a bulk bag comprises four double layered side walls. The side walls receive stiffener panels which are formed from wood. Sleeves provided at each corner of the bulk bag receive stiffener rods also formed from wood. The bulk bag is provided with a double layered top which also receives a stiffener panel formed from wood. 
     When the bulk bag of the present invention is used to receive, store, transport and discharge liquids, it is typically provided with a liner comprising film formed from a plastic material such as polyethylene. In such instances, the bulk bag may be provided with baffles extending diagonally across each interior corner of the bulk bag to prevent the liner from pinching into the corners. When used, the baffles are preferably provided with stiffener panels formed from wood. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, double layer dividers extend across the interior of the container from the midpoints of the side walls, thereby dividing the interior of the container into four quadrants. When employed, the divider panels are preferably provided with stiffener panels formed from wood. 
     The use of the present invention is highly advantageous in receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging liquids. For example, the present invention is readily adapted to receiving, storing, transporting and discharging orange juice, tomato paste, and other foodstuffs. Containers constructed in accordance with the invention are adapted for stacking. For example, certain embodiments of the invention can be stacked one on top of the other to a total height of six containers. The stackability of the container of the present invention is highly advantageous in facilitating transportation and storage of the containers and the materials contained therein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a container top useful in the practice of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration of the construction of the top of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first variation of the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second variation of the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of the third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of the foldability of the fourth embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  thereof, there is shown a bulk bag  20  comprising a first embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag  20  comprises a bottom wall  22  and four double layer side walls  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30 . The bottom wall  22  and the double layer side walls  24 ,  26 ,  28 , and  30  are preferably fabricated from woven polypropylene fabric and are joined together by sewing in the conventional manner. Other materials and fabrication techniques can be used in constructing the bulk bag  20  depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. 
     The double layer side walls  24  and  28  each receive a one piece stiffener panel  34 . The double layer side walls  26  and  30  each receive a pair of stiffener panels  36 . The use of the pairs of stiffener panels  36  in the side walls  26  and  30  facilitates the folding of the bulk bag  20  for storage and transportation prior to its ultimate utilization in the manner illustrated in FIG.  2 . 
     The sleeves  32  each receive a corner stiffener rod  38 . The stiffener rods  38  are preferably formed from wood and are preferably rectangular or square in configuration. The stiffener panels  34  and  36  which are received in the double layer side walls of the bulk bag  20  are preferably formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood. Other conventional materials may be utilized in the practice of the invention, if desired. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5 , the bulk bag  20  is provided with a top  40 . The top  40  includes a double layer top wall  42  and a surrounding skirt  44 . The top  40  is provided with a plurality of conventional fasteners  46  which cooperate with fastener receiving members  48  secured to the side walls of the container  20  to secure the top  40  in place. As is best shown in FIG. 5, the double layer top wall  42  receives a stiffener panel  50  which may be formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood or other conventional materials in accordance with the requirements and particular applications of the invention. 
     A bulk bag  60  comprising a second embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8 . The bulk bag  60  is identical to the bulk bag  20  illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, inclusive, and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith except that the bulk bag  60  is provided with double layer baffles  62  extending diagonally across the interior corners of the bulk bag. The double layer baffles  62  are fabricated from woven polypropylene fabric and are connected to the double layer side walls of the bulk bag  60  by sewing in the conventional manner. Each double layer baffle  62  is provided with a pair of stiffener panels  64  which are preferably formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood, it being understood that other conventional materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the bulk bag  60  and in the fabrication of the stiffener panels thereof in accordance with the requirements of particular applications of the invention. 
     The use of two stiffener panels  64  in each baffle  62  allows the baffles  62  to fold inwardly. The use of two stiffener panels  36  in the side walls  26  and  30  of the bulk bag  60  allows the side walls  26  and  30  to be folded inwardly. In this manner the bulk bag  60  is adapted for folding into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, thereby facilitating the transportation and storage of the bulk bag prior to its ultimate utilization. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a bulk bag  70  comprising a variation of the second embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag  70  differs from the bulk bag  60  in that the opposed double layer side walls  26  and  30  thereof are each provided with two stiffeners  72  located adjacent the ends of the side walls, and two stiffeners  74  located in the mid-portion of each side wall. The stiffeners  74  may be completely separate or hingedly interconnected depending on the requirements of the particular applications of the invention. The stiffeners  72  and  74  are preferably formed from oil impregnated by five-ply plywood, however, other conventional materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the stiffeners  72  and  74  depending on the requirements of particular applications of the invention. 
     A bulk bag  80  comprising a second variation of the second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  10 . The bulk bag  80  differs from the bulk bag  70  illustrated in FIG.  9  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith in that the bulk bag  80  employs a single stiffener  82  in the mid region of each of the double layer side walls  26  and  30 . When the stiffeners  82  are utilized in lieu of the stiffeners  74 , the side walls  26  and  30  of the bulk bag  80  are rendered non-foldable. This is advantageous in those applications of the invention in which the contents of the bulk bag are discharged by tipping the bulk bag so that the contents thereof flow outwardly from the open top. 
     It will be understood that the stiffeners  82  of the bulk bag  80  are interchangeable with the stiffeners  74  of the bulk bag  70 . This is advantageous in that the same basic bulk bag construction can be utilized in the construction of two entirely different bulk bag types. In this manner inventory requirements are reduced and the adaptability of the bulk bag to particular applications of the invention is facilitated. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a bulk bag  90  comprising a third embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag  90  is virtually identical to the bulk bag  60  illustrated in FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The bulk bag  90  differs from the bulk bag  60  in that it is provided with a plurality of additional sleeves similar to the sleeves  32  and in that it is provided with a plurality of additional stiffener rods  92  located in the mid-regions of the double layer side walls comprising the bulk bags. The additional stiffener rods  92  are preferably formed from wood, however, the additional stiffener rods  92  may be formed from other conventional materials depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. The use of the additional stiffener rods  92  is advantageous in that it further increases the stackability of the bulk bag. 
     The use of two stiffener panels  64  in each of the baffles  62  allows the baffles  62  to be folded inwardly. The use of two stiffener panels  36  and the use of duplicate additional stiffener rods  92  in conjunction with each of the double layer side walls  26  and  30  allows the side walls  26  and  30  to be folded inwardly. In this manner, the bulk bag  90  may be folded into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 12 to facilitate storage and transportation of the bulk bag prior to its ultimate utilization. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13,  14 , and  15 , there is shown a bulk bag  100  comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention. The bulk bag  100  is virtually identical to the bulk bag  20  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. The bulk bag  100  differs from the bulk bag  20  in that it is provided with perpendicular double layer dividers  102  which extend across the interior of the bulk bag from the mid-points of the side walls thereof. The dividers  102  are preferably fabricated from woven polypropylene fabric and are secured to the side walls of the bulk bag  100  by sewing in the conventional manner. The dividers  102  are each provided with four stiffener panels  104  which are preferably formed from oil impregnated five-ply plywood. Other conventional materials may be utilized in the fabrication of the dividers  102  and the stiffener panels  104  depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. 
     The dividers  102  separate the interior of the bulk bag  100  into four quadrants. This is advantageous in those applications of the invention in which different materials are received, stored, transported, and discharged from the same bulk bag. The use of the bulk bag  100  is also advantageous in those applications of the invention in which it is desirable to discharge a portion of the contents of the bulk bag without disturbing the remaining contents thereof. 
     The use of two stiffener panels  36  in the side walls  26  and  30  of the bulk bag  100  facilitates the folding of the side walls  26  and  30  inwardly. The use of multiple stiffener panels  104  in each double layer divider  102  of the bulk bag  100  facilitates the folding of the dividers  102 . In this manner, the bulk bag  100  can be folded into the configuration illustrated in FIG. 14 which facilitates storage and transportation of the bulk bag  100  prior to its ultimate utilization. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.