Abstract:
The invention consists of non-self supporting containment bag used in conjunction with a dumpster container. The bag has a zipper or other sealable means, and a series of pick-up or attachment loops or handles may also be attached to the outer bag material. The bag may additionally have an internal lining to resist leakage of fluids or wet materials stored in the container.

Description:
This is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/393,552, filed on Mar. 21, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,676, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/930,408, filed on Aug. 15, 2001 now abandoned, to which this application claims priority and which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to containment bags used with large dumpster style disposal containers in the storage, transportation and disposal of wastes. 
     PRIOR ART 
     In plant renovations or other type of construction or clean-up projects, wastes are generated and stored in large on-site dumpster—containers, such as rolloff containers, end dump containers, and gondola rail car containers. When hazardous materials (such as tank cleaning sludge, wet or dry waste materials, chemical plant by-products, rail wastes, high heat wastes), odorous materials, or fine particulate matter (for instance, incinerator ashes, powders, asbestos materials) are to be stored in an onsite dumpster container for later transportation and disposal, it is desirable to line the container to protect the container from exposure to the materials and to make later disposal easier. Currently, either large sheets of plastic are used to line the container or container bags are utilized. The existing container bags have openings that are closable using a series of ties or cords. Given the large size of the containers, closing the series of ties can be a time consuming chore. Further, the ties fail to make an effective seal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention consists of non-self supporting containment bag used in conjunction with a dumpster container. The bag has a zipper or other sealable means and a series of pick-up or attachment loops or handles may also be attached to the outer bag material. The bag may additionally have an internal lining. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a simple easily installable liner for a dumpster container that is sealable. 
     It is another object to provide a liner for use in a dumpster container having attachment or pick-up handles. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a containment bag for use in a dumpster container having a secondary liner on the interior of the containment bag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rolloff container. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an end dump container. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a gondola rail car container. 
         FIG. 4  shows a series of prior art container bags. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the containment bag invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the containment bag invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Three existing dumpster type containers are shown in  FIGS. 1-3 : a roll off container ( FIG. 1 ), an end-dump container ( FIG. 2 ) and a rail car gondola ( FIG. 3 ). These containers range in size from 52′×10′×5′ for a rail gondola to 22′×7. 5′×5′ for a 30 yard rolloff container. Shown in  FIG. 4  are typical prior art container bags.  FIG. 4   a  shows a single spout container bag  100  having a series of grab loops  101 . The grab loops  101  are used to attach and support the container bag to a dumpster container. The single spout  104  provides access to the interior of the bag for loading materials into the container bag. After loading, the single spout would be tied shut with a suitable tie, such as a rope. The spout type bag can come with multiple spout configurations as shown in  FIG. 4   d.    
       FIG. 4   b  shows a prior art cigar top bag  300 . The cigar top bag  300  has a top opening  301 , which is closable by a cover  304  having a series of ties  302  located around the periphery of the top opening  301 . Ties  302  attach to loops  303 .  FIG. 4   c  shows a prior art bread bag style container bag  400 . The bread bag style is similar to the cigar top bag except the opening in the cigar top bag is located on the end instead of the top. Again, the opening is closable by tying a series of ties  402  to a matching series of loops  403 . Also shown is a series of handles, shown here shown as loops  404 , for attaching and supporting the container bag to a disposal container. Prior art bags are generally constructed of polypropylene and may have an interior lining  409 , such as a polyethylene barrier attached to the interior of the bag shell. 
     Shown in  FIG. 5  is containment bag  1 . Containment bag  1  is made of a non-self supporting material and is designed to be inserted in a commercial dumpster container. The containment bag  1  may be made of woven or non-woven materials with a 3-5 oz woven polypropylene preferred. Other materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC, reinforced or non-reinforced), woven or non-woven polyethylene or other suitable materials, such as woven fiberglass may be used. The bag material may also be coated, such as woven polypropylene bag having a polyethylene coating placed on the interior or exterior of the bag. 
     The bag should have an opening  2  that is sealingly closable. Bag opening  2  should be placed on the bag for ease of loading and storage of materials and, in some instances, for ease of removal of the stored materials. For instance, the bag shown in  FIG. 5  has two sealable openings, one positioned on the top of the bag  3 , and one positioned on the side of the bag  4 . The two openings are shown for demonstration purposes. In the standard embodiment, a container bag will have a single opening. As shown, the openings are closable with a sealable closing means, such as a zipper. A preferred zipper is a #10 coil nylon zipper, with two pulls positioned on the zipper tracks. Other zipper or zipper types can be used. 
     Also shown are support handles  5  in  FIG. 6 , which are positioned near the top perimeter edge  100 , and where the opening and zipper are positioned inward of the perimeter edge  100 . The support handles  5  can serve two purposes: (1) to attach the bag to the container, and thereby support the bag for fill; and, in some instances, (2) to assist in moving or removal of the bag from the container. Handles  5  can be loops, such as double D-ring straps or 2-inch loops, or lines or ties, and can be made from suitable materials, such as polypropylene or polyester webbing. When used to attach the bag to the container, the handles will attach to points on the container, generally, at least one handle on each corner (see  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing containers having a fabric top attached to the container with handles). 
     Additionally, the bag  1  may incorporate a separate inner liner  10  (not shown). Inner liners are useful when the stored materials are wet or liquids. Suitable material can be low-density polyethylene, with 6-10 mil thickness being preferred. One such liner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,005, herein incorporated by reference. Inner liner may be sewn to the outer bag, or attached by other means, for instance heat-sealed to the outer bag. 
     The container bag as shown is intended to be disposed with the stored wastes, and not intended to for re-use. 
     Shown in  FIG. 6  is another embodiment of the container bag  4 . Bag  4  is shown having a single top opening, sealable with a zipper. Also shown are loops  5  on one side of the top and a series of straps  6  on the opposite topside. As shown, the matching loops are D-ring loops  7 . The straps are of length sufficient to cross the top surface of the bag and tie into loops on the opposite top side. When so secured, these straps help resist “flapping” of the bag top during transport in an open container, such as a railcar gondola. 
     It is intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.