Abstract:
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.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a bag useful for the storage and transportation of bulk food products. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a bulk materials bag  5  constructed of not less than two (2) different materials useful for the storage and transportation of peanuts. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (“FIBC”) such as large woven polypropylene bags have been used to transport bulk materials for years and are well known in the art. Food products, such as peanuts, are grown in warm, moist climates and must be processed and preserved after harvesting. For example, peanut growers will often harvest peanuts from the field, shell them, and then place the shelled peanuts in large bags for storage in a refrigeration unit until the peanuts are to be shipped. When the peanuts are removed from the refrigeration unit for shipment and exposed to the ambient, often warm and moist climatic conditions, condensation often forms on the inside of the bag which can saturate the shelled peanuts leading to mold growth. As such, there is a need for a bulk material bag that reduces moisture levels within and primarily near the upper surface of the bag during the storage and transportation of bulk goods such as peanuts. 
       SUMMARY THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the bulk materials bag  5  disclosed herein. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of one embodiment of the bulk materials bag  5  disclosed herein. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of one embodiment of constructing the bulk materials bag  5  disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Definitions 
       [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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 
       [0011]    A bulk materials bag  5  is provided herein. In a general embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the bulk materials bag  5  comprises a bottom panel  10 , a plurality of side panels  15 , a top panel  20  and a plurality of lifting straps  25 . Generally, the bulk materials bag  5  is configured as an enclosable rectangular structure with the bottom panel  10  located opposite the top panel  20  forming the ends of the structure with the plurality of side panels  15  forming the sides of the structure. Other configurations of the bulk materials bag  5 , including without limitation square, cylindrical and triangular shapes, should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0012]    The bottom panel  10  is generally flat and configured to rest upon a surface such as a floor or a crate. Bottom panel  10  is configured to provide enough structural integrity to withstand the weight of the contents of the bulk materials bag  5  and to resist wear and tear as the baa is reused over time. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom panel  10  is configured to withstand the weight of approximately 2,400 pounds of peanuts being stored or transported in the bag. The dimensions of the bottom panel  10  may be adjusted depending upon the desired overall size of the bulk materials bag  5 . In one embodiment, the bottom panel  10  is rectangularly shaped and is approximately thirty four (34) inches wide and forty-one (41) inches long. Other shapes of the bottom panel  10 , such as circular or triangular, should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the bottom panel  10  further comprises an elongated opening, or spout,  30  extending approximately from the center of the bottom panel  10 . The spout  30  is used to empty the contents of the bulk materials bag  5 . The spout  30  has a means for releasing the contents of the bulk materials bag  5  which allows the contents to evenly and effectively be dispensed from the bulk materials bag  5 . Such means comprise any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the spout  30  is securely closed by a plurality of straps tied around the spout  30 . The spout  30  may be opened by untying the straps. In one preferred embodiment, the spout  30  extends approximately twelve (12) inches from the bottom panel  10  and has a uniform diameter of approximately eighteen (18) inches. 
         [0014]    The side panels  15  are 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 panels  15  are configured to withstand the weight of approximately 2,400 pounds of peanuts being stored or transported in the bag. The bulk materials bag  5  may comprise any number of side panels  15 , depending in part upon the desired overall shape of the bulk materials bag  5 . In one embodiment, the bulk materials bag  5  comprises four (4) side panels attached to one another and to the top panel  20  and the bottom panel  10  by an attachment means. In one embodiment, the attachment means comprises stitching the various edges of the side panels  15  together with polypropylene or polyester sewing thread. It is also possible that said side panels  15  comprise a single, continuous piece of material. The dimensions of the side panels  15  may be adjusted depending upon the desired overall size of the bulk materials bag. The plurality of side panels  15  may be identical in shape and dimension or may have different shapes and dimensions. In one embodiment, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , where the bulk materials bag  5  is rectangularly shaped and comprises four (4) side panels, two (2) of the sides panels  15  are 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. 
         [0015]    The top panel  20  is located opposite the bottom panel  10 . In one embodiment, the top panel  20  approximately mirrors the shape and dimensions of said bottom panel  10  and further comprises a top spout  35  extending from said center of top panel  20 . In still another embodiment, and as depicted in  FIGS. 1-2  said top panel  20  comprises a plurality of top panel sections  40   a, b, c, d  that collectively define a surface area that is larger than the surface area of the bottom panel  10 , such that, when the bag is filled to capacity, the top panels sections  40   a, b, c, d  angle upward from the intersection of side panels  15  and the top panel  20 . In another aspect, the top panel sections  40   a, b, c, d  may be flat when the bulk materials bag  5  is filled to capacity such that they collectively define a surface area that is approximately equivalent to the area of the bottom panel  10  and that the top panel  20  and the bottom panel  10  are generally parallel to one another. The top spout  35  is configured to allow the bulk materials bag  5  to be filled. The top spout  35  may be opened and closed by any method known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the top spout  35  is securely closed by a plurality of straps tied around the top spout&#39;s  35  opening. The top spout  35  may be opened by untying the straps. In one preferred embodiment, the spout  30  extends approximately ten (10) inches from the top panel  20  and has a uniform diameter of approximately fourteen (14) inches. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the plurality of sloping top panel sections  40   a, b, c, d  further permit space (or a void) to exist within the boundaries formed by the top layer of the materials stored in the bulk materials bag  5  and the sloping top panel sections  40   a, b, c, d.  This feature encourages any moisture that forms in the bulk materials bag  5  during 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 panel  20  or the plurality of top panel sections  40   a, b, c, d  are constructed, the collection of moisture within the cavity is advantageous because it allows the moisture to escape the bulk materials bag  5  rather than be trapped, thus alleviating the problem of the contents of the bulk materials bag  5 , such as peanuts, from being contaminated by the unwanted moisture. In addition to being breathable, the material used to comprise the top panel  20  has “wicking” properties that draw condensation and moisture away from the contents. 
         [0017]    The bulk materials bag  5  also comprises a plurality of lifting straps  25 . In one embodiment, the bulk materials bag  5  comprises four (4) lifting straps  25 , though more or less lifting straps  25  may be desirable depending upon the use of the bulk materials bag  5  and should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. In one configuration, the lifting straps  25  comprise a handle comprised of a continuous looped material  45  affixed to side panels at attachment points  50 . Generally, the handle  45  is configured to accept a lifting implement from a machine (such as a hook from a crane or a tractor) to allow the bulk materials bag  5  to be lifted and manipulated. In one preferred embodiment, the handle  45  extends approximately eight (8) inches in height as measured from the top edge of a side panel  15 . The attachment points  50  may 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 panels  15 . In one embodiment, the lifting straps comprise woven polypropylene polymer. In one embodiment, each lifting strap  25  comprises at least two (2) attachment points  50  wherein each attachment point  50  is attached to a different side panel  15 . In another aspect, the lifting straps  25  comprises attachment points  50  that contact only one side panel  15 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The attachment point  50  may comprise reinforced material where it contacts the side panel  15  so that upon lifting, the side panel  15  is not torn or damaged. In an alternate embodiment, the side panel  15  comprises reinforced material where it receives said lifting straps  25  so that upon lifting, the side panel is not torn or damaged. 
         [0018]    A novel aspect of the bulk materials bag  5  is that it is constructed from at least two (2) different materials. For example, in one embodiment, the bottom panel  10  and the side panels  15  of the bulk materials bag  5  are constructed from a material different than the material comprising the top panel  20 . The bottom panel  10  and the side panel  15  comprise a material that is generally more durable and impervious to moisture. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom panel  10  and the side panels  15  are 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 panel  10  and side panels  15  comprise a thermoplastic material. The weight or thickness of the woven polymer fabric may be varied according to the intended use of the bulk materials bag  5 . In one non-limiting example, the weight of the woven polymer fabric may be of a range from 100 grams per m 2  to 270 grams per meter 2  (g/m 2 ). 
         [0019]    The bottom panel  10  and the side panels  15  may be formed of one piece of material, such as a single sheet of polypropylene which has been shaped as generally shown in  FIGS. 1-2  or may be formed from separate sheets of material attached to one another. For example, the bottom panel  30  may be attached to the plurality of side panels  15  at their respective edges. If the bulk materials bag  5  comprises four (4) side panels, each outer edge of a rectangular or square bottom panel  10  would be attached to a bottom horizontal edge of a separate side panel  15 . The side panels  15  are then attached to one another at their vertical edges. In some cases, as shown in  FIG. 3 , one continuous piece of material is used to construct two side panels  15  to and the bottom panel  10  (thereby forming a “U-Panel”) and two additional side panels  15  are affixed to this U-Panel to complete the lower portion of the bulk materials bag  5 . As referenced above, the side panels  15  may be attached to one another and/or the bottom panel  10  through any means known in the art including thermowelding/seaming, stitching or otherwise. 
         [0020]    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 bag  5 , 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 panel  20 . 
         [0021]    The top panel  20  comprises a different material than the material or materials comprising said bottom panel  10  and said side panels  15 . In one embodiment, the top panel  20  comprises a breathable fabric configured to allow any unwanted moisture in the bulk materials bag  5  to 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 bag  5 . 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 bag  5 , 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 panel  20  may be attached to the top edges of the side panels  15  by any means known in the art. In one embodiment, the top panel  20  is stitched to the top edges of the side panels  15 , utilizing polyester or polypropylene thread using a lock-stitch or chain-stitch method. Generally, the top panel  20  is attached to the side panels  15  at their respective edges. 
         [0022]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.