FLEXIBLE INTERMEDIATE BULK CONTAINER WITH COLLECTION SKIRT

Abstract

A collection assembly (10, 10a) for flowable materials includes a central, flexible bag (12, 12a) with a collection skirt (14, 14a) secured to the bag (12, 12a) and extending outwardly from the open top (20, 20a) of the bag (12, 12a). In use, the assembly (10, 10a) is placed at a collection site with the bag (12, 12a) in a collapsed condition and the skirt (14, 14a) is deployed about the bag (12, 12a). Material (36) is then placed on the assembly (10, 10a) over the open top (20, 20a) and, as necessary, the skirt (14, 14a). The skirt is then elevated using marginal gathering apparatus (16, 16a), thereby causing the material (36) to flow into the bag (12, 12a). The skirt (14, 14a) may then be gathered and closed, forming a duffel closure for the assembly (10, 10a).

Claims

1. A container assembly for material, comprising: a flexible bag including a bottom wall and foldable sidewall structure projecting from the bottom wall, said bag being rectangular in cross-sectional shape and presenting opposite inner and outer surfaces, said bag presenting an open top that has a rectangular-shaped periphery, with the cross-sectional shape of the bag and periphery being coextensive, said bag movable between collapsed and expanded positions, with the bag presenting an upright central bag axis in the expanded position; a plurality of lifting structures secured to the outer surface of the bag about the periphery of the open top; and a flexible collection skirt including a connection segment securely connected to the sidewall structure of the bag adjacent the open top, said collection skirt extending outwardly around the periphery of the open top, such that the skirt presents a rectangular-shaped central skirt opening that is coextensive with the cross-sectional shape of the bag and the periphery of the open top, said collection skirt being generally flat to present opposed upper and lower skirt faces, said collection skirt being moveable between a flat configuration, in which the collection skirt lies in a plane orthogonal to the bag axis and conceals the lifting structures below the lower skirt face, and a gathered configuration, in which the collection skirt is lifted up and gathered toward the bag axis and thereby reveals the lifting structures, said bottom wall of the bag being closely adjacent the lower skirt face, with the sidewall structure folded, in the collapsed position of the bag, said bottom wall of the bag being spaced from the lower skirt face a greater distance, with the sidewall structure unfolded, in the expanded position of the bag than in the collapsed position thereof, said collection skirt having an outer margin and gathering apparatus at spaced locations adjacent the outer margin thereof, said gathering apparatus including structure defining a through-opening at each of the spaced locations to facilitate lifting of the skirt from the flat configuration to the gathered configuration, with such lifting causing material on the upper face skirt to pass freely through the central skirt opening into the bag.

2. The container assembly of claim 1, said skirt presenting an outer margin, said outer margin being substantially circular.

3. The container assembly of claim 1, said gathering apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced apart lifting loops, each defining the through opening, secured to said skirt outer margin.

4. The container assembly of claim 1, said gathering apparatus comprising a peripheral drawstring about said skirt and located within a pocket formed at the outer margin of the skirt, said pocket presenting a plurality of openings, each of which cooperates with the drawstring to define the through opening.

5. The container assembly of claim 1, said plurality of lifting structures including lifting loops.

6. The container assembly of claim 1, said skirt configured to provide a closure duffel when said bag is filled with said material.

7. The container assembly of claim 1, there being a plurality of connection segments adjacent the central skirt opening, with connection of the connection segments to the bag serving to securely interconnect the collection skirt to the bag.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly in accordance with the invention, shown in a collapsed, folded-up configuration prior to use of the assembly;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the container assembly lying on a support surface prior to filling of the container assembly;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the container assembly illustrated in FIG. 2;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the container assembly, shown with the central bag thereof in a deployed position;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the container assembly illustrated in FIG. 4;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a top perspective exploded view of the container assembly;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the container assembly, in a collapsed condition, but with fill applied in the central region of the container assembly;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the container assembly of FIG. 7 during elevation of the skirt of the assembly during filling of the central bag thereof;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the container assembly after complete filling and closure thereof, and depicting elevation of the container assembly; and

[0022] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, illustrating another embodiment of the invention making use of a drawstring-type peripheral gathering apparatus.

[0023] While the drawings do not necessarily provide exact dimensions or tolerances for the illustrated components or structures, FIGS. 1-10 are to scale with respect to the relationships between the components of the structures illustrated therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 1-4, a FIBC-type container assembly 10 is depicted, which generally includes a central flexible bag 12 and a surrounding, flexible skirt 14, the latter equipped with gathering apparatus 16 at spaced locations adjacent the outer margins of the skirt, and with lifting points 18 secured to the exterior of bag 12 adjacent the upper margins thereof. The bag 12 includes an open top 20 presenting a periphery 22, as well as sidewall structure 24, and a bottom wall 26. The bag is designed to move between a collapsed, folded-up configuration, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and an expanded position shown in FIG. 4.

[0025] In more detail, in the illustrated embodiment, the bag 12 is of quadrate configuration in plan with foldable sidewall structure 24 and a planar bottom wall 26. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bag 12 is initially in its folded-up configuration below the skirt 14. Of course, the bag may be of any other desired shape (e.g., cylindrical or octagonal), and the size thereof is limited only by design considerations for the intended use of the assembly 10. The lifting points 18 are in the form of welded or sewn loops 28, which are secured to the sidewall structure 24 adjacent the open top 20.

[0026] The skirt 14 completely surrounds the bag 12, which is important for purposes to be described, and has a central opening 29 for accommodating the bag 12. As depicted, the gathering apparatus 16 includes a series of pickup loops 30 secured by welding or stitching to the outer margin of the skirt at circumferentially spaced locations. Again, while the skirt 14 is depicted as being substantially circular at its outer margin, any number of skirt shapes could be used.

[0027] In order to properly secure the bag 12 to skirt 14, the latter is equipped with a series of connection segments 32 at the region of opening 29 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The segments 34 are attached by any convenient means to the upper margin of sidewall structure 24, in order to afford a secure connection between the bag 12 and the skirt 14.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 1, during storage the assembly 10 is completely folded up, i.e., the bag 12 is in its collapsed position and the skirt 14 is folded over the bag 12. However, when it is desired to use the assembly 10, the skirt 14 is unfolded and laid upon the ground or other support surface, with the bag 12 still in its collapsed position (FIGS. 2-3). FIG. 6 illustrates a condition where a particulate material 36, such as contaminated soil, is placed upon the assembly 10 over the open top 20 of bag 12 and, to the extent necessary, onto the skirt 14. Once the material is so placed, lifting cable grappling hooks 38 are coupled with the loops 30 and these are pulled upwardly. As this occurs, the bag 12 is deployed downwardly under the weight of the material 36, until the bag 24 is completely filled (FIG. 8), with any additional fill piled above the open top 20, but still within the confines of the skirt 14. Finally, the skirt 14, now in a drawn-together configuration, is closed using a tie or the like (FIG. 9). This exposes the lifting points 18 allowing further use of the grappling hooks to lift and convey the closed container assembly for disposal as necessary of the material 36.

[0029] FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment of the invention in the form of an assembly 10a, which is identical in many respects to the assembly 10. Accordingly, like reference numerals will be used to describe the assembly 10a, with the addition of the letter identifier “a.” Specifically, the assembly 10 a has a central, flexible bag 12a and a surrounding flexible skirt 14a, the latter equipped with gathering apparatus 16a, here including a peripheral, continuous drawstring in the form of a cable 40, which is captively retained within a pocket 42 extending about the outer margin of skirt 14a. As illustrated, the pocket 42 has a plurality of openings 44 formed therein which are circumferentially spaced about the pocket. The openings 44 allow access to the drawstring cable 40 when it is desired to lift and elevate the skirt 14a. For example, and as depicted in FIG. 8, cable grappling hooks 38 may be secured to the drawstring cable 40 at the openings 44. Elevation of the hooks 38 causes the skirt 14a to be drawn upwardly into the general shape of a column, which can then be tied off as described.

[0030] In some instances, the flexible bags of the container assemblies of the invention may be equipped with waterproof liners, formed of an appropriate material, such as polyethylene, to prevent leakage of liquids.