Soft-Sided Bulk Material Containers with Hold-Ins

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for transferring bulk material for transport, the method includes placing a first quantity of bulk material in a soft-sided bulk material container, extending a first hold-in across the container from a first side of the container to a second location, the second location being substantially toward a second side of the container, wherein the first hold-in is secured to the first side of the container, securing the first hold-in to the second location and placing a second quantity of bulk material in the container, the second quantity covering the first hold-in and securing the first hold-in to the second location with a weight of the second quantity of bulk material.

Claims

1. A method of packaging bulk material, the method comprising: providing a soft-sided container comprising: a plurality of sides attached to a bottom, wherein each side of the plurality of sides has a corresponding height extending from the bottom towards a top opening defined in the container; at least one closable top to open and close the top opening; and at least one hold-in having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the hold-in is horizontally attached to a first side of the plurality of sides at a location ranging from between 20 and 70 percent of the height of the first side, and wherein the second end of the hold-in is not initially secured; placing a first quantity of bulk material into the container through the top opening, wherein the first quantity of bulk material only partially fills the container; extending the hold-in from the first side of the plurality of sides towards a second side of the plurality of sides, wherein the second side is opposite of the first side; and placing a second quantity of bulk material into the container through the top opening, wherein said first and said second quantities of bulk materials comprise at least one bulk material selected from the group consisting of: sand, minerals, agricultural materials, waste materials, nuclear waste products, landscaping or garden materials, bulk grains and seeds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic of a typical soft-sided container supported in an external support structure.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a typical, rectangular soft-sided bulk material container.

[0023] FIGS. 3A-3C show a soft-sided bulk material container with hold-ins, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3D shows a supported soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] FIGS. 4A-4H show the soft-sided bulk material container being filled, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram that illustrates the method operations performed in filling the soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6A is a side cross sectional schematic view of the soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 6B is a top view of the soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 6C is an end cross-section view of a filled soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIGS. 6D and 6E are top views of the soft-sided bulk material container, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Several exemplary embodiments for non-bulging bulk soft-sided containers (bags) will now be described. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of the specific details set forth herein.

[0032] FIGS. 3A-3C show a soft-sided bulk material container 300 with hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B can be made from any suitable materials including the same materials as the soft-sided bulk material container or different materials such as may be water permeable while not allowing solids (e.g., sand, dirt, gravel) to pass through.

[0033] FIG. 3D shows a supported soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The soft-sided bulk material container 300 is supported in a frame 310 for filling/loading. The frame 310 is formed from sides 310A and ends 310B that are coupled together at intersecting corners. The corners can be secured through any suitable mechanism. As shown the corners are secured with a flexible material 308. The flexible material 308 can be secured to the respective side 310A and end 310B by any suitable fastener (e.g., staples, nails, screws, latches, glue, hook and loop fasteners).

[0034] The soft-sided bulk material container 300 is supported by the frame 310 by folding the soft-sided bulk material container side 306A over a corresponding side 310A of frame 310. Similarly, the respective soft-sided bulk material container ends 306B over a corresponding side 310B of frame 310. The soft-sided bulk material container 300 also includes multiple lift straps 320 as will be described in more detail below.

[0035] FIGS. 4A-4H show the soft-sided bulk material container 300 being filled, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram that illustrates the method operations 500 performed in filling the soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The operations illustrated herein are by way of example, as it should be understood that some operations may have sub-operations and in other instances, certain operations described herein may not be included in the illustrated operations. With this in mind, the method and operations 500 will now be described.

[0036] In an operation 505, the soft-sided bulk material container 300 is supported in the frame 310 as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D. A first quantity of bulk material 402A is placed in the container 300 in an operation 510. The first quantity of bulk material 402A partially fills the container 300 (e.g., between about 20% to about 50% of the capacity of the container 300).

[0037] In an operation 515, the hold-ins 302A, 302B are laid across the first quantity of bulk material 402A as shown in FIG. 4B. The hold-ins 302A, 302B can be coupled together with laces, straps, buckles, hook and loop fasteners or other suitable fasteners 422. Hold-ins 302A, 302B can couple together with friction surfaces that hold together or interlock. The hold-ins 302A, 302B can overlap as shown. Alternatively, the hold-ins 302A, 302B can lay side by side.

[0038] In an operation 520, a second quantity 402B of bulk material is added on top of and covering the hold-ins 302A, 302B. The soft-sided bulk material container 300 can be between about 50% and about 100% filled to capacity. If only one set or layer of hold-ins 302A, 302B are used, then the about 40-60% of the bulk material is filled in the first quantity 402A and the remaining capacity is filled with the second quantity 402B of bulk material.

[0039] Alternatively and as shown in FIGS. 3A-4H, a second set or layer of hold-ins 304A, 304B are used and thus the first quantity 402A is between about 20% and about 50% of the capacity of the soft-sided bulk material container 300. The second quantity of material 402B fills the soft-sided bulk material container 300 to between about 50% to about 80% capacity, then the second set or layer of hold-ins 304A, 304B are laid over the second quantity of bulk material 402B similar to how the hold-ins 302A, 302B are laid across the first quantity of bulk material 402A as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4D.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4E, a third quantity of bulk material 402C is added on top of and covering the second set or layer of hold-ins 304A, 304B to substantially fill the soft-sided bulk material container 300. The weight of the bulk material 402B, 402C on top of the respective hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B hold the hold-ins so that the soft-sided bulk material container 300 cannot expand horizontally when removed from the frame 310.

[0041] In an operation 525, the soft-sided bulk material container 300 is secured. Securing the soft-sided bulk material container 300 includes laying the sides 306A and ends 306B of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 over the third quantity of bulk material 402C.

[0042] In an operation 530, the soft-sided bulk material container 300 is separated from the frame 310 and moved to a different location from the frame in an operation 535 and the method operations can end. Separating the soft-sided bulk material container 300 and the frame 310 can include removing or disassembling the frame 310. Separating the soft-sided bulk material container 300 and the frame 310 can include using the lift straps 320 to lift the soft-sided bulk material container 300 from the frame 310 as shown in FIG. 4G.

[0043] As also shown in FIG. 4G, the layers 402A-402C and hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B are visibly separated in the side 306A of the soft-sided bulk material container 300. As also shown in FIGS. 4G and 4H, the side 306A and end 306B of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 remain substantially vertical and do not substantially curve or bulge outward like the typical, rectangular soft-sided bulk material container 100 as shown in FIG. 2 above.

[0044] FIG. 6A is a side cross sectional schematic view of the soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a top view of the soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] The soft-sided bulk material container 300 includes a bottom 306C, opposing sides 306A, 306A and a top 306D. Ends 306B and 306B are not shown.

[0046] Hold-ins 302A, and 304A are attached to first side 306A of soft-sided bulk material container 300. Hold-ins 302B, 304B are attached to second side 306A of soft-sided bulk material container 300. The hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B can be attached to the respective sides 306A, 306A through any suitable attachment mechanism. A relatively simple attachment mechanism is by sewing or otherwise bonding the hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B to the respective sides 306A, 306A.

[0047] The hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B can partially or fully extend across from their respective sides 306A, 306A of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 to the opposing side of the soft-sided bulk material container. The hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B can optionally be secured to the respective opposing side 306A, 306A of the soft-sided bulk material container 300. Optionally, the hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A, 304B can optionally be secured to a respective opposite hold-in.

[0048] The weight of the third quantity of bulk material 402C presses down on hold-ins 304A, 304B and thus allows the hold ins to maintain the position and not allow the sides 306A, 306A to shift or bulge outward. Similarly, the weight of the second and third quantities of bulk material 402B, 402C press down on hold-ins 302A, 302B and thus allows the hold ins to maintain the position and not allow the sides 306A, 306A to shift or bulge outward.

[0049] While two layers of hold-ins are shown, it should be understood that only one layer of hold-ins or more than two layers (e.g., three or up to ten or more layers of hold-ins) could be used. It should also be understood that hold-ins can be attached to the ends 306B, 306B of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 in additional to or instead of one or more of the layers of hold ins.

[0050] Hold-ins 302A, 302B can partially or fully extend across from their respective sides 306A, 306A of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 to the opposing side of the soft-sided bulk material container. The hold-ins 302B can partially or fully cover the opposing hold-ins 302A. Hold-ins 302A, 302B can be distributed approximately evenly along the length L of the soft-sided bulk material container 300. The width W and number of the hold-ins can vary as needed according to the type of bulk material 402. By way of example, if the bulk material 402 is a relatively larger aggregate (e.g., average size of 4 inches, 10 cm or larger) may need more or less numbers of and layers of hold-ins than if the bulk material is a relatively smaller aggregate (e.g., sand or dirt having an average size of about 1 mm or smaller).

[0051] FIG. 6C is an end cross-section view of a filled soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The hold-ins 302A, 302B, 304A and 304B can be separated by respective quantity of bulk material. By way of example, hold-ins 302A and 302B can be separated by a first intermediary bulk material quantity 402A. Similarly hold-ins 304A and 304B can be separated by a second intermediary bulk material quantity 402B. The respective weights of the quantities 402C, 402B, 402B, 402A press down on the respective hold ins 302A, 302B, 304A and 304B as shown.

[0052] FIGS. 6D and 6E are top views of the soft-sided bulk material container 300, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Hold-ins 302A and 302B are coupled together by coupling mechanism 620. Coupling mechanism can be an adhesive, a latch a buckle, a hook and loop fastener, laces, or any other suitable coupling mechanism. Hold-in 302A can be secured to the opposing side 310B with a coupling mechanism 620. If the hold-in is secured to both sides 306A, 306A of the soft-sided bulk material container 300, then an opposing hold-in may not be required. For example if 302A is secured to both sides 306A, 306A, then an overlying hold-in 302B may not be required.

[0053] Hold-ins 302A are attached to first side 306A of soft-sided bulk material container 300. Hold-ins 302B are attached to second side 306A of soft-sided bulk material container 300. Hold-ins 302A, 302B can partially or fully extend across from their respective sides of the soft-sided bulk material container to the opposing side of the soft-sided bulk material container. The Hold-ins 302B and hold-ins 302A can alternate along the length of the soft-sided bulk material container 300.

[0054] An optional block 324 can be attached to an unsecured end 322 of one of the hold-ins 302A. The optional block 324 can be anything suitable for griping the bulk material such as a pipe or rock or block that can be used to add thickness to the hold-in 302A so that the end 322 cannot be easily pulled through the bulk material filled on top of the hold-in 302A. It should be understood that the hold-ins could also be arranged along the length of the soft-sided bulk material container 300 from end 306B to end 306B similar to how the hold-ins are arranged from side 306A to 306A.

[0055] Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.