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 method of collecting a flowable material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a container assembly on a support surface, said container assembly including a flexible bag defining a bag interior and a flexible collection skirt secured to the bag, said bag being in a collapsed configuration and said skirt being in a flat configuration during the course of step (a), such that a lower face of the skirt and a bottom wall of the bag are closely adjacent one another and the lower face of the skirt and the bottom wall of the bag are each supported by the support surface, said bag interior presenting an open bag top defining a periphery, said skirt secured to the bag at the periphery and extending outwardly therefrom, said skirt presenting a central skirt opening coextensive with the open bag top; (b) depositing a quantity of the flowable material onto the container assembly such that the quantity of flowable material is disposed in both the central skirt opening and the open bag top; (c) gathering the skirt such that an outer margin of the skirt shifts inward toward an upright axis of the bag; and (d) lifting the skirt to facilitate shifting of the bag from the collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and passage of the quantity of flowable material from said central skirt opening and said open bag top into the bag interior.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (e) depositing a secondary quantity of flowable material onto an upper face of the skirt, said secondary quantity of flowable material being directed toward the central skirt opening and the open bag top during the course of step (c) and passing into the bag interior during the course of step (d).

3. The method of claim 2, steps (b) and (e) occurring simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, steps (c) and (d) occurring simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, said bag including a foldable sidewall projecting from the bottom wall, said bottom wall and said foldable sidewall at least in part defining the bag interior, said sidewall being folded during steps (a) and (b) and unfolding during step (d).

6. The method of claim 1, said bottom wall of the bag being spaced from the lower skirt face a greater distance when the bag is in the expanded configuration than when the bag is in the collapsed configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (f) lifting the container assembly to elevate the container assembly and the quantity of material contained therein relative to the support surface.

8. The method of claim 7, said bag including lifting structures, step (f) including the step of using the lifting structures to lift the container assembly and the flowable material therein.

9. The method of claim 8, said lifting structures being concealed below the lower face of the skirt during steps (a) and (b), said lifting structures being revealed during the course of step (c).

10. The method of claim 8, said lifting structures being secured to the bag adjacent the periphery of the open bag top.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: (g) closing said skirt, step (g) occurring after completion of step (c).

12. The method of claim 11, step (g) including the step of cinching the skirt.

13. The method of claim 11, said skirt including a drawstring for cinching the skirt.

14. The method of claim 1, said skirt including a gathering apparatus, said gathering apparatus including a plurality of gathering loops disposed at spaced locations adjacent the outer margin, step (c) including the step of shifting the gathering loops toward the upright axis of the bag, such that the gathering loops are clustered about the upright axis of the bag.

15. The method of claim 1, said skirt lying in a plane at least substantially orthogonal to the upright axis of the bag when the skirt is in the flat configuration.

16. The method of claim 1, said outer margin of the skirt being substantially circular.

17. The method of claim 1, said bag open top having a bag open top area, said skirt having a skirt area that is greater than said bag open top area.

18. The method of claim 1, said open bag top and said central skirt opening each being rectangular in cross-sectional shape, said bag being quadrate in plan, with the bag interior being rectangular in cross-sectional shape when the bag is in the expanded configuration, said cross-sectional shapes of the bag interior, open bag top, and central skirt opening all being coextensive.

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.