Large bulk bag

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a collapsible bag which, when collapsed, comprises a flat tubular blank of a flexible material and having a pair of flat overlying panels adapted to form a pair of opposite side walls of the bag and a pair of folded gusset panels extending inwardly between the flat panels from the opposite side edges of the panels and adapted to form two other opposite side walls of the bag, said blank having adjacent one end thereof each flat panel and the adjacent gusset panel connected together along lines extending diagonally inwardly from the opposite side edges of the panels toward said one end of the tubular blank.

[0002] A collapsible bag of this type has become known from US-A-3119548.

[0003] Many products, such as granular and liquid materials, are shipped and stored in large bulk bags adapted to hold as much as a ton or more of material. The use of bags for this purpose has become popular recently recause the bags can be shipped from the manufacturer to the material shipper in a generally flat condition and, if properly designed, can be returned by the user to the shipper in the same generally flat condition for reuse.

[0004] A fabric bag used in the above manner has to fulfil several practical requirements. It is of primary importance that the construction of the bag be such as to sustain relatively heavy loads. At the same time, it is essential that the bag is adapted to be folded or collapsed to a compact flat form. Frequently, because of the nature and quantity of material shipped in such bags, the bags should also be designed so that they can be easily filled and emptied of their contents. It is also desirable that such bags be designed so that, when filled, they are free standing and capable of being stacked vertically upon another. Such bags should preferably have some sort of attachment thereon which enable them to be lifted by the tines of a forklift truck. Furthermore, depending upon the type of material being shipped, some bags are also required to be moisture-proof or water-resistant.

[0005] The primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a fabric bag which is economical to manufacture and which, when filled, automatically assumes a cubical shape and in particular has rectangularly shaped top and bottom walls of high strength and an easily closable filling spout at the top wall.

[0006] According to the present invention a collapsible bag which includes the features as defined above is characterized by said diagonal lines of connection terminating at their laterally inner ends in spaced apart relationship laterally outwardly of the inner folded edges of the gusset panels at points spaced from said one end of the blank, each flat panel and the adjacent gusset panel also being connected together along a line extending lengthwise of the blank from said points of termination of the diagonal lines to said one end of the blank, each flat panel and the adjacent gusset panel being severed along lines spaced laterally outwardly of and generally co-extensive in length with said lengthwise extending lines of connection to form, when the blank is opened, a spout of rectangular cross-section at said one end of the blank, each corner of the spout being defined by one of said lengthwise extending connection lines, the portions of the flat and gusset panels lying between said diagonal connection lines forming, when the blank is open, a generally flat rectangular end wall of the bag with said spout at generally the center thereof, said diagonal lines of connection extending from the corners of the spout to the corners of said end wall and when said tubular blank is open, said panels provide a bag of generally rectangular cross-section with said end wall generally transverse to said panels and having a spout therein and when said tubular blank is collapsed it folds into a generally flat and compact bag.

[0007] The bag according to the present invention can be easily folded into a flat compact form which, when filled, automatically assumes the desired cubical shape. Further embodiments of the bag allow it to be engaged with one or both tines of a fork lift truck by the operator of the truck without further assistance. In particular, the bag can be provided with a top wall that is so designed as to impart high strength to the bag by a top panel construction which also provides a lift member generally engageable with one or both tines of a fork lift truck.

[0008] Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

[0009] Other objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bag according to the present invention in the expanded condition and with a liner therein;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the bag in the flattened condition;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the flattened bag as seen in the direction of the arrow 4-4;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modified construction for the bottom of the bag;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the bag is supported for filling;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the spout of the inner liner is closed after the bag is filled;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the spout on the bag is closed after being filled;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing the tube used for lifting the bag;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the bag illustrating the manner in which it is adapted to be lifted by the tine of a forklift truck;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIGURE 12 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of lifting arrangement for the bag;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner in which the arrangement shown in FIG. 12 is used;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the utilization of wear resistant panels on the bottom of the bag;

FIGURES 15, 16 and 17 are plan views of various forms of liners that can be used within the bag;

FIGURE 18 is a sectional view along the line 18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIGURE 19 is an end view illustrating the manner in which the liner is folded for insertion into the bag; and

FIGURES 20 and 21 are fragmentary perspective views which illustrate the manner in which the folded liner is inserted into the bag.

[0010] Referring first to FIG. 2, the bag of the present invention is formed from a tubular blank 10 of a woven fabric, such as burlap, canvas, polypropylene, etc. The woven fabric is formed into a tube by sewing the opposite side edges of the fabric together as at 12. The tubular blank comprises a pair of flat overlying panels 14,16 which are interconnected by inwardly folded gussets 18, 20. The bag illustrated is generally square in cross section and, accordingly, each folded gusset 18 and 20 has a width which is approximately the same as the width of the flat panels 14, 16. Thus, the fold lines 22 of gussets 18, 20 extend lengthwise of the blank closely adjacent the longitudinal center line thereof.

[0011] In order to form the blank 10 into a bag of generally rectangular cross section the four corner portions of the bag are stitched diagonally on opposite sides of the blank as at 24. There are eight such lines of stitching, four extending through panel 14 and the adjacent underlying portions of gusset panels 18 and 20 and the other four extending through panel 16 and the adjacent portions of the overlying gusset panels 18 and 20. The stitch lines 24 extend symmetrically from the opposite side edges of the tubular blank inwardly and toward the adjacent end of the blank and terminate at the points 26 which are spaced apart on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the blank and which are also spaced inwardly from the opposite ends of the blank. Additional lines of stitching 28 extend from the points 26 lengthwise of the blank in parallel relation to the opposite ends of the blank. Panels 14, 16 and the intermediate portions of gusset panels 18, 20 are then slitted lengthwise from the opposite ends of the blank inwardly as at 30 along lines that are parallel to and spaced slightly laterally outwardly from the stitch lines 28. The severing lines 30 terminate at points 32 which are generally transversely aligned with the intersection points 26 between stitch lines 29 and stitch lines 24. Thereafter, at the opposite end portions 34 of the blank and laterally outwardly from the severing lines 30 the end portions of panels 14, 16 and gusset panels 18, 20 are folded over several times and stitched together as at 36. Preferably for the purpose of eliminating raw edges, the end portions of the flat panels 14, 16 and the gusset panels 18, 20 which extend between the severing lines 30 are also folded individually one or more times upon themselves and hemmed by stitching as at 38. If desired, eyelets or similar fasteners 40 can be secured to the edges which are hemmed at 38 on the two flat panels 14, 16. It will be appreciated that all of the stitching and severing thus far described can be performed on the blank while it is in a flat condition with the gusset panels 18, 20 folded inwardly as shown in FIG. 3. This represents simple sewing and cutting operations that can be performed quickly and economically even though the blank itself may be over 1.8 m (six feet) long and 0.9 m (three feet) wide.

[0012] When the bag is opened the portions of the panels 14, 16 and gusset panels 18, 20 which extend between stitch lines 28 form rectangularly- shaped spouts 42, the upper spout being illustrated in FIG. 1. If the bag is intended to be of the reuseable type, the spouts 42 are formed at both ends, as shown in FIG. 2. However, if the bag is of the type that would be used only once and discarded, or, depending upon the material with which the bag is filled, the bottom need not be formed with a spout. In this case the bottom of the blank may have the construction shown in FIG. 5. The end portion of the blank will be folded over one or more times upon itself and then stitched along the line 44. The four diagonal stitch lines 46, each of which extends through one of the flat panels 14, 16, and the adjacent portion of the gusset panels 18, 20 extend directly to the hemmed portion which is stitched at 44. Stitching 46 is performed before stitching 44.

[0013] As indicated previously, the bag illustrated in the drawings is generally square in horizontal section. If it is desired to form a bag of rectangular cross section with two opposite sides wider than the other two opposite sides, then the fold lines 22 between the gusset panels 18, 20 would be located further laterally outwardly from the longitudinal center line of the blank than illustrated in FIG. 3. In any event, however, the lines of severing 30 would be located laterally outwardly of the fold lines 22 of the gusset panels 18, 20. In a rectangular bag the wider side walls would be formed by panels 14,16 and the narrower end walls of the bag would be formed by the gusset panels 18, 20. If a spout 42 is formed at both the upper and lower ends of the bag and the bag is used without a liner, then it is desirable, depending upon the material with which the bag is filled, to provide a valve closure panel at the bottom of the bag. In FIG. 2 the valve closure panel is designated 48 and is stitched solely to the inner face of the flat panel 14 as at 50. Valve panel 48 is sized to overlie the opening formed by the spout 42 at the lower end of the bag when the bag is filled.

[0014] It will be observed that when the tubular blank 10 is formed into the configuration shown in FIG. 2 the bag in the flattened condition has eight double-thickness panel sections 52, two at each of the four corners, which lie laterally outwardly of stitch lines 24 and severing lines 30. These double-thickness panel sections 52, which are stitched together as at 36, are generally triangularly shaped, except that one corner of the triangle terminates generally at the severing line 30. However, if the bag has a closed bottom such as illustrated in FIG. 5, then the double-thickness panels designated therein as 54 are of truly triangular shape.

[0015] When the bag is to be filled with material it is desirable to support at least the upper end of the bag in an opened condition. For this purpose the double-thickness panels 52 at the upper end of the bag are each slitted, as at 56. The function of the slits 56 is illustrated in FIG. 6. When the bag is to be filled with material, it is supported on retaining rods 58 of a suitable bag support which supports the bag vertically with its upper end in the expanded condition. The bag is arranged on the rods as shown in FIG. 6 with the rods extending through the slits 56. When the upper end of the bag blank is spread apart as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the bag is automatically formed into a rectangular shape. The four upper corners of the bag are defined by the intersection of the stitch lines 24 with the side edges of panels 14,16 and the spout 42 automatically assumes a generally rectangular shape. When the panels 14, 16 are spread apart, the gusset panels 18, 20 automatically fold outwardly so that the portions of panels 14, 16 below the four upper corners of the bag form the side walls of the bag and the portions of the gusset panels 18, 20 below the four corners fold outwardly to form the end walls of the bag.

[0016] The top wall of the bag is formed by four panels of generally trapezoidal shape. Two of these panels are single-thickness portions of panels 14, 16 which lie between stitch lines 24. These top wall portions are designated 60. The other two single-thickness panel portions which form the top wall of the bag comprise the portions of gusset panels 18, 20 which also lie between stitch lines 24 and are designated 62 (FIG. 6). The double-thickness panels 52 overlie the single-thickness panels 62.

[0017] Before the bag is filled the spout 42 at the bottom end thereof is folded to a collapsed condition and secured by a lace or equivalent means through the eyelets. If the material with which the bag to be filled is in the nature of a granular material then the valve flap 48 may be utilized to overlie the closed bottom spout and thus effectively prevent leakage of material from the bag. As the bag is filled it will gradually expand into rectangular shape and, when filled, will assume the generally cubical configuration shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the top spout 42 is folded to a collapsed position and closed as by lacing it through the eyelets. The bag thus closed is illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0018] As previously indicated, the closed and filled bag according to the present invention is of generally cubical shape. In view of its construction, it is free standing and adapted to be stacked vertically one upon another. In order to stack the bags vertically or to move them from one location to another it is necessary to lift the bags. Bags constructed in accordance with the present invention are adapted to be lifted in a very convenient manner. For this purpose a generally flat, plastic tube 64 (FIG. 9) is utilized. Tube 64 is preferably extruded or otherwise formed from a material which is at least semi-rigid with some degree of elastic memory. In its normal condition tube 64 is of a flattened configuration with open ends and sized to receive the tine 66 of a fork-lift truck. The opposite ends of the tube are cut away so as to provide tabs or extensions 68 at the top side of the flattened tube which extend outwardly beyond the lower portion 70 of the tube ends. Tube 64 is inserted across the top of the bag between the single-thickness panels 62 and the double-thickness panels 52. It is directed between these panels so as to overlie the laced closed spout 42 shown in FIG. 8.

[0019] Tube 64 has a length preferably slightly greater than the dimension of the bag along the stitched hem 36. In order to retain tube 64 in place after it is arranged on the bag, snap fasteners 72 are provided for engagement with mating snap fasteners 74 on the double-thickness panels 52. Since the tube 64 in its normal condition is open at its ends and extends across the top of the bag at the center thereof, the operator of a forklift truck can easily guide tine 66 thereof into and through tube 64 without requiring the assistance of another person. He merely aligns the forklift tine 66 with one end of tube 64, raises the tine to engage it under the extension 68 of the tube and then directs the tine through the tube. Thereafter, he merely raises the tine to lift the filled bag. It will be appreciated that, although tube 64 may have been completely collapsed by the weight of another filled bag on top of it, it will assume its open condition when it is relieved of such load. It will further be appreciated that the lifting force on the bag is transferred by the diagonal stitch lines 24 to both side walls of the bag and to both end walls of the bag. In this respect the lift arrangement of the present invention is superior to the lift arrangement of other bags which have a lift loop sewn to each of the four upper corners thereof. In the latter case, the lifting force on the bag is concentrated at each of the four corners rather than being distributed through the periphery of the bag. By transferring the lift force evenly to all four side panels of the bag, the bag of this invention can be made of a lighter weight fabric than bags where the lift load is applied only to the corners.

[0020] It will be appreciated that the lift arrangement described above is not necessarily limited to a bag wherein the upper end thereof is formed in the manner heretofore described. A conventional rectangularly shaped bag, such as indicated at 80 in FIG. 12, can be adapted for lifting in the manner described by securing a top lift panel 82 over the top wall 84 of the bag and inserting a tube 86 (similar to the tube 64 shown in FIG. 9) between the lift panel 82 and the top wall 84 of the bag. In this case, tube 86 may extend substantially across the fu width of the top of the bag if it is desired to utilize both tines 66 of the lift truck to raise the bag, or two narrow tubes may be utilized. Lift panel 82 may be secured to the bag when it is initially formed, in which case it will be provided with a central opening 88 to enable filling the bag.

[0021] If the bag is intended to be of the reusable type it is desirable, depending upon the environment in which the filled bags are used, to reinforce the bottom of the bags so as to prevent them from becoming worn and the stitching thereon to become loose. In such event, since the bottom of the bag of this invention is of rectangular shape when filled, a pair of flat wear resistant panels 88, preferably made of a thin plastic material, are secured in any suitable fashion to the portion of the bag blank which, when filled, forms the bottom of the bag. As illustrated in FIG. 14, these panels 88 each overlie one-half the bottom of the bag and extend lengthwise between the two side walls of the bag. In FIG. 14 they are shown secured to the bag by means of tapes 90. However, any other suitable fastening means may be employed. When the bag is emptied and collapsed to its flattened condition, such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the two panels 88 would lie flat against the panels 14, 16 with the outer edges 91 generally transversely aligned with the outer ends of the stitch lines 24 or 46 at the lower end of the bag.

[0022] In some instances, depending upon the material which is intended to be placed into the bag, it may be necessary to employ a liner formed of plastic, paper, etc. within the bag. In the case of liquids, for example, a plastic liner would be utilized and in the case of some other materials, a paper liner may be employed. In either event, the bag liner can be formed from a tubular blank with inwardly folded gusset panels in the same manner in which the bag is formed. Thus, the tube blank generally designated 92 in FIG. 18 comprises overlying flat panels 94, 96 having inwardly folded gusset panels 98, 100. The width of blank 92 is preferably slightly less than that of the bag blank so that the liner will fit within the bag in a flattened condition with the gusset panels 98, 100 interleaved with the gusset panels 18,20 of the bag. The liner is hermetically sealed in any suitable fashion along the diagonal lines 102 and along the lengthwise extending lines 104 which, when the liner is arranged within the bag, register with the stitch lines 24 and 26. If desired, the liner can be formed with the double-thickness panels 106 shown at one corner of the liner illustrated in FIG. 16. But, in most instances, since the weight or load of the materials is sustained by the bag itself, not the liner, from the standpoint of bag strength the double-thickness panels 106 are not essential on the liner.

[0023] The liner blank is preferably longer than the bag blank so that when the liner is inserted into the bag the spouts 108 of the liner will extend outwardly beyond the spouts 42 of the bag. The liner can be formed with spouts 108 at the upper and lower ends thereof as shown in FIG. 15 or with a spout only at the upper end thereof as shown in FIG. 16. The liner shown in FIG. 16 would be employed with a bag having a closed bottom of the type illustrated in FIG. 5. If desired, the spout at the lower end of the bag can be formed as a tapered dispenser 110, such as shown in FIG. 2, the tip of which can be cut off to discharge the contents of the bag. If the contents of the bag are to be discharged in measured quantities, the spout at the lower end of the bag can be formed with a valve nozzle 112 as shown in FIG. 17.

[0024] In FIG. 20 there is illustrated a tool for facilitating insertion of a flattened folded liner within a flattened bag. The tool generally designated 116 is provided with a handle 118 having a length greater than that of the flattened bag. At its leading end handle 118 has secured thereto four fins or paddles 120. These fins 120 are arranged on handle 118 in two pairs with the fins in each pair slightly inclined to one another as shown in FIG. 20. The finned end of the tool has a width that enables it to be inserted into a spout 108 of a liner. The free ends of fins 120 may be straight, but the edges adjacent handle 118 are preferably angularly inclined as at 122. Tool 116 is designed to draw the liner through the bag from one end to the other. Before the tool is engaged with the liner the liner is folded into the general configuration illustrated in FIG. 19. More specifically, the two panels 94, 96 of the liner together with the gusset panels 98, 100 are individually folded several times in the manner shown in FIG. 19 so that the width of the folded liner is of a dimension that will enable the liner to be drawn through one of the spouts 42 of the bag when the bag is in the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 21.

[0025] After the liner is folded to the configuration shown in FIG. 19 the tool 116 is inserted into one end of the liner, the fins 120 being interleaved with the folded gusset panels 98, 100 at the liner spout. Triangular end portions of the liner spout are then folded over the inclined edges 122 of the fins 120 and secured temporarily in place as by adhesive tape strips, as shown at 124 in FIG. 21. This enables the tool to apply a pulling force to the liner. Handle 118 is then directed lengthwise through the bag and pulled therethrough so that the taped end of the liner spout of fins 120 is drawn into the spout at one end of the bag and out through the spout at the other end of the bag. As the folded liner is introduced into the spout of the bag, fins 120 of the tool are interleaved with the gusset panels of the bag and spout so that when the liner is drawn through the bag the gusset panels of the liner remain interleaved with the gusset panels of the bag. After the liner is fully inserted into the bag, the tool is released therefrom and the handle 118 can be inserted into the spout of the liner and manipulated lengthwise and sidewise within the liner to unfold it so that the liner becomes completely interleaved with the flattened bag. With the liner so arranged in the bag, when the bag is filled the liner will automatically expand into cubical shape simultaneously with the expansion of the bag. This avoids the necessity of a separate operation of properly arranging the liner in a conventional bag after the bag is opened to avoid overlapping folds in the liner which, when filled, would stress the liner because it would not conform with the configuration of the filled bag.

[0026] The use of a liner in the bag does not interfere in any manner with the use of a tubular member such as shown at 64 and 86 for lifting the filled bag. The liner spout may be closed and collapsed and the bag spout can be closed over the liner spout so as to underlie the tubular member.

[0027] It will be appreciated that it is not absolutely essential to engage tubes 64 or 86 with the top of the bag only after the bag is filled. If the tube is sufficiently flexible it can be applied to the bag when the bag is initially manufactured. Thereafter the user may simply fold the tube lengthwise one or more times and displace it sidewise to enable the bag spout 48, and the liner spout 108 if a liner is used, to be opened for filling the bag. After the bag is filled and the spouts closed, the tube can be unfolded so as to assume the condition shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 wherein it is adapted to be engaged with the tine of a forklift truck for lifting the filled bag.

Claims

1. A collapsible bag which, when collapsed, comprises a flat tubular blank (10) of a flexible material and having a pair of flat overlying panels (14, 16) adapted to form a pair of opposite side walls of the bag and a pair of folded gusset panels (18, 20) extending inwardly between the flat panels (14, 16) from the opposite side edges of the panels and adapted to form two other opposite side walls of the bag, said blank (10) having adjacent one end thereof each flat panel (14, 16) and the adjacent gusset panel (18, 20) connected together along lines (24) extending diagonally inwardly from the opposite side edges of the panels (14,16) toward said one end of the tubular blank, and characterized by said diagonal lines of connection (24) terminating at their laterally inner ends (26) in spaced apart relation laterally outwardly of the inner folded edges (22) of the gusset panels (18,20) at points spaced from said one end of the blank, each flat panel (14, 16) and the adjacent gusset panel (18, 20) also being connected together along a line (28) extending lengthwise of the blank (10) from said points (26) of termination of the diagonal lines (24) to said one end of the blank, each flat panel (14, 16) and the adjacent gusset panel (18, 20) being severed along lines (30) spaced laterally outwardly of and generally co-extensive in length with said lengthwise extending lines of connection (28) to form, when the blank is opened, a spout (42) of rectangular cross section at said one end of the blank (10), each corner of the spout (42) being defined by one of said lengthwise extending connection lines (28), the portions of the flat (14, 16) and gusset (18, 20) panels lying between said diagonal connection lines (24) forming, when the blank is open, a generally flat rectangular end wall of the bag with said spout (42) at generally the center thereof, said diagonal lines of connection (24) extending from the corners of the spout to the corners of said end wall and when said tubular blank (10) is open, said panels (14, 16, 18, 20) provide a bag of generally rectangular cross section with said end wall generally transverse to saidpanels (14,16,18,20) and having a spout (42) therein and when said tubular blank (10) is collapsed it folds into a generally flat and compact bag.

2. A bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blank (10) is formed of a plastic material and said connection lines (24, 28) are heat sealed.

3. A bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blank (10) is formed of a fabric and said connection lines (24, 28) are stitch lines.

4. A bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portions (52) of said flat (14, 16) and gusset (18, 20) panels adjacent said one end of the tubular blank (10) which lies laterally outwardly of said lines of severing (30) are connected together along lines (36) generally perpendicular to the opposite side edges of the flat panels (14, 16).

5. A bag as claimed in claim 4 wherein, the portions (52) of said flat (14, 16) and gusset (18, 20) panels lying laterally beyond said diagonal connection lines (24) forming double thickness panel portions (52) which overlie the portions (62) of the gusset panels (18, 20) forming in part said one end of the blank (10).

6. A bag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said spout (42) is adapted to be collapsed by folding it into the plane of said one end wall when the bag is filled with material and including fasteners (40) for closing the spout (42).

7. A bag as claimed in claim 5 including a tubular member (64) formed of at least a semi-rigid material extending under said double thickness panels (52) and over the collapsed spout (42), said tubular member (64) having an open end disposed adjacent an outer free edge of said double thickness panels (52) and being of a size to receive the tine (66) of a forklift truck.

8. A bag as claimed in claim 7 wherein said open end of the tubular member (64) extends outwardly beyond said outer edge of the double thickness panels (52).

9. A bag as claimed in claim 7 wherein the open end of said tubular member (64) is of flattened configuration and has upper (68) and lower (70) portions, said upper portion (68) extending outwardly beyond said lower portion (70).

10. A bag as claimed in claim 1 wherein at the opposite end of the blank the panels (14, 16, 18, 20) are connected and severed to substantially the same configuration as said one end so that both ends of the bag are of substantially the same construction.

11. A bag as claimed in claim 3 including a liner for said bag comprising a flat tubular blank (92) having overlying flat panels (94, 96) and inwardly folded gusset panels (98, 100) of the same configuration as the corresponding panels of the bag, one end of the liner having the flat (94, 96) and gusset panels (98, 100) connected together along lines corresponding to the diagonal (24) and lengthwise (28) stitch lines of the bag and being severed along lines corresponding to the lines of severing (32) of the bag whereby the flattened liner can be drawn through the flattened bag with the gussets (18, 20, 98, 100) and spouts (42, 104) of the bag and liner in interleaved and interfitting relation.

12. A bag as claimed in claim 11 wherein the bag is formed with an opening (42) at the opposite end thereof and the liner is formed with a spout (102) at its opposite end adapted to extend through said opening (42) in the bag.

13. A bag as claimed in claim 5 wherein said double thickness panels (52) are each formed with a pair of slits (56) therethrough adjacent each of the four corners of the bag, said slits (56) being oriented to accommodate a pair of spreader bars (58) for vertically supporting the bag and maintaining the said one end thereof in an expanded condition to permit filling of the bag through said spout (42).

14. A bag as claimed in claim 1 including a panel (48) secured to the inside of the bag in a position to overlie the spout (42) when the bag is filled, said last mentioned panel (48) being adapted to be displaced from said overlying position to permit discharge of the product through said spout (42) when the bag is oriented so that the spout (42) is at the bottom.

15. A bag as claimed in claim 1 including a lift member (52, 82) of a flexible material connected to said blank (10, 80) and when the blank (10, 80) is opened overlying at least in part said one end of the bag in unconnected relation so as to form a tunnel therebetween with at least one end open and a tubular member (64, 86) formed of at least a semi-rigid material positioned lengthwise within said tunnel, said tubular member (64, 86) having an open end disposed adjacent the open end of said tunnel and being of a size to admit insertion therein of the tine of a forklift truck.

16. A bag as claimed in claim 15 wherein said lift member (52, 82) comprises a fabric panel.

17. A bag as claimed in claim 15 wherein said open end of said tubular member (64, 86) is of flattened configuration and has lower (70) and upper (68) portions with at least the upper portion (68) extending outwardly beyond the open end of said tunnel.

Ansprüche

1. Faltbeutel, der im gefalteten Zustand einen ebenen rohrförmigen Zuschnitt (10) aus einem flexiblen Material aufweist, der zwei ebene übereinanderliegende Felder (14, 16), die zwei gegenüberliegende Seitenwände des Beutels bilden, und zwei gefaltete Zwickelfelder (18, 20) besitzt, die zwischen den ebenen Feldern (14, 16) von den entgegengesetzten Seitenkanten der Felder nach innen verlaufen und zwei weitere gegenüberliegende Seitenwände des Beutels bilden, wobei neben einem Ende des Zuschnitts (10) jedes ebene Feld (14, 16) und das benachbarte Zwickelfeld (18, 20) entlang Linien (24) miteinander verbunden sind, die von den entgegengesetzten Seitenkanten der Felder (14, 16) diagonal nach innen auf das eine Ende des rohrförmigen Zuschnitts zu verlaufen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die diagonalen Verbindungslinien (24) an ihren seitlich inneren Enden (26) mit Abstand seitlich außerhalb der inneren gefalteten Kanten (22) der Zwickelfelder (18, 20) an Punkten enden, die von dem einen Ende des Zuschnitts beabstandet sind, daß jedes ebene Feld (14, 16) und das benachbarte Zwickelfeld (18, 20) auch entlang einer Linie (28) miteinander verbunden sind, die von den Endpunkten (26) der diagonalen Linien (24) zu dem einen Ende des Zuschnitts entlang des Zuschnitts (10) verläuft, daß jedes ebene Feld (14,16) und das benachbarte Zwickelfeld (18, 20) entlang Linien (30) durchgeschnitten sind, die mit Abstand seitlich außerhalb der in Längsrichtung verlaufenden Verbindungslinien (28) liegen, mit denen sie der Länge nach im wesentlichen -gemeinsam verlaufen, um bei geöffnetem Zuschnitt einen Schnabel (42) von rechteckigem Querschnitt an dem einen Ende des Zuschnitts (10) zu bilden, daß jede Ecke des Schnabels (42) durch eine der in Längsrichtung verlaufenden Verbindungslinien (28) begrenzt wird, daß die Abschnitte der ebenen Felder (14, 16) und der Zwickelfelder (18, 20), die zwischen den diagonalen Verbindungslinien (24) liegen, bei offenem Zuschnitt eine im wesentlichen ebene rechteckige Stirnwand des Beutels bilden, wobei der Schnabel (42) im wesentlichen in der Mitte liegt, daß die diagonalen Verbindungslinien (24) von den Ecken des Schnabels zu den Ecken der Stirnwand verlaufen und daß bei offenem rohrförmigen Zuschnitt (10) die Felder (14, 16, 18, 20) einen im Querschnitt im wesentlichen rechteckigen Beutel mit einem Schnabel (42) bilden, wobei die Stirnwand im wesentlichen quer zu den Feldern (14,16,18, 20) liegt, und bei gefaltetem rohrförmigen Zuschnitt (10) ein gefalteter im wesentlichen flacher kompakter Beutel vorliegt.

2. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Zuschnitt (10) aus Kunststoff besteht und die Verbindungslinien (24, 28) wärmeversiegelt sind.

3. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Zuschnitt (10) aus einem Gewebe besteht und die Verbindungslinien (24, 28) Nähte sind.

4. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abschnitte (52) der ebenen Felder (14, 16) und der Zwickelfelder (18, 20) neben dem einen Ende des rohrförmigen Zuschnitts (10), das seitlich außerhalb der Schnittlinien (30) liegt, entlang Linien (36) miteinander verbunden sind, die im wesentlichen senkrecht zu den entgegengesetzten Seitenkanten der ebenen Felder (14, 16) liegen.

5. Beutel nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abschnitte (52) der ebenen Felder (14, 16) und der Zwickelfelder (18, 20), die seitlich jenseits der diagonalen Verbindungslinien (24) liegen, doppelt dicke Feldabschnitte (52) bilden, die auf den Abschnitten (62) der Zwickelabschnitte (18, 20) liegen, um teilweise das eine Ende des Zuschnitts (10) zu bilden.

6. Beutel nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Schnabel (42) faltbar ist, indem er in die Ebene der einen Stirnwand einschlagbar ist, wenn der Beutel mit Gut gefüllt ist, und daß Befestigungsmittel (40) zum Schließen des Schnabels (42) vorgesehen sind.

7. Beutel nach Anspruch 5, gekennzeichnet durch ein rohrförmiges Element (64), das aus einem mindestens halbstarren Material besteht und unter den doppelt dicken Feldern (52) und über dem gefalteten Schnabel (42) verläuft, wobei das rohrförmige Element (64) ein offenes Ende neben einer äußeren freien Kante der doppelt dicken Felder (52) besitzt und von einer Größe ist, um die Zinke (66) eines Gabelstaplers aufzunehmen.

8. Beutel nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das offene Ende des rohrförmigen Elements (64) nach außen über die äußere Kante der doppelt dicken Felder (52) hinaus verläuft.

9. Beutel nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das offene Ende des rohrförmigen Elements (64) eine flache Formgebung aufweist und einen oberen (68) und unteren (70) Abschnitt besitzt, wobei der obere Abschnitt (68) nach außen über den unteren Abschnitt (70) hinaus verläuft.

10. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß am entgegengesetzten Ende des Zuschnitts die Felder (14, 16, 18, 20) verbunden und im wesentlichen auf die gleiche Form wie das besagte eine Ende geschnitten sind, so daß beide Enden des Beutels im wesentlichen die gleiche Form aufweisen.

11. Beutel nach Anspruch 3, gekennzeichnet durch ein Futter für den Beutel, das einen ebenen rohrförmigen Zuschnitt (92) aufweist, der übereinanderliegende ebenen Felder (94, 96) und einwärts gefaltete Zwickelfelder (98, 100) aufweist, die dieselbe Formgebung wie die entsprechenden Felder des Beutels aufweisen, wobei an einem Ende des Futters die ebenen Felder (94, 96) und die Zwickelfelder (98, 100) entlang Linien miteinander verbunden sind, die den diagonalen Nähten (24) und den Längsnähten (28) des Beutels entsprechen, und entlang Linien durchgeschnitten sind, die den Schnittlinien (32) des Beutels entsprechen, wodurch das glattgestrichene Futter durch den glattgestrichenen Beutel gezogen werden kann, wobei die Zwickel (18, 20, 98, 100) und die Schnäbel (42, 104) von Beutel und Futter ineinanderliegend und ineinanderpassend angeordnet sind.

12. Beutel nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Beutel an seinem entgegengesetzten Ende eine Öffnung (42) aufweist und daß das Futter an seinem entgegengesetzten Ende einen Schnabel (102) aufweist, der sich durch die Öffnung (42) im Beutel erstrecken kann.

13. Beutel nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die doppelt dicken Felder (52) jeweils mit zwei Schlitzen (56) neben jedem der vier Ecken des Beutels versehen sind, wobei die Schlitze (56) so ausgerichtet sind, daß sie zwei Spreizstäbe (58) aufnehmen, um den Beutel senkrecht abzustützen und sein besagtes eine Ende straff zu halten, damit der Beutel durch den Schnabel (42) gefüllt werden kann.

. 14. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch ein Feld (48), das an der Innenseite des Beutels in einer Stellung befestigt ist, in der es beim Füllen des Beutels über dem Schnabel (42) liegt, wobei das Feld (48) aus der bedeckenden Stellung verschiebbar ist, um das Gut durch den Schnabel (42) auszuschütten, wenn der Beutel so ausgerichtet ist, daß sich der Schnabel (42) am Boden befindet.

15. Beutel nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch ein Klappteil (52,82) aus flexiblem Material, das mit dem Zuschnitt (10, 80) verbunden ist und bei geöffnetem Zuschnitt (10, 80) unverbunden über mindestens einem Teil des einen Endes des Beutels liegt, um dazwischen einen Tunnel zu bilden, wobei mindestens ein Ende offen ist, und ein rohrförmiges Teil (64, 86) aus mindestens halbstarrem Material, das der Länge nach im Tunnel positioniert ist, wobei das rohrförmige Teil (64, 86) ein offenes Ende besitzt, das neben dem offenen Ende des Tunnels liegt und eine Größe zum Einführen der Zinke eines Gabelstaplers hat.

16. Beutel nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Klappteil (52, 82) einen Gewebelappen umfaßt.

17. Beutel nach Anspruch 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das offene Ende des rohrförmigen Teils (64, 86) flache Formgebung aufweist und einen unteren (70) und einen oberen (68) Abschnitt besitzt, wobei zumindest der obere Abschnitt (68) nach außen über das offene Ende des Tunnels hinaus verläuft.

Revendications

1. Sac pliant qui, lorsqu'il est plié, forme un flan tubulaire plat (10) d'un matériau souple et ayant deux panneaux plats (14, 16) qui se recouvrent et qui sont destinés à former une paire de parois latérales opposées du sac et une paire de panneaux repliés à goussets (18, 20) disposés vers l'intérieur entre les panneaux plats (14,16) à partir des bords latéraux opposés des panneaux et destinés à former deux autres parois latérales opposées du sac, le flan (10) étant tel que, près d'une première extrémité, chaque panneau plat (14, 16) et le panneau adjacent à gousset (18, 20) soit raccordé le long de lignes (24) disposées en diagonale vers l'intérieur à partir des bords latéraux opposés des panneaux (14, 16) vers la première extrémité du flan tubulaire, et caractérisé en ce que les lignes diagonales de raccordement (24) aboutissent, à leurs extrémités latéralement internes (26) à distance des bords internes repliés (22) des panneaux à goussets (18, 20) latéralement à l'extrérieur de ces bords, à des emplacements espacés par rapport à la première extrémité du flan, chaque panneau plat (14,16) et le panneau adjacent à gousset (18, 20) étant aussi raccordés le long d'une ligne (28) disposée suivant la longueur du flan (10) à partir desdits points (26) de terminaison des lignes diagonales (24) jusqu'à la première extrémité du flan, chaque panneau plat (14, 16) et le panneau adjacent à gousset (18, 20) étant découpé suivant des lignes (30) espacées latéralement à l'extérieur des lignes longitudinales de raccordement (28) et ayant de façon générale la même longueur que ces lignes afin que, lorsque le flan est ouvert, il forme un bec (42) de section rectangulaire à la première extrémité du flan (10), chaque coin du bec (42) étant délimité par l'une des lignes longitudinales (28) de raccordement, les parties des panneaux plats (14, 16) et à goussets (18,20) placées entre les lignes diagonales (24) de raccordement formant, lorsque le flan est ouvert, une paroi du sac de forme rectangulaire et plate de façon générale, le bec (42) étant disposé de façon générale à son centre, les lignes diagonales de raccordement (24) partant des coins du bec et vers les coins de la paroi d'extrémité et, lorsque le flan tubulaire (10) est ouvert, les panneaux (14,16,18, 20) forment un sac de section générale rectangulaire, la paroi d'extrémité étant transversale de façon générale aux panneaux (14, 16, 18, 20) et ayant un bec (42) et, lorsque le flan tubulaire (10) est replié, il se replie sous forme d'un sac de forme générale plate et peu encombrante.

2. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le flan (10) est formé d'une matière plastique et les lignes de raccordement (24, 28) sont thermo- soudées.

3. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le flan (10) est formé d'une étoffe et les lignes de raccordement (24, 28) sont des lignes de couture.

4. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les parties (52) des panneaux plats (14, 16) et à goussets (18, 20) adjacentes à la première extrémité du flan tubulaire (10) et qui sont disposées latéralement à l'extrérieur des lignes de découpe (30) sont raccordées le long de lignes (38) qui sont perpendiculaires de façon générale aux bords latéraux opposés des panneaux plats (14, 16).

5. Sac selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les parties (52) des panneaux plats (14, 16) et à goussets (18, 20) disposées latéralement au-delà des lignes diagonales (24) de raccordement forment des parties (52) de panneaux à double épaisseur qui recouvrent les parties (62) des panneaux à goussets (18, 20) formant en partie la première extrémité du flan (10).

6. Sac selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le bec (42) est destiné à être replié par pliage dans le plan de la première paroi d'extrémité lorsque le sac est rempli d'un matériau, et comprenant des organes (40) de fixation destinés à la fermeture du bec (42).

7. Sac selon la revendication 5, comprenant un organe tubulaire (64) formé d'au moins un matériau semi-rigide, disposé sous les panneaux (52) à double épaisseur et sur le bec replié (42), l'organe tubulaire (64) ayant une extrémité ouverte placée près d'un bord libre externe des panneaux (52) à double épaisseur et ayant une dimension telle qu'il peut loger la dent (66) d'une fourche de charoit élévateur.

8. Sac selon la revendication 7, dans lequel l'extrémité ouverte de l'organe tubulaire (64) dépasse vers l'extérieur au-delà du bord externe des panneaux (52) à double épaisseur.

9. Sac selon la revendication 7, dans lequel l'extrémité ouverte de l'organe tubulaire (64) a une configuration aplatie et a des parties supérieure (68) et inférieure (70), la partie supérieure (68) dépassant vers l'extérieur au-delà de la partie inférieure (70).

10. Sac selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, à l'extrémité opposée du flan, les panneaux (14,16, 18,20) sont raccordés et découpés pratiquement à la même configuration que la première extrémité si bien que les deux extrémités du sac ont pratiquement la même construction.

11. Sac selon la revendication 3, comprenant un revêtement destiné au sac et comprenant un flan tubulaire plat (92) ayant des panneaux plats (94, 96) et des panneaux à goussets (98, 100) repliés vers l'intérieur, les panneaux se recouvrant et ayant la même configuration que les panneaux correspondants du sac, chaque extrémité du revêtement étant telle que les panneaux plats (94, 96) et à gousset (98, 100) sont raccordés suivant des lignes correspondant aux lignes diagonales (24) et longitudinales (28) de couture du sac et sont découpés le long de lignes correspondant aux lignes de découpe (32) du sac si bien que le revêtement aplati peut être tiré dans le sac aplati d'une manière telle que les goussets (18, 20, 98, 100) et les becs (42, 104) du sac et du revêtement sont imbriqués et emboîtés.

12. Sac selon la revendication 11, dans lequel le sac est réalisé avec une ouverture (42) à son extrémité opposée, et le revêtement est réalisé avec un bec (102) à son extrémité opposée, le bec étant destiné à passer par l'ouverture (42) du sac.

13. Sac selon la revendication 5, dans lequel les panneaux (52) à double épaisseur ont chacun une paire de fentes (56) adjacentes à chacun des quatre coins du sac, les fentes (56) étant orientées de manière qu'elles permettent le passage de barres (58) d'écartement destinées à supporter verticalement le sac et maintenant la première extrémité à l'état déployé afin que le sac puisse être rempli par le bec (42).

14. Sac selon la revendication 1, comprenant un panneau (48) fixé à l'intérieur du sac en position de recouvrement du bec (42) lorsque le sac est rempli, le dernier panneau précité (48) étant destiné à être décalé de la position de recouvrement afin qu'il permette l'évacuation du produit par le bec (42) lorsque le sac est orienté d'une manièretelle que le bec (42) se trouve au fond.

15. Sac selon la revendication 1, comprenant un organe (52, 82) de levage formé d'un matériau souple, raccordé au flan (10, 80) et, lorsque le flan (10, 80) est ouvert, recouvrant au moins en partie la première extrémité du sac sans être raccordé à elle de manière qu'un tunnel soit formé entre eux avec au moins une extrémité ouverte, et un organe tubulaire (64, 86) formé d'au moins un matériau semi-rigide disposé longitudinalement dans le tunnel, l'organe tubulaire (64, 86) ayant une extrémité ouverte adjacente à l'extrémité ouverte du tunnel et ayant une dimension permettant l'introduction de la dent d'une fourche de chariot élévateur.

16. Sac selon la revendication 15, dans lequel l'organe de levage (52, 82) est un panneau d'étoffe.

17. Sac selon la revendication 15, dans lequel l'extrémité ouverte de l'organe tubulaire (64,86) a une configuration aplatie et a des parties inférieure (70) et supérieure (68), la partie supérieure au moins (68) dépassant vers l'extérieur au-delà de l'extrémité ouverte du tunnel.

Drawing