Container for loose products in general, provided with raising means, adapted to be stored either in a horizontal or in a vertical position

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a container (1) for loose products in general, provided with raising means, adapted to be stored either in a horizontal or in a vertical position, comprising a holding body (2) of elongated parallelepipedal shape, made of a high strength fabric and provided, on its opposite bases, with respectively a dischar­ging outlet (4) and a loading inlet (3).
At one of the bases, there are provided strips (10) for vertically raising the container whereas, at the middle region of the side surface, there are provided holding straps (11) which are arranged at ring members (12), which straps can be used for raising horizontally the container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for loose products in general, which is provided with raising means and is adapted to be stored either in a horizontal or in a vertical position.

[0002] As is known, several different types of con­tainers are presently commercially available for holding loose products or material in general, which containers or vessels usually consist of an elongated parallelepipedal shape holding body which, at the base portions thereof, is respectively provided with a loading inlet and a discharging outlet.

[0003] Moreover, on the base including the loading inlet there are provided straps or handles adapted to be engaged for vertically raising and displacing the container.

[0004] These containers can be stored or stacked exclusively in a vertical position, because of their elongated parallelepipedal shape, and it is not possible to stack onto one another a plurality of containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned draw­backs, by providing such a container for loose products or materials in general which can be raised both in a vertical position and in a horizontal position so as to be stacked, or stored, if desired, in both said positions.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a container for loose products and the like which can be easily handled by con­ventional fork lifting devices and which, moreover, has a comparatively high strength so as to preserve its size.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a container or vessel which is very safe and reliable in operation and which, more­over, can be made starting from easily commercial­ly available elements and materials, at a compara­tively low cost.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent thereinafter, are achieved by a container for loose products in general, including raising means, for storing said container either in a horizontal or in a vertical position, characterized in that it comprises an elongated parallelepipedal shape hold­ing body, made of a high strength fabric and pro­ vided, on its opposite bases, with respectively a discharging outlet and a loading inlet.

[0009] In particular, at a base there are pro­vided straps for vertically raising the container whereas, at the middle region of the side surface there are provided belts, arranged at ring members, for raising horizontally the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred though not exclusive embodiment of a container for loose products in general, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view il­lustrating the container for loose products in ge­neral according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is another perspective view illustra­ting two containers, arranged with an adjoining vertical relationship;

Figure 3 illustrates a plurality of containers, arranged with a stacked horizontal relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] With reference to the above figures, the container for loose products in general, according to the invention, which is generally indicated at the reference number 1, comprises holding body 2, which, preferably has an elongated parallelepipe­cal shape and, at its small bases, is respectively provided with a loading inlet 3 and a discharging outlet 4.

[0012] The holding body 2 is advantageously made of a fabric or a not woven fabric, having a high strength and able of resisting against the stresses exerted thereon by the contained material.

[0013] In particular, the above mentioned fabric may be a plain fabric, or a circular fabric or a plasticized or thermally insulated fabric or, if de­sired, it may consist of a multiple layer fabric the layers of which are adhesively coupled to one another.

[0014] At a small base, preferably the base in­cluding the loading inlet 3, there are provided strips or handles 10, affixed to the container corners, and adapted to be engaged by raising means for handling and transporting the container with a vertical attitude.

[0015] A main feature of the invention is that, at the middle region of the side surface of the holding body 2, there are provided straps 11, of loop shape, which, practically, encompass the hold­ing body and are arranged at ring members 12 made of fabric materials or fibre materials, and provided at the longitudinal corners of the container.

[0016] In particular, the straps 11 are adapted to be engaged by fork lifting devices, the forks whereof can be engaged in said straps in order to raise and transport the container 1 with a horizon­tal attitude, thereby affording the possibility of stacking, with this attitude, a plurality of con­tainers.

[0017] The straps 11, in addition to providing the possibility of easily handling the container in a horizontal attitude, also operate to prevent the contained material from stressing and tearing the container walls.

[0018] Accordingly, the provision of the mentioned straps affords the possibily of making well shaped containers and, moreover, affords the additional advantage that the container can be raised horizon­tally, and stacked in this attitude, with a remark­able reduction of the storing space.

[0019] The loading inlet 3 and discharging out­ let 4 can be closed by cords or the like, 13, and may be easily opened as it is required.

[0020] From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the in­tended objects.

[0021] In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that the provision of the side straps affords the possibility of making a very flexible container which has a great strength and, moreover, the men­tioned straps, which are reinforced by the ring members 12, afford the possibility of easily raising and transporting, with a horizontal attitude, the single containers.

[0022] The invention as disclosed is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0023] Moreover, all of the details can be re­placed by other technical equivalent elements.

[0024] In practicing the invention, the used ma­terials, provided that they are compatible to the intended use, as well as the contingent size and shapes, may be any according to requirements.

Claims

1.A container for loose products in gene­ral, including raising means for storing said con­tainer either in a horizontal or in a vertical po­sition, characterized in that it comprises an elong­ated parallelepipedal shape holding body (2), made of a high strength fabric and provided, on its opposite bases, with respectively a discharging outlet (4) and a loading inlet (3), at a base where­of being provided strips (10) for vertically raising the container whereas at the middle region of the side surface there being provided straos(11), ar­ranged at ring members, for raising horizontally the container.

2. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to the preceding claim, character­ized in that said holding body (2) is made of a not woven fabric.

3. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric is a plain fabric, a circular fabric, a thermally in­sulated fabric, a plasticized fabric and the like.

4. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring members (12) are arranged with a bridging relationship with respect to said straps (11) which encompass said holding body.

5. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring members (12) are made of a fabric, a fibre material or a metal material.

6. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring members (12) are substantially arranged at the longitudi­nal corners of said holding body (2).

7. A container for loose products in gene­ral, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be stacked with a horizontal attitude.

Drawing