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.
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 end portions thereof, is respectively provided with a loading inlet and a discharging outlet.
Moreover, on the end including the loading inlet there are provided straps or handles adapted to be engaged for vertically raising and displacing the container.
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. A fabric container similar to those described above is, for example, known from FR-A-2 583 720. A container which can be suspended either horizontally or vertically is known from GB-A-952 511
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.
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.
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.
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 as defined in independent claim 1. The container includes raising means, for storing said container either in a horizontal or in a vertical position, and comprises an elongated parallelepipedal shape holding body, made of a high strength fabric and provided, on its opposite ends, with respectively a discharging outlet and a loading inlet.
In particular, at an end 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 horizontally the container raising.
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:
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 ends, is respectively provided with a loading inlet 3 and a discharging outlet 4.
The holding body 2 is advantageously made of a fabric or a not woven fabric, having a high strength and able to resist stresses exerted thereon by the contained material.
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.
At a small end, preferably the end 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.
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.
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.
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.
Accordingly, the provision of the mentioned straps affords the possibility 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.
The loading inlet 3 and discharging outlet 4 can be closed by cords or the like, 13, and may be easily opened as it is required.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended objects.
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.
Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technical equivalent elements.
In practising 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.