Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
36~L
Background of the Invention
The use of large bags of woven material for ship-
ment of semi-bulk quantities of granular materialsr powders,
and other commodities has increased materially in recent
years. These bags, referred to as semi-bulk t~ansport bags,
are each equipped with a harness so that the bag can be moved
about by a fork-lit truck or other similar ma~erial handling
equipment. In general, semi~bulk transport bags as used com-
mercially have been of rectangular configuration; other shapes
have been employed but afford no substantial advantages. The
weight capacity for a bag of this type is usually at least one
ton; generally speaking, the upper limit is about four tons.
The volumetric capacity of a bag of this kind ordinarily
exceeds twenty cubic feet.
It is not particularly difficult to achieve adequate
holding strength for the one to four ton capacity required of
a semi-bulk transport bag; commercially available relatively
lnexpensive woven bag materials and conventional industry
sewing techniques are quite adequate for this purpose. The
critical part of virtually any semi-bulk transport bag, how-
ever, is the connection between the lifting loops or other
liEting harness and the body of the bag itself. That is, the
most common source of failure in a semi-bulk transport bag
; occurs at the connection between the li~ting loops and the
body of the bag, the point at which lifting stress is trans-
~ ferred to the bag body~ This stress is often substantially in
; excess of the weight of the bag contents, particularly if the
operator of a fork-lift truck is somewhat careless or abrupt
in lifting the bag. `
It is conventional wisdom that the lifting loops or
other simlar harness for a semi-bulk transport bag should be
formed from high density webbing of the kind commonly used
- 2 ~
j~,,~,
36~
for automobile seat belts. Webbing of this kind is much
stronger than the woven materials used-in the bodies of the
bags. Furthermore, though more expensive than the bag
material itself, the cost of webbing loops has been considered
acceptable, partly because standard webbing of approxima~e~y
two inches width is employed in great quantities in automobile
seat belts and hence is less expensive than special purpose
webbing. Examples of semi-bulk transport bags that use web-
bing for the lifting loops or other harness include Sandeman
et al U.S. Patent No. 4,207,937, Manerba U.S. Patent No.
4,221,250, and others mentioned below.
To distribute the lifting stress from the webbing
loops or other harness to the body of a semi-bulk transport
bagr a variety of different attachment arrangements have been
proposed. For the most part, these critical mounting arrange~
ments for the lifting loops have entailed folding the bag
material into multiple layers and anchor stitching the lifting
harness webbing to the folded bag material, usually with the
loop webbing captured within the folds of the bag material.
Arrangements of this kind are disclosed in Nattrass et al ~.S~
Patent ~o. 4,010,784, Beaven et al U.S. Patent No. 4,301,848,
Nattrass U.S. Patent No. 4,307,764, and Goodbody British
Patent No. 1,591,866. Some of these arrangements have been
quite effective and have seen widespread commercial use;
perhaps the best are those in the two Nattrass patents.
However, any of these techniques requiring multiple folding of
the bag material at the point of attachment to a lifting loop
or other webbing harness member add materially to the cost of
bag manufacture.
Another technique that has been adopted in an
- atte~pt to meet the critical requirements for attachment of
a webbing loop or vther harness member to the body of a
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,
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semi-bulk transport bag is tv extend the webbing Eor most or
all of the height of the bag and attaching the webbing to the
bag throughout its height. Bags which employ this technique
are shown in Williamson et al U.S. Patent No. 4,143,796 and in
Nattrass published European Patent Application No. 1696. Thi~
expedient, however, is undesirable because of the substantial
increase in cost entailed in the use of long lengths o rela-
tively expensive webbing.
In some prior art bags there are no separate lifting
loops as such. Instead, opposed side walls are extended
upwardly above the bag top. In Derby et al British patent
application No. 2,050,298, published January 7, 1981, these
side wall extensions are folded over with their edges sewn to
the tvp edges of those side walls to afford two tunnel-like
lifting loops each extending the full width of the bag. In
LoLift British patent No. 1,581,437 the side wall extensions
are joined together at the center of the bag to form a single
tunnel-like lifting member. These arrangements are awkward to
mount on the tines of a fork-lift truck and the tunnel-like
loops are rather easily damaged in use.
In many ways the use o high-density webbing in the
lifting loops or other harness of a semi-bulk transport bag
is essentially self-defeating. The webbing is excellent in
providing the harness strength necessary to permit lifting of
the loaded bag by a fork-lift truck or other similar material
handling equipment, but accentuates the problems at the criti-
cal point of connection to the body of the bag, due to the
limited surface area of the webbing. One possible solution to
this difficulty would be the use o~ webbing having widths sub-
stantially in excess of the standard ~wo inch width~ becausPthe wider webbing allow for direct distribution of the liting
stress over a greater width of the woven material cons~ituting
4 -
~2~36~
the body of the bag. But webbing in widths substantially
exceeding two inches is difficult to obtain and non-standa~d
webbing is excessively expensive for this application~
Summary of the Invention
It is a principal object of the present invention,
therefore, to provide a new and improved construction for a
semi-bulk transport bag that uses the same woven material that
constitutes the body of the bag in the lifting members for the
bag, eliminating all webbing in the lifting harness, in a con-
struction that is effective to provide better distribution of
lifting stresses from the lifting h~rness to the body of the
bag than has been possible using conventional webbing.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new
and improved construction for a semi-bulk transport bag~ using
a lifting harness formed of the same kind of woven material as
the body of the bag, that affords improved distribution of
lifting stress from the lifting members to the body of the bag
without requiring any folds in the bag material at the points
of attachment to the lifting members, and that facilitates
assembly of the lifting harness to the body of the bag.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new
and improved construction for a semi-bulk transport hag, using
lifting members ormed of the same type of woven material as
the body of the bag, which makes it possible tG employ a
lighter weight material for a major portion of the bag body,
with a stronger and heavier woven material used only for two
side panels of the bag and with the transfer of lifting stress
from the lifting members to the bag body confined to those two
side panels~
Another object of the invention is to provide a new
and improved construction for a semi-bulk transport bag having
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a lif~ing harness that remains upstanding and provides
relatively wide openings that can be readily engaged for
lifting by the tines o a fork lift truck.
A specific object of the invention is to provide
a new and improved semi-bulk transport bag construction,
utilizing lifting members made of the same type of woYen
material as the body of the bag, that is simple and inexpen-
sive in construction yet affords adequate safety factors in
high capacity bags.
Another specific object of this invention is to pro-
vide a new and improved semi-bulk transport bag construction
utilizing lifting members made of the same type of woven
material as the body of the bag, which members are designed to
equalize load stress, when used to lift the bag, across the
full width of each lifting member at its juncture with each of
the two adjacent side panels to which the lifting member is
secured.
Accordingly, in one aspect the invention relates to
a semi-bulk transport bag having a volumetric capacity of the
order of at least twenty cubic feet and a weight capacity of
the order of at least about two thousand pounds, comprising a
bottom panel and four side panels with the side panels
stitched at their edges to the bottom panel and to each other,
the bag having a plurality of lifting members anchored to the
top of the bag, the side panels and bottom panel all being
formed of a woven panel material of high tensile strength.
Each lifting loop comprises an elongated strip of a~ least
three superimposed layers of the same type of woven material
as the panel material, stitched longitudinally to form a loop
member having a width W of at least abvut three inches.
F~rthermore, each liftiny member has two end portions, each
end portion having a hei~ht H of at least about six inches and
~Z~3~
each secured to a top portion of a different side panel o~
the bag by anchor stitching extending throughout the surface
area of the liEting member end portion to distribute the
transfer of lifting stress from the li~ting member to an area
of the side panels haviny a total width o~ approximately 2~1
and height H.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a
semi-bulk transport bag of the kind having a volumetric
capacity of the order of at least twenty cubic feet and a
weight capacity of the order of at least about two
thousand pounds, comprising a bottom and side panels stitched
together at their edges to form a generally cup-shaped bag
body, the bag having a plurality of lifting members anchored
to the bag body at equally spaced locations around its top,
the side panels and bottom panel all being formed of a woven
panel material of high tensile strength. Each lifting member
comprises an elongated strip of stiff high-strength material
having its opposite ends secured to the top part of the side
panel portion of the bag body at points spaced from each
other by a distance of at least twelve inches. Further-
more, each lifting member has a single twist therein to
increase the stiffness of the lifting member and to equalize
load stress, when used to lift the bag, across the full width
of the lifting member at the juncture between the lifting
member and the two side panel portions of the bag body to
which it is secured.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. l is a perspective view of a semi-bulk
transport bag constructed in accordance with one embodiment
of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bag of Fig~ l with
a portion of a top cover cut away to reveal the bottom of the
kh/~
36~
bagi
Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view illustrating
how the top cover is incorporated in the bag of Figs. 1 and
2;
Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the kind o~
woven material used in the bag of Figs. 1-3;
Fig~ 5 is a detail view illustrating a strip of
woven material employed in fabrication of one of the lifting
members for the bag of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 6 i5 a detail view illustrating a lifting
member made from the strip shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a detail view~ on an enlarged scale, of
one corner of the bag of Figs. 1 and 2;
; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating another
embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the top portion of
a semi-bulk transport bag constructed in accordance with
another embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 1~ is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of
one corner of the bag of Fig. ~;
Fig. 11 is a side elevation view of the corner of
the bag shown in Fig. 10; and
Fig. 12 is a cross-section view, on 2 enlarged
scale, taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a semi-bulk transport bag
10 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the inven-
tion; in Fig. 1, the top cover that is usually provided on
bag 10 has been omitted in order that the internal
construction of the ~ag can be better shown.
The semi-bulk transport bag 10 of Figs. I and 2 com-
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lZ43~
prises a main body member formed of a continuous wide sheet ofheavy duty woven material that is folded twice into a U-shaped
configuration to form two side panels 11 and a bottom 13 (Fig.
2) for the bag. To complete the body of bag 10, two side
panel members 12 and 14 are joined to the side panels 11 and
the bottom panel 13 afforded by the main body member. ~ttach-
ment of the side panel members 12 and 14 to the main body
member is most economically and effectively accomplished, in
each instance, by a continuous U-shaped stitched seam 16
joining the edges of the side panel to of the main body member
as shown in Fig. 1. Seam 16, typically, may comprise
sixty-five pound test or stronger polyester twine.
Bag 10 includes a lifting harness comprising four
lifting members or loops 15~ one mounted at each corner of the
body of the bag. Bag 10 may also include a top cover 17. In
; the illustrated construction, the dimensions of cover 17 are
made slightly larger than the opening at the top of the walls
11, 12 and 14 of the bag so that cover 17 can be folded and
stitched into the top of the bag by a single continuous seam
18 as shown in the detail view, Fig. 3. There is a central
opening in cover 17 with an attached fill tube 19~ Fill tube
19 may be provi~ed with an attached tie 20 as shown in Fig. 2.
Cover 17 may be a substantially lighter material than body
panels 11-14. Alternatively, cover 17 may be equipped with a
reusable fill/discharge opening having the construction
described in ~attrass U.S. Patent No. 4,364,4~4.
As-thus far described, the semi-bulX transport bag
; 10 of Figs. 1 and 2 is generally similar to a number of prior
art bags, particularly that shown in the aforementioned
Nattrass U.S. Patent NoO 4,307,764. The woven material used
to form the main body member comprising side panels 11 and
_ 9 _
: .
,
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bottom panel 13 is preEerably a b~rlap-weave material 22
having the construction shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 4.
The weight and strength of material employed is dependent upon
the size and capacity required for bag 10. ~'ypically/ the
material 22 ~sed for the main body member and or side panel~
12 and l4 is woven from resin fibers such as polypropylene and
has a tensile strenyth of at least three hundred pounds per
inch in both warp and woof directions. Cut, non-selvage edges
are preerably heat-sealed to preclude ravelling. The
dimensions D1, D2, and D3 for the body of bag 10 depend to a
substantial extent on the required volumetric capacity for the
bag; typically, each of these dimensions is of the order of
three feet and the volume of bag 10, accordingly, is usually
twenty-seven cubic feet or more, though some bags made have a
smaller capacity down to about twenty cubic feet. The height
D4 for each of the lifting harness members 15 is subject to
variation but is usually at least ten inches.
The critical difference between bag 10 and the semi-
bulk transport bags of the prior art is found in the construc-
tion of the lifting members 15 and the manner in which thoselifting loops distribute lifting stress to the body of the
bag. Unlike the lifting loops or other lifting harness
employed in a great majority of previously known bags, each
lifting loop 15 is formed from an elongated strip 15A, Fig. 5,
of the same woven material as is used for the panels 11-1~ in
the bag body. The strip 15A used in fabrication of a lifting
member for bag 10 has a length L at least one foot
longer than twice the height D4 (Fig. 1) of finished lifting
loop 15. The wid h WS of strip 15A, on the other hand, is at
least about nine inches and preferably is ten in~hes or more.
To form a lifting loop 15 as shown in Fig. 6, the
woven material strip 15A o Fig. 5 is folded longitudinally
6~
. at least twice. In the speciic construction shown in Fig.
. . .
5, strip 15A is folded along two longitudinal fold lines 23 -
and ~4. The folded strip is then sewn longitudinally, as
indicated by the stitching 25 in Fig. 6, and this comple~es
the basic construction of ~he lifting member 15. Heavy duty
polyester twine, like seam 16, is preferably used for
stitching 25. The lifting loop member should have a width W
of at least three inches. The plural-layer lifting loop
member 15 is much stiffer than a conventional webbing loop, a
substantial advantage when the loop is to be engaged by the
fork of a fork-lift truck.
The attachment of the lifting member 15 to the body
of the semi-bulk transport bag 10 is shown in Fig. 7. At the
time when one of the side panels 12 is being sewn to an
adjacent side panel 11 of the main body member for the bag,
the edges of the ends of a lifting loop 15 are overlapped with
each other, as shown in Pig. 7, and aligned with the top
corner portions of side panels 11 and 12. The seam 15 that is
used to join panels 11 and 12 also extends through the
overlapped edges of the lifting loop member 15, so that the
end portions of the lifting loop member are tacked into the
corner of the bag body by stitching 16. Subsequently,
continuous zig-zag anchor stitching 27 is applied throughout
essentially all of the height H of each end portion of lifting
loop 15 als that extends below the top edge of the bagO Height
H is at least about six inches. Loop member 15 could be made
longer, and could extend below anchor stitching 27, but any
such extension would merely be a waste o~ material if not
engaged by the anchor stitching~ For anchor stitching 27
thirty-five pound test nylon thread is suitable~
. It should be noted that neither of the side panels
11 and 12 is folded oYer the legs of lifting member 15. There
. ,
~36~4
is no need to fold the panel material over the lifting loop
legs because the relatively large width W of the lifting
member (three inches or more) distributes lifting stress to a
sufficient width of each side panel so that the junction
between the lifting loop and the body of the bag is s~rong
enough to withstand the high stresses created when the loaded
bag is lifted by a fork-lift truck or other like equipment.
Furthermore, the initial tacking of loop 15 into the corner of
the bag body, accomplished by positioning the loop at the top
juncture of panels 11 and 12 before application of seam 16,
holds the loop in place for subsequent application of anchor
stitching 27O
Lifting loop member 15 could also be formed, for
instance, from three or more separate strips of bag material,
rather than using the folded construction of Figs. 5-7O In a
constructlon of that kind two longitudinal seams should be
used at the edges of the loop strips. The folded constructio~
shown in the drawings is preferable, however; it is inherently
stronger and sturdier.
Fig. 8 illustrates a semi-bulk transport bag 110
constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention. Bag 110 includes a main body member affording two
side panels 111 that are part of a continuous strip with a
bottom panel for the ba~ ~no~ shown3. The main body member is
joined to two side panel members 112 and 114 by two contlnuous
; U-shaped seams 116, as in the previously descrlbed embodiment.
The top of bag 110 is shown as being open, but the bag can be
provided with a top cover as previously describedO
In bag 110, each of the side panel members 112, 114
; 30 is provided with two vertical hems 131, each hem located
immediateIy adjacent an edge of the side panel member jo-~ned
to one of the side panels 111 of the main body member. Seams
- 12 -
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36~
132 are used to secure the edges of hems 131.
Bag 110 includes just two lifting members 115. Like
the lifting loops 15 of the previously described embodiment,
each lifting member 115 is formed from an elong~ted strip of
the same type of woven material as used in the panels of the
bag body, folded longitudinally a~ least twice and stitche~
longituclinally as indicated at 125 to form the lifting member.
In bag 110, each strip used to form a lifting member 115
should have a width WS ~Fig. 5) of at least about fifteen
inches so that the effective width W of each lifting member
115 is at least five inches. As in bag 10, the lifting
members 115 are much stiffer than conventional webbing loops,
adding materially to the ease of use.
In bag 110, the lifting members 115 are not sewn
into the baq corners in the same manner as in bag 10, Figs~ 1
2 and 7. Instead, the end portion of each lifting member 115
is inserted into one of the side panel hems 131 to a height H
of about six inches or more and is then anchor stitched into
the hem oiE the side panel member by zig-zag anchor stitching
127. It is thus seen that the lifting members 115 are not
directly attached to the main body member that affords side
panels 11'I. Instead, the lifting loop members are mounted
only on the two side panel members 112 and 114~ Each outer
edge of the lifting members may be further protected and
reinforced by a piece of webbing 141 folded over and sewn to
the edge of the lifting member; see Fig. ~.
Bag 110, Fig. 8, particularly due to the relatively
great width of lifting members 115, affords adequate
strength and stress distribution for those occasions on which
the fillecl bag is lifted by means of lifting members 115.
Furthermore, because the lifting members are attached only to
the side panel members 112 and 114 and not to the main body
- 13 -
~243~
member affording side panels 111, it is possible to use a
lighter weight material for the main body member than for the
side panel members without sacrificing weight capacity and
strength characteristics for the bag~ Typically, i side
panel members 112 require an eight ounce wv~en material, the
material used for the main body may be six and a quarter ounce
or even five o~nce material. Thus, bag 110 affords a
substantial cost saving with no sacrifis~e in bag strength or
capacity~ Of course, this construction can be varied by
attaching lifting members 115 to side panels 11 rather than
panels 12 and 14, in which case the lighter material is used
for side panels 12 and 14 and the heavier material for the
main body member, panels 11 and 13. In bag 110, seams 116 and
stitching 125 preferably use the heavy duty polyester twine
referred to above for stitching 16 and 25 in bag 10; stitching
127 and 132 can use lighter nylon thread.
In both bag 10 and bag 1tO the lifting members are
substantially stiffer than conventional webbing loops, and
hence more convenient to use in mounting on the tines of a
fork lifto The plural-layer lifting members are tough and
strong, yet quite inexpensive as compared with webbing loops.
Furthermoret the wide lifting members distribute lifting
stresses effec,tively without requiring folding into the body
panels or other such expedients.
Figs. 9 through 12 illustrate a semi-bulk transport
bag 210 constructed in accordance with another embodlment of
the invention. Bag 210 includes a main body member affording
two side panels 211 that are part of continuous strip with a
bottom panel for the bag (not shown~. The main body member is
joined to the two side panels 212 and 214 by two continuous
U-shaped seams 216, as in the previously described
embodiment:s. The top of bag 210 is shown as being open~ but
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12~3~
the bag can be provided with a top cover as previously
described.
The top edges oE the side panels 211, 212 and 214
are foldecl inwardly to form a hem 218 around ~he top of the
bag. A narrow webbing 220 is attached to the outside of the
hem and secured thereto by a double row of stitching 222 using
heavy duty polyester twine.
Bag 210 includes four lifting members 225. Like the
lifting members 15 and 115 of the previously described
embodiments, each lifting member 225 is formed from an
elongated strip of the same type of woven material as is used
in the panels of the bag body, folded longitudinally at least
twice to form a multi layered strip 225 as shown in enlarged
cross-section in Fig. 12 of the drawings. The overall strip
length may be thirty-six inches or more. Strips of narrow
webbing 226, similar to webbing 220, may be positioned on one
side of each lifting member 225 along each longitudinal edge
thereof and attached to the loops as by longitudinal stitching
227. Two rows o stitching 227 are shown at the open side of
the three layered loop while a single row of stitching 227 is
shown along the other side of the loop. In bag 210, each
elongatecl strip used to form a lifting member 225 should have
a width WS ~Fig. 5) of at least about twelve inches and the
effective width W of each lifting loop member 225 is
preferably about four inches or more.
The lifting members 225 are inherently much stiffer
than conventional webbing loops~ due to their multi-ply
construction. Lifting member stiffness is also increased by
the strips of webbing 226 when employed. The stifness of
these lifting members causes them to tend to stand upright,
providing high, wide openings 230 to receive the tines o a
forklift truck. The wide openings are obtained by fastening
- ~5 -
~2~363L~
the ends of the lifting members to the side panels 211, 212
and 214 of the bag at points displaced from the corners of the
bag by distances S which are substantially greater than the
widths of the loops. ~s is shown most clearly in Figs. 10 arld
11 the edge of one end of a lifting member 225, which i5
approximately four inches wide in this embodiment, is
positioned at a spacing S approximately six to ten inches from
the corner of the bagO The opposite end of the lifting member
is attached to the adjacent panel of the bag with its edge
also positioned approximately six to ten inches from the
corner of the bag. This spacing of the ends of each lifting
member from the bag corner provides an opening of substantial
height which is more than six inches wide, from virtually any
angle, ~or the insertion of a forklift tine.
In attaching lifting members 225 to side panels 211,
212 and ~14, the ends of each lifting member are preferably
placed bet:ween webbing 220 and the outer faces of the side
panels. ~t one end of each lifting member 225~ as shown in
Fig. 12, webbing strips 226 on the lifting member engage the
side pane]. However, the lifting members can be secured to
the inner surfaces of the side panels, rather than the outer
surfaces as shown, if desired.
Each lifting member 225 is twisted, as shown in
detail in Figs. 10 and 11, so that the strips 226 of webbing
face outwardly from the side panel of the b~g when ~his end of
the loop is fastened to the side panel. That is, each lifting
member 225 is twisted so that one surface 251 is on the
outside of the bag at the end of the lifting member secured to
one panel whereas the other surface 252 i~ on the outside of
the end secured to the other panel tsee Figs. 10 and 11).
Fastening of the ends of the lifting members is preferably
accomplished by zig-zag anchor stitching 232 applied
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throughout essentially all of the height H of each end portion
of each lifting member 225, with H preferably being
approximately six inches or more.
One reason for twisting each lifting member 225 i~
to obtain more even distribution of the stresseæ which are
applied to lhe side panels when the transport bag 210 is
lifted by members 225. If a lifting member is attached in the
conventionail manner with the same sides facing the side panels
at both ends, the edge of the lifting member which is remote
from the corner of the bag will be required to sustain
virtually all stress when the bag is lited; the edge of the
lifting member closer to the corner will carry virtually no
stress. By twisting each lifting member, the edge farthest
from the corner at one end of the lifting member becomes the
edge closest to the corner at the opposite end of the lifting
member, thus distributing stress throughout the width of the
lifting member at both ends. The twist in each lifting member
225 also increases its rigidity, enabling it to stand more
erectly. Thus, the twisted, spread lifting member
construction of Figs. 9-12 affords a stronger, more durable
bag construction that also facilitates engagement of the
lifting memb~ers by a lift truck fork without damage to the
lifting members. Twisted webbing loops have sometimes been
used in the past, but with a limp webbing loop secured
directly to the bag corners these advantages are not
achieved.
The twist used in the li~ting members 225 of bag
210, Figs. 9--12, can also be used to advantage in the lifting
loops 25 of bag 10, ~igs. 1-7~ The edge-to-edge stress
distribution function of the twist in loops like those o~ bag
10 is less clitical because the lifting member legs are
immediately adjacent each other, but the st}ffening e~fect of
the twist is quite advantageous~
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36~
SVPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
Further examples oE transport bags constructed in
accordance with t:he p~e~ent invention will be described below
in conjunction with Figs. 13 to 15 in which:
Fig. 13 is a perspective view oE a semi-bu1k
transport bag constructed in accordance with another embodiment
oE the invention;
Fig. 14 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a
corner of the bag of Fig. 13; and
Fig. 15 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of a
variation in the bag of Figs. 13 and 14.
Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a semi-bu1k transport ba~
31~ constructed in accordance with yet anotIIer embodimeIlt o
tlle invention. Bag 310 inc1u(1es a contiIluous side pane1
meInber aEfordlng Eour side panels 311-314 that are part of
a continuous strip joined togetller at an overlap 315 in pane1
31 I. ;l~he side pane1 meInber is joined to a bottom pane1 317 by
a corItinuous searn 316. Bottom pane1 317 ls rectaIlclu1ar~ and
tllls establislles an essentia11y rectang-l1ar cross-sectional
sI~aue Eor bag 310. I~s beEore, all pane1s are Eormed oE a Elat
ribl)oIl tape p1ainwoveIl Eabric, essentia11y a burlap-like
weave. TIle top oE bag 310 is SllOwll as being open, but tIle bag
can be provided witII a top cover as previously described. The
top edyes oE pane1s 311-314 may be ~olded inwardly to Eorm a
IIeln around tlIe top oE bag 310. 1~ narrow webblny 32U is
preEerably attached to tlle outs~de o the hem and secured
tI~ereto b~ a double row of stitchin~ 322 oE heavy duty
pulyester twlrIe.
.
- 18 -
~3 '
~'Z9L361~k
[3ag 310, like eacII oE bags 1~ an~ 21a, IIas Eour
liEtiIlg meIllbel:s 325, eacI1 Eormed Erom an elonyatel3 ~trip o~
~IIe same type oE plainwoveIl E~bric as is u~e~ 11l tlle body
yal-els, folclecl longitu~lIlally at lea~;~ twice to Eorm a
multi-layered strip. TI~e constructloI- may be as sIIown in
eIllaryed cross-section~ in Fig. 1 2I Eor members 225, and may
il)clude webbing elements as sho~n at 226 in Fig. 12. TIle
overall strip leng th may be thirty-six incI1es or more . In bag
3IU, as in bag 210, tlle eEEective width W oE eacll liEting loop
Inelllber is preerabl~ about Eour incI~es or more, tI1ough tllree
incII wide liEting members may be adequate Eor some bags. Wide
o~eI~ings 330, Eor ready reception oE for)c lift tines, are
obl:aiIled by fasteIlillg tI~e ends oE liEting mem~ers 325 to side
L)anels 311-314 oE bag 31() at poirIts displaced Erom tl~e corners
oE l:IIe bag by ~,lstances S wl~icI- are appreciably greater tllan
lc~op width W, As in Figs. 9-12, tllis spaclny oE tI~e ends oE
eacll liEting member from tile bay corner provides an opening
o~ substantial tleigllt and wi~tII, accessible from virtually an~r
ancJle, for tlle insertion o a forkliEt tlne~ In attachiIlg
llftiIlg members 325 to side panels, 311-314, eacI~ end oE eacl
lifting n~eIllber is preEerably place~ between webbing 32~ an~
tlle outer Eace oE tlle side panel. Iloweverr the li~ting
meIllbers can be s~ecurecl to tlle inner surEaces oE tl1e side
paIlels~ rather tIhan tI~e outer surEaces as sIIown, iE clesired~
Each 1 if ting Inember 325 is twisted, as sIlown in
~etail in Figs . I 3 an~3 14, in tlle same manner as loops 225 in ''
Fiys . 9 12. Fast:eniIlg oE tlle ends oE the lif ting members is
preEerably accomplisIIed by zig-zag ancI~or stitcIling 332
applied tI~rougIlout essentially all oE tI1e IIeight II oE each end
portion oE each liEting melnber 325; II peeferably is
-- l 9
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32436~
apprc~x imatel~r six inches or mc)re . The twist prov icles more
even dlstributioIl oE stre~ses applled to the side panels wI1en
balJ 31~) is llEted by meIllbers 32S~ rlle twi91~ eacI~ tlng
meInL)er 325 also increases its rlyldity, enab1iIlg it to sta~Id
more erectly.
Fig. 15 aEEords a plan view of a semi-bulk transport
bag ~110 that is quite similar to the bag 310 of Figs. 13 and
1~ except tl~at tt1e bottom panel 417 in bag 41~ l1as a circular
outline instead oE a rectaIlgular coI-Eiguratiol-~ Nevertheless,
there are still Eour side panels 411-414l tI-ougl1 tI~ey are
curvilinear in sl1ape ratlIer thaIl Elat; the exteIlt oE the side
panels is deEined by Eour liting members 4Z5 secure~J at
equally spaced intervals about the top edge oE the continuous
bas~ body member that provides the side panels. Xnasmuch as
tlle side panels 411-414 are a part oE a tubular constructivn,
tlley may be woven originally in tubular form; more
practicallyr however, tlle side panels may be Eormed oE a
contiIluous strip oE material joined at a seam 415. In all
other respects, the construction Eor bag 410 may be tl~e same
~o ae l~or tlle ba; I1 U oE tlle previously desarlbed embodlment.
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