WO1993006027A1

WO1993006027A1 - Flexible container for fluids

Info

Publication number: WO1993006027A1
Application number: PCT/FI1992/000252
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Björk
Original assignee: Oy Fluid-Bag Ab
Priority date: 1991-09-27
Filing date: 1992-09-24
Publication date: 1993-04-01
Also published as: JP3247111B2; FI89151C; FI89151B; FI914567L; FI914567A0; JPH06510729A; AU2655492A

Abstract

The invention pertains to a flexible container for fluids, comprising an inner container (1) of flexible material and support means (2) of flexible material enveloping the inner container and provided with channels (3), which are in the direction of the symmetry axis of the support means and intended to receive stabilisers (4). In order to obtain a container with low costs of manufacture, the channels (3) are formed of strips (8) of flexible material so that the strip (8) of material is bent into a loop and the edges are superimposed, and that the looped strips (8) are attached at essentially superimposed edges to the inner surface of the support means (2) of flexible material.

Description

Flexible container for fluids

The invention pertains to a flexible container for fluids, comprising an inner container of flexible material and support means of flexible material enveloping the inner container and provided with channels, which are in the direction of the symmetry axis of the support means and which are intended to receive stabilisers. Such containers are currently quite known in various fields of technology. The containers are used for shipping and storage of different fluids, such as liquids, and bulk cargoes. The containers are manufactured in different sizes. By way of example, containers of five hundred, eight hundred and a thousand litres may be mentioned. The containers are intended to be disposable, and they are delivered to the user in collapsed form. Before the container is filled, the stabilisers are pushed to the channels of the support means and secured to a supporting structure, which may be e.g. a conventional pallet or a pallet specifically designed for this purpose. The stabilisers hold the container in place on the pallet.

As stated above, the stabilisers are positioned in the channels provided in the support means. The channels may be e.g. pockets closed at the top and opening downwards, formed by sewing longitudinal strips of material to the outer surface of the support means. The strip of material is sewn onto the outer surface of the support means at both of its longitudinal edges. The width of the strip of material is selected so that the stabiliser fits into the space defined by the outer surface of the support means and the inner surface of the strip of material. A problem of such known solutions is that they are troublesome to realise, i.e. formation of each channel requires sewing of two seams. The known solutions are therefore relatively expensive, since labour costs nowadays are quite high. It is also a drawback that, owing to many seams to sew, the manufacturing is relatively slow. A further drawback is that the structure is not optimal for all situations. For instance, problems have occurred with cooled means of transport, if the space available for transport is slightly smaller than in uncooled means of transport. In such a case said space for transport is not^' filled up, because the number of containers fitting into this space is not quite the same as the number of containers fitting into an uncooled space.

The object of the invention is to obtain a container which enables elimination of the disadvantages of the prior art. This is achieved with the container of the invention, which is characterised in that the channels are formed of strips of flexible material so that the strip of material is bent into a loop and the edges are superimposed, and that the looped strips are attached at essentially superimposed edges to the inner surface of the support means of flexible material. Above all, the invention has the advantage that the channels may be formed in a particularly preferred manner, in the most preferred embodiment even two channels may be formed by means of one seam or the like. Another advantage is that with the solution of the invention it is possible to obtain a container having two essentially planar opposite sides, whereby the containers fit into a given space better than prior- art containers. A further advantage of the invention is its simplicity, whereby the invention is inexpensive to bring into use. In the following the invention will be described by means of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the container of the invention,

Figures 2 to 4 are schematic perspective views of the main parts of the container of Figure 1,

Figures 5 to 7 are views of the container of the invention from different directions, Figure 8 is a top view of one detail of the container of the invention, and

Figure 9 is a top view of another embodiment of said detail of the container of the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the container of the invention.

Reference numeral 1 indicates an inner container of flexible material. Support means of flexible material, enveloping said inner container 1, is indicated by numeral 2 in Figure 1. Channels into which stabilisers 4 are fitted are generally indicated by numeral 3. The channels 3 are essentially in the direction of the vertical symmetry axis of said support means 2. As shown by Figure 1, the support means 2 is a periphery of flexible material, enveloping and supporting said inner container 1. Said stabilisers 4 hold the container in place on a pallet 5. Said inner container 1 is provided with a closeable filling hole 6 and emptying means 7.

Said filling hole and emptying means can be formed from any known devices. Figures 2 to 4 are separate perspective views of the main parts of the embodiment of Figure 1. In

Figures 2 to 4 the same reference numerals are used for corresponding details as in Figure 1.

Figures 5 to 7 are views of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 from different directions. In Figures 5 to 7 the same reference numerals are used for corresponding details as in Figures 1 to 4. Figure 8 is a top view of a structural detail of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7. According to the essential feature of the invention, the channels 3 are formed of strips 8 of flexible material. The strip 8 of material is bent into a loop, and the edges are superimposed. Said looped strips 8 are attached at essentially superimposed edges to the inner surface of the support means 2 of flexible material. The length of the strip 8 of material essentially corresponds to the height of the support means 2. The loops 3 are formed so that a stabiliser 3 fits into the loop, as shown e.g. by Figure 7. The strip 8 of flexible material is attached to the inner surface of the support, means 2 preferably by means of one sewn seam 9. Said seam 9 may preferably be the same seam as the one joining together the edges of the strip 8. This arrangement appears particularly well in Figure 8. With this arrangement, the channel 3 for a stabiliser is obtained with one seam.

However, it is naturally obvious that the edges of the strip 8 of material may also be joined together by one seam, and attachment to the support means 2 may be effected by another seam.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the invention as regards forming the channels. Figure 9 is formed in the same way as Figure 8. The support means is indicated by reference numeral 12, the channels by numeral 13, the stabilisers by 14, the strip of flexible material by 18, and the seam by 19. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the strip 18 of flexible material is arranged so as to form two channels 13. The channels 18 are formed by bending the strip 18 into a loop and by superimposing the edges essentially in the middle of the loop. Here the expression 'essentially in the middle of the loop' means that the loop is flattened and the edges are placed essentially in the middle of the material. The arrangement is clearly shown by Figure 9. The strip 18 of material is attached to the inner surface of the support means 12 at said superimposed edges. Attachment is effected preferably by a sewn seam 19 as in Figure 9. Said seam 19 may be e.g. the same seam as the one joining together the edges of the strip 18. Attachment to the support means 12 may however be also effected by means of a particular seam as above in the example of Figure 8. At best, by using this arrangement, two channels 13 are obtained with one seam 19. The decrease in the amount of work, as compared to the prior art, is therefore substantial.

In the particularly preferred embodiment of the container of the invention, the width of the strip 8, 18 of material is selected so that the length of the loop from the attachment point of the strip.of material and the support means 2, 12, i.e. from the seam 9, to the bottom of the loop is greater than the distance between the attachment point and the point of the stabiliser 4, 14 which is furthest from the attachment point. The expression 'to the bottom of the loop' means here that when the loop is tightened so that the portion of material between the seam and the bottom of the loop is straight, the length of said portion is greater than the distance between the seam and the furthest point of the stabiliser. The width of the strip of material is thus selected so that the strip 8, 18 is not tight when the stabilisers are pushed to the channels 3, 13. It has been discovered that if the width of the strip of material is selected in this manner, i.e. so that the strip is loose when the inner container is empty, then, when the container is being filled, a form is obtained in which two opposite sides of the container are essentially planar. This planar form is clearly shown in Figure 7. Planar surfaces are obtained because the part of the strip 8, 18 of material which is on the inner surface of the stabiliser and extends towards the seam, may bend outwards, i.e. turn more around the stabiliser, when the inner container is being filled. In such a case a force which is directed inwards, i.e. towards the middle part of the container, is generated at the seam 9, 19, tending to straighten the side with the seam. The outcome is a container with two straight sides, as in Figure 7. A certain number of such containers, placed in succession, fit into a smaller space than an equal number of containers circular in cross-section. Therefore, in shipping, an essential advantage is achieved over the prior art.

The above embodiments are not intended to limit the invention in any way, but the invention may be freely modified within the scope of the claims. It is thus clear that the container of the invention or its details need not necessarily be exactly as disclosed in the figures, but other kinds of solutions are possible as well. For instance, the use of a sewn seam for attaching the strip of material to the support means is not the only possibility, but other kinds of solutions are possible as well, such as adhesives, thermal seaming, various hooks, etc., depending on the material used for the strip and the support means. This material may be any material which satisfies the strength requirements. Such materials include e.g. fabric materials, plastic-reinforced fabric materials, plastic materials, etc.

Claims

1. A flexible container for fluids, comprising an inner container (1) of flexible material and support means (2, 21) of flexible material enveloping the inner container and provided with channels (3, 13), which are in the direc¬ tion of the symmetry axis of the support means and which are intended to receive stabilisers (4, 14), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the channels (3, 13) are formed of strips (8, 18) of flexible material so that the strip (8, 18) of material is bent into a loop and the edges are superimposed, and that the looped strips (8, 18) are attached at essentially superimposed edges to the inner surface of the support means (2, 12) of flexible material.

2. A flexible container according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the strip (18) of flexible material is arranged so as to form two channels (13) by bending said strip (18) into a loop and by superimposing the edges essentially in the middle of the loop.

3. A flexible container according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the strip (8, 18) of flexible material is attached to the inner surface of the support means (2, 12) by means of one sewn seam (9, 19).

4. A flexible container according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the strip (8, 18) of flexible material is attached to the inner surface of the support means (2, 12) by the same sewn seam (9, 19) as the one joining together the edges of said strip (8, 18).

5. A flexible container according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the width of the strip (8, 18) of material has been selected so that the length the loop from the attachment point of the strip (8, 18) of material and the support means (2, 12) to the bottom of the loop is greater than the distance between the attachment point and the point of the stabiliser (4, 14) which is furthest from the attachment poin .