System for stabilizing flexible bulk containers

Abstract

A system is described for stabilizing an array of flexible bulk containers that contain a dry flowable material in powder, flake or granular form. An upper section of at least one container includes a releasable connector for detachably coupling the container to an upper section of an adjacent container in the array. The connector serves to keep sidewall portions of the containers in an upright configuration in order to reduce the risk that one or more containers may topple over.

1 . An assembly comprising a plurality of flexible containers for bulk materials arranged in a first, horizontal, side-by-side array, each container having sidewall portions and a bottom wall portion made of flexible sheet material, the sidewall portions and the bottom wall portion of each container arranged to present a chamber for receiving the bulk materials, wherein each container has an upper section, and wherein the upper section of at least one container of the array includes a releasable connector that is detachably coupled to an adjacent container of the array.  
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly includes a number of additional flexible containers for bulk materials arranged in a second, horizontal, side-by-side array, wherein the second array is stacked atop the first array.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the assembly includes a number of pallets having openings for receiving tines of a forklift, wherein each pallet has an upper side of a certain area, wherein at least some of the containers are each received on the upper side of a respective one of the pallets, and wherein each container occupies an area in a horizontal reference plane that is approximately the same size as the area of the upper side of the underlying pallet.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1  and including a vertical support adjacent the array, wherein the upper section of at least one container of the array includes a releasable connector that is detachably coupled to the vertical support.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the vertical support comprises a post of a building that extends over the array.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the vertical support comprises a wall of a building that extends next to the array.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the connector includes a first strap and a second strap, each of the first strap and the second strap having a first end section and a second end section, each of the first end sections being connected to the upper section of the container, and wherein the connector also includes a releasable coupling for connecting the second end section of the first strap and the second strap together.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  wherein at least one of the containers has a loop-shaped coupler for coupling to the first strap and the second strap.  
     
     
         9 . A flexible container for bulk materials comprising: 
 a body having sidewall portions and a bottom wall portion, the sidewall portions and the bottom wall portions made of flexible sheet material and being arranged to present a chamber for receiving bulk materials, the body also having an upper section; and    at least one connector connected to the upper section, the connector having a generally loop-shaped configuration and a releasable coupling for opening and closing the loop of the loop-shaped configuration when desired.    
     
     
         10 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 9  wherein the connector comprises at least one strap.  
     
     
         11 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 10  wherein the connector comprises two straps.  
     
     
         12 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 11  wherein each strap has a first end and a second end remote from the first end, and wherein the coupling connects the second ends of the straps together.  
     
     
         13 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 12  wherein the coupling comprises a hook and loop fastener having a hook section connected to the second end of one of the straps and a loop section connected to the second end of the other strap.  
     
     
         14 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 13  wherein the first end of at least one strap is directly connected to the upper section.  
     
     
         15 . A flexible container for bulk materials according to  claim 14  and including a quantity of bulk material received in the chamber.  
     
     
         16 . A method of arranging a number of flexible containers in an array comprising: 
 placing a first container on a surface that extends in a generally horizontal plane, wherein the first container contains a quantity of bulk material;    placing a second container on the surface next to the first container, wherein the second container contains a quantity of bulk material; and    connecting at least one strap between an upper section of the first container and an upper section of the second container in order to stabilize the containers and help avoid shifting of the bulk materials.    
     
     
         17 . A method of arranging a number of flexible containers in an array according to  claim 16  wherein the act of connecting at least one strap between an upper section of the first container and an upper section of the second container includes the act of coupling a hook section of hook and loop fastener to a loop section of hook and loop fastener.  
     
     
         18 . A method of arranging a number of flexible containers in an array according to  claim 16  wherein the act of connecting at least one strap between an upper section of the first container and an upper section of the second container includes the act of connecting at least one strap that is secured to the first container to a loop that is secured to the second container.  
     
     
         19 . A method of arranging a number of flexible containers in an array according to  claim 17  wherein the act of connecting at least one strap that is secured to the first container to a loop that is secured to the second container includes the act of coupling together two straps that are both secured to the first container.  
     
     
         20 . A method of arranging a number of flexible containers in an array according to  claim 16  and including the act of connecting an upper section of at least one container of the array to a stationary vertical support.