Side discharge bag for flowable materials and method for dicharging flowable materials

Abstract

A discharge bag for flowable materials is disclosed, having a side discharge spout near the bottom of the bag, allowing for discharge without the requirement for the bag to be hoisted by a forklift or other means, for discharging the materials contained within. The side discharge bag can be conveniently used with a frame assembly that further facilitates the discharge of flowable materials stored in the bag.

We claims:  
     
         1 . A container for bulk materials comprising: 
 a flexible bulk bag having a bag bottom from which bag surround wall extends,    a bag discharge opening extending from said surround wall, said bag discharge opening being sealable for keeping said bulk materials in said flexible bag;    fastening means secured to said flexible bulk bag, said fastening means comprising at least one of a tie, a hook, a ring, an S-hook, and a strap;    whereby said container may be emptied by securing said bulk bag via said fastening means to a location for holding said flexible bulk bag in an upright position and for said bulk materials to flow out of said discharge opening.    
     
     
         2 . The bulk material container of  claim 1 , wherein said bag discharge opening is kept sealable by a fastening means comprising at least one of a cordlock, a wire tie, a plastic tie, a web tie, a drawstring, a flap, and a resealable closure.  
     
     
         3 . The bulk material container of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible liner lining inside of said bulk bag.  
     
     
         4 . The bulk material container of  claim 1 , wherein said bad discharge opening has a bottom side which is located at a distance of less than 15″ from the bottom of said flexible bulk bag.  
     
     
         5 . The bulk material container of  claim 4 , wherein the bottom side of said bad discharge opening is located at a distance of less than 5″ from the bottom of said flexible bulk bag.  
     
     
         6 . The bulk material container of  claim 1 , wherein said bag discharge opening is a tube with an opening being one of circular spout, a rectangular spout, and a cone-shaped spout.  
     
     
         7 . The bulk material container of  claim 4 , wherein said tube has a cylindrical shape with a cylindrical surround wall or a rectangular tube with side surround wall.  
     
     
         8 . A bulk bag discharge assembly for discharging a flexible bulk bag filled with flowable materials equipped with fastening means secured to said flexible bulk bag and a sealable side bag discharge opening, said bulk bag discharge assembly comprising: 
 a support frame connected to vertical support means, for hanging said flexible bulk bag via said fastening means in an upright position,    whereby said flexible bulk bag may be emptied by opening said side discharge opening for said flowable materials to flow out of said flexible bulk bag.    
     
     
         9 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the vertical support means comprises four support rods.  
     
     
         10 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , further comprises moving wheels.  
     
     
         11 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , further comprises a vibrator assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible bulk bag further comprises a flexible liner lining inside of said bulk bag.  
     
     
         13 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible bulk bag comprises at least one of a tie, a hook, a ring, an S-hook, and a strap as the fastening means secured to said flexible bulk bag.  
     
     
         14 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible bulk bag comprises at least one of a tie, a hook, a ring, an S-hook, and a strap as the fastening means.  
     
     
         15 . The bulk bag discharge assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said bag discharge opening is kept sealable by a fastening means comprising at least one of a cordlock, a wire tie, a plastic tie, a web tie, a drawstring, a flap, and a resealable closure.