Flexible container or bladder

Abstract

A self-supporting bladder for use in transporting or storing foods and liquids is manufactured by folding the ends of a cylindrical section and sealing the open portions of the folded cylinder, resulting in a bladder which supports itself when filled.

1 . A method of forming a container from a flexible material, comprising 
 forming a cylinder from a flexible material so that said cylinder has a first open end and a second open end,    folding said first open end of said cylinder to create a first shaped opening,    sealing said first shaped opening with a first shaped seal,    folding said second open end of said cylinder to create a second shaped opening, and    sealing said second shaped opening with a second shaped seal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of folding said first open end of said cylinder to create a first shaped opening includes the step of forming said first shaped opening to a rectangular shape.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of folding said second open end of said cylinder to create a second shaped opening includes the step of forming said second shaped opening to a rectangular shape.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of folding the first open end of said cylinder to create a first shaped opening includes the step of forming said first shaped opening to a first rectangular shape and the step of folding said second open end of said cylinder to create a second shaped opening includes the step of forming said second shaped opening to a second rectangular shape.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , additionally comprising the step of forming said first rectangular shape and said second rectangular shape so that one dimension of each of said rectangular shapes is longer than the perpendicular dimension of that shape.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , additionally comprising the step of orienting said first rectangular shape and said second rectangular shape to be substantially parallel.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , additionally comprising the step of orienting said first rectangular shape and said second rectangular shape so that the longer dimension of said first rectangular shape is substantially parallel to the longer dimension of said second rectangular shape.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of sealing said first shaped opening with a first shaped seal additionally comprises the step of welding said first shaped seal to said cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of sealing said second shaped opening with a second shaped seal additionally comprises the step of welding said second shaped seal to said cylinder.  
   
   
       10 . A container formed of flexible material comprising 
 a cylindrical body,    a first shaped seal, wherein said first shaped seal is sealably joined to a first folded end of said cylindrical body, and    a second shaped seal, wherein said first shaped seal is sealably joined to a second folded end of said cylindrical body.    
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said first shaped seal is rectangular.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said second shaped seal is rectangular.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said first shaped seal is square.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said second shaped seal is square.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said first shaped seal is welded to said first folded end of said cylindrical body.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said second shaped seal is welded to said first folded end of said cylindrical body.