Flexible Container for Bulk Material

Abstract

A flexible bulk material container has a container body having at least one opening for filling and emptying the bulk material container. Carrying loops are attached to the container body. The container body and the carrying loops are made from an electrically non-conductive base fabric. A first conductive element for conducting an electrostatic charge of the bulk material container is provided which electrostatic charge occurs primarily during filling or emptying of the bulk material container. At least one the carrying loops has a discharge device. The first conductive element is connected to the discharge device and is a coating of the container body. At least one of the coating and the discharge device is made from a thermoplastic synthetic material containing a conductivity-increasing additive and having a surface resistance of between 10 8 Ohm and 10 11 Ohm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A flexible bulk material container comprising:
 a container body having at least one opening for filling and emptying the bulk material container;   carrying loops attached to the container body;   wherein the container body and the carrying loops are comprised of an electrically non-conductive base fabric;   a first conductive element for conducting an electrostatic charge of the bulk material container which electrostatic charge occurs primarily during filling or emptying of the bulk material container;   at least one the carrying loops having discharge means correlated therewith;   wherein the first conductive element is connected to the discharge means;   wherein the first conductive element is a coating of the container body;   wherein at least one of the coating and the discharge means is comprised of a thermoplastic synthetic material containing a conductivity-increasing additive and having a surface resistance of between 10 8  Ohm and 10 11  Ohm.   
     
     
         14 . The bulk material container according to  claim 13 , comprising second conductive elements correlated with the carrying loops or partial areas of the container body, respectively, wherein the second conductive elements are comprised of a thermoplastic synthetic material containing a conductivity-increasing additive and having a surface resistance of between 10 8  and 10 11  Ohm, wherein the second conductive elements are ribbons or threads. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk material container according to  claim 14 , wherein the discharge means is arranged within said at least one carrying loop, wherein the second conductive elements are arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal extension of the carrying loops in an area having a width transversely to the longitudinal extension of the carrying loops that is maximally two and a half times a width of the carrying loops, respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk material container according to  14 , wherein the second conductive elements are incorporated in a warp direction in the base fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk material container according to  14 , wherein the coating is arranged on a side of the container body opposite a side to which the carrying loops are attached, wherein the second conductive elements correlated with the partial areas of the container body connect the coating with the second conductive elements correlated with the carrying loops and/or the discharge means. 
     
     
         18 . The bulk material container according to  13 , wherein the discharge means is a thread having thread loops. 
     
     
         19 . The bilk material container according to  claim 18 , wherein the thread loops are provided on edges of the at least one carrying loop. 
     
     
         20 . The bulk material container according to  claim 13 , wherein the discharge means has a plurality of strips made form a conductive material and projecting at least partially from the base fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The bulk material container according to  claim 20 , wherein the strips are conductively connected with one another. 
     
     
         22 . The bulk material container according to  claim 20 , wherein the strips are part of a polymer film. 
     
     
         23 . The bulk material container according to  claim 20 , wherein the discharge means has a seam reinforcement. 
     
     
         24 . The bulk material container according to  claim 13 , wherein the discharge means is incorporated in the weft direction into the base fabric of said at least one carrying loop. 
     
     
         25 . The bulk material container according to  claim 14 , wherein at least two of the carrying loops comprise the discharge means, wherein the second conductive elements of said at least two carrying loops are conductively connected to one another.