Container for storage and transport of liquids

Abstract

A generally cuboid shaped container for storage or transport of bulk liquids including a textile bag having four side walls and a bottom face, all made of woven fabric, a frame attached to the bag and comprising a plurality of hoops, each hoop subtending a different vertically aligned corner of the bag; means retaining the hoops to the walls; and a collapsible bladder housed within the bag and sized and shaped such that a filled bladder substantially fills the bag. The frame has rigid members linking the top of each hoop to the tops of the other hoops to prevent the hoop tops from spreading apart from each other.

1 . A container for storage and transport of bulk liquid material, said container having four sides, a top and a bottom all defining a generally cuboid shape wherein each pair of adjacent said sides defines a respective vertically aligned corner therebetween having a vertically aligned side edge, said container further comprising:
 a textile bag having four side walls and a bottom face, all made of woven fabric;   a frame attached to the bag and comprising a plurality of hoops formed of rigid elongate material, each hoop having a first portion extending generally vertically up a respective first of the walls, a second portion extending across the top of the container, a third portion extending generally vertically down a respective second of the walls which is adjacent to said first wall, and a fourth portion extending across said bottom face to join the bottom of said first portion, each said hoop subtending a different one of said vertically aligned corners;   means retaining the hoops to their respective first and second walls;   a collapsible bladder housed within the bag and sized and shaped such that a filled bladder substantially fills the bag; and   said frame further comprising rigid members linking said second portion of each hoop to the second portions of the other hoops
 whereby said rigid members prevent said second portions from spreading apart from each other. 
   
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein each said rigid member has the form of a rigid strut integrally attached to each of a pair of adjacent said hoops. 
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein each said rigid member has the form of a rigid strut integrally attached to said second portion of each of said pair of adjacent hoops. 
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said rigid members are attached to each other to form a rigid frame which is detachably affixed to all of said second portions of said hoops. 
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the second portion of each hoop is integrally joined via a rigid strut to each adjacent hoop such that said second portions and struts together form a rigid ring. 
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 5  wherein said ring has legs attached thereto and said legs extend down to engage with the tops of said first and third portions of the hoops. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 5  wherein said ring is octagonal, a leg is attached to each corner of the ring, and each leg extends down to engage with the top of a corresponding first or third portion of the hoops. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said rigid members are attached to each other in a hinged linkage which is detachably affixed to all of said second portions of said hoops. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the means of retaining the hoops to said first and second walls comprises strips of fabric sewn onto the first and second side walls to form sleeves and the generally vertical portions of the hoops are held within the sleeves. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said respective third, fourth and first portions comprise one continuous U-shaped member and said second portion is formed by a separate member removably attachable to the U-shaped member. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the separate member forming the second portion is a U-shaped elongate member having a central portion with an arm depending therefrom at each end, said arms being adapted to slidably engage with the upper ends of said first portion and said third portion. 
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein each of the four vertically aligned corners are subtended by a respective hoop. 
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the second portion of each hoop is integrally joined via a rigid strut to each adjacent hoop such that said second portions and struts together form a rigid ring. 
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein lifting means are attached to each said side edge closer to the bottom than to the top.