Flexible bulk containers constructed to be liftable from below by a forklift

Abstract

Flexible bulk containers are configured to be liftable without the necessity of a pallet. A base of a bulk bag has a pair of tine-receiving members secured thereto. The tine-receiving members have a cross-section for creating a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the filled container. The tine-receiving members advantageously are substantially water-resistant. The tine-receiving members can be formed of paperboard that is treated to increase its water-resistance. For example, the tine-receiving members can each be a portion of a round or non-round paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. The paperboard of which the tube is constructed can comprise paperboard that is sized to increase its water-resistance.

1 . A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
 a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base; and   a pair of tine-receiving members secured to the base of the bag, the tine-receiving members defining channels into which the tines of a forklift can be inserted for lifting and transporting the bag, each of the tine-receiving members comprising a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 1 , wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         3 . A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
 a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and comprising at least a side wall assembly, a bottom wall affixed to a lower end of the side wall assembly, the bottom wall defining a discharge opening, and a bottom closure operable for closing the discharge opening, the bottom closure being openable for emptying the bag through the discharge opening;   a bottom flap having opposite ends affixed to a lower end of the bag at opposite sides thereof, the bottom flap in a closed position extending beneath the bottom closure so as to cover the bottom closure, the bottom flap being narrower than the bottom wall such that two portions of the bottom wall on opposite sides of the bottom flap are not covered by the bottom flap, at least one of the ends of the bottom flap being releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed; and   a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members respectively secured to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom wall and extending parallel to each other;   the tine-receiving members having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container.   
     
     
         4 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 3 , wherein the tine-receiving members are substantially water-resistant. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 4 , wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 5 , wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 6 , wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of sleeves respectively affixed to the two portions of the bottom wall not covered by the bottom flap, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the bottom wall, the tine-receiving members being inserted through the sleeves so as to secure the tine-receiving members to the bag and position the tine-receiving members parallel to each other and spaced apart. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible bulk container for containing a flowable bulk material, comprising:
 a bag formed of a flexible fabric material and having a base that defines a discharge opening, the bag further comprising a bottom closure movable between a closed position in which the discharge opening is closed and an open position in which the discharge opening is open for emptying the bag therethrough;   a bottom flap comprising a flexible sheet and having opposite ends affixed to the bag at opposite sides thereof proximate the base, the bottom flap in a closed position extending beneath and covering the bottom closure, at least one of the ends of the bottom flap being releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement so as to permit the bottom flap to be moved to an open position in which the bottom closure is exposed; and   a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members secured to the bottom flap and disposed beneath a lower surface of the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being parallel and spaced apart, and having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the flexible bulk container.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 9 , wherein the bag includes a pair of spaced-apart sleeves affixed to the bottom flap, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the bottom flap, the tine-receiving members being inserted into the sleeves and thereby being secured to the bottom flap. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 9 , wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 12 , wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 9 , wherein each of the ends of the bottom flap is releasably affixed to the bag by a fastening arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible bulk container of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pair of fastening lines respectively extending through the channels of the pair of tine-receiving members and each having opposite end portions projecting out from the channels and fastened to the bag so as to releasably secure the bottom flap in the closed position, at least one end portion of each fastening line being releasably fastened to the bag;   the bottom flap, upon disconnecting the end portions of the fastening lines from the bag, being movable into an open position exposing the bottom closure.   
     
     
         16 . A support system for supporting and facilitating the lifting and transportation of an item, comprising:
 an assembly comprising a flexible sheet for underlying the item and a pair of substantially rigid tine-receiving members secured to the flexible sheet and disposed beneath a lower surface of the flexible sheet, the tine-receiving members having a cross-section that creates a pair of tine-receiving channels that can receive the tines of a forklift for lifting the support system with the item thereon;   securing members attached to the assembly, extending upwardly therefrom, and configured for being secured to the item.   
     
     
         17 . The support system of  claim 16 , further comprising fastening lines affixed to the securing members and configured for being releasably connected to each other to secure the support system about the item. 
     
     
         18 . The support system of  claim 16 , wherein the securing members are configured to be releasably connected to one another to secure the support system about the item. 
     
     
         19 . The support system of  claim 16 , wherein the tine-receiving members are substantially water-resistant. 
     
     
         20 . The support system of  claim 19 , wherein the tine-receiving members comprise paperboard treated to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         21 . The support system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the tine-receiving members comprises a portion of a paperboard tube divided along a plane containing or parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the tube. 
     
     
         22 . The support system of  claim 21 , wherein the paperboard tube comprises paperboard that is sized to increase the paperboard's water-resistance. 
     
     
         23 . The support system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a pair of spaced-apart sleeves affixed to the flexible sheet, the sleeves being disposed beneath the lower surface of the flexible sheet and extending parallel to each other;   wherein the tine-receiving members are inserted into the sleeves, thereby being secured to the flexible sheet.