Bulk bag with multiple lifting mechanisms

Abstract

A bulk bag and method of making the bulk bag uses stevedores and lift straps that attached to a bulk bag body so that the bulk bag has multiple lifting mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk bag comprising:
 a bulk bag body;   a plurality of lift straps attached to the bulk bag body; and   a plurality of stevedores attached to the bulk bag body,   wherein the stevedores provide one lifting mechanism for the bulk bag and the lift straps provide another lifting mechanism for the bulk bag.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the lift straps and the stevedores are attached to the bulk bag body near top corners of the bulk bag body. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the bulk bag body is made of a polypropylene woven fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the lift straps are made of relatively soft material so that the lift straps fall down under their weight when not in use. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the stevedores are made of relatively stiff material so that the stevedores stand up and do not fall down under their weight when not in use. 
     
     
         6 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  further comprising lift loops connected to the lift straps. 
     
     
         7 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  further comprising a perimeter band attached to the bulk bag body over the lift straps and the stevedores. 
     
     
         8 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the order of attachment between the bulk bag body, the lift straps and the stevedores from the inside of the bulk bag to the outside of the bulk bag is any possible order. 
     
     
         9 . The bulk bag of  claim 1  wherein the bulk bag body includes a bottom portion and a side portion, the side portion being a single tubular piece of fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The bulk bag of  claim 9  wherein the bottom portion of the bulk bag body is part of the single tubular piece of fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The bulk bag of  claim 19  wherein the bottom portion of the bulk bag body is another piece of fabric attached to the single tubular piece of fabric. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a bulk bag, the method comprising:
 constructing a bulk bag body;   attaching a plurality of lift straps to the bulk bag body; and   attaching a plurality of stevedores to the bulk bag body,   wherein the stevedores provide one lifting mechanism for the bulk bag and the lift straps provide another lifting mechanism for the bulk bag.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the lift straps and the stevedores are attached to the bulk bag body near top corners of the bulk bag body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the lift straps are made of relatively soft material so that the lift straps fall down under their weight when not in use. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the stevedores are made of relatively stiff material so that the stevedores stand up and do not fall down under their weight when not in use. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising connecting lift loops to the lift straps. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising attaching a perimeter band attached to the bulk bag body over the lift straps and the stevedores. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein constructing the bulk bag body includes attaching a piece of fabric to a tubular piece of fabric to form a bottom portion of the bulk bag body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein constructing the bulk bag body includes folding bottom corners of a tubular piece of fabric and attaching folded portions to the tubular piece of fabric to form a bottom portion of the bulk bag body.