Equipment transport bag

Abstract

Equipment transport bag assemblies (20, 92, 98, 145, 152, 182) each including an upright, open-top, equipment-receiving bag (22, 110, 158) with associated equipment-handling assemblies (24, 92, 102, 164, 184). The assemblies (24, 92, 102, 164, 184) have load-bearing strap units (34, 114, 166, 186) operably associated with the transport bags (22, 110, 158) so that the strap units (34, 114, 166, 186) bear the primary loads during lifting and handling of the bag assemblies (20, 92, 98, 145, 152, 182).

1 . An equipment transport bag assembly operable to handle equipment having at least a pair of spaced lifting lugs, said bag assembly comprising:
 an upright bag including a bottom wall and upwardly extending sidewall structure, said bag presenting an open upper end and an interior configured to receive said equipment therein; and   an equipment-handling assembly including a pair of load-bearing strap units each having a first strap section with an arcuate portion configured to engage a corresponding lifting lug when said equipment is within said bag, and a second strap section with an arcuate lifting portion, said first and second strap sections operably connected together,   said first strap sections extending into said interior of said bag for engagement with said corresponding lifting lugs when said equipment is within said bag,   said equipment-handling assembly operably coupled with said bag so that said equipment is retained within said bag interior during handling of the equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , each of said first lug-engaging strap sections formed from a first strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         3 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , each of said second strap sections formed from a second strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends of said second straps secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         4 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 3 , said second strap being generally U-shaped and presenting a central bight and upwardly extending legs. 
     
     
         5 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said equipment-handling assembly including a pair of opposed, bag-orienting strap sections, each having an arcuate connection portion. 
     
     
         6 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 5 , said bag-orienting strap sections formed from a third strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         7 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 6 , said third strap being generally U-shaped and presenting a central bight and upwardly extending legs. 
     
     
         8 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said first and second strap sections of said strap units being interconnected. 
     
     
         9 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 8 , said first and second strap sections being interconnected by stitching. 
     
     
         10 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said bag being generally circular in plan configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said bag being generally quadrate in plan configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , including at least one reinforcing band extending around and secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         13 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , each of said arcuate portions of said load-bearing strap units being in the form of a loop. 
     
     
         14 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 5 , each of said arcuate portions of said bag-orienting strap units being in the form of a loop. 
     
     
         15 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 16 , said load-bearing strap units operable to bear substantially all of said load assembly with said equipment therein. 
     
     
         16 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said load-bearing strap units operable to bear at least about 85% of the load during lifting of said bag assembly when equipment is within said bag interior. 
     
     
         17 . An equipment transport bag assembly operable to handle equipment having at least one lifting appendage, said bag assembly comprising:
 an upright bag including a bottom wall and upwardly extending sidewall structure, said bag presenting an open upper end and an interior configured to receive said equipment therein; and   an equipment-handling assembly operably connected with said equipment and said bag when said equipment is within said bag and including at least one load-bearing strap unit operably coupled with said lifting appendage so that the at least one strap unit bears substantially all of the load during lifting of said bag assembly with said equipment therein,   said at least one load-bearing strap unit extending into said interior of said bag for engagement with said lifting appendage when said equipment is within said bag,   said equipment-handling assembly also operably coupled with said bag so that said equipment is retained within said bag during handling of the equipment.   
     
     
         18 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 17 , said lifting appendage comprising an eye secured to said equipment, said at least one load-bearing strap unit operably engaging said eye. 
     
     
         19 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 18 , said equipment-handling assembly including a second strap unit passing through said eye and operably supporting said bag. 
     
     
         20 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 18 , said at least one load-bearing strap unit including a first portion extending through said eye, second portions operably engaging said bag, and third lifting portions. 
     
     
         21 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 20 , said second portions extending through opposed openings formed in said bag. 
     
     
         22 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 17 , said at least one lifting appendage comprising a pair of spaced lifting lugs secured to said equipment, said equipment-handling assembly including a pair of load-bearing strap units each having a first strap section with an arcuate portion configured to engage a corresponding lifting lug when such equipment is within said bag, and a second strap section with an arcuate lifting portion, said first and second strap sections operably connected together, said first strap sections extending into said interior of said bag when said equipment is within said bag. 
     
     
         23 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , each of said first lug-engaging strap sections formed from a first strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         24 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , each of said second strap sections formed from a second strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends of said second straps secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         25 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 24 , said second strap being generally U-shaped and presenting a central bight and upwardly extending legs. 
     
     
         26 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , said equipment-handling assembly including a pair of opposed, bag-orienting strap sections, each having an arcuate connection portion. 
     
     
         27 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 26 , said bag-orienting strap sections formed from a third strap of material having opposed ends, said opposed ends secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         28 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 27 , said third strap being generally U-shaped and presenting a central bight and upwardly extending legs. 
     
     
         29 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , said first and second strap sections of said strap units being interconnected. 
     
     
         30 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 29 , said first and second strap sections being interconnected by stitching. 
     
     
         31 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , said bag being generally circular in plan configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , said bag being generally quadrate in plan configuration. 
     
     
         33 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , including at least one reinforcing band extending around and secured to said sidewall structure. 
     
     
         34 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , each of said arcuate portions of said load-bearing strap units being in the form of a loop. 
     
     
         35 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 26 , each of said arcuate portions of said bag-orienting strap units being in the form of a loop. 
     
     
         36 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 22 , said load-bearing strap units operable to bear at least about 85% of the load during lifting of said bag assembly using said arcuate lifting portions when said equipment is within said bag. 
     
     
         37 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 1 , said equipment presenting a bottom wall, the bottom wall of said bag being spaced from said equipment bottom wall when such equipment is within said bag, and said assembly including said bag is lifted using said arcuate lifting portions. 
     
     
         38 . The transport bag assembly of  claim 17 , said equipment presenting a bottom wall, the bottom wall of said bag being spaced from said equipment bottom wall when such equipment is within said bag, and said assembly including said bag is lifted using said arcuate lifting portions.