Flexible intermediate bulk container with collection skirt

Abstract

A collection assembly (10, 10a) for flowable materials includes a central, flexible bag (12, 12a) with a collection skirt (14, 14a) secured to the bag (12, 12a) and extending outwardly from the open top (20, 20a) of the bag (12, 12a). In use, the assembly (10, 10a) is placed at a collection site with the bag (12, 12a) in a collapsed condition and the skirt (14, 14a) is deployed about the bag (12, 12a). Material (36) is then placed on the assembly (10, 10a) over the open top (20, 20a) and, as necessary, the skirt (14, 14a). The skirt is then elevated using marginal gathering apparatus (16, 16a), thereby causing the material (36) to flow into the bag (12, 12a). The skirt (14, 14a) may then be gathered and closed, forming a duffel closure for the assembly (10, 10a).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A container assembly for material, comprising:
 a flexible bag including a bottom wall and foldable sidewall structure projecting from the bottom wall,   said bag being rectangular in cross-sectional shape and presenting opposite inner and outer surfaces,   said bag presenting an open top that has a rectangular-shaped periphery, with the cross-sectional shape of the bag and periphery being coextensive,   said bag movable between collapsed and expanded positions, with the bag presenting an upright central bag axis in the expanded position;   a plurality of lifting structures secured to the outer surface of the bag about the periphery of the open top; and   a flexible collection skirt including a connection segment securely connected to the sidewall structure of the bag adjacent the open top,   said collection skirt extending outwardly around the periphery of the open top, such that the skirt presents a rectangular-shaped central skirt opening that is coextensive with the cross-sectional shape of the bag and the periphery of the open top,   said collection skirt being generally flat to present opposed upper and lower skirt faces,   said collection skirt being moveable between a flat configuration, in which the collection skirt lies in a plane orthogonal to the bag axis and conceals the lifting structures below the lower skirt face, and a gathered configuration, in which the collection skirt is lifted up and gathered toward the bag axis and thereby reveals the lifting structures,   said bottom wall of the bag being closely adjacent the lower skirt face, with the sidewall structure folded, in the collapsed position of the bag,   said bottom wall of the bag being spaced from the lower skirt face a greater distance, with the sidewall structure unfolded, in the expanded position of the bag than in the collapsed position thereof,   said collection skirt having an outer margin and gathering apparatus at spaced locations adjacent the outer margin thereof,   said gathering apparatus including structure defining a through-opening at each of the spaced locations to facilitate lifting of the skirt from the flat configuration to the gathered configuration, with such lifting causing material on the upper face skirt to pass freely through the central skirt opening into the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , said skirt presenting an outer margin, said outer margin being substantially circular. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , said gathering apparatus comprising a plurality of spaced apart lifting loops, each defining the through opening, secured to said skirt outer margin. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , said gathering apparatus comprising a peripheral drawstring about said skirt and located within a pocket formed at the outer margin of the skirt, said pocket presenting a plurality of openings, each of which cooperates with the drawstring to define the through opening. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , said plurality of lifting structures including lifting loops. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , said skirt configured to provide a closure duffel when said bag is filled with said material. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , there being a plurality of connection segments adjacent the central skirt opening, with connection of the connection segments to the bag serving to securely interconnect the collection skirt to the bag.