AU2005202729B2 - Bulk bag for meat and meat products - Google Patents

Abstract

BULK BAG FOR KgAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS A bulk bag comprising a bottom wall and at least one 5 side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall is provided with at least one pocket secured to the exterior of the side wall and extending substantially vertically. The pocket receives a support member which maintains the side wall of the bulk bag in an upright, open 10 configuration. 18 Fig. 1 30 18 22 2214 22 22 Fig. 2 n2 32 26\ Fig. -3 74 s2 80 -. 9 - 74 -8 10 -- ,56 52- 76Fig.6 "27 -84 EMU Fi.1 ,j 1t V I.Ar wafi 4t % -. M. -- ~ ;N. I___AT

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant (s): B.A.G. Corp. Invention Title: BULK BAG FOR MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -1A BULK BAG FOR HEAT AND HEAT PRODUCTS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part application of application Serial Number 10/253,086 filed September 24, 2002, currently pending which is a utility application comprising a continuation-in-part of prior provisional application Serial Number 60/389,865 filed June 20, 2002, currently pending. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates generally to bulk bags, and more particularly to a bulk bag construction that is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with meat and meat products.

-2 BACKGROUND Heretofore meat and meat products have been transported in large cardboard boxes which are mounted on wooden pallets. As is ) well known, both cardboard and wood can and do harbor microorganisms, insects, etc. The presence of such organisms in and around containers utilized to receive, store, transport, and discharge meat and meat products can lead to contamination thereof. Total freedom from contamination is an absolute necessity in the ) food industry. Therefore, a need exists for a container adapted to receive, store, transport and discharge meat and meat products which is incapable of harbouring contaminating organisms. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a bulk bag for receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging meat and meat products comprising: at least four side walls formed from woven fabric and having upper and lower edges; ) the side walls defining an enclosure characterized by corners; a bottom wall formed from woven fabric and secured to the lower edges of the side walls by sewing; a plurality of pockets each located at one of the corners of the side walls and each having upper and lower ends coincident with the upper and lower edges of the adjacent side walls, respectively; a plurality of support members each received in one of the pockets and each having a length substantially equal to the distance between the upper and lower ends of the pockets; the upper and lower ends of each pocket being permanently 0 closed to prevent contaminants from entering the pocket and to prevent removal of the support members from the pockets; a plurality of lift loops located at the corners of predetermined side walls and extending above the upper edges of the side walls to facilitate transportation of the bulk bag and the 5 contents thereof; securing loops secured at the intersection of the side walls and the bottom wall and located at adjacent corners of the bulk bag for securing the bulk bag to tip over apparatus; 27912781 (GHMatters) P57354AU -2A at least one handle mounted on a side wall of the bulk bag for use in positioning the bulk bag; a liner positioned within the rectangular enclosure defined by the side walls and extending across the entirety of the bottom wall and upwardly from the lower edges to the upper edges of the side walls for receiving meat and meat products therein; a plurality of tabs securing the liner to the upper edges of the side walls thereby permitting the liner to move outwardly from ) the rectangular enclosure defined by the side walls as the bulk bag is tipped over to facilitate full and complete discharge of meat and meat products from the bulk bag. The present invention comprises a bulk bag for meat and meat products which fulfils the foregoing and other requirement that have long since been found lacking in the prior art. In accordance with preferred aspects of the invention a bulk bag is formed from one or more sheets comprising woven plastic fabric. The woven plastic fabric in turn comprises strips or filaments formed from suitable ) polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, etc. In most instances the sheets of woven plastic material are cut into a plurality of pieces in accordance with a predetermined 2791278_1 (GHMatters) P57354.AU pattern. The pieces are then joined together by sewing to form the bulk bag. Bulk bags typically comprise a bottom wall and one or more side walls with which are joined to the bottom wall 5 by sewing. In accordance with the present invention the side wall(s) of the bulk bag are provided with one or more vertically extending pockets each having a support member received therein. The function of the support member(s) is to maintain the bulk bag in an upright, open 10 configuration. The bulk bag preferably has the same dimensions as the prior art cardboard box and pallet meat and. meat products containers thereby facilitating the use of the bulk bag with conventional tip over discharge equipment.

-4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIWWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying 5 Drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bulk bag for meat and meat products constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an illustration of a first construction 10 technique for the bulk bag of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an illustration of a second construction technique for the bulk bag of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is an illustration of a third construction technique for the bulk bag of FIGURE 1; 15 FIGURE 5 is an illustration of a fourth construction technique for the bulk bag of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating a bulk bag for meat and meat products comprising a second embodiment of the invention; 20 FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 in which certain components parts have been broken away more clearly to illustrate certain features of the invention; FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIGURE 6 in the direction of the arrows; -5 FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the upper portion of the bulk bag shown in FIGURE 6 taken along the line 9-9 in FIGURE 6 in the direction of the arrows; FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10 5 10 in FIGURE 6 in the direction of the arrows. FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11 11 in FIGURE 6 in the direction of the arrows. FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the bulk bag thereof in its filled configuration; 10 FIGURE 13 is an illustration of a bulk bag of FIGURE 12 showing an early step in the discharge of product therefrom; FIGURE 14 is an illustration of the bulk bag of FIGURE 12 showing the bulk bag at a later stage in the discharge 15 of product therefrom; FIGURE 15 is an illustration of the bulk bag of FIGURE 12 showing the bulk bag at a still later stage in the discharge of product therefrom; FIGURE 16 is an illustration of the bulk bag of FIGURE 20 12 showing the completion of the discharge of product therefrom;' FIGURE 17 is a top view of a bulk bag liner useful in conjunction with a third embodiment of the invention; -6 FIGURE 18 is a partial side view of the liner of FIGURE 17; FIGURE 19 is an illustration of the liner of FIGURE 17 installed in a bulk bag; 5 FIGURE 20 is an illustration of the discharge of the bulk bag of FIGURE 19; FIGURE 21 is a front perspective view of a bulk bag. comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 22 is a rear perspective view of the bulk bag 10 of FIGURE 21; FIGURE 23 is an enlargement of a portion of FIGURE 21; and FIGURE 24 is an enlargement of a different portion of FIGURE 21.

-7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a bulk bag 10 comprising a first embodiment of the present invention. The bulk bag 5 10 includes four side walls 12 which may comprise one, two, three, or four side wall panels depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. The bulk bag 10 further comprises a bottom wall which is secured to the lower ends of the.side walls 12 by sewing 10 along sew lines 14. The upper ends of the side walls 12 may be reinforced as indicated at 16, however, reinforcement of the upper ends of the side wall is not necessary to the practice of the invention. The bulk bag 10 may be provided with any of the 15 various well known types of lifting apparatus, such as the lift loops 18 illustrated in Figure 1. The bulk bag 10 may be provided with a liner 20, however, the use of a liner is not necessary to the practice of the invention. The bulk bag 10 is preferably provided with tabs 22 located at 20 the bottom thereof which are utilized to secure the bulk bag 10 to a conventional tip over discharge apparatus. The bulk bag 10 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending pockets 26. Each of the pockets 26 receives a support member 30 therein. The support members -8 30 may be either solid or tubular, for example, the support members 30 may comprise PVC pipe which is readily available and inexpensive. The support member 30 function to retain the side walls 12 of the bulk bag 10 in an upright, open 5 configuration. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, bulk bags are often square or rectangular in cross sectional configuration, thereby defining four- corners. In such instances it is convenient to attach the pockets 10 26 at the corners of the bulk bag, however, attaching the pockets at the corners is not required in the practice of the invention. Rather, the pockets 26 may be attached at any convenient location. Bulk bags having a single tubular side wall are also 15 widely used. In the case of a tubular bulk bag the pockets 26 may be attached to the side wall thereof at any convenient location around the periphery of the bulk bag. The number of pockets used in conjunction with a particular tubular bulk bag depends upon the requirements of 20 particular applications of the invention, it being understood that larger diameter tubular bulk bags will typically require a larger number of pockets 26. Figures 2 through 5, inclusive, illustrate various techniques for constructing the pockets 26 of the present -9 invention. Referring particularly to Figure 2, when the pocket 26 is formed at a location on the side walls 12 of the bulk bag that does not include a seam, the fabric of the side walls may extend to form a loop which is then 5 closed by sewing as indicated by the sew line 32. Referring to Figure 3, if the location of the pocket 26 is coincident with a seam 34 an additional sew line 36 is utilized to close the seam. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate embodiments of the 10 invention wherein the pocket 26 is constructed independently of the fabric of the side walls of the bulk bag. Referring particularly to Figure 4, the side walls 1'2 are joined at one of the corners of the bulk bag by a seam 40. A pocket 26 comprises panels 42 and 44. The sew 15 line 32 performs the triple function of closing the seam 40, joining the panels 42 and 44 along adjacent edges thereof, and securing the pocket 26 to the bulk bag. The seam 36 joins the panels 32 along the opposite edges thereof thereby completing the construction of the pocket 20 26. Figure- 5 illustrates a similar construction wherein the pocket 26 is formed from a single panel 46. Hereagain, the sew line 32 performs the triple function of closing the seam 40, joining the adjacent edges 'of the panel 46 to -10 complete the construction of the pocket 26, and securing the pocket 26 to the bulk bag, Bulk bags incorporating the present invention may be formed using U panel, tubular, or four panel construction. 5 The corner pockets are dimensional to receive rods or tubes having diameters between about. 4" and about 2". The pockets may be formed as part of the side panels of the bag, or attached to the side seams. The pockets are made of bulk bag fabric, narrow fabric webbing, or in lieu of 10 pockets straps are used in multiple locations in the side seams. Various lift loop styles may be used including standard four corner vertical loops, spread straps, over the-corner straps, basket straps and sleeves. The bulk bag 15 will also have tabs, straps, or loops attached to various points at the bottom of the bags to be used to secure the bottom of the bag to the tip over discharge equipment. The opening of each pocket may have a closure device or the pocket can be left open. Various liners 20 construction can be used with standard attachment options or the bulk bag can be used without a liner. Referring now to Figures 6 through 10, inclusive, and particularly to Figure 6 there is shown a bulk bag 50 comprising a second embodiment of the invention. The bulk -11 bag 50 comprises four side walls 52 and a bottom wall 54 (Figs. 7 and 9) . The side walls 52 and the bottom wall 54 define a rectangular enclosure. The side walls 52 intersect at corners which define vertically disposed 5 pockets 56 located outside of the rectangular enclosure, A reinforcing band 58 is provided along the tops of the side walls 52, and is secured by seams 59. The bottoms of the side walls 52 are joined to the bottom wall 54 by seams 61. 10 The bulk bag 50 is constructed from four corner panels 62, 64, 66, and 68. As is best shown in Figure 8, the opposite vertically extending edges of each of the-corner panels are folded over and adhesively secured at to provide reinforced edges 70, Referring again to Figure 6, the 15 reinforced edges of the corner panels are joined by side seams 72 to define the bulk bag 50. The bulk bag 50 is provided with- lift loops 74 which are secured to the fabric of the corner panels by sewing along seams 75. As is shown in Figure 11, the lift loops 74 are secured to 20 their respective corner panels by the side seam 72 and by the seams 59 which secure the reinforcing band 58. The lift loops 74 are secured to the side walls 52 by seams 75. In this manner the lift loop 74 is secured in an upright -12. configuration to facilitate manipulation of the bulk bag 50 by forklift trucks and similar apparatus. Securing loops 76 are provided at the bottom of each corner of the bulk bag 50. The securing loops 76 are 5 secured to the bulk bag 50 during construction thereof function to secure the bulk bag 50 to a conventional tip over apparatus (not shown) to facilitate discharge of the contents of the bulk bag 50. Referring to Figure 11, the pockets 56 are constructed 10 from the fabric of the corner panels comprising the bulk bag 50 and a seam 77 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Each corner pocket 56 is located outside of the rectangular enclosure defined by the side walls 52 and 15 receives a structural member 78 which preferably comprises a length of PVC pipe. The function of the structural member 78 is to maintain the bulk bag 50 in an upright and open configuration to facilitate filling thereof. The upper end of each pocket 56 is provided with a 20 sewn-in-place shield 80 which prevents contamination of the interior of the pocket 56 during filling of the bulk bag 50. The lower end of each pocket 56 is provided with a releasable closure 82 which secures the structural members 78 within the pocket 56 during filling, transport, and -13 discharge of the bulk bag 50, while facilitating removal of the structural members 78 after the bulk bag 50 has been emptied. The releasable closures 82 preferably comprise tie down straps, however, other releasable closure 5 configurations will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. As is best shown in figures 7 and 10, the bulk bag 50 further includes a liner 84. The main portion of the liner 84 extends across the bottom wall 54 of the bulk bag 50 and 10 then upwardly along the side walls 52 thereof. At the upper ends of the side walls 52 the liner 84 is folded inwardly and then extended downwardly to define a skirt 86. An important feature of the bulk bag .50 comprises the fact that the liner 84 is secured to the upper ends of the side 15 walls 52 by tabs 88. Referring to Figure 9 each tab 88 comprises a layer of plastic tape 90 of the type comprising longitudinally extending lengths of reinforcing fibers. Each tab 88 includes a sectional of woven polypropylene fabric 92 at 20 the upper end thereof which is secured to the tape 90 by a suitable adhesive and which is sewn into the reinforcing band 58. The liner 84 and the skirt 86 thereof are secured to the tab 88 by means of a suitable adhesive. The tab 88 may be provided with an additional length of woven -14 polypropylene fabric 94 which further secures the tab 88 against tearing, Referring to Figure 8, the reinforced edges 70 of the corner panels 62, 64, 66, and 68 comprise doubled-over edge 5 portions of the fabric comprising the corner panels which are secured in place by adhesive layers 96. Referring again to Figure 9, the upper portions of the reinforced edges 70 are doubled over and are secured in place by the seams 59 which also function to secure the reinforcing band 10 58 in place. The seams 59 also secure the tabs 88 to the side walls 52 of the bulk bag. Referring to 11, the lift loops are secured to the reenforced edges of the corner panels 62, 64, 66, and 68 by the seams 75. Utilization of the bulk bag 50 is illustrated in 15 Figures 12 through 16, inclusive. The bulk bag 50 is typically filled with a quantity of meat products MP. The securing loops 76 are utilized to secure the bulk bag 50 to a conventional tip over apparatus (not shown) of the type utilized in conjunction with prior art meat product 20 transporting devices. After the securing loops 76 are secured to the tip over apparatus, the tip over apparatus is utilized to invert the bulk bag 50 so that the meat product MP can be discharged therefrom.

-15 Figure 13 illustrates an early step in the discharge of the meat product MP from the bulk bag 50. The bulk bag 50 is shown partially inverted with the meat product MP beginning to pour outwardly from the liner 84 of the bulk 5 bag 50. Because of the sticky nature of the meat product MP, discharge thereof tends to pull the liner 84 out of the bulk bag 50, However, outward movement of the liner 84 relative to the bulk bag 50 is restrained by the tabs 88 which secure the liner 84 to the upper end of the bulk bag 10 50. Figure 14 shows the bulk bag 50 completely inverted with the restraining loops 76 still securing the bulk bag 50 to the tip over apparatus. As the meat product MP discharges from the interior of the liner 84 of the bulk 15 bag 50, the liner 84 is pulled outwardly from the interior of the bulk bag and is turned inside out. Figure 15 illustrates the bulk bag 50 with the discharge of the meat product MP therefrom substantially complete, and Figure 16 illustrates the bulk bag 50 after the discharge of the meat 20 product MP from the bulk bag has been completed. At this point the liner 84 is completely turned inside out with the skirt 86 now positioned on the outside of the liner proper. Referring to Figures 17 through 20, inclusive, there is shown a bulk bag liner 100 useful in receiving, -16 transporting, and discharging meat products comprising a third embodiment of the inunction. The liner 100 comprises a length of tubular plastic film 102 which may be formed from conventional polymeric materials such as polyethylene. S A first seam 104 closes one end of the liner 102 in the manner of a trash bag. After the seam 104 is formed, the liner 104 is formed into a rectangular configuration whereupon seams 106 and 108 are formed at the same end of the liner 102 as the seam 10 104. In this manner the liner 100 is retained in a rectangular configuration having dimensions which approximate the interior dimensions of the bulk bag in which the liner 101 will be used. The seams 104, 106, and 108 may comprise heat seals. 15 Alternatively, the seams 104, 106, and 108 may be adhesively constructed. Other conventional techniques for seaming polymeric materials may also be utilized in the practice of the invention. As indicated above, the foregoing steps change the 20 cross sectional configuration of the liner 100 from a circle to a rectangle having predetermined dimensions. The formation of the seams 104, 106, and 108 also results in triangular tabs 110 extending from the opposite sides of the liner 100. As shown in Figure 18, the distal ends 112 -17 of each tab 110 may be rolled or folded to provide additional tear resistance. Referring to Figure 19, there is shown a bulk bag 120 comprising one or more side walls 122 and a bottom wall 5 124. The side wall(s) 122 are joined to the bottom wall 124 by seams 126. Figure 19 also shows the liner 100 shown in Figures 17 and 18 described hereinabove in conjunction therewith positioned in the bulk bag 120. The tabs 110 extending 10 from the opposite sides of the lower end of the liner 100 are positioned between the lower edges of the side wall(s) 122 and the lateral edges of the bottom wall 124. The seams 126 extend through the tabs 110 to secure the liner 100 within the bulk bag 120. As shown in Figure 18 and 15 described hereinabove in conjunction therewith, the distal ends of the tabs 110 may be rolled or folded to provide additional tear strength. The bulk bag 120 having the liner 110 secured therein is used to receive, transport, and discharge meat products, 20 As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, meat products are received in the liner 100 with the bulk bag 120 oriented as shown in Figure 19. - The meat products received within the bulk bag 120 are discharged frm the liner 100 thereof by inverting the bulk -18 bag 120 as shown in Figure 20. The sticky nature of the meat products causes the liner 100 to move downwardly (Figure 20) relative to the bulk bag 120 as the meat products are discharged therefrom. The tabs 110 at the 5 closed end of the liner 100 allow the liner 100 to move down a limited amount and then prevent further limited movement. The abrupt stoppage of the downward movement of the liner 110 which is caused by the sewing the tabs 110 of the liner 100 into the seams joining the side wall(s) 10 and the bottom wall of the bulk bag 120 causes the meat products to -disengage from the liner 100 and fully discharge from the bulk bag 120. Referring now to Figures 21-24, inclusive, there is shown a bulk bag 130 comprising a fourth embodiment of the 15 invention. The bulk bag 130 incorporates numerous component parts which are substantially identical in construction and function to component parts of the bulk bag 50 illustrated in Figures 6-16, inclusive. Such identical component parts are identified in Figures 21-24, 20 inclusive, with the same reference numerals utilized above in the description of the bulk bag 50. The bulk bag 130 differs from the bulk bag 50 in that the bulk bag 130 is provided with only two securing loops 76 which are provided at adjacent corners of the bulk bag -19 130 as defined by one of the side walls 52. In actual practice it has been found that the use of two securing loops 76 is sufficient to the successful implementation of the bulk bag 130. 5 Referring specifically to ,Figure 22, the bulk bag 130 further differs from the bulk bag 50 in that it is provided with the handles 132. The handles 132 are located on the side wall 52 of the bulk bag 130 opposite the side wall 52 defining the corners comprising the securing loops 76. The 10 handles 132 are formed from webbing of the type utilized in the construction of automotive and aircraft seatbelts, or similar high strength materials and are secured in place by the side wall seams 172 and the adjacent pocket defining seams 77 of the bulk bag .130. 15 Referring to Figure 23, the bulk bag 130 further differs from the bulk bag 50 in that the structural members 78 are permanently retained in the pockets 56 at both the upper and lower ends thereof. A retaining member 134 extends into the lower end of each pocket 56 and is 20 retained therein by a seam 136. The lower end of the retaining member 134 is closed by a seam 138. Figure 24 illustrates a further distinction between the construction of the bulk bag 50 and the construction of the bulk bag 130. As indicated above, the side walls -20 52 of the bulk bag 130 are preferably constructed from a woven plastic fabric, typically comprising woven strands formed from polypropylene. The bulk bag 130 further comprises a liner 84 formed from plastic film, typically 5 polyethylene film. A liner retainer 140 formed from the same plastic film material that is utilized in the construction of the liner 84 is secured to the top wall 84T and to the side wall 84S of the liner 84 by a suitable adhesive. The retainer 84 is folded around a pad 142 10 comprising a section of woven plastic fabric which may comprise the same material utilized in the construction of the side walls 52 of the bulk bag 130. A retainer 140.and the pad 142 are secured in place by the seams 59 which secure the reinforcing band 58 to the upper end of the side 15 walls 52 of the bulk bag 130. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the 20 embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- 21 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as 5 "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that, if any prior art 10 publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (2)

1. A bulk bag for receiving, storing, transporting, and discharging meat and meat products comprising: at least four side wals formed from woven fabric and having upper and lower edges; the side walls defining an enclosure characterized by corners; a bottom wall formed from woven fabric and secured to the lower edges of the side walls by sewing; a plurality of pockets each located at one of the corners of the side walls and each having upper and lower ends coincident with the upper and lower edges of the adjacent side walls, respectively; a plurality of support members each received in one of the pockets and each having a length substantially equal to the distance between the upper and lower ends of the pockets; the upper and lower ends of each pocket being permanently closed to prevent contaminants from entering the pocket and to prevent removal of the support members from the pockets; a plurality of lift loops located at the corners of predetermined side walls and extending above the upper edges of the side walls to facilitate transportation of the bulk bag and the contents thereof; securing loops secured at the intersection of the side walls and the bottom wall and located at adjacent corners of the bulk bag for securing the bulk bag to tip over apparatus; at least one handle mounted on a side wall of the bulk bag for use in positioning the bulk bag; -23 a liner positioned within the rectangular enclosure defined by the side walls and extending across the entirety of the bottom wall and upwardly from the lower edges to the upper edges of the side walls for receiving meat and meat products therein; a plurality of tabs securing the liner to the upper edges of the side walls thereby permitting the liner to move outwardly from the rectangular enclosure defined by the side walls as the bulk bag is tipped over to facilitate full and complete discharge of meat and meat products from the bulk bag.

2. A bulk bag substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 27912781 (GHMatters) P57354.AU