GB2488544A

GB2488544A - Sack support arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2488544A
Application number: GB1103253.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Damien Gaunt
Original assignee: RESEP Ltd
Current assignee: RESEP Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-25
Filing date: 2011-02-25
Publication date: 2012-09-05
Also published as: GB201103253D0

Abstract

Apparatus (500) for containing items comprising: a support device (101) comprising a frame (102) positioned around the periphery of a support surface (503) and a bag (501). The frame comprises a plurality of tubular elements (103A - 103M), and the support device has a plurality of connecting members (103A â 103D), The bag has a plurality of supporting loops (502A -502D), each loop being connected to one of the connecting members, so that the bag is partially supported by the connecting members and partially supported by the support surface. Consequently, when the bag contains a load, most of the weight of the load is supported by the support surface. The support device (101) may be a pallet (401). The bag loops (502A-502D) may be connected to the connecting members (103A-103D) by means of resilient elements adapted to stretch when the bag is filled with a load. A member (103M) may be released and moved to an open position (figure 11) to provide access to the filled bag and support surface.

Description

Apparatus For Containing Items

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to apparatus for containing items, a support device for a bag, a kit of parts for forming a support device for a bag and a method of supporting a bag in an open configuration.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to position a large bag, having a cuboid shape, on a pallet and fill the bag with items, such as waste products. The pallet and filled bag are then transported away by fork lift truck or other similar truck, typically to a lorry that transports the bag to a suitable site for receiving the waste material.

A problem with this arrangement is that the bag does not have support as it is being filled and the person filling the bag must repeatedly reposition the sides of the bag to insert further items. In addition, it is typical for the bag slump over to one side as it is being filled and this can waste further time and also result in the bag not being fully filled. �te**

* : 20 ****** * .

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for containing items as claimed in claim 1.

BRiEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a support device 101 for supporting a bag; Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the upper end of the substantially vertical tubular element 103A; Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the lower end of the vertical tubular member 103C; Figure 4 shows the frame 102 of support device 101 arranged around a pallet 401; Figure 5 shows apparatus 500 for containing items that embodies the present invention; Figure 6 shows the apparatus 500 in cross-section; Figure 7 shows the apparatus 500 after two items 701 and 702 have been dropped into the bag 501; Figure 8 shows the apparatus 500 with the bag 501 approximately half full; Figure 9 shows the apparatus 500 for receiving items after its bag 501 has been completely filled by items 801; Figure 10 shows the apparatus 500 of Figure 9 with the supporting loops 502A to 502D of the bag 501 unhooked from the supporting device 101; Figure 11 shows the apparatus 501 with its tubular element 103M pivoted around to a substantially vertical orientation to provide an opening between the substantially vertical elements 1 03A and 1 03D; Figure 12 shows the bag 501, filled with items 801, on the base 401, * : 25 removed from the support device 101; ***.** . . * * Figure 13 shows an alternative support device 1301; and Figure 14 shows a second alternative support device 1401. 0* * . * ***

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 A support device 101 for supporting a bag is shown in the perspective view of Figure 1. The support device 101 comprises a frame 102 formed of a plurality of tubular elements. In the present case, the frame 102 has eleven tubular elements of which four tubular elements 103A, 103B, 103C and 1030 are arranged substantially vertically and are connected by the remaining tubular elements. The first substantially vertical tubular element 103A is connected to the second 103B by substantially horizontal tubular elements 103E and 103F, as well as an obliquely angled tubular element 103G. Tubular elements 103C and 103D are similarly connected by the three tubular elements 103H, 1031 and 103J. Tubular elements 103B and 103C are connected together by substantially horizontal tubular elements 103K and 103L. Finally tubular elements 103A and 103D are connected together by a single tubular element 103M. The four substantially vertical tubular elements 103A, 103B, 103C and 1030 are arranged at the four corners of a square, so that the frame 102 has a cuboid shape.

In the present embodiment, an upper end portion of each of the substantially vertical tubular elements extends beyond the remaining tubular elements to provide a connection member over which a loop of a bag may be hooked.

The non-vertical tubular elements, i.e. tubular elements 103E to 103M are each provided with a joining device at each of their ends for joining to the *..s o * substantially vertical tubular element 103A to 1030. The joining devices are of * ** **.

* * 25 a number of different types, depending upon the location and use within the frame 102. Thus a first type of joining device 104 is attached to one end of the horizontal tubular members 103E, 103F, 103H and 1031 for connecting to a respective one of the vertical tubular elements (1 03A, 1030). A second type of joining device 105 has been used to join the horizontal tubular elements 103E, 103F, 103H, 1031, 103K and 1031 to a respective one of the two vertical tubular elements 103B and 103C. A third type of joining device has been used to join the oblique tubular member 103G to the vertical tubular members 103A and 103B, while the same type of joining device 106 has been used to join the oblique tubular element 103J to the vertical tubular elements 103C and 103D.

As will be described further below, the joining device 106 allows a pair of tubular members to be connected together and allows the angle formed between the tubular members to be varied. However, the joining devices 106 are like the joining devices 104 and 105 in that they provide a semi-permanent connection to be made. i.e., the connection of the joining devices, and the disconnection, requires the use of a tool.

The single tubular element 103M connecting the substantially vertical tubular elements 103A and 103D differs from the remaining tubular elements in that it is joined at one of its ends to the tubular element 103A by a joining device 107 that allows simple manual disconnection. That is, it does not require the use of a tool to disconnect the tubular element 103M from tubular element I 03A. The opposite end of the tubular element 1 03m is connected to the substantially vertical tubular element 103D by a connecting device 106.

Consequently, it is possible to disconnect the tubular element 103M by releasing the joining device 107 from the tubular element 103A and pivot the tubular element 1 03M about the joining device 106. In this way, it is possible to raise the tubular element 103M to an open position and provide an opening between the vertical tubular elements 1 03A and 1 03D. The purpose of this will be described below.

In the present embodiment, each of the vertical tubular elements 1 03A to 103D are provided with an adjustable foot 108 that is screwed into a threaded part at their lower ends. Thus, adjustment of the position of the feet 108 may be made to ensure that the frame 102 rests securely on a floor surface.

Figures2&3 A detailed view of the upper end of the substantially vertical tubular element 103A is shown in Figure 2, while a detailed view of the lower end of the vertical tubular member 103C is shown in Figure 3. These two Figures provide more detailed views of the four types of joining devices 104, 105, 106 and 107 used in the present frame 102.

The simplest of the joining devices 104 comprises two similar halves 201A and 201 B that are clamped together by a bolt 202. One end of the joining device 104 is shaped to receive a tubular element, in this case tubular eLement 103, end on, while a second part of the joining device 104 is arranged to receive a second tubular element (in this instance 103A) arranged at right angles to the first tubular element. This first joining device 104 does not allow any relative movement between the two tubular elements (103E and 103A).

The joining device 106 comprises two separate parts: a first part 203 and a second part 204 that are pivotalty connected together. The first part 203 is itself formed of two halves that are clamped together to receive the end of a tubular element (in this instance tubular element 103G). The second part 204 is also formed of two parts but is shaped to receive a middle section of a tubular element (in this instance tubular element 103A).

The joining device 107 is similar to joining device 104 in that it has a first portion 206 configured to receive an end of a first tubular element (in this instance tubular element 103M), and it also has a second portion 205 configured to receive a middle portion of a second tubular element (in this instance tubular element 103A). However, a second portion 205 of the joining device 107, which is located around the second tubular element (103A), is connected to the first portion 206 by a hinge (not visible in Figure 2). The * 25 hinged portion 205 of the joining device 107 is held firmly around the second ****** . * * tubular element (103A) by means of a latching device 207 of a well known type. The latching device comprises a steel loop that is pivotally mounted on a manually operable lever that is itself mounted on the first portion 206. To rigidly fix the joining device 107 to the second tubular element (103A), the steel loop is manually hooked over a hooked part of the second portion 205, and then, by operation of the cam, the loop is caused to apply a retaining force on the second portion 205. To release the joining device 107 from the second tubular element (103A), the lever is lifted and the loop removed from the hook on the second portion 205.

The joining device 105, shown in Figure 3, differs from the other joining devices 104, 106 and 107 in that it is designed to join together three tubular elements (in this instance tubular elements 103L, 1031 and 103C). The joining device 105 comprises two pads 301 and 302 that may be bolted together (using bolts 303 and 304). The joining device 105 is configured to receive the end portions of two tubular elements arranged perpendicular to each other (in this instance tubular elements 103L and 1031, and also clamp about a middle portion of a third tubular element (in this instance tubular element 103C), holding the third tubular element perpendicular to both of the first two tubular elements.

In the present embodiment, the tubular elements and joining devices forming the frame 102 are those sold under the trademark FlowTube by Flowstore Systems Limited, United Kingdom.

Figure 4 In one embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for containing items comprises the support device 101 of Figure 1, a bag supported by the support device 101 and a base providing a support surface for partially supporting the weight of the bag. Such an embodiment will be described below with reference to Figure 5. In this embodiment, the frame 102 of the support device 101 is arranged around the periphery of the base. In one such embodiment, the base is provided in the form of a wooden pallet configured to receive forks of a forklift truck. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, in order to form ** ,* such apparatus, the frame 102 is arranged around a pallet 401.

* S As illustrated in Figure 4, the square defined by the substantially vertical elements 103A to 103D has lengths that are a few centimetres longer than the lengths of the sides of the pallet 401 so that the pallet 401 may easily be located within the frame 102.

Figure 5 Apparatus 500 for containing items, which embodies the present invention, is shown in Figure 5. The apparatus 500 comprises the support device 101, the base 401 and a bag 501. The bag 501 has a plurality of supporting loops, in the present case four supporting loops, 502A, 502B, 502C and 502D. Each of the loops 502A to 502D is connected to a respective one of the upper portions of the vertical elements I 03A to 1 03D by hooking the loop (502A, 502B, 502C or 502D) over its respective vertical element (103A, 103B, 103C or 103D). Thus, the upper portions of the vertical elements 103A to 103D provide aconnecting member for connecting to the loops of the bag 501..

The uppermost horizontal tubular elements 103E, 103K, 103H and 103M are positioned at a height above the uppermost, supporting surface 503 of the base 401. The height of these tubular elements is chosen such that, when the bag 501 is supported by its loops 502A to 502D and the upper ends of the vertical members I 03A to I 03D, the bag extends down to the supporting surface 503 of the base 401. Thus, the bag 501 is partially supported by the connecting members (in this case vertical elements 1 03A to 1 03D) and partially supported by the uppermost surface 503 of the base 401.

The bag 501 is of a well known type used in industry referred to as an FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) or Tote bag. The bag 501 is of a cuboid shape being formed of a sheet of woven manmade material sewn together at seams along its vertical edges 504. A doubled length of tape, or webbing, is sewn along each of the four vertical edges 504, and thereby form the loops 502A to 502D, which extend from the open end of the bag.

In the above described embodiment, the frame 102 defines a single compartment having four "walls", formed of the tubular elements, and arranged to support a single bag 501. However, in an alternative embodiment the support device comprises a frame that defines several compartments, for example arranged side by side, such that each compartment is arranged to :w.,. 30 receive a bag. For example, in one embodiment the frame defines three compartments arranged side by side to receive a respect three bags. In these embodiments, the number of tubular elements required to support each bag is reduced because the compartments are separated by a single "wall" of, for example, two vertical tubular elements and three non-vertical tubular elements.

In the above described embodiments, the frame 102 comprises obliquely angled tubular elements 103J and 103G, but in an alternative embodiment these obliquely angled tubular elements are omitted.

Figure 6 Use of the apparatus 500 will now be described with reference to Figures 6. to 11. Firstly, Figure 6 shows the apparatus 500 in cross-section before any items have been placed within the bag 501. Thus, the bag 501 is partially supported by its loops, such as loops 502B and 502C that are located around the upper ends of the vertical elements, such as elements 1 03B and 103C. In the present instance, the bag 501 is also partially supported, even in its empty form, by the upper supporting surface 503 of the base 401. However, it may be noted that it is possible in some embodiments of the present invention for the empty bag 501 to be completely supported by its loops 502A to 502D when it is empty. This will be further discussed below.

Figure 7 The apparatus 500 is shown in Figure 7 after two items 701 and 702 have been dropped into the bag 501.

In the present instance, the bag 501 has been positioned such that, in its empty state, the edges 703 of its bottom side 704 are held just above the supporting surface 503 of the base 401. Consequently, the it&1ns 701 and 702 tend to deform the bottom side 704 of the bag 501 and roll into its middle. This has been found to be preferable when locating items in the bag 501, in order for the bag to fill in a substantially upright condition.

Figure 8 The apparatus 500 is shown again in Figure 8 after many more items 801 have been placed into the bag 501 such that the bag 501 is approximately half full. Consequently, the weight of the items 801 presses down on the bottom side 704 of the bag 501, which has now been pressed down firmly against the upper surface 503 of the base 4011 so that the weight of the items 801 is almost entirely supported by the base 401. i.e., very little of the weight of the items 801 is supported by the loops, such as loops 502B and 502C of the bag 501 or by the supporting device 101. However, because the loops, such as 502B and 502C are held up by the supporting device 101, the vertical sides 802 of the bag 501 are maintained in a substantially vertical orientation and provide lateral support for the items 801 within the bag. As the bag 501 is filled, the sidewalls 802 are placed in tension, and so items, such as items 803 and 804, touching the sidewalls 802 are acted upon by a substantially horizontal force that holds the items in a relatively vertically arranged pile. i.e., because the bag is supported by its loops 502A to 502D, the bag 501 is prevented from slumping over sideways.

Figure 9 The apparatus for receiving items 500 is shown in Figure 9 after its bag 501 has been completely filled by items 801.

As illustrated in Figure 9, although the items 801 press against the sidewalls 802 of the bag 501 and deform them, the sidewalls 802 remain substantially vertical.

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* The items 801 may be any sort of solid material that has to be carried * s***e * within the bag 501, and the items 801 may be of varying weights. However, the supporting device 101 may be used for items 801 of various weights because the weight of the items is primarily supported by the upper surface 503 of the base 401. That is, only a very small proportion of the weight of the items in the bag 501 is applied to the frame 102. As a consequence of this, the frame 102 may have a relatively light and inexpensive construction.

Having filled the bag 501 this is then typically moved to a different location. For example, the items 801 may be waste items produced in industry and the fitted bag 501 is transported to a suitable site receiving such waste items.

To move the bag 501 from its position shown in Figure 9 within the support device 101, firstly the supporting loops 502A to 502D of the bag 501 must be disconnected from the support structure 101. For the present embodiment, to achieve this, the bag 501 is raised from its position shown in Figure 9 so that the supporting loops 502A to 502D become loose and may be lifted off the ends of the substantially vertical tubular elements 103A to 103D.

In the present case, this is achieved by lifting the pallet (base 401) by approximately 20cm. Typically the pallet is lifted by a forklift truck or other pallet lifting device, such as a hand pallet truck, a reach truck or a telescopic handler.

Figure 10 The apparatus 500 of Figure 9 is shown again in Figure 10 after the base 401 and bag 501 have been lifted, the supporting loops 502A to 502D of the bag 501 have been unhooked from the supporting device 101 and the base 401 and bag 501 have been lowered back down onto the ground surface.

Because the bag 501 is surrounded by the support device 101 on all sides, it is not possible for the bag 501 to be removed from the support device 101. To allow the bag 501 to be removed, the joining device 107 is manually S.....

* released from the vertical tubular element 103A and the tubular element 103M S's...

is pivoted about the pivot of the joining device 106 until it is substantially upright.

Figure 11 The apparatus 501 is shown in Figure 11 after its tubular element 103M has been pivoted around to a substantially vertical orientation to provide an opening between the substantially vertical elements 103A and 103D. Having placed the tubular element 103M in its open configuration, a forklift truck, or other pallet lifting device, is then used to lift the pallet 401 and bag 501 and remove the bag 501 from the support device 101 through the opening between the vertical elements 103A and 103D.

Figure 12 The bag 501, filled with items 801, is shown on the base 401, removed from the support device 101 in Figure 12.

Figure 13 An alternative support device 1301 is shown in Figure 13. The support device 1301 comprises a frame 1302 that has substantially the same structure as the frame 102 of support device 101. Thus, it comprises tubular elements joined together by joining devices as described above. However, the support device 1301 differs from support device 101 in that the upper ends of its vertical tubular elements 1303A to 1303D have been provided with hooks 1351. A detailed view of one of the hooks 1351 located at the upper end of vertical elements 1303A is shown in an enlarged view at 1352.

The hook 1351 is formed of a bent metal rod that has been welded to a cylindrical sleeve 1353. The cylindrical sleeve 1353 is dimensioned to provide a sliding fit over the tubular element 1 303A.

The support structure 1301 may be used in plabe of the support structure 101 when forming apparatus 500 described above. When using the 0Se*� * support device 1301, the supporting loops 502A, 502B, 502C and 502D of the * ***** * bag 501 are hooked around the hooks 1351. Otherwise, the use of the support device 1301 is the same as for support device 101.

In one embodiment, the cylindrical sleeve 1353 and hook 1351 are fixed to the respective tubular element by a screw that fixes the height of the hook.

Thus, the height of the hook may be adjusted during use to ensure that only a small portion of the weight of the bag 501 and its contents are supported by the support structure 1301.

Figure 14 A second alternative support device 1401 is shown in Figure 14. The support device 1401 is substantially the same as supporting device 1301 except that the hooks 1351 have been replaced by a different type of connecting member. The supporting device 1401 has a connecting device 1451 located at the upper end of each of its substantially vertical tubular elements 1403A to 1403D. Each connecting member 1451 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 1453 to which a D-ring 1454 has been welded. A resilient element 1455 in the form of a looped strand of rubber is connected to the D-ring 1454, and a hooking device, in the form of a karabiner 1456, is attached to the resilient member 1455.

During use of the support device 1401, each of the karabiners 1456 is attached to one of the support loops 502A to 502D of the bag 501. The height o. the connecting members 1451 above the support surface 503 of the base 401 is arranged such that when it is empty the bag is totally supported by the connecting members 1451 and not by the base 401. However, as the bag 501 is filled with material, the weight of the material stretches the resilient members 1455 such that the weight of the material in the bag 501 forces the bottom of the bag down onto the base 401 which then supports the weight of the material within the bag.

An advantage of this arrangement is the ease with which the connecting members 1451 may be removed from the bag 501 when it is full. By manually * * ** ** * stretching further the resilient members 1455, the karabiners 1456 may be * ** S..

* unhooked from the supporting loops 502A to 502D of the bag 501, without the .°. 25 need of lifting the bag 501, as was required for the support device 101.

In the above described embodiments, the apparatus comprises a base providing a support surface for supporting the bag 501. However, in an : ... alternative embodiment, the bag 501 is placed directly onto a floor surface and the bag is lifted by its supporting 1oops 502A to 502D after being filted.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus for containing items comprising: a support device comprising a frame positioned around the periphery of a support surface, said frame comprising a plurality of tubular elements, and said support device having a plurality of connecting members; and a bag having a plurality of supporting loops, each said loop being connected to one of said connecting members, so that said bag is partially supported by said connecting members and partially supported by said support surface so that, when said bag contains a load, most of the weight of said load is supported by said support surface.
2. Apparatus according to claim I further comprising a base providing said support surface, and said frame is arranged around the periphery of said base.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said base comprises a pallet configured to receive forks of a forklift truck.
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 3 wherein said frame includes a plurality of substantially vertical elements connected together by non-vertical tubular elements.II.....

*
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a pair of said substantially * e**, * vertical elements are connected by a moveable non-vertical element joined at at least one end to a vertical element by a releasable joining device, so that on release of said releasable joining device said moveable non-vertical element is moveable to an open position to provide an opening between said pair of : ** substantially vertical elements.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 5 wherein said tubular elements are each provided with joining devices to enable connection with other ones of said tubular elements to form said frame.
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein said bag is fabricated from a sheet of a woven material having seams so that said bag is a substantially cuboid shape.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said connecting members are positioned such that, when said bag is empty, only a portion of the bottom of said bag is in contact with said base and another portion of the bottom of said bag is held above said base.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 8 wherein each said connecting member is attached to one of said tubular elements, and the vertical position of said connecting member is adjustable.
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 9 wherein said connecting members each comprise a hook attached to one of said tubular elements.
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 9 wherein said connecting members each comprise a fastening device for fastening to one of said supporting loops.

* S. .**
12. Apparatus according to claim II wherein said fastening device ** *o * ** 25 comprises a karabiner.
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 12 wherein said connecting members comprise a resilient element to allow said resilient element to deform when said bag is filled with a load.
14. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 8 wherein said connecting members are formed of the upper ends of a plurality of said tubular elements.
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 14 wherein said frame defines a plurality of compartments, said bag is partially supported by said frame within a first compartment and a second bag is partially supported by said frame in a second compartment.
16. A support device for a bag comprising: a frame formed of a plurality of tubular elements; and a plurality of connecting members, each connecting member comprising: first connection means connecting said connecting member to one of said tubular elements; and second connection means for connecting said connecting member to a loop of a bag, wherein said connecting members each comprise a resilient element for allowing said resilient element to stretch when a bag supported by said connecting members is filled with a load.
17. A kit of parts for forming a support device for a bag, said kit of parts comprising: a plurality of tubular elements; a plurality of joining devices for joining the ends of a plurality of said tubular elements to other ones tubular elements to form a frame; and *ne.s * a plurality of connecting members, each connecting member * S....* * comprising: first connection means to connect said connecting member to one 25 of said tubular elements; and second connection means for connecting said S * connecting member to a loop of a bag, wherein said connecting members each comprise a resilient element for allowing said resilient element to stretch when a bag supported by said connecting members is filled with a load.
18. A kit of parts according to claim 17, wherein said second connection means comprises a hooking device.
19. A kit of parts according to claim 18 wherein said hooking device comprises a karabiner.
20. A method of supporting a bag in an open configuration comprising the step of: obtaining a support device comprising a frame comprising a plurality of tubular elements and having a plurality of connecting members; locating said support device around the periphery of a support surface; obtaining a bag having a plurality of supporting loops; and connecting each said loop to one of said connecting members so that said bag is partially supported by said connecting members in an open configuration and partially supported by said support surface, so that, when said bag is contains a load, most of the weight of said load is supported by said support surface.
21. A method of supporting a bag according to claim 20 wherein said method comprises arranging said frame around the periphery of a base that defines said support surface.
22. A method of supporting a bag according to claim 20 or claim 21 wherein said base comprises a pallet configured to receive forks of a forklift truck.

*.. an S *
23. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein said step of obtaining a support device comprises connecting together a plurality of substantially vertical elements by non-vertical tubular elements.
24. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 23 wherein said step of obtaining a support device comprises connecting together a pair of said substantially vertical elements by a moveable non-vertical element using a releasable joining device, to allow an opening between said pair of substantially vertical elements to be produced by releasing said releasable joining device.
25. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 24 wherein said frame is formed by clamping together said tubular elements using joining devices.
26. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 25 wherein said bag is fabricated from a sheet of a woven material having seams so that said bag is of a substantially cuboid shape.
27. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 is to 26 wherein said step of connecting each said loop to one of said connecting members comprises locating each said loop over a respective upper end of one of said tubular elements.
28. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 27 wherein said step of connecting each said loop to one of said connecting members comprises hooking each said loop over a hook attached to one of * said tubular elements. Ot U * .S* *I**s * 1
29. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 ** I. * * 25 to 28 wherein said step of connecting each said loop to one of said connecting members comprises locating each said loop within a fastening device.

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30. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 * to 29 wherein said step of connecting each said loop to one of said connecting * 30 members comprises locating each said loop within a karabiner.
31. A method of supporting a bag according to any one of claims 20 to 30 wherein said connecting members comprise a resilient element and said resilient element stretches when said bag is filled with a load.S. I. 55 * SS *SssS S S. * * . I * S S. S. I S..