US20260033608A1

US20260033608A1 - Firewood storage and/or transport bag

Info

Publication number: US20260033608A1
Application number: US19/269,531
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard Gannet; Simon Shevelev
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2024-07-30
Filing date: 2025-07-15
Publication date: 2026-02-05

Abstract

A firewood storage and transport bag and method of use thereof, the bag comprised of a combination of solid panels and mesh panels wherein the solid panels and mesh panels are stitched together in order to form the storage and transport bag having a cubic shape in use. The bag comprises a front and rear panel that extend above the side panels to fold over to enclose the interior space of the bag and engage a closure mechanism to provide a rectangular bag for storage and transport of firewood therein. The bag has handles that allow for ease of carrying the bag and the bag is reusable.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/677,114, filed Jul. 30, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to containers for sale, storage and transport of bundles of firewood or other goods, and particularly relates to a reusable, open mesh container having a rectangular shape for the firewood or other goods carried therein.
Small bundles of firewood are typically packaged in mesh bags or wrapped in plastic sheeting for transport and retail sale. Such mesh bags are formed from a polymer mesh and are sealed at both ends with firewood secured therein. These bags are not openable without destruction of the bag. Bundles of firewood may also be sealed or wrapped in plastic sheet wrap.
Other forms of known firewood carriers include a mesh sling with an open top and two handles formed from the ends of the mesh sling, adjacent the top, and canvas or fabric-type slings with open ends, having two handles extending from the top.
Plastic mesh packaging is desired for sale, transport and storage of firewood because it is strong and allows the firewood stored therein to “breathe,” thereby avoiding the possibility for the retention of water in the wood. The wood thus is more resistant to mold or rot when sold, transported and/or stored in mesh, or breathable, packaging. Wrapping firewood in plastic sheeting allows for moisture retention by the wood within the plastic.
When a handle is added to such a plastic wrap firewood package, the handle is often attached directly to the wood retained therein, with the handle being secured directly to wood within the package by nails or staples driven through the handle ends and into the wood. This adds to the inconvenience of separating the wood from such packaging. The lack of ergonomically designed handles on plastic mesh bags of firewood makes them difficult to hold and carry.
In addition, the lack of defined form that the known packaging provides to the firewood bundle makes stacking those firewood packages problematic, both from a stability standpoint, and from an efficiency standpoint. Each mesh bag secured small firewood bundle takes on a non-standard shape. This makes palletizing such misshapen firewood packaging problematic, as each pallet takes on its own three-dimensional form and requires further packaging constraints for holding the packages on the pallet, either using plastic wrap or other means. This further adds to the packaging cost of the product and, in the case of using plastic

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a firewood storage and transport bag comprised of solid panels and mesh panels stitched together in order to form the storage and transport bag having a cubic shape in use. The bag comprises a pair of handles positioned near an opening of the bag. The bag further comprises a closure mechanism for the opening of the bag, the closure mechanism comprising hook and loop fastener.
The solid panels are comprised of a different material than the mesh panels and wherein the solid panels are sewn at one or more locations to the mesh panels forming a scam where the panels are joined.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a firewood storage and transport bag having a solid front panel, a solid rear panel, and a solid base panel with two opposing side panels, wherein each of the two opposing side panels are comprised of an open mesh material, and wherein the bag has an open top that is securable in a closed position via a closure mechanism positioned at upper ends of the solid front panel and solid rear panel.
The two opposing side panels are open mesh side panels having a height that is less than a height of the solid front panel and solid rear panel such that upper ends of the solid front panel and solid rear panel may fold over an interior space defined in part by dimensions of the solid base panel and be secured to otherwise with the closure mechanism to form a rectangular shaped closed bag.
In one or more embodiments, the solid front panel, the solid rear panel, and/or the solid base panel are comprised of a sheet of polypropylene.
Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of transporting firewood in a reusable bag comprising providing the reusable bag constructed from a sheet of polypropylene forming a front panel, a base panel, and a rear panel and having two opposing side panels formed of an open mesh material wherein the side panels are connected to the front panel, base panel and rear panel via seams; expanding an interior space of the bag by flatting the base panel; placing one or more pieces of firewood into the interior space; and folding upper edge lengths of each of the front panel and the rear panel over the interior space and firewood therein and coupling terminal edges of the upper edge lengths of each of the front panel and rear panel to one another to close the bag over the firewood therein, wherein when closed, the bag is rectangular in shape and supports a firewood load therein of up to 30 lbs.
Stretching the side panels when loading firewood therein to fill the interior space strengthens the seams between the side panels and the front, panel, base panel and rear panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a firewood bag without firewood therein.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the firewood bag without firewood therein and in a partially open state in order to illustrate the construction of the side panels.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top opening of the firewood bag.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the view of the firewood bag in the state illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 .

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the firewood bag filled with firewood showing the shape of the bag when filled, with the firewood in dashed lines to show the shape of the bag in its entirety.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the firewood bag filled without firewood therein to show the shape of the bag prior to filling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a firewood storage and transport bag. The bag is a reusable bag that is also disposable. The bag when empty can be flattened and folded for compact storage. The bag when filled with firewood takes on a rectangular and/or cubic shape defined by the sides regardless of the shape and/or size of the firewood loaded therein.
This disclosure relates to a packaging scheme for a firewood bundle that addresses the shortcoming of the packaging arrangements discussed in the Background section above. The disclosed new packaging scheme is also less wasteful in terms of packaging material, and provides a firewood carrying package that may be reused, further saving resources. Further, this packaging scheme includes a closure which allows for easy closing and opening of the bag, securing the contents therein.
In one or more embodiments, the bag is comprised of a plurality of materials wherein for example a front and rear panel of the bag are comprised of a waterproof sheet of material, the sheet providing a solid front and/or rear panel. In some embodiments, a floor or base of the bag is similarly made of the same waterproof sheet material. It some embodiments, the front panel, floor and rear panel are constructed of the same waterproof sheet material and are constructed of a single sheet of the material. In other embodiments, seams are provided along the connection of the bottom of the front panel to a side of the floor and the connection of the bottom of the rear panel to the opposite side of the floor panel. The side panels connecting the front and rear panels are then comprised of a mesh material, allowing air permeability to the bag. The side panels are then connected to the front and rear panels and the floor along corresponding sides and may be secured with a reinforced seam where the seam is formed by sewing using a material that is the same or different from the mesh material of the side panels.
The front, rear and/or back panels may be comprised of polypropylene, polyethylene, or bioplastic. In some embodiments, the front, rear, and/or back panels are comprised of olefin.
The mesh sides may be woven and/or knit and may provide a degree in stretching along one or both axis of the side panel (width and/or length).
The bag is further provided with a closure mechanism at a top portion of the bag. The closure mechanism may comprise hook and loop fastener extending along a portion of or the entire width of the bag opening. The closure mechanism may be positioned on opposing interior faces of the front and rear panels near a top edge thereof and on a section of the front and rear panel extending above a top of the mesh sides. In such embodiments, this allows the bag to be closed at the closure mechanism with the upper section of each of the front and rear panels folding over a top of the firewood in the bag to form a roof panel opposite the floor panel and provide an overall rectangular shape to the bag.
The bag may further be provided with one or more handles at or near the upper portion and/or opening the firewood bag. For example, each handle may be a nylon straps secured at both ends to spaced apart locations on the same front or rear panel of the bag. The handles are positioned a selected distance below the opening of the bag and have a selected length such that when the handles are engaged and the closure mechanism has closed the opening of the bag, the length of front and rear panels extending above the location on the respective panel where the handle ends are fixes to the panel are folded down in a manner to mirror the position of the base or floor of the bag. This allows the bag, when empty or full, to assume its rectangular or cubic shape when the base is flattened and the handles are engaged.
In one or more embodiments described herein, the bag takes on a rectangular shape that provides the same shape to the payload placed therein, rather than conforming to the shape of the payload placed therein.
The front, rear, and/or base (floor) panels of the bag may be solid panels allowing for the printing of text, graphics and the like directly thereon and/or for placement of other media and/or advertisements directly thereon. This allows the bag to be customized without limiting or negatively impacting the integrity of the firewood bag.
The side panels are comprised of a mesh material, such as a mesh comprised of nylon material allowing for strength, breathability and formability to the bag. The side panels may further be sewn and/or stitched at one or more seams between the side panel and the front, rear, and/or back panels. The stitching provides a reinforced and/or strengthened seam.
The materials of the front, back, base, and/or side panels allow for folding thereof while also providing, for example, rigidity to the bag in use in the case of the front, back, and/or base panels.
In one or more embodiments, as one or more panels are an open mesh material comprised of polypropylene or like materials, each panel is capable of stretching up to about 20% and more preferably up to about 15%, and more preferably still up to about 10% of its relaxed length in one or both of a direction along the length of the side panel and/or a direction across the side panel when weight such as firewood or other goods are placed in the bag. The knit construction of the open mesh side panels allows each panel to stretch in one or both directions based on orientation of the mesh and as the side panels are secured via a seam to the front, rear and floor panel of the container when stretched the corresponding seam/s is/are pulled taught and strengthen the corresponding bonding of the panels, up to a weight of about 25 to 30 lbs. or more placed in the container.
A storage bag, or container, 10 according to one or more embodiments described herein is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 . The container 10 has a front panel 12, floor or base panel 14 and a rear panel 16 construction of the same material in the form of a solid sheet. The container 10 has side panels 18 and 20 which are sewn to or otherwise secured to corresponding edges of the front panel 12, floor 14 and rear panel 16 to form an open top container 10. The container 10 is open top for filling but it closeable to form a rectangular closed container by way of a closure mechanism 24 which, in the illustrated embodiments includes hook and loop fastener strips 24 a and 24 b on upper ends 22 and 26 of the inner faces of the front panel 12 and rear panel 16.
The upper ends 22 and 26 have a length that extends beyond a height of one or both side panels 18 and 20 to form a top 28 to the container when the closure mechanism 24 is engaged. That is, the side panels 18 and 20 are not connected via a scam or otherwise to the upper ends 2 and 26 of the front 12 and rear panel 16. As such, the side panels 18 and 20 may terminated on an upper edge 28 and 30 thereof with a finished edge rather than a seam whereas the side panels 18 and 20 are connected to the floor panel 14 via scams.
The side panels 18 and 20 are constructed of an open mesh polymer fabric which allows the sides to stretch thereacross thus allowing for expansion of the container 10 to hold firewood therein.
Handles 32 are provided for carrying the container 10. The handles 32 may be nylon or other handles of a construction intended for reusable disposable container 10 and may further be sturdy enough to enable holding a filled bag 10 with 20 lbs, 25 lbs, 30 lbs, or more therein.
The container described herein reduces the amount of petroleum required when compared to known devices for the sale, transport, and/or storage of goods such as firewood. In known firewood container packaging, the manufacturing requires more petroleum to form the 24″×42″ 3 mil plastic sheeting wrapped around said bundles and this plastic sheeting is not reusable, it is destroyed and discarded when opened.
Since the container 10 is made of an open mesh polymer fabric along the sides and a polymeric sheet material along the front, rear and base (as well as top when closed), the firewood therein is allowed to breathe, and moisture retention is virtually nonexistent. Typically, firewood sold at retail is cut into lengths of about 15 inches. Preferably, firewood is filled in the container to a height along the bag of about 12 inches, 15 inches, 18 inches, 20 inches or more, so that when the closure mechanism on each of the front and rear panel is engaged, as shown in FIG. 5 , the bundle of firewood has an approximate dimensional form of a rectangular shape in the range of about 12 inches to about 15 inches wide, about 4 inches to about 8 inches deep, and about 15 inches to about 24 or more inches high. The container then is readily stackable with like containers for palletization, storage, and delivery. Each such filled container thus typically weighs from about 20 lbs. to about 30 lbs. (assuming the wood is dry). The container described herein can support up to about 30 lbs. carried therein, and up to about 2 or more cubic feet of a load therein.
Although the embodiment illustrated herein is directed to use of the container for the sale, transport, and storage of firewood, the container may be used in the transport of various goods and benefit from the advantages of its construction. The container is lightweight, reusable, and when use is no longer desired, disposable. The handles and shape of the bag when filled with goods make the container ergonomic and balance the load of the contents within the container in a comfortable manner for carrying by the user. Because the container is formed of polymer open mesh material on the sides, the container is breathable, does not retain moisture, and thus is beneficial for storage, retention, and transport of the various contents therein so long as those items have a dimension larger than the openings formed by the mesh material. Because the container is formed of solid sheets for the front, rear and floor panels the container and prevent slivers and other scratching of a user by forming a water resistant and tear resistant barrier before the user and the contents in the container. Because of its large open top with front and rear panels extending upwardly beyond the side panel height to provide a solid sheet cover or top panel to the contain when a load is placed therein, the container is also easily loaded with large or oddly shaped objects, including but not limited to firewood, either during the initial loading thereof or reloading when reused. The closure mechanism is also durable and reusable to secure each further load retained within the container. The closure mechanism also allows the container to maintain control of the load therein if the container is tipped over or dropped and prevents the contents therein from spilling out.
Once a small bundle of firewood has been loaded into the container 10, and the closure mechanism engaged for closure such as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the handles provide an ergonomic, readily accessible, and easy-to-use means for transporting the container 10, either by wholesalers, retailers, or the end consumer. The width of the handles along with the shape of container allows a user to comfortably lift and carry the container with up to about 20 lbs., 25 lbs., 30 lbs of firewood or more therein without the handles causing irritation or damage to the hands and without the container ripping or failing.
A package of a large bundle of firewood packaged such as illustrated in FIG. 5 may be purchased from a retailer by a consumer and is thus readily transportable to the consumer's home. There, the firewood can be carried inside the home by use of the container 10 or otherwise retained for future use. Once the firewood within the container 10 has been consumed by the consumer, the container 10 can be reloaded with firewood by the consumer for further transport between a firewood storage area and the consumer's home, e.g., fireplace or otherwise.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A firewood storage and transport bag comprised of a combination of solid panels and mesh panels wherein the solid panels and mesh panels are stitched together in order to form the storage and transport bag having a cubic shape in use.

2. The bag of claim 1 and further comprising a pair of handles positioned near an opening of the bag.

3. The bag of claim 2 and further comprising a closure mechanism for the opening of the bag, the closure mechanism comprising hook and loop fastener.

4. The bag of claim 1 wherein the solid panels are comprised of a different material than the mesh panels and wherein the solid panels are sewn at one or more locations to the mesh panels forming a seam where the panels are joined.

5. A firewood storage and transport bag having a solid front panel, a solid rear panel, and a solid base panel with two opposing side panels, wherein each of the two opposing side panels are comprised of an open mesh material, and wherein the bag has an open top that is securable in a closed position via a closure mechanism positioned at upper ends of the solid front panel and solid rear panel.

6. The bag of claim 5 wherein the two opposing side panels are open mesh side panels having a height that is less than a height of the solid front panel and solid rear panel such that upper ends of the solid front panel and solid rear panel may fold over an interior space defined in part by dimensions of the solid base panel and be secured to otherwise with the closure mechanism to form a rectangular shaped closed bag.

7. The bag of claim 5 wherein the solid front panel, the solid rear panel, and/or the solid base panel are comprised of a sheet of polypropylene.

8. The bag of claim 5 and further comprising a pair of handles positioned on an upper end of the bag for carrying of the bag.

9. A method of transporting firewood in a reusable bag comprising:

providing the reusable bag constructed from a sheet of polypropylene forming a front panel, a base panel, and a rear panel and having two opposing side panels formed of an open mesh material wherein the side panels are connected to the front panel, base panel and rear panel via seams;

expanding an interior space of the bag by flatting the base panel;

placing one or more pieces of firewood into the interior space; and

folding upper edge lengths of each of the front panel and the rear panel over the interior space and firewood therein and coupling terminal edges of the upper edge lengths of each of the front panel and rear panel to one another to close the bag over the firewood therein,

wherein when closed, the bag is rectangular in shape and supports a firewood load therein of up to 30 lbs.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising stretching the side panels when loading firewood therein to fill the interior space and strengthen seams between the side panels and the front, panel, base panel and rear panels.