Industrial diaper for flexible bulk containers
First Claim
1. For use with a damaged flexible bulk container including at least a top wall, an encircling side wall, a bottom wall, one or more lifting straps, and a discharge spout;
- a flexible and collapsible apparatus comprising;
(a) a central panel with an outside peripheral edge;
(b) a plurality of flexible aprons, each said apron comprising a sheet having an inside edge flexibly affixed to said central panel outside peripheral edge;
a first and second side edge; and
a distal edge further comprising anchor means;
(c) joining means for releasably securing said flexible apron first and second side edges; and
(d) securing means for bringing said central panel in firm engagement with said bottom wall of said flexible bulk container, and bringing each said flexible apron in firm engagement with at least a portion of said flexible bulk container side wall adjacent to said bottom wallwhereby said central panel and said flexible aprons are of predetermined size to minimize and contain spillage of flowable material in and about said damaged flexible bulk container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and reusable device for preventing or limiting the leakage of flowable material from a damaged flexible bulk container. The device includes a central panel and a plurality of flexible aprons, brought into firm engagement with the bottom and lower side, respectively, of the damaged flexible bulk container by means of elastic members. After securing the device to the damaged flexible bulk container, the container may be handled, stored and transported, with the device minimizing and containing spillage of flowable material in and about the damaged flexible bulk container. An aperture in the central panel accommodates the flexible bulk container discharge spout, and allows the contents of the container to be discharged therethrough. Other embodiments of the invention include an aperture in one of the flexible aprons to accommodate side-discharge flexible bulk containers, and extension flaps on each flexible apron to contain leakage from the upper sides of a damaged flexible bulk container.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. For use with a damaged flexible bulk container including at least a top wall, an encircling side wall, a bottom wall, one or more lifting straps, and a discharge spout;
a flexible and collapsible apparatus comprising; (a) a central panel with an outside peripheral edge; (b) a plurality of flexible aprons, each said apron comprising a sheet having an inside edge flexibly affixed to said central panel outside peripheral edge;
a first and second side edge; and
a distal edge further comprising anchor means;(c) joining means for releasably securing said flexible apron first and second side edges; and (d) securing means for bringing said central panel in firm engagement with said bottom wall of said flexible bulk container, and bringing each said flexible apron in firm engagement with at least a portion of said flexible bulk container side wall adjacent to said bottom wall whereby said central panel and said flexible aprons are of predetermined size to minimize and contain spillage of flowable material in and about said damaged flexible bulk container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. For use with a damaged flexible bulk container including at least a top wall, a bottom wall, four side walls each having an upper section and lower section, and one or more lifting straps;
a flexible and collapsible industrial diaper comprising; (a) a central panel with an outside peripheral edge; (b) a plurality of flexible aprons, each said apron comprising a sheet having an inside edge flexibly affixed to said central panel outside peripheral edge;
a first and second side edge; and
a distal edge further comprising anchor means;(c) joining means for releasably securing said flexible apron first and second side edges; and (d) securing means for bringing said central panel into firm engagement with said bottom wall of said flexible bulk container, and bringing each said flexible apron into firm engagement with said flexible bulk container side wall lower section whereby said central panel is sized to receive said container bottom wall and each said flexible apron is sized to receive at least a portion of said container side wall lower section adjacent said flexible apron, and whereby said central panel and flexible aprons minimize and contain leakage of flowable material in and about said damaged flexible bulk container. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. For use with a damaged flexible bulk container including at least a top wall, a bottom wall with a discharge spout extending therefrom, four side walls each having a middle section and lower section, and one or more lifting straps;
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a method to contain leakage of flowable material in and about said damaged flexible bulk container by the attachment of a flexible and collapsible industrial diaper, comprising; (a) suspending said damaged flexible bulk container to allow access to said bottom wall and said side wall lower sections; (b) positioning said industrial diaper substantially below said flexible bulk container, said industrial diaper comprising a central panel with a peripheral edge defining an aperture of predetermined diameter therein;
four flexible aprons, each said apron comprising a sheet having an inside edge flexibly affixed to said central panel peripheral edge;
a first and second side edge; and
a distal edge further comprising anchor means;(c) rotating said industrial diaper such that each said flexible apron is aligned substantially perpendicular to one such flexible bulk container side wall; (d) lowering said flexible bulk container onto said industrial diaper central panel such that said bottom wall discharge spout is substantially received within the perimeter of said central panel aperture; (e) raising each said flexible apron distal edge until said flexible apron is brought into engagement with its cooperating flexible bulk container side wall lower section; (f) providing elastic securing means between said flexible bulk container top wall and each said flexible apron distal edge anchor means; and (g) providing joining means for releasably securing each said flexible apron first and second side edges whereby said industrial diaper central panel contains leakage of flowable material from said damaged flexible bulk container bottom wall, whereby said industrial diaper flexible aprons contain leakage of flowable material from said damaged flexible bulk container side wall lower sections, whereby said joining means prevents leakage of flowable material through the intersections of said flexible apron side edges and funnels said leakage towards said industrial diaper central panel, and whereby said damaged flexible bulk container can by handled, stored and shipped without excessive leakage of flowable material therefrom.
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Specification