Supports – Bag holders – Stands
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-06
2001-09-11
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Bag holders
Stands
C248S346030, C108S053100, C108S055100, C217S074000, C206S386000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286792
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a frame for supporting a substantially non-rigid container. The present invention will be described herein with particular reference to a frame for supporting a container of the type known as a “flexible intermediate bulk container” (or F.I.B.C. bag) but it is not to be construed as being limited thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
F.I.B.C. bags are generally used to contain, for storage and/or transportation, building materials, for example cement, sand, aggregate and the like. The bags are generally made from a fabric or a fabric-like material and are of substantially parallelepiped configuration with an open “top”. One or more lifting-handles are provided on the periphery of the open “top” of each bag.
The material of which the bag is made, together with the tendency of the contents to behave as a fluid, has been found to contribute to damage of the bag and/or to spillage of the contents. Moreover, if F.I.B.C. bags are to be stored on conventional pallets, it has not hitherto proved possible to stack such loaded pallets beyond “two high”.
The specification of South African Patent 83/7654 describes a frame comprising a base-component, a pair of side-components and a separable top-component from which a bag, such as a F.I.B.C. bag, can be suspended.
The Applicant has devised an improved frame in which at least a part of the top-component is provided with means for the positive location of the top-component with the side-component, said location being achieved by the use of a section of defined shape and configuration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a frame for supporting a substantially non-rigid container, the frame comprising:
(a) a base-component consisting essentially of at least two frame-members maintained apart and substantially parallel to each other by means of at least two cross-members;
(b) a pair of side-components adapted to be attached to opposite sides of the base-component (a) and to extend upwardly therefrom in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base-component (a), each said side-component (b) consisting essentially of at least two frame-members maintained apart and substantially parallel to each other by means of at least one cross-member;
(c) a top-component adapted to operatively engage the side-components (b) and to be substantially parallel to the base-component (a), whereby the base-component (a), the side-components (b) and the top-component (c) define between them a substantially parallelepiped cavity to receive the container, the top-component (c) consisting essentially of at least two frame-members maintained apart and substantially parallel to each other by means of at least two cross-members, together with one or more support-members to engage and support the container, said top-component (c) being adapted to be lifted free of the side-components (b);
in which each frame-member of the top-component (c) is of substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section, whereby, when the top-component (c) and side-component (b) are brought into operative engagement, each frame-member of a side-component (b) is received within the “U” of a frame-member of the top-component (c).
Preferably, each arm of the “U” is at an obtuse internal angle to the base of the “U”. Most suitably, the internal angle of the “U” is about 104°-110°.
Preferably, the cross-members of the base-component (a) are substantially at right angles to the frame-members. Most preferably, the cross-members are of hollow (e.g. rectangular) transverse section and adapted to receive lifting-means, such as the tines of a fork-lift truck. Suitably, the frame-members may be of generally L-shaped section.
The frame-members of the side-components (b) may also be of generally L-shaped section and each cross-member may suitably be of hollow (e.g. rectangular) section. One or more further support-members (or “stretchers”) may be provided on each side-component (b) to enhance strength and impact-resistance. Such “stretchers” are conveniently attached (e.g. by welding) to the center of each frame-member, and to the center of the respective cross-member, of each side-component (b).
Preferably, a foot or similar support is attached to the lowermost end of each frame-member of the side-component (b), to enhance the stability of the frame.
Preferably, the cross-members of the top-component (c) are substantially at right angles to the frame-members. Most preferably, the cross-members are of hollow (e.g. rectangular) transverse section and adapted to receive lifting-means, such as the tines of a fork-lift truck.
Each generally U-shaped frame-member of the top-component (c) may further be provided with one or more reinforcing-members or “butterflies”, each “butterfly” being received within and attached to the inner surfaces of the “U”. The “butterflies” serve the purposes of maintaining the required configuration of the U-shaped frame-member and of minimizing abrasion caused by the frame-members of the side-components (b) on the frame-members of the top-component (c). Preferably, one “butterfly” is located at each opposite end of a frame-member of the top-component (c).
The support-members which receive and engage the container on the top-component (c) may suitably comprise hook-like members. Preferably, one such hook-like member is provided at each corner of the top-component (c).
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each hook-like member has a substantially triangular portion adapted to engage a frame-member of the top-component (c), the triangular portion being supported on the top-component with the hook-like member extending therefrom into the cavity which receives the container.
The top-component (c) may further be provided with one or more location-members (e.g. lugs) to engage and/or locate the side-components (b) of a further frame according to the present invention, whereby two or more frames can be stacked one above the other.
Preferably, the location-members engage the feet provided on the side-components (b).
It has been found that at least five frames according to the present invention can be stacked one above the other without adversely affecting the stability of such an assembly.
The substantially non-rigid container may be made of a fabric or fabric-like material and may consist of a flexible bulk container of the type used to contain building materials. Such a bag may be provided with a “handle” at each corner and in the practice of the present invention each “handle” is engaged on one of the support-members of the top-component (c).
REFERENCES:
patent: 2579655 (1951-12-01), Donald
patent: 2579685 (1951-12-01), Loose
patent: 3080992 (1963-03-01), Dedmon
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patent: 4703702 (1987-11-01), Speicher
patent: 4773547 (1988-09-01), Bell
patent: 5228821 (1993-07-01), Gleffe et al.
patent: 5507237 (1996-04-01), Barrow et al.
patent: 5609111 (1997-03-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 6076690 (2000-06-01), Hemmerly
patent: 0109191 (1984-05-01), None
patent: 0373506 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 0393369 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 2487300 (1982-01-01), None
patent: 896733 (1962-05-01), None
King Anita M.
Renner Kenner Greive Bobak Taylor & Weber
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