| JP58218438 | TANK LORRY FILLING DEVICE |
| JP3805244 | LEAKAGE DETECTOR FOR LIQUID IN TANK |
| JP01092292 | CWM VISCOSITY CONTROLLER |
MASSIE, Michael (127 Hedon Road, Hull HU9 1ND, GB)
| CLAIMS 1 . A bulkhead for a container liner comprising: an end section capable of forming an end of the bulkhead; and at least one flap connected to the end section; wherein the bulkhead allows a container liner (which is a flexible item) to be loaded with bulk product and the at least one flap is capable of abutting and/or engaging against a side of a container thereby preventing bulging of the liner . 2. A bulkhead for a container liner according to claim 1 , wherein one of the container door's is capable of being opened and closed without any difficulty as the at least one flap which is located below material being filled into the bulkhead prevents bulging. 3. A bulkhead for a liner according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein there are two or more flaps attached to the end section of the bulkhead which are located along the side of the liner material being filled. 4. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein there are three flaps attached to the end section of the bulkhead which are located below material being filled into the bulkhead . 5. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the end section is of a substantially rectangular shape with flaps attached to side(s) of the end section of the bulkhead. 6. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the end section is substantially rectangular in shape with three flaps attached separately to three of the sides of the end section. 7. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the end section of the bulkhead along with the flaps are of a substantially planar nature until they are folded into a form ready for use. 8. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one flap is capable of engaging and/or abutting against at least part of a container liner and/or container as the liner is filed with bulk material. 9. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein attached to an end of the flaps there is at least one tie which is capable of being used to secure the bulkhead to a container. 10. A bulkhead for a liner according to claim 9, wherein the ties are of any suitable form of attachment means such as in the form of webbing or straps. 1 1 . A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein located towards a lower region of the end section of the bulkhead there is an opening which is capable of being closed with a re-sealable member such as a hook and loop fastener e.g. a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) member. 12. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein in use, the flaps are capable of being folded to be substantially orthogonal with the end section with one flap extending under a liner with two other flaps extending around the sides of the liner. 13. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein only or two bars (e.g. a steel bar) are used to safely seal the end section of the bulkhead with the bar(s) extending substantially horizontally across the top of the end section and/or across an upper portion of the end section. 14. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the bulkhead is made from any suitable material including woven or non-woven such as polymeric material e.g. woven polypropylene. 15. A bulkhead for a liner according to any preceding claim, wherein in use, and as a container liner is filled, the flap(s) on the bulkhead are capable of providing restraining means to the container liner as it fills wherein the flap(s) abut and engage with the sides of the container liner. 16. A method of providing restraining means to a container liner said method comprising: providing an end section capable of forming an end of a bulkhead; and at least one flap connected to the end section; wherein the bulkhead allows a container liner (which is a flexible item) to be loaded with bulk product and the at least one flap is capable of abutting and/or engaging against a side of a container thereby preventing bulging of the liner . 17. A method of providing restraining means to a container liner according to claim 16, wherein the method used a container liner as defined in any of claims 1 to 15. 18. A container liner and a bulkhead as defined in any of claims 1 to 15. 19. A bulkhead as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in Figures 1 and 2. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bulkhead for use with container liners. 5 More particularly, the present invention relates to a bulkhead for use with container liners wherein the bulkhead allows the container liner to be loaded with bulk product and then safely sealed with preferably just a single supporting bar structure. 0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is a problem in the field of filling general purpose shipping container liners safely and simplifying the filling procedure. The prior art to date has relied on systems comprising a plurality of steel bars such as described in GB 2 228 468 which is incorporated herein by reference. In GB 2 228 468 the system uses 5 an interior bag for a shipping container and at least two or more horizontal bars to provide means to prevent the bag from bulging out of the container thereby making it difficult or impossible to close the doors once the bag has been filled.
It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems, and to make0 improvements in relation to minimizing waste creation.
It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a bulkhead for use with container liners as a separate entity. It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a method of preventing bulging in a container liner by using a bulkhead.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bulkhead for a liner comprising:
an end section capable of forming an end of the bulkhead; and
at least one flap connected to the end section.
The present invention relates to a bulkhead for use with container liners which allows the container liner (which is a flexible item) to be loaded with bulk product and then safely sealed with a reduced number of supporting bar structures to that previously used which typically uses three bars.
The present invention therefore relates to using less than three bars such as one supporting bars. The bulkhead may be used with shipping containers.
Typically, there may be two or more flaps, and preferably three flaps, attached to the end section. The end section may be of a substantially rectangular shape with flaps (e.g. substantially rectangular) attached to a side of the end section. In particular embodiments, the end section may be substantially rectangular in shape with three substantially rectangular flaps attached separately to three of the sides of the end section.
The end section may along with the flaps may be of a substantially planar nature until they are folded into a form ready for use. Once folded, the bulkhead may be of an open-box like structure. The at least one flap may be capable of engaging and/or abutting against at least part of a container liner and/or container as the liner is filed with bulk material.
Typically, attached to the end of the flaps there may be ties which may be used to secure the bulkhead to a container. The ties may be of any suitable form of attachment means and may, for example, be in the form of webbing or straps.
Located towards a lower region of the end section there may be an opening which may be closed with a re-sealable member such as a hook and loop fastener e.g. a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) member. The bulk material may be discharged through the opening and then re-sealed.
In use, the flaps may be folded to be substantially orthogonal with the end section to form an open-box like structure. One flap may extend under a liner with two other flaps extending around the sides of the liner. The flaps may therefore form an enclosure for a front part of the container liner which may be within a container (e.g. a shipping container).
Less than three bars (e.g. a steel bar) such as one or two supporting bars may be used to safely seal the end section when the liner is filled with bulk material (e.g. powder material). The bar(s) may extend substantially horizontally across the top of the end section and/or or across an upper or middle portion of the end section.
The bulkhead may be made from any suitable material which may be woven or non-woven such as polymeric material e.g. woven polypropylene. In use, and as a container liner is filled, the bulkhead may provide restraining means to the container liner as it fills. The flaps extending around the side of the container liner may provide some support as does the flap which extends under the liner. As force is applied to the end section with the filling of the bulk material may be slightly forced out so that the flaps abut and/or engage with the sides of the container. There may therefore be a transfer of force to the container front doors and/or sides of the container. This present invention allows an opened door (e.g. the right-hand door) to be closed when the liner is fully filled. This also provides the advantage in that the bulkhead is much safer than a user trying to force the container doors shut which may result in injury. Material may exit through the opening located towards the lower region of the bulkhead and may then be re-sealed with a re-sealable flap.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing restraining means to a container liner said method comprising:
providing an end section capable of forming an end of a bulkhead;
at least one flap connected to the end section.
The method may use the bulkhead as defined in the first aspect.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a container liner and a bulkhead as defined in the first aspect.
After use, the provision of this invention in having the liner-bag as a separate entity to the bulkhead is so that the liner-bag is the waste fraction, and the bulkhead may be re-used. The liner-bag is usually made from polyethylene film, whereas for the strength required of the bulkhead, polypropylene fabric is used. The combination of these two materials makes recycling of the waste element impracticable, and so this invention in keeping the bulkhead separate from the liner-bag aims to make the packaging more environmentally friendly, and promotes sustainable development.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a bulkhead according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bulkhead shown in Figure 1 in an arrangement ready for use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Generally speaking, the present invention resides in the provision of a bulkhead for use with container liners. The container liners may be used in shipping containers.
Figure 1 represents a bulkhead according to the present invention, generally designated 10. As shown the bulkhead 10 comprises an end section 12 and three connected flaps 14, 16, 18. (The end section 12 and the flaps 14, 16, 18 may be of a unitary structure or connected to one another). Attached to the end of the flaps 14, 16, 18 there are ties 20 which may be used to secure the bulkhead 10 to a container. The ties 20 may be of any suitable form of attachment means and may, for example, be in the form of webbing or straps.
Located towards a lower region of the end section 12 there is an opening 22 which can be closed with a re-sealable member such as a hook and loop fastener e.g. a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) member. Material in the container liner may exit through the opening 22.
As shown in Figure 1 there are three separate spacers 24, 26, 28 extending in a substantially vertical direction down substantially the center of the end section 12.
Figure 2 shows the bulkhead 10 in a configuration ready to be used. As shown in Figure 2 the flaps 14, 16 are folded to be substantially orthogonal with the end section 12. Although not clearly shown the flap 18 extends under the container thereby forming an enclosure which forms a bulkhead for container liners. Figure 2 also shown that there is bar 30 (e.g. a steel bar) used to safely seal the end section 12. In alternative embodiments two steel bars may be used. The bar 30 extends substantially horizontally across the top of the end section 12. (In alternative embodiments the bar 30 may extend across an upper portion of the end section 12). Although not shown there may also be two substantially horizontally located bars.
The bulkhead 10 is made from any suitable material such as polymeric material e.g. woven polypropylene.
In use, and as a container liner is filled, the bulkhead 10 provides restraining means to the container liner as it fills to prevent bulging at the front end. The flaps 14, 16 extending around the side of the container liner provide some support as does the flap 18 which extends under the liner. This means that the right-hand door can still closed when the liner is fully filled. This also provides the advantage in that the bulkhead 10 is much safer than a user trying to force the container doors shut which may result in injury. Material may exit through the opening 22 and may then be re-sealed with a re-sealable flap.
A further advantage of the bulkhead according to the present invention is that as the bulkhead 10 is separate from the liner, the bulkhead 10 can be reused with the liner being disposed of once used. This provides significant environmental benefits and reduces waste. By use of only one or two bars also reduces the weight of the packaging (i.e. the liner and other associated items) by about 10 - 15 kg. This also allows more material to be transported in the container.
Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, any suitable type of bars may be used.