FLEXIBLE INTERMEDIATE BAG FOR MEAT AND BULK MEAT PRODUCTS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS This application corresponds to a continuation-in-part of the patent application of the US. Serial Number 10 / 436,761 filed May 13, 2003, currently pending, which is a continuation-in-part of the US patent application. Serial Number 10 / 253,086 filed on September 24, 2002, currently pending, which is a utility patent application comprising a continuation-in-part of the previous provisional patent application Serial Number 60 / 389,865 filed in June 20 , 2002, abandoned. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to flexible intermediate bags for bulk product, and more particularly to an intermediate flexible bag construction for bulk product, which is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with meat and meat products. BACKGROUND AND COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION To date, meat and meat products have been transported in large cardboard boxes that are mounted on wooden pallets. As is well known, both cardboard and wood can and do house microorganisms, insects, etc. The presence of these organisms in and
Around containers used to receive, store, transport and unload meat and meat products, can lead to their contamination. Total freedom from pollution is an absolute necessity in the food industry. Therefore, there is a need for a container adapted to receive, store, transport and unload meat and meat products, which is incapable of housing polluting organisms. The patent application of the US. Serial number 10 / 435,761, granted to the present assignee, describes an intermediate flexible bag for bulk product, wherein the fabric of the sidewall panels comprising the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product, is formed in four cavities that they extend vertically. The cavities receive support members formed of PVC pipe or similar materials. The function of the support members is to maintain the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product in an upright configuration, thereby facilitating the reception of meat and meat products therein. The present invention comprises an improvement over the construction of flexible intermediate bag for bulk product, described and claimed in the co-pending application identified above. According to the present invention, cavities that extend
vertically, they are provided at the corners of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product, when sewing long, narrow fabric strips to the fabric comprising the side wall panels of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product. The cavities receive support members formed of PVC tubing or similar materials that function to maintain the intermediate flexible pouch for bulk product, in an upright configuration. The cavities also receive legs that depend on a frame that holds the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product, in an open configuration during the filling of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product, with meat and meat products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present invention can be achieved by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible intermediate bag for product in bulk, constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the use of a frame in conjunction with the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product of Figure 1 and the use of the frame as a whole; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product of Figure 1, ready for filling with meat and meat products. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Now with reference to the drawings and particularly to its Figure 1, an intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 embodying the present invention is illustrated. The flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10 comprises four side walls 12 and a bottom wall 14 which is fastened to the lower ends of the side walls 12 by seam lines 16. The upper ends of the side walls 12 are folded and fastened sewing coils 18 to provide reinforced upper edges. In the drawings, the side walls 12 are illustrated arranged in a geometric configuration comprising a square, however it will be understood that the side walls can be arranged in other
geometric configurations, depending on the requirements of particular applications of the invention. Similarly, the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10 as illustrated, is constituted by four corners located at the intersections of the side walls 12. However, the exact number of corners comprising the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, they may be more or less than four, depending on the geographical configuration defined by the side walls 12. The side walls 12 comprise four side wall panels 22 which are attached end-to-end by seam lines 24. Wall panels side 22, preferably made of polypropylene fabric, although other materials may be used in the construction of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, if desired. As will be evident from the drawings, the side wall panels 22 extend around the corners defined by the side walls 12. The intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 further comprises four lifting loops 26, which are formed of a weft of the type used in the manufacture of safety belts for automobiles and aircraft, and in similar applications. The lifting loops are
they attach to the side wall panels 22 by seam lines 28 and are further held by the seam lines 24 defining the side wall seams. The flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10 further comprises a liner 32 which can be formed of polyethylene film. Other types of plastic film can also be used in the manufacture of the liner 32, depending on particular applications of the invention. The liner 32 is fastened inside the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10, by stretches of plastic tape reinforced with fibers 34, which are adhesively attached to the film comprising the liner 32. The tape stretches 34 to its they are attached to the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, by seam lines 18. Small sections of woven polypropylene fabric 36 are used to prevent the tape sections 34 from tearing from the side walls 12. of the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10. For clarity purposes, the stretches of fiber-reinforced plastic 34 and the polypropylene fabric sections 36 that are used to secure the liner 32 to the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, they are illustrated located in the centers of the side walls 12. In practice
current, however, the tape sections 34 and the sections of woven polypropylene fabric 36, which are used to secure the liner 32 to the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, are preferably located in the corners of the side walls. In accordance with the present invention, the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10 is provided with support member receiving cavities 40, which are located at the corners of the side walls 12, respectively. With particular reference to Figure 4, each side wall panel 40 comprises a long, narrow strip of woven polypropylene fabric 42, which is fastened to the fabric comprising one of the side wall panels 22 by seam lines 44, which they extend parallel to the corners of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, other types of fabrics and / or films may be employed in the construction of the cavities 40, depending on the requirements of particular applications of the invention. With momentary reference to Figures 1, 2 and 5, the lower end of each cavity 40 is permanently closed by a seam line 46.
As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, each cavity 40 receives a support member 50 that extends substantially over the entire length of the cavity. The support number 50 can be formed from PVC pipe, however, another type of plastic pipe can be used, pipes formed of other materials including metals and solid rods formed of plastics, wood or other materials, in the manufacture of the support members 50. Each support member 50 is permanently retained in its respective cavity 40 by a cover 52 which is fastened to the fabric of the side wall panels 22, by seam lines 44. However, as will be more apparent below, the upper, inner edge of each cover 52 is open and Uninsured. The function of the support members 50 is to maintain the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 in a vertical configuration, ie to prevent its side walls 12 from being squeezed towards the bottom wall 14. In accordance with the present invention, also a frame 56 is provided, of which the function is to prevent the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 from being pressed inwards, ie towards one another. In this way, the frame 56 functions to maintain the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, in a configuration
completely open during filling. The frame 56 can be formed of angled iron sections formed of steel or any other strong and durable material. The frame 56 may also comprise members having different cross-sectional configurations of the angled iron configuration. The frame 56 comprises upper members 58 which are joined end-to-end and which define a geometric configuration that is congruent with the geometric configuration defined by the side walls 2. The frame 56 further comprises legs 60 extending downwardly from the members. 58. When the angled iron configuration is used in the manufacture of the legs 60, the concave sides of the angled irons face outwards. As best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the legs 60 of the frame 56 are received in the cavities 40 that also have the support members 50 held there. The legs 60 enter the cavities 40 on their inner side with respect to the location of the support members 50. The legs 60 extend into the cavities 40 until the upper members 58 of the frame engage the upper ends of the side walls 12 which they comprise the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10.
After the legs 60 of the frame 56 are fully seated in the cavities 40 and the upper members 58 of the frame 56 engage with the upper ends of the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10, the open end liner 32 is peeled from the interior of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 and the upper portions of the outer surfaces of the side walls 12 of the intermediate flexible bag for bulk product 10 are wrapped, in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 At this point, the flexible intermediate bag for bulk product 10 is fully prepared to receive there meat and meat products. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the above detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but is capable of numerous re-arrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and components. elementes, without departing from the spirit of invention.