US20120279610A1

US20120279610A1 - Device for One-Person Filling of Sandbags

Info

Publication number: US20120279610A1
Application number: US13/099,124
Authority: US
Inventors: David Allan Krum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-02
Filing date: 2011-05-02
Publication date: 2012-11-08

Abstract

A sandbag filling device and method for assisting one person with easily and quickly filling a flexible bag with sand to form a sandbag. The device has a body which fits in the open top end of the flexible bag and is placed in an upright position against the closed bottom end thereof to allow one person to dump sand in the bag. The body can have a generally cylindrical or, for improved storage and transport, conical shaped structure. Alternatively, the body can have ends that are moved to an overlap area for insertion into the flexible bag and filling the bag with sand. When not formed for use, the body can lay flat or be curved, for ease of forming, both of which allow quick and easy storage and transport of a plurality of sandbag filling devices. Handles ease removal of the device from the flexible bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatuses, devices and systems for rapidly and easily filling a flexible bag with sand to form a sandbag. In particular, the present invention relates to such apparatuses, devices and systems that support a flexible bag in a generally upright position to facilitate one person filling the flexible bag with sand. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such devices that are easy to transport and inexpensive to manufacture.
B. Background
Sandbags are commonly utilized to protect property and persons from rising water and to support posts, signs or other structures in a generally upright position. The typical sandbag is formed by substantially filling a flexible bag, sack or bag-like container, usually made out of burlap, cloth or cloth-like material that is closed at one end and open at the opposite end, with sand and/or other particulate matter. The sand is placed into the flexible bag through the open end thereof. Once filled with the desired amount of sand, the open end of the bag is closed and the sandbag is placed into position to direct, block or otherwise control the flow of water or support a structure. The flexible nature of the bag and the compressible nature of the sand in the bag results in a sandbag that can, in effect, be “molded” to fill a gap that would otherwise allow water to flow into a structure or, when stacked on top of and alongside other sandbags, form a substantially impenetrable wall. As set forth below, however, the flexible nature of the bag can make it somewhat difficult for one person to fill the bag with sand when making the sandbag.
Due to the nature of the most common use of sandbags, which is to protect property and persons from rising water, the need to form sandbags and place them where needed often arises rapidly and usually requires a significant number of sandbags to be made quickly. Perhaps the most common way to make a sandbag is for one person to hold the bag at or near the open top end of the bag and another person to utilize a shovel or other tool to scoop up sand with the tool and pour sand into the bag. One problem with this approach is that it requires two people, often volunteers recruited to assist out in an emergency, to make a single sandbag, the person holding the bag as it is filled and the person filling the bag. Naturally, a better use of the often limited number of people that are available to make sandbags would be to have both people individually making sandbags, likely resulting in nearly twice as many sandbags. Another problem with the above-described approach to making sandbags is the person holding the flexible bag as it is being filled with sand has to hold the bag in a manner that keeps the bottom of the bag sufficiently off of the ground to allow as much sand as possible to be placed inside the bag and hold the top end of the bag open to facilitate the placement of sand inside the bag all the while positioning his or her hands in a manner that reduces, but never really eliminates, the risk of the hands being hit with the shovel or other tool being used to fill the bag. Because, the injuries resulting from contact with the filling tool can be quite painful and, in some circumstances, very serious, the person filling the bag will generally deposit sand in the bag somewhat slower than he or she would if someone's hands were not located at or near the opening.
Various machines and tools are known to exist for forming sandbags and for assisting persons with filling sandbags. Some of these machines are quite complex and are generally utilized to fill sandbags at a central location, such as a city or county yard, from which the filled sandbags are delivered to where they are needed. Typically, these sandbag filling machines are not intended to be portable and are not utilized by volunteers or the like at the location where the sandbags are to be placed. A number of prior art patents describe sandbag filling apparatuses, devices and systems that are configured to facilitate filling a flexible bag with sand or other particulate matter to form a sandbag. An example of a device utilized to rapidly fill multiple sandbags at the same time is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,878 to Eckhardt, which comprises a tray having a plurality of funnel pails, each having a truncated conical body, extending downward from the tray that are sized and configured to fit inside the flexible bag and hold it generally upright so sand can be shoveled into the bags. Prior to filling the bags, the tray is turned upside down to position the funnel pails upward and allow the user to place the empty bags over the funnel pails. Although this and other related prior art may be useful for filling a plurality of bags with sand, they are not very useful for assisting a single person with making a sandbag.
The prior art includes a number of devices that are configured to assist a single person with filling a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,588,217 to Rooker discloses a sandbag filling tool that comprises a generally funnel shaped chute which is suspended above the ground by legs assembled as a tripod. In one configuration, the legs removably attach to the chute and the chute is configured to nest with other chutes. U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,489 to Smith discloses a sandbag filling apparatus having a shovel-like head section with a retaining apparatus mounted thereon that is configured to releasably hold a sandbag in an open position and in alignment with a fill opening at the back of the head section. Sand is scooped up by the head section and dumped into the sandbag through the fill opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,932,126 to Spagnolo describes a sandbag filling system comprising an open support frame, a lower hoop, an upper hoop and a pivoting mechanism that allows the upper hoop to pivot away from the lower hoop so the top of a sandbag can be placed between the two hoops and then be secured therebetween by pivoting the upper hoop down onto the lower hoop. When closed, the two hoops hold the sandbag open while sand is dumped through the two hoops and into the sandbag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,994 to Wilson discloses a sandbag holding frame comprising a rectangular support member that is held at an angle relative to the ground by curved support arms connected to a base. The open top of the sandbag is held open by the rectangular support member to allow sand to be dumped into the sandbag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,781 to Grizz describes a sandbag filling device comprising a support frame that is pivotally attached to the back end of a scoop sized to fit within a flexible bag. The front end of the scoop is used to engage a pile of sand and direct the sand into the bag to form a sandbag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,085 to Spagnolo discloses a sandbag filling aid for supporting a flexible bag in a generally upright position. The filling aid has a fill-chute that is attached to a pivoting upper hoop which secures the top of a sandbag between it and a similarly configured lower hoop. The chute, upper hoop, lower hoop and pivoting mechanism are supported above the ground by a tubular frame.
Although the prior art shows a variety of devices, apparatuses and systems for filling a flexible bag with sand they all have limitations which generally reduce their use in an emergency situation where a number of people are needed to quickly make sandbags. One limitation is that many of the prior art devices and apparatuses are not very portable, which is beneficial when a relatively large number of the devices or apparatuses need to be quickly transported to where the sandbags will be made and then placed. Another such limitation is that the setup and use of some of the prior art devices and apparatuses can be somewhat complicated. Another limitation has to do with the difficultly in storing a large number of such devices or apparatuses when they are not in use. Yet another limitation applicable to many prior art devices and apparatuses is the relatively high cost of manufacturing the devices/apparatuses makes the wide spread use thereof somewhat prohibitive.
As a result of the foregoing, what is needed is an improved device to assist with one person rapidly and easily filling a flexible bag with sand or other particular matter to make a sandbag. The improved sandbag filling device should be highly portable so workers from a city, county or other municipality or other organization can quickly and easily transport a large number of the devices to the location where the sandbags are needed to allow other persons, such as workers and/or volunteers, to assist with making sandbags. To facilitate such use, the device should also be easy to set-up and use. Preferably, the device is also configured so a plurality of the sandbag filling devices can be easily stored at a central warehouse or other location when they are not in use. The device should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture so a municipality or other organization can have a large number of the devices readily available when an emergency arises and sandbags are needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device for filling of sandbags of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses an improved sandbag filling device which is configured so as to allow one person to quickly and easily fill a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag. The sandbag filling device of the present invention holds a flexible bag in a generally upright position with the top end of the bag in an open position so sand can be easily and quickly dumped into the bag to fill the bag to the desired level. The sandbag filling device of the present invention is configured so a large number of such devices can be easily stored in a central location until the use of the devices is needed and so a large number of such devices can be quickly and easily transported to where the devices are needed to make sandbags. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sandbag filling device is very easy to setup and use, thereby allowing an untrained person, such as a volunteer or the like, to quickly master use of the device to fill sandbags. The sandbag filling device of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which will allow cities, counties or other municipalities to purchase many of the devices so they will be readily available in case of an emergency when a large number of sandbags are needed.
In a primary embodiment of the present invention, the device for one-person filling of sandbags generally comprises a body having an upper end and a lower end with one or more handles being attached to or integral with the body generally towards the upper end thereof. The body of the device is shaped and configured to substantially fit inside the flexible bag through a bag opening at the top end of the flexible bag. The body of the sandbag filling device is configured to stand substantially upright inside the flexible bag with the lower end of the body being positioned at or near the closed bottom end of the sandbag. The body has an open top end at the upper end thereof and an open bottom end at the lower end thereof that, along with the sidewalls of the body, define an interior chamber which allows sand to flow therethrough to an interior of the flexible bag. Each of the handles are sized and configured to assist the user with placing the body inside the flexible bag and then removing the body from the flexible bag upon making of the sandbag. Preferably, the body has a generally smooth outer surface for ease of insertion and removal of the device from the flexible bag. The handles comprise a handle grip that is defined by an aperture sized to allow the user to grasp the device. In one configuration, the aperture is disposed in the body member generally towards the upper end thereof. In another configuration, the aperture is disposed in a handle extension member that extends generally upward above the upper end of the body. The body of the device can be formed in a cylindrical shaped structure with sidewalls of the body that are generally parallel to each other. Alternatively, for ease of storage and transport, the body of the device can be formed as a conical shaped structure with sidewalls of the body being generally angled inwardly from the upper end to the lower end of the body. In another embodiment, which also simplifies the storage and transport of a plurality of devices, the body comprises a first end and a second end that are disposed in spaced apart relation when the sandbag filling device is in an unformed condition. The material for the body is selected to be sufficiently flexible so the first end and the second end can be moved to an overlap area to place the sandbag filling device in a formed condition for insertion into the flexible bag and for filling the bag with sand. Preferably, the device is also sufficiently elastic such that once it is placed inside the flexible bag and the device is allowed to expand against the sides of the bag, the device can hold both itself and the bag in a generally upright position for filling the bag with sand. In the unformed condition, a plurality of devices can be stacked on top of each other for storage and transport. The body can be generally planar when in the unformed condition or, to assist with moving the ends to the overlap area, be concaved toward an inner surface thereof.
A method of using the sandbag filling device to fill a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag comprises the steps of: (a) inserting the lower end of the body of the sandbag filling device into the interior of the flexible bag through the bag opening at the open top end thereof; (b) positioning the lower end of the body at or near the closed bottom end of the flexible bag; (c) standing the sandbag filling device generally upward in the flexible bag against the bottom end of the bag; (d) placing sand or other particulate matter into an interior chamber of the body through the open top end thereof; (e) grasping the handles of the sandbag filling device; (f) pulling the sandbag filling device generally upward relative to the flexible bag by the handles to allow the sand to fall out of the interior chamber of the body through an open bottom end thereof into the interior of the flexible bag; and (g) repeating steps d through f as necessary to form the sandbag. For the configuration that is split, the method can further comprise the step of moving the first end and second end of the body to an overlap area to place the sandbag filling device in a formed condition and then allowing the device to expand against the sidewalls of the bag prior to inserting the body into the bag so the device can hold both the device and bag in a generally upright position. As set forth above, the body of the device can be configured to lay substantially flat or be curved for ease of moving the ends to the overlap area and placing the body in the formed condition.
Accordingly, the primary aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved sandbag filling device that has the advantages discussed above and which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations associated with the prior art devices and apparatuses for filling sandbags.
It is an important aspect of the present invention to provide a device for filling sandbags that allows one person to easily and quickly fill a flexible bag with sand or other particulate matter to make a sandbag.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a device for filling sandbags that is configured to hold a flexible bag in a generally upright position with the open end of the bag in an open position so sand or other particulate matter may be dumped through the open end of the bag to quickly and easily make a sandbag.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a device for filling sandbags that is relatively easy to setup and use so a volunteer or other user, particularly a person who is not familiar with the device, can quickly and easily use the device to make sandbags.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a device for filling sandbags that facilitates easy storage and transportation of a large number of such devices so the devices can be readily available in case of an emergency where sandbags are needed and then the devices can be easily and quickly transported to the area where they will be used to make sandbags, which is typically where the sandbags are needed.
It is also an important aspect of the present invention to provide a device for filling sandbags that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture so that a city, county or other municipality or the like can afford to have a large number of the devices readily available in case of an emergency, such as a flood, where the devices are needed to make sandbags.
The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of the above presently described and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sandbag filling device configured according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown placed inside a flexible bag;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sandbag filling device of FIG. 1 shown in use while placing sand inside the flexible bag;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sandbag filling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sandbag filling device configured according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing the device having inwardly slanted sidewalls that form a truncated conical shaped body;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of sandbag filling device configured according to a third embodiment of the present invention having ends that are not joined or otherwise connected showing the ends thereof disposed past each other to form the device for use to fill a sandbag;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the sandbag filling device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of fourth embodiment of the sandbag filling device of the present invention that is configured with non-joined ends showing use of integrally formed handles;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sandbag filling device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a fifth embodiment of the sandbag filling device of the present invention showing use of a device having non-joined ends and curved shaped body; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the sandbag filling device of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed text and drawings are merely illustrative of one or more preferred embodiments and, as such, disclose one or more different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figures and description provided herein show and discuss certain shapes and configurations for the body and handles for the device, those skilled in the art will understand that this is merely for purposes of simplifying this disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited.
A sandbag filling device which is configured pursuant to various embodiments of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in FIGS. 1-10. As set forth in more detail below, the sandbag filling device 10 is configured so as to be utilized to quickly and easily fill a flexible bag 12 with sand or other particulate matter, shown generally as 14 in FIG. 2. As well known in the art, the flexible bag 12 has a generally open first or top end 16 and a closed second or bottom end 18 with the top end 16 defining a bag opening 20 through which sand 14 is placed into the flexible bag 12, typically with a shovel or like tool (not shown), to form a sandbag 22, shown partially filled in FIG. 2. As also well known, the flexible bag 12 is commonly made out of burlap, cloth or other materials so that the filled sandbag 22 can be stacked on top of each other to form a substantially liquid impenetrable wall or other barrier that directs fluid, such as flood water, away from an area or it can be pressed against an opening to substantially close the opening to prevent fluid from entering a house, office or other structure. Although the typical flexible bag 12 is generally rectangular shaped, the sandbag 22 will form in a somewhat tubular shape having a diameter D1, as shown in FIG. 2, when flexible bag 12 is filled with sand 14.
The sandbag filling device 10 has a body 24 that is formed with a first or upper end 26 and a second or lower end 28, as shown in FIGS. 2-9. In a first embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-3, the body 24 of sandbag filling device 10 is formed into a hollow, generally cylindrical shaped structure 30 with substantially parallel sidewalls 32, an open top end 34 and an open bottom end 36 that define the interior chamber 38 of sandbag filling device 10. When the sandbag filling device is utilized to make sandbag 22, at least the bottom end 36 of body will be inserted into flexible bag 12, as shown in FIG. 2, so sand 14 will flow from the upper end 26 to the lower end 28 and into flexible bag 12 to make the sandbag 22. In this first embodiment, the cylindrical shaped structure 30 has a device diameter D2 that is less than the bag diameter D1 so the lower end 28 thereof can easily fit inside the flexible bag 12. In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the device diameter D2 is only slightly less than the bag diameter D1 so as to provide a large as possible open top end 34 and to better facilitate the sandbag filling device 10 and flexible bag 12 standing upright when filling the flexible bag 12 with sand 14.
As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, the cylindrical shaped structure 30 of body 24 will stand upright, with the open upper end 26 being upwardly directed, on its own and will not require a second person to hold the sandbag filling device 10 upright. In use, the lower end 28 of the sandbag filling device 10 is initially inserted into the flexible bag 12 until the lower end 28 thereof is placed against the closed second end 18 of the flexible bag 12, as shown in FIG. 1, and against the ground or other surface on which the sandbag 22 is being formed. Because the cylindrical body 24 will stand upright, a single user can then shovel or otherwise dump sand 14 into the flexible bag 12 through the upper 26 and lower 28 ends of the body 24. With the lower end 28 of the body 24 against the bottom end 18 of the flexible bag 12 (FIG. 1) or later against the previously deposited sand, the sand 14 will not flow out of interior chamber 38 of the sandbag filling device 10 but will instead fill chamber 38. Periodically, depending on how much sand 14 is placed inside chamber 38 and how much sand 14 is desired in the interior 40 (shown in FIG. 2) of the flexible bag 12 relative to the volume of chamber 38, the user will pull the body 24 of sandbag filling device 10 upward to allow sand 14 that has accumulated inside chamber 38 to pour out of the chamber 38 and into flexible bag 12, as shown in FIG. 2. This process can be repeated as often as necessary to fill the flexible bag 12 with the desired amount of sand 14 to form the desired size of sandbag 22. Once flexible bag 12 is full of sand 14 to the desired amount, the user completely pulls the sandbag filling device 10 out of the flexible bag 12 and closes the bag opening 20 at the top end 16 thereof to prevent sand 14 from pouring out of sandbag 22.
To assist the user with placement of the sandbag filling device 10 inside the flexible bag 12 and pulling out of device 10 from the bag 12, preferably the outer surface 42 of sidewalls 32 are substantially smooth so the body 24 will at least somewhat easily slide in and out of flexible bag 12. To ensure that the sandbag filling device 10 will stand upright when inserted into the flexible bag 12, the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 should be manufactured out of a stiff material. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, body 24 of device 10 can be made out of a wide variety of materials, including plastic, fiberglass, hard rubber, PVC, composites, metal (particularly aluminum) and the like. Preferably, the material selected for body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 will be generally lightweight so it is easy for the user to handle and at least somewhat corrosion resistant due to the likelihood that the sandbag filling device 10 will be commonly utilized near water or other liquids.
To further assist the user with moving the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 in and out of the flexible bag 12, the preferred embodiment of the sandbag filling device 10 has one or more handles 44 at or near the upper end 26 of the body 24, as shown in the figures. Handles 44 are attached to or integral with body 24. FIGS. 1-6 show use of two handles 44. The handles 44 should be configured to allow the user to easily position the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 inside the flexible bag 12 and then pull the body 24 out of the flexible bag 12 when it is desired to drop the sand 14 from chamber 38 into the interior 40 of flexible bag 12, as shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-6, each of the handles 44 have a handle extension member 46 that extends a handle grip 48 upwardly from and above the upper end 26 of body 24 where the user's hand can easily grip the handle 44. In this embodiment, the handle grip 48 is defined by an aperture 50 that is provided in the upward portion of the handle extension member 46. Preferably, the aperture 50 is sized and configured to allow the user to easily insert a portion of his or her hand into the aperture 50, typically with the fingers through aperture 50 and the palm against the area above aperture 50, so he or she can securely grasp handle grip 48. The embodiments of FIGS. 7-10 show an alternative configuration for the handles 44. In this configuration, each of the handles 44 are incorporated into the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 generally towards the upper end 26 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The aperture 50 for handle grip 48 is either formed integrally with the body 24 or cut out of body 24 after it is formed, generally depending on the type of material utilized for the body 24. As with the previous configuration for handle 44, the aperture 50 should be sized and configured to allow the user to insert a portion of his or her hand through the aperture 50 and be able to securely grasp the handle grip 48. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the configuration of the handles 44 shown in FIGS. 7-9 can be utilized with the embodiments of sandbag filling device 10 of FIGS. 1-6 and, likewise, the configuration of handles 44 of FIGS. 1-6 can be utilized with the embodiments of sandbag filling device 10 of FIGS. 7-10. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of different sizes and shapes can be utilized for aperture 50 and the handle grip 48 defined thereby.
The embodiment of FIG. 4 shows the sandbag filling device 10 having body 24 a truncated conical body structure 52, with the sidewalls 32 angled inward from the upper end 26 to the lower end 28 of body 24, resulting in the open bottom end 36 having a smaller diameter (or other shaped opening) than the open top end 34. Other than the inclined sidewalls 32, the embodiment of FIG. 4 has the same components as the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 discussed above. An advantage of the conical body structure 52 of the body 24 of FIG. 4 is that the lower end 28 of one of these devices 10 can be inserted into the upper end 26 of another one of such devices 10, thereby enabling a plurality of such devices 10 to be stacked for ease of storage and transport. Another advantage of the conical body structure 52 is that it will generally be easier for the user to place the lower end 28 thereof inside the top end 16 of flexible bag 12.
The embodiments of FIGS. 5-10 show an alternative configuration where the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 is effectively split to form a first end 54 and a second end 56 that allows the user to alternate the sandbag filling device 10 between a first or formed condition 58, shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, and a second or unformed condition 60, shown in FIGS. 6 and 8-10. In the formed condition 58 the two ends 54/56 are brought together in an overlap area 62 to place the body 24 of the sandbag filling device 10 into the cylindrical shaped structure 30 shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 or a conical body structure 52 or the like. In the unformed condition 60, the ends 54/56 are placed in spaced apart relation, thereby exposing the inner surface 64 that would normally define the walls of the interior chamber 38 of body 24. Typically, the sandbag filling device 10 would be stored and transported in the unformed condition 60, generally with a plurality of the devices 10 stacked on top of each other. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-8, the body 24 is generally planar, resulting in the devices 10 laying flat and stacking flatly on top of each other. In use, the user will stand the device 10 on its lower end 28 and move the ends 54/56 towards each other to define the overlap area 62 and place the device 10 in its formed condition 58 for insertion into the open top end 16 of the flexible bag 12. Once the lower end 28 is at or near the bottom end 18 of bag 12, the user will release the ends 54/56 to allow the device 10 to expand against the sides of the flexible bag 12, thereby allowing the combined device 10 and bag 12 to stand upright with the open top end 34 of the body 24 holding open the bag opening 20 of the flexible bag 12 so sand 14 can be placed therein to form sandbag 22. In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the body 24 has a curvilinear configuration, best shown in FIG. 10, with inner surface 64 being generally concaved inwardly. The advantage of the curved shape for body 24 is it will generally be easier, relative to the generally planar shape of the body in FIGS. 5-8, for the user to bring ends 54/56 together at the overlap area 62 to place the device in its formed condition 58. The curved shape will, in effect, provide a start to moving the ends 54/56 to the overlap area 62. The curved body 24 also allows a plurality of devices 10 to be stacked on top of each other for ease of storage and transport. Other than the curved shape, this embodiment is used in the same manner as the planar embodiment.
As set forth above, generally a plurality of sandbag filling devices 10 will be stored in a warehouse or other location so they can be readily available in case of an emergency, such as a potential flood or the like, and then transported to the area where the sand 14 is located and near where the sandbags 22 will be made. Although the devices 10 having a body 24 with a cylindrical shaped structure 30 can be stored and moved in quantity, the embodiments with the conical shaped structure 52 and the ends 54/56, whether planar or curved, will generally be much easier to store and transport. In use, the lower end 28 of the body 24 is inserted into the open top end 16 of the flexible bag 12, after bringing the ends 54/56 together at the overlap area 62 if required, until the lower end 28 is at or near the closed bottom end 18 of the flexible bag 12. For the embodiment with ends 54/56, the body 24 will expand against the sides of the bag 12 when the user lets go of the ends 54/56, thereby allowing the device 10 to support itself and the bag 12 in a generally upright position. With the device 10 inserted in the flexible bag 12, the combined device 10 and bag 12 will be able to stand on is own, thereby allowing one person to setup and fill the flexible bag 12 to make a sandbag 22. Sand 14 is then dumped into the open top end 34 of the body 24 until it fills or nearly fills the interior chamber 38 of body 24. The user then grasps the handles 44 to pull the device 10 out or partially out, depending on how much sand 14 is required for sandbag 22, of the flexible bag 12 through its bag opening 20, as shown in FIG. 2. The sand 14 will fall to the bottom end 18 of the bag 12. If more sand 14 is desired for sandbag 22, then the user will repeat the process by dumping more sand 14 into the interior chamber 38 on top of the previously deposited sand 14. Pulling the device 10 out of bag 12 will allow the remaining sand 14 to fall out of the device 10 and on top of the previously placed sand 14 to fill the flexible bag 12 and define the sandbag 22. The smooth outer surface 42 of the body 24 and the handles 44 attached to or integral with the body 24 will facilitate movement of the sandbag filling device 10 into and out of bag 12.
While there are shown and described herein one or more specific embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to various modifications with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein, with regard to its assembly, size, shape and use and with regard to the materials used in its construction. For instance, there are a number of components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sandbag filling device configured to fill a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag, said sandbag filling device comprising:

a body having an upper end and a lower end, said body shaped and configured to substantially fit inside said flexible bag through a bag opening at a top end of said flexible bag, said body configured to stand substantially upright inside said flexible bag with said lower end thereof positioned at or near a closed bottom end of said sandbag, said body having an open top end at said upper end thereof and an open bottom end at said lower end thereof to define an interior chamber which allows sand to flow therethrough to an interior of said flexible bag; and

one or more handles attached to or integral with said body, each of said handles sized and configured to assist with placing said body inside said flexible bag and removing said body from said flexible bag upon making of said sandbag.

2. The sandbag filling device of claim 1, wherein said body has a generally smooth outer surface.

3. The sandbag filling device of claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a handle grip defined by an aperture.

4. The sandbag filling device of claim 3, wherein said aperture is disposed in said body member generally towards said upper end thereof.

5. The sandbag filling device of claim 3, wherein said aperture is disposed in a handle extension member configured to extend generally upward above said upper end of said body.

6. The sandbag filling device of claim 1, wherein said body is formed in a cylindrical shaped structure with sidewalls of said body being generally parallel.

7. The sandbag filling device of claim 1, wherein said body is formed in a conical shaped structure with sidewalls of said body being generally angled inwardly from said upper end to said lower end of said body.

8. The sandbag filling device of claim 1, wherein said body has a first end and a second end that are disposed in spaced apart relation when said sandbag filling device is in an unformed condition, said body configured to allow said first end and said second end to be moved to an overlap area to place said sandbag filling device in a formed condition for insertion into said flexible bag and then to expand against the flexible bag to stand said device and said flexible bag generally upright.

9. The sandbag filling device of claim 8, wherein said body is generally planar when in said unformed condition.

10. The sandbag filling device of claim 8, wherein said body is concaved toward an inner surface thereof when in said unformed condition.

11. A sandbag filling device configured to fill a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag, said sandbag filling device comprising:

a body having an upper end, a lower end, a first end, a second end and a generally smooth outer surface, said first end and said second end of said body being disposed in spaced apart relation when said sandbag filling device is in an unformed condition and configured to be moved to an overlap area when desired to place said sandbag filling device in a formed condition for insertion into said flexible bag through a bag opening at a top end of said flexible bag, said body configured to expand against said flexible bag so as to stand substantially upright inside said flexible bag when in said formed condition with said lower end of said body positioned at or near a closed bottom end of said sandbag, said body having an open top end at said upper end thereof and an open bottom end at said lower end thereof to define an interior chamber which allows sand to flow therethrough to an interior of said flexible bag; and

one or more handles attached to or integral with said body, each of said handles having a handle grip with an aperture sized and configured to assist with placing said body inside said flexible bag and removing said body from said flexible bag upon making of said sandbag.

12. The sandbag filling device of claim 11, wherein said aperture is disposed in said body member generally towards said upper end thereof.

13. The sandbag filling device of claim 11, wherein said aperture is disposed in a handle extension member configured to extend generally upward above said upper end of said body.

14. The sandbag filling device of claim 11, wherein said body is generally planar when in said unformed condition.

15. The sandbag filling device of claim 11, wherein said body is generally concaved inwardly toward an inner surface thereof when in said unformed condition.

16. A method of using a sandbag filling device to fill a flexible bag with sand to make a sandbag, said method comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a lower end of a body of said sandbag filling device into an interior of said flexible bag through a bag opening at an open top end of said flexible bag;

b) positioning said lower end of said body at or near a closed bottom end of said flexible bag;

c) standing said sandbag filling device generally upward in said flexible bag against said bottom end thereof;

d) placing the sand into an interior chamber of said body through an open top end thereof;

e) grasping one or more handles attached to or integral with said body of said sandbag filling device, each of said handles having a handle grip defined by an aperture;

f) pulling said sandbag filling device generally upward relative to said flexible bag by said one or more handles to allow the sand to fall out of said interior chamber through an open bottom end of said body into said interior of said flexible bag; and

g) repeating steps d through f as necessary to form said sandbag.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of moving a first end and a second end of said body of said device to an overlap area to place said sandbag filling device in a formed condition prior to said inserting step and releasing said first end and said second end of said device to allow said body to expand against said flexible bag prior to said standing step, said first end and said second end of said body being disposed in spaced apart relation when said sandbag filling device is in an unformed condition.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said body is concaved inwardly toward an inner surface thereof when in said unformed condition.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said aperture is disposed in said body member generally at or near an upper end thereof.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said aperture is disposed in a handle extension member configured to extend generally upward above an upper end of said body.