Device for One-Person Filling of Sandbags

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.

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.