Palletless bulk bag

Abstract

A bulk bag includes a body having sidewalls, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed lift sleeves adapted to receive lifting members for lifting the bag and contents thereof. Each lift sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end attached together and proximate to a bottom of the sidewall to form a loop, and a portion of the sleeve extending from the second sleeve end is attached to an adjacent portion of the sidewall such that the loop maintains a substantially open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk bag comprising:
 a body having sidewalls, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed lift sleeves adapted to receive lifting members for lifting the bag and contents thereof; and   wherein each lift sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end attached together and proximate to a bottom of the sidewall to form a loop, and a portion of the sleeve extending from the second sleeve end is attached to an adjacent portion of the sidewall such that the loop maintains a substantially open position.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve end is part of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve end is part of the sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve end or the second sleeve end extends between an attachment of the sidewall to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall or the bottom wall extends between the attachment of the first sleeve end and the second sleeve end. 
     
     
         6 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more baffles disposed within the body to maintain a shape of the body. 
     
     
         7 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising one or more openings in the one or more baffles to allow contents of the bag to move on either side of the one or more baffles. 
     
     
         8 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising four baffles within the body, each baffle attached to at least one sidewall and bridging a corner of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more handles attached to a top of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more handles are selected from the group comprising lifting loops, fabric lifting loops, tumble straps, loop hooks, buckle straps, positioning cones, stevedore straps, and webbing lift loops. 
     
     
         11 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising four handles attached to a top of the body, each handle located proximate to a corner of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a top wall attached proximate to a top of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         13 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a spout attached to the top wall to selectively access contents within the body or load contents into the body. 
     
     
         14 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a spout attached to the sidewalls or the bottom wall to selectively access contents within the body or load contents into the body. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the spout is selected from the group comprising an opening, a covered opening, a flap, a sling, a discharge/fill spout, a cone bottom/top, a full opening dump/duffle top, a drawstring cover, a protective cover, a fastener, and a handle. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls and the bottom wall are formed from one or more panels. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of one or more woven or porous materials selected from the group comprising polypropylene, micropored material, static controlled material, conductive material, metalized material, liner material, film material, foil material, coated material, tubular material, webbed material, baffle fabric, coated baffle fabric, nonflammable material, water-proof material, corrugated material, nylon, rope, jute, hemp, sisal, leather, fibers, rope-like material, twine, cloth, canvas, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), bungee cord material, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, high-gloss polyester, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, plastic, polymer, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, other suitable materials, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A bulk bag comprising:
 a body having sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed lift sleeves adapted to receive lifting members for lifting the bag and contents thereof;   one or more handles attached to a top of the body;   a spout attached to the sidewalls, the top wall or the bottom wall to selectively access contents within the body or load contents into the body; and   wherein each lift sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end attached together and proximate to a bottom of the sidewall to form a loop, and a portion of the sleeve extending from the second sleeve end is attached to an adjacent portion of the sidewall such that the loop maintains a substantially open position.   
     
     
         19 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first sleeve end is part of the bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the second sleeve end is part of the sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first sleeve end or the second sleeve end extends between an attachment of the sidewall to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         22 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the sidewall or the bottom wall extends between the attachment of the first sleeve end and the second sleeve end. 
     
     
         23 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising one or more baffles disposed within the body to maintain a shape of the body. 
     
     
         24 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 23 , further comprising one or more openings in the one or more baffles to allow contents of the bag to move on either side of the one or more baffles. 
     
     
         25 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising four baffles within the body, each baffle attached to at least one sidewall and bridging a corner of the body. 
     
     
         26 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the one or more handles are selected from the group comprising lifting loops, fabric lifting loops, tumble straps, loop hooks, buckle straps, positioning cones, stevedore straps, and webbing lift loops. 
     
     
         27 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the spout is selected from the group comprising an opening, a covered opening, a flap, a sling, a discharge/fill spout, a cone bottom/top, a full opening dump/duffle top, a drawstring cover, a protective cover, a fastener, and a handle. 
     
     
         28 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the sidewalls and the bottom wall are formed from one or more panels. 
     
     
         29 . The bulk bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the body is made of one or more woven or porous materials selected from the group comprising polypropylene, micropored material, static controlled material, conductive material, metalized material, liner material, film material, foil material, coated material, tubular material, webbed material, baffle fabric, coated baffle fabric, nonflammable material, water-proof material, corrugated material, nylon, rope, jute, hemp, sisal, leather, fibers, rope-like material, twine, cloth, canvas, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), bungee cord material, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyester, high-gloss polyester, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, plastic, polymer, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, other suitable materials, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A method of manufacturing a bulk bag comprising the steps of:
 forming a body having sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed lift sleeves adapted to receive lifting members for lifting the bag and contents thereof; and   wherein each lift sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end attached together and proximate to a bottom of the sidewall to form a loop, and a portion of the sleeve extending from the second sleeve end is attached to an adjacent portion of the sidewall such that the loop maintains a substantially open position.   
     
     
         31 . A method of manufacturing a bulk bag comprising the steps of:
 forming a body having sidewalls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed lift sleeves adapted to receive lifting members for lifting the bag and contents thereof;   wherein each lift sleeve has a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end attached together and proximate to a bottom of the sidewall to form a loop, and a portion of the sleeve extending from the second sleeve end is attached to an adjacent portion of the sidewall such that the loop maintains a substantially open position;   attaching one or more handles to the sidewalls or the top wall, each handle located proximate to a corner of the body; and   attaching a spout to one or more of the sidewalls, the top wall or the bottom wall to selectively access contents within the body or load contents into the body.