Soft-sided bulk material storage container

Abstract

In accordance with presently disclosed embodiments, a stackable bulk material storage container is provided. The bulk material storage container includes a panel-less frame having a top portion and a bottom portion, which is supported by cross bracing. A hatch is coupled to the top portion of the frame. The hatched is opened when loading the bulk material into the container and closed during transport. A gravity feed outlet is coupled to the bottom portion of the frame. The outlet is opened to dispense the bulk material out of the container and closed during transport. A containment structure is further provided, which has a greater storage capacity over conventional containers. The containment structure is defined by an upper portion formed of a soft material and a bottom portion formed of a rigid material. The containment structure is attached to the frame at least at the hatch and the gravity feed outlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk material storage container, comprising:
 a frame having a top portion and a bottom portion;   an inlet disposed at the top portion of the frame;   an outlet disposed at the bottom portion of the frame; and   a containment structure defined by an upper portion comprising a soft material and a lower portion comprising a rigid material.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of sides each of which is reinforced with diagonal bracing. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet further comprises one or more hatches which has an open position and a closed position, bulk material capable of being dispensed into the container in the open position and bulk material loss from the container being minimized in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper end of the upper portion which is secured to a rim of the inlet, the upper end of the upper portion being folded over an upper backing plate with an upper portion of the fold being sandwiched between the rim and the upper backing plate and a lower portion of the fold being sandwiched between the upper backing plate and a lower backing plate. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower end of the upper portion which is secured to a rim of the rigid material, the lower end of the upper portion being folded over the rim with an upper portion of the fold being sandwiched between an upper backing plate and the rim and a lower portion of the fold being sandwiched between the rim and a lower backing plate. 
     
     
         6 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the containment structure comprises a pair of cross-bracing tension members, which minimize bulging of the upper portion when the containment structure contains bulk material. 
     
     
         7 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the containment structure is formed of a plurality of interconnected rigid panels, which taper downwardly to form a funnel. 
     
     
         8 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a cloth, a canvas, a canvas coated with a rubber material, a canvas coated with an elastomeric material, a woven nylon, woven polyethylene, a vinyl coated polyester, a plastic, a woven glass coated with a rubber material, a woven glass coated with an elastomeric material, a gunny sack and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first plurality of hangers arranged along an upper outer perimeter of the upper portion and the first plurality of hangers are attached to the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 9 , further comprising a second plurality of hangers arranged along a lower outer perimeter of the upper portion and attached to the frame, wherein sidewalls are formed between the upper and lower plurality of hangers. 
     
     
         11 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second plurality of hangers are disposed within pockets formed into the upper portion along the upper and lower outer perimeters of the upper portion. 
     
     
         12 . The bulk material storage container of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid panels attach to the outlet. 
     
     
         13 . A bulk material containment structure, comprising:
 an upper portion formed of a soft material; and   a lower portion coupled to the upper portion, the lower portion formed of a rigid material and having a plurality of interconnected rigid panels, which taper downwardly to form a funnel.   
     
     
         14 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of cross-bracing tensioner members, which are capable of minimizing bulging of the upper portion when containing bulk material. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion comprises a lower end which is secured to a rim of the rigid material, the lower end of the upper portion being folded over the rim with an upper portion of the fold being sandwiched between an upper backing plate and the rim and a lower portion of the fold being sandwiched between the rim and a lower backing plate. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 13 , wherein the upper portion is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a cloth, a canvas, a canvas coated with a rubber material, a canvas coated with an elastomeric material, a woven nylon, woven polyethylene, a vinyl coated polyester, a plastic, a woven glass coated with a rubber material, a woven glass coated with an elastomeric material, a gunny sack and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 13 , further comprising a first plurality of hangers arranged along an upper outer perimeter of the upper portion of the bulk material containment structure. 
     
     
         18 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 17 , further comprising a second plurality of hangers arranged along a lower outer perimeter of the upper portion of the bulk material containment structure, wherein sidewalls are formed between the upper and lower plurality of hangers. 
     
     
         19 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second plurality of hangers are disposed within pockets formed into the upper portion along the upper and lower outer perimeters of the upper portion. 
     
     
         20 . The bulk material containment structure of  claim 13 , wherein an upper section of the upper portion is tapered upwardly and a bottom section of the upper portion is tapered downwardly.