Weight systems and methods stabilizing objects

Abstract

A weight system for containing fill material for supporting a free-standing object comprises a weight container defines an interior chamber and fill opening and a closure system. Fill material within the interior chamber is entirely below the fill opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight system for containing fill material for supporting a free-standing object comprising:
 a weight container comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and an outer side wall and defining
 an interior chamber adapted to contain the fill material, and 
 a fill opening through which the fill material can be introduced into the interior chamber, where
 the upper wall comprises at least one upper wall panel made of flexible fabric, and 
 the outer side wall comprises at least one outer side wall panel made of flexible fabric; 
 
   a closure system comprising first and second closure portions, where
 the first closure portion is configured to be engaged with the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in a closed configuration, 
 the first closure portion is configured to be at least partly disengaged from the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in an open configuration, and 
 the closure system is arranged relative to the fill opening such that
 arrangement of the closure system in the closed configuration substantially prevents fill material from passing through the fill opening, and 
 arrangement of the closure system in the open configuration allows fill material to pass through the fill opening; 
 
   a first upper seam configured to join at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel to at least a portion of the at least one outer side wall panel;   a first side stitch arranged at a first side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the first side stitch secures the first closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a first side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a second side stitch arranged at a second side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the second side stitch secures the second closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a second side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a first end stitch arranged at a first end of the closure system to define a first end of the fill opening;   a second end stitch arranged at a second end of the closure system to define a second end of the fill opening; and   the fill material within the interior chamber is entirely below the fill opening.   
     
     
         2 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 at least a portion of at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel overlaps at least a portion of at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel to define an overlap region; and   the first and second closure portions are arranged in the overlap region.   
     
     
         3 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the first closure portion comprises a first closure panel, where the first closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel; and   the second closure portion comprises a second closure panel, where the second closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel.   
     
     
         4 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the first closure portion is moved up to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the second closure portion is moved down to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         6 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which, to arrange the closure system in the open configuration:
 the first closure portion is moved up; and   the second closure portion is moved down.   
     
     
         7 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the closure system comprises a hook panel and a loop panel. 
     
     
         8 . A weight system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the closure system comprises a zipper system. 
     
     
         9 . A weight system for containing fill material for supporting a free-standing object comprising:
 a weight container comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and an outer side wall and defining
 an interior chamber adapted to contain the fill material, and 
 a fill opening through which the fill material can be introduced into the interior chamber, where
 the upper wall comprises at least one upper wall panel made of flexible fabric, and 
 the outer side wall comprises at least one outer side wall panel made of flexible fabric; 
 
   a closure system comprising first and second closure portions, where
 the first closure portion is configured to be engaged with the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in a closed configuration, 
 the first closure portion is configured to be at least partly disengaged from the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in an open configuration, and 
 the closure system is arranged relative to the fill opening such that
 arrangement of the closure system in the closed configuration substantially prevents fill material from passing through the fill opening, and 
 arrangement of the closure system in the open configuration allows fill material to pass through the fill opening; 
 
   a first upper seam configured to join at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel to at least a portion of the at least one outer side wall panel;   a first side stitch arranged at a first side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the first side stitch secures the first closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a first side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a second side stitch arranged at a second side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the second side stitch secures the second closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a second side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a first end stitch arranged at a first end of the closure system to define a first end of the fill opening;   a second end stitch arranged at a second end of the closure system to define a second end of the fill opening; and   the fill opening is arranged relative to the outer side wall such that, when the fill material is arranged within the interior chamber such that the fill material acts on the outer side wall, loads applied on the outer side wall by the fill material are substantially inhibited from acting on the closure system.   
     
     
         10 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which:
 at least a portion of at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel overlaps at least a portion of at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel to define an overlap region; and   the first and second closure portions are arranged in the overlap region.   
     
     
         11 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the fill opening is substantially parallel to a horizontal plane extending through the upper wall. 
     
     
         12 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which:
 the first closure portion comprises a first closure panel, where the first closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel; and   the second closure portion comprises a second closure panel, where the second closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel.   
     
     
         13 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the first closure portion is moved up to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         14 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the second closure portion is moved down to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which, to arrange the closure system in the open configuration:
 the first closure portion is moved up; and   the second closure portion is moved down.   
     
     
         16 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the closure system comprises a hook panel and a loop panel. 
     
     
         17 . A weight system as recited in  claim 9 , in which the closure system comprises a zipper system. 
     
     
         18 . A weight system for containing fill material for supporting a free-standing object comprising:
 a weight container comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and an outer side wall and defining
 an interior chamber adapted to contain the fill material, and 
 a fill opening through which the fill material can be introduced into the interior chamber, where
 the upper wall comprises at least one upper wall panel made of flexible fabric, and 
 the outer side wall comprises at least one outer side wall panel made of flexible fabric; 
 
   a closure system comprising first and second closure portions, where
 the first closure portion is configured to be engaged with the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in a closed configuration, 
 the first closure portion is configured to be at least partly disengaged from the second closure portion to arrange the closure system in an open configuration, and 
 the closure system is arranged relative to the fill opening such that
 arrangement of the closure system in the closed configuration substantially prevents fill material from passing through the fill opening, and 
 arrangement of the closure system in the open configuration allows fill material to pass through the fill opening; 
 
   a first upper seam configured to join at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel to at least a portion of the at least one outer side wall panel;   a first side stitch arranged at a first side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the first side stitch secures the first closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a first side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a second side stitch arranged at a second side of the fill opening, where at least a portion of the second side stitch secures the second closure portion to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel along at least a portion of a second side of at least a portion of the fill opening;   a first end stitch arranged at a first end of the closure system to define a first end of the fill opening;   a second end stitch arranged at a second end of the closure system to define a second end of the fill opening;   the fill material within the interior chamber is entirely below the fill opening; and   the fill opening is arranged relative to the outer side wall such that, when the fill material is arranged within the interior chamber such that the fill material acts on the outer side wall, loads applied on the outer side wall by the fill material are substantially inhibited from acting on the closure system.   
     
     
         19 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which:
 at least a portion of at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel overlaps at least a portion of at least a portion of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel to define an overlap region; and   the first and second closure portions are arranged in the overlap region.   
     
     
         20 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which:
 the first closure portion comprises a first closure panel, where the first closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel; and   the second closure portion comprises a second closure panel, where the second closure panel is secured to at least one of the at least one upper wall panel and the outer side wall panel.   
     
     
         21 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which the first closure portion is moved up to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         22 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which the second closure portion is moved down to arrange the closure system in the open configuration. 
     
     
         23 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which, to arrange the closure system in the open configuration:
 the first closure portion is moved up; and   the second closure portion is moved down.   
     
     
         24 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which the closure system comprises a hook panel and a loop panel. 
     
     
         25 . A weight system as recited in  claim 18 , in which the closure system comprises a zipper system.