Pumpable crib bag assembly

Abstract

A pumpable crib bag assembly for forming a load-bearing support includes a containment bag arranged to be filled with a load-bearing material. The containment bag includes an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower end portions. The sidewall is configured to surround the load-bearing material within the containment bag to contain the load-bearing material therein. Aa reinforcing member extends along the sidewall to constrain the load-bearing material within the containment bag when a service load is applied to the assembly. The reinforcing member includes a flattened major surface arranged for contacting with the sidewall as the service load is applied to the assembly.

1 . A pumpable crib bag assembly arranged for forming a load-bearing support, the assembly comprising:
 a containment bag arranged to be filled with a load-bearing material, the containment bag including:
 an upper end portion: 
 a lower end portion; and 
 a sidewall extending between the upper and lower end portions, the sidewall being configured for surrounding the load-bearing material within the containment bag to contain the load-bearing material therein; and
 a reinforcing member extending along the sidewall for constraining the load-bearing material within the containment bag when a service load is applied to the assembly, the reinforcing member including a flattened major surface for contact with the sidewall as the service load is applied to the assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member is in a form of a strap. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sidewall has an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface each defining a total surface area, and wherein the strap is at least partially secured to and extends along at least one of the inner and outer wall surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the strap has an upper edge and a lower edge, and wherein the flattened major surface extends between the upper edge and the lower edge. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the flattened major surface has a width extending between the upper edge and the lower edge such that the flattened major surface contacts about one quarter to two thirds of the total surface area of the at least one of the inner and outer wall surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flattened major surface contacts about one quarter of the total surface area of the at least one of the inner and outer wall surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sidewall is generally cylindrical in configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap helically encompasses the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap helically encompasses the sidewall in a manner of a double or opposed helix. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap helically encompasses the sidewall with a pitch of between about 50 mm to 150 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap helically encompasses the sidewall with a variable pitch. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a pocket attached to the sidewall for positioning the reinforcing member or the strap therein. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pocket is dimensioned for supporting conformity with the reinforcing member or the strap to minimise movement of the reinforcing member or the strap with respect to the containment bag. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap is bonded to the upper and lower end portions of the sidewall of the containment bag. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member or the strap is at least partially bonded to the sidewall of the containment bag along a majority of a length of the reinforcing member or the strap. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement member or the strap is comprised of plastics, metal, natural fiber, composites, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the containment bag is comprised of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) laminated polyester. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 . further comprising a mesh reinforcement positioned within the containment bag. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the mesh reinforcement includes permeable outer and inner wall surfaces, and wherein the assembly further includes an additional reinforcement member which encompasses at least one of the outer and inner wall surfaces of the mesh reinforcement. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flattened major surface includes a surface profile arranged to vary a coefficient of friction between the reinforcing member or the strap and the sidewall. 
     
     
         21 . A load-bearing support comprising:
 a containment bag filled with a load-bearing material, the containment bag including:
 an upper end portion; 
 a lower end portion; and 
 a sidewall extending between the upper and lower end portions, the sidewall being configured for surrounding the load-bearing material within the containment bag to contain the load-bearing material therein; and 
 a reinforcing member extending along the sidewall for constraining the load-bearing material within the containment bag during application of a service load to the load-bearing support, the reinforcing member including a flattened major surface for contact with the sidewall during application of the service load. 
   
     
     
         22 . A method for forming a load-bearing support, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a containment bag to be filled with a load-bearing material, the containment bag including:
 an upper end portion; 
 a lower end portion; and 
 a sidewall extending between the upper and lower end portions, the sidewall being configured for surrounding the load-bearing material within the containment bag to contain the load-bearing material therein; 
   positioning a reinforcing member along the sidewall, the reinforcing member including a flattened major surface arranged for contact with the sidewall when a service load is applied to the load-bearing support; and   filling the containment bag with the load-bearing material such that the reinforcing member constrains the load-bearing material within the containment bag when the service load is applied to the load-bearing support.