Nattrass-hickey and Sons Limited

Bowater Packaging Limited

Frank Nattrass

Geoffrey Page

A flexible bulk container comprises a side wall structure having an outer wall (10) and an inner wall (11) lying within and closely adjacent to the outer wall. A base closes a lower open end of the side wall structure. A plurality of lifting loops are provided at the upper end of the side wall structure, each lifting loop having a first end that is connected to or integral with the outer wall (10) and a second end that is connected to or integral with the inner wall (11).

Bulk containers

A flexible bulk container has a side wall structure 1 formed from a length of tubular woven fabric comprising a base fabric and a plurality of parallel reinforcing bands such as 2 to 5 integrally woven with the base fabric and extending parallel to the tube axis. A bottom 26 is stitched to the side wall structure at one end of the fabric length and a top wall structure 24 may be secured at the other end of the fabric length. The container has a plurality of lifting loops 20 to 23 at the top end of the fabric length, each lifting loop being formed by cutting back a portion of the base fabric alongside each of two adjacent reinforcing bands (e.g. 3 and 4) to leave parts of the bands projecting from the base fabric, and securing together the free ends of the projecting parts to form the loop (e.g. 20). One of the projecting parts may be twisted through 180.degree. before the free ends are joined together.

An intermediate bulk container comprises an outer envelope (1 to 6) formed of flexible woven material and having seams (11 to 14). An impervious liner (20) of flexible material is contained within the outer envelope. The liner has tab means (27) lying outside the volume defined within the liner and secured, for example by stitching into a respective seam of the outer envelope. By appropriate location of the tab means on the liner the liner may be securely located within the outer envelope and prevented from distortion relative to the outer envelope.

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Harrogate, United Kingdom

Frank Nattrass