Apparatus for retaining flowable solid materials

Abstract

An apparatus for receiving and retaining the contents of a bagged flowable solid, such as cement, sand, gravel, soil, compost or chip bark. The apparatus comprises a base 34 bordered by side walls 20, and an end wall 16, a dividing member 24 substantially midway between the side walls to define two separate compartments 28 open at one end. The dividing member includes an upper edge 26 for supporting the bag of flowable solid, where cutting the bag along the area supported by the dividing member causes the separated sections of the bag and contents to locate within the compartments. The dividing member 24 may be triangular in cross section, where a narrow ridge 26 is defined at the top of the dividing member, the ridge may comprise a cutting tool. The floor 18 of each compartment 28 may be inclined toward the side wall 20.

Description

5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for enabling bags of flowable solid materials such as cement, sand, gravel, topsoil, compost, chip bark and the like to be divided into discrete opened sections without undue loss of the bagged contents. 10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION When opening a bag of a flowable solid material such as cement it is often the case that a quantity of the material is lost through spillage and / or mishandling. Indeed, because of the weight and 15 shape of, for example, a cement bag, it is extremely difficult not to lose a significant amount of the contents during the opening process. The present invention sets out to provide apparatus designed to eliminate or at least minimise such losses. 20 STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, there is provided apparatus for receiving and retaining the contents of bagged flowable solid materials, the apparatus comprising a base bordered by upstanding side walls and 25 an end wall, the base raised of the ground by feet, an upstanding dividing member positioned substantially midway between and generally co-extensive with said side walls to define with the side walls and end wall two separate compartments open at one side end, the dividing member including an upper edge on which a bag of flowable material can be supported in use with the two sides or ends of the bag overlapping the edge and extending downwardly one into each of the two 30 said separate compartments, wherein each side wall has a lower section whose inner surface is inclined upwardly from the base, and wherein each compartment has a flat floor that is inclined upwardly towards its respective side wall, the arrangement being such that cutting the bag during use along the area supported by the edge causes the divided cut sections of the bag to locate one within each of the two compartments defined between the dividing member and the respective side 35 wall of the apparatus. The dividing member is preferably generally triangular in cross section with the top of the member defining the apex of the triangle. 26 07 24 Each of the side walls may include a generally vertical lower section and an outwardly extending upper section. An outwardly extending lip may be provided along the upper edge of one or each side wall. 5 The top of the dividing member may be shaped to define a narrow ridge for ease of cutting a bag supported by the ridge of the dividing member. The ridge surface may be flat or curvilinear. 10 Alternatively, the rim surface of the dividing member may comprise or include a lengthwise extending upstanding cutting tool. The floor of each side section may be inclined upwardly towards the respective side wall. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:- 20 Figure 1 is isomeric view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is an end cross section view of the apparatus of figure 1. 25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The illustrated apparatus comprises a generally rectangular open-topped container or vessel 10 which comprises a base 12, a pair of opposed upstanding side walls 14 and a rear wall 16. 30 The fourth side of the container is open. Each side wall 14 has a lower section 18 whose inner surface is inclined upwardly from the base 12, a middle section 20 extending generally vertically from the lower section 18 and an upper section 22 forming an outwardly curved radius. Positioned between the two side walls 14 is a generally centrally located dividing wall structure 24. 35 The dividing structure 24 has the general form of a prism having inclined side walls extending from the base 12 and forming a relatively narrow flattened ridge 26 at their juncture which extends lengthwise along the entire length of the dividing wall structure 24. 26 07 24 The opposed surfaces of the side walls 14 and the dividing structure 24 define, with the rear wall 16, a pair of channels 28 which are open at one end. The height of the ridge 26 above the base 12 is less than that of the sides of the container 10. 5 Alternatively, these heights may be the same or the height of the ridge 26 may be greater than the heights of the container side walls 14. Corner structures 30 formed in the moulding of the container 10 provide pockets for retaining tools including, for example, a cutting blade for opening bags of flowable material. 10 The container 10 is raised off the ground by a foot 32 in each corner. The front of the base 12 has a downwardly extending support flange 34 to provide stability to the container 10, particularly if several containers are stacked for storage. 15 Further support flanges or bridges (not shown) may be provided on the underside of the container 10 to provide strength to the side walls of the dividing structure 24. The container 10 may be constructed from a wide variety of materials, these including fiberglass, plastics, metal or even treated wood. A preferred material is 2mm to 10mm UV resistant plastics 20 material, preferably recycled. In use, a bag of flowable solid material such as cement is laid lengthwise or width-wise over the ridge 26 so that each side or end of the bag folds downwardly away from the ridge 26 and towards the base 12 with consequent movement of the bag contents towards the folded sides of the bag. 25 The bag is then cut along the line of the ridge 26 to cause each bag side or end and its contents to fall downwardly into the respective channel. In this way, losses of the bag contents are eliminated or, at least, minimised. The open front of each channel allows easy un-obstructed access to the bag part and contents in each channel such that the bag part and its contents does not need to be moved or re-positioned avoiding any subsequent risk of spillage. 30 Once loaded, the apparatus can readily be employed to carry the opened bag from one location to another, or to store the opened bag for future use. In the latter case a lid may be provided to fit over the container 10. 35   The rear wall 16 may be extendible to allow for bags of larger dimension. In such circumstance the container 10 may have a separate section located centrally and having sleeves into which the two channel sections can fit and slide within. It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. 5 10 15 26 07 24 20 25 30 35

Claims

1. Apparatus for receiving and retaining the contents of bagged flowable solid materials, the apparatus comprising a base bordered by upstanding side walls and an end wall, the base5           raised off the ground by feet, an upstanding dividing member positioned substantiallymidway between and generally co-extensive with said side walls to define with the side walls and end wall two separate compartments open at one side end, the dividing member including an upper edge on which a bag of flowable material can be supported in use with the two sides or ends of the bag overlapping the upper edge and extending downwardly10          one into each of the two said separate compartments, wherein each side wall has a lowersection whose inner surface is inclined upwardly from the base, and wherein each compartment having a flat floor which is inclined upwardly towards its respective side wall the arrangement being such that cutting the bag along the area supported by the dividing member during use causes the divided cut sections of the bag and contents to locate one15          within each of the two compartments defined between the dividing member and therespective side wall of the apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support structure is generally triangular in cross section with the top of the dividing member defining the apex of the triangle.

203. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the top of the dividing member is shaped to define a narrow ridge for ease of cutting the bag supported by the rim of the dividing member.25       4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the ridge includes a lengthwiseextending upstanding cutting tool.

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