초록 ▼

A sealable, collapsible storage module for storing and shipping matter such as grain and plastic resins is disclosed. The module includes a body having a bottom portion and a flexible, collapsible upper portion. The flexible, collapsible upper portion is sealed to the bottom portion to define a seal

A sealable, collapsible storage module for storing and shipping matter such as grain and plastic resins is disclosed. The module includes a body having a bottom portion and a flexible, collapsible upper portion. The flexible, collapsible upper portion is sealed to the bottom portion to define a sealable storage chamber for storing matter. The body also defines at least one sealable port in communication with the storage chamber through which matter is conveyed. The module also includes a plurality of internal support lines extending across the inside of the storage chamber wherein each support line is attached at its ends to opposing sides of the upper body portion. The plurality of support lines provides internal support for the upper portion to prevent it from rupturing when it is filled with matter such as grain.

대표청구항 ▼

A sealable collapsible storage module comprising: a body having a rigid bottom portion and a collapsible upper portion, said collapsible upper portion being made from a sheet of flexible material, said upper portion also being sealably attached to said bottom portion so as to define a sealable stora

A sealable collapsible storage module comprising: a body having a rigid bottom portion and a collapsible upper portion, said collapsible upper portion being made from a sheet of flexible material, said upper portion also being sealably attached to said bottom portion so as to define a sealable storage chamber for storing of matter, said body also defining at least one sealable port in communication with said storage chamber through which said matter is conveyable, said sheet of flexible material being sufficiently flexible to enable said collapsible upper portion to collapse under the action of gravity when said port is vented to ambient atmosphere; and a plurality of generally horizontally disposed internal support lines extending across said internal chamber wherein each support line has opposite ends which are attached to opposing surfaces of said flexible upper portion, said plurality of support lines providing internal support for said flexible upper portion to prevent said upper portion from rupturing when said storage chamber of said body is filled with matter. A method for storing matter comprising the steps of: providing a sealable, collapsible storage module having a collapsible body defining a storage chamber for storing matter, said body being made from a sheet of flexible material, said body also defining at least one sealable port in communication with the storage chamber, said sheet of flexible material being sufficiently flexible to enable said body to collapse under the action of gravity when said port is vented to ambient atmosphere, said module also including generally horizontally disposed internal support means for preventing said body from rupturing when said storage chamber of said body is filled with matter; raising the collapsible body so that matter can be fed into said storage chamber; filling said storage chamber with matter by feeding matter into said storage chamber through said sealable port; evacuating air from said storage chamber so that pressure within said chamber is negative with respect to ambient pressure; pressurizing said storage chamber with a desired gaseous atmosphere until the pressure within said chamber is positive with respect to ambient pressure; and sealing said body to maintain the matter stored in said chamber under the positively pressurized gaseous atmosphere.