US 11,932,481 B2
End-closure for a flexible tank
Roger G. Goose, Horseshoe Bay, TX (US); and Douglas B. Postek, Katy, TX (US)
Assigned to Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation, Danbury, CT (US)
Filed by Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation, Danbury, CT (US)
Filed on Oct. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/962,934.
Application 17/962,934 is a continuation of application No. 17/114,036, filed on Dec. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,465,831, issued on Oct. 11, 2022.
Application 17/114,036 is a continuation of application No. 16/177,121, filed on Oct. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,858,178, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/579,612, filed on Oct. 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0108582 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 88/16 (2006.01); B65D 88/22 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 88/1618 (2013.01) [B65D 88/16 (2013.01); B65D 88/1656 (2013.01); B65D 88/1668 (2013.01); B65D 88/22 (2013.01); B65D 2590/0066 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flexible tank for transporting bulk liquids or semi-liquid materials, comprising:
an interior tank made of a flexible water-proof polymeric material, said interior tank being generally rectangular in shape with a width of at least one end of the interior tank being less than the length of the interior tank, the interior tank enclosing within it the bulk liquid or semi-liquid materials being transported;
a first exterior layer made of a flexible polymeric material in a generally rectangular shape, the first exterior layer having longitudinal sides and a first end in a widthwise direction;
a second exterior layer made of a flexible polymeric material in a shape and size substantially similar to the first exterior layer, the second exterior layer having longitudinal sides and a first end in the widthwise direction of the second exterior layer, the longitudinal sides of the first and second exterior layers being connected to form an open ended tube, the first end of the second exterior layer being matched up with the first end of the first exterior layer;
an end closure connecting the first ends of the first and second exterior layers to each other, the end closure not being watertight; and
an end flap, a first end of the end flap is attached to the inside of one of the first and second exterior layers, the length of the end flap being greater than the distance from its point of attachment to the first end of the open ended tube, the interior tank being constrained within the first and second exterior layers by the end flap such that, when the inner tank is filled, the inner tank expands pushing against the end flap and against the end closure connecting the first and second exterior layers to each other, and the end flap provides protection against leakage with additional strength provided by the end closure connecting the first ends of the first and second exterior layers.