Josephus
Michael
Anthonius
Josephus
Michael
Anthonius
| 1. | Net (1) which, in the unfolded state, has the form of a central part (2) provided at the periphery with a number of flaps, characterised in that the net is constructed of at least two component nets (27) joined to one another, wherein the join between the component nets comprises a strand (18) which is arranged in such a way that a continuous mesh structure is present at the location of the join. |
| 2. | Net according to Claim 1, wherein the ends of the component nets to be joined to one another comprise points (10, 11) of the meshes of said component nets, which are joined horizontally, offset with respect to one another, by the strand (13) in such a way that meshes which correspond to the meshes of the component nets are produced between the strand (13) and the ends, and wherein said strand (13) is joined by knots to each of said points (10, 11). |
| 3. | Net according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said strand (8, 13) has a characteristic which differentiates it from the other material of the component nets. |
| 4. | Net according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one component net comprises at least one flap (3) and another component net comprises at least part of the central part (2). |
| 5. | Net according to one of the preceding claims, wherein means are pro¬ vided, at least at one boundary edge of one component net which has to be joined to the boundary edge of another component net, for joining said first component net to said other component net. |
| 6. | Method for the production of a net which, in the unfolded state, has the form of a central part (2) provided at the periphery with a number of flaps (3), characterised in that at least two component nets are provided, wherein a first component net comprises at least one flap and another com¬ ponent net comprises at least part of the central part, the component nets being fixed to one another along the boundary edges. |
| 7. | Method according to Claim 6, wherein the fixing comprises threading through of a strand. |
| 8. | Method according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein at least one of the compo¬ nent nets is produced by machine. ********. |
The present invention relates to a net according to the preamble of Claim 1. A net of this type is generally known in the prior art. Especially for air freight, articles are placed on, for example, aluminium pallets and held in place with the aid of a net. To this end, the pallet is provided with recesses at the edges, in which recesses fastenings, which are fixed to the four corners of the net, can be anchored. Rubbing against adjacent pallets leads to a relatively short life of the flaps, in particular in the vicinity of the point of fixing to the pallet.
Because nets of this type are fairly expensive - these nets are made, inter alia, of polyethene cord and are made by hand - such nets will be repaired in practice. Nevertheless, at least 100,000 nets per year are used by the various airlines.
Because a net consists of a single thread which has been turned into a network with the aid of knot constructions, it will be understood that it is not easily possible to repair part of the net without this having seri- ous consequences for all of the constructions of the net. An example of the construction of a net described above is found in US Patent 4,000,344.
German Offenlegungsschrift 2,907,683 discloses a net which can be fixed to other nets with the aid of chains. A construction of this type is expen- sive, whilst there is a risk of damage to the load by the chains and it is not guaranteed that there is adequate grip on the load at the location of the chains.
The aim of the present invention is to enable the nets described in US Patent 4 000 344 to be produced more simply and repaired more easily. This aim is achieved in the case of the net described above by the charac¬ terising features in Claim 1.
As a result of the presence of various component nets, it is possible, according to the invention, in the event of damage to one of the component nets to replace only that component net. By constructing the component nets in such a way that said component nets consist of simple, rectangular shapes, the component nets can be produced by machine, as a result of which the production costs can be reduced. By use of the strands it is possible to obtain the mesh structure which does not deviate in an adverse manner
from the other meshes of the component nets and which has all the charac¬ teristics of the component nets. It is an inexpensive solution which will be acceptable to all users immediately because its freight-holding charac¬ teristics are unchanged. On the basis of the shape described above, which consists of a central part with a number of flaps attached to the periphery, a large number of variants is conceivable for the construction of the component nets. The following non-limiting examples are given:
One component net corresponds to the central part, whilst the other component nets correspond to the flaps.
Each component net comprises part of the central part together with a complete flap.
Two identical rectangular component nets are used which are arranged so that they overlap one another. The overlap then forms the central part. A number of component nets is constructed as flaps, whilst one component net comprises both the central part and two opposing flaps adjoining that central part.
Depending on the form, many other variations are also possible. So as to render optimum the fixing of the component nets to one another, end strands are preferably present at the mutually adjoining edges. The component nets can be fixed to one another in a simple manner with the aid of threading of connecting strands. A further possibility is the join between component nets wherein the ends of the component nets to be joined to one another comprise points of the meshes of that component nets, which are joined horizontally, offset with respect to one another, by the strand in such a way that meshes which correspond to the meshes of the component nets are produced between the strand and the ends, and wherein that strand is joined by knots to each of that points.
The strands which join the component nets can have characteristics which differ from those of the other material of the component nets. On the one hand, this makes it possible to provide coding for different airlines or to indicate different purposes for the nets and, on the other hand, this forms an indication of the place where these strands are located. The cargo nets to which the present invention relates are, after all, relatively large and will rarely be able to be spread out flat. It has been found that it is then particularly difficult to differentiate the boundary between various component nets. By giving the strands a different colour (for example throughout or by incorporating an auxiliary strand of different colour) or
a different shape or constructing said strands with some other differenti¬ ating means, these strands can easily be found and the net can be recognised.
The present invention also relates to a method for the production of a net which, in the unfolded state, has the form of a central part provided at the periphery with a number of flaps. According to this method, at least two component nets are provided, wherein a first component net comprises at least one flap and another component net comprises at least part of the central part, wherein the component nets are fixed to one another along the adjoining edges. As indicated above, it is now possible to produce the component nets by machine, which represents an appreciable saving in costs compared with the production of the conventional nets by hand.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of a number of illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows the general construction of a net according to the inven¬ tion, the production in component nets according to a first variant being indicated;
Fig. 2 shows, diagrammatically, the construction of a second variant; Fig. 3 shows, diagrammatically, the construction of a third variant; Fig. 4 shows, diagrammatically, the construction of a fourth variant according to the invention, and
Fig. 5 shows a detail of the further construction of the joint between two component nets according to the invention.
In Fig. 1 the net according to the invention is indicated in its entirety by 1. The shape of a net of this type is generally known from the prior art. It is composed of a central part 2 with a number of flaps 3 adjoining said central part. The free ends of said flaps 3 must be fixed to a pallet. These flaps 3, in particular, are subjected to severe stresses, especially at the free outer edges thereof, and will be the first to fail. According to the invention, it is proposed, in a first embodiment, to construct the central part 2 and the flaps 3 from individual parts and to fix these parts to one another at a boundary by means of an end strand, which is present in both component nets, for example by threading a con¬ necting strand 8. The material from which the nets are constructed can be polyethene cord. An approximately 800 m strand is needed for a net customary for air freight. If threading is effected by a particular method, such as, for example, is disclosed in US Patent 4 000 344, this signifies that a long
length of strand has to be threaded through "itself". With the aid of the invention, the advantage is obtained that the length of the strand from which the net is constructed can be appreciably shortened, for example down to 150 m, as a result of which the production of particular interweaving can be simplified and the production time shortened. If the net according to Fig. 1 is damaged, in particular at one of the flaps 3, the join between the adjacent end strands, by means of connecting strand 8, of component net 3 and central part 2 is simply broken and a new component net 3 is posi¬ tioned against the central part and fixed thereto again in the original manner.
The net is also constructed in this way during production thereof. Fig. 2 shows a further alternative embodiment, wherein each component net comprises a flap and part of the central part. These parts are joined to one another along a diagonal line 9. Fig. 3 shows an embodiment wherein the component nets are all of the same shape. In this case the component nets 7 cross one another so that a strengthened central part is obtained.
Fig. 4 shows an embodiment wherein a component net is of elongated rect¬ angular construction and is indicated by 5, which component net comprises not only both opposing flaps but also the central part. Two component nets 6, which comprise the flaps only, are arranged adjoining said component net 5.
Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the join between two component nets, on an enlarged scale. In contrast to the construction previously shown, the points of the component nets indicated by 10 and 11 are not all joined by means of a boundary strand, after which the boundary strands are threaded through one another; instead said boundary strand is omitted. The component nets are arranged offset with respect to one another and a connecting strand 13 is arranged in such a way that new meshes are formed. Such a connecting strand 13 or 8, as in the previous embodiment, can be of a colour which deviates from that of the other strands making up the net. The shape of said con¬ necting strand can also differ.
It will be understood that many other alternative embodiments fall with- in the scope of the present application.
Fixing of two adjacent component nets does not necessarily have to be effected with the aid of threading. Other methods of fixing, such as by means of clamps or other fastenings, are possible. The material from which
the nets are produced can be any material known from the prior art, such as flame-retardant, woven or made rope or knitted materials. After reading the appended claims, all these embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art.