THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus or devices for, or methods of, packaging articles or materials. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for securing a load to a platform.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is common knowledge that wooden or plastic pallets are used in industry to carry a variety of loads.

Pallet loading commonly involves tightly wrapping a load or freight on a pallet with elastic plastic sheeting. The relative low density of the plastic sheeting facilitates covering of the materials to be packaged on the pallet. However, because of the low density of the plastic sheeting, multiple layers are required to be wrapped around materials to be packaged to prevent them from dislodgment from the pallet.

Upon opening of the load, after transporting it on the pallet, multiple lengths of plastics sheeting need to be removed and discarded. This results in tons of plastic either ending up in recycling plants where volatile organic compounds are released to the atmosphere and melting processes generate carbon emissions; or in landfills, which if improperly managed can leak plastics to the environment since the plastic sheeting is not readily biodegradable. In fact, it may take several years for it to decompose and to be to be reabsorbed into the atmosphere. The plastic sheeting, if not properly discarded, can block waterways, stuff up forests, and impact many other ecosystems worldwide.

Reducing pollution from plastics will require action, and international co-operation, to reduce plastic production, including through innovation, better product design and developing environmentally friendly alternatives. This invention, as described from here onwards, is believed to address these and other difficulties associated with existing wrapping apparatus and devices for securing loads onto platforms, trucks, cargo carrying trains and the like.

In this specification, the following words have the meanings as provided below:

"materials" includes matter, or masses of articles, which are to be packaged, as distinct from separate or individual articles; and

"freight" includes goods, cargo, or lading transported for pay, whether by water, land, or air; and

“sock” comprises a re-usable covering for a load or freight on a platform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a reusable freight sock for fitting over and securing a load (L) on a load carrying platform in similar fashion as a stocking would fit a leg, the reusable freight sock comprising: at least one length of fabric sheeting or netting, foldable to define a reusable bag with an internal volume (iv), the fabric sheeting or netting being characterised by being displaceable between a collapsed condition wherein said internal volume equals or approaches zero and an expanded condition wherein said internal volume (iv) resembles a volume (v) of the load (L) positioned on said platform; and opening means to permit selective access to, or closure of, said internal volume to operatively reach, or close off, the load (L) on the platform.

In an embodiment of the invention, (v) changes to (^v), (v), (nv), with n representing any volume size about two to about five times larger than (v.)

In an embodiment of the invention, the fabric sheeting or netting may be integrally formed with at least one arrestor for positioning over or around the load (L) either before or after the freight sock is disposed over the load (L) for catching and holding the load (L) in a stable position atop the platform. The at least one arrestor may be provided on an inside surface of the freight sock or on its outside surface. Alternatively, the at least one arrestor may be separate from the freight sock, but securable thereto.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fabric sheeting or netting may be springy to thereby take a variety of shapes when same is utilised to secure loads of varying shapes and configurations onto said platform.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fabric sheeting or netting may be re-usable to permit multiple loads of varying shapes and configurations to be secured with the same fabric sheeting or netting onto said platform. The fabric sheeting or netting may comprise a compound comprising polymeric plasticizers such as low molecular weight polymers, e.g. liquid polychloroprene; in particular, petroleum-based polychloroprene or limestonebased polychloroprene. It is further envisaged that the fabric sheeting or netting may be selected from said reusable fabric sheeting or netting is selected from any one or more of the group consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, netwrap, canvas, ventilated mesh, polyester, cotton, spandex, viscose, opaque vinyl, polyester coated with polyurethane, and polyvinylchloride

In an embodiment of the invention, the opening means may comprise a discontinuity in the at least one length of fabric sheeting or netting. Alternatively, the opening means may comprise a hook-and-loop fastener or slide fastener. At least one arrestor, typically but not necessarily in the form of a tie-down may be provided to operatively extend over and around the fabric sheeting or netting and load on the platform to improve securement of same to the platform.

In an embodiment of the invention, the platform may comprise a wooden or plastic pallet. Alternatively, the platform may be selected from a shipping container floor, train wagon floor, truck floor, and airplane floor.

In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one length of fabric sheeting or netting may comprise opening means in the form of a drawstring. The drawstring may extend through a hem formed in the fabric sheeting or netting. The hem may extend along, or partially along, a perimeter of the fabric sheeting or netting so that said internal volume (iv) can be reduced upon drawing of ends of said drawstring closer together.

The invention may extend to a method of securing a load to a platform, the method comprising the steps of: providing a freight sock, with at least one length of fabric sheeting or netting folded and closed to define a bag with an internal volume (iv), as hereinabove described; when said freight sock is in its collapsed condition, actuating said opening means to permit selective access to an internal volume of the freight sock; positioning said freight sock over a load (L) on said platform to thereby ensure that springy characteristics of said fabric sheeting or netting allow the freight sock (iv) to resemble the load volume (v); and closing said opening means to enclose the load; and optionally fastening one or more arrestors or tie-downs around said load covered with said freight sock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying non-limiting diagrammatic figures. In the figures:

Figure 1 shows a ubiquitous industrial pallet with multiple boxes positioned thereon and stacked atop one another to define a pallet load (L);

Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of a reusable freight sock when in expanded operational condition covering the load (L) of Figure 1 , according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows front perspective view of a lower corner portion of the freight sock of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows front perspective view of an upper portion of the freight sock of Figure 2;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the freight sock of Figure 2 when in the expanded operational condition;

Figure 6 shows a rear view of the freight sock of Figure 2 when in the expanded operational condition;

Figures 7a-c show three respective front views of the reusable freight sock of Figure 2, depicting its use on varying load sizes (v),(

Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of the freight sock of Figure 2 in an intermediate condition between the collapsed condition and the expanded operational condition during a process of top-to-bottom freight sock covering the load (L);

Figure 9 shows a front perspective view of a further freight sock, according to a second embodiment of the invention, in an intermediate condition between its expanded operational condition and its collapsed condition during a process of bottom-to-top further freight sock covering the load (L); and

Figure 10 shows a front perspective view of a yet further freight sock, according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This description is presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the figures making apparent to those skilled in the art how at least some of the forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Referring to the Figures and, in particular, Figures 2 to 8, reference numeral (10) generally depicts a freight sock according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the freight sock (10) is adapted to secure a load (L), which may for example be multiple boxes (6) stacked atop one another as shown in Figure 1 , on a load carrying platform, typically but not necessarily a pallet (8). The freight (10) consists of two lengths of fabric sheeting or netting (12) folded and stitched along edges to define a bag with an internal volume (iv). Opening means (14) to permit selective access to, or closure of, the internal volume (iv) is provided in the form of a slide fastener such as a zipper as shown in Figure 3.

The fabric sheeting or netting (12) is characterised by being displaceable between a collapsed condition wherein the internal volume (iv) approaches zero (not shown) and an expanded condition wherein said internal volume (iv) resembles a volume (v) of a load (L) positioned on the platform (8).

Referring to Figure 4, a reinforcement insert (16), typically in the form of yams strengthened by laminating, bonding, or quilting may be stitched to an upper portion of the fabric sheeting or netting (12) to assist in preventing heavy loads from being displaced from the platform (8) when the freight sock (10) is used as cover for, and constrainment of, the load (L).

The fabric sheeting or netting (12) is springy and elastic to thereby take a variety of shapes when same is utilised to secure loads of varying shapes, sizes and configurations onto the platform (8).

The freight sock (10) is further reusable to permit multiple load volumes (v), ( v), (|v) (as shown in Figures 7a to 7c) to be secured, covered, and constrained with the same fabric sheeting or netting (12) on the platform (8). In fact, the applicant has tested the internal volume (iv) of the freight sock (10) in different conditions and it may resemble a volume (v) of the load (L) positioned on the platform (8), irrespective of whether (v) changes to ( ), (v), (nv), with n representing any volume size about two to about five times larger than (v). The fabric sheeting or netting (12) typically consists of a compound comprising polymeric plasticizers such as low molecular weight polymers, e.g. polypropylene, liquid polychloroprene. In particular, petroleum-based polychloroprene or limestone-based polychloroprene is anticipated to be used.

Further referring to Figure 4, opening means (14) in the form of a zipper provides a discontinuity in one of the lengths of fabric sheeting or netting (12) and permits quick and easy access to the (iv) and load (L), should it be required. The freight sock (10) in some cases may even function sufficiently without any opening means to the (iv). A hook-and- loop fastener as an alternative to a slide fastener (zipper), as shown in Figure 4, is also anticipated to be used. The opening means (14) may thus be even regarded as an additional strengthening member when operatively extending over and around the fabric sheeting or netting (12) and load on the platform (8) with the result of limiting movement of the load (L) relative to the platform (8) during transport of the load (L).

In Figure 9, a further embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the freight sock (100) is shown. This sock (100) is quite like sock (10) but has openings in its bottom portion to allow feet of the wooden pallet to extend therethrough. This allows the pallet (108) to be first placed within a bottom of the sock (100) and then goods are stacked on top of the pallet (108) until it reaches capacity and then the sock (100) can merely be pulled up from the bottom towards the top of the stacked pallet (108) with load (L) positioned thereon and then closed with the opening means or zipper (114).

In Figure 10, a yet further embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the freight sock (200) has numerous reinforced members (216) of crisscross pattern on its sides and upper portion to withstand radial forces where heavier loads (L), typically more than 1 ton, have to be contained within the freight sock (200). This sock (200) also makes provision for a waybill sleeve one or more sides thereof for locating waybills and associated freight papers.

In the Figures, the platform (8), (108), (208) is a wooden or plastic pallet. It is, however, envisaged that the platform (8), (108), (208) may even be selected from a shipping container floor, train wagon floor, truck floor, and airplane floor in other non-shown embodiments believed to also fall within the ambit of the invention. Opening means in the form of a drawstring (not shown) may also be provided in other non-shown embodiments of the invention. Such drawstring is anticipated to extend through a hem formed in the fabric sheeting or netting. The hem may extend along, or partially along, a perimeter of the fabric sheeting or netting so that the internal volume (iv) can be reduced upon drawing of ends of said drawstring closer together.

In use, the following steps are typically taken to secure a load (L), such as boxes or other cargo, to a platform (8) by way of the freight sock (10):

• a springy reusable freight sock (10), as shown in the Figures and described herein before, is provided with two lengths of fabric sheeting or netting (12) folded together and closed to define a bag with an internal volume (iv), as herein before described;

• when the freight sock (10) is in its collapsed condition, opening means like a zipper (14) is actuated to permit selective access to an internal volume (iv) of the freight sock (10);

• the freight sock (10) is then positioned from top-to-bottom over a load (L), such as stacked boxes, on the platform (8) as shown in Figure 8 to thereby ensure that springy characteristics of the fabric sheeting or netting (12) allow the freight sock (iv) to resemble the load volume (v) and tightly cover same; and

• the opening means (14) is closed to cover the load (L); and optionally

• one or more arrestors or tie-downs (11 ) with a catch (not shown) selected from buckles, D-shaped rings, clasps, clips, ratchets, eyelets, and clamps for fastening of the arrestors (11 ) around the load (L), which load (L) is covered by the freight sock (10). The arrestors (11 ) are typically, but not necessarily strapping or webbing stitched to the inside or outside of the reusable fabric sheeting or netting (12)

It is further envisaged that the fabric sheeting or netting (12), (112), (212) may be selected from a multilayer synthetic rubber composition formed from a layer of a styrene block copolymer composition and a layer of one or more synthetic elastomers, such as polychloroprene, polyisoprene, nitrile rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butyl rubber and polyurethane. Preferably, the fabric sheeting or netting (12), (112), (212) consists of a high percentage of polyester, e.g., between 70% and 100%. The fabric sheeting or netting (12), (112), (212) can alternatively consist of a stretchable fabric having a polyester, cotton, spandex and viscose combination. The fabric sheeting or netting (12), (112), (212) may comprise 75% recycled polyester, 18% viscose, and 7% synthetic elastomers.

The applicant believes that the freight sock (10) of the present invention, at least in part, addresses shortcomings in existing packaging or wrapping options in that it provides adaptability and comfort of use and alleviates problems associated with pollution in allowing for re-use. It further contributes to significant wrapping cost and labour savings.

The invention for which protection is sought is defined in the following claims.