Adjustable pallet wrap

Abstract

A wrap for goods on a pallet secures the goods for transport or storage, while being reusable and easily installed and removed. The wrap is composed of a web portion that is wrapped around the goods on the pallet and secured to itself and the pallet. The web is tensioned to provide further support to the goods on the pallet. A strap is threaded through a top portion of the web and tensioned like a drawstring to provide further support for the goods on the top of the pallet. The wrap provides for a safe handling of goods on pallets, while permitting fast and simple access to items on the pallet to permit withdrawal of one or more goods on the pallet and resecuring the wrap to take up any additional slack.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/310,935, filed Aug. 8, 2001, entitled ADJUSTABLE PALLET WRAP, to which a claim of priority is hereby made.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Pallets have long been used as a support device for loads of merchandise that can be organized in discrete bundles for storage in a warehouse. The use of pallets is ubiquitous in any type of warehousing, storage, transport or retail industry. The pallet sized bundle of merchandise lends itself to being stored with typical forklift machines in warehouses that have sized compartment bays for accepting pallet sized bundles. Typically, the merchandise is stacked on the pallet, and transported or stored, using the pallet as the support device during transport or storage.

[0003] A problem that constantly occurs with the use of pallets and bundles of merchandise stored thereon, is tipping or spillage of the merchandise in storage or transport operations. For example, pallets loaded with merchandise are typically elevated to heights that can range to a number of building stories, and subjected to vibration or jostling during the operations of committing the pallet to storage or removing it therefrom. In addition, due to the various circumstances surrounding shipping of materials on pallets, it is frequently the case that loads can be shifted or spilled during transport.

[0004] The type of situation described above can be highly dangerous to warehouse and shipping personnel, especially when dangerous or heavy merchandise is involved. It is therefore desirable to enclose the merchandise on the pallet in some fashion to prevent a change in load characteristics that can lead to spilled materials in dangerous situations.

[0005] One method for maintaining the position of merchandise on a pallet involves the use of shrink wrap materials that are wound around the pallet materials while being tensioned to draw the materials together in a fixed position that is maintained by the tension on the shrink wrap. However, there are several drawbacks to this approach, including the ability to remove a single item from the pallet without having to readjust the load or reapply shrink wrap. Typical shrink wrap applications are also costly, require large volumes of shrink wrap material that is simply discarded after it is no longer needed, and is therefore also environmentally unfriendly. In addition, it is often very time consuming to place shrink wrap around the merchandise on the pallet in sufficient quantity and position to prevent a shift or loss of pallet load materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention seeks to overcome the drawbacks associated with the prior art by providing an adjustable wrap for a pallet and pallet materials that can be quickly assembled to provide a secure enclosure of pallet materials. The pallet wrap also provides simple mechanisms for easily withdrawing a single item from the pallet materials and quickly and easily reassembling and securing the pallet wrap to prevent shifts or loss of load materials. The pallet wrap is composed of straps attached in a pattern to form a net that can be attached and adjusted to a given load for a pallet. Various adjusting straps are provided that can be connected together through the use of connectors such as buckles, loops or Velcro type fasteners. The pallet wrap design permits fast and simple access to the palleted merchandise from removal of single or multiple items, and also permits the pallet wrap to be closed and readjusted to secure the load, even when changed in shape or size. Web straps are provided on the top portion of the pallet wrap to secure the strap pieces of the net together to enclose the top of the palleted load. The invention provides a simplified design for easily securing a load on a pallet, and is reusable and adjustable in size and shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings with associated reference designators, in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a layout view of a pallet wrap according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows two types of buckles used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a pallet wrap according to the present invention installed around goods on a pallet;

[0011] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a pallet wrap according to the present invention; and

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a pallet wrap according to the embodiment of FIG. 4 installed on a pallet loaded with goods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1, a pallet wrap according to the present invention is illustrated generally as wrap 10. Wrap 10 is composed of straps 11 that are sewn together in a net configuration to provide the majority of the pallet wrap structure. Pallet wrap 10 also includes a flap 17 that overlaps with another end of wrap 10 to form a closed wrap around goods on a pallet. Flap 17 includes smaller woven straps configured to provide smaller apertures in the pallet wrap in the region of flap 17. Pallet wrap 10 is secured to a pallet with straps 12 that encircle all or a portion of the pallet and are secured with buckles 15. Although buckles 15 are illustrated as clamp- or friction-type buckles, any type of strap fasteners can be used to secure straps 12 to the pallet. For example, straps 12 can be replaced with hooks that secure pallet wrap 10 to the pallet.

[0014] When pallet wrap 10 is wrapped around the goods on the pallet, the ends of pallet wrap 10 can be secured using straps 14. The ends of pallet wrap 10 overlap when assembled around the goods on the pallet so that flap 17 is overlaid by the end of pallet wrap 10 that includes straps 14. Straps 14 are threaded through buckles 16 that are in the form of square bracket buckles. Buckles 16 provide adjustability when used in conjunction with straps 14. Once straps 14 are threaded through buckles 16, they can be fastened with buckle fasteners 19. Buckle fasteners 19 can be the same as buckles 15, for example, or other variations can be used, as described above. Straps 14 can be tensioned after being threaded through buckles 16 so that when secured in buckle fasteners 19, pallet wrap 10 is securely wrapped around the goods on the pallet. Strap 20 can then be laced through the openings formed by straps 11 in a top portion of the installed pallet wrap 10 to secure the upper edges of pallet wrap 10 around the goods on the pallet. By lacing strap 20 through the openings formed by straps 11 and tensioning strap 20 around the upper edges of pallet wrap 10, tension can also be applied to the vertical portions of pallet wrap 10. By applying tension to the vertical portions of pallet wrap 10, the goods on the pallet can be secured more tightly, while jostling or tippage of goods at the top of the pallet can be prevented.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, a cam buckle 25 and a frame buckle 26 are illustrated. Cam buckle 25 has an arm 27 that can be pivoted about an axis 29 to provide increased and decreased space between a cam on the buckle. When arm 27 is pivoted to a closed position, the cam is a small space away from the bottom of a body 28 of cam buckle 25. In a closed position, a strap inserted into cam buckle 25 becomes secured through friction induced by the pressure of the cam on the strap and against body 28. When arm 27 is pivoted to an open position, a space between the cam and body 28 is greatly increased, permitting free movement of a strap within cam buckle 25.

[0016] Frame buckle 26 can be used for tensioning and is typically attached on one side to a fixed loop that is secured to pallet wrap 10. An adjustment strap is typically then laced through the opening defined by frame buckle 26 and tensioned in a direction away from the sewn loop securing the one side of frame buckle 26. By permitting a strap to be laced through frame buckle 26 and tensioned in another direction, frame buckle 26 provides an adjustment for straps used to secure pallet wrap 10.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, pallet wrap 10 is illustrated as installed on a pallet 30. Pallet wrap 10 surrounds goods loaded onto pallet 30 to prevent the goods from being jostled or moved when stored or shipped. Buckles 16 and 19 are shown being used in conjunction to provide an adjustable tensioning feature for pallet wrap 10. Strap 20 is illustrated as threaded through various openings in the net formed by pallet wrap 10 to cover the top portion of the goods and pallet 30. Strap 20 can be tensioned to draw up the vertical sides of pallet wrap 10 to increase the security of the goods on pallet 30.

[0018] Buckles 19 that secure pallet wrap 10 around the goods on pallet 30 can be loosened near a top portion of pallet wrap 10 to provide access to one or more containers of goods. In addition, strap 20 can also be loosened to permit easy access to one or more items stacked on pallet 30. Both strap 20 and the strap secured by buckles 19 can be readjusted and retensioned to secure pallet wrap 10 around the goods on pallet 30 after the selected items have been removed from pallet 30.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention is shown generally as pallet wrap 40. Pallet wrap 40 includes two main straps 44 that provide lateral structural support for pallet wrap 40 that add additional support to the goods wrapped by pallet warp 40. Hooks 45 are attached to a bottom portion of pallet wrap 40 to permit pallet wrap 40 to be secured to a pallet. Straps 48 and buckles 49 are used to cover a top portion of goods secured by pallet wrap 40, and to provide vertical tensioning to pallet wrap 40 when installed on a pallet with loaded goods. Pallet wrap 40 includes a large Velcro section 47 and a mating tab section 46 that are threaded through a large frame buckle structure 42.

[0020] In use, pallet wrap 40 is wrapped around the goods support on a pallet, and tab 46 is threaded through frame buckle structure 42 and tensioned to provide additional lateral support for the goods on the pallet. Tab 46 is a mating Velcro fastener with Velcro strap section 47. Once threaded through frame buckle structure 42, tab 46 is folded back onto Velcro section 47 to secure pallet wrap 40 around the goods loaded on the pallet. Straps 48 and buckles 49 are then secured to each other to complete the attachment of pallet wrap 40 to the pallet while supporting the goods loaded on the pallet. Hooks 45 are secured to the pallet to provide additional lateral and vertical support for tensioning.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 5, pallet wrap 40 is illustrated as secured around goods loaded on pallet 30. Tab 46 is threaded through frame buckle structure 42 and secured to Velcro strips 47. This embodiment of pallet wrap 40 permits quick installation and removal of pallet wrap 40, while providing secure storage of the goods on pallet 30, and permits single items to be removed easily.

[0022] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for securing goods on a pallet, comprising:

a support portion that is flexible and capable of being tensioned for covering and securing goods on the pallet;

a first fastening member on a side portion of the support portion for securing the support portion around goods on the pallet; and

a second fastening member cooperating with the first fastening member on another side of the support portion and positioned to interact with the first fastening member when the support portion is placed around goods on the pallet, such that the goods are releasably secured on the pallet.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a third fastening member on a lower portion of the support member for releasably securing the support member to the pallet.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a threading member affixed to a top portion of the support portion and releasably coupled to the support portion when the support portion is installed to secure goods to the pallet.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the threading member is releasably coupled to the support portion and provides tension through the releasable coupling to the support portion to provide further support for the goods on the pallet.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising tensioning members cooperating with the first and second fastening members to introduce tension to the support portion to further support the goods on the pallet.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening members comprise buckles and straps thread threaded therethrough, respectively.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening member is a velcro strap securable to itself and the second fastening member is a ring for receiving the velcro strap.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the third fastening member is comprised of cam buckles and straps threaded therethrough.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the straps are directed away from the buckles to permit a force applied to the straps to increase tension on the support portion.

10. A device for supporting goods on a pallet, comprising:

a support portion being flexible to permit the support portion to be wrapped around the goods on the pallet and having a height dimension when wrapped around the goods on the pallet;

a fastening element coupled to the support portion and extending in a direction along the height dimension;

a tab on the support portion and being threadable through the fastening element and secured away from the fastening element to permit tension to be applied to the support portion by securing the tab away from the buckle element; and

a fastening member on a top portion of the support portion for tensioning the top portion of the support portion to provide support for the goods on the pallet.

11. The device according to claim 10, further comprising pallet fasteners on a bottom portion of the support portion for releasably attaching the support portion to the pallet.

12. A method for securing goods on a pallet, comprising:

surrounding a vertical portion of the goods with a support member;

releasably securing a bottom portion of the support member to the pallet;

tensioning the support member to provide further support for the goods on the pallet; and

maintaining tension on the support member to provide support for the goods on the pallet.