COVER

Abstract

A cover for bundling product. The product in a preferred embodiment is cotton; however, it could be any type of fibrous material such as wool, hemp or the like. The cover includes a substantially rectangular body of sheet material having a pair of longitudinally extending sides located between transversely extending ends. The body has an inner surface intended in use to lie adjacent product, as well as an outer surface. At least one securing means is located adjacent one end and at least one complementary locking means is located adjacent the other end on the outer surface of the body of the cover.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application No. 2012100456, filed on Apr. 5, 2012, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cover to bundle product. In particular, the cover is adapted to bundle fibrous material like cotton, wool, hemp or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Using the cotton industry as an example, cotton is firstly picked by a picker, the picker then loads the picked cotton into a module maker or baler. After several loads are collected the cotton is compressed into a cotton module. The module is essentially a layered bale of highly compressed cotton. A cotton module is approximately 2.5 meters (m) (about 8.2 feet (ft.)) wide, 10 to 12.2 meters (about 32.8 ft. to about 40.0 ft.) long and 2.5 meters (about 8.2 ft.) high. The module is then placed on the ground and the process starts again. Depending upon the size of the property one might expect to find 30 to 50 cotton modules stacked on a property after picking. These modules are later taken to a cotton gin for ginning. Ginning involves separating the fibres of cotton from the seeds. The modules are typically stored in the open while waiting ginning. It usually takes several months for all cotton modules to be processed at a gin.

In an attempt to protect the picked cotton from contaminants, moisture and degradation over time, the picker typically covers the module in a thin plastic surface wrap. The wrapping being removed prior to ginning.

To expedite the cotton picking process, new cotton picking machines pick rows of cotton, compresses the cotton into a large round cylindrical bale (approximately 2.4 m (about 7.87 ft. in diameter by 2.4 m wide) and simultaneously wrap the round cotton bale in the thin plastic wrap all by way of the same machine. The whole procedure is effected in the one operation. The resultant modules are then stacked side by side at the end of the rows of the field on the ground.

When the modules are deposited on the ground, the plastic wrap can develop cracks either through the impact when the cotton module hits the ground or there may be stones, stalks or the like protruding up from the ground which causes the plastic wrap to fracture and split. Further, the tension created during the wrapping process can be incorrect also fracturing the wrapped module. Still further, such wrapping machines tend to corkscrew the plastic wrap unevenly wrapping the module and providing further opportunities for fracturing of the wrapping.

Each module weighs approximately 2 tonnes (2.2 short tons). In Australia, there are probably about 200,000 round modules picked in a cotton season.

Another problem with existing cotton picking processes is that the wrapped modules are often lifted onto a truck or the like by way of a forklift or the like. The prongs of the forklift are typically driven into the end of the module (which is typically open) and placed on the truck for transportation to the gin. If there is a crack or fracture in the plastic wrap when the module is lifted, the weight of the module under gravity begins to split the plastic wrap even more and the module and wrap begin to disintegrate. This is a problem when a truck is transporting the module to the cotton gin as it is typically many kilometres away. Similarly, when the module is unloaded at the cotton gin, the module may be split by the forklift unloading the module.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a cover for bundling product, said cover including a substantially rectangular body of sheet material, said body having: a pair of longitudinally extending sides located between transversely extending ends; an inner surface of said body intended in use to lie adjacent said product and an outer surface; at least one securing means and at least one complimentary locking means located on said outer surface of said body; said securing and locking means operatively associated with each other so that in use said securing means is adapted to engage said locking means to move said ends of said body into an overlapping relationship so that said body substantially bundles said product.

In another embodiment, the cover of the present invention may also include a plurality of securing means and a plurality of corresponding locking means; said securing means including one or more elongate straps.

In yet another embodiment of said cover, said ends form a circumference when brought into an overlapping relationship, said sides including one or more tensioning means to alter the size of the circumference of said ends about said product.

In another embodiment, said product is cotton.

In still another embodiment, said cover may also include cap means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a first view of a cover of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a second view of a cover of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the cover of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is another detailed view of the cover of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is another detailed view of a cover of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is another detailed view of a cover of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a cover of the present invention in use; and

FIG. 8 is a side view of a cover of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is schematically depicted in the drawings, a cover 1 for bundling product 2. The product 2 in a preferred embodiment is cotton however could be any type of material such as wool, hemp or the like. The cover 1 includes a substantially rectangular body 3 of sheet material having a pair of longitudinally extending sides 4 and 5 located between transversely extending ends 6 and 7. The body 3 has an inner surface 10 intended in use to lie adjacent product 2 and an outer surface 11. At least one securing means 12 is located adjacent one end 7 and at least one complementary locking or hooking means 13 is located adjacent the other end 6 on the outer surface 11 of the body 3. The securing means 12 and locking 13 could however be located on the inner surface 10 of the body 3; the sides 4, 5; ends 6, 7 or a combination. The securing and locking means 12, 13 are operatively associated with each other so that in use the securing means 12 is adapted to engage the locking means 13 to move the ends 6, 7 of the body 3 into an overlapping relationship so that the body 3 substantially bundles the product 2. That is, the body 3 would form a circle (or a substantially similar shape) about the product 2 with the ends 6, 7 substantially adjacent each other. In a preferred form, the cover 1 includes a plurality of securing means 12 and a plurality of corresponding locking means 13. The securing means 12 include one or more straps 15. The straps 15 have at least a portion preferably attached to the outer surface 11 of the body 3. They could however be loose or free. The straps 15 are adapted in use to lock or hook into locking or hooking means 13. The locking means 13 can be in any typical form such as clips, ratchets, hooks, press studs, buckles 17, loops 17′, ties or the like. For example, the strap 15 could loop through locking means 13 and lock with tension means 20. That is, the securing means 12 can also include devices 18 to tension the straps 15 if required. For example, a typical truckie tension strap, hook and buckle assembly or the like, could be used. In a preferred form at least one of the sides 4, 5 includes one or more tension means 20 which can be pulled tight like a pair of laces on a shoe to alter the circumference of the ends 4, 5 about the product 2 in use (best seen in FIG. 7). As seen in FIG. 4 the tension means 20 can include a lock or tensioner 31. As seen in FIG. 7, the circular cross section of the resultant module would be shrunk in size at the open ends 30. To assist with the reduction in the circumference, the body 3 can include one or more cut-outs 22.

As seen in FIG. 7, the operation of the cover 1 forming a module may leave ends 30 open where product 2 can fall out. Accordingly, a cap (not shown) could be included to cover those ends 30. In a preferred form, the cover 1 would be approximately 8.5 meters (about 27.89 ft.) in length by about 3 meters (about 9.84 ft.) wide. It should be noted that any length could be used or several covers 1 could be used or a combination of covers 1 or caps. The straps 15 could be welded, stitched, glued or the like to the body 3 and different configurations could be used. The body 3 could be manufactured of any type of plastic material such as plastic, PVC, polyurethane, polyethylene or the like.

Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, a large cover 1 made out of polyester PVC coating is used containing a number of straps 15 to cover a module of product 2 (e.g., cotton). The size of the cover 1 is 3 meters (about 9.84 ft.) by 8.5 meters (about 27.89 ft.) with a series of 5 reinforced straps 15. As the fracturing of existing plastic coverings is usually not detected until such time as a forklift picks up the cotton module, the cover 1 of the present invention can also be placed over and/or under an existing wrapped module and tightened securely by way of the straps 15. An overhang of about 300 millimeters (about 11.8 inches) on either end 6, 7 can be made to pull tight so that the integrity of the module is kept intact and ultimately transported securely for processing at the cotton gin. The cover 1 can also include reinforcing bands (not shown) to provide support for the cover 1. In these ways, as well as others that have been described herein, the present invention may substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific non-limiting examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. Thus, it is anticipated that suitable modifications can be made thereto which will nonetheless remain within the scope of the invention. The invention shall therefore only be construed in accordance with the following claims:

Claims

1. A cover for bundling product, said cover including a substantially rectangular body of sheet material, said body having:

a pair of longitudinally extending sides located between transversely extending ends;

an inner surface of said body intended in use to lie adjacent said product and an outer surface;

at least one securing means and at least one complementary locking means located on said outer surface of said body;

said securing and locking means operatively associated with each other so that in use said securing means is adapted to engage said locking means to move said ends of said body into an overlapping relationship so that said body substantially bundles said product.

2. The cover according to claim 1, including a plurality of securing means and a plurality of corresponding locking means, and wherein said securing means includes one or more elongate straps.

3. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said ends form a circumference when brought into an overlapping relationship and said sides include one or more tensioning means to alter a circumference of said ends about said product.

4. The cover according to claim 3, including at least one cut-out, said cut-out facilitating a reduction in the circumference.

5. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said product is cotton.

6. The cover according to claim 1, including cap means associated with said sheet material in use to seal off said ends.

7. The cover according to claim 6, wherein said ends from a circumference when brought into the overlapping relationship and wherein said cap means overlap said circumference.

8. The cover according to claim 1, wherein said sides include at least one cut-out.

9. A method for bundling a product module, including:

providing a cover, said cover including a sheet material body having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a pair of sides and a pair of ends, said exterior surface being equipped with at least one securing means including straps and at least one locking means adapted to be engaged with one another;

encircling said product module with said body so that said interior surface is adjacent to said product module; and

causing said straps to operatively engage said locking means thereby causing the ends to overlap one another forming a circumference, securing said cover around the product module.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein said securing means includes a tension means and further including using said straps and said tension means to reduce said circumference.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said ends include at least one cut-out and wherein said using said straps and said tension means includes causing the at least one cut-out to aid in the reduction.

12. The method according to claim 9, including wrapping said product module before encircling said product module with said body.

13. The method according to claim 9, including capping the product module after securing said cover around the product module.

14. A cover system for covering a product module, including:

a cover, said cover including a substantially rectangular body of sheet material, said body having a pair of longitudinally extending sides located between transversely extending ends, an inner surface configured to lie adjacent said product module and an outer surface;

at least one securing means having elongate straps and at least one complementary locking means affixed to said outer surface of said body;

said securing and locking means operatively associated with one another so that in use said securing means is adapted to engage said locking means to move said ends of said body into an overlapping relationship so that said body substantially bundles said product.

15. The cover system according to claim 14, wherein said sides include at least one cut-out.

16. The cover system according to claim 15, further including tensioning means operatively associated with said securing means and wherein said ends form a circumference when brought into the overlapping relationship and said at least one cut-out and said tensioning means are adapted to reduce the circumference when tensioning means are tightened.