BE1019548A3 - PROTECTIVE BAG FOR COVERING CONTAINERS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective tarpaulin (1) for a container (40), of predetermined trapezoidal shape, comprising a rectangular flat (2), of predetermined length and width, and longitudinal (3,4) and transverse (3) trapezoidal sides ( 10,11) respectively connected to the ends of the length and the width of the dish, the panels being integral with each other, and which comprise, at the longitudinal (12,13) and transverse (14,15) ends, fixing eyelets ( 34) from the tarpaulin to the container (40) distributed over the length of said ends (12,13,14,15), the tarpaulin (1) comprising longitudinal (16,17) and transverse (18,19) flaps of rectangular shape , secured respectively to the longitudinal (3,4) and transverse (10,11) sides, said flaps (16,17,18,19) comprising retaining eyelets (27) at the respective ends, which are crossed by securing means (28,29,30,31) from the flap to the cooperation means (38) of the container (40).

Description

Tarpaulin for the recovery of containers

The present invention relates to a protective covering element, such as a tarpaulin, placed above a container or a bucket, in particular a marine container, in particular meeting the standards ISO 668 and 1496, and transportable on or by a towing vehicle and by boat.

The covering elements for the transport of goods by container, tipper or trailers of all kinds are known. They are required to protect the goods during the various transports, in particular against bad weather.

The container covers are usually adapted to the shapes and dimensions thereof, so that their surface has a size substantially identical to the surface of the container or the bucket.

In the field of the glass industry, the transport of glass by sea, rail and / or road is of significant importance because of the fragility of the glass material. The evolving needs require the transport of large glass panes, the glasses being rough or coated with different layers of metals and / or metal oxides for various applications. Floating PLF glasses having a size at the output of production of about 4 to 6 m in length and 2 to 4 m in width for a thickness of 3-6 mm.

Usually, the output glass panels are covered with a protective polymer fabric, such as a transparent plastic film, and then placed on each side of easels, obliquely. The easels are then deposited in conventional open top containers (open on their upper part), commercially available, of suitable size, such as maritime type. The disadvantages of such an arrangement lie, on the one hand, in the need to cover the glass sections with plastic films, which causes a loss of time and the use of large quantities of undesired coating films and, on the other hand, in the fact that the easels with the glass panels have sizes larger than the depth of the container, and therefore exceed the container. It is therefore necessary to cover the assembly by a first sheet and then a second, since the sheets in this arrangement of containers, have dimensions corresponding to those of the container surface. For example, for a container of 6 m × 2 m, there is provided a tarpaulin having these dimensions. This arrangement, poorly adapted to the dimensions of the trestles / containers, poses problems of protection against the weather and does not allow attachment or effective tension of the cover to the container, especially at the corners. In addition, these tarpaulins, conventionally available commercially, are weak and, therefore, have a limited life.

Furthermore, a container cover is conventionally provided, along the edges, orifices at regular spacings for attachment thereof to the container, which is provided on the upper part, on the outer sides, means of hanging or fixing, such as hooks. Fixing and maintaining the tarpaulin on the container is implemented by securing means, such as elastic tensioners or cords, ropes or metal cords. However, the disadvantage of such systems lies in the fact that each tarpaulin and adapted to a type of container, and changes in the provisions of the attachment means from one type of container to another makes the fastening of the cover to the container unsuitable, which results in a non-total recovery of the contents and a lack of tightness.

The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above.

The invention relates to a container cover of predetermined trapezoidal shape, comprising a rectangular plate, of predetermined length and width, and longitudinal and transverse trapezoidal sections respectively connected to the ends of the length and width of the plate, sections being integral with each other, and which comprise, at the longitudinal and transverse ends, eyelets for fixing the sheet to the container distributed over the length of said ends, characterized in that the sheet comprises longitudinal and transverse flaps, of rectangular shape, joined together respectively to the longitudinal and transverse sections, said flaps having holding eyelets at the respective ends, which are traversed by means of securing the flap cooperating means of the container.

The tarpaulin of the invention is in particular provided for the transport of goods previously stored in an open container on its upper part, of "open top" type. It is particularly intended to allow the recovery of the container when the content exceeds the nominal height of the container. This ensures the cover hermetically. Indeed, for the transport of goods, and where appropriate, it is generally provided commercially available containers of given shape and size. It is then essential to provide a cover allowing the total recovery of the content, whatever the dimensions of the container and the volume of the content, especially when, for the latter, it is greater than that of the container. However, the total height of the container and its contents must be suitable for road transport and maritime transport.

In this context, a usable container may be of rectangular shape consisting of a horizontal bottom from which rise usually two parallel and longitudinal walls and two transverse walls, perpendicular to the first two, which containers are open on their upper part, open-top type. Usually, the lengths of such containers are 6-6.5 m, widths of 2.4-3 m and heights of 2.3-3 m. Very advantageously, such containers are provided with means for cooperation of the eyelets, defined above, with the container, which are usually fixed on the outer walls of the container, projecting preferentially on the upper half of the walls, and are for example hooks. , closed or not, or rivets. They can also be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal members. In addition, they can have a door consisting of two hinged leaves for unloading products longitudinally. They are usually provided with upper corner pieces having lateral and longitudinal openings allowing the container to be gripped by these lateral corners using cranes as is done in the sea ports, and the superposition of said containers on each other thanks to at the longitudinal orifices. Containers that are suitable for the use of the tarpaulin are for example the so-called "ISO maritime" containers, defined according to the ISO 668 and 1496 standards, and transportable on or by a towing vehicle as well as by boat.

The tarpaulin according to the invention makes it possible to overcome, in particular in the context of transporting glass products, on the one hand, a coating of the glass with a film of protective plastic material, which provides a saving in material and avoids its possible dispersion in the environment, and, on the other hand, to require other tarpaulins to cover the glass easels once they deposited in a container, preferably of the "open top" type.

The tarpaulin is of predetermined trapezoidal shape and preformed, that is to say that, prior to its use to cover a container, it comprises a rectangular plate whose ends are provided with longitudinal and transverse trapezoidal panels. The rectangular plate may be manufactured so as to have a length and a width of variable dimensions, thus being able to be adapted such that, provided with said longitudinal and transverse sections, the tarpaulin covers the container with a content that does not exceed the height or depth of the container, that is that it covers the container with a content that exceeds its height for example by one meter. The lengths and widths of the rectangular plate are usually less than or equal to those of the surface of the container, and they are for example respectively between 4 and 6 m and between 0.5 and 2 m. The material constituting the sheet may be 500-1000 g / m2 polyether sulphone (PES) covered with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, PVC or a polyethylene film of sufficient strength for the intended uses. . The thickness of the material is generally a few millimeters, preferably between 1 and 4 mm.

The tarpaulin therefore has longitudinal trapezoidal panels connected to the ends of the length of the plate, the length of the longitudinal end of said pan being greater than the length of the rectangular plate, typically between 5 and 6.5 m, preferably between 5, 5 and 6.3 m. Advantageously, the system ends of the length / longitudinal sections is manufactured so that the system is a seùl holding. It is the same system ends length / cross sections, preferably between 2 and 3 m.

The base surface measured with respect to the ends of the longitudinal and transverse sections is therefore greater than the base surface of the rectangular plate.

In other embodiments, the longitudinal and transverse sections are manufactured separately, and then respectively connected to the ends of the length and width by any method, such as gluing.

The panels are also integral with each other, so that the sheet is manufactured in one piece, that is to say with the same piece which is very advantageously made of polymer material.

The longitudinal ends of the longitudinal trapezoidal flaps are provided with eyelets or holes for fixing the cover to the container, of typically circular shape, of variable dimensions, preferably having a diameter of 1-5 cm. In the context of the invention, these fastening eyelets are provided in the zone of the edges of the longitudinal and transverse sections, which cover the walls of the container as a function of the positioning of the cooperation means, and they are distributed over, advantageously, the entire length of said ends, and are preferably spaced from each other forming at least one row. The number, the positioning in the zone of the edges and the regular spacing or not of the eyelets, called under the term of three criteria, are provided according to the positioning of the means of cooperation of the eyelets to the container, which are usually arranged on the part upper outer of the container, perpendicular to the wall, and are for example hooks, closed or not, or rivets. Indeed, so that the fastening eyelets can be secured to the cooperation means of a large number of commercially available container varieties, it is very advantageously provided a compromise between the three criteria stated above. It is the same for the fastening eyelets located at the transverse ends of the transverse trapezoidal flanges. However, in this case, it may be provided an additional row of eyelets likely to become integral with the container's cooperation means which are fixed on the upper spar of the container, and protruding either perpendicularly to the wall, or in the axis of the wall, depending on the case.

The tarpaulin of the invention comprises longitudinal and transverse flaps, rectangular in shape, secured to the longitudinal and transverse sections respectively, said flaps having retaining eyelets at the respective ends of the flaps, which are traversed by securing means.

These flaps, with holding eyelets, allow to maintain and properly position the sheet so that it covers the contents of the container hermetically. Indeed, the fastening eyelets at the ends of the panels of the cover, once secured to the securing means of the container can not, by themselves, ensure optimal positioning of the cover to the container, especially when exceeding the content container varies according to need. With these flaps, it is possible to correct and position the cover of a content to another of a container hermetically, by a total recovery. These flaps thus allow greater compatibility of the tarpaulin on the container in particular in terms of dimensions and positioning that can change from one container model to another and also in terms of dimensions of the content. This applies to both longitudinal and transverse flaps.

The flaps are rectangular in shape, the length of which is usually that of the transverse end of the longitudinal sections. According to embodiments, the length of the flaps may be less than that of said panels, but must be able to perform the functions described above, and is preferably between 5 and 6m. The width of the rectangular flap is not limited, but is preferably between 10 and 20 cm. It is the same transverse flaps, whose length is advantageously between 2 and 2.5 m. The flap is typically made of the same material as the tarpaulin, with thicknesses also similar to these.

The flaps are advantageously secured to the longitudinal and transverse sections, by known means, and positioned on the lower half of the respective faces, which is defined with respect to a central axis, longitudinal, dividing the pan into two equal halves. This allows easy handling by the user, although according to embodiments, it is possible to position the flap on the part near the end of the length or width of the rectangular plate, that is to say say on the upper half of the pan considered. In general, it is avoided to align the retaining eyelets of the flap with the container's cooperation means, so that it can perform the desired functions.

The flaps comprise holding eyelets which are advantageously positioned in the edge zone of the flap. The number, the positioning in the zone of the edges and the regular spacing or not of the holding eyelets are adapted not only to the positioning of the fastening eyelets of the panels of the cover but also according to the distribution of the means of cooperation of the container. Very advantageously, the retaining eyelets are offset in alignment along a vertical axis with the fastening eyelets and means of cooperation of the container.

The securing means passing through the holding eyelets are advantageously elastic tensioners or cords, ropes or metal cords in one piece, conventionally used in the context of the invention and chosen to exhibit a breaking strength. They are introduced or threaded into each eyelet over the entire length and width of the flaps. However, the securing means are not necessarily stretched between each retaining eyelet so that they can be fixed to the container's cooperation means for holding the sheet. Therefore, the length of the securing means can be up to twice that of the flap. The person skilled in the art chooses the length of this securing means according to these criteria. It is possible, for example, to thread the securing means through all the holding eyelets and the tension between three eyelets and while keeping laxity between the third and the fourth to allow it to attach to the container's cooperation means. And so on. One can also leave laxity between each holding eyelet.

The securing means may comprise in the non-tensioned part, between the eyelets, movable or non-movable hooking means, such as hooks, to hold the flap and thus the cover to the container via the cooperation means. This is particularly required when the latter are for example closed hooks.

In a particularly preferred manner, the ends of the securing means comprise fixed fastening means for holding the securing means to the container's cooperation means. For example, they may be hooks.

According to particularly preferred embodiments, the cover of the invention comprises recesses, usually square in shape, at the extreme corners situated at the intersections of the longitudinal and transverse ends of the respective trapezoidal sections so as to allow the positioning of the cover without obstructing the top corners of the container. In other words, these recesses have shapes corresponding to those of the upper extreme corners of the container.

The protective cover further comprises means for securing the end corners of the respective faces to the container cooperation means, as described above, which are terminated at their ends by fixed attachment means, such as hooks, said securing means passing through hems provided at each extreme corner of the sheet, all around the recesses, to increase the seal at these levels. The ends of the attachment means are, for example, fixed on a means of cooperation of the container located on one of its walls.

The tarpaulin can be provided with straps fixed to the transverse panels or on the rectangular plate near the transverse panels, and extending to the ends of these panels to which they are also fixed, thus allowing the adaptation of the length of the sheet the length of the load or the contents exceeding the height of the walls of the container. Indeed, the length of the load may be less than the length of the container depending on the case, the straps then making it possible to increase the watertightness and reduce the wind load. These straps are preferably provided with a tensioning system and a hook at their end opposite to that fixed to the rectangular upper plate.

On each of the cross sections can also be fixed one or straps that can be linked to another or other straps positioned on each of the longitudinal sides near the intersection of these longitudinal sections with the cross sections through systems mechanical linkages. They have the same features as those described above.

The sheet comprises reinforced portions at its lower face, these avoiding premature wear of the cover at the points of friction, that is to say those in contact with the container or with the contents, especially at the corners of contact. These reinforced parts are usually made of the same material as that of the rectangular plate and trapezoidal panels.

The protective cover may comprise attachment points positioned on the upper plate allowing the handling of said cover for its introduction and removal.

The tarpaulin according to the invention is an element that the user can reship once the goods are delivered, and is separable from the containers, unlike the known tarpaulins inseparable containers, such as maritime ISO.

A transport cover associated with each tarpaulin can be attached with the cargo and can be used for storing the tarpaulin when it is returned by the consignee to the sender.

The protective tarpaulin is particularly suitable for transporting predefined PLF glass easels whose total dimensions exceed those of the height of the container.

The nonlimiting examples which follow illustrate the invention, without limiting its scope, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the protective cover positioned and fixed on a container;

Figure 2 is a top view illustrating the tarpaulin positioned on the container;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal view illustrating the tarpaulin positioned on the container;

Figure 4 is a transverse view illustrating the protective cover positioned on the container;

Figure 5 is a sketch illustrating the detail of the longitudinal and angle fasteners;

Figure 6 shows different possibilities of location of the closed hooks attached to the container.

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a protective cover 1 placed above an ISO 40 maritime container transportable on or by a tractor vehicle and by boat (not shown).

The ISO 40 maritime container, defined according to the ISO 668 and 1496 standards, is rectangular in shape consisting of a horizontal bottom from which two parallel and longitudinal walls 41 and two perpendicular transverse walls 42 rise perpendicularly to the first two. At each upper spar 47, ending these walls, are positioned closed hooks 48 (Figure 6).

The ISO 40 maritime container comprises a door 44 consisting of two hinged leaves 45,46 allowing the unloading of products longitudinally.

The tarpaulin 1 is three-dimensional. It consists of a rectangular upper plate 2 of 5.5 m in length and 1.2 m in width from which obliquely fall longitudinal trapezoidal sections of 3.4 and transverse 10,11 integral with each other and with the flat rectangular upper 2, said sections respectively comprising longitudinal ends 12, 13 and transverse ends 14, 15, 5.8 m long and 2.2 m wide. Here, these ends of the panels are arranged to cover the area of the longitudinal members 47. The sheet 1 consists of waterproof PES with a density of 680 g / m2 and a thickness of 2 mm.

The tarpaulin 1 has dimensions to cover an ISO 40 sea container, having a length of 6,058 m, a width of 2,438 m and a height (depth) of 2,59 m. The height of the panels of the sheet makes it possible to contain an overflow of the load relative to the walls of the container by at least 1 meter over a length of the content, here a PLF glass bridge, which can vary from 4.5 to 5.5 meters.

The longitudinal ends 12, 13 of the protective sheet 1 each comprise a row of 29 eyelets 34 arranged at regular intervals and parallel to these ends.

The transverse ends 14,15 of the protective cover 1 each comprise two rows of 11 eyelets 34 arranged at regular intervals and parallel to these transverse ends. These two rows allow the sheet to adapt to the different possible locations of the closed hooks 48 fixed to the container (Figure 6).

The sheet 1 comprises longitudinal flaps 16, 17, 5.6 m long and 10 cm wide, and transverse 18,19, 2 m long and 10 cm wide, parallel respectively to the longitudinal ends 12, 13 and transverse 14 15.

The flaps 16, 17 each comprise a series of 26 eyelets 27 arranged at regular intervals. These eyelets are traversed by an elastic cord 28,29 (not shown) per longitudinal pan having at their ends hooks 32.

The flaps 18, 19 each comprise a series of 8 eyelets 27 arranged at regular intervals. These eyelets are traversed by an elastic cord 30, 31 (not shown) per transverse panel having at their ends hooks 32.

On the upper rectangular plate 2 and near the transverse panels 10,11 is fixed a strap 39 per transverse panel 10,11. Each of these straps 39 comprises a tensioning system 20 and a hook 21 at their end opposite to that fixed to the rectangular plate 2.

On each of the transverse sections 10, 11 are fixed straps 22 and 23 which can be attached to the straps 24 and 25 fixed on each of the longitudinal sections near the intersection of these longitudinal sections with the transverse sections through mechanical systems liaison 26.

Along each elastic cord 28,29,30,31, between each eyelet 27 of the flap in question 16,17,18 or 19, were prepositioned hooks 33 for fixing the elastic cord to the closed hooks 48 fixed to the passing container. through the eyelets 34.

The outer corners 35 of the sheet are cut according to the shape of the upper corners of the container, and their edge consists of a hem 36 through which an elastic cord 37 passes. At the ends of each of these elastics, hooks 38 are positioned ( Figure 5). FIG. 6 shows an example of upper corner pieces having two lateral and one longitudinal openings allowing the container to be gripped using cranes as is done in the sea ports, and the superposition of said containers on one another thanks to the longitudinal orifice.

On the upper rectangular plate 2 and the four oblique faces 3,4 10,11 can be integrated a warning letter indicating the contents of the container.

Fasteners 50 allowing the handling of the protective cover 1 by a spreader fixed to a load handling system are fixed to the upper plate 2, near the edge area of the width of this plate.

Reinforced parts (not shown) are integrated in the underside of the protective cover 1 in order to avoid premature wear of the protective cover 1 in contact with the load or the container, made from PES having a density of 680 g / m2 and a thickness of 2 mm.

Claims (11)

A container (40) with a predetermined trapezoidal shape, comprising a rectangular plate (2) of predetermined length and width, and longitudinal (3,4) and transverse trapezoidal panels (10,11). ) respectively connected to the ends of the length and the width of the plate, the panels being integral with each other, and which comprise, at the longitudinal ends (12, 13) and transverse (14, 15), fastening eyelets (34) of the cover to the container (40) distributed along the length of said ends (12, 13, 14, 15), characterized in that the cover (1) comprises longitudinal flaps (16, 17) and transverse flaps (18.19), of rectangular shape , respectively secured to longitudinal (3.4) and transverse (10, 11) sides, said flaps (16, 17, 18, 19) having holding eyelets (27) at the respective ends, which are traversed by securing means (28,29,30,31) of the flap to the means of cooperation (4 8) of the container (40). 2. Tarpaulin according to claim 1, wherein the fastening eyelets (34) are provided in the zone of the edges of the longitudinal (3.4) and transverse (10, 11) sections, which cover the walls of the container (41, 42 ) according to the positioning of the cooperation means (48), and are distributed over the entire length of said ends (12,13,14,15), and are spaced from each other forming at least one row. 3. Tarpaulin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flaps (16.17.18.19) are positioned on the lower half of the respective faces (3,4,10,11), which is defined with respect to a central axis, longitudinal, dividing the pan into two equal halves. 4. Tarpaulin according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said flaps (16,17,18,19) comprise holding eyelets (27) positioned in the edge region of the flap. 5. Tarpaulin according to claim 4, wherein the holding eyelets (27) are offset in alignment along a vertical axis with the fixing eyelets (34) of the cover (1) to the container (40) and means of cooperating (48) the container (40). 6. Tarpaulin according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fastening means (28,29,30,31) are elastic tensioners or cords, strings or metal cords in one piece, introduced into each retaining eyelet (27), over the entire length and width of the flaps (16,17,18,19). 7. Tarpaulin according to claim 6, wherein the securing means (28,29,30,31) comprise in their non-tensioned part, between the holding eyelets (27), fastening means (33) movable or not movable to hold the flap (16,17,18,19) to the container (40) via the engagement means (48). 8. Tarpaulin according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the ends of the securing means (28,29,30,31) comprise fastening means (32) fixed for holding the securing means (28,29,30, 31) to the cooperating means (48) of the container (40). 9. Cover according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising recesses at the end corners (35) at the intersections of the longitudinal and transverse ends (12,13,14,15) of the respective trapezoidal panels (3,4,10, 11). 10. Tarpaulin according to claim 9, further comprising means for securing (37) the end wedges (35) of the respective sections to the means of cooperation (48) to the container (40), which are terminated at their ends by means of fastening means (38) fixed, said securing means (37) passing through hems (36) provided at each end corner (35) of the cover, all around the recesses. 11. Cover according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising straps (22,23) attached to the transverse panels (3,4) or on the rectangular plate (2) near the transverse panels (3,4), and extending to the ends (14,15) of these panels to which they are also attached.