GB2615190A

GB2615190A - Packaging item for containing items in a fixed location during transport

Info

Publication number: GB2615190A
Application number: GB2218857.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Magee Marcus; Magee Alan
Original assignee: Carlton Packaging LLP
Current assignee: Carlton Packaging LLP
Priority date: 2021-12-15
Filing date: 2022-12-14
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Also published as: GB202118149D0; GB202218857D0

Abstract

A packaging item 16 for use with a base, which may be a pallet 4, in order to retain a plurality of products on the base. The packaging item is provided with side walls 18, 20, 22, 24 and a lid 26 and at least part of the lid and/or side walls include a portion which is movable between open and closed positions so as to allow access to be gained to the interior of the packaging item to view and/or move one or more of said products. Retaining means 28 are provided to allow said portion to be retained in a closed position and engagement means are provided to allow the packaging item to be located on said base during transit of the base and products mounted thereon. The retaining means may comprise a zip or hook and loop fasteners. The lid and side walls of the apparatus may be formed from a woven polypropylene material. The packaging item may be used with liner panels with a greater rigidity than the side walls or lid. The packaging item may be foldable. The packaging item may comprise locking means.

Description

Packaging item for containing items in a fixed location during transport The invention to which this application relates is to a packaging item which can be used in order to contain and retain a series of products in a desired configuration during transport and/or storage.

In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the packaging item is for use in conjunction with a pallet load which includes a pallet base, typically formed of wood or plastics material and which acts as a means to support a plurality of products in position and thereby form a pallet load. The base retains the products at a distance from the ground surface and allows the pallet load to be moved by movement apparatus such as a forklift truck, as a unitary assembly.

It is known that during transport in particular, there is a tendency for products which are held as part of a pallet load, to move relative to each other and to the pallet and, in certain instances, this results in one or more products being detached from the pallet load and being potentially damaged, cause hazard to onlookers and affect the integrity of the pallet loa.d during subsequent movement.

In order to overcome this problem, it is known to place the products of the pallet load onto the pallet ba.se and then apply retaining straps around the same and/or to wrap relatively thin plastic sheet material a number of times around the pallet load and/or to use cardboard sheet material, with the aim always being to try and secure and retain the products as pa.rt of the pallet load during movement and subsequent storage.

The problem with these known approaches is that the same are environmentally unfriendly in that in each case, the straps, plastic sheet material and/or cardboard are provided for single use and therefore when the pallet load reaches its final destination and there is a need to remove the products from the pallet, the cardboard, plastics or straps are removed and, at best, recycled but more typically are simply discarded as waste material It is known from patent US10787291 to provide a net or mesh which can be placed over the pallet load to attempt to retrain items in the required position and the mesh can be reused. however, it is found that the mesh is not successful in retaining the products in position to the desired extent.

An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a packaging item which can be used in conjunction with a. pallet load in order to retain the products of the pallet load in the required relative positions and with regard to the pallet on which the same are located and to do so in a manner which allows this to be achieved whilst ensuring that the packaging item is effective and, once the pallet load has reached its final destination, the packaging item can be removed and reused.

In a fir. st aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for use in retaining a plurality of products in position -with respect to each other and a base, said apparatus including a packaging item including side walls and a lid portion, and engagement means to allow the packaging item to be engaged and retained in position with said base to substantially enclose the plurality of products located on the base and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the side walls and/or lid is selectively movable between open and closed positions and, when in the open position, access can be gained to the interior of the packaging item and one or more of the said plurality of products located therein.

Typically, when in the open position, visual checks of the position of the said products can be made and/or contact made with products to re-order the position of the same.

In one embodiment, the lid is moveable between the said open and closed positions and retaining means are provided to allow the lid to be retained in the closed position when desired.

In one embodiment, the retaining means are any or any combination of hook and loop fastenings and/or a zip.

In one embodiment, in addition to or alternatively to the lid being moveable, at least one of the sidewalls has at least a portion which is moveable between open and closed positions and again suitable retaining means are provided so as to allow the said portion to be retained in the closed position.

In one embod nein, the lid and sidewalls of the packaging item are substantially formed from a woven polypropylene material.

In one embodiment, the packaging item is used in conjunction with, or includes integrally therewith, one or more liner sheet material panels. Typically said panels add to the rigidity of the sidewalls and lid and also act to minimise the risk of puncture or ripping of the side walls and/or lid.

Preferably, a liner panel is provided at each of the sidewalls at least so as to strengthen the same during use and thereby aid in thc retention of the products in the loaded position.

In one embodiment, the engagement means on the packaging item are provided to be located with the base and, in one embodiment, are provided at four corners of the packaging item and at the lower edge of the sidewalls thereof.

Typically, the securing means may be provided with a metal or another hardweann. g material buckle on straps which allow the secure engagement with the base whilst at the same time, allowing relatively easy and quick release by operation of the buckle.

Typically, the base is a pallet, and the dimensions of the sidewalls of the packagingitem are such as to allow the packaging item to take the form of a cube which has a volume which is sufficient to accommodate the required pallet load of products which is to be located therein.

In one embodiment, the said packaging item is foldable at least along opposing sidewalls so as to allow the same to be folded, in one embocinnent in a concertina fashion, to a. substantially flattened position for storage and then moved outwardly by moving opposing sidewalls apart to unfold and take the dimensions required so as to allow the packaging item to be fitted to the base.

In one embodiment, the said products which are to be located on the pallet, are positioned thereon and once in position, the packaging item is placed around and over the said products and the packaging item is attached to the pallet so as to retain the pallet load in position and the packaging item forms the outer walls and top surface of the pallet load.

If required, locking means may be provided in order to lock the packaging item in position during transit and thereby prevent (Jr render obvious unauthorised access being gained to the products within the pallet load without the same being visible either by tampering with the lock or apertures being formed in the sidewalls and/or Typically, the packaging item integrity is maintained during and after use and therefore the packaging item is reusable many times due to the nature of the manufacture of the sidewalls and lid and typically can be reused until wear and tear causes damage which is not possible to repair. 'Elms, there is provided a means of providing the retention of items as part of a pallet load and thereby maintain the safety of the same whilst avoiding single use materials being used.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for enclosing and retaining a plurality of items in position on a surface of a base, sa.id method comprising the steps of placing the plurality of products in a predefined position on said base, placing a packaging item over the plurality of items such that side walls and a lid of the packaging items substantially enclose said plurality of items, pulling the packaging item towards said base such that retaining means mounted at or adjacent to the free end of said side walls are in range of engagement with the base, and engaging the same and wherein at least one portion is provided on the base and/or lid to be selectively movable between open and closed positions and, when in the open position, gaining access to the interior of the packaging item and one or more of the said plurality of products located therein Specific embodinients of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 illustrates a series of products and a base which, in combination, form a pallet load with which the packaging item in accordance with the invention is provided for use; Figure 2 illustrates the item in accordance with the invention in one embodiment, in an th-use condition; Figure 3 illustrates the item of Figure 2, in a collapsed, storage position; and Figure 4 illustrates the pallet load of Figure 1 with the packaging item of Figures 2 and 3 in position therewith in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a pallet load 2 which is formed from a base typically provided in the form of a pallet 4 which can be formed of wood or plastics material and is typically formed to one of a possible range of conventional designs. The pallet acts to raise the goods or products 6 from the Boor and, at the same time, provides a series of apertures 8, for the receipt of prongs of, for example, a forklift truck to allow the pallet load to be moved within storage areas and also be moved onto and from transport means such as articulated vehicles, vans, containers and the like.

The products 6 which are provided on the base as part of the pallet load, can vary from pallet load to pallet load but typically comprise a number of goods or products 6 which are located side-by-side and on top of ea.ch other to form the pallet load of a known and predetermined volume for handling purposes. A common aim is to locate the products and configure the same such that the maximum number of products can be located on the pallet load and thereby maxiinise the number of products which are transported as part of a pallet loa.d and thereby minimise transport costs.

A problem which is often experienced is that the products 6 may be knocked or disengaged from the pallet load which therefore leads to damage to the dislodged products and also can make the pallet load generally unstable for movement purposes. The conventional way of approaching this problem is to wrap single use sheet plastics material around the pallet load but this, in practice, is inefficient, does not work and is environmentally unfriendly due to the amount of waste material which is generated once the products are required to be removed from the pallet load.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a packaging item 16 which is reusable in terms of its repeated use as a means of stabilising a pallet load.

The packaging item 16 includes first and second sidewalls 18,20, and first and second end walls 22,24 and a lid 26 is typically provided.

Also provided, are a series of securing means 28 which are typically located so as to be positioned at the corners 30 of the pallet. However, it should be appreciated that the securing means 28 may be provided at other locations and/or in addition to the corner located securing means.

Typically, the item is moveable between an in-use position as shown in Figure 2 and a storage position as shown in Figure 3 by movement of, in this embodiment, the end walls 22, 24 around respective fold lines 32,34 so as to take, substantially a flattened condition when in the storage position and an extended position for use.

The side walls and/or end walls can also be provided with one or more door portions 36 which can be held in a closed position via engaging means 38 in the form of a zip and/or hook and loop fastening means. Furthermore, the lid portion 26 can be moved between open a.nd closed positions as indicated by arrow 40 and when in the closed position, engaging means such a.s Velcro and/or a. zip can be used to retain the lid in the closed position.

In order to secure the packaging item 16 to the pallet 4, the securing means 28 can be passed from the packaging item around a corner member 42 of the pallet and then tightened in position such as, for example, using a buckle 44. 'the use of a buckle typically allows the ability to ensure that the item is securely located to the pallet whilst, at the same time, allowing the securing means to be relatively quickly released and thereby allow the removal of the securing means to be achieved quickly and hence the removal of the item from the pallet load to be achieved quickly.

Figure 4 shows the pallet load 2 with the packaging item 16 located in accordance with the invention in a configuration for use over the pallet load and when secured to the pallet acts as an integral unit 46 during transport and storage and it will be seen that the item effectively forms the sidcwalls and top wall of the pallet load and, the provision of the securing means in engagement with the pallet base, ensure that the item is retained in position as part of the pallet load along with the pallet and the product.

urthermore, the item can be easily removed from the pallet base to allow access to the products and removal therefrom and, to allow the new products to be mounted and positioned on the pallet and when the same are in position, the item can then be secured to the pallet so as to form another pallet load in accordance with the invention with the item being reused.

Claims

CLAIMS1 Apparatus for use in retaining a plurality of products in position with respect to each other and a base, said apparatus including a packaging item including side walls and a. lid portion, and engagement means to allow the packaging item to be engaged and retained in position with said base to substantially enclose the plurality of products located on the base and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the side walls and/or lid is selectively movable between open and closed positions and, when in the open position, access can be gained to the interior of the packaging item and one or more of the said plurality of products located therein.
2. Apparatus a.ccording to claim 1 wherein when the said portion is in the open position a visual check of the relative positions of the said products is possible and/or contact made with said products to reorder the position of the same.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein retaining means are provided to allow the said portion to be retained in the closed position when desired.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the retaining means are any, or any combination, of hook and loop fastening and/or a zip.
5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said at least one portion includes the lid and/or one of the side walls and/or portions thereof
6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lid and side walls of the packaging item are substantially formed from a woven polypropylene material.
7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the packaging item is used in conjunction with, or includes integrally therewith, one or more liner panels.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said panels have a rigidity greater than the side walls and lid.
9. Apparatus according to any of callus 7 or 8 where a liner panel is provided at at least each of the side walls.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the engagement means are provided at each of the corners of the packaging item and at or adjacent to the lower edge of the side walls.
11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base is a pallet.
12. Apparatus accord* to any of the preceding claims wherein the shape of the said lid is substantially the same as the shape of a surface of the base on which the said plurality of items are placed.
13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the packaging item is foldable so as to allow the same to be moved from a folded storage position in which the same is substantially flat to an in use position by moving opposing side walls
14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the packing item exerts a retaining force on the configuration of the plurality of items when position n the base and enclosed by the packaging item.
15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein loch* means lock the packaging item in position during transit to prevent or render obvious unauthorised access being gained to the products within the pallet load.
16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the packaging item is reusable.
17. A method for enclosing and retuning a plurality of items in position on a surface of a base, said method comprising the steps of placing the plurality of products in a predefined position on said base, placing a packaging item over the plurality of items such that side walls and a lid of the packaging items substantially enclose said plurality of items, pulling the packaging item towards said base such that retaining means mounted at or adjacent to the free end of said side walls are in range of engagement with the ba.se, and engaging the same and wherein at least one portion is provided on the base and/or lid to be selectively movable between open and closed positions and, when in the open position, gaining access to the Ulterior of the packaging item and one or more of the said plurality of products located therein