WO2000013975A1

WO2000013975A1 - Transport unit

Info

Publication number: WO2000013975A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000721
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicholas John Leywood; Ken Scanlon
Original assignee: Eco-Pak Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-04
Filing date: 1999-09-03
Publication date: 2000-03-16
Also published as: NZ510410A; AUPP569898A0

Abstract

A transport unit (10) formed from a sheet of polymeric material so as to be flexible. The unit includes a footprint portion (12) from which there upwardly extends sidewall portions (13 to 16). The sidewall portions (13 to 16) and footprint portion are joined so as not to require penetration of the sidewall portions (13 to 16).

Description

Transport Unit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to transport units upon which goods are transported.

Background of the Invention

Described in United States Patent No. 5,613,447 is a transport unit formed from slip sheet. This particular unit in its preferred form is described as being adapted to transport natural rubber. The unit includes a foot print area from which there upwardly extends four sides so as to enclose a space to receive the goods to be transported. Extending outwardly from one side is a tab which may be gripped and which facilitates insertion of the tines of a forklift below the transport unit. This particular transport unit is formed of sheet plastics material which is cut and provided with fold lines so that the sheet is foldable into a tray configuration. The sides are joined by having projections of one wall portion extend through slots in an associated wall portion. Similarly, the above-mentioned tab is constructed by having projections extend through slits.

A disadvantage of the above described transport unit is that it does not provide a good barrier in respect of water penetration to the interior of the tray.

A still further disadvantage is that the unit disassemblies when the projections come out of the slots.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a transport unit formed from flexible sheet material and folded so as to have: a foot print portion having a lower surface to rest upon a supporting surface, and an upper surface upon which goods to be transported rests, the foot print portion being of rectangular or square configuration so as to provide four sides; a sidewall extending upwardly from each side of the foot print portion, each pair of adjacent sides being joined by a fold; a tab extending outwardly from a one of the sidewalls from adjacent the foot print portion; and wherein each fold is secured to an adjacent one of the walls by means not requiring penetration of the wall. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a transport unit; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a "blank" folded to form the transport unit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic external perspective view of a corner of the transport unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic internal perspective view of the corner of Figure 3 partly unfolded;

Figure 5 is a schematic external perspective view of the corner of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic internal perspective view of the corner of Figure 3 ;

Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view of the transport unit of Figure 1 folded flat for storage or transport purposes; Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a pallet to be used with the unit of

Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a modification of the transport unit of Figures 1 to 7;

Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view of a modification of the transport unit of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a schematic plan view of a "blank" folded to form the transport unit of Figure 10.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a transport unit 10. The transport unit 10 is formed from a sheet of polymeric material so as to be flexible but having sufficient strength and tear resistance. Typically, the sheet material would be 0.76 to 3.0 mm in thickness. Preferably, the sheet material would be formed from high density polyethylene.

The sheet 11 from which the transport unit 10 is formed is cut to the configuration shown in Figure 2 and is plastically deformed to provide the fold lines illustrated.

The transport unit 10 has a foot print portion 12 having a major internal surface upon which the goods to be transported rests, and a major external surface upon which the transport unit 10 rests on a supporting surface. Surrounding the foot print portion 12 are sidewall portions 13 to 16. The sheet

11 is plastically deformed so as to provide fold lines 17 to 24 which facilitate folding of the sheet 11 to the configuration shown in Figure 1. The two sets of fold lines 21 and 22, and 23 and 24 enable sidewall portions 14 to 15 to be folded relative to each other so as to provide internally projecting folds

25 and 26.

The fold lines 17 and 19 cooperate with further fold lines 27 and 28 to provide two sets of three folds 29, 30 and 31, and 32, 33 and 34.

When folding the sheet 11 to form the transport unit 10 of Figure 1, the sidewall portions 14, 15 and 16 are folded so as to provide sidewalls 35, 36 and 37 and the internal folds 25 and 26. When the sidewall portion 13 is folded, it forms a sidewall 38 and a projection 39. The projection 39 is formed by a strip 41 being bent back upon the foot print portion 12, while wall 38 is formed by strip 40.

When the sheet 11 is folded to the configuration of Figure 1 , the flaps 25 and

26 are fixed to the adjacent internal surface of the sidewall 35 and 37. Typically, this securing would be achieved by welding or the use of adhesives. The fold 34 is secured to an internal surface of the sidewall 38 again by means of welding or adhesives. The above described transport unit 10 also folds flat to the configuration of

Figure 7.

In Figure 8 there is schematically depicted a pallet 50 which may be used in conjunction with the transport unit 10 described above. The pallet 50 includes a body 51 including an upper web 52 joined to a lower web 53 by means of reinforcing webs 54. The upper web 52 is provided with beams 55 which are spaced by slots 56. The slots 56 are dimensioned and position to receives the tines of a forklift. Transverse passages 57 enable the tines of the forklift to pass transversely beneath to pallet 50.

The above-described embodiment inhibits water penetration adjacent the corners, is less likely disassemble, and provide rounded edges. In Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a modification of the transport unit of Figures 1 to 7. In this embodiment the strip 41 providing the projection 39 includes a lower panel 60 joined to an upper panel 61 by a fold 62. The panel 60 has a greater transverse width than the panel 61 so that the panel 60 is caused to "bow" so as to have a lower convex surface. This configuration of the lower panel 60 causes the projection 39 to extend upwardly from its junction with the wall 39. This specifically facilitates the insertion of the tines of a forklift beneath the transport unit 10.

In the embodiment of Figure 10 there are two projections 39, each being constructed in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 9. One of the projections 39 extends from the wall 38, while the other projection 39 extends from the wall 37. Figure 7 shows the blank from which the transport unit of Figure 10 is formed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transport unit formed from flexible sheet material and folded so as to have: a foot print portion having a lower surface to rest upon a supporting surface, 5 and an upper surface upon which goods to be transported rests, the foot print portion being of rectangular or square configuration so as to provide four sides; a sidewall extending upwardly from each side of the foot print portion, each pair of adjacent sides being joined by a fold; a tab extending outwardly from a one of the sidewalls from adjacent the foot o print portion; and wherein each fold is secured to an adjacent one of the walls by means not requiring penetration of the wall.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein each fold is located adjacent an internal surface of an adjacent one of the adjacent walls.

5 3. The unit of claim 2 further including a projection extending outwardly from the footprint portion from adjacent a lower portion of one of the sidewalls, and wherein said projection is formed from a strip bent back upon itself.

4. The unit of claim 3, wherein said projection is formed by an upper and lower panel, with the lower panel having a greater transverse width than the upper 0 panel so that the lower panel is caused to bow to thus cause the projection to extend upwardly from the footprint portion.

5. The unit of claim 4 including a further projection, the further projection extending from the footprint portion adjacent one of said walls, with the projection including a lower panel and an upper panel with the lower panel of the 5 further projection having a greater transverse width than the upper panel of the further projection to cause the lower panel of the further projection to bow and thus cause the further projection to extend upwardly from the footprint portion.

6. A transport unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, or Figure 9, or Figures 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.