WO1996002440A1

WO1996002440A1 - Multi-purpose light weight flexible cargo pack

Info

Publication number: WO1996002440A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alistair Garry Mcdonald
Original assignee: Alistair Garry Mcdonald
Priority date: 1994-07-14
Filing date: 1995-07-14
Publication date: 1996-02-01
Also published as: AUPM679194A0

Abstract

A Cargo Pack having a strap (1) for holding a collection of loose cargo pieces into a single unit of cargo, a cover (2) made of flexible material, such as plastics material in a web form, for inhibiting ingress of the elements into the cargo pieces, and a lifting sling (15) for allowing lifting of the Cargo Pack such as onto and off ships. The Cargo Pack is light weight, easy to store and requires simpler lifting equipment than conventional lifting equipment such as used in relation to ISO containers. Also, the pieces of cargo could be modular sized boxes which can be held together by the straps (1) so that a variety of types of cargo can be transported.

Description

TITLE

MULTI-PURPOSE LIGHT WEIGHT FLEXIBLE CARGO PACK

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention provides for a light weight multi-purpose flexible cargo pack for packing, storage and transport of a variety of cargo without the need or use of a steel or wood framework or platform as part of the Cargo Pack or container. Units of cargo after being packed into the Cargo Pack are secured tightly to form a rigid solid block allowing the Pack to be lifted by crane or forklift from the slings attached or slung underneath and around the Pack.

The Cargo Pack, when fully secured and closed, forms an all weather protection to the contents. After the fully loaded Cargo Pack is lifted to or from a ship, road or rail vehicle, the slings are disconnected from the lifting crane or forklift and remain attached to the Pack ready for use again for the purpose ofrelifting the Pack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of presently light weight flexible packs made from straps webbing and

PVC or canvas material do not create a solid rigid block of the cargo capable of lifting from just two slings. They rely on numerous straps encompassing the units of cargo so as to support them when lifting takes place. This creates movement within the mass of cargo and requires more manual handling to secure the numerous lifting straps to the lift hook. These straps or lifting points can number between 10 and 20 requiring manual connection to the lift point compared to the said invention of just 2 lifting straps and one connection to the lifting hook.

The invention overcomes the disadvantages of other inventions by the application of a very large high tensile strap running horizontally around the units of cargo to form a single rigid solid block. This allows the Cargo Pack to be lifted from only two lift points as opposed to all other cargo devices that require numerous lifting points to achieve the lifting of the cargo successfully.

When packed full with cargo the invention requires only the same volume of the cargo itself compared to ISO containers which are 33 cubic metres in volume but when fully packed with dense cargo may only have 20 cubic metres of cargo inside the container and the balance is wasted space.

Furthermore the invention which can lift or carry the same amount of cargo as an ISO or steel shipping container weighs only a fraction of the tare weight of an ISO container. The comparison being approximately 60 kilos for the invention and 2300 kilos for an ISO container.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a Cargo Pack which can be secured and wrapped around a collection of cargo pieces ready for transport.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cargo pack for transporting a collection of cargo pieces, the Cargo Pack comprising : a strap means for releasably securing about the cargo pieces for forming them into a single units; a cover means made of a flexible web, the cover means being shaped for wrapping about the said single unit of cargo so as to protect the cargo from the elements during transport and storage; and a lifting means located about the cover for allowing lifting of the cargo pack. Typically, the strap means is in the form of one elongate web although more than one elongate web could be used.

Typically, the cover means is made from flexible plastics material or fabric or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present inventions are described with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows :

FIGURE 1. Shows the complete Cargo Pack which is all in one piece laid out flat in an open unpacked position and containing no cargo. FIGURE 2. Shows the Cargo Pack partially loaded with cargo which has been placed on the bottom of the Pack. FIGURE 3 Shows the horizontal tension strap being applied to the cargo mass and secured with tension being applied prior to closing the pack.

FIGURE 4. Demonstrates the 2 lifting slings or straps being secured to the lifting hook ready to lift the loaded Pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention comprises of three main functional parts, the tension strap (1) the tarpaulin like weather proof outer cover referred to as the Pack (2) and the lifting sling (3). When laid out flat on the floor the pack (2) resembles a tarpaulin shaped into various rectangle sections (see Fig.1.). To describe the parts of the Pack the rectangle sections of the Pack can be named the bottom (4), the back (5), the top (6), the front (7), and the two ends (8). Figure 1. shows only the Cargo Pack (2). The strap (1) may be separate from the Cargo Pack (2) or attached to the Cargo Pack (2).

The tensional strap or straps (1) may or may not be sewn or attached to the Pack (2). One or more tension straps (1) can be used to encircle the cargo mass (9). Usually only one is used but in the case of a very heavy high density cargo mass (9) two or more tensional straps (1) may be used. The Pack (2) can be loaded with the cargo mass (9) when the Pack (2) is laid out flat on the floor (See Fig.2). The cargo can be placed on the bottom (4) of the Pack (2) by hand or by forklift. The example shows (See Fig 2 & 3) the cargo mass (9) may be made up of 20 one ton packs of bricks (9). When the Pack (2) has been fully loaded with say 20 packs of cargo the cargo mass (9) should cover the entire area of the bottom (4) of the Pack (2).

When the loading of the Pack (2) with the cargo mass (9) is completed the tension strap or straps (1) are applied by hand. The tension strap (1) is encircled around the lower portion of the cargo mass (9) until each end (10) of the tension strap can be joined and tensioned. A ratchet (11) or suitable pulling device such as an electric winch may also be attached to each end (10) of the tension strap (1) to apply tension to the tension strap (1). When sufficient tension has been applied to the tension strap (1) the two ends (10) are then secured to each other to hold the tension of the tension strap (1) so as not to allow any slipping. The ends (10) may be secured by a non slip buckle (12) or similar device. When the buckle (12) is applied and the tension strap (1) is now secure the Pack (2) may be closed and wrapped around and over the entire cargo mass (9) (see Fig 4.).

The top (6) of the Cargo Pack (2) is wrapped over the cargo mass to join up with the front (7) of the Cargo Pack (2) and joined by tie ropes (13) to the tie loops (14). The front (7) alternatively may also be joined with the top (6) by a series of straps or zipper to form a weather proof cover. The ends (8) are then wrapped around the end of the cargo mass (9) and joined with the top (6) and front (7) to totally cover and encase the cargo mass (9) in the Pack (2) (see Fig 4.) ready for lifting, moving and transport. The lifting sling (15) which may be attached to the outside of the Pack (2) may now be attached to the lifting hook (16) to lift the loaded Pack (2) onto a transport vehicle being a ship or truck or rail wagon.

The invention is a cargo handling Cargo Pack (2) or container that is capable of being loaded with up to and approximately 25 tonnes of cargo depending on the type of cargo placed in the Pack (2). The Cargo Pack (2) which can be made from light weight high tensile PVC or synthetic polymer based fabric is capable of being lifted by only one endless sling or two single slings without the contents of the Pack breaking loose or moving into an uncontrolled mass and therefore capable of tearing away from the Pack and the main mass. This capability is achieved by the large tension strap encircled around the whole mass of the cargo and so bind and secure the cargo mass into a firm, rigid, single block as if its one unit or package of cargo.

The invention solves the problem of trying to lift numerous units of cargo with only one (or two) slings whereas all other types of cargo packs or bags use a series of straps and slings to do the same job. These other packs or bags generally are also not capable of lifting up to or approximately 25 tonnes due to their complexity. The principle use of the invention is to provide a cheaper, lighter weight, flexible, stronger, re-usable cargo pack that substantially reduces the labour handling requirement when loading and unloading on or off ships, road trucks or rail wagons.

The Cargo Pack now can perform the same function of an ISO steel container which weighs and costs many times more than the Cargo Pack. The Pack can also perform the same function as other fabric type sling or webbing packs or bags with less manual labour and only one lifting sling compared to numerous lifting slings on other types of fabric packs.

The Cargo Pack is made from high tensile poly propylene and polyester synthetic fabric materials and are sewn and welded into a single piece of a specific shape (see Figure 1.)

Modification and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the pieces of cargo (which in this example are 20 one tonne packs of bricks) could be a plurality of boxes of modularised dimensions so that they can be fitted together to form the single unit of cargo once the tension straps (2) are secured about the cargo. In this manner the boxes could be of various sizes, but based upon a unit size and hence various types of cargo could be transported easily and cost effectively.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A Cargo Pack for transporting a collection of cargo pieces, the Cargo Pack comprising : a strap means for releasable securing about the cargo pieces for forming them into a single unit; a cover means made of a flexible web, the cover means being shaped for wrapping about the said single unit of cargo so as to protect the cargo from the elements during transport and storage; and a lifting means located about the cover for allowing lifting of the Cargo Pack.

2. A Cargo Pack according to Claim 1, in which the cover means is in the form of a continuous web of material shaped to be wrapped completely around the cargo, elements during transport and storage of the cargo.

3. A Cargo Pack according to Claim 1, in which the strap means has a tensioning means for urging the cargo pieces together for forming the single unit o cargo.

4. A Cargo Pack according to Claim 1, in which the strap means has a tensioning means for urging the cargo pieces together for forming the single unit of cargo.

5. A Cargo Pack according to Claim 1, in which the lifting means is an elongate web securable about the cover for allowing lifting of the Cargo Pack.

6. A Cargo Pack according to Claim 1, in which the lifting means is an elongate web secured to the cover for allowing lifting of the Cargo Pack.

7. A cargo means according to Claim 2, in which the continuous web of the cover means has fasteners for fastening the edges of the continuous web down for inhibiting the ingress of the elements.

8. A cargo means according to Claim 1, in which the cargo pieces are a plurality of containers each containing items to be transported, the containers being of a modular nature so that they fit together to form the single unit of cargo having a rectangular prison shape.