WO1997029970A1

WO1997029970A1 - Container cover

Info

Publication number: WO1997029970A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1997/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Mcculloch
Original assignee: Devore Group Limited
Priority date: 1996-02-19
Filing date: 1997-02-14
Publication date: 1997-08-21
Also published as: AU1738697A

Abstract

A cover (1) for an international-type freight container in which the cover has a top (3), side (2), and end panels (4), is securable to a container or carrier for a container, allows access to upper corners of the container for stacking and maneuverability, and is adapted to display advertising material or information on at least one of its panels. The cover may be made of a flexible fabric or synthetic plastics material. To facilitate storage and use, each side and end panel of the cover may be connected only to the top panel with means provided for securing together side and end panels when a cover is in use on a container.

Description

CONTAINER COVER

Technical Field

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for covering containers or parts thereof and for enabling containers to be employed for displaying information and/or advertising material.

Background

In the context of this specification the term "container" is used to refer to the standard international-type freight containers and any other containers of similar design and dimensions employed in the freight industry such as the cargo compartment of a truck or lorry.

Containers are employed internationally for the transport of all nature of produce and goods. They may be conveyed by air, ship, road, or rail. In addition, some containers may be left for long periods at particular sites such as airports, wharves, building sites and the like. Whether in transit or on site, containers can be a prominent feature.

Whilst some containers have advertising material displayed in a permanent manner on the sides, many have blank sides. Advertising material painted on the side of a container is vulnerable to damage and soiling during freighting. Furthermore, permanent application of advertising material on the side of a container may restrict that container's use to a particular purpose related to that advertising.

Containers offer a valuable site for advertising or the provision of information, either at a particular location or during transit, especially by road where the advertisements or information may be displayed to large numbers of people.

For some companies or individuals containers may comprise a significant asset or assets, the value of which may depreciate rapidly through exposure of the container(s) to the elements during transportation and on sites. Moreover, once the condition of a container has deteriorated it may form an unsightly object.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for covering at least parts of containers for protection, concealment and/or displaying advertising and/or information which overcomes the above-mentioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

Other objects of the present invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover adapted for use with a container, said cover comprising at least two panels, two of said panels spaced apart but interconnected or interconnectable by at least one interconnection means and adapted to substantially cover opposing sides of a container, and said cover adapted to be securable to the container or container carrier.

In one preferred form of cover of the present invention the at least one interconnection means may comprise a top panel interconnecting one longitudinal edge of each side panel. In another preferred form the cover of the present invention may further comprise at least one end panel, and preferably a panel at each end.

Preferably said side and end panels may be interconnected to or formed integrally with said top panel only so that when not in use the cover may be laid out flat. Side edges of said side and end panels may be interconnectable by securing means when the cover is in use.

In a further preferred form there may be cut-out portions in the cover, adapted, when the cover is in use, to expose the upper corners of a covered container. Preferably each said cut-out portion may expose the upper surface and each outer side of a corner of a container.

In one preferred form of cover of the present invention each side panel and optionally each end panel may be securable to a lower part of a container or to a container carrier by means of attachment means at a lower edge of each said panel.

Preferably, at least one panel of a cover of the present invention may be adapted to display advertising material or information. In a preferred form, the or each display panel may be detachable from the rest of the cover.

In one preferred form a cover of the present invention may further comprise containment means adapted to contain the cover in a folded condition when not in use.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover adapted for use with a container said cover comprising a top, side and end panels formed or formable into a box-shape, securable to a container or container carrier by means of attachment means adjacent lower edges of said side and/or end panels and, when formed into a box-shape, having cut-out portions at upper corners thereof adapted to expose upper corners of a covered container.

Preferably, at least one panel may be adapted to display advertising material or information. The or each display panel may be detachable from the rest of the cover.

Preferably, the cover may further comprise containment means adapted to contain the cover in a folded configuration when not in use.

Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 : Shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of a cover of the present invention, in one preferred form;

Figure 2: Shows schematic representations of alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3: Shows a plan view of a cover of the present invention in an alternative preferred form.

Figure 4: Shows a view from beneath of a cover of Figure 3. Detailed Description of the Invention

In the preferred form of the invention shown in figure 1 , the container cover 1 may comprise sides 2, top 3 and ends 4. The bottom 5 being open. The cover 1 may be made from canvas, kevlar or other durable, flexible, natural or synthetic (e.g. PVC) material.

The dimensions of the cover are designed to permit it to form a snug fit over a container.

Cut-outs 6, 1 8 may be provided in parts of the cover which form the upper corners so that when freight containers having corner upstands and feet for stacking are covered adjacent containers may connect without interference with the cover. The cut-outs 6, 18 also provide access to the container for crane lifting and, as shown in the figures, preferably expose the sides as well as the top of each corner.

Additional cut-outs 1 3 may also be provided in lower edges 7 of sides 2 for lifting a covered container with a fork ft or the like.

It will be appreciated that the term "cut-out" is used to describe a shape, in the form of a recess, hole or the like, in a cover of the present invention. The term is not intended to restrict the method by which any such recess, hole or the like is formed.

The cover 1 may be integrally formed from a single piece of material, or one or more sides 2 or ends 4 may be separate and connectable with the top 3 by, for example, hook and loop fastener strips (e.g. Velcro ^ ) _Z|_{pS; r0}p_e bindings or the like.

The lower edges 7 of at least each side 2 of the cover 1 may have attachment means 8 for attachment of the cover to a fixture such as the platform of a truck or railway carriage, or to a lower part of a container itself. These attachment means 8 enable a cover to be secured over a container, so that in transit on a road or railway windage problems are minimised.

The attachment means 8 may be hook and loop fastener strips, rope or rubber bindings or the like, eyelets, or any similar means for securing the lower edges 7 of the cover 1 .

At least one side 2 or end 4 of a cover 1 of the present invention may be adapted to display advertising material or information. This advertising or information may be permanently fixed such that the cover is essentially adapted to one specific function.

Alternatively, the advertising material or information may be removable. For example, as shown in Figure 1 , side 1 1 may be separated along detachment lines 1 2 from the remainder of the cover and replaced with an alternative panel displaying different advertising material or information. Alternatively, at least one side or end of the cover may be made of a material suitable for application and removal of transparencies, self-adhesive labels/lettering, paints, etc.

It will be appreciated that the top 3 may also be adapted to display advertising material.

The container covers of the present invention in the form shown in figure 1 are adapted to snugly fit over a container. Such a cover is readily applied to a container by, for example, dropping it over the top. For this purpose the container cover may incorporate ring attachments 9, or the like, adjacent each top corner to facilitate lifting and removal of a cover by a simple crane employing a frame having the dimensions of the cover top 3.

Figures 3 and 4 show a cover 1 4 of the present invention in which the side 1 5 and end 1 6 panels are not directly connected, but are connectable in use by hook and loop fastener strips 1 7. Thus, such a cover would be placed over a container, with the cutouts 1 8 positioned about the corners of the container, and the side 1 5 and end 16 panels would then be secured together about the vertical edges of the container. Eyelets 19 may then be used for securing the cover to the container or a container carrier.

When not in use, container covers of the present invention may be stored in a folded and compact form. They may also be readily cleaned and maintained.

Referring to Figure 4, covers of the present invention may include a means for securing the cover in a folded configuration when not is use. This means may comprise securing panels 20 affixed, (e.g. sewn or adhered) to the inside top panel 21 of the cover. Each securing panel 20 runs substantially the full width of the top panel 21 and includes eyelets 22 along its outer edge 23.

When not in use a cover may therefore be stored in a compact form by:

(a) folding a first side panel 1 5a over the top of the top panel 21 ,

(b) folding the second side panel 1 5b over the first side panel 1 5a,

(c) rolling or folding end panels 16 and the bulk of top panel 21 to be positioned internally of the lines of connection of the securing panels 20 with the top panel 21 , and (d) wrapping the securing panels 20 round the folded cover and securing outer edges 23 together.

It will be appreciated that alternative means (e.g, hook and loop fasteners, domes, or the like) may be employed to secure the outer edges 23 of the securing panels 20 together.

For convenient access to a container without removing a container cover of the present invention at least one end of a cover 1 may be separable from its adjacent sides 2 enabling it to be rolled up. Optionally it may also be separable from the top 3 enabling it to be detached. To facilitate rolling up of a side or end panel, the lower edge may include a stiffened rope, pipe or the like 24 (e.g. of metal), which would also strengthen the edge.

A container cover of the present invention may include a window to enable container details (e.g. serial no., customer, contents, weight, etc.) to be viewed without removing the cover. Such a window may be open or made of a transparent material. In addition, a cover may have a pocket to hold and/or display docketing information.

Where a cover of the present invention is to be employed with a container having a refrigeration unit, at least one panel of the cover will be adapted to allow adequate ventilation and access to the controls.

It will be appreciated that in its simplest form the present invention involves a means of applying at least one panel, preferably displaying information or advertising, to the side of a container in a manner enabling the container to be employed in its usual way. Whilst the preferred embodiments of the invention involve essentially a complete cover, alternative embodiments of the invention are envisaged in which one or more ends, the top and/or a side are omitted, as shown, schematically, in Figure 2. Whilst the invention has been described with reference to covers employed with international-type freight containers, it will be appreciated that covers of the invention may also be adapted to protect and display advertising/information on other freight receptacles, of similar configuration to freight containers, such as, for example, the body or carriage/ storage portion of freight trucks/lorries.

Whilst the preferred embodiments described above involve panels of a flexible material, it will be appreciated that the or at least one panel could be solid and adapted to display advertising material in hard copy or electronic form.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to specific components and integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example, and with particular reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as herein described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A cover adapted for use with a container, said cover comprising at least two panels, two of said panels spaced apart but interconnected or interconnectable by at least one interconnection means and adapted to substantially cover opposing sides of a container, and said cover adapted to be securable to the container or a container carrier.

2. A cover according to claim 1 wherein said at least one interconnection means may comprise a top panel interconnecting one longitudinal edge of each side panel.

3. A cover according to claim 2 further comprising at least one end panel.

4. A cover according to claim 3 having an end panel at each end.

5. A cover according to claim 4 wherein the side and end panels are interconnected to or formed integrally with said top panel only such that when not in use the cover may be laid out flat.

6. A cover according to claim 5 further comprising securing means on side edges of said side and end panels, said securing means adapted to interconnect adjacent side and end panels when the cover is in use.

7. A cover according to claim 6 adapted, when in use, to expose the upper corners of a covered container. 8. A cover according to claim 7 wherein each corner of said top panel, and top corners of said side and end panels have cut-out portions.

9. A cover according to claim 8 wherein each side and/or end panel is securable to a lower part of a container or a container carrier by means of attachment means adjacent lower edges of said panels.

10. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one panel is adapted to display advertising material or information.

1 1 . A cover according to claim 10 wherein the or each side and/or end panel adapted to display advertising material or information is detachable from the rest of the cover.

1 2. A cover according to claim 1 1 wherein at least one end panel is adapted to facilitate access to a door to a covered container.

13. A cover according to any one of claims 2 to 1 2 further comprising containment means adapted to contain the cover in a folded condition when not in use.

14. A cover adapted for use with a container, said cover comprising a top, side and end panels formed or formable into a box-shape, securable to a container or container carrier by means of attachment means adjacent lower edges of said side and/or end panels and, when formed into a box-shape, having cut-out portions at upper corners thereof adapted to expose upper corners of a covered container.

1 5. A cover according to claim 14 wherein at least one side and/or end panel is adapted to display advertising material or information. 6. A cover according to claim 1 5 wherein the or each panel adapted to display advertising material or information is detachable from the rest of the cover.

7. A cover according to any one of claims 14 to 1 6 further comprising containment means adapted to contain the cover in a folded configuration when not in use.

8. A cover substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.