Method for providing an envelope around a device

Abstract: The invention relates to method for providing an envelope (5) round a device comprising one or more platforms (3) positioned one above another, wherein a few upwardly extending, spaced-apart uprights (4) are provided near the circumference of said platform(s), along which the envelope is guided. A cloth formed in one piece is provided round the uprights, the length of which cloth corresponds approximately to the circumference of a platform, and the adjoining, upwardly extending edges of the cloth are joined together by means of a zipper (8) after provision of the cloth.

Description: The invention relates to a method for providing an envelope round a device comprising one or more platforms positioned one above another, according the pre-characterising part of claim 1. The transport of pot plants, flowers and the like agricultural products, is frequently carried out by means of devices which comprise one or more platforms positioned one above another as well as wheels, so that the devices are mobile, or by devices consisting of pallets, wherein the pallet forms a platform. The pot plants, flowers and the like are placed on the platform(s). Usually, an envelope consisting of a plastic foil is provided round the uprights in order to protect the products during transport and to prevent them from sliding off the platform(s). To this end a foil web is used, which is wrapped round the uprights. This method, which has been used for several decades already, has a number of drawbacks. For example, the wrapping of plastic foil round the device by hand is a time-consuming and labourious activity. That is why machines have been developed, by means of which such wrapping of the device with a foil can take place mechanically. Such machines are quite expensive, however. When several foil-wrapped devices are parked or transported side by side, the foils of adjacent devices, for example of trolleys or pallets placed side by side in a loading space, exhibit a tendency to stick together. This hampers the moving of the devices with respect to each other, whilst in many cases the foil is torn, so that the intended optimum protection of the crops is lost. In addition, the foil can be used only once, so that a considerable amount of waste which burdens the environment is produced when the prior art method is used. From US-A-4,738371, there is known a device comprising a platform, uprights and a cloth wherein the cloth has been fixed to the inner sides of the uprights. According to the invention the cloth is provided round the uprights. When using the method according to the invention, it is possible to use a cloth made of a strong material which is easy to fit and which allows repeated use. The cloth can simply be made of an air-permeable material, thus effecting a certain degree of ventilation in the space enveloped by the cloth, so that undesirable condensation, which is harmful to the crops, as occurs when the device is wrapped in plastic foil, is avoided. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter by means of a device provided with a cloth which is schematically illustrated in the accompanying figure. The figure shows a device in the shape of a trolley 1 supported by castors 2, which is known per se and which has been used for the transport of flowers, plants and the like crops for several decades already. The trolley comprises one or more platforms 3 positioned one above another, on which the crops to be transported can be placed. Vertical uprights 4 are disposed in the corner points of the, usually rectangular, platform(s) 3. In order to protect the crops from being damaged and from falling off the platform(s) during transport, a cloth 5 is wrapped round the uprights. As will be apparent from the figure, the length of said cloth approximately corresponds to the length of the circumference of the platform(s) 3. Strips 6 and 7, respectively, which are made of a resilient material, are attached to the vertically extending (seen in the figure) end edges of the cloth. Attached to said strips 6 and 7, along each of the facing edges thereof, is half of a separable zipper 8 as known per se. It will be apparent that when cloth 5 is provided round the uprights in the manner which is shown in the figure, the facing ends of the cloth can be joined together quickly and easily by means of zipper 8. The provision of the parts 6 and 7 consisting of a resilient material generates a certain pulling force in the cloth, so that the cloth will be held firmly in position round uprights 4 and will not tend to slip down. Efficiently, the cloth can be made of a strong material, thus allowing repeated use of the cloth. Preferably, a woven material is used, such as commercially available canvas, so that the cloth will also be air-permeable and a certain degree of ventilation of the space enveloped by the cloth can take place. It will be apparent that the use of the zipper enables easy fitting and removal of the above-described cloth. Furthermore, when a woven material such as canvas is used, the envelopes of devices disposed side by side will not exhibit a tendency to stick together. Furthermore such a material lends itself well for being printed, so that the user's name, publicity and the like can be placed on the envelope. If desired, the cloth can be formed with a part consisting of a transparent material, so that the contents of the device will be exposed to view. Although the above description relates to a device in the form of a mobile trolley, it will be apparent that the invention can also be used with a device consisting of a pallet forming a platform, whether or not in combination with one or more further platforms disposed above said pallet and connected to said pallet.

Claims: A method for providing an envelope around a device (1) comprising one or more platforms (3) positioned one above another, wherein a few upwardly extending, spaced-apart uprights (4) are provided near the circumference of said platform(s) (3) for supporting a cloth (5) formed in one piece, the length of which cloth (5) corresponds approximately to the circumference of a platform (3), and in that adjoining, upwardly extending edges of the cloth (5) are joined together by means of a zipper (8) after provision of the cloth (5), characterised in that the cloth (5) is provided round the uprights (4). A method according to claim 1, characterised in that an air-permeable cloth (5) is used. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a cloth (5) formed with a transparant portion is used. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a cloth (5) is used wherein mating parts of the zipper (8) are connected to the edges of the cloth (5) to be joined together with the interposition of a connecting strip (6, 7) consisting of a resilient material.

Inventors: VAN RUTTEN THEORDORUS WILHELMU, VAN RUTTEN, THEORDORUS WILHELMUS
Applicants: VAN RUTTEN THEORDORUS WILHELMU, VAN RUTTEN, THEORDORUS WILHELMUS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D65
IPC codes: B65D85, B65D19, B65D65