Abstract:
The invention is a resusable cover with integrated fasteners for transporting material on an industrial shipping rack which comprises a body. The body comprises an upper main flap distinguished from a rear panel section at an upper flap fold line. Similarly, the rear panel section is distinguished from a right panel section at a right panel section fold line and the rear panel section is additionally distinguished from a left panel section at a left panel section fold line. The right panel section is distinguished from a forward right panel section at a forward right panel section fold line and the left panel section is distinguished from a forward left panel section at a forward left panel section fold line.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application 61/506,452 filed on Jul. 11, 2011. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates industrial shipping racks and an efficient device for storing material on these racks. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The most common manner of securing items to industrial shipping racks is stretch plastic shrink wrap or “stretch film.” Stretch film contains many difficulties, notably it can only be used once and is expensive. A single use can cost $78. Virtually no stretch film is recycled and it requires 120-240 years to biodegrade in a landfill. As a result, others have proposed solutions to replacing stretch film in some settings, but these are woefully insufficient when compared to the present invention. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,549,654 issued to Anderson describes a rack which is used to move soiled clothing from a usage point to a laundry point. The rack discloses a cloth cover which covers a series of shelves that further comprise a series of baskets in which some laundry is stored in each basket. Anderson teaches, that by keeping materials isolated from the edges of the container, the container will be able to contain the materials. This teaches away from the current invention which utilizes a series of fasteners and more rugged material to keep the contents of the container in place by having a reinforced cover as opposed to using a plurality of shelves and baskets. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,458 issued to Hooper discloses a canvas tarp that covers the top and two sides of a wheeled cart. Hooper only teaches a way to cover the top and two sides of a cart and uses a plurality of metal bars to secure the other sides. As with Anderson, the Hooper device, if it worked, would be used in commercial settings where a pallet&#39;s motion can be carefully controlled by an operator and there was no need to secure the remaining sides. However, the present invention teaches a device that can be used in industrial settings, where, unlike the cargo in Hooper and Anderson, cargo moves wildly and requires a more sophisticated theory of reinforcement. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,384 issued to Hartwell teaches a fabric cover for moving food items. Like Anderson and Hooper it teaches keeping cargo stationary in order to move it and it does not teach a top enclosure or use of a desiccant to control moisture. 
         [0010]    Additionally, none of the above stated references teach the security features for this invention. Pilfering is a known problem in industrial storage racks and the security straps and grommets taught in the claimed invention directly address that problem. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention includes methods, systems, and other means for protecting cargo on an industrial shipping rack. The invention is a resusable cover with integrated fasteners for transporting material on an industrial shipping rack which comprises a body. The body has five primary portions an upper main flap distinguished from a rear panel section at an upper flap fold line. Similarly, the rear panel section is distinguished from a right panel section at a right panel section fold line and the rear panel section is additionally distinguished from a left panel section at a left panel section fold line. The right panel section is distinguished from a forward right panel section at a forward right panel section fold line and the left panel section is distinguished from a forward left panel section at a forward left panel section fold line. The upper main flap is mechanically coupled to left upper flap side flap at a left upper flap side flap fold line. Similarly, the upper main flap is mechanically coupled to a right upper flap side flap at a right upper flap side flap fold line. Additionally, the upper main flap is mechanically coupled to an upper flap forward flap at an upper flap forward flap fold line. Here, the forward left panel section is mechanically coupled to the forward right panel section by an attachment mechanism and the attachment mechanism comprises a attached securement webbing mechanically coupled to a first D-ring and second D-ring. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1 : is a perspective view of the invention shown in use in pre-application phase. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 : is a perspective view of the invention shown in use in mid-application phase. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3 : is a perspective view of the invention shown in use in post-application phase. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4 : is a rear view of the invention 
           [0017]      FIG. 5 : is a front view of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6 : is a top detail view of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7 : is a detail perspective view of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with moving materials on industrial shipping racks, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the invention in use. The user desires to ship cargo on industrial shipping rack  84 . Industrial shipping rack  84  comprises a base mechanically coupled to left rear post  86 , right rear post  86 , left front post  88  and right front post  88 . The user chooses to secure the cargo (not shown) to industrial shipping rack  84  with cover assembly  10 . 
         [0022]    Cover assembly  10  comprises upper main flap  26  which is mechanically coupled to rear panel section  52 . Rear panel section  52  is mechanically coupled to right panel section  54  and left panel section  56 . Right panel section  54  is further mechanically coupled to forward right panel section  60 . Left panel section  56  is further mechanically coupled to forward left panel section  58 . In some embodiments this configuration may be separate sections mechanically coupled by sewing and in other embodiments this configuration may be a single piece of material without mechanical couplings and with fold lines as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0023]    Upper main flap  26  further comprises a left upper flap side flap  28 , a right upper flap side flap  28 , upper flap forward flap  32 . Right upper flap side flap  28  further comprises right upper flap side flap hook fastener  98 . Left upper flap side flap  28  further comprises Left upper flap side flap hook fastener  98 . Upper flap forward flap  32  further comprises upper flap side flap hook fastener  92 . Forward left panel section  58  is mechanically coupled to attachment securing webbing  20  and view window  22 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows cover assembly  10  in a state of closure. Cover assembly  10  comprises body  24  which further comprises inner surface  12  which comprises the side of upper main flap  26 , rear panel section  52 , right panel section  54 , left panel section  56 , forward right panel section  60  and forward left panel section  58  which face the center of industrial shipping rack assembly  84 . Body  24  further comprises outer surface  14  which comprises upper main flap  26 , rear panel section  52 , right panel section  54 , left panel section  56 , forward right panel section  60  and forward left panel section  58  which face away from the center of industrial shipping rack assembly  84 . Body  24  can be made from a wide variety of materials including any durable reusable fabric. Additionally, nylon has proven to be an effective material. 
         [0025]    To use the device a user places rear panel section  52  immediately adjacent to left rear post  86  and right rear post  86  such that right panel section fold line  62  is immediately adjacent to right rear post  86 . The user then wraps left panel  56  such that is immediately adjacent to left rear post  86  and left front post  88  such that left front post  88  is immediately adjacent to forward left panel section fold line  70 . The user then wraps right panel  62  such that is immediately adjacent to right rear post  86  and right front post  88  such that right front post  88  is immediately adjacent to forward right panel section fold line  64 . 
         [0026]    As shown, right panel  62  further comprises right panel section loop fastener  102 . Forward right panel section  60  further comprises right panel section loop fastener  96 , and D-ring  82 , which is mechanically coupled to tension release cord  90 . Left panel desiccant bag pouch  50  is mechanically couple to left panel section  56 . Center panel desiccant bag pouch  50  is mechanically couple to center panel section  52 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows cover assembly  10  completely surrounding industrial shipping rack assembly  84  with only outer surface  14  showing. Upper main flap  26  comprises a right rear radius cut edge  44 , a left rear radius cut edge  44 , a right front radius cut edge  44  and a left front radius cut edge  44 . The right rear radius cut edge  44  is mechanically coupled to right rear post  86  by right rear binding tape  46 . Similarly, the left rear radius cut edge  44  is mechanically coupled to left rear post  86  by left rear binding tape  46 . Additionally, the right front radius cut edge  44  is mechanically coupled to right front post  88  by right front binding tape  46 . Additionally, the left front radius cut edge  44  is mechanically coupled to left front post  88  by left front binding tape  46 . 
         [0028]    As shown view window  22  is mechanically coupled to forward left panel section  58 . A user can also mechanically couple logo  16  or packing slip pouch  18  to left panel section  58 . Logo  16  is mechanically coupled to left panel section  58  with permanent labeling such as silk screening, embroidery, fabric paint, and other techniques and can be any color and in any location. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of cover assembly  10  showing inner surface  12  in detail. As noted above, upper main flap  26  is mechanically coupled to rear panel section  52  at upper flap fold line  48 . Rear panel section  52  is mechanically coupled to right panel section  54  at right panel section fold line  62 . Rear panel section  52  is additionally mechanically coupled to left panel section  56  at left panel section fold line  68 . Right panel section  54  is mechanically coupled to forward right panel section  60  at forward right panel section fold line  64 . Similarly, left panel section  56  is mechanically coupled to forward left panel section  58  at forward left panel section fold line  70 . 
         [0030]    Forward left panel section  58  further comprises view window  22 , forward left panel desiccant bag pouch  50  left corner grommet  72 , left security strap  78  and left security strap grommet  80 . Forward left panel section  58  further comprises securement webbings  20 . Forward right panel section  60  further comprises forward right panel desiccant bag pouch  50  right corner grommet  72 , right security strap  78  and right security strap grommet  80 . Right panel section  60  is mechanically coupled to right panel desiccant bag pouch  50 . Center panel section  52  is mechanically coupled to center panel desiccant bag pouch  50 . Right panel section  54  is mechanically coupled to right panel desiccant bag pouch  50 . 
         [0031]    The use of security straps and grommets to prevent pilfering is a novel feature of the device and this novel feature can be manifested in many ways including the usage of locks, locking bolts and similarly effective mechanisms that would secure all but the intended user from using the device. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a front view of cover assembly  10 . Upper main flap  26  is mechanically coupled to left upper flap side flap  28  at left upper flap side flap fold line  36 . Similarly, upper main flap  26  is mechanically coupled to right upper flap side flap  28  at right upper flap side flap fold line  36 . Left upper flap side flap  28  further comprises left upper flap side flap tab  30 , which further comprises left upper flap side flap tab grommet  34 . Similarly, right upper flap side flap  28  further comprises right upper flap side flap tab  30 , which further comprises right upper flap side flap tab grommet  34 . Upper main flap  26  is mechanically coupled upper flap forward flap  32  at upper flap forward flap fold line  40 . Upper flap forward flap  32  further comprises left upper flap forward flap grommet  42  and right upper flap forward flap grommet  42 . 
         [0033]    Forward right panel section  60  is mechanically coupled to D-ring webbing  76 , which is further mechanically coupled to D-ring  82  and tension release cord  90 . To secure forward right panel section  60  to forward left panel section  58 , a user mechanically couples attached securement webbing  20  to D-ring  82  in a well-known manner. To uncouple attached securement webbing  20  from D-ring  82 , a user applies force to tension release cord  90  in a well-known manner. A user could mechanically couple logo  16  into any position on this view in the manner stated above. 
         [0034]    To mechanically couple upper main flap  26  to forward left panel section  60  and forward left panel  58 , a user mechanically couples upper flap forward hook fastener  92  to forward left panel section loop fastener  94  and forward right panel section loop fastener  96 . Similarly, a user can mechanically couple upper main flap  26  to right panel section  54  by mechanically right upper flap side flap hook fastener  98  to right panel section loop fastener  102 . Additionally, a user can mechanically couple upper main flap  26  to left panel section  56  by mechanically coupling left upper flap side flap hook fastener  98  to left panel section loop fastener  100 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows the attachment mechanism in more detail. As noted above, cover assembly  10  comprises body  24 , which further comprises inner surface  12  and outer surface  14 . Attached securement webbing  20  is mechanically coupled to outer surface  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Outer surface  14  is mechanically coupled to a first D-ring  82  and a second D-ring  82 , which is further mechanically coupled to tension release cord  90  in a as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows the attachment mechanism in another view. To use the attachment mechanism a user inserts attached securement webbing  20  underneath first D-ring  82  and second D-ring  82 . The user then takes attached securement webbing  20  and loops it back over second D-ring  82  and underneath first D-ring  82 . A user can tighten attached securement webbing  20  as necessary to complete the mechanical couple. To undo the mechanical couple a user simply applies pressure to tension release cord  90 .