Patent Publication Number: US-7222740-B2

Title: Freight enclosure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATE APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims the priority of and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/568,113, filed on May 10, 2000 now abandoned, Ser. No. 10/112,233, filed on Mar. 28, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,712, Ser. No. 10/266,347, filed on Oct. 8, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,643, Ser. No. 10/300,518, filed on Nov. 20, 2002 now abandoned, and Ser. No. 10/385,994, filed on Mar. 11, 2003 now abandoned, at least one of the one or more inventors or applicants was Jeffrey Garfinkle. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning protecting freight from damage. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Typically in the prior art freight is protected by sheets of plastic which are easy to cut and/or tamper with, without detection. Such sheets of plastic are also not particularly durable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention in one or more embodiments provides an apparatus comprising an open box structure having a top, a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, an inner chamber bound by the top, first, second, third, and fourth sides, and an opening leading to the inner chamber. The first side may be opposite the second side. The third side may be opposite the fourth side. The first and second sides may be substantially parallel. The third and fourth sides may be substantially parallel. The first side may be substantially perpendicular to the third and fourth sides. 
   The apparatus may include a first strap having a first end attached to the first side of the open box structure and a second end. The first strap may be of sufficient length so that the second end of the first strap can be pulled across the opening of the open box structure and attached to the second side of the open box structure, when the open box structure is fully extended. The first strap may have a first opening near the second end of the first strap; and the second side of the open box structure may have a second opening. A first attachment device can be inserted into the first opening of the first strap and into the second opening of the second side in order to attach the first strap to the second side of the open box structure. The first attachment device may include a loop of a lock. The apparatus may include a second strap similar to the first strap and a second attachment device similar to the first attachment device. 
   In one or more embodiments a method is also provided including placing an open box structure over freight which sits on a pallet. The method may further include attaching a second end of a first strap to a second side of the open box structure. The method may also include attaching a second end of a second strap to a second side of the open box structure. The second ends of the first and/or second straps may be locked to the second side of the open box structure. The second ends of the first and second straps may be attached in such a way that the freight lies inside a cavity of the open box structure and the open box structure and the freight are secured to the pallet. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  on a pallet with straps pulled under a portion of the pallet; 
       FIG. 4  shows another perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  on a pallet with straps pulled under a portion of the pallet; 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  on a pallet with straps pulled under the pallet securing the apparatus to the pallet and with locks or seals securing the straps; and 
       FIG. 6  shows an underside view of the straps holding the apparatus to the pallet. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus  10  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows another perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  includes a top  12 , sides  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20 . The apparatus  10  also includes straps  26  and  28 . The straps  26  and  28  are attached to side  14 . The strap  26  has metal rings  26   a ,  26   b , and  26   c , which have openings  27   a ,  27   b , and  27   c , respectively. The strap  28  has metal rings  28   a ,  28   b , and  28   c , which have openings  29   a ,  29   b , and  29   c , respectively. 
   The top  12  and sides  14 ,  16 ,  18 , and  20  form a box shape having an opening  21 .  FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  placed over freight  120  (shown by dashed lines) on a pallet  100  with straps  26  and  28  pulled under a portion  106  of the pallet  100 .  FIG. 4  shows another perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  placed over freight  120  on the pallet  100  with the straps  26  and  28  pulled under the portion  106  of the pallet  100 .  FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  on the pallet  100  with the strap  26  and  28  pulled under the portion  106  of the pallet  100  securing the apparatus  10  to the pallet  100  and with locks or seals  130  and  140  securing the straps  26  and  28 .  FIG. 6  shows an underside view of the straps  26  and  28  holding the apparatus  10  to the pallet  100 . 
   The pallet  100  shown in  FIGS. 3–6  includes top board or portion  106  having a top surface  106   a , openings  102   a  and  104   a  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), openings  102   b  and  104   b  (shown in  FIG. 4 ), and members  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 , and  116 . 
   In operation an individual places the open box structure  11  of the apparatus  10  over freight  120  until the bottom edge  11   a  of the box structure  11  contacts the top surface  106   a  of the portion  106  of the pallet  110 , as shown by  FIG. 3 . The freight  120 , will at this point be inside the cavity or chamber  11   b  of the open box structure  11 , as shown by  FIG. 3 . Next ends  26   d  and  28   d  of the straps  26  and  28  respectively, shown in  FIG. 1 , are inserted through the openings  102   a  and  104   a  of the pallet  100  shown in  FIG. 3 . The ends  26   d  and  28   d  are then pulled underneath the bottom surface  106   b  of the portion  106  of the pallet  100 , and out through the openings  102   b  and  104   b , as by  FIGS. 4 and 6 . Strap  28  is then secured to the side  18  of the box structure  11  by inserting ring or loop  130   a  of lock  130  through opening  29   c  of ring  28   c  in the strap  28 , and by locking the lock or seal  130 . Similarly, strap  26  is secured to the side  18  of the box structure  11  by inserting ring or loop  140   a  of lock  140  through opening  27   c  of ring  26   c  in the strap  26 , and by locking the lock or seal  140 . With the lock or seals  130  and  140  locked, the straps  26  and  28  secure the box structure  11  to the portion  106  of the pallet  100 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the open box structure  11  may have a width, W 1 , which may be about forty-five inches, and a depth, D 1 , which may be about forty-five inches. The structure  11  may have a length L 1  which may be about sixty inches. The straps  26  and  28  may have each have a length L 2 , which may be about fifty-once inches. The length of the straps  26  and  28  should be greater than the side  16  or  20  so that the straps  26  and  28  can be brought across the opening  21  of the box structure  11  and attached to side  18 . The straps  26  and  28  may each be about one and one half inches in width. There may be a distance of about two and one half inches between adjacent rings of rings  26   a ,  26   b , and  26   c , and rings  28   a ,  28   b , and  28   c . The rings  26   a – 26   c  and  28   a–c  may be metal. The straps  26  and  28  may be a fabric. The box structure may be made of Tyvek (trademarked) or some other durable, strong, lightweight,and waterproof material. 
   Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention&#39;s contribution to the art.