AU2017245386A1

AU2017245386A1 - Liner for Container

Info

Publication number: AU2017245386A1
Application number: AU2017245386A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Justin GARCIA; Arash Malek; Scott Parke
Original assignee: Protek Cargo Inc
Current assignee: Protek Cargo Inc
Priority date: 2017-08-21
Filing date: 2017-10-12
Publication date: 2019-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-12
Also published as: NZ734795A; AU2017245386B2

Abstract

Abstract The invention describes a thermal liner for a container. The liner is thermally reflective and thus assists in maintaining an ambient temperature inside the container. It is simple to install and remove from the container. The liner includes a pole system which fits between the width sides of the container. Each pole in the system is compressible which allows it to be simply compressed by hand, and fitted against the sides of a container. The compression or tension in the compressed pole is then released so that the pole holds the liner in place across the width of the container. At least two poles are required to hold the liner in place: one at each longitudinal end of a container. Other attachments means may be also used in conjunction with the compression pole system. The liner may have embedded magnets for the side walls. Figure 1 -12

Description

Liner for Container

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a thermal liner for a container and in particular to a liner for a shipping container. The liner is designed to protection goods inside the container from changes in temperature within the container whilst the goods are being transported.

Background to the Invention

Containers are used to transport a wide variety of goods by land and sea. The goods being transported may reside in the container for lengthy periods of time. This is especially the case when the containers are transported by sea. The internal temperature within a container can rise or fall up to 15 degrees Centigrade. Such dramatic changes in temperature can damage the goods inside the container.

Devices have therefore been developed in an attempt to protect goods inside containers from these changes in ambient temperature. For example, thermal insulation has been used to slow the change in temperature inside containers. Some liners are used which are fixed to the sides of the container. Such liners are of limited value in that the direct contact of the liner with the walls of the container reduces their effectiveness. This is because heat is conducted from the walls of the container to the insulation materials.

Another known system of container insulation is shown in U.S. patent number 5, 638» 979· ^A system is described which uses a bubble foil material with a reflective surface. One disadvantage of this product is that the foil is heavy and cumbersome and is difficult and time-consuming to attach and detach to the container.

Another system is described in New Zealand patent number 532181. The thermal liner described in N.Z. 532181 includes a webbing material which is held in place in

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 the container between a number of attachments on the liner itself and second attachments on the container. The liner is thus held in place by a long piece of webbing material which is attached by a hook and loop system to the container.

Although this system provides an air space between the sides and top of the liner and the container, it is difficult and cumbersome to attach and hence it is time consuming attaching all the hooks and loops to each other.

Object of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a thermal liner for a shipping container which reduces the change in temperature within the container and which is easy to install or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a thermal liner for insertion into a transport container in which the liner comprises at least two compression poles insertable into the liner to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

The at least two compression poles are compressible to fit securely against the width sides of the container.

The invention also provides a kit comprising:

a thermal liner shaped and sized to fit around interior walls of a transport container; and a compression pole system which comprises at least two compression poles insertable into an upper portion of the liner which sits against the ceiling of the container, the compression poles adapted to be positioned against opposite sides of the container to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

The invention provides a thermal liner which provides thermal insulation within a transport container, the liner comprising:

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 at least three long panels which are joined along their long sides forming a part tube and wherein the middle long panel is the top panel of the liner which in use rests against the ceiling of a container and wherein the remaining two sides rest against the two long sides of the container;

two end panels which seal or partially seal each end of the tube; attachment means for attaching the liner to the walls of the container; and in which the attachment means comprises at least two compression poles insertable into the liner to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

The compression poles are adapted to be compressed or shortened by hand, fitted against the two opposite width sides of the container, and the compression in the poles then released such that the poles sit securely against the two sides of the container.

Preferably the liner comprises a sleeve for each compression pole, the sleeves being formed in the top panel of the liner, and sized such that a compression pole can be inserted into each sleeve.

Preferably a liner comprises about four compression poles for a 20-foot container and about eight poles for a 40-foot container.

Preferably the liner comprises a second attachment means to maintain the liner against the walls of the container. The second attachment means is preferably a magnetic system. More preferably the magnetic system comprises a plurality of magnets attached to the liner walls which can attach magnetically to a side of the container against which it rests. The number of magnets used can vary. However, it is useful for at least one magnet to be attached to the end panel of the liner that covers the door of the container.

Preferably the liner comprises a third attachment means to attach the liner to the doorway of the container. The third attachment means preferably comprises a loop 3

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 system. More preferably the loop system includes at least one loop of material which can fit over or into a corresponding attachment hook on the container above the container doorway. The material of the loop system is preferably elasticated and more preferably comprises four loops of elastic material which can fit at regular intervals into corresponding receiving hooks or similar above the doorway of the container.

A fourth attachment means may also be used. The fourth attachment means comprises a Velcro system which can be used to seal the doorway of the container. The Velcro system is preferably positioned between the liner and the doorway on three sides of the door of the container.

Specifically, the invention provides a thermal liner for lining a shipping container in which the liner comprises a compression poles system for attachment to the inside of the container.

The compression pole system preferably comprises at least two compressible poles within the upper surface of the thermal liner which attaches to the ceiling of the container.

It is acknowledged that the terms comprise, comprises and comprising may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning - i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components which the use directly references, but also to other non-specified components or elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of a 20-foot container with a liner attached;

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

Figure 2 is a plan drawing of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side plan view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a 40-foot container with a liner attached; and

Figure 5 is a side view of the container of Figure 4.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figures 1-3 show the first embodiment of the invention. A liner (2) according to the first embodiment of the invention is shown within a general shipping container of a length of 20 feet (4) in Figure 1. The liner (2) is in a shape which substantially corresponds to that of the container (4) into which the liner (2) is to be inserted.

The liner (2) has three long panels (2A, 2B and 2C) which are joined to each other along their longest sides, forming long seams (6). The liner (2) has two end panels (8). Each end pane (8) fits over end of the container. One end panel covers the door of the container (10). The liner (2) therefore has three long sides joined together and each end of these three long side panels is attached to an end panel. The liner fits into a container and covers both side walls, the roof and the two ends of the container, (one end of which is the door). The floor of the container is not covered.

On the upper long panels of the liner, poles (12) are inserted into the liner (2). The poles (12) are inserted through sleeves in the liner (14). The poles are slightly longer than the width of the upper panels of the liner. The poles form the means by which the liner is attached to the interior of the container. The poles are compressible. They can be compressed by hand to fit across the ceiling width of a container and be held in place due only to the compressibility and then expansion of them once in place against the sides of the container.

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

A detail of the pole system and sleeve system is shown in Figure 1. This includes a pole and sleeve system in which a pole (12) is inserted through a sleeve (14) made in the liner (2).

The distance between adjacent poles and sleeves is approximately 1525mm. The width of a container is approximately 2380 mm.

To further assist in the attachment of the liner to the interior of a container, wall magnets (16) are provided on the liner. These magnets (16) attach magnetically to the surface of the container. It has been found that four ceiling magnets, one left wall magnet, one right wall magnet and one door magnet are sufficient to maintain connection between the liner and the container.

Further attachment of the liner to the container walls is provided by a Velcro seal (18) around three sides of the door (10) of the container.

In addition, an elastic attachment (20) is provided between the liner and the container on the doorway (10) of the container. In Figure 1 this is shown as a fourloop elastic band. The elastic on the liner loops over attachments on the container (not shown).

To insert the liner into a container, the rolled-up liner is taken inside the container and positioned at the back end of the container; that is the end of the container opposite the doorway. The upper side of the liner (2C) is raised to the roof of the container. The first pole on the liner (12A) is positioned on the ceiling of the container. The pole is of such width that it fits across the ceiling width of the container if pushed with sufficient force. The pole is held in place across the width of the container due to the correct sizing of the poles. If required, rubber bungs can be placed on the ends of the poles.

Once the first pole (12A) has been inserted against the two long sides of the container at the opposite end to the door of the container, the remaining length of liner is rolled out towards the container door. At intervals, further poles (12B, 12C

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 etc.) are attached in the same manner to the two long sides of the container and across the width of the ceiling of the container. Figure 1 shows four poles. This number is sufficient to hold the liner in place against the roof of the container.

Once the liner has been attached to the roof of the container using the poles, it is secured to the door end of the container using an elastic loop system (20). Four elastic loops fit over corresponding appendages in the container above the door. The liner is then secured further to the container using magnets. In Figure 1, four ceiling magnets (22) are provided to secure the liner to the ceiling of the container; one magnet (16) secures the liner to the left wall and a further magnet secures the liner to the right wall (16). Finally, one magnet secures the liner to the container door (24). Thus, the embedded magnets assist in stopping the walls of the liner from flapping.

A second embodiment according to the invention is shown in Figures 4-5. In this embodiment, a 40-foot liner is provided. This liner is adapted to fit inside a 40-foot container. The liner is similar to that shown in Figure 1-3 except that it is longer. It therefore includes a greater number of poles (26) to ensure it attaches correctly to the container without causing sagging from the ceiling of the container. As shown in Figure 4, the liner includes eight poles (26). The pole system works in the same manner as that discussed for the 20-foot liner. In both the 20-foot and the 40-foot liner, the poles are 25mm in diameter and about 2590 mm in length. This is the ideal size to fit snuggly between the two side walls of a container which are about 2380 mm in width. If a longer liner was used, a correspondingly greater number of magnets would be used.

The liner is made from a thermally reflective material such as pure aluminium, laminated to woven PE plastic laminated to a metalized film. Materials can be as follows:

Aluminum + Pe woven Fabric + Aluminum

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

Aluminum + Pe woven Fabric + Metalized Film

Metalized film + Pe woven Fabric + Metalized film

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that various modification and improvement may be made to this embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in this specification. For example, the number of poles in the pole system need not be restricted to four for the 20-foot liner nor eight for the 40-foot liner. The number may be increased or decreased as desired. The number of magnets may also vary.

The additional attachment means could be altered as required. The elastic loop system above the container door could for example, be replaced by a webbing system or even a further magnetic system or Velcro seals. An adhesive attachment means would also be included within the scope of the invention. If an elastic attachment system is used, the elastic suggested is about 25mm wide.

The number of wall magnets could be increased or decreased as required. The embodiments shown only suggest a possibility. The poles may be made from any suitable material, including but not limited to steel, aluminum, plastic, ora composite.

The poles are approximately the width of a shipping container. They can be placed between the two sides of a container due to their compressibility.

The present invention provides a quick and easy method of installing a liner inside a container. It avoids the requirement to attach loops along the full length of a container side. It is fast and efficient both to install and to dismantle, thus overcoming problems with known systems.

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

Industrial Applicability

The invention provides a liner for use in containers which is efficient to install and dismantle. The liner is thermally reflective and thus assists in maintaining an ambient temperature inside the container. This assists in preventing goods in the container from experiencing a flux in temperature during transport. As a consequence, the liner assists in the maintenance of the quality and condition of goods on arrival at their destination. The liner includes a pole and sleeve attachment means for attachment to the interior of a container. This attachment means is simple to install and reduces the time needed to attach and detach the liner to a container.

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

Claims

1. A thermal liner for insertion into a transport container in which the liner comprises at least two compression poles insertable into the liner to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

2. The invention provides a thermal liner which provides thermal insulation within a transport container, the liner comprising:

at least three long panels which are joined along their long sides forming a part tube and wherein the middle long panel is the top panel of the liner which in use rests against the ceiling of a container and wherein the remaining two sides rest against the two long sides of the container;

two end panels which seal or partially seal each end of the tube;

attachment means for attaching the liner to the walls of the container;

and in which the attachment means comprises at least two compression poles insertable into the liner to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

3. A thermal liner according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the compression poles are adapted to be compressed or shortened by hand, fitted against the two opposite width sides of the container, and the compression in the poles then released such that the poles sit securely against the two sides of the container.

4. A thermal liner according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the liner comprises a sleeve for each compression pole, the sleeves being formed in the top panel of the liner, and sized such that a compression pole can be inserted into each sleeve.

5. A thermal liner according to any one of claims 1-4 wherein the liner comprises about four compression poles for a 20-foot container and about eight poles for a 40-foot container.

2017245386 12 Oct 2017

6. A thermal liner according to claim 2 wherein the liner comprises a second attachment means to maintain the liner against the walls of the container and in which the second attachment means is a magnetic system of attachment between the liner and the walls of the container

7. A thermal liner according to claim 6 wherein the magnetic system comprises a plurality of magnets attached to the liner walls which can attach magnetically to a side of the container against which it rests.

8. A thermal liner according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the liner comprises a third attachment means to attach the liner to the doorway of the container and wherein the third attachment means comprises a loop system which includes at least one loop of material adaptable to fit over or into a corresponding attachment hook on the container above the container doorway.

9. A thermal liner according to claim 8 wherein the material of the loop system is elasticated and comprises four loops of elastic material which are adaptable to fit at regular intervals into corresponding receiving hooks or similar above the doorway of the container.

10. A thermal liner according to claim either of claims 8 or 9 wherein the liner comprises a fourth attachment means and wherein the fourth attachment means comprises a Velcro system which can be used to seal the doorway of the container.

11. A thermal liner according to claim 10 wherein the Velcro system is positioned between the liner and the doorway on three sides of the door of the container.

12. A kit comprising:

a thermal liner shaped and sized to fit around interior walls of a transport container; and a compression pole system which comprises of at least two compression poles insertable into an upper portion of the liner which is adapted to sit against the ceiling of the container, the compression poles adapted to be positioned against

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 opposite sides of the container to hold the liner in place across the width of the inside the container.

13. A kit according to claim 12 wherein the compression poles are adapted to be compressed or shortened by hand, fitted against the two opposite width sides of the container, and the compression in the poles then released such that the poles sit securely against the two sides of the container.

14. A kit according to claim 13 wherein the liner comprises a sleeve for each compression pole, the sleeves being formed in the top panel of the liner, and sized such that a compression pole can be inserted into each sleeve.

15. A kit according to claim 14 wherein the liner comprises a second attachment means to maintain the liner against the walls of the container and in which the second attachment means is a magnetic system of attachment between the liner and the walls of the container.

16. A kit according to claim 15 wherein the liner comprises a third attachment means to attach the liner to the doorway of the container and wherein the third attachment means comprises a loop system which includes at least one loop of material adaptable to fit over or into a corresponding attachment hook on the container above the container doorway.

17. A method of using a liner according to any one of the preceding claim comprising the steps of:

compressing a first pole at a first end of a thermal liner;

fitting the compressed first pole across the width of one end of a container, releasing the compression in the first pole, compressing a second pole positioned at an opposite end of the thermal liner,

2017245386 12 Oct 2017 fitting the compressed second pole across the width of the container at the opposite end of the container, releasing the compression in the second pole, to thus secure the thermal liner between the two width sides of a container using at least two poles, each pole situated at substantially longitudinally opposite ends of a container.