LOAD SECURING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SECURING A LOAD

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a load securing system with at least two inflatable cushioning elements and fastening means for attachment of the cushioning elements to transported goods, wherein the at least two cushioning elements are in fluidic connection with one another by means of a connecting tube. The load securing system has a plurality of separate connectors. The method for securing a load provides that the inflatable cushioning elements are attached by means of fastening means to the transported goods, the transported goods are subsequently loaded, and the at least two cushioning elements are subsequently filled with a gas in a common step by means of one of a plurality of separate connectors, wherein a gas source is in fluidic connection with only one of the two cushioning elements or with the connecting tube.

Claims

1. A load securing system with at least two inflatable cushioning elements and fastening means for attachment of the cushioning elements on transported goods, wherein the at least two cushioning elements are in fluidic connection with one another by with a connecting tube, wherein the load securing system has a plurality of separate connectors.

2. The load securing system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means are flexible.

3. The load securing system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprise a band, with which the cushioning elements can be attached to the transported goods.

4. The load securing system according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two inflatable cushioning elements and/or the connecting tube have a connector for filling.

5. The load securing system according to claim 4, further characterized in that the connector comprises a valve.

6. The load securing system according to claim 1, wherein each of the cushioning elements has a separate connector.

7. A method for securing a load with a load securing system having a plurality of separate connectors, wherein the load securing system comprises at least two inflatable cushioning elements, wherein the at least two inflatable cushioning elements are which are in fluidic connection with one another via a connecting tube, and are attached with fastening means to transported goods that are to be loaded, comprising the steps of: loading the transported goods; and filling the at least two cushioning elements with a gas in a common step with one of the connectors, wherein a gas source is in fluidic connection with only one of the two cushioning elements or with the connecting tube.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least two cushioning elements are attached, spaced apart from one another, on the same side of the transported goods.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least two cushioning elements are attached by means of a band to the transported goods.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least two cushioning elements are attached by means of an elastic band to the transported goods by initially stretching the band over the transported goods and subsequently clamping the at least two cushioning is elements between the band and the transported goods.

11. A method of securing glass tubes that are combined into bundles, using the load securing system of claim 1, wherein the bundles are stacked on a pallet, the method comprising the steps of: attaching the at least two inflatable cushioning elements, so that they are in fluidic connection with one another via the connecting tube; spacing the at least two inflatable cushioning elements apart from one another, with fastening means on the same side of the stack, near to a front end and near to a back end of the bundles of glass tubes; loading the pallet; and filling the at least two cushioning elements with a gas in a common step via one of the connectors, wherein a gas source is in fluidic connection with only one of the two cushioning elements or with the connecting tube.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the load securing system according to the present disclosure on transported goods on a pallet in perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0029] Illustrated in FIG. 1 are transported goods 10 as, by way of example, a rectangular box, which is arranged on a pallet 12. The box, for example, can be composed of a container of a plurality of individually layered transported goods. For the purpose of fixing the transported good in place, it is possible, in a known way, to wrap it with plastic film. It is understood that, in place of the rectangular box, also transported goods of any other shape can be packed.

[0030] In its top region, the transported goods 10 have a load securing system with two inflatable cushioning elements 14 and 15 on the longitudinal side 16 of the pallet 12 facing the observer. The same arrangement is also found on the longitudinal side 17 of the pallet 12 facing away from the observer. The cushioning elements 14, 15 are attached to the transported goods 10 by means of a fastening means in the form of an elastic band 18. The band 18 runs around the periphery of the transported goods 10 and, in this way, also surrounds the cushioning elements arranged on the opposite side.

[0031] The elastic band 18 can be endless in design and then is passed over the transported goods for fastening from the top side. Subsequently, the cushioning elements 14, 15 are clamped in place between the band and the side of the transported goods.

[0032] Alternatively, the band can also be open in design and can be wound around the transported goods 10 and then, for example, knotted or, after being wound around, fastened adhesively to the surface of the transported goods and/or at adjacent positions of the band. Optionally, a clamping strap can also be used, which, after being wound around the transported goods 10, is tightened and fixed in place using a clamping device. The fixing in place can take place, in turn, in such a way that the band can be released in a non-destructive manner or in a manner that is not non-destructive. In these cases, the band may also be less flexible or not very flexible at all. Coming into consideration as fastening means are, for example, also Velcro straps, fabric straps, rubber straps, or straps made of plastic film.

[0033] The two cushioning elements 14, 15 are in fluidic connection with each other by means of a connecting tube 20. Furthermore, the cushioning element 14 has a connector 22, by way of which, initially, the cushioning element 14 and, finally, via the connecting tube 20, the cushioning element 15 can also be filled with a gas, preferably air. This is similarly applicable to the two cushioning elements arranged on the side facing away. Optionally, however, those cushioning elements can also be connected by way of another connecting tube to one of the two cushioning elements 14 or 15, so that all cushioning elements can be filled in one operating step. Of course, depending on the requirement, other cushioning elements can be arranged at the two front ends, on the top side, or further in the bottom region of the transported goods 10 next to the pallet 12. Moreover, the cushioning elements can also be of different size and shape.

[0034] In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the transported goods 10 cannot be supported in the hatched region 24 along the longitudinal sides 16, 17 by means of cushioning elements. This could lie in the fact, for example, that a cavity is situated at that place, so that a support cannot thereby occur. Another case of application could be that the transported goods should not be supported in the region 24, because an increased risk of breakage or an increased sensitivity to pressure exists there. In such cases of application, a large air cushion that acts on the entire longitudinal side of the transported goods 10 does not come into consideration. For this reason, the at least two spatially separated cushioning elements 14, 15 are provided. In order for the latter to able to be handled during loading and filling just as simply as an individual cushioning element, the present disclosure provides the very connecting tube 20. The attachment by means of fastening means prior to loading simplifies the operation still further.

[0035] A case of application is the use of the load securing system according to the present disclosure for securing glass tubes that are combined into bundles. More preferably, the individual glass tubes are packed in tightest packing to form commercial bundles and are held together at both tube ends in each case by means of a film, preferably a shrink film made of polyethylene (PE). This imparts a high dimensional stability to the bundle without additional supporting spacing elements and protects the individual tubes against any further shifting with respect to one another. The risk of scratching and of point contacts and hence the risk of breakage is thereby reduced. In addition, the film material does not abrade, as is the case for paper or cardboard, for example and, at the same time, seals the ends of the tubes. In this way, soiling can be doubly prevented. Moreover, the film is transparent, so that visual inspection can take place without removal of the packing. And finally, the film material is very thin and therefore minimizes the packing volume.

[0036] Such bundles can be stacked and can therefore be stacked on a pallet 12. It has proven advantageous, in addition, to pull a shrink cover over the pallet containing the stacked bundles. The shrink cover can also be made of PE. The shrink cover imparts additional stability and strength to the entire stack and tightly seals the stack against environmental influences.

[0037] Whereas, the bundles of tubes at the tube ends, where they are held together by means of the film, mutually supporting one another, exhibit a high compressive strength, this strength is reduced in the middle of the tube, because, there, less mutual support exists. For this reason, at such a stack, at least two of the inflatable cushioning elements 14, 15, which are in fluidic connection with one another by means of a connecting tube 20, are to be attached at the same side of the stack, spaced apart from each other, by means of fastening means, respectively near to the front end and near to the back end of the glass tubes or bundles of glass tubes. Thus, the pallet can subsequently be loaded and the at least two cushioning elements 14, 15 can be filled one time with a gas (air) in the loaded state, wherein the gas source needs to be connected to only one of the two cushioning elements 14, 15 or to the connecting tube 20, depending on which is more readily accessible.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0038] 10 transported goods [0039] 12 pallet [0040] 14 inflatable cushioning element [0041] 15 inflatable cushioning element [0042] 16 longitudinal side [0043] 17 longitudinal side [0044] 18 band [0045] 20 connecting tube [0046] 22 connector