Transportation base load unitizer

Abstract

A transportation base load unitizer ( 8 ) for unitizing a load ( 14 ) on a transportation base ( 16 ), such as a pallet. The unitizer ( 8 ) comprises at least one elastic section ( 12 ) and at least one protection section ( 10 ) for providing greater protection to a load ( 14 ) on a transportation base than the at least one elastic section ( 12 ). The unitizer ( 8 ) is configured such that, in use, the unitizer ( 8 ) holds together as a unit and protects a load ( 14 ) on a transportation base ( 16 ).

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A transportation base load unitizer for unitizing a load on a transportation base, such as a pallet, the unitizer comprising at least one elastic section and at least one protection section for providing greater protection to a load on a transportation base than the at least one elastic section, the unitizer being configured such that, in use, the unitizer holds together as a unit and protects a load on a transportation base and wherein the unitizer is in the form of a prefabricated sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one protection section is in the form of a sheet. 
     
     
         20 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one protection section comprises durable material. 
     
     
         21 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one protection section comprises plastics. 
     
     
         22 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one protection section comprises polypropylene. 
     
     
         23 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is substantially closed at one end. 
     
     
         24 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one elastic section is arranged to provide a substantially uniform restoring force circumferentially around the unitizer. 
     
     
         25 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the unitizer is configured for repeated use. 
     
     
         26 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protection section comprises a plurality of sheets. 
     
     
         27 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 26 , comprising four of said sheets. 
     
     
         28 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one protection section comprises at least one sheet and an elastic section of the at least one elastic section is located between adjacent sheet edges of the at least one sheet. 
     
     
         29 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 28 , wherein the or each elastic section comprises at least one elastic strip. 
     
     
         30 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 29 , wherein the elastic sections comprise a plurality of elastic strips spaced apart axially. 
     
     
         31 . A transportation base load unitizer according to  claim 29 , wherein the or each elastic strip extends circumferentially between adjacent edges of the at least one sheet. 
     
     
         32 . A method of unitizing a load on a transportation base, such as a pallet, using a transportation base load unitizer in the form of a prefabricated sleeve comprising at least one elastic section and at least one protection section for providing greater protection to a load on a transportation base than the at least one elastic section, the method comprising elastically deforming the at least one elastic section around the load on the transportation base to hold together as a unit and protect the load.