Pallet wrapping apparatus and method

Abstract

A wrap assembly for containing goods. The wrap assembly has a stacker wrap that has a first side, a second side, a back side, a first bottom flap, and a second bottom flap. The stacker wrap is configured to be folded into a folded configuration to provide a cavity for stacking goods within the cavity. The first bottom flap and second bottom flap have a plurality of coupling features that maintain the stacker wrap in the folded configuration while providing a substantially planar surface with both the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap.

1 . A wrap assembly for containing goods, comprising:
 a stacker wrap comprising a first side, a second side, a back side, a first bottom flap, and a second bottom flap;   wherein the stacker wrap is configured to be folded into a folded configuration to provide a cavity for stacking goods within the cavity;   wherein the first bottom flap and second bottom flap have a plurality of coupling features that maintain the stacker wrap in the folded configuration while providing a substantially planar surface with both the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap.   
     
     
         2 . The wrap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a center bottom flap having a plurality of coupling features that are selectively coupleable to the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap, wherein the center bottom flap is aligned with the substantially planar surface of the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap. 
     
     
         3 . The wrap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coupling features comprise at least one male dovetail defined in one of the first bottom flap or the second bottom flap and at least one female dovetail defined in the other of the first bottom flap or the second bottom flap, the at least one male dovetail sized to be selectively positioned within the at least one female dovetail to maintain the stacker wrap in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The wrap assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one male dovetail is coupled to the at least one female dovetail to provide a substantially planar transition therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The wrap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of coupling features of the center bottom flap are selectively coupleable to corresponding coupling features of the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap. 
     
     
         6 . The wrap assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of coupling features of the first bottom flap and second bottom flap selectively couple the first bottom flap to the second bottom flap. 
     
     
         7 . The wrap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first outer flap defined from the first side and a second outer flap defined from the second side, the first and second outer flaps configured to be foldable onto the corresponding first and second side in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The wrap assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second outer flaps are defined at an angle relative to a bottom edge of the corresponding first or second side, wherein the angle is not ninety degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The wrap assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising an adhesive along the first outer flap and the second outer flap to maintain the first outer flap and the second outer flap in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The wrap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive on the bottom of one or more of the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap and configured to selectively couple the wrap assembly to a base. 
     
     
         11 . A method of assembling a wrap assembly, comprising:
 providing a stacker wrap comprising a first side, a second side, a back side, a first bottom flap, and a second bottom flap;   folding the first side and second side ninety degrees towards one another relative to the back side;   folding the first bottom flap ninety degrees towards second side;   folding the second bottom flap ninety degrees towards the first side; and   engaging a coupling feature between the first bottom flap and second bottom flap to maintain the stacker wrap in a folded configuration while providing a substantially planar surface along both the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap.   
     
     
         12 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising folding a center bottom flap extending from the back side ninety degrees towards the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap. 
     
     
         13 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising coupling the center bottom flap to both the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap such that the center bottom flap, first bottom flap, and second bottom flap are coupled to one another in a substantially planar configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling feature comprises a male dovetail feature of the first bottom flap coupled to a female dovetail feature of the second dovetail flap. 
     
     
         15 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 14 , comprising coupling a center bottom flap to both the first bottom flap and the second bottom flap with separate dovetail coupling features. 
     
     
         16 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising folding a first outer flap about 180 degrees relative to the first side and folding a second outer flap about 180 degrees relative to the second side to form respective first and second angled edges there along when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second angled edges are not perpendicular to the first and second bottom flap when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising applying an adhesive between the first outer flap and the first side and between the second outer flap and the second side to hold the first and second outer flap against the respective first or second side in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The method of assembling the wrap assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising applying an adhesive to the bottom side of both the first bottom flap and second bottom flap such that the adhesive can selectively couple the wrap assembly to an underlying surface. 
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a planar stacker wrap cutout, comprising:
 cutting a flat material into a form that defines a first side, a back side extending from the first side, a second side extending from the back side opposite the first side, a first bottom side extending from the first side, a center bottom flap extending from the back side, and a second bottom flap extending from the second side;   cutting a plurality of dovetail features into the first bottom flap, center bottom flap, and second bottom flap, the plurality of dovetail features configured to interconnect with one another to form a folded configuration of the planar stacker wrap cutout that has a substantially planar orientation of the first bottom flap, center bottom flap, and second bottom flap when interconnected to one another.