Patent Application
20180134471
Firewood has always been seen as a reliable source of renewable energy. Going by the demand for other fuels like oil and natural gas, firewood plays a significant role to meet the conservative and economic fuel requirements. Therefore, in most of the domestic applications, people have started using firewood extensively. However, the prospects of buying and transporting firewood is a cumbersome task. For instance, splitting the firewood and storage of all the small firewood sections is always labor intensive. There have been many attempts to store and transport all the firewood by using various containers and methods. In some cases, people are still carrying it on their own to meet their domestic fuel needs and during the process, they are injured by the splinters of wood.
Early attempts were aimed at providing a packaging container or a box made of cardboard or paperboard to carry all the firewood. However, these containers were not rigid enough to store the firewood and eventually collapsed. In some cases, a flat horizontal base is used to carry all the small firewood sections but it is not convenient for usage. In recent times, users have started using a container made of rigid composite materials to hold and carry all the firewood. However, these containers are limited for certain sizes of firewood and do not help in carrying firewood of different sizes and dimensions. In certain cases, a strap or a cord is generally tied around the firewood to group them into bundle for transport. All of these prior attempts did not help to hold and carry firewood especially if making the purchase of firewood in smaller amounts.
Prior art reference U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,589 discloses a flexible carrier apparatus comprising two rigid independent rods and two flexible material straps to assist in bundling and transportation of firewood. However, this apparatus is limited for firewood sections that have size limitations.
Prior art reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,626,015 discloses a firewood carrier having a bottom with opposed sides and a pair of handles extending up from the sides and over the bottom to hold a bundle of firewood. But the apparatus is a cumbersome design and does not help to carry the firewood in smaller amounts.
Some of the prior art attempts also include a customized carton, corrugated or a folding package to carry all the firewood which is tied using bands and straps with clips, buckles and staples for fastening the package. However, this too has limitations with respect to the application of use.
In light of the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations, there exists a need for a packaging assembly to securely carry firewood of various predetermined sizes even if the purchase is made in smaller amounts.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a firewood packaging assembly for transportation of predetermined sizes of firewood in a bundle configuration.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the firewood packaging assembly comprises a polyvinyl chloride wrapping film comprising a first end and a second end to selectively secure the predetermined sizes of firewood sections arranged in a bundle configuration, wherein the first end and the second end of the polyvinyl chloride wrapping film are sealingly engaged via a plurality of wire ropes wrapped around the bundle to securely hold the firewood sections.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a handle is removably attached to the outer surface of the bundle to carry the firewood packaging assembly during the transportation. The handle is made from a resilient material to securely grip the firewood sections and adaptively adjusts the weight of the firewood packaging assembly.
The present invention is related to a firewood packaging assembly 100 for transportation of predetermined sizes of firewood sections 102 in a bundle configuration even if the purchase is made in smaller amounts.
Referring now to
In an embodiment, according to the present invention as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment, the dimensions of the firewood sections 102 stacked in the bundle varies based on the size parameters of each of the firewood sections 102 and also the type of firewood sections 102. For example, if the user wants to purchase the firewood sections 102 in smaller amounts, the bundle will be made small and it will be easier to transport the same. The dimension of the polyvinyl chloride wrapping film bundle is configured to have 6 inches to 4 feet in length, width and height. However, other dimensions of the bundle may be considered in the present invention based on the requirements.
Referring to
According to a different embodiment as shown in
According to the exemplary embodiment as shown in
In another exemplary embodiment, the strands that are used to securely hold the firewood sections 102 generally comprises two or more wires wrapped concentrically in a helix configuration. These strands are wrapped around a center wire and normally referred to a 1 by the total number of wires in the given strand such as 1×7 (1 group of 7 wires) or 1×19 (1 group of 19 wires). Cables and wire ropes refers to construction of wire-rope that fall into the category of aircraft cable. These constructions include 7×7 (7 groups of 1×7 strand) or 7×19 (7 groups of 1×19 strand) respectively. The size, type and strength of these cables, strands and wire ropes varies depending on the actual size of the wood bundle and what may be required for securing the bundles. The wire ropes, strands and cables are manufactured in many different materials. In different embodiments, the wire rope is selected from a stainless steel material and type 302/304, a 1×19 stainless steel wire rope, type 316 extra corrosion resistant, a 7×19 stainless steel wire rope, type 316 extra corrosion resistant, a 7×19 stainless steel wire rope, type 302/304, a 7×7 galvanized wire rope, a 7×19 galvanized wire rope and a 6×37 IWRC stainless steel wire rope, type 316 extra corrosion resistant. In addition, different types of tapes are also used that varies in terms of thickness, width, color and adhesive strength. Various tapes, but not limited to, a box-sealing tape, a double-sided tape, a bondage tape, a duct tape, an elastic therapeutic tape, an electrical tape, a filament tape, a floor making tape, a friction tape, a gaffer tape, a gecko tape, a gorilla tape, a hockey tape, a Teflon tape, a self-amalgamating tape, a scotch tape and a masking tape. In some embodiments, rubber bands and zip ties are used to fasten the bundled firewood packaging assembly 100.
In different embodiments, the fasteners are selected from at least one of a metal clip, a wire buckle, a metal seal, a strapping clip and a nail. In some cases, boxed bundles can also be used to carry the firewood sections 102 and different type of nails can be used to fasten the box. Boxes can be made from a metal or a wood, a corrugated fiberboard, a paperboard and other non-durable materials. The box can have a plurality of shapes like square, elongated, round, oval, sloped or domed configuration. In exemplary embodiment, size of the box could be 0.25 cubic foot to 3 cubic foot. A stretch wrap is also used to tighten the firewood sections 102. It could be a highly stretchable plastic film wherein the elastic recovery keeps the items tightly bound. Stretch wrap configuration is 0.2 ft. through 4 ft. The most commonly used size of the bundle is 0.25 cubic ft. to 4.0 cubic ft. in all shaped and sizes. In addition to the stretch wrap, other wrapping types such as a heat shrink wrap, a PVC shrink wrap, a Polyolefin shrink wrap and a PVC shrink tubing is also used and the configuration is 0.001 ft. through 4 ft. The firewood packaging assembly 100 also comprises different colors of banding and handles for enhanced appearance and visualization. The straps are used to clamp the bundled firewood sections 102 and are selected from at least one of a cam strap, a spring buckle strap, a ratchet strap, a plastic cam strap, a side release buckle strap, a strap adjuster strap, a double ring strap, a camera strap. The materials for these straps are selected from group consisting of a steel, polypropylene, plastic, nylon, polyester and composites. The straps are tied upon the firewood bundle using a knot. The knot is selected from at least one of a Bowline knot, Lackwall hitch knot, Carrick bend knot, Clinch knot, Clove hitch knot, Diamond knot, Double wall knot, Grommet strop knot, Shroud knot, Slip knot, Square knot and Walker knot. However, other types of knot are also considered to be used in the present invention.
In some embodiments, the tree species could be selected from at least one of a Abies Amabilis, Abies Balsamea, Abies Bracteata, Abies Fraseri, Abies Lasiocarpa, Abies Magnifica, Abies Procera, Acer Macrophyllum, Acer Negundo, Acer Pensylvanicum, Acer Rubrum, Acer Saccharinum, Alaska Cedar, Baker Cypress, Baldcypress, Balsam, Balsam Fir, Balsam Fraser Fir, Banksian Pine, Barren Oak, Basswood, Bay Laurel, Beach Pine, Beaked Willow, Bellota, Bigtree, Bitternut, Black Birch, Black Locust, California Juniper, California Laurel, Cascades Fir, Cedar Pine, Cinnamon Oak, Cipres, Coral Bean, Cuban Pine, Desert Fir, Desert Palm, Dog Banana, Duck Oak, Dune Holly, Dwarf Walnut, Enebro, Eastern Larch, European Larch, False Elm, Fire Birch, Golden Fir, Gray Pine, Grey Oak, Holly Bay, Indian Banana, Jersey Pine, Knobcone Pine, Linden, Lovely Fir, Madrono, Monterey Cypress, Nogalillo, Norway Pine, Nut Pine, Oregon Alder, Pecan, Pignut, Quercitron, Red Elm, Roble, Saloop, Sheoak, Slippery Elm, Sourwood, Spruce Pine, Tanoak, Texas Oak, Torrey Pine, Ulmis Americana, Virginia Pine, Water Birch, Water Elm, Western Boxelder, White Ash, White Oak, Wild Plum, Yellow Birch, Yellow Plum, Yew Brush, and so on. However, other types of tree species are also considered to be relevant for the present invention.
The firewood packaging assembly 100 is packed using bags and bundles having various sizes and dimensions. For example, the bag is configured to have 0.25 cubic feet thru 15 cubic feet in measurement. Further, depending on the size irregularities of the firewood sections 102, different configuration of bundles are employed to seal the firewood sections 102 together. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of boxes such as a folding carton, a set up box, a crate, a wooden box and a bulk box are used to store and carry all the firewood sections 102 together. The firewood bundles are packed generally by a manual method or a firewood packer. However, firewood pack netting method is preferably used to bundle the firewood sections 102. These are available in roll or a full pallet of 27 rolls. Firewood pack netting improves the appearance of the firewood bundles and allows for effective packaging. It comprises a diamond mesh pattern which allows the wood to get dried even after packaging. These are available in a plurality of colors such as red, yellow, black and blue. Firewood pack netting allows for easier and faster application of desired length of the firewood sections 102 and to secure the confronting ends of the polyvinyl chloride wrapping film 104.
The firewood packaging assembly 100 according to the present invention, assists the user in ease of storage and transport of purchased firewood sections 102 feasibly. The user can make the purchase in smaller amounts or other desired quantity based on their needs and the firewood packaging assembly 100 can be used to effectively carry all the firewood sections 102 in a convenient manner. The firewood packaging assembly 100 is eco-friendly and saves both money and time.
Although the present invention has been described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present invention may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breadth and spirit of the present invention as described herein.
