Reusable enclosure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reusable blank for a transport enclosure that is formed of at least one piece of sheet material that is housed or enclosed in at least one web of fabric or fibre. The web of fabric or fibre is synthetic material such as plastics. The transport enclosure of the present invention offers significant environmental benefits in reducing waste handling. The sheet material provides additional protection against damage. A transport enclosure which is formed therefrom and can be used to carry and protect articles.

1 . A blank for a transport enclosure, or a transport enclosure, for housing or enclosing at least one article, the blank or transport enclosure comprising a web which is formed from at least a base layer of woven fibre, having at least the following regions:
 a first protective region comprising a first pair of opposable portions adapted in the enclosure in use to cover two opposing surfaces of the article;   a second protective region comprising a second pair of opposable portions adapted in the enclosure in use to cover another two opposing surfaces of the article; and   a third protective region comprising a portion integral with or attached to and joining the first and second pairs of opposable portions of the first and second region, and adapted in the enclosure in use to cover a further surface of the article,   wherein at least one of the portions and/or regions of the web comprises a layer of a plastics material which is retained in contact with a surface of the base layer.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the blank or transport enclosure is designed so that in use it covers a regular-shaped article having similar dimensions of height, width and length. 
     
     
         4 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base layer of woven fibre which forms the web is a polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the polymeric material is polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a joint between one or more of the regions of the blank or the transport enclosure is a fold in a continuous piece of web. 
     
     
         7 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more edges of at least one of the first, second, or third regions includes releasable fastenings to enable fastening with a corresponding edge of an adjacent region when in use. 
     
     
         8 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of opposable portions comprise a laminate of the woven base layer and a layer of plastics material is provided for one or both of the portions as a reinforcing or stiffening aid. 
     
     
         9 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second or third protective regions includes a layer of plastics material. 
     
     
         10 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the or each layer of plastics material is in the form of rigid sheet or is a flexible layer or web of material. 
     
     
         11 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the or each layer of plastics material is held adjacent to or fastened to the base layer so as to provide reinforcing. 
     
     
         12 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plastics material is corrugated polypropylene. 
     
     
         13 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fabric web of the enclosure is provided with one or more handles or lifting loops on one or more pairs of opposed sides. 
     
     
         14 . A method of transport, the method comprising using the blank or transport enclosure of  claim 1  to transport a housed or enclosed article and/or to protect it against damaging contact. 
     
     
         15 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the web comprises a fourth protective region comprising a portion integral with or attached to the first or second region, and adapted in the enclosure in use to cover a surface of the article opposing the further surface. 
     
     
         16 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the plastics material has a weight of 300 to 1100 gm −2 . 
     
     
         17 . A blank or transport enclosure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the one or more handles or loops are in the form of flexible bands, belts, loops or straps formed from extruded or woven sheet or tubular plastics material.