Method and apparatus for wrapping a shipment

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a cover, a method of covering, and a cover system for shipments of products transported by air with ULDs. The cover system can be adapted to any skid such as wooden or plastic pallets used for smaller loads used in air transport or any other mode of transportation. The cover system can include one or multiple parts. Each part of the cover system can be made of one or more layers. Each layer can be made of a single material or a combination of different materials. Different parts of the cover can be made of different materials or different combination of materials. The cover system provides thermal protection to temperature-sensitive products in or on the ULD. The cover system maintains the proper relative humidity level and gas concentrations for horticultural product loads. The cover system decreases the amount of water vapor released in the cargo holds.

1 . A cover system, comprising:
 a cover adapted for covering a load on or in a unit load device or on a skid,   a means for securing the cover in a covered position around the load on or in the unit load device or on the skid, wherein the cover provides thermal protection to the load on or in the unit load device or on the skid.   
     
     
         2 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is adapted for covering various size loads on or in the unit load device or on the skid. 
     
     
         3 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover provides thermal protection to the load from conductive and convective heat transfer. 
     
     
         4 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an outside surface with physical properties affecting radiative heat transfer with the surrounding environment in such a way that the cover helps to maintain the temperature of the load. 
     
     
         5 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a single layer. 
     
     
         6 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises multiple layers. 
     
     
         7 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises multiple parts. 
     
     
         8 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover allows the respiration of horticultural products by providing adequate gas exchange rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         9 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover allows water vapor exchange between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         10 . The cover system according to  claim 9 , wherein the water vapor exchange between the load and the surrounding environment acts to maintain a level of relative humidity to avoid condensation on the load. 
     
     
         11 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover allows the exchange of gases between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         12 . The cover system according to  claim 11 , wherein when the load is horticultural products the exchange of gases between the load and the surrounding environment acts to allow the respiration of the horticultural products by providing adequate gas exchange rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the horticultural products and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         13 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein for a covered load loaded in an aircraft cargo hold, the cover allows the exchange of water vapor between the load and the aircraft cargo hold environment so as to avoid a release of water vapor in the aircraft cargo hold sufficient to trigger an aircraft cargo hold compartment smoke detection system. 
     
     
         14 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover system comprises a material that absorbs or eliminates ethylene. 
     
     
         15 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover system comprises a material imbedded or coated with antimicrobial agents that will decrease and/or stop the growth of microorganisms and/or kill microorganisms. 
     
     
         16 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover protects the covered shipment from one or more of the following: precipitation, condensation, dust, wind, insects, and small animals. 
     
     
         17 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is made entirely or partially from a material or a combination of materials that is RFID friendly. 
     
     
         18 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover allows the use on and/or under the cover system of RFID tags such as but not limited to passive, semi-passive, active, semi-active. 
     
     
         19 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is perforated. 
     
     
         20 . The cover system according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover system has a permeance for oxygen of at least 15.6×10 3  L O2 /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         21 . The cover system according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover system has a permeance of carbon dioxide of at least 23.4×10 3  L CO2 /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         22 . The cover system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover system has a permeance of water vapor between 1×10 3  g water /(m 2  atm d) and 50×10 3  g water /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         23 . The cover system according to  claim 14 , wherein a concentration of ethylene around the load is <0.01 ppm. 
     
     
         24 . A method for covering a load on or in a unit load device or on a skid, comprising:
 covering a load on or in a unit load device or on a skid,   securing the cover in a covered position around the load on or in the unit load device or on the skid, wherein the cover provides thermal protection to the load on or in the unit load device or on the skid.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover is adapted for covering various size loads on or in the unit load device or on the skid. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the cover provides thermal protection to the load from conductive and convective heat transfer. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises an outside surface with physical properties affecting radiative heat transfer with the surrounding environment in such a way that the cover helps to maintain the temperature of the load. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises a single layer. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises multiple layers. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises multiple parts. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover allows the respiration of horticultural products by providing adequate gas exchange rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover allows water vapor exchange between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the water vapor exchange between the load and the surrounding environment acts to maintain a level of relative humidity to avoid condensation on the load. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover allows the exchange of gases between the load and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein when the load is horticultural products the exchange of gases between the load and the surrounding environment acts to allow the respiration of the horticultural products by providing adequate gas exchange rates of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the horticultural products and the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein for a covered load loaded in an aircraft cargo hold, the cover allows the exchange of water vapor between the load and the aircraft cargo hold environment so as to avoid a release of water vapor in the aircraft cargo hold sufficient to trigger an aircraft cargo hold compartment smoke detection system. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises a material that absorbs or eliminates ethylene. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover comprises a material imbedded or coated with antimicrobial agents that will decrease and/or stop the growth of microorganisms and/or kill microorganisms. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover protects the covered shipment from one or more of the following: precipitation, condensation, dust, wind, insects, and small animals. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover is made entirely or partially from a material or a combination of materials that is RFID friendly. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover allows the use on and/or under the cover system of RFID tags such as but not limited to passive, semi-passive, active, semi-active. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover is perforated. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the cover has a permeance for oxygen of at least 15.6×10 3  L O2 /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the cover has a permeance for carbon dioxide of at least 23.4×10 3  L CO2 /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the cover has a permeance for water vapor between 1×10 3  g water /(m 2  atm d) and 50×10 3  g water /(m 2  atm d). 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein a concentration of ethylene around the load is <0.01 ppm.