Unitized load covers

Abstract

A unitized load cover includes a top panel, at least one first side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel, and at least one second side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel. One of the second side panels can be next to or across from one of the first side panel. An average thickness of the first side panel is greater than an average thickness of the second side panel, where the average thickness of a panel is a distance between an outside surface and an inside surface of the panel averaged over a surface area of the panel. The first side panel, second side panel, and top panel define a cavity configured to receive at least one unitized load.

1 . A unitized load cover comprising:
 a top panel;   at least one first side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel; and   at least one second side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel, wherein:
 the at least one second side panel is next to or across from the at least one first side panel; 
 an average thickness of the at least one first side panel is different from an average thickness of the at least one second side panel, where the average thickness of a panel is a distance between an outside surface and an inside surface of the panel averaged over a surface area of the panel; and 
 the at least one first side panel, the at least one second side panel, and the top panel define a cavity configured to receive at least one unitized load. 
   
     
     
         2 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the average thickness of the at least one first side panel is greater than the average thickness of the at least one second side panel. 
     
     
         3 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the average thickness of the at least one first side panel divided by the average thickness of the at least one second side panel is greater than or equal to 1.25. 
     
     
         4 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein an average thickness of the top panel is the same as the average thickness of the at least one first side panel or the average thickness of the at least one second side panel. 
     
     
         5 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel has an average thickness greater than or equal to the average thickness of the at least one first side panel and the average thickness of the at least one second side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , comprising two first side panels and two second side panels. 
     
     
         7 . The unitized load cover of  claim 6 , wherein the two first side panels are coupled together along a vertical edge of each of the two first side panels and the two second side panels are coupled together along a vertical edge of each of the two second side panels. 
     
     
         8 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel, wherein an average thickness of the at least one third side panel is different from the average thickness of the at least one first side panel and the average thickness of the at least one second side panel. 
     
     
         9 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, the at least one first side panel, the at least one second side panel, or combinations of these, comprises a multi-layer structure that includes at least one structural layer and at least one insulating media layer. 
     
     
         10 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel, the at least one first side panel, the at least one second side panel, or combinations of these, include a reflective layer, a reflective coating, a reduced-friction layer, or a reduced-friction coating. 
     
     
         11 . The unitized load cover of  claim 9 , wherein one of the top panel, the at least one first side panel, or the at least one second side panel comprises an insulating media layer that is different from an insulating media layer of the other ones of the top panel, first side panel, and second side panel. 
     
     
         12 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel comprises a top flap operable to cover a gap between the unitized load cover and an adjacent unitized load cover placed directly next to the unitized load cover. 
     
     
         13 . The unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first side panel, the at least one second side panel, or both, comprises a side flap operable to cover a gap between two side-by-side unitized load covers. 
     
     
         14 . A unitized load assembly comprising a pallet, a load supported on the pallet, and the unitized load cover of  claim 1 , wherein the load and at least a portion of the pallet are disposed within the unitized load cover and the load comprises boxes, bags, or a flexible intermediate bulk container containing one or more goods. 
     
     
         15 . A method of thermally insulating a unitized load during shipment, the method comprising:
 placing a unitized load cover over the unitized load so that the unitized load is disposed within a cavity defined by the unitized load cover, the unitized load cover comprising:
 a top panel; 
 at least one first side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel; and 
 at least one second side panel coupled to the top panel and extending downward from the top panel, wherein: 
 the at least one second side panel is next to or across from the at least one first side panel; 
 an average thickness of the first side panel is different from an average thickness of the second side panel, where the average thickness of a panel is a distance between an outside surface and an inside surface of the panel averaged over a surface area of the panel; and 
 the at least one first side panel, the at least one second side panel, and the top panel define a cavity configured to receive one unitized load, 
   wherein:
 the unitized load cover is arranged on the unitized load so that, when the unitized load is loaded into a shipping container, the at least one first side panel of the unitized load cover faces towards a container wall of the shipping container; and 
 the at least one first side panel is operable to reduce heat transfer from the container wall or an interior of the shipping container through the unitized load cover, thereby thermally insulating the unitized load.