Insulated freight cover

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an insulated freight cover for thermally protecting temperature-sensitive goods in a container during transport, the freight cover having internal supports to inhibit sagging of the cover in transit and to facilitate application and removal of the cover.
The freight cover has a front cover, a rear cover, and a series of at least three consecutively adjoined, substantially rectangular panels of insulated material.
Among the panels of the series are a front panel at one end, a rear panel at the opposite end, and at least one intermediate panel between the front and rear end panels.
Each panel is hingedly coupled with at least one intermediate panel along an edgewise enclosure, such as a crossbound seam, adjoining corresponding edges of the rectangular panels.
Some or all of the edgewise enclosures have internal supports, such as rods, longitudinally sewn therein.
Preferably the rods are somewhat shorter than the coupled rectangular edges and are generally centrally affixed within the enclosures, permitting the cover to fold over the side edge of the freight to effect a tighter thermal seal.
The rod-supported freight cover enjoys considerable advantages over existing covers or quilts.
The rods provide transverse support for the cover, inhibiting sagging and facilitating application and removal of the cover.
The internal supports also discourage the cover from receding from the side of the container after application by providing beam-like support which prevents the cover from sagging into center voids or sliding laterally or sagging due to uneven load heights.
Thus, a flush fit with the sidewalls may be maintained throughout transport, and air mixture on the sides of the container is substantially inhibited.