Abstract: An improved restraint apparatus for cargo carrying vehicles. Plate-like inserts are sandwiched together to form a body which can be secured to a conventional cargo tie-down track. One or more center inserts may be sandwiched between one or more peripheral inserts which mate with the standard railed track used in cargo vehicles. Peripheral inserts alone may also be used. A tie-down aperture is provided to allow lines to tie to or wrap around the body. A plunger attached to the inserts is biased by a spring to cause controlled movement of the plunger so that it mates with the track and can "fix" or "set" the apparatus where desired.

Abstract: An improved restraint apparatus for cargo carrying vehicles. Plate-like inserts are sandwiched together to form a body which can be secured to a conventional cargo tie-down track. One or more center inserts may be sandwiched between one or more peripheral inserts which mate with the standard railed track used in cargo vehicles. Peripheral inserts alone may also be used. A tie-down aperture is provided to allow lines to tie to or wrap around the body. A plunger attached to the inserts is biased by a spring means to cause controlled movement of the plunger so that it mates with the track and can "fix" or "set" the apparatus where desired.

Abstract: A cargo container for air or surface freight has roll-up doors to allow access, through the interior of the cargo container, to cargo contained in adjacent cargo containers. The roll-up doors include a curtain and a doorbar. Ramps and plates guide the roll-up doors into a pre-locked position. An internal latching mechanism closes and re-opens the roll-up door from within the cargo container interior. The curtain has sewn in springs at its edges, which are slidably contained within recesses in the door posts, so that the curtain is supported on all sides.

Abstract: A reusable skid for moving heavy bulk materials comprising a platform and a plurality of shock-absorbing skid feet. The platform, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a plurality of longitudinal and transverse beams forming an upper surface for mounting bulk materials. The preferred embodiment of the skid feet have leg members that are slidably mounted to the longitudinal beams. The skid feet also have elastomeric springs mounted between a spring base in the leg members that bias the longitudinal beams in an upward position at rest, and are compressed when bulk materials are placed on the skid, thereby cushioning the forces on the platform and the skid feet. The skid feet may easily be removed and replaced.

Abstract: In order to be able to utilize polycarbonate sheet material as a structural (i.e., stress-bearing) component in an assembly comprising polycarbonate and metal components, as, for example, in a monocoque air cargo container wherein the polycarbonate sheet material is used as the "skin" of the structure, an attachment assembly is utilized to provide a rigid, stress-bearing joint without inducing crack-inducing high levels of localized stress on the polycarbonate sheet. The attachment assembly comprises a significant area of overlap between the polycarbonate and metal components, and an attachment strip which substantially covers the attachment area. Rivets or bolts are inserted through oversized holes in the metal, polycarbonate, attachment strip assembly and then torqued. The compressive forces exerted thereby create the rigid joint (even in an environment where the joint is subject to 180.degree. F..+-. temperature cycling such that the different coefficients for thermal expansion for the polycarbonate vs.

Abstract: A convertible air cargo container which may be used in the air freight industry. A slidable top cover allows the user to convert a standard cube shaped cargo container, for example, in an M1 configuration, to an AQ7 configuration. Secured to the slidable top cover by a hinge is at least one contoured flap which rotates to alter the upper shape of the cargo container for use in other types of aircraft or other cargo carrier. A piston and spring lock secures the top cover and contoured flaps into the desired position.

Abstract: In order to be able to utilize polycarbonate sheet material as a structural (i.e. stress-bearing) component in an assembly comprising polycarbonate and metal components, as, for example, in a monocoque air cargo container wherein the polycarbonate sheet material is used as the "skin" of the structure, an attachment assembly is utilized to provide a rigid, stress-bearing joint without inducing crack-inducing high levels of localized stress on the polycarbonate sheet. The attachment assembly comprises a significant area of overlap between the polycarbonate and metal components, and an attachment strip which substantially covers the attachment area. Rivets or bolts are inserted through oversized holes in the metal, polycarbonate, attachment strip assembly and then torqued. The compressive forces exerted thereby create the rigid joint (even in an environment where the joint is subject to 180.degree. F.+-. temperature cycling such that the different coefficients for thermal expansion for the polycarbonate vs.

Abstract: The cargo pallet for use in transporting cargo in aircraft, in which the balsa wood core of the prior art pallet is replaced with an aluminum grid, to which the top and bottom aluminum sheets of the pallet are attached by rivets. The aluminum grid comprises stringers and struts which may be parallel, respectively, to the sides of the pallet, or placed laterally, at an angle, respectively, to the sides of the pallet. Further, the stringers and struts may be interlocked.

Abstract: A box-like container typically used in the transportation of cargo by air having an improved door closure apparatus. The favored air cargo container has a base pallet having a front and rear hoop attached thereto, to which aluminum sheets are attached to enclose the container leaving one or more door openings. Each of the hoops consists of two corner posts and a top crosspiece member therebetween. A piece of fabric material sufficient to cover the door opening of the container is attached to the crosspiece member above the door opening. An elongate bar extends along the bottom width of the fabric material. Pins on the elongate bar will engage hooks on the corner posts. A pair of cables are attached at either end of the elongate bar below the pins and extend upward along and are attached to each side of the fabric material and then diagonally across the back of the fabric piece to the other end of the elongate bar.

Abstract: A buckle intended for use primarily with wide, flat strapping material used in the air cargo transportation industry. The buckle has a body member and an "over-center" handle member journaled on a journal pin attached thereto such that the handle member acts like a lever and the journal pin as a fulcrum in tensioning the strap. With the buckle in the open position, the strap is fed into the buckle and looped around the journal pin. Rotating the handle member to the closed position causes a load pin attached to the handle member to impact the strap and deflect its path in the buckle, thereby pulling the strap taut under considerable torque load. In the prior art buckles, two load pins were required to apportion that torque load between them to keep the strap from slipping as the load pins could rotate at high torque loads. The need for two load pins is eliminated in the present invention by using only one load pin which is attached in such a way that the pin cannot rotate, even under such high torque loads.

Abstract: A buckle of the type used to connect belts used for tying down cargo in vehicles. The buckle is formed of flat plate stock and has a structure adapted to withstand high compressive forces such as are applied to it when it is run over by loaded vehicles. The buckle operates on an overcenter principle, so that once it is locked further tension on the belts tends to keep the buckle locked. In using the buckle, initially the free end of one belt is threaded through the buckle and pulled to take up slack. The free end is jammed between the standing end of the belt and a portion of the buckle, preventing slippage. Next, the handle of the buckle is rotated approximately 180 degrees, which causes the standing part of the belt to be wound around the buckle, thereby placing the belt in tension. Towards the end of its throw, the handle of the buckle passes to an overcenter position, in which further tension in the belt locks the buckle more securely.

Abstract: Improved structural nets for cargo and the like are formed on a fixture including a knot forming matrix including a plurality of knot loop stations arranged in a predetermined orientation and cooperating with loop forming section disposed peripherally of the matrix. By forming a plurality of knot loops in sequence in a plurality of rows, each of which is in a predetermined x-y orientation, the manipulative operations for forming a plurality of hand tied knots is simplified. An inserted tension member is fed through each of the knot loops and the latter are tightened to form knots at the crossing point of the tension members.

Abstract: A quick disconnect dual stud type of track tie-down fitting for use with a track having slots and lips includes an insert having a generally U-shaped body and including spaced integral legs arranged in parallel alignment. Cooperating with the insert is a retainer having apertures therein which receive the legs of the insert, the ends of the legs carrying studs which pass through the slots of the track and which can engage the lips of the track. Carried by the retainer and located between the studs is a locking nub which secures the tie-down fitting in the track by being received within a slot thereof while the studs are engaged with lips of the track adjacent to the slot. The retainer is biased into the locking position by springs cooperating with the legs of the insert to urge the retainer into the locking position. By forming the insert as an integral U-shaped member, the cost of the unit is substantially reduced while the overall-structure is vastly simplified.

Abstract: A quick disconnect dual stud type of track tie-down fitting for use with a track having slots and lips includes an insert having a generally U-shaped body and including spaced integral legs arranged in parallel alignment. Cooperating with the insert is a retainer having apertures therein which receive the legs of the insert, the ends of the legs carrying studs which pass through the slots of the track and which can engage the lips of the track. Carried by the retainer and located between the studs is a locking nub which secures the tie-down fitting in the track by being received within a slot thereof while the studs are engaged with lips of the track adjacent to the slot. The retainer is biased into the locking position by springs cooperating with the legs of the insert to urge the retainer into the locking position. By forming the insert as an integral U-shaped member, the cost of the unit is substantially reduced while the overall structure is vastly simplified.

Abstract: Woven rope includes a plurality of warp strands which extend longitudinally and cooperate with at least one weft strand which pulls the warp strands radially inwardly so that the resultant cordage has the appearance and feel of round rope, i.e. a cross-sectional thickness to width ratio of at least 0.75. The resulting woven cordage has greater strength than comparable braided or twisted rope. The woven rope may be made by weaving a plurality of strands with a weft strand which is under tension to pull the warp strands inwardly, or in the case of strand material which shrinks, e.g. nylon, the rope may be woven slightly loosely in a general oval shape and treated in boiling water to bring about shrinking of the assemblage of strands into a generally round shape. In one form, pre-woven or unwoven longitudal strands form the center of the woven rope. Typical materials which may be used to form rope are those presently used, e.g. nylon, polyolefins, hemp. etc.