Cobweb Cargo Restraint

Abstract

A cargo restraint apparatus comprising, multiple radially extending flexible straps each slidably attached at its proximal end to a common central flexible loop. The distal end of each strap is provided with a connector for attachment of the distal strap end to a cleat or loop on a pallet or other surface on which the cargo is to be secured. An adjustable buckle or similar cinching device is disposed on each strap to adjust its length to create a tension force in the strap which will be opposed by tension forces in one or more straps on the opposing sides of the central loop.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for restraining cargo that is being transported on a pallet or attached to the floor or bed of a ship, truck, railroad flat car or an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increasing concern about the safety and efficiency of state-of-the-art methods of restraining in-transit cargo has led to increased government regulation and changing industry practice. It is recognized that continued reliance on past practices and currently available equipment will lead inevitably to the continuation of shifting loads, damaged goods and accidents resulting from freight falling onto a highway from a transporting vehicle.

The majority of current cargo restraint systems comprise one or more belts that cover the load and are attached at each of their ends to cleats or other types of anchoring attachments along the edge of or embedded in the surface of the bed of the transport device, whether rail, air or highway vehicle. Using such belts or straps may not fully secure the cargo as these single straps do not result in equal application of pressure over all points of the load. The ability to secure and stabilize the cargo is also limited by the effective spacing of each of the straps or belts, and by the inability of existing cargo restraint systems to maintain equilibrium between vertical and horizontal forces exerted on the restraint system.

There have been a few attempts to create cargo restraints in the form of cobwebs that will more fully enclose the loads in a confined space such as in the bed of a pick up truck. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,900,204 and 5,876,167 disclose such restraints. The difficulty with these types of restraints is that they do not actually secure the cargo to the surface on which the cargo rests. At most they may keep objects that are located beneath the netting from flying out of the truck bed, but the various objects of the cargo remain free to move about. The elastic devices of the above identified patents, as well as other similar systems are not equipped to lash heavy loads to a pallet or the flat bed of a truck or secure a load into an aircraft.

Accordingly, it is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a single-construction cargo restraint apparatus for in-transit cargo that prevents articles from shifting on or within, or falling from the surface on which the cargo is transported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cargo restraint apparatus that embraces a substantial portion of the load's exposed surface area thus applying holding pressure all across the cargo profile.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cargo restraint apparatus wherein equilibrium of vertical and horizontal forces is maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible cargo restraint apparatus that may be adjusted to fit varying dimensions of cargo loads.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the cargo restraint apparatus of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following description of a preferred form of the invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a cargo restraint apparatus having a cobweb configuration that includes a plurality of radially-extending adjustable-length straps, where each of the straps is slidably connected at its proximal end to a flexible but inelastic loop. The distal ends of the straps terminate in connectors for attachment to respective ones of the anchoring points located on or around the bed on which the cargo is placed. Not only may the inter-spacing between each of the radially extending straps be selectively adjusted or chosen, the length of each strap may be adjusted to accommodate the specific cargo it is intended to tie down irrespective of the contours of the cargo. The configuration of the central inelastic loop with slidably attached radially-extending straps also allows for equilibrium of vertical and horizontal forces on the cargo restraint apparatus thereby maximizing securement and stabilization capabilities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention without respect to any given cargo.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary use of the present invention to secure cargo onto a pallet.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view of the distal end connectors and cinching buckles on each of the radial straps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred form of the cargo restraint system 2 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of radially extending flexible straps 3 are slidably attached at their proximate ends to a centrally disposed substantially inelastic and flexible loop 7. Each of the so-called radial straps 3 may be conventional straps or stringers that are comprised of a substantially inelastic flexible material such as, but not limited to leather, polyester, nylon or fabric. However the definition of “straps” 3 is intended to include cables or chains. The loop 7 may also be made of materials similar to that of the straps. The object of using these types of materials is to allow conformance to the load parameters through flexibility while still achieving true restraint of the cargo load by reducing elasticity of the restraining system.

The proximal ends of the flexible straps 3 are fitted with eyes or rings 9 that slidingly attach the straps to the loop 7 while at the same time allowing the connected strap to freely move around the circumference of the loop 7. An eye may be formed in the proximal end of a strap by folding the end of the strap over the loop 7 and then stitch the folded end back onto the body of the strap or the eye may be formed by a separate ring secured to the proximal end of the strap 3.

The distal ends of each of the radially extending straps 3 are provided with connectors 11 for interconnecting the distal strap ends to cleats or other forms of attachment that are fixed to a pallet 12 or to the surface or bed on which the cargo is placed, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, in order to securely restrain the cargo onto its supporting surface.

For adjusting its length each radial strap 3 is provided with a buckle 14 intermediate its proximal and distal ends. Each buckle acts as a means to tighten the strap on which it is disposed. Although a buckle is shown, other tightening devices such as ratchets or “come alongs” may be used.

When all of the radial extending straps 3 are attached to the cargo supporting surface and appropriately tightened the apparatus becomes a series of radially disposed self-adjusting cinches that apply tension forces against each other through the loop 7 in three dimensions. Unlike a single strap across a load where the restraining force that is directed toward the supporting surface is only a component of the tension force in the strap, the total tension force in each strap of the present restraint system is directed toward the supporting surface along the length of the strap. By means of the central loop 7 that interconnects all of the straps 3 the force vectors in the straps projected on the three orthogonal planes are in equilibrium and the cargo is optimally secured against vertical and lateral movement relative to the surface on which it is placed. Such division of the tension forces and the mutable position of the straps on the loop allows each strap to find conformance with the profile of the load and make a significant contribution to securing the load against any type of movement.

While several uses of the single-construction cargo restraint apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated and discussed, a variety of other configurations and arrangements may be employed to more safely and effectively secure in-transit cargo and thus satisfy the object of the invention.

Claims

1. A cargo object restraint apparatus comprising,

a flexible loop,

a plurality of flexible radially extending straps each having proximal and distal ends,

means slidably attaching the proximal end of each radially extending strap to the loop,

a connector attached to the distal end of each of the radially extending straps.

2. The cargo object restraint apparatus of claim 1 further including,

cinching means carried by each of the flexible radially extending straps intermediate their proximal and distal ends for tightening the radially extending straps around the cargo object.

3. A cargo restraining web comprising,

a central loop,

a plurality of radially extending stringer means for enveloping an object, and

means slidably securing the radially extending stringer means to the central loop.