Abstract: An assembly for securing cargo, the assembly incorporating a load bed having oppositely positioned paired sides; at least a first pair of arms, each arm having a proximal end and a distal end; arm attaching joints interconnecting the load bed and the proximal ends of the arms, the arm attachments oppositely positioning the arms at one of the load bed's oppositely positioned paired sides; a tie having a pair of ends; tie attaching connections interconnecting the tie's ends and the arms' distal ends so that the load bed, the arms, and the tie border a first cargo securing space; and telescoping quill and shaft combinations connected operatively to the arms, the telescoping quill and shaft combinations being adapted for alternatively distally expanding and proximally contracting the first cargo securing space.

Abstract: A pipe connector consisting of a sphincteral band having an over-center buckle; a coupling sleeve extending through the sphincteral band, the coupling sleeve having a wall and having a plurality of traction pin apertures extending through the wall; and a plurality of traction pins fixedly attached to the sphincteral band and extending inwardly from the sphincteral band, each traction pin extending through one of the traction pin apertures, each traction pin being moveable between an inwardly extended pipe engaging position and an outwardly retracted pipe disengaging position.