Cargo restraining device
A cargo restraining device including two rails mounted in a cargo storage area. Mounted on the rails are two U-shaped structures, each of which includes two arms and a crossbar. Attached between the two U shaped structures are two elongate bars. The U-shaped structures may be rotationally positioned using rotation adjustable clamps such that the cross bars are positioned against two sides of a cargo container. The elongate bars may be positioned against two other sides of the cargo, holding it in place.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/571,429, filed May 14, 2004.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present device relates to articles to secure cargo during transport.
BACKGROUND ARTSecuring cargo during transport is needed to prevent damage or even loss of the cargo during transport. In addition, it is possible to damage the transport vehicle if the cargo tips and falls into a cargo carrying area. In addition, if the cargo area is open, such as in the back of a pick up truck, the unsecured cargo can fall into a roadway, possibly causing accidents or traffic delay.
One solution to this problem is to use ropes or cables to secure a load. However, securing the cargo is then time consuming, requires ropes or cables to be available, and may be difficult to secure for those not proficient in tying knots. In addition for a large, tall item (such as a refrigerator) in the back of a truck bed, it is difficult with ropes or cables to secure an relatively heavy item with a high center of gravity into a truck bed. It is also very difficult with ropes or cables to secure a load that is below the level of the bed. For example, in pickup trucks, the tie locations are at the corners of the bed, near the top edge. Ropes tied between these tie locations would be at the level of the truck bed, and are little use for securing items below this level.
A number of attachment devices are available that are designed to secure specific items. For example, bicycle or motorcycle racks are available that mount onto a truck bed and allow fixing the tire by positioning the wheel within a confining track and securing a bar over the rim of the wheel. Such devices are limited to allowing transport of a specific item.
An alternative device that is able to provide a simple means for securing cargo would be useful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA cargo restraining device has been developed that includes two rails mounted onto the sides of a cargo area, for example, the sides of the bed of a pickup truck. Mounted on each rail are rotation adjustable clamps, with a front and a rear clamp attached to each of the rails. The clamps allow attachments of arms such that the arms can be positioned in three ways. First, location of the arm held by the clamp may be adjusted. Second, the rotational position of the arm may be adjusted. Third the clamp may be moved on the rail moving the arm along the rail. The front clamp on each rail will hold a front arm on each rail. These two arms (the two front arms held on the first and second rail by a clamp) are linked by a cross bar extending between the arms to form a U-shaped structure. Likewise, the back arms are also mounted on the back clamps on each rail and are also connected by a cross bar to form a back U-shaped retaining structure. Two longitudinal bars are clamped onto the crossbars of each U-shaped retaining structure such that the longitudinal bars may be selectively positioned on the crossbars.
To secure cargo, first the longitudinal bars could be removed leaving the two (front and rear) U-shaped retaining structures. Then the arms and crossbars that form the U-shaped structure would be positioned such that at least one and usually both crossbars were proximate to the sides of cargo being transported. For example, the crossbars would be positioned proximate to the front and back sides of a crate to be transported. The elongate bars would then be adjusted such that they are positioned against the sides of the cargo (e.g. the left and right sides of a crate being transported). In this manner the cargo of various sizes and shapes could be secured.
The present device is able to retain cargo in a transport vehicle by adjusting to a range of different positions to securely hold cargo in place. Such a device could be used in trucks, vans, trailers, airplanes, railroad cars, carts or any other cargo transport. The following illustrations describe an embodiment of the device used with a pickup truck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present device is able to retain cargo in a transport vehicle by adjusting to a range of different positions to securely hold cargo in place. Such a device could be used in trucks, vans, trailers, airplanes, railroad cars, carts or any other cargo transport. The following illustrations describe an embodiment of the device used with a pickup truck.
With reference to
With reference to
Alternatively the elongate rail sections are secured by bolts and nuts along the length to the upper edge of the side walls. The rails could also be clamped into place or secured by other means.
Mounted on rails 4a, 4b are a number of rotation adjustable clamps. On first side rail 4a are mounted front rotation adjustable clamp 3a and rear rotation adjustable clamp 3b. On second side rail 4b are mounted front rotation adjustable clamp 3c and rear rotation adjustable clamp 3d.
With reference to
Tube section 20 and lever handle 22 are fixedly mounted on wheel 24. Wheel 24 is mounted on an axle that extends through mount 32. Mount 32 is then mounted on one of the rails shown in
With reference to
Returning to
Spanning arms 2a and 2c is a crossbar 1a. Slide adjustable clamp 9a, 9c secures the arms 2a, 2c respectively to crossbar 1a.
With respect to
Returning to
Extending between crossbars 1a, and 1b are elongate (longitudinal) bars 5a, 5b, secured by clamps 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. The design of the clamps allows for quick and simplified removal of the longitudinal bars. The longitudinal bars 5a, 5b include two telescoping members that expand to the full length of the truck bed. The telescoping members in one embodiment are two tubes, with a narrower diameter tube inside a larger diameter tube. For example, a 32 mm outer diameter tube having a 2.5 mm thick wall may be used with an 26 mm outer diameter inner tube. One location on each of the inner and outer tubes is held by a clamp, securing the elongate bar into place.
Using a device having the disclosed configuration, practically any cargo that can fit into the cargo area may be secured. With reference to
In a similar manner,
It is preferred that the device be of sturdy construction and durable. The rails, arms, crossbars, and longitudinal bars would all be made of steel. If desired, the steel could be chrome plated, painted or otherwise designed to enhance the appearance of the device and make it corrosion resistant. It is also possible to make some or all components of lighter weight materials, but this is presently not preferred. The arms may be elongate bars with a 32 mm outer diameter and a wall thickness of 2.5 mm. The device preferably is sufficiently rigid and sturdy such that it does not bend or twist during transport or usage. The crossbars and/or the longitudinal bars may include padding such that transported cargo is not damaged. For example, if the cargo is a motorcycle, the longitudinal bars could be positioned below the handle bars of the motorcycle, and extend along the sides of the motorcycle. Foam padding or other slightly deformable padding on the longitudinal bars would prevent the bar from scratching the paint or chrome of the motorcycle.
The design of this cargo constraint device is modular. Additional parts can be added, substituted or removed from a basic system, depending on the needs of the user. For example, more than two U-shaped retaining structures may be used on a cargo restraining device. This may be useful in a cargo compartment which is substantially longer than a truck bed. Additional elongate bars may be used. For example, if the cargo is motorcycles or bicycles, additional elongate bars secured with clamps between the crossbars could allow additional bicycles or motorcycles to be secured in the cargo area of the vehicle.
A number of variants of the cargo restraining systems are contemplated. These include:
1. Overhead Storage
With respect to
This idea may be modified to adapt to transport of other items. In
With respect to
2. Tent
The cargo restraining device could also be modified to act as a frame for turning the bed of a truck onto a tented area. If the arms were raised to a position above the bed of the truck, a sheet of material could be draped over the cross bars such that the exposed sides of the truck were covered. This material could be secured to the tubes by a simple resilient clamp that would flex fit over a short section of an arm or elongate bar to retain the material.
3. Motorized Device
One of skill in the art would be able to adapt the present invention to an automatic device by adding a motor at location 32 in
4. Locking Device
It would also be fairly simple to adapt the present device such that the arms could be locked into place such that the cargo in the storage bed could be secured. Lever handles 21, 22 could be fitted with lock means, such as a hole to receive a padlock, which would be secured onto the clamp. It would also be possible to manufacture a hole in the arms to which lever handles 21, 22 are attached such that a padlock bar or other lock bar could pass through each arm and a hole 30 on wheel 24, securing both the handles and the wheel.
Claims
1. A device comprising:
- a first side rail;
- a second side rail coextensive with and parallel to the first rail;
- first and second slideably and rotationally adjustable U-shaped retaining structures mounted at corresponding locations on said first and second side rails; and
- a first and a second adjustably positionable elongate bars, each attached to said first and second side rail such that the elongated bars extend between said first and said second U-shaped retaining structures.
2. The device of claim 1, further including a deformable padding covering a section of the elongated bars between attachment locations to the U-shaped retaining structure.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein each U-shaped retaining structure is comprised of two arms and a cross bar connecting the two arms.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein each crossbar is adjustably positionable along said arms.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said cross bar is attached to said arms by mechanically securable clamps.
6. The device of claim 4, further including a mount into which into which one and of each arm may be secured.
7. The device of claim 3, wherein each arm may be selectively positioned along a length of said rail.
8. The device of claim 3, wherein each arm may be selectively positioned on a rotationally adjustable clamp along a length of said arm.
9. A cargo restraining device comprising:
- a first side rail;
- a second side rail;
- a front first rail arm;
- a rear first rail arm;
- a front second rail arm;
- a rear second rail arm;
- a front first rotatable clamp adjustably attaching the front first arm to the first side rail such that the first front arm can be adjustably secured along a front first arm length and adjustably rotated;
- a rear first rotatable clamp adjustably attaching the rear first arm to the first side rail such that the rear first arm can be adjustably secured along an arm rear first arm length and adjustably rotated;
- a front second rotatable clamp adjustably attaching the front second arm to the second side rail such that the front second arm can be adjustably secured along a front second arm length and adjustably rotated;
- a back second rail clamp adjustably attaching the front first arm such that it can be adjustably secured along its length and adjustably rotated;
- a front crossbar adjustably attached between said front first rail arm and said front second rail arm;
- a rear crossbar adjustably attached between said first rear arm and a second rear arm;
- a first elongate bar adjustably attached between said front crossbar and said rear cross bar; and
- a second elongate bar adjustably attached between said front crossbar and said rear crossbar.
10. The device of claim 5, further including a deformable padding covering a section of said first elongate bar and said second elongate bar between the attachment locations to the U-shaped retaining structure.
Type: Application
Filed: May 11, 2005
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2005
Inventor: Hans Smits (Prunedale, CA)
Application Number: 11/126,423