LOAD RESTRAINING APPARATUS AND METHOD
A load (22, 26, 27, 28, 29) is restrained against movement by passing a tape or chain (21, 31, 39) around the load (22, 26, 27, 28, 29) and passing the tape or chain (21, 31, 39) through a slot (17, 44) in a plate or the like (14, 41).
The present invention relates to apparatus and to methods for restraining objects such as loads, particularly during transportation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the present art, flexible tape, cord, rope, chain or the like is used to tie down loads. Accordingly, throughout this specification (including the claims) we use the term “tape” to include flexible tape, cord, rope, chain and the like that is suitable for tying loads and the like.
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- the mass of the load 1;
- the amount of friction between the load 1 and the flat-bed 2; and
- the amount of friction between the load 1 and the restraint 3,
the load 1 may be prone to fore-and-aft movement on acceleration or braking of the vehicle and to sideways sway on cornering.
In contrast, according to one embodiment, the present invention provides apparatus for restraining an object when used in conjunction tape, the apparatus comprising:
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- a body; the body comprising:
- two sides and a periphery;
- a first opening passing through the body;
- a second opening passing from the periphery of the body and being in communication with the first opening
- the second opening being adapted to receive a bight of the tape for movement of that bight into the first opening; and
- the first opening being adapted to receive that bight of the tape in a manner in which the bight protrudes to one side of the body and the remainder of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body.
- a body; the body comprising:
In one preferred form, the two sides are substantially planar, in which case it is also preferred that the first opening and the second opening together define a slot.
In another preferred form the body comprises substantially two hook-shaped components, each hook-shaped component having a first arm and a second arm, each first arm being contiguous with the other first arm and the two hook-shaped components defining the first and second openings between them.
In another preferred form, the present invention provides a process of restraining an object by using such apparatus, the process comprising:
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- arranging tape so that a bight of the tape protrudes to one side of the body and the remainder of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body; and
- restraining the object within that bight of tape.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A preferred process of using the apparatus 14 of
It will be appreciated that, in order to remove a single one of the load items 26, 27, 28 or 29 it is necessary only to manipulate one restraint, unlike the arrangement illustrated in
It will also be seen that, proximate the open end of the slot 107, the plate 106 comprises integral protrusions 121 and 122 which project generally inwardly into the slot 107.
The embodiment of
Although the embodiments of the invention that have been described are particularly suited to industrial uses, other embodiments of the invention are particularly suited to non-industrial uses. For example, embodiments of apparatus according to the present invention are in smaller sizes particularly suited to restraining loads on car roof-racks, trailers or the like. Although forged steel has been described as being particularly suitable for the apparatus, it will be appreciated that any suitable material, such as synthetic plastics materials, may be used. Synthetic plastics materials are particularly suitable for light-weight embodiments of the apparatus in some non-industrial environments.
While the present invention has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Although dimensions are shown in
“Comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
Claims
1. An apparatus for restraining an object when used in conjunction tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a body, the body comprising two sides and a periphery; a first opening passing through the body from one side to the other side; a second opening passing from the periphery of the body and being in communication with the first opening the second opening being adapted to receive a bight of the tape for movement of that bight into the first opening; and the first opening being adapted to receive that bight of tape in a manner in which the bight protrudes to one side of the body and the remainder of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the body further comprises
- a third opening passing through passing through the body from one side to the other side;
- a fourth opening passing from the periphery of the body and being in communication with the first opening
- the fourth opening being adapted to receive a bight of the tape for movement of that bight into the third opening; and
- the third opening being adapted to receive that bight of the tape in a manner in which the bight protrudes to one side of the body and the remainder of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the two sides are substantially planar.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the first opening and the second opening together define a slot.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, substantially as described with reference to FIG. 3.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, having dimensions substantially as shown in FIG. 3.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, substantially as described with reference to FIG. 8.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, having dimensions substantially as shown in FIG. 8.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the body comprises substantially two hook-shaped components, each hook-shaped components having a first arm and a second arm, each first arm being contiguous with the other first arm and the two hook-shaped components defining the first and second openings between them.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, substantially as described with reference to FIG. 7.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, having dimensions substantially as shown in FIG. 7.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, substantially as described with reference to FIG. 9.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, having dimensions substantially as shown in FIG. 9.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means adapted to inhibit movement of the bight of tape out of the second opening into the first opening.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the means adapted to inhibit the movement of the bight of tape out of the second opening into the first opening comprises at least one protrusion which is adapted to bear against an edge of the tape.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, substantially as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.
17. A process of restraining an object by using apparatus of claim 1, the process comprising:
- arranging tape so that a bight of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body and the remainder of the tape protrudes to the other side of the body; and
- restraining the object within that bight of tape.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 4, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 10, 2010
Inventors: John Brullo (Victoria), Anthony Bourne (Victoria)
Application Number: 12/448,741
International Classification: A44B 99/00 (20100101);