Abstract: A cargo stake is disclosed which may be secured in a stake hole without the need of inserting a pin or bolt underneath the cargo bed. In a preferred embodiment, a latching mechanism is provided internal to a cargo stake body made from box steel tubing. The latching mechanism includes a latching member which can protrude perpendicular to the axis of the cargo stake at the lower end of the cargo stake, and the latching mechanism is operable through the upper open end of the cargo stake. In a preferred embodiment the latching mechanism is spring loaded and automatically latches in place upon insertion.

Abstract: A freight car has a loading area on two bogies. At least one coil trough for steel coils is formed in the loading area. The coil trough is formed with insertion openings for insertion stakes. Wedges which are provided alongside the coil trough can be folded down into the loading area so that the coil troughs are closed by folding down the wedges to form a level loading area. Slots for stakes to be inserted along the longitudinal sides of the freight car are further provided in the loading area. Container corners are further provided distributed over the loading area, so that containers can be secured to the loading area. Retractable lashing devices are provided in the loading area for tightening tensioning straps to secure a load on the loading area.

Abstract: A cover system for a substantially flat support surface on a vehicle includes multiple stakes having channels defined along longitudinal sides thereof and which are disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface such that the stakes extend substantially perpendicular and upwardly relative to the support surface, removable panels which are removably fitted to the channels of the of the stakes and extend substantially perpendicularly at the lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface and such that open gaps are defined between lower portions of the panels and the support surface, a tarp cover disposed between upper ends of the panels to cover an opening above the support surface, and a sealing device which seals the opens gaps.

Abstract: A cover system for a support surface on a vehicle includes multiple retaining pockets disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle adjacent the support surface, multiple stakes having lower ends which are removably received in said retaining pockets, respectively, such that the stakes extend substantially perpendicular to the support surface, multiple panels retained by said stakes at the lateral side of the vehicle, a rail supported on upper surfaces of said stakes such that the rail extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a locking mechanism which selectively locks the rail to at least one of said stakes and at least one of said pockets.

Abstract: A gondola railcar having a plurality of side posts connected to the underframe for a high strength construction. The underframe includes a plurality of cross-bearing members having an upper flange, a lower flange and at least one vertical web connecting the two flanges. The upper flange has an opening disposed therein that receives the side post such that the side post abuts with the upper flange inside the opening. The side post also abuts with an end of the vertical web, and an end portion of the side post abuts with the lower flange of the cross-bearing member.

Abstract: Railcars for transporting timber in either the "tree-length" form or "long log" form are provided. The present invention discloses a railroad car comprising a central support member having at least one set of wheels disposed near its ends. A bulkhead is affixed to each end of the central support member and a plurality of cross members extend from the central support member, to which a plurality of stanchions are affixed. Thus, the cross members and the stanchions preferably form substantially "U"-shaped structures that are in a spaced-apart relationship selected to restrain both tree-length logs and long logs. The railroad car of the present invention may also include one or more apparatus for restraining a stack of timber, such as a winch and a strap. Most preferably, at least six pairs of stanchions are provided. The distance between a first stanchion and the bulkhead is between about 7.5 and 8.5 feet; the distance between the first stanchions and a second stanchion is between about 12.0 and 13.

Abstract: Railcars for transporting timber in either the "tree-length" form or "long log" form are provided. The present invention includes a railroad car comprising a central support member having at least one set of wheels disposed near its ends. A bulkhead is affixed to each end of the central support member and a plurality of cross members extend from the central support member, to which a plurality of stanchions are affixed. Thus, the cross members and the stanchions preferably form substantially "U"-shaped structures that are in a spaced-apart relationship selected to restrain both tree-length logs and long logs. The railroad car of the present invention may also include one or more apparatus for restraining a stack of timber, such as a winch and a strap. Most preferably, at least six pairs of stanchions are provided. The distance between a first stanchion and the bulkhead is between about 7.5 and 8.5 feet; the distance between the first stanchions and a second stanchion is between about 12.0 and 13.

Abstract: A stake cap is provided for covering the upper opening of an outside stake of a railroad hopper car. The stake cap has a retainer plate having front and rear surfaces which define top, bottom and side edges. The side edges are beveled such that the front surface of the retainer plate is wider than the rear surface. A top sheet is joined at a right angle to the top edge of the retainer plate. Gussets strengthen the connection of the top sheet and retainer plate. When the stake cap is installed in the upper opening of a stake, the beveled side edges of the retainer plate form themselves to the stake and are wedged between the stake and the hopper car outside shell. The top sheet overlies the opening and prevents entry of contaminants and water.

Abstract: A stanchion for goods vehicles is made up of at least two sections (4, 6) which are preferably made of aluminum and are provided with cooperating ridges (5) and grooves (7) for guiding and transmission of forces. A strengthening section (8) can be inserted in the most stressed part of the stanchion.

Abstract: A platform stanchion (13) easily lockable to the edge of the platform (10) of a truck has a canvas-cover supporting post (17) consisting of an upper pole (26) and a lower U-section (25) connected thereto. The stanchion (13) engages with the post (17) by means of a tapered upper portion (23) with a tongue at its top. For receiving the upper portion (23) of the stanchion, the U-section (25) of the post (17) has a mating tapered recess with an opening at the top for receiving the tongue. The stanchion (13) and the post (17) can be pivoted inwards and outwards relative to each other with the tongue located in the opening of the U-section serving as pivotal center. In the swung-in position with the stanchion (13) and the post (17) aligned with each other, the stanchion is accommodated in the U-section of the post.

Abstract: This invention relates to a railroad car for use in transporting railroad ties. A flat bed is provided with siderails which extend upwardly along each side of the bed. Each of the siderails comprises vertically extending posts and horizontally extending rails with some of the rail sections being removable to accommodate unloading of the ties. The removable rail sections are disposed so that upper and lower rails on one sidewall are removable while an intermediate rail section on the opposite sidewall is removable. This helps to insure the structural integrity of the car.

Abstract: A stake system for flatbed vehicles wherein a single size stake body can be utilized with a suitably configured adapter secured to the lower portion thereof. The adapters are each sized to fit a particular stake pocket and enable the use of the single size stake body in conjunction with differently sized pockets. The stake bodies include slots for receiving sidewall-defining panels and they also include internally positioned retainers to receive and position a fastener element to facilitate the attachment of the adapter to the stake body. Additionally, a removable corner adapter permits the use of the same stake body cross section at each corner of the vehicle bed to receive and retain sidewall-defining panels at right angles to each other.

Abstract: A flat bed side assembly including a barrier portion, a socket portion, a support portion and a holder portion; the barrier portion including a plurality of generally rectangular panels disposed generally vertically in an end to end relationship around the periphery of a flat bed; the socket portion including a plurality of pocket sections arranged around the periphery of the flat bed adjacent the lower edges of the panels, each of the pocket sections extending downwardly from a plane through the flat bed; the support portion including a plurality of elongated bar members having cross-sectional configurations substantially the same as those of the pocket sections, each bar member having its lower end disposed within one pocket section, the bar members extending upwardly from the pocket sections generally vertically; the holder portion including a plurality of bracket members with at least one bracket member engaging each of the bar members, each bracket member including a plate section, a strip section having

Abstract: A sheet supporting rack has (1) a base including a pair of spaced elongated runners detachably secured on flatbed of a trailer; (2) a back support including a strut mounted on each of the runners; and (3) a front restraint including an upright slidably mounted on each of the runners. The sheets are mounted in a generally vertical position with an edge of the sheet supported on the base, and a major surface of the sheets supported by the back support. The uprights of the front restraint are slid and angled with respect to the runners to urge the sheets against the back support and to secure the uprights in position on the runners to prevent movement of the sheets during shipment thereof.

Abstract: A truck mounted binding post comprised of a shank and a mast having a plurality of laterally extending pads through which a tie pin is secured to form at least one clevis or shackle. The binding post is formed with a parting line between the shank and the mask just beneath the pads permitting the shank to be molded in a variety of shapes and sizes independent of the mast. Threaded mounting holes are provided at a side and bottom of the shank for securing the binding post to a truck body.

Abstract: A delta stake arrangement adaptable for enclosing pickup truck beds of differing length and of differing layout of the stake pockets around the raised side walls of the truck bed. The arrangement includes a plurality of delta stakes having tapered bottom ends removably seated in the pockets. A plurality of brackets are provided each defining at least a lateral groove therein for receipt and support of a wall enclosure panel. Each bracket is further either formed integral with the delta stake or equipped with at least one dovetail ridge extending along a portion of the length thereof and being slidably received within a plurality of corresponding dovetail slots formed in the wide wall of each delta stake, these slots being parallel and extending along at least a portion of the length of each stake.

Abstract: A log bunk assembly comprises a bunk and a pair of stakes hinged thereto, one at each end. A flexible link is secured at one of its ends medially to each stake. The link is connected at its other end medially and releasably to the bunk through latch means operable from the far side of the bunk.

Abstract: Disclosed are wall stake structures adaptable for removable insertion into flat bed trailer and truck vehicles provided with a plurality of depending pockets whereby drayage vehicle sidewall paneling is supported by intervening upright wall stakes. The wall stake comprises: an upright non-metallic semi-rigid post having a header and a foot insertable into a flat bed vehicle pocket; a plurality of tubular spacers each extending transversely forwardly of the post; and an upright guide-plate abutting the respective spacers and ultimately attached to the post, the guide-plate being transversely more resilient than is the post and also being liberally wider laterally to provide two transversely resilient channels for supporting sidewall paneling. The spacers preferably comprise a plurality of vertically separated distinct tubular bushings which are removably attached to the post and guide-plate thereby facilitating manipulation of the paneling and permitting use of different thickness paneling.

Abstract: A logging truck having a load supporting frame provided with a plurality of log-supporting bunks has a false bunk arrangement disposed over the load supporting center of a wheel assembly supporting the load supporting frame for applying a positive force to logs disposed on the bunks and relieving flexing of the load supporting frame.

Abstract: A freight-retaining device consisting of a rack removably attached to a freight-hauling vehicle, such as a flat-deck railroad car, with the rack providing a plurality of vertically extending freight-retaining fingers adjustably spaced throughout the longitudinal length of the rack.

Abstract: An arrangement of stakes for supporting panels on a flat bed truck. Hollow stakes with bottom ends strengthened and enlarged by tapered jackets are mounted in pockets on the periphery of the bed. The stakes have triangular shaped cross sections with the corners being thickened. Some of the stakes have integral walls projecting therefrom which define grooves which receive and support the vertically extending ends of side panels for the truck bed. Tarpaulin rods are secured to the hollow top ends of the stakes which contain a longitudinal guide member for receiving said rods. One embodiment of the stake of the invention has basically a delta T configuration while another has a winged delta configuration.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved vehicle retaining means comprising a plurality of retaining members, each of said retaining members being rotatably journalled in a bearing, each of said bearings being located proximate a side of a vehicle chassis, each of said bearings being tilted outwardly with respect to a perpendicular line to the plane of the chassis.

Abstract: A boat stanchion is formed of a single, continuous strand of fiberglass and thermosetting resin. The fiberglass strand is wound into a loop having a multiplicity of turns and the loop is then flattened to form a substantially straight bundle of overlapping strand sections. The strand bundle is placed in a mold with thermosetting resin. One half of the mold includes a pair of pointed rods which separate the strand sections when the two mold halfs are brought together to form two holes. The partial loop of overlapping strand sections at one end of the bundle encompasses one of the holes and approximately one half of the overlapping strand sections at approximately a mid-point of the bundle are positioned on one side of the other hole and the remainder thereof are positioned on the other side of that hole.