Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02793323 2014-06-19
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RESTRAINING CARGO
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a device and method
for restraining
cargo within a container.
[0002]
Background
[0003] Cargo transported for commercial and other uses is often shipped
in semi-trailers
or other trucks, railcars, ships, aircraft or other shipping vehicles. In most
instances,
shifting or translation of cargo within the shipping vehicle can occur during
shipping
which can lead to damage. U.S. Patents Nos. 6,533,513, 6,086,299 and
5,494,389,
disclose cargo retention devices that have been well received in the shipping
industry. A
pair of such cargo retention devices may be secured on opposed walls of the
shipping
vehicle, and an elongated support in the form of a wood beam or the like is
positioned
across the bed of the shipping vehicle and engaged with the cargo retention
devices to
secure cargo.
[0004] A problem associated with these devices may arise when the
shipping vehicles
have different internal widths. For example, the elongated support commonly
used with
these devices in semi-trailer applications is an 8' long 2x4 wood beam, but
the inside
width of semi-trailers (i.e., the distance between the inside walls of the
semi-trailers) may
vary several inches. For example, the inside width of semi-trailers having
insulated walls
is typically in the range of about 98" to about 1001/2" and the inside width
of semi-trailers
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not having insulated walls is typically in the range of about 1001/2" to about
102". A cargo
restraint assembly that performs optimally for a semi-trailer of the smaller
internal width
is not likely to perform optimally for a semi-trailer of the greater internal
width because,
with the greater internal width, the elongated support is looser relative to
the cargo
restraint devices and the cargo restraint devices are therefore not able to as
effectively
transfer tensile force applied by the elongated support to shear stress.
Summary
[0005] The present disclosure is directed to a device for engaging a
2x4 or other wooden
beam or elongated support for restraining cargo in a container having a pair
of opposed
walls and configured to transfer to shear stress at least some of the tensile
force applied
by the elongated support. The device comprises: a strip having a bottom strip
surface
with an adhesive disposed thereon for securing the device to one of the walls
of the
container, and a top strip surface, the strip having a pair of ends; a sleeve
including a
plurality of walls extending from the top strip surface generally
perpendicular to the top
strip surface defining a first cavity having an open end for receiving an end
of the
elongated support; a plurality of first gussets for transferring to shear
stress at least some
of the tensile force applied by the elongated support, the first gussets
extending from the
sleeve toward one of the ends of the strip and being generally parallel to
each other; a
gusset wall extending generally perpendicular to the first gussets, the gusset
wall
positioned between the sleeve and said one of the ends, the first gussets
terminating in the
gusset wall; and a plurality of second gussets extending from the gusset wall
toward said
one of the ends. The device may include a handle associated with one of the
ends of the
strip.
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[0006] The second gussets may be generally parallel to each other. The
first gussets may
define a distance therebetween, with the gusset wall having a length greater
than the
distance between the first gussets. The second gussets may also define a
distance
therebetween, the distance between the second gussets being greater than the
distance
between the first gussets. The distance between the second gussets may be
substantially
the same as the length of the gusset wall.
[0007] Features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the
description which follows and the accompanying drawings described below,
wherein an
embodiment of the disclosure is described and shown, and in part will become
apparent
upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description Of The Drawings
[0008] FIGURE 1 is a partial view of a semi-trailer and a cargo
restraint assembly in
accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure being used
to
restrain cargo in the semi-trailer, including an exploded view of the cargo
restraint
assembly;
[0009] FIGURE 2 is a top perspective view of one of the cargo restraint
devices of
FIGURE 1;
[00010] FIGURE 3 is a bottom perspective view of the cargo restraint
device of FIGURE
2;
[00011] FIGURE 4 is bottom plan view of the cargo restraint device of
FIGURE 2;
[00012] FIGURE 5 is a side plan view of the cargo restraint device of
FIGURE 2;
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[00013] FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the sleeve member of the cargo
restraint device of
FIGURE 2; and
[00014] FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a pair of the cargo restraint
devices of
FIGURE 1 stacked together.
Detailed Description
[00015] FIGURE 1 illustrates a cargo restraint assembly 10 restraining
cargo in a
container in the form of a semi-trailer. The cargo restraint assembly 10
includes a pair of
cargo restraint devices 12 in accordance with an illustrated embodiment of the
present
disclosure and an elongated support 14. The pair of cargo restraint devices 12
is secured
to opposed walls of the semi-trailer and is engaged with the elongated support
14, with
the elongated support extending across the bed of the semi-trailer. The cargo
restraint
assembly 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is used for limiting the
shifting of
cargo being transported by or within the semi-trailer, or by or within any
other shipping
vehicle or other container, such as, for example, any type of truck, railcar,
ship or aircraft
or other shipping vehicle.
[00016] Each cargo restraint device 12 may have any suitable
construction. As illustrated
in FIGURES 1-6, for example, each cargo restraint device 12 in accordance with
the
illustrated embodiment of the present disclosure comprises generally a sleeve
member 16
and a compressible insert 18. Each sleeve member 16 includes a sleeve 20, an
elongated
strip 22 having a bottom strip surface 24 and a top strip surface 26, a handle
28 disposed
at an end of the strip 22, and a plurality of side gussets 32 and a plurality
of end gussets
34 for adding strength and rigidity to the sleeve and transferring to shear
stress at least
some of the tensile force applied by the elongated support 14. Each cargo
restraint device
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12 may be constructed of any suitable material such as any suitable plastic or
other
material.
[00017] Each cargo restraint device may also include an adhesive 36
disposed on the
bottom surface 24 for securing the bottom surface 24 to the wall of the semi-
trailer. The
adhesive 36 may be in any suitable form. The adhesive 36 may, for example, be
in the
form of an acrylic based or rubber based adhesive. A removable release liner
may also be
included. After removal of the release liner, the cargo restraint device 12
can be pressed
against one of the walls of the semi-trailer to secure it to the wall. The
adhesive 36 may
be instead disposed directly on the rear surface, may be in the form of a two-
sided tape
with a removable release liner, or may be in any other suitable form.
[00018] The sleeve 20 extends from the top surface 26 generally
perpendicular to the strip
22. The sleeve 20 comprises a pair of opposed side walls 40 and 42 and a pair
of opposed
end walls 50 and 52. The walls 40,42, 50 and 52 extend from the top surface 26
generally
perpendicular to the strip 22 and define a cavity 54 sized and configured to
receive the
end of the elongated support 14. The sleeve 20 also includes a platform 60
extending
generally parallel to the strip 22 and spaced from the strip approximately 1-
1/4" or any
other suitable distance. The platform 60 defines an aperture 62 for providing
easy access
to the compressible insert 18 during assembly of the cargo restraint assembly
10 and to
reduce manufacturing costs. The walls 40, 42, 50 and 52 surround the platform.
The walls
40, 42, 50 and 52 and the platform 60 define within the cavity 54 a cavity 64
for
receiving the compressible insert 18 and the elongated support 14. The inside
of the end
wall 50 includes a pair of tabs 66 extending the height of the cavity 64 for
engaging the
compressible insert 18 to retain it within the cavity 64.
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[00019] The sleeve 20 includes a pair of arcuate gussets 70 that extend
from the side walls
40 and 42 of the sleeve from the end wall 52 towards the top surface 26 of the
strip 22.
Each arcuate gusset 70 and a respective side wall 40 and 42 are collinear. The
sleeve 20
also includes an additional arcuate gusset 72 is disposed between the pair of
arcuate
gussets 70. The gussets 70 and 72 extend parallel to each other and terminate
at a
boundary or gusset wall 74. The gussets 70 and 72 add strength and rigidity to
the sleeve
20 and transfer to shear stress at least some of the tensile force applied by
the elongated
support 14.
[00020] The boundary wall 74 extends wider than the width defined by the
arcuate gussets
70. A pair of front gussets 76 extend from the ends of the boundary wall 74
towards the
handle 28 and parallel to the gussets 70 to provide additional rigidity and
also for
providing stackability of two cargo restraint devices 12 as shown in FIGURE 7
and as
described in more detail below. An intermediate wall 78, extending parallel to
the
boundary wall 74, interconnects the gussets 70 and 72.
[00021] The platform 60, the strip 22 and the walls 40, 42, 50 and 52
define a bore 80
opposite the cavity 64. The sleeve 20 also includes a plurality of internal
gussets 82
extending within the bore 80 on an angle from the side walls 40 and 42 to the
platform 60
to add strength and rigidity to the sleeve 20 and transfer to shear stress at
least some of
the tensile force applied by the elongated support 14.
[00022] The side wall 42 includes a pair of lines of reduced thickness 84
that extend
generally perpendicular to the strip 22 and define a frangible portion 86. The
lines 84
extend generally parallel to each other and are spaced relative to each other.
The lines 84
enable the frangible portion 86 to be readily broken to facilitate removal of
the cargo
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restraint device 12 after use. For example, a tool such as a crow bar or other
tool can be
inserted into the cavity 64 adjacent the elongated support 14 to break the
frangible
portion 86.
[00023] The strip 22 includes a rail 90 extending substantially about its
perimeter also to
add strength and rigidity to the strip 22 and transfer at least some of the
tensile force
applied by the elongated support 14 to shear stress. The strip 22 also
includes a lip 92 on
its top surface 26 for providing stackability of two cargo restraint devices
12 as shown in
FIGURE 7 and as described in more detail below.
[00024] The strip 22 also includes a raised surface 94 that defines a pry
slot 96 for
facilitating removal of the cargo restraint device 12. After use, any suitable
tool can be
inserted into the pry slot 96 and upon application of force the cargo
restraint device 12
can be separated readily from the wall of the semi-trailer.
[00025] The compressible insert 18 may be constructed of any suitable
material and may
have any suitable configuration and dimensions. The illustrated compressible
insert 18 is
constructed of foam. The compressible insert 18 is sized to be received snugly
within the
cavity 64 and thus may have a cross section having dimensions substantially
the same as
the dimensions of the cross section of the other elongated support. The sleeve
20 may
include a tab adjacent the platform for engaging the insert. The compressible
insert 18
may have a height of 3-3/4" or may have any other suitable height. The
compressible insert
18 may have a generally rectangular block configuration with six flat sides.
The
compressible insert 18 may have any other configuration, including, for
example, any
other block configuration, and any other suitable dimensions in accordance
with other
embodiments of the present disclosure. The insert 18 may instead be
constructed of a
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non-compressible material in accordance with other embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[00026] When the compressible insert 18 is received by the cavity 64, it
defines within
cavity 64 a cavity 100 for receiving the end of the elongated support 14. The
compressible insert 18 is scored about its perimeter to form a separable
portion 98 of the
compressible insert 18 that can be readily removed to reduce the height of the
insert 18
and thereby increase the size of the cavity 100. Thus the intact compressible
insert 18 can
be used in semi-trailers or other containers with a certain internal width and
the shortened
compressible insert can be used in semi-trailers or other containers having a
slightly
smaller internal width. The insert 18 may include any other suitable structure
for forming
a removable portion in accordance with other embodiments of the present
disclosure.
[00027] The gussets 32 and 34 may have any suitable configuration and any
suitable
number. The illustrated gussets 32 extend on an angle from the respective side
wall 40
and 42 to the strip 22. The illustrated gussets 34 extend on an angle from the
end wall 50
to the strip 22. The gussets 32 and 34 add strength and rigidity to the cargo
restraint
device 12 and transfer to shear stress at least some of the tensile force
applied by the
elongated support 14.
[00028] The handle 28 is disposed at one end of the strip 22 and is
configured to facilitate
manual installation and removal of the cargo restraint device 12 from the wall
of the
semi-trailer after use. The handle 28 has a semi-circular construction. The
handle 28 is
joined to the strip 22 by a pair of bosses 108 that have a sloping top
surface. The handle
28 extends generally parallel to the strip 22 and the handle and strip 22 and
the wall
define an opening 110 to facilitate manual grasping of the cargo restraint
device 12 when
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it is secured to a wall for installation and removal from the wall. The handle
28 is cored
on its backside to define a channel 114 substantially along the arc length of
the handle.
The handle 28 also has a height that extends higher than the top surface of
the strip for
providing stackability of two cargo restraint devices 12 as shown in FIGURE 7
and as
described in more detail below.
[00029] The cargo restraint device 12 in accordance with the illustrated
embodiment of the
present disclosure provides many benefits. With its design, the cargo
restraint device 12
is better able to transfer at least some of the tensile force imposed by the
elongated
support to shear stress and to withstand the shear stress.
[00030] The cargo restraint assembly 10 is also more effective than prior
art products
because it can perform well in semi-trailers or other containers of different
sized internal
widths. Because of the design of cargo restraint devices 12, the cargo
restraint assembly
is better able to withstand the loads imposed by the elongated support 14
during
installation and during cargo transport in trucks having different internal
widths. For
example, the raised platform 60 with the gussets 82 provide a structure that
effectively
transfers at least some of the tensile force of the elongated support 14 to
shear stress and
also increases the shear strength of the cargo restraint device 12. The
gussets 70 and 72
also provide similar benefit.
[00031] Further, the ability to remove a portion of the compressible
insert 18 to shorten its
height enables the cargo restraint devices 12 to continue to be effective in
transferring
this tensile force to shear stress when a narrower semi-trailer is used
without having to
change the size of the elongated support 14. For example, in application, as
relating to
semi-trailers, the compressible insert 18 can have a height of about 3-3/4"
and can have a
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score around some or all the perimeter half way of its height (see, e.g.,
FIGURE 1). For
semi-trailers having an internal width of about 1001/2" to 102", the
compressible insert 18
can be used with its full height. For semi-trailers having an internal width
of about 98" to
1001/4", a half portion of the compressible insert 18 can be removed to
accommodate the
greater internal width.
[00032]
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure also includes a method of
restraining cargo selectively in semi-trailers or other containers of
different widths with
an elongated support. For example, the method may include restraining cargo
selectively
in a first container having a first internal width or in a second container
having a second
internal width that is less than the first internal width. The method includes
securing the
cargo restraint device 12 on the wall of the selected of the first or second
container, the
cargo restraint device comprising the strip 22 having the bottom surface 24
having the
adhesive 36 disposed therein for securing to the wall of the selected of the
first or second
container and the top surface 26, the sleeve 20 extending generally
perpendicularly from
the top surface, the sleeve having the platform 60 substantially parallel to
and spaced
from the strip, the platform defining a first cavity, and the compressible
insert 18 having
a block configuration and including a separable portion to be removed for
reducing the
size of the compressible insert, the compressible insert receivable in the
first cavity to
define within the first cavity a second cavity; removing the separable portion
of the
compressible insert if the selected of the first or second container is the
first container;
placing the compressible insert into the first cavity; and inserting the end
of the elongated
support 14 into the second cavity so that the end engages the compressible
insert and the
compressible insert engages the platform and so that the cargo restraint
device transfers
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to shear stress at least some of the tensile force of the elongated support.
The method may
also include securing the other cargo restraint device on the other wall of
the selected of
the first or second container in a like manner. The steps of the method in
accordance with
the present disclosure may be performed in any order and with or without
additional
steps.
[00033] An embodiment of the present disclosure also includes the method
of securing the
cargo restraint device on one of the walls and inserting the end of the
elongated support
into the first cavity so that the end is spaced from said one wall and so that
the cargo
restraint device transfers to shear stress at least some of the tensile force
of the elongated
support. The method may also include inserting the insert into the second
cavity before
inserting the end of the elongated support into the cavity. The method may
also include
securing an other cargo restraint device on the other of the walls and
inserting the other
end of the elongated support into the open end of the cavity of the other
cargo restraint
device.
[00034] The cargo restraint device 12 in accordance with the illustrated
embodiment of the
present disclosure also provides stackability benefits for storage purposes
because each
cargo restraint device is invertably stackable with another cargo restraint
device (see, e.g.,
FIGURE 7). Each of the cargo restraint devices defines a holder 120 for
receivingly
engaging the sleeve of another cargo restraint device in a complementary
manner. In the
illustrated embodiment, the top surface 122 of the handle 28 is disposed above
the top
surface 26 of the strip 22 (relative to the bottom surface 24), and the holder
120 is defined
by the inner wall 124 of the handle, the front gussets 76, the boundary wall
74 and the lip
92. The holder 120 of one cargo restraint device receives the lead end of the
sleeve 20 of
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the other cargo restraint device, while at the same time the holder 120 of the
other cargo
restraint device is able to receive the lead end of the sleeve of the one
cargo restraint
device in the same manner. Each of the base of the boundary wall 74, the base
of the
front gussets 76, and the base of the inner wall 124 of the handle may have a
blended
radius to further define the holder 120. The lip 92 is received within the
cavity 54 of the
other cargo restraint device, with the lead end of the wall 52 of the cargo
restraint device
being received by a gap 112 defined within the holder 120 by the boundary wall
74 and
the lip 92 of the other cargo restraint device and the lead ends of the walls
40 and 42
being received by gaps 132 defined within the holder 120 by the respective
front gussets
76 and the ends of the lip 92.
[00035] While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the
drawings and
foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are considered to
be exemplary
and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative
embodiments
have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within
the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. The description and
figures are
intended as illustrations of embodiments of the disclosure, and are not
intended to be
construed as having or implying limitation of the disclosure to those
embodiments. There
are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from various
features set
forth in the description. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the
disclosure
may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least
some of the
advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily
devise their
own implementations of the disclosure and associated methods, without undue
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experimentation, that incorporate one or more of the features of the
disclosure and fall
within the scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims.
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