Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
QUICK RELEASE HOOK DEVICE FOR TRAILERS
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a quick-release hook device, and
more
specifically, to a quick-release hook device for securing and releasing a deck
panel used
in a cargo section of a trailer to and from the side of the cargo section.
Background
[0002] A trailer may include a deck system in its cargo section. The deck
system may
include one of more deck panels including a conveyer deck panel. Each of the
deck
panels can be moved to a work position or stored position.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present disclosure describes a quick-release hook device for
securing and
releasing the deck panel from the side of the cargo section.
[0004] In one embodiment, a hook device for securing or releasing a deck
panel used
in a cargo section of a trailer is disclosed. The hook device includes: a
guide bracket
configured with at least first and second sides, the guide bracket including a
groove
formed on the first side and extending to the second side; and a hook
configured to
operate within the groove to secure or release the deck panel, the hook
configured to
secure the deck panel in a stored position when the hook is on the first side
of the guide
bracket and to release the deck panel in a work position when the hook is on
the second
side of the guide bracket.
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[0005] In another embodiment, an apparatus for a cargo section of a
trailer is
disclosed. The apparatus includes: a bracket coupled to a sidewall of the
cargo section,
the bracket configured with a plurality of sides; a groove formed on a first
side of the
plurality of sides and extending into a second side adjacent to the first
side, the groove
configured along a vertical angle and turning into a slanted angle on the
first side of the
bracket, and the groove configured to continue in the slanted angle on the
second side but
substantially perpendicular to the groove on the first side; and a hook
disposed within the
groove, the hook configured to secure a deck panel when the hook is on the
first side of
the bracket and to release the deck panel when the hook is on the second side
of the
bracket.
[0006] In yet another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed. The
apparatus includes:
means for securing and releasing a deck panel into and from a stored position
on a
sidewall of a cargo section of a trailer, the means for securing having at
least first and
second sides; and means for guiding the means for securing along a vertical
angle and
turning into at least a first slanted angle on the first side, and continuing
on the first
slanted angle on the second side but substantially perpendicular to the first
side.
[0007] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure should be
apparent
from the present description which illustrates, by way of example, aspects of
the present
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0008] The details of the present disclosure, both as to its structure
and operation,
may be gleaned in part by study of the appended drawings, in which like
reference
numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
[0009] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a trailer having a cargo section;
[0010] FIG. 1B is a detailed view of the cargo section shown in FIG. IA
and
including a quick-release hook device;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the cargo section showing the quick-
release hook
in a released position;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a quick-release hook device;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the quick-release hook device;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the quick-release hook device
including the
guide bracket, the hook, and the lift-able rod;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the quick-release hook device
including the guide
bracket and the hook;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a front view, a side view, and an unfolded view of
the guide
bracket; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is an unfolded view 800 and a front perspective view 810 of
the guide
bracket in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] As stated above, a deck panel in the cargo section of a trailer,
for example, can
be moved to a work position or stored position. However, when the deck panel
is moved
to the stored position, the panel can fall off that position and cause injury
to personnel or
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damage to the cargo, unless the deck panel is securely locked. Further, when
the deck
panel is to be moved to the work position, the panel should be easily movable
from the
stored position to the work position.
[0019] Several embodiments of a quick-release hook device for securing
and
releasing the deck panel from the side of the cargo section are described in
the present
disclosure. In one embodiment, the quick-release hook device is configured
with a hook
movably attached to a guide bracket. The hook is moveable between a secured
position
(which secures the deck panel in the stored position) and a released position
(which
releases the deck panel from the hook to the work position). The guide bracket
guides the
hook to swing away from the cargo section as the hook is moved from the
secured
position to the released position.
[0020] After reading this description it will become apparent how to
implement the
present disclosure in various embodiments and applications. However, although
various
embodiments of the present disclosure will be described herein, it is
understood that these
embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such,
this
detailed description of various embodiments should not be construed to limit
the scope or
breadth of the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. lA is a perspective view of a trailer 130 having a cargo
section 140 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B is a
detailed view of
the cargo section 140 shown in FIG. lA and including a quick-release hook
device 100.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, the cargo section 140
also includes
at least one deck panel 110 and a conveyor panel 120. Although the deck panels
110 are
shown on one side of the cargo section only, deck panels can also be
configured on the
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other side as well. The deck panels 110 are configured to provide an
additional surface on
which the cargo can be stowed. The conveyor panel 120 includes rollers to
easily move
the cargo in and out of the cargo section 140.
[0023] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, the cargo section 140
also includes
side rails 112 coupled to the inner surface 114. In one embodiment, the deck
panels 110
are coupled to the side rails 112 and can be moved between the work position
and the
stored position. In another embodiment, the deck panels 110 are coupled to the
inner
surface 114 (or the wall) directly. The cargo section 140 further includes at
least one
vertical post 116 coupled to the inner surface 114 of the cargo section 140.
[0024] In one embodiment, each of the deck panels 110 couples to the
quick-release
hook device 100 which is configured with a hook movably attached to a guide
bracket.
The hook is moveable between a secured position and a released position. FIG.
1B shows
the quick-release hook 100 in a secured position which secures the deck panel
110 in the
stored position. The guide bracket guides the hook to swing away from the
cargo section
as the hook is moved from the secured position to the released position.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the cargo section 140 showing the
quick-release
hook 100 in a released position in accordance with one embodiment of the
present
disclosure. Thus, moving the quick-release hook 100 to the released position
releases the
deck panels 210 from the hook 100 and the deck panels 210 are lowered into the
work
position.
[0026] When the deck panels 210 are in the work position, the deck panels
provide an
additional surface on which the cargo can be placed and/or moved in and out of
the cargo
CA 2979255 2017-09-15
section. When the deck panels 210 are in the stored position, the cargo
section can be
configured differently to store the cargo differently or keep the cargo
section empty.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a quick-release hook device 300 in
accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment
of FIG. 3,
the quick-release hook device 300 is attached to the vertical post 330 and is
configured
with a hook 310 movably attached to a guide bracket 312. The configuration of
FIG. 3
shows the quick-release hook device 300 in a secured position wherein the hook
310 is
securely holding the deck panel 320 in a stored position. In this
configuration, a groove
302 in the guide bracket 312 keeps the hook 310 facing the cargo section,
while the hook
310 is holding the deck panel 320 in the stored position.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the quick-release hook device 400 in
accordance
with another embodiment of the present disclosure. In the illustrated
embodiment of FIG.
4, the quick-release hook device 400 is attached to the vertical post 430 and
is configured
with a hook 410 movably attached to a guide bracket 412. The configuration of
FIG. 4
shows the quick-release hook device 400 in the released position, while the
deck panel
(not shown) is in the work position. In this configuration, the groove 402 in
the guide
bracket 412 guides the hook 410 to swing away from the cargo section as the
hook 410 is
moved from the secured position (shown in FIG. 3) to the released position
(shown in
FIG. 4). The hook 410 in the released position is facing away from the cargo
section,
which clears the area in front of the quick-release hook deice 400 so that it
will not
interfere with the transfer of cargo in and out of the cargo section. Further,
this avoids
potential damage to the cargo or injury to the personnel.
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[0029] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the hook 410 of the quick-
release
hook device 400 is attached to a long lift-able rod 420. The length and weight
of the lift-
able rod 420 provides stability and allows the hook 410 to securely lock the
deck panel in
the stored position and provide the downward pressure needed to move the hook
410
from the secure position to the released position. Further, the slanted or
sloped groove
402 in the guide bracket 412 guides the hook 410 to swing away from the cargo
section
as the hook 410 is moved from the secured position to the released position.
[0030] In FIG. 4, a lift handle 414 or 416 can be used to lift the quick-
release hook
device 400 up so that it can engage and secure onto the deck panel or it can
be lifted up to
move the quick-release hook device 400 from the secured position to the
released
position. Thus, the hook 410 turns approximately 90 degrees between the
lifting and the
lowering of the quick-release hook device 400 (and the deck panel) due to the
configuration of the groove 402 in the guide bracket 412.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the quick-release hook device 500
including
the guide bracket 512, the hook 510, and the lift-able rod 520 in accordance
with one
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 also shows the groove 502 formed
on the
guide bracket 512.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the quick-release hook device 600
including the
guide bracket 612 and the hook 610 in accordance with one embodiment of the
present
disclosure. The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6 shows the perpendicular turn
made in
the groove 602 and the guide bracket 612.
[0033] FIG. 7 shows a front view 700, a side view 710, and an unfolded
view 720 of
the guide bracket in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
When the
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hook (not shown in this figure) is in the front groove 702, the hook faces the
cargo
section. However, as the groove 702 turns and the hook moves into the side
groove 712,
the groove 702, 712 guides the hook to swing away from the cargo section and
to stow
the hook to the side of the guide bracket. The unfolded view 720 shows that
the front
groove 702 stays vertical and then changes its direction in a slanted or
sloped angle to
guide the hook through the approximately 90-degree turn into the side groove
712. The
turn is made from left to right at the dotted line 722 where the guide bracket
is folded
perpendicularly so that the hook in the groove turns to the right.
[0034] FIG. 8 is an unfolded view 800 and a front perspective view 810 of
the guide
bracket in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present
disclosure. In the
illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8, the guide bracket is configured with a
vertical groove
802 that splits into two slanted grooves 804, 806 so that the hook 808 can be
moved to
either groove 804 or 806 to stow away the hook 808 to the left or right side.
The decision
whether to move the hook 808 to the left or the right can depend on which side
of the
bracket has obstructions.
[0035] The descriptions of the disclosed embodiments are provided to
enable any
person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications
to these
embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the
generic
principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without
departing from
the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, although the illustrated
embodiments
of the present disclosure show the long lift-able rod attached to the hook,
the rod can be
of different shape, size, or eliminated entirely. In another example, although
the
illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure show a guide bracket as
having a
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groove that can turn the hook in a perpendicular direction, elements other
than a bracket
can be used to move the hook. For example, a gear box shaped element can be
used in
place of the bracket to guide the hook. Thus, it is to be understood that the
description
presented herein represent embodiments representative of the subject matter
which is
broadly contemplated by the present disclosure.
100361
Additional variations and embodiments are also possible. Accordingly, the
technology is not limited only to the specific examples noted herein.
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