AU2007203376B1 - A means and method for handling tie down elements of the type used to secure loads to be conveyed by vehicles - Google Patents

Description

17/07 2007 17:08 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA l008/074 r- 0 0 58349 PAB:FKD n P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION en FOR A STANDARD PATENT 0 0 o ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: RAYMOND WILKES Actual Inventor: RAYMOND WILKES Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A MEANS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING TIE DOWN ELEMENTS OF THE TYPE USED TO SECURE LOADS TO BE CONVEYED BY VEHICLES The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17:08 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA R009/074 0 2 0 3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a means and method for handling tie down elements of the type used to secure loads to be conveyed by vehicles.

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en For the purpose of explanation, reference will herein be made to use of the invention with respect to webbing straps of the kind typically used by truck drivers to secure their loads, although it should be understood that the Sinvention is not necessarily limited to use with straps of this kind, or indeed straps per se, its application could potentially extend to use with ropes, chords etc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to be construed as an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, kr own to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Flatbed trailers for semi-trailer trucks are extremely versatile in that many types of load can be positioned and/or stacked thereon and then strapped down using straps of a flat webbing material to secure or 'tie down' the load.

These straps are applied after the load has been positioned on the trailer, by securing one end of the strap to one side of the trailer and then passing the strap up and over the load, securing it to the other side of the trailer and then tensioning it. One problem with this, is that drivers must often climb up onto the load so as to ensure that the strap passes over the load at an appropriate position, without the strap being twisted etc. Climbing the load in this fashion COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17:08 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA a010/074 o 3 is relatively hazardous, and drivers have been known to fall and be injured or Skilled as a result. As such, the practice of scaling the load is discouraged by employers, but hitherto the only solution to this problem has been to utilize a cherry picker, but this is time consuming, and cherry pickers are seldom \0 5 available when loading a truck.

Q It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a means and method that ameliorates, the abovementioned difficulties, or at the least provide an alternative t:o the currently used methods for applying these tie down straps.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

For the purpose of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word 'comprises' has a corresponding meaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one form of this invention, although this may not necessarily be the only or indeed the broadest form of this there is proposed a rigging system for tie down elements where the tie down elements are adapted to secure cargo to a vehicle carco platform, the system including a flexible, elongate member supporting a tie down element so that a portion of the tie down element may be selectively suspended above the vehicle cargo platform.

Preferably, when in use, tensioning the flexible elongate member will lift the tie down element, and releasing tension in the flexible elongate member will lower the tie down element.

Preferably, cargo platform is a trailer floor.

COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17:08 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA Z011/074 0 4 Preferably, in an alternative, the cargo platform is a floor of a shipping t s container.

Preferably, the cargo platform is a floor of an aircraft cargo bay.

en Preferably, the tie down element is a strap.

0 Ci 5 Preferably, there are at least two flexible elongate members that extend so as Sto be substantially parallel to one another, and thereby support a length of tie Ci down strap extending between these so that this length of tie down strap is suspended above the floor of the trailer.

Preferably, the or each flexible elongate member extends in the direction of elongation of the trailer, and the or each strap extends substantially orthogonally to these.

Preferably then, the or each flexible elongate member extends lengthwise along the trailer, and the tie down straps extend from one side of the trailer to the other.

Preferably, -he or each tie down strap passes over the flexible elongate member.

Preferably, 1:he or each flexible elongate member is a rope or cable.

Preferably, t.he trailer is a semi-trailer trailer- Preferably, the or each tie down strap is suspended from fixtures attached to trailer framework.

Preferably, these fixtures include eyelets and/or pulleys Preferably, the or each flexible elongate member is secured to a forward, upper corner of trailer framework at a first end, the or each flexible member then COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17:09 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA Ia012/074 o extending along the length of the trailer, passing through eyelets fixed to the c- trailer framework until they reach the back end of the trailer where they fall to a height at which a person standing at ground level can adjust the tension in these and tie them off.

e- 5 In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in a method for handling o and applying tie down straps using the rigging system described above.

Preferably ihen, prior to loading the trailer, the method for handling the straps Cwould include the steps of releasing the tension in the or each of the tie down straps, and then tensioning both of the flexible elongate members so as to raise the length of the or each strap extending between the flexible members to the full height of the framework of the trailer.

Preferably, the position of the straps may be adjusted by removing each end of the strap from the trailer tie down rail, and then sliding the strap along the flexible elongate members until it is in the desired position.

Preferably, 3nce the trailer has been loaded, the method for handling the straps includes the steps of releasing the tension in each of the flexible members so that each of the straps falls against the top of the load, and then tightening each of the straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example, an employment of the invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which: Figure 1 is a. perspective view of a truck trailer fitted with a rigging system; Figure 2 is s view of the inside of the roof of the truck trailer in Figure 1, illustrating the rigging system in greater detail; COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17:09 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA I013/074 0 6 Figure 3 is a further perspective view of the truck trailer and rigging system in SFigures 1 and 2; Figures 4 and 5 are detail views of portions of the rigging system in Figure 1; \O and Cn Figure 6 is a view of the'rear of the truck trailer in Figure 1.

o DETAILED D)ESCRIPTION Referring now to Figure 1, where there is illustrated a semi-trailer comprised of a prime mover 2 and a trailer 4 incorporating a rigging system for the tie down straps 6 on the trailer.

The truck trailer 4 itself is a flatbed trailer having a skeletal frame supporting a roof, the sices of the skeletal frame being covered with a retractable tarpaulin 8. In each of the appended illustrations, the tarpaulin 8 on one side of the trailer 4 has been retracted to permit visibility of the inside of the trailer, and the tarpaulin 8 on the other side of the trailer is shown closed.

The rigging system includes two flexible elongate members 10, being ropes in this instance, that extend so as to be substantially parallel to one another, from one end of the trailer 4 to the other. Each of these ropes 10 is suspended from fixtures attached to the trailers framework 12.

These ropes 10 support a plurality of spaced apart tie down straps 6 which extend from one side of the trailer to the other, and in doing so, pass over the ropes 10 so that a length of each tie down strap 6 extends between these ropes such that this length or portion of tie down strap is suspended above the floor of the trailer. This is best illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 4, each rope is secured to a forward, upper comer of trailer framework 12 at a first end by a D-clamp 14. Each rope 10 then extends COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17 17/07 2007 17.'09 FAX COLLISON CO IP AUST CANBERRA IA014/074 0 7 0 along the length of the trailer 4 on opposing sides thereof, passing through Sspaced apart eyelets 16 fixed to the trailer framework 12, until they reach the _back end of the trailer, where they fall to a height at which a person standing at ground level can adjust the tension in these and tie them off, as illustrated in V. 5 Figure 6 o In use, prior to loading the trailer 4, the tension in each of the tie down straps 6 ci would be eased, and the two ropes 10 would then be tensioned so as to raise Sthe length of the or each strap 6 extending between the ropes 10 to the full Sheight of the framework 12 of the trailer.

In the event that one or more straps 6 needed to be repositioned so as to facilitate the loading of the trailer 4 using a forklift or the like, this may be achieved by removing each end of the strap 6 from the trailer tie down rail and then sliding the strap 6 along the ropes 10 until it is in the desired position.

Once the trailer 4 has been loaded, the operator releases the tension in each of the ropes 10 so that each of the straps 6 falls against the top of the load. The operator then tightens each of the straps 6 as required to secure the load thereto.

All of the above eliminates the need for the operator to climb the load in order to apply tie down straps.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited tco the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

COMS ID No: ARCS-153205 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2007-07-17

Claims (17)

1. A rigging system for tie down elements where there are a plurality of tie down elements adapted to secure cargo to a vehicle cargo platform, wherein there are at least two flexible elongate members that are fastened above the n 5 platform to run substantially parallel on opposing sides along and above said platform, and thereby support tie down straps extending between these o flexible elongated members so that portions of the tie down straps are Csuspended above the cargo platform.

2. The rigging system of claim 1, further characterised in that tensioning the flexible elongate member will lift the tie down element away from the cargo platform, and releasing tension in the flexible elongate member will lower the tie down element toward the cargo platform.

3. The rigging system as in either one of the preceding claims, further characterised in that the cargo platform Is a trailer floor.

4. The rigging system as in any one of the preceding claims, further characterised in that the tie down element is a strap.

The rigging system as in claim 4 further characterised in that the or each flexible elongate member extends in the direction of elongation of the cargo platform, and the or each strap extends substantially orthogonally to these.

6. The rigging system as in any one claims 3 through 6, further characterised in that the trailer is a semi-trailer trailer.

7. The rigging system as in claim 7, further characterised in that the or each flexible elongate member extends lengthwise along the semi-trailer trailer, and the tie down straps extend from one side of the trailer to the other. COMS ID No: ARCS-209700 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:19 Date 2008-10-14 22/08 2008 17:01 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA 049065 00 O 9

8. The rigging system as in any one of claims 4 through 8, further characterised in that the or each tie down strap passes over the flexible N elongate member. O

9. The rigging system as in any one of the preceding claims, further characterised in that the or each flexible elongate member is a rope or cable.

O The rigging system as in claim 10, further characterised in that the or each flexible elongate member is suspended from fixtures attached to trailer framework.

11. The rigging system as in claim 11, further characterised in that these fixtures include eyelets and/or pulleys.

12. The rigging system as in any one of claims 3 through 12, further characterised in that the or each flexible elongate member is secured to a forward, upper comer of trailer framework at a first end, the or each flexible member then extending along the length of the trailer, passing through eyelets fixed to the trailer framework until they reach the back end of the trailer where they fall to a height at which a person standing at ground level can adjust the tension in these and tie them off.

13. A method for handling and applying tie down straps using the rigging system described in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, prior to loading the vehicle, the method for handling the straps would include the steps of releasing the tension in the or each of the tie down straps, and then tensioning both of the flexible elongate members so as to raise the length of the or each strap extending between the flexible members to the full height of the framework of the vehicle.

14. The method as in claim 14, wherein the position of the straps may be adjusted by freeing each end of the strap from the trailer tie down rail, and then COMS ID No: ARCS-207043 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2008-09-22 22/09 2008 17:02 FAX 6182311273 COLLISON IP AUSTRALIA a 050/065 00 0 Co sliding the strap along the flexible elongate members until it is in the desired ci position.

A method for handling and applying tie down straps using the rigging system described in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, once the n 5 vehicle has been loaded, the method for handling the straps would include the 0 steps of releasing the tension in each of the flexible members so that each of 0 the straps falls against the top of the load, and then tightening each of the o straps.

16. A rigging system for tie down elements used to secure loads to a vehicle cargo platform as described in the specification, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations.

17. A method of using a rigging system for tie down elements used to secure loads to a vehicle cargo platform as described in the specification, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations. COMS ID No: ARCS-207043 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:38 Date 2008-09-22