AU2010206060A1 - Improvements in Side Curtains - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN SIDE CURTAINS The invention is described in the following statement together with the best means known to us for performing the invention: Our Ref: 102018 - 2 IMPROVEMENTS IN SIDE CURTAINS The present invention relates to transport vehicles and, more particularly, to side curtains along the sides of 5 an enclosed cargo space of a truck or articulated transport vehicle. BACKGROUND The use of side curtains to close the cargo spaces of 10 transport vehicles offers many advantages in the loading and unloading of such vehicles. Rather than having to access cargo through the rather narrow rear or side doors, the whole of both sides of the cargo space may be exposed for access for manual or forklift cargo handling. 15 Disadvantages of known side curtain systems include the need for tensioning the curtains in the vertical direction by means of multiple straps and buckles arranged along the lower edge of the curtains. This is a labour intensive activity as well as involving many components 20 subject to wear and tear. Another disadvantage of conventional side curtains is that in most cases to secure loads from lateral impact on the curtains, steel or aluminium side gates must be installed along the coaming beam of the load platform. 25 Putting these into position after loading and removing them - 3 to enable unloading is both time consuming, awkward and, in some circumstances can be dangerous. It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages. 5 Notes 1. The term comprisingn" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the 10 exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled 15 in the art in any country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a side curtain tensioning system for 20 sides of an enclosed cargo space of a transport vehicle; said system including a plurality of latching mechanisms and vertical reinforcing elements; said vertical reinforcing elements attached at intervals along an inside surface of said side curtain; an upper end of each 25 of said vertical reinforcing elements connected to a wheeled carriage moveable along a curtain rail of said - 4 cargo space; each of said vertical reinforcing elements provided at a lower end with a latching element of respective said mechanisms; said latching elements simultaneously operable into a latched state when a 5 controlling element is tensioned longitudinally and simultaneously operable into an unlatched state when tensioning of said controlling element is released. Preferably, said side curtain is tensioned longitudinally between a releasable tensioning spool at a 10 first end of said cargo space, and a releasable end pole at a second end of said cargo space. Preferably, said side curtain is provided with a grid of vertical and horizontal reinforcing webbing affixed to an inside surface of said side curtain. 15 Preferably, said vertical reinforcing elements are vertical webbing elements of grid of vertical and horizontal webbing; each said vertical webbing element attached at an upper end to a wheeled carriage supporting said curtain. 20 Preferably, said vertical reinforcing elements are vertical restraining bars; each of said vertical restraining bars connected to a said wheeled carriage; said vertical restraining bars coincident with said vertical webbing elements. 25 Preferably, each said latching mechanism comprises an articulated latching element pivotally attached at said - 5 lower end of a said vertical reinforcing element; said articulated latching element biased to pivot to an unlatched position when said controlling element is in an un-tensioned state. 5 Preferably, an end portion of each said articulated latching element is adapted to engage with a corresponding receiving or latching portion along the side of the load platform of said cargo space. Preferably, each said receiving element comprises a 10 slot in a coaming beam along said side of said load platform. Preferably, each said latching portion includes a sloping underside and downwardly directed ridge; said ridge provided with a chamfered lower edge adapted to 15 engage with a hook portion of the pivoting latching element. Preferably, each said articulated pivoting latching element is connected to an elongated control element; said control element arranged along said side curtain; 20 said control element adapted for attachment to a tensioning device mounted to a front wall of said load space. Preferably, longitudinal tensioning of said side curtain causes each said end portion of each of said 25 pivoting articulated latching elements to move into - 6 alignment with a said corresponding receiving or latching portion. Preferably, a lateral displacement of said elongated control element in a first direction simultaneously 5 pivots each said articulated pivoting latching element into engagement with a said corresponding receiving or latching portion. Preferably, said vertical restraining bars comprise lengths of steel or aluminium tubing. 10 Preferably, spacing between said vertical reinforcing elements is such that a pallet loaded onto said load platform is restrained from outward movement by at least two of said vertical reinforcing elements. In another broad form of the invention, there is 15 provided a method of restraining a load in a cargo space of a transport vehicle by means of a reinforced side curtain; said method including the steps of; (a) positioning an end pole of said side curtain into a latched position at one end of said cargo 20 space, (b)positioning a tensioning pole of said side curtain into a tensioning spool at another end of said cargo space, (c)tensioning said side curtain longitudinally by 25 means of rotation of said tensioning spool, - 7 (d)activating a control element to simultaneously engage articulated latching elements of latching mechanisms at each of vertical reinforcing elements into engagement with corresponding 5 receiving or latching portion along a side coaming beam of said cargo space. Preferably, said vertical reinforcing elements comprise vertical restraining bars; said vertical restraining bars affixed at intervals to an inside 10 surface of said side curtain; upper ends of said vertical restraining bars attached to carriages moveable along a curtain rail proximate a roof of said cargo space. Preferably, said inside surface of said curtain is provided with a horizontal and vertical grid of 15 reinforcing webbing; a vertical webbing of said grid coincident with each of said vertical restraining bars. Preferably, said vertical reinforcing elements comprise vertical webbing elements of a grid of reinforcing webbing; each said vertical webbing element 20 affixed at an upper end to a wheeled carriage supporting said curtain and affixed at a lower end to an articulated latching element pivotally attached at said lower end of a said vertical reinforcing element. Preferably, said restraining bars are spaced so as to 25 function as gates in securing cargo within said cargo space; said restraining bars providing an array of - a substantially rigid elongate elements between the roof of said cargo space and the load platform of said transport vehicle, Preferably, said control element comprises a strap 5 connected to each said articulated latching element; said strap arranged along said side curtain. Preferably, said method includes the further steps of: (e)attaching said control element to a tensioning mechanism affixed to an end wall of said cargo 10 space, (f)activating said tensioning mechanism to tension said control element so as to simultaneously engage each of said articulated latching elements into engagement with said receiving or latching 15 portions along said side coaming beam. Preferably, opening said side curtain for access to said cargo space includes the following steps; (a)releasing tension from said control element, (b)releasing longitudinal tension from said side 20 curtain causing said articulated latching elements of said latching mechanisms to pivot into an unlatched state, (c) releasing either or each of said tensioning pole and said end pole respectively from said 25 tensioning pool or from said latched position at said one end, (d)sliding said side curtain into a position for accessing areas of said cargo space.

- 9 In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a side curtain system for sides of an enclosed cargo space of a transport vehicle; said system including 5 a plurality of rigid vertical restraining bars attached at intervals along an inside surface of said side curtain; an upper end of each of said vertical restraining bars connected to a wheeled carriage moveable along a curtain rail of said cargo space; each said 10 vertical restraining bar provided at a lower end with a latching mechanism; said latching mechanisms operable into a latched state when a said side curtain is tensioned longitudinally in a closed position, and into an unlatched state when said side curtain is in an un 15 tensioned state. Preferably, said side curtain is tensioned longitudinally between a releasable tensioning spool at a first end of said cargo space, and a releasable end pole at a second end of said cargo space. 20 Preferably, said side curtain is provided with a grid of vertical and horizontal reinforcing webbing affixed to an inside surface of said side curtain; vertical webbing of said grid of webbing being coincident with said vertical restraining bars. 25 Preferably, each said latching mechanism comprises an articulated latching element pivotally attached at said - 10 lower end of a said vertical restraining bar; said articulated latching element biased to pivot to an unlatched position when said side curtain is in said un tensioned state. 5 Preferably, said articulated latching element is biased to said unlatched position by a resilient member attached to said articulated latching element at one end and to said vertical restraining bar at another end. Preferably, an end portion of each said articulated 10 latching element is adapted to engage with a corresponding receiving element along the side of the load platform of said cargo space. Preferably, each said receiving element comprises a slot in a coaming beam along said side of said load 15 platform. Preferably, each said articulated latching element is connected to an elongated control element; said control element arranged along said inside surface of said side curtain; said control element exiting through a slot in 20 said side curtain so as to be accessible to an operator when said side curtain is in said closed state. Preferably, said longitudinal tensioning of said side curtain causes each said end portion of each of said articulated latching elements to move into alignment with 25 a said corresponding receiving element.

- 11 Preferably, a lateral displacement of said control element in a first direction simultaneously pivots each said articulated latching element into engagement with a said corresponding receiving element. 5 Preferably, said vertical restraining bars comprise lengths of steel or aluminium tubing. Preferably, spacing between said vertical restraining bars is such that a pallet loaded onto said load platform is restrained from outward movement by at least two said 10 vertical restraining bars. In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of restraining a load in a cargo space of a transport vehicle by means of a reinforced side curtain; said method including the steps of; 15 (a) positioning an end pole of said side curtain into a latched position at one end of said cargo space, (b) positioning a tensioning pole of said side curtain into a tensioning spool at another 20 end of said cargo space, (c) tensioning said side curtain longitudinally by means of rotation of said tensioning spool, (d) activating a control element to simultaneously engage articulated latching elements of 25 latching mechanisms at each of vertical - 12 restraining bars into engagement with a side coaming beam of said cargo space. Preferably, said vertical restraining bars are affixed at intervals to an inside surface of said side curtain; 5 upper ends of said vertical restraining bars attached to carriages moveable along a curtain rail proximate a roof of said cargo space. Preferably, said inside surface of said curtain is provided with a horizontal and vertical grid of 10 reinforcing webbing; a vertical webbing of said grid coincident with each of said vertical restraining bars. Preferably, said control element comprises a strap connected to each said articulated latching element; said strap arranged along said inside surface of said side 15 curtain and passing through a slot in said side curtain so as to be accessible to an operator external to said cargo space. Preferably, said method includes the further steps of: (a) attaching said control element to a tensioning 20 mechanism affixed to an end wall of said cargo space, (b) activating said tensioning mechanism to tension said control element so as to lock said articulated latching elements into said 25 engagement with said side coaming beam.

- 13 Preferably, said restraining bars are spaced so as to function as gates in securing cargo within said cargo space; said restraining bars providing an array of substantially rigid elongate elements between the roof of 5 said cargo space and the load platform of said transport vehicle. Preferably, opening said side curtain for access to said cargo space includes the following steps; (a) releasing tension from said control element, 10 (b) releasing longitudinal tension from said side curtain causing said articulated latching elements of said latching mechanisms to pivot into an unlatched state, (c) releasing either or each of said tensioning 15 pole and said end pole respectively from said tensioning spool or from said latched position at said one end, (d) sliding said side curtain into a position for accessing areas of said cargo space. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 25 Figure 1 is a side view of a transport vehicle, the cargo space of which is closed with side curtains according - 14 to prior art, with the curtain partially removed to show a conventional load restraining gate system, Figure 2 is a view from inside the cargo space of Figure 1 showing a portion of the side curtain reinforcing 5 and load restraining arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the side curtain of Figure 2 seen from outside the cargo space, showing a detail of the control arrangement for activating the 10 latching mechanisms of the invention, Figure 4 is a detailed view of a vertical load restraining bar of the side curtain of the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, and its suspension and latching mechanism, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a section of a side 15 of a transport vehicle showing a second preferred embodiment of side curtain reinforcing and latching system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 20 Prior Art With reference to Figure 1, in this example, a semi trailer transport vehicle 10 has an open sided cargo space 12 closed off with side curtains 14 according to prior art. The load body of the trailer comprises a load platform 16, 25 front wall 18, rear wall 20 and roof 22.

- 15 Typically side curtains are suspended from regularly spaced rollers (not) visible, moveable along a curtain rail 24 adjacent the roof 22 of the load body. The trailing end of curtain 14 is attached to a rear or end pole 26 5 releasably retained in a rear pocket built into or attached to the edge of the rear wall 20. The leading edge of the curtain is similarly attached to a front or tensioning pole 28 releasably retained in the spool of a tensioning mechanism 30 for applying longitudinal tension to the 10 curtain 14. Straps and buckles 32 arranged at intervals along the bottom edge of the curtain 14, attach the curtain to the load platform coaming beam 34. Typically the straps are an extension of webbing 36 which extends the height of the 15 curtain and connected to the rollers in the curtain rail. Typically also the webbing is attached to the inside surface of the curtain, emerging through slots 33. Buckles may include an over-centre mechanism or straps may be resilient, so as to tension the curtain in a vertical 20 direction. Although curtains may be strong enough to restrain light loads placed on the load platform, for safety and for heavy articles, curtains are used in conjunction with gates 38, steel frames with mesh or lattice, which located in 25 sockets in the coaming beam 34. First Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The present invention provides a side curtain system which eliminates both the need for gates, and the labour intensive, time-consuming operations of attaching and unhitching load securing straps and the lower edge curtain 5 securing straps and/or buckles. With reference to Figure 2, a side curtain 114 according to the invention, is similarly suspended from a curtain rail 124 adjacent the roof 122 of a transport vehicle cargo space. In the curtain 114 of the invention 10 however, the curtain is attached at several points 115 along its length to rigid vertical restraining bars 117, and it is the restraining bars 117 which are suspended at their upper ends from rollers 119 running in rail 124, A grid of webbing 121, vertical elements 123 of which are 15 coincident with each of the vertical restraining bars 117, is affixed to the inside surface of curtain 114, such that a vertical strip 123 of the webbing is located between each vertical restraining bar 117 and the surface of the curtain 114. 20 As in a conventional side curtain arrangement, the side curtain 114 of the present invention is attached at the trailing end of the curtain to an end pole (not shown), which is releasably retained at the side of the rear wall. The leading edge of the curtain is wrapped around a 25 tensioning pole adapted to engage with a tensioning spool, again as well understood in the art.

- 17 Although this is the typical and preferred arrangement it will be understood that the tensioning spool may equally be located at the rear wall and the end pole at the front wall, or in still another arrangement, tensioning of the 5 curtain could be arranged at both the front wall and the back wall. This latter arrangement allows the curtain to be opened either from the front or from the back of the cargo space. As best seen in Figure 3, provided at the lower end of 10 each of the vertical restraining bars 117 located on the inside of curtain 114, is a latching mechanism 125. Each latching mechanism 125 includes an articulated latching element 127 pivotally rotating about pivot 129 and biased by a resilient member 131 towards the unlatched position 15 shown in Figures 2 and 3, Resilient member 131 may take the form of a piece of shock cord, rubber thong or extension spring for example, and is connected at one end 133 to the articulated latching element 127 and at the other end 135 to the restraining bar 117. 20 Each of the articulated latching elements 127 of the mechanisms 125 is attached to a control element 137, preferably in the form of a webbing strap, an end of which passes through a slot 141 in the curtain 114 so as to be accessible outside of the cargo space. Articulated latching 25 elements 127 are adapted for engagement with receiving elements provided in the coaming beam 134 of the load - 18 platform. In a preferred arrangement, these receiving elements are in the form of slots 141. When the webbing strap control element 137 (which is not attached to the surface of the side curtain) is pulled 5 in the direction shown by the arrows in Figures 2, 3 and 4, all the articulated latching elements 127 pivot simultaneously towards the slots 141, with the end portions 143 entering the slots 141 in coaming beam 134. An end, (not visilble) of control element 137 extending from the 10 slot 141 outside of the curtain 114, is adapted for attachment to a tensioning device (not shown) mounted to the front wall 118 of the cargo space. This tensioning device may take the form of an over-centre buckle or ratchet tensioner for example. 15 In Use To close and secure the side curtain of the invention, as with a conventional side curtain, an operator firstly locates the curtain's end pole in its retained position at 20 the rear wall of the cargo space. The front or tensioning pole is then placed into the tensioning spool and the curtain tensioned longitudinally. This longitudinal tensioning of the curtain has the effect of bringing the tongues, that is, the end portions 143 of the articulated 25 latching elements 127, into alignment with the slots 141 in the load platform coaming beam 134. The operator now pulls - 19 and tensions the control element 137 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 2 to 4, causing the end portions 143 to engage in slots 141 of the coating beam 134. 5 It can be seen from Figure 4 that each articulated latching element 127 now forms an in-line extension of the vertical restraining bar 117 and that the shoulder 145 of the latching element 127 now abuts the upper surface 147 of coaming 134. Articulated latching elements 127 are locked 10 in this position by the external end of the control element 137 being engaged with the external tensioning device at the front wall of the cargo space. In an alternative preferred arrangement, the end portions 143 may be provided with a laterally projecting 15 shoe element which enters through a widened portion of the slot 141 as the articulated element is rotated into position. This projecting shoe element, then lying under the narrow portion of the slot, is thereby captured within the coaming beam, so that the vertical restraining bars and 20 articulated latching elements thus provide secure connections between the load platform and the roof of the cargo space. Because the side curtain 114 of the invention is attached at several points 115 along the length of each 25 vertical retaining bar 117, there is no need for vertical tensioning of the curtain and consequently no need for the - 20 any buckling or strapping of the lower edge of the curtain to the coaming beam or load rail of the load platform. The spacing of the vertical restraining bars 117 is less than the width of a standard pallet so that a loaded 5 pallet will be restrained from lateral movement out of the cargo space by at least two restraining bars, Preferably restraining bars 117 are of 30mm square section, hollow steel tube, with the articulated latching element 127 fabricated from 25mm square steel tube. The webbing 121/123 10 grid affixed to the inside surface of the curtain 114 is preferably of 2 tonne breaking strain. To gain access to the interior of the cargo space, an operator simply firstly relaxes the tension and releases the control element 137 from its tensioning device. The 15 resilient members 131 of the latching mechanisms then simultaneously cause the articulated latching elements 127 to pivot back to their non-engaged state as shown in Figure 2. The longitudinal tension of the curtain, is then released. The curtain may now be slid aside, either from 20 the rear by removing the end pole from its latched position and/or from the front by detaching the tensioning pole from the tensioning spool, Because the vertical retaining bars 117 remove the need for both lower edge strapping and for load retaining 25 gates, the process of both closing and opening the side curtain of the invention, and accessing the load space is - 21 significantly simplified. Nor does an operator have to repeatedly manhandle gates, an activity awkward and dangerous, especially with a fully laden vehicle or where loads have moved and jam a gate in its locating sockets. 5 Thus the arrangement of the present invention provides a very significant time saving in the loading and unloading of a side-curtained cargo space. This is particularly significant where a vehicle may be making numerous deliveries or collections of goods at relatively short 10 intervals. Second Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In a second preferred embodiment, with reference to Figure 5, a side curtain 214 according to the invention, is similarly suspended from rollers 219 running in rail 224 15 adjacent the roof 222 of a transport vehicle cargo space. In this embodiment however, the curtain 214 is reinforced with a grid of heavy duty flexible webbing 223, without the vertical steel bars described in the first embodiment above. As above, the webbing 223 is affixed to the inside 20 surface of curtain 214. Each vertical webbing element 223 of the grid, forming a vertical reinforcing element, is suspended at its upper ends from rollers 219 running in rail 224. The rollers are attached to short metal plates 250 and 251 with the upper 25 end of the vertical strip of webbing 223 and the curtain material sandwiched between them.

- 22 The lower end of the vertical strip of webbing 223 is again sandwiched between two plates 253 and 254. An articulated spring-loaded latching element 227 is pivotally attached to the outside plate 253 and rotates in a plane 5 substantially parallel to the plane of the curtain 214. A spring 231 biases the latching element 227 into the unlatched position shown in Figure 5. The lower end of latching element 227 is provided with a hook portion 243, which forms a shallow channel along the lower end of the 10 latching element. Preferably, attached to the load tie rail 240 running under the side roaming beam 234 of the load platform 216 of the transport vehicle, are latch assemblies 225; the latch assemblies and pivoting latching element forming latching 15 mechanisms. In an alternative arrangement, the latch assemblies could be supported from the coaming beam 234. These latching assemblies are spaced at the same intervals along the length of the load bed side curtain 214 as the vertical webbing elements 223. Each assembly 225 includes a 20 support element 226 and a latching portion 241. Preferably, support element 226 is provided with adjustment elements 255 to allow the level of the latching portion 241 to be raised or lowered relative the lower edge 256 of curtain 214 and the pivoting latching element 227. 25 Latching portion 241 is preferably formed as an angle bracket with a downwardly directed ridge extending from a - 23 sloping underside of a laterally extending part of the bracket. The downwardly directed ridge is provided with a chamfered lower edge 258 adapted to engage with hook portion 243 of the pivoting latching element 227 when this 5 is rotated in the direction shown in Figure 5. The level of latching portion 241 is such that vertical webbing element 223, and hence the curtain 214 is drawn taut between the top rail 224 as the hook portion 243 is forced along the sloping lower edge 258. 10 In similar manner to that described for the first preferred embodiment above, all the pivoting latching elements 227 are linked together by a control element 237 (shown with a transparent section to reveal detail of the latch assembly 225) , Control element 237 is preferably in 15 the form of a webbing strap which extends substantially along the length of the transport vehicle. When the webbing strap control element 237 is pulled in the direction shown by the arrow Figure 5, all the pivoting latching elements 227 pivot simultaneously towards the latching portion 258, 20 and may be securely pulled into engagement, for example by a tensioning winch at the front of the transport vehicle load platform (not shown). The opening of the side curtain of the load space is accomplished in the same manner as described for the first 25 preferred embodiment above.

- 24 The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (23)

1. A side curtain tensioning system for sides of an enclosed cargo space of a transport vehicle; said system 5 including a plurality of latching mechanisms and vertical reinforcing elements; said vertical reinforcing elements attached at intervals along an inside surface of said side curtain; an upper end of each of said vertical reinforcing elements connected to a wheeled 10 carriage moveable along a curtain rail of said cargo space; each of said vertical reinforcing elements provided at a lower end with a latching element of respective said mechanisms; said latching elements simultaneously operable into a latched state when a 15 controlling element is tensioned longitudinally and simultaneously operable into an unlatched state when tensioning of said controlling element is released.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said side curtain is tensioned longitudinally between a releasable tensioning 20 spool at a first end of said cargo space, and a releasable end pole at a second end of said cargo space.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2 wherein said side curtain is provided with a grid of vertical and horizontal reinforcing webbing affixed to an inside surface of said 25 side curtain. - 26

4. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said vertical reinforcing elements are vertical webbing elements of grid of vertical and horizontal webbing; each said vertical webbing element attached at an upper end to a 5 wheeled carriage supporting said curtain.

5. The system of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said vertical reinforcing elements are vertical restraining bars; each of said vertical restraining bars connected to a said wheeled carriage; said vertical restraining bars 10 coincident with said vertical webbing elements.

6. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each said latching mechanism comprises an articulated latching element pivotally attached at said lower end of a said vertical reinforcing element; said articulated latching 15 element biased to pivot to an unlatched position when said controlling element is in an un-tensioned state.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein an end portion of each said articulated latching element is adapted to engage with a corresponding receiving or latching portion along 20 the side of the load platform of said cargo space.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein each said receiving element comprises a slot in a coaming beam along said side of said load platform.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein each said latching portion 25 includes a sloping underside and downwardly directed ridge; said ridge provided with a chamfered lower edge - 27 adapted to engage with a hook portion of the pivoting latching element.

10. The system of any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein each said articulated pivoting latching element is connected 5 to an elongated control element; said control element arranged along said side curtain; said control element adapted for attachment to a tensioning device mounted to a front wall of said load space.

11. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein 10 longitudinal tensioning of said side curtain causes each said end portion of each of said pivoting articulated latching elements to move into alignment with a said corresponding receiving or latching portion.

12. The system of claim 10 or 11 wherein a lateral 15 displacement of said elongated control element in a first direction simultaneously pivots each said articulated pivoting latching element into engagement with a said corresponding receiving or latching portion.

13. The system of claim 5 wherein said vertical 20 restraining bars comprise lengths of steel or aluminium tubing.

14. The system of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein spacing between said vertical reinforcing elements is such that a pallet loaded onto said load platform is 25 restrained from outward movement by at least two of said vertical reinforcing elements. - 28

15. A method of restraining a load in a cargo space of a transport vehicle by means of a reinforced side curtain; said method including the steps of; (a) positioning an end pole of said side curtain 5 into a latched position at one end of said cargo space, (b)positioning a tensioning pole of said side curtain into a tensioning spool at another end of said cargo space, 10 (c)tensioning said side curtain longitudinally by means of rotation of said tensioning spool, (d) activating a control element to simultaneously engage articulated latching elements of latching mechanisms at each of vertical reinforcing 15 elements into engagement with corresponding receiving or latching portion along a side coaming beam of said cargo space.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said vertical reinforcing elements comprise vertical restraining 20 bars; said vertical restraining bars affixed at intervals to an inside surface of said side curtain; upper ends of said vertical restraining bars attached to carriages moveable along a curtain rail proximate a roof of said cargo space. 25

17. The method of claim 15 or 16 wherein said inside surface of said curtain is provided with a horizontal - 29 and vertical grid of reinforcing webbing; a vertical webbing of said grid coincident with each of said vertical restraining bars.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said vertical 5 reinforcing elements comprise vertical webbing elements of a grid of reinforcing webbing; each said vertical webbing element affixed at an upper end to a wheeled carriage supporting said curtain and affixed at a lower end to an articulated latching element 10 pivotally attached at said lower end of a said vertical reinforcing element.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein said restraining bars are spaced so as to function as gates in securing cargo within said cargo space; said restraining bars 15 providing an array of substantially rigid elongate elements between the roof of said cargo space and the load platform of said transport vehicle.

20. The method of any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein said 20 control element comprises a strap connected to each said articulated latching element; said strap arranged along said side curtain.

21. The method of any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein said method includes the further steps of: - 30 (a)attaching said control element to a tensioning mechanism affixed to an end wall of said cargo space, (b)activating said tensioning mechanism to tension 5 said control element so as to simultaneously engage each of said articulated latching elements into engagement with said receiving or latching portions along said side coaming beam.

22. The method of any one of claims 15 to 21 wherein 10 opening said side curtain for access to said cargo space includes the following steps; (a)releasing tension from said control element, (b)releasing longitudinal tension from said side curtain causing said articulated latching 15 elements of said latching mechanisms to pivot into an unlatched state, (c)releasing either or each of said tensioning pole and said end pole respectively from said tensioning spool or from said latched position at 20 eaid one end, (d)sliding said side curtain into a position for accessing areas of said cargo space.

23. A side curtain tensioning system as herein described and with particular reference to the drawings.