AU2014101259A4

AU2014101259A4 - Cargo restrainer for a container and a roll container comprising the same

Info

Publication number: AU2014101259A4
Application number: AU2014101259A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jack GRÖNHOLM; Jussi Raninen
Original assignee: K Hartwall Oy AB
Current assignee: K Hartwall Oy AB
Priority date: 2013-10-31
Filing date: 2014-10-16
Publication date: 2014-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-16
Also published as: ES1137159U; FR3012402B3; FR3012402A3; ES1137159Y

Abstract

The present invention provides a reusable and easy to use cargo restrainer (200) for a con tainer (100), which has a first and second frame section (1 10a, 1 Ob), which are arranged at a distance (x) from each other, whereby the distance defines the width dimension of the roll container. The novel cargo restrainer (200) includes a tarpaulin (210), which extends from the first frame section in the width dimension of the roll container further than the distance between said frame sections such that the tarpaulin may extend along the second frame section. The cargo restrainer also has a hinge portion (220), which is arranged to a first lateral end of the tarpaulin. The hinge portion attaches the tarpaulin to the first frame section of the roll container. The cargo restrainer further has a stiffener bar (240) at the second lateral end of the tarpaulin, which is configured to envelop the stiffener bar. A ten sioner (230) is arranged to connect the stiffener bar to a frame section of the roll container. 110a 110b

Description

1 CARGO RESTRAINER FOR A CONTAINER AND A ROLL CONTAINER COMPRISING THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to logistics equipment. In particular, the invention relates to 5 means for securing load to containers used to transport parceled goods. More specifical ly, the invention relates to a load binding tarpaulin for a container according to the pre amble portion of claim 1. The invention also relates to a roll container comprising such a cargo restrainer. BACKGROUND ART 10 Parceled goods are typically transported between hubs and retail locations in prismatic containers, which may be on rolling platforms or simple crates without rollers. Both con tainer types feature two opposing frame sections, which define the width of the container. For easy access, the side or sides left between the frame sections are left open. A variety of cargo restrainers have therefore been arranged to such sides for preventing the par 15 celed goods from dropping out. A common way of securing the load to the container is wrapping plastic wrap around the container. Because the wrapping is labor intensive and produces excessive waste, more permanent solutions has been proposed in EP 1428763 Al, which discloses a tarpaulin (150) for securing cargo. The disclosed tarpaulin extends along the exposed side from one corner 20 profile to the opposing frame section and around the corner profile thereof For securing the tarpaulin to the roll container, EP 1428763 Al proposes three superposed straps (160) stitched to the tarpaulin. The straps are pivotably connected to said corner profile and extend to the opposing frame section and around the corner profile thereof The straps attach to the mesh of the opposing frame section by means of hooks (170). The straps are 25 also provided with length adjusters for producing desired tension to the straps. While the cargo restrainer proposed by EP 1428763 Al does solve the problem of pro ducing waste, it may nevertheless be seen quite laborious to use. This is because setting up the tarpaulin between the frame sections and also removing the tarpaulin there from requires coupling three hooks and adjusting three length adjusters.

2 It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a reusable cargo restrainer for a container that would also be quick to use. SUMMARY The aim of the present invention is achieved with aid of a novel cargo restrainer for a 5 container, which has a first and second frame section, which are arranged at a distance from each other, whereby the distance defines the width dimension of the container. The novel cargo restrainer includes a tarpaulin, which extends from the first frame section in the width dimension of the container further than the distance between said frame sec tions such that the tarpaulin may extend along the second frame section. The cargo re 10 strainer also has a hinge portion, which is arranged to a first lateral end of the tarpaulin. The hinge portion attaches the tarpaulin to the first frame section of the container. The cargo restrainer further has a stiffener bar at the second lateral end of the tarpaulin, which is configured to envelop the stiffener bar. A tensioner is arranged to connect the stiffener bar to a frame section of the container. 15 More specifically, the cargo restrainer according to the present invention is characterized by the characterizing portion of claim 1. On the other hand, the aim of the invention is achieved by way of a a roll container hav ing a first and second frame section, which are arranged at a distance from each other such that the distance defines the width dimension of the roll container. The roll contain 20 er also includes a cargo restrainer as defined above, whereby the cargo restrainer is at tached to the first frame section of the roll container in a hinged manner from the hinge portion of the cargo restrainer. Considerable benefits are gained with aid of the present invention. Because the tensioner is attached to the free end of the tarpaulin via the stiffener bar, the cargo restrainer can be 25 tightly arranged over the exposed side of the container with only one hook, for example. This enables the user to quickly employ the cargo restrainer with one hand only as op posed to having to manipulate three straps let alone wrapping the container in plastic. In addition, the cargo restrainer may be used repeatedly, whereby no waste is produced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 3 In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 presents an isometric view of a cargo restrainer according to one embodiment, Fig. 2 presents a detailed view of the hinge portion of the cargo restrainer of Fig. 1 being 5 wound around a profile of a frame section, and Fig. 3 presents a detailed view of the cooperation of the tensioner and stiffener bar of the cargo restrainer as well as of the adjustment mechanism of the tensioner of Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in Fig. 1, a cargo restrainer 200 according to one embodiment is proposed to 10 secure an exposed side of a roll container 100. While the cargo restrainer 200 is applica ble to any sort of a container, roll containers make up an especially favorable example because the ease of use is particularly beneficial in roll containers, which are used in de livery purposes, where the goods need to be accessed and secured repeatedly. The roll container 100 includes a first frame section 1 10a and an opposing second frame section 15 11 Ob, which both extend vertically from a base. The frame sections 1 10a, 1 Ob are ar ranged at a distance x from each other. The distance x defines the width dimension of the roll container 110. The frame sections 1 Oa, 1 Ob include a profile, which is shaped into an elongated U shape, and a mesh connecting sections of the profile so as to form a closed side. The exemplary roll container shown in Fig. 1 includes two sides closed by 20 the frame sections 1 10a, 1 l0b and two exposed sides closed by two cargo restrainers 200 according to the illustrated embodiment. The cargo restrainer 200 includes a tarpaulin 210, which is intended to extend between the first and second frame section 1 Oa, 1 Ob of the roll container 100. The tarpaulin 210 is dimensioned to be wider than the width of the roll container 100. In other words, the 25 tarpaulin 210 extends from the first frame section 1 10a in the width dimension of the roll container 100 further than the distance x between the first and second frame section 1 Oa, 11 Ob. The tarpaulin 210 therefore extends around the corner profile of the second frame section 1 Ob and along the second frame section 11 Ob.

4 To one lateral end of the tarpaulin 210 a hinge portion 220 has been formed. The shown hinge portion 220 features five superposed strips of the tarpaulin 210, which are used to attach the tarpaulin 210 to the profile of the first frame section 110a of the roll container 100 in a hinged manner. Shown best in Fig. 2, the strips are wound around the profile and 5 secured thereto by means of affixers 221, which in the illustrated embodiment are per manent snap fasteners, which not only enable retrofitting without tools but also ascertain that the tarpaulin 210 stays secured to the frame section 1 10a. As the hinge portion 220 is tightly attached to the roll container 100, the tarpaulin 210 may be pivoted to the em ployed configuration as shown in Fig. 1 and to a flanking configuration (not shown) 10 along the first frame section 11 Oa. At the opposing second lateral end of the tarpaulin 210, there is a stiffener bar 240, which is enveloped by the tarpaulin 210. More specifically, the second lateral end of the tarpau lin 210 is looped so as to enclose a stiffener bar 240, which is an elongated piece provid ing rigidity to the terminal lateral end of the tarpaulin 210. The enveloping loop of the 15 second end of the tarpaulin 210 is preferably stitched to secure the stiffener bar 240 with in. In the shown example the stiffener bar 240 is a steel rod having a diameter of 13 mm and a wall thickness of 1.25 mm. Naturally the stiffener bar 240 may be constructed from any suitable elongated piece that provides sufficient rigidity to the terminal end of the tarpaulin 210. As the free end of the tarpaulin 210 is stiffened, the cargo restrainer 200 20 may be provided with only one tensioner 230 for stretching the tarpaulin 210 over the exposed side of the roll container 100. A slit has been formed to the center area of the second lateral end of the tarpaulin 210 so as to expose a portion of the stiffener bar 240. A tensioner 230 is attached to the stiffener bar 240 by virtue of the slit. The tensioner 230 has a strap 231, which loops around the 25 stiffener bar 240 and terminates to a hook 232 or similar locking device for securing the tensioner 230 to a piece of a frame section. In the shown example, the hook 232 is adapted to lock onto the mesh of the second frame section 11 Ob. The tensioner 230 also has an adjustment mechanism 233 for adjusting the length of the tensioner 230. Alterna tively or additionally the strap 231 of the tensioner 230 may be elastic to sufficiently 30 tighten the tarpaulin 210 around the corner profile of the second frame section 11 Ob.

5 The tarpaulin 210 is made of a durable and preferably elastic material, such as PVC coat ed with polyester or Baltex Nato mesh, which has the benefit of being see through. Other tarpaulin materials may also be used. In any case, the tarpaulin 210 is made of sheet ma terial, which is elastically deformable such that it may be folded and shaped according to 5 the two principal operating configurations, which shall be discussed in the following. In use the cargo restrainer 200 has two primary configurations. The first configuration is the employed state, which is illustrated in Fig. 1. The second is the folded state, in which the tarpaulin 210 of the cargo restrainer 200 is turned about the hinge portions 220 to flank the roll container 100 along the first frame section 1 10a. For the employed state the 10 tarpaulin 210 is simply swung about the hinge portions 220 to cover the exposed side, whereby the second end of the tarpaulin 210 is secured to the mesh of the second frame section 1 Ob by means of the hook 232 of the tensioner 230. The desired length of the strap 230 of the tensioner is adjusted by means of a length adjuster mechanism (not shown). 15 According to an embodiment (not shown), the tarpaulin 210 of the cargo restrainer 200 is dimensioned extend over two opposing exposed sides and one closed side of the roll con tainer 100. More specifically, the tarpaulin 210 is wide enough to reach across the width of the roll container, i.e. the gap between the first and second frame section 1 Oa, 1 Ob, along the second frame section 1 10b, across the gap between the opposing exposed side 20 and around the corner profile of the first frame section 1 Oa. The cargo restrainer 200 is thereby secured to the mesh or other part of the same frame profile 1Oa, to which it is pivotably attached. According to another embodiment (now shown), the tarpaulin has one or a plurality of condensed portions extending vertically and spaced apart from each other so as to act as 25 pre-fabricated seams for aided folding. The condensed portions may be provided by means of stitching or creasing, for example, whereby the material of the tarpaulin at the processed area is denser than outside the area. Should the tarpaulin be provided with two condensed portions, for example, the condensed areas would act as pivoting lines helping the user to fold the tarpaulin three-fold about the two condensed portions. The use of said 30 condensed pivoting seams may be utilized in connection with a tarpaulin extending over only one exposed side of the roll container, but also with a tarpaulin extending over two 6 opposing exposed side. When folded, the accordion-like bundle does not extend far to wards the rear of the roll container, whereby it is easily accessed for further use. According to a further embodiment, the tarpaulin is reinforced at areas disposed between the condensed portions for further assisting composed folding. The reinforcement may be 5 provided by means of reinforcement sheets, such as plastic sheets, sawn into the fabric of the tarpaulin. According to a particular embodiment, a slit has been formed to the second lateral end of the tarpaulin 210 so as to expose a portion of the stiffener bar 240, wherein the tensioner 230 is attached to the stiffener bar 240 via the slit. 10 According to a particular embodiment, the tensioner 230 comprises a strap 231, which loops around the stiffener bar 240, and a locking member 232 at an end opposing the stiffener bar 240 for securing the tensioner 230 to frame section. According to a further embodiment, the tensioner 230 comprises also has an adjusting mechanism 233 for ad justing the length of the tensioner 230.

7 TABLE 1: LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS. 100 roll container 110 a,b side frame section 200 cargo restrainer 210 tarpaulin 220 hinge portion 221 affixer 230 tensioner 231 strap 232 hook 233 adjustment mechanism 240 bar x width

Claims

1. A cargo restrainer (200) for a container (100) comprising a first and second frame section (110a, 110b), which are arranged at a distance (x) from each other, whereby the distance (x) defines the width dimension of the container (110), which cargo re 5 strainer (200) comprises: - a tarpaulin (210), which: o is configured to extend from the first frame section (1 10a) in the width dimension of the container (100) further than the distance (x) between said frame sections (1 Oa, 1 Ob), wherein the tarpaulin (210) is adapted 10 to extend along the second frame section (1 10b), and which o has a first lateral end and an opposing second lateral end, - a hinge portion (220) arranged to the first lateral end of the tarpaulin (210), the hinge portion (220) being configured to attach the tarpaulin (210) to the first frame section (1 Oa) of the container (100), and 15 - a tensioner (230) arranged to the second lateral end of the tarpaulin (210), the tensioner (230) being configured to attach to a frame section (1 Ob) of the con tainer (100), characterized by a stiffener bar (240) arranged to the second lateral end of the tar paulin (210), which is configured to envelop the stiffener bar (240), wherein the 20 tensioner (230) is configured to connect the stiffener bar (240) to a frame section (1 Ob).

2. The cargo restrainer (200) according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion (220) comprises a plurality of superposed strips extending from the first lateral end of the tarpaulin (210), which strips are wound around the profile of the first frame section 25 (11 Oa) of the container (100) and secured thereto by means of affixers (221).

3. The cargo restrainer (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tarpaulin (210) is made of sheet material, which is elastically deformable such that it may be folded and shaped into an employed state, in which the tarpaulin (210) extends between two opposing frame sections (1 Oa, 1 Ob) of the roll container (100), and into a 9 folded state, in which the tarpaulin (210) is turned about the hinge portions (220) to flank the container (100) along the first frame section (1 10a).

4. The cargo restrainer (200) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the tarpaulin (210) comprises at least one condensed portion extending vertically so as to act as pre 5 fabricated seams for aided folding.

5. A roll container (100) comprising a first and second frame section (110a, 110b), which are arranged at a distance (x) from each other, whereby the distance (x) de fines the width dimension of the roll container (110), characterized by a cargo restrainer (200) according to any of the preceding claims, 10 wherein the cargo restrainer (200) is attached to the first frame section (11 Oa) of the roll container (100) in a hinged manner from the hinge portion (220) of the cargo restrainer (200).