Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
  • B65D90/02—Wall construction
  • B65D90/021—Flexible side walls or doors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B19/00—Slide fasteners
  • A44B19/24—Details
  • A44B19/34—Stringer tapes; Flaps secured to stringers for covering the interlocking members
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B18/00—Fasteners of the touch-and-close type; Making such fasteners
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B19/00—Slide fasteners
  • A44B19/24—Details
  • A44B19/26—Sliders
  • A44B19/30—Sliders with means for locking in position
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D88/00—Large containers
  • B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
  • B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
  • B65D88/14—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport by air

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to the field of transportation, and, more particularly, to cargo containers for aircraft. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a replaceable closure system for flexible panels of such containers.
• ULDs Unit Load Devices
• the size and shape of ULDs vary depending upon the type of aircraft in use.
• one end or side of the cargo container is open for loading and unloading cargo.
• Various door closures have been used for opening and closing the open ends of such containers.
• One type of closure has been a rigid door closure that covers the opening to reduce tampering, to prevent the loss of small items, and to prevent the cargo from being exposed to dirt, moisture, and ultraviolet light.
• Another type of closure includes a fabric closure or curtain. In all aircraft, the gross weight of the airplane is a substantial factor, because of the cost of fuel. Even a slight reduction in weight is significant, therefore fabric doors are often preferred.
• curtain closures for air cargo containers serve several purposes. Primarily, closures keep cargo contained inside of an air cargo container and minimize the unwanted intrusion into the air cargo container. Improvements have been made in curtain closures to increase their strength using high tenacity fibers to form the curtains. These curtains have had the effect of lowering maintenance costs because the curtains having high tenacity fibers may resist damage from the rough handing common to air cargo containers. Particularly, sliding cargo within the container is unlikely to puncture the high tenacity curtains. Further, curtains made from high tenacity fibers can resist puncture from cargo handling equipment such as fork lifts.
• One closure system for fabric doors is a zipper extending along opposing edges of the fabric door.
• a tape width of the zipper is sewn along the edge of the fabric door with a chain of the zipper extending from the edge of the fabric door.
• This configuration allows the chain of the zipper to flex with the fabric door and secure to an opposing chain of the zipper to secure the edge of the fabric door to an opposing edge of the fabric door.
• the tape width of the zipper must be unsewn to be removed from the fabric door and a new zipper installed by sewing a tape width of the new zipper to the edge of the fabric door. The process of unsewing the tape width and sewing a new tape width to the edge of the fabric door is tedious and time consuming.
• a zipper closure for a panel includes a holder and a first zipper.
• the holder includes an attachment tab, a first wing, and a second wing.
• the attachment tab is configured to attach to a panel.
• the first wing extends in a direction away from the attachment tab and includes a first securement segment.
• the second wing extends in a direction away from the attachment tab and includes a second securement segment that opposes the first securement segment.
• the first zipper includes a chain and a zipper tape. The chain is configured to selectively interlock with an opposing chain of an opposing zipper.
• the zipper tape extends in a direction away from the chain and includes a first surface that has a third securement segment attached thereto and includes a second surface that is opposite the first surface that has a fourth securement segment attached thereto.
• the fourth securement segment is engaged with the first securement segment and the third securement segment is engaged with the second securement segment to releaseably secure the first zipper to the holder.
• the first and second securement segments include a first part of a two-part fastening system and the third and fourth securement segments include a second part of the two-part fastening system.
• the first part may be a plurality of hooks and the second part may be a plurality of loops.
• the first part may be a plurality of mushroom hooks.
• the holder is formed of a continuous fabric element.
• the holder may include a continuous first securement strip that includes the first and second securement segments.
• the first securement segment may be attached to the first wing and the second securement may be attached to the second wing.
• the first securement strip may include a central securement segment between the first and second securement segments. The first securement segment may fold over and end of the zipper tape.
• the first zipper includes a continuous second securement strip that includes the third and fourth securement segments.
• the second securement strip may include a central securement segment between the third and fourth securement segments.
• the second securement strip may fold over and end of the zipper tape.
• a cargo container in another embodiment, includes a plurality of panels, a curtain, and a zipper closure.
• the plurality of panels define a cargo opening and the curtain has a closed configuration in which the curtain closes the cargo opening and an open configuration in which an interior of the cargo contain can be accessed through the cargo opening.
• the zipper closure has a closed configuration that corresponds to the closed configuration of the curtain and includes a holder and a first zipper.
• the holder includes an attachment tab that is attached to a first edge of the curtain.
• the first wing extends in a direction away from the first edge of the curtain and includes a first securement segment.
• the second wing extends in the direction away from the first edge of the curtain and includes a second securement segment that opposes the first securement segment.
• the first zipper includes a first chain and a first zipper tape.
• the first chain is configured to selectively interlock with a second chain of a second zipper.
• the first zipper tape extends in a direction away from the first chain and has a first surface that includes a third segment attached thereto and has a second surface opposite the first surface that includes a fourth securement segment attached thereto.
• the fourth securement segment is engaged with the first securement segment and the third securement segment is engaged with the second engagement segment to releaseably secure the first zipper to the first edge of the curtain.
• the curtain includes a flexible panel and a side strip.
• the first edge may extend along the flexible panel in opposition to a second edge of the side strip.
• the zipper closure may include a second zipper having a second chain and a second zipper tape.
• the second chain may be configured to selective interlock with the first chain of the first zipper.
• the second zipper tape may extend in a direction away from the second chain and toward the second edge of the side strip. The second zipper tape may be secured to the second edge of the side strip.
• a zipper closure for a flexible panel includes a holder and a zipper.
• the holder is configured to attached to a flexible panel and includes a first wing and a second wing.
• the first wing includes a first securement surface that opposes a second securement surface of the second wing.
• the zipper includes a chain and a zipper tape.
• the chain is configured to selectively interlock with an opposing chain of an opposing zipper.
• the zipper tape extends in a direction away from the chain and includes a third securement surface and a fourth securement surface opposite the third securement surface.
• the zipper tap is disposed between the first wing and the second wing of the holder such that the third securement surface is releaseably engaged with the first engagement surface and the fourth securement surface is releaseably engaged with the second engagement surface.
• the first and second wings may be folded over the zipper tape such that the zipper tape may be tacoed within the holder.
• the first and second securement surfaces include a first part of a two-part fastening system and the third and fourth securement surfaces include a second part of the two-part fastening system.
• the first part may be a plurality of hooks and the second part may be a plurality of loops.
• the first part may be a plurality of mushroom hooks and the second part may be a plurality of loops.
• the zipper may be removable from the holder when the holder is attached to the flexible panel.
• a method of replacing a zipper of a cargo container includes removing a first zipper from a holder and securing a second zipper within the holder.
• Removing the first zipper from the holder may include peeling a first wing of the holder from a first side of a zipper tape of the first zipper to disengage a first part of a two-part fastener that is attached to the first wing from a second part of the two-part fastener that is attached to the first side of the zipper tape.
• Removing the first zipper also includes peeling a second wing of the holder from a second side of the zipper tape of the first zipper that is opposite the first side to disengage a first part of the two-part fastener that is attached to the second wing from a second part of the two- part fastener attached to the second side of the zipper tape.
• Securing the second zipper includes engaging a second part of the two-part fastener that is attached to a third side of a zipper tape of the second zipper with the first part of the two-part fastener that is attached to the second wing and engaging a second part of the two-part fastener that is attached to a fourth side of the zipper tape of the second zipper with the first part of the two-part fastener that is attached to the first wing of the holder.
• the fourth side of the zipper tape of the second zipper opposes the third side of the zipper tape of the second zipper.
• the method includes removing the first zipper from the holder and securing the second zipper within the holder includes the holder being attached to a flexible panel that is configured to close a cargo opening of the cargo container.
• Removing may further include separating a first chain of the first zipper from an opposing chain of an opposing zipper and securing may include interlocking a second chain of the second zipper with the opposing chain of the opposing zipper.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cargo container including an embodiment of a zipper closure provided in accordance with the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the cargo container of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the zipper closure of FIG. 1 with a zipper of the zipper closure secured within a holder of the zipper closure;
• FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the zipper closure of FIG. 3 with a wing of the holder disengaged from the zipper;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the zipper of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the section line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 3;
• FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of replacing a zipper in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• unit load devices also known as “air cargo containers,” is defined as containers used to load luggage, freight, mail, and the like on wide-body aircraft and some specific narrow- body aircraft.
• an air cargo container or ULD or simply container 100 includes a zipper closure system 10 provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the container 100 may include a frame 102 presenting a generally rectangular shape with an offset designed to more closely follow the outline of the lower half of an aircraft.
• the container 100 may further include a cargo opening defined by a portion of the frame 102.
• the frame 102 may be formed from any substantially rigid material, such as aluminum, steel, composites, temperature resistant plastics, and other metals and non-metals.
• the frame 102 may support a plurality of panels 104 forming the walls, and optionally the roof and floor of the container 100.
• the panels 104 may be constructed together such that a separate frame may be eliminated.
• the panels 104 may be a composite panel for at least their lightweight, thermal insulating, and high strength characteristics.
• the panels 104 may also include aluminum, aluminum/Lexan composite, webs, fabrics, or some other lightweight material.
• the cargo opening may be substantially sealed, and selectively closed, by a door, referred to herein as a curtain 106, to reflect the flexible nature of doors according to the present disclosure.
• the curtain 106 includes a center panel 107 and a side strip 108 with the zipper closure system 10 in between.
• the zipper closure system 10 is configured to selectively secure the center panel 107 and the side strip 108 together to secure the curtain 106 in a closed configuration as shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 1 For additional detail of exemplary cargo containers and curtains that do not include the zipper closure system 10 that is the subject of this disclosure, reference may be made to U.S. Patent Nos. 6,755,232; 7,311,216; 7,828,029; 9,174,796; and 9,834,374 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017/0096295, with the entire contents of each of these disclosures hereby incorporated by reference.
• the zipper closure system 10 includes a first zipper 20, a second zipper 30, and a slider 40.
• the first zipper 20 is secured to an edge of the center panel 107 of the curtain 106 and the second zipper 30 is secured to the side strip 108 of the curtain 106.
• the slider 40 is configured to translate between the first and second zippers 20, 30 to interlock or separate a first chain 24 of the first zipper 20 with a second chain 34 of the second zipper 30.
• the zipper closure system 10 is in a closed configuration in which the edge of the center panel 107 is secured to the side strip 108 along substantially the entire length thereof.
• the zipper closure system 10 is in an open configuration in which the edge of the center panel 107 is free from the side strip 108 allowing access to an interior of the cargo container 100 through the cargo opening thereof.
• the zipper closure system 10 may be positioned anywhere along a flexible panel.
• the zipper closure system 10 may extend from a top center to a bottom center of a flexible panel with open edges of the flexible panel forming a T- shape.
• Such a T-shaped opening is disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,479,801 and 9,174,797, with the entire contents of each of these disclosures hereby incorporated by reference.
• the zipper closure system 10 includes a holder 50 that is secured to the center panel 107 and that is configured to releaseably secure the first zipper 20 therein.
• the holder 50 includes the attachment tab 52, a first or outside wing 54, a second or inside wing 56, and a first securement strip 58.
• the terms “inside” and “outside” as used herein are relative terms referring to an inside or outside of the cargo container 100 (FIG. 1) when the curtain 106 (FIG. 1) is in the closed configuration.
• the attachment tab 52 extends away from the first zipper 20 in a direction towards the edge of the center panel 107 and is attached to the edge of the center panel
• the attachment tab 52 maybe sewn to the edge of the center panel 107 to attach the holder 50 to the center panel 107.
• the holder 50 can be replaced by unsewing the attachment tab 52 and sewing a new holder to the edge of the center panel 107.
• the attachment tab 52 may be welded to the edge of the center panel 107.
• the holder 50 may be integrally formed with the center panel 107.
• the attachment tab 52, outside wing 54, and inside wing 56 may be formed from a single piece of material that is folded over and sewn along the attachment tab 52 to form the holder 50.
• the holder 50 is formed from two pieces of material that are sewn together along the attachment tab 52 to attach the two pieces together to form the holder 50.
• the two pieces are sewn together with an edge of the center panel 107 disposed between the two pieces such that the center panel 107 is sandwiched between the two pieces of fabric forming the attachment tab 52.
• the attachment tab 52 may be formed of one or two pieces of fabric and the each of the wings 54, 56 may be formed of a single piece of fabric or each be formed of a piece of fabric with the attachment tab 52 sewn to the wings 54, 56 to attach the attachment tab 52 to the wings 54, 56 to form the holder 50.
• the outside wing 54 and the inside wing 56 each extend away from the attachment tab 52 in a direction away from the center panel 107 and towards the side strip
• the inside surface 54a of the outside wing 54 includes a first segment 58a of the first securement strip 58 and the outside surface 56b of the inside wing 56 includes a second segment 58b of the securement strip 58.
• the first and second segments 58a, 58b may be attached to the respective surface, e.g., inside surface 54a or outside surface 56b, by mechanical means such as sewing or using fasteners or by adhesion such as chemical adhesives or welding, e.g., ultrasonic welding.
• the first and second segments 58a, 58b may each be one part of a hook and loop fastening system with each of the first and second segments 58a, 58b being the same part, e.g., hooks or loops, such that the first and second segments 58a, 58b do not securely engage one another.
• the first and second segments 58a, 58b are both part of the continuous first securement strip 58 that is folded adjacent the attachment tab 52 and attached to the inside surface 54a and the outside surface 56b.
• a central segment of the first securement strip 58 between the first and second segments 58a, 58b may not be attached to either of the first or second wings 54, 56.
• the first and second segments 58a, 58b may be separate securement strips that are each attached to a respective surface, e.g., inside surface 54a or outside surface 56b.
• the first zipper 20 includes a first zipper tape 22, a first zipper chain 24, and a second securement strip 28.
• the first zipper tape 22 is a flexible fabric that extends from the first zipper chain 24 in a direction towards the center panel 107 (FIG. 2).
• the first zipper chain 28 opposes the second zipper 30 (FIG. 2) and is configured to selectively interlock with a second zipper chain 38 of the second zipper 30 to selectively close the zipper closure system 10.
• the second securement strip 28 has a third or inside segment 28a and a fourth or outside segment 28b.
• the second securement strip 28 is folded over or tacos an end of the first zipper tape 22 opposite the zipper chain 24 with the third segment 28a attached to an inside surface 22a of the first zipper tape 22 and the fourth segment 28b attached to an outside surface 22b of the first zipper tape 22.
• the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b may be attached to the respective surface, e.g., inside surface 22a or outside surface 22b, by mechanical means such as sewing or using fasteners or by adhesion such as chemical adhesives or welding, e.g., ultrasonic welding.
• the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b may each be one part of a hook and loop fastening system with each of the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b being the same part, e.g., hooks or loops, and opposite the part of the first and second segments 58a, 58b such that the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b each securely engage one of the first or second segments 58a, 58b.
• the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b are both part of the continuous second securement strip 28 that is folded over the first zipper tape 22 and is attached to the inside surface 22a and the outside surface 22b thereof.
• a central segment of the second securement strip 28 between the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b may not be attached to the first zipper tab 22.
• the third and fourth segments 28a, 28b may be separate securement strips that are each attached to a respective surface of the first zipper tape 22, e.g., inside surface 22a or outside surface 22b.
• the first and second securement strips 58, 28 form a two-part fastening system.
• the first securement strip 58 may include a plurality of hooks and the second securement strip 28 may include a plurality of loops such that when a segment of the first securement strip 58, e.g., first or second segment 58a, 58b, engages a segment of the second securement strip 28, e.g., third or fourth segment 28a, 28b, the segments of the first and second securement strips 58, 28 are secured to one another.
• the two-part fastening system formed by the first and second securement strips 58, 28 may an industrial strength fastening system that is configured to provide significant resistance to separating segments once the segments are engaged with one another.
• the plurality of hooks may be a high-shear, semi-permanent hook configuration.
• the plurality of hooks may be required to carry high loads put on the curtain 106 as a result of shifting loads within the container 100.
• the semi-permanent hook configuration may minimize separation during use and may discourage unauthorized removal, e.g., in response to theft or vandalism.
• the plurality of hooks may be a plurality of mushroom hooks that provide a high peel strength and a high sheer strength.
• the plurality of hooks may be Velcro® 87S supplied by Velcro® or Mushroom Hook supplied by Paiho North America and the plurality of loops may be Velcro® 1000.
• the first securement strip 58 is folded or tacos the second securement strip 28 such that the first securement strip 58 engages both the inside, third segment 28a and the outside, fourth segment 28b of the second securement strip 28.
• a strength of the engagement between the first and second securement strips 58, 28 is greater than a strength of engagement between a single segment of each of the first and second securement strips 58, 28 for the same length.
• a peel strength of the first and second securement strips 58, 28 may be greater than 2 lb. /linear inch or greater than 3 lb.
• /linear inch and a shear strength of the first and second securement strips 58, 28 may be greater than 20 lb. /in 2 or greater than 40 lb. /in 2 .
• fourth segment 28b of the second securement strip 28 reduces the likelihood of unintended separation between the first and second securement strips 58, 28, e.g., by pulling the center panel 107 outward when the zipper closure system 10 is in a closed configuration as shown in FIG. 2.
• zipper closure systems e.g., zipper closure system 10
• securing panels e.g., center panel 100
• the cargo container or components thereof may become damaged.
• a forklift may hit a cargo container or a cargo container may be dropped.
• parts of the cargo container may require replacement before the cargo container is returned to service.
• FIG. 9 a method of replacing a zipper of a cargo container 700 is disclosed in accordance with the present disclosure with reference to the cargo container 100 and the zipper closure system 10 of FIGS. 1-8.
• the method 700 allows for quick replacement of a zipper of a cargo container without requiring unsewing and resewing of a new zipper.
• the zipper closure system 10 may allow for at least five replacements of a zipper over the life of a container or curtain without replacing the first securement strip 58.
• the method 700 can be accomplished without additional equipment, e.g., a sewing machine. For these reasons, the method 700 may reduce costs associated with replacing a zipper of a cargo container and/or reduce repair time required to replace a zipper of a cargo container.
• a center panel 107 of the cargo container 100 with a damage zipper e.g., first zipper 20 is in the closed configuration with slide 40 of the zipper closure system 10 adjacent a bottom edge of the cargo container 100.
• the slide 40 may be slid along the first zipper 20 to an upper edge of the cargo container 100 to separate the first zipper 20 from the second zipper 30 or the slide 40 may remain in adjacent the bottom edge of the cargo container 100 while the first zipper 20 is released from the center panel 107.
• the first zipper 20 is released from the center panel 107 by removing the first zipper 20 from the holder 50.
• the first wing 54 is separated from the zipper tape 22 by peeling the first segment 58a of the first securement strip 58 from the fourth segment 28b of the second securement strip 28 as shown in FIG. 5 (Step 710).
• the second wing 56 must also be separated from the zipper tape 22 by peeling the second segment 58b of the first securement strip 58 from the third segment 28a of the second securement strip 28 to separate the second wing 56 from the zipper tape 22 (Step 720).
• Peeling the first segment 58a from the fourth segment 28b (Step 710) and peeling the second segment 58b from the third segment 28a (Step 720) can occur in any order or simultaneously.
• the engagement strength between the first and second securement strips 58, 28 and/or the tacoed geometry of the first and second securement strips 58, 28 may make sequentially peeling the segments more practical than simultaneously peeling the segments.
• a tool (not shown) can be used to assist in peeling the segments from one another.
• the tool may be a thin, flat piece of rigid plastic that is slid between the engage segments, e.g., between the first segment 58a and the fourth segment 28b, to separate the segments from one another and prevent the segments from re-engaging one another.
• the zipper tape 22 is separated from the holder 50 and the center panel 107 of the curtain 106.
• the first zipper 20 can be removed from the curtain 106 (Step 730). If the zipper tape 22 is separated from the holder 50 and the first chain 24 of the first zipper 20 is interlocked with the second chain 34 of the second zipper 30, the slider 40 is slid to the top edge of the cargo container 100 until the first chain 24 is separated from the second chain 34.
• a new zipper can be secured to the holder 50 to replace the first zipper 20.
• the new zipper (referred to for the remainder of the description of the method 700 as the first zipper 20 for consistency with the figures) is secured to the holder 50 by engaging the first and second securement strips 58, 28 with one another.
• the zipper tape 22 of the first zipper 20 is positioned adjacent the holder 50.
• the zipper tape 22 may be trimmed to shorten the first zipper 20 to a length of the holder 50.
• the third segment 28a of the zipper tape 22 is engaged with the second segment 58b of the second wing 56 (Step 740).
• the first wing 54 is folded over the zipper tape 22 to engage the first segment 58a of the first wing 54 with the fourth segment 28b of the zipper tape 22 (Step 750).
• the outer surface 54b of the first wing 54 and the inner surface 56a of the second wing 56 may be pushed together to with the zipper tape 22 therebetween to ensure the first securement strip 58 is engaged with the second securement strip 28.
• the first and second securement strips 58, 28 are engaged with one another, the first zipper 20 is secured to the edge of the center panel 107.
• the first chain 24 of the first zipper 20 is interlocked with the second chain 34 of the second zipper 30 (Step 760).
• the slide 40 may be used to interlock the first and second chains 24, 34 with one another.
• the first zipper 20 includes an insertion pin (not shown) and the second zipper 30 includes a pin box (not shown) adjacent the top edge of the container 100 to align the first and second sippers 20, 30 with one another.
• the first and second zippers 20, 30 are interlocked with one another (Step 760) before the zipper tape 22 is secured within the holder 50 (Steps 740 & 750). Interlocking the first and second zippers 20, 30 with one another before securing the zipper tape 22 within the holder 50 may assist in alignment of the zipper tape 22 with the holder 50.
• the second zipper 30 may be replaced as detailed below. While not discussed in detail herein, the second zipper 30 may be secured to an edge of the side strip 108 of the curtain 106 in a similar manner to the securement of the first zipper 20 to the edge of the center panel 107. This may be preferred when the side strip 108 has a width and is substantially flexible. In such embodiments, the method 700 detailed above may be used to replace the second zipper 30.
• the side strip 108 is narrow and does not require substantial flexibility, e.g., the side strip 108 is not required to fold or roll to provide access to the interior of the cargo container 100.
• the second zipper 30 may be releaseably secured to the side strip 108 by a substantially rigid rod sewn into or received within a second zipper tape 32 of the second zipper 30.
• the rigid rod is received within a channel of the side strip 108 to secure the second zipper tape 32 to the edge of the side strip 108.
• the channel 108 may be a substantially rigid channel that is secured to the edge of the side strip 108 with a slot to allow the second zipper tape 32 to extend from within the channel.
• the substantially rigid rod and the substantially rigid channel may be formed of plastic or metal.
• the rigid channel may be part of the frame 102 of the cargo container 100. This arrangement may allow for a damaged second zipper 30 to slide out of the channel and a new zipper to slide into the channel to replace the damaged second zipper 30.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Slide Fasteners (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)

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• 2020
  • 2020-09-04 CN CN202080072522.6A patent/CN114555489A/zh active Pending
  • 2020-09-04 US US17/012,491 patent/US20210070540A1/en active Pending
  • 2020-09-04 EP EP20859803.7A patent/EP4025523A4/de active Pending
  • 2020-09-04 WO PCT/US2020/049379 patent/WO2021046333A1/en unknown

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