GB2110608A - Cargo control arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

A control track 10 is fitted flush with the floor, wall or pillar of a van or container and presents a row of spaced aligned slots 18 each of which has both ends 19 widened. The track has inturned spaced portions 13, to receive the heads 17 of bolts or screws 16 to secure the track. Hook devices 20, 27, to which are secured tensionable cargo control straps 25, engage in a pair of adjacent slots. The hooks may be single (Fig. 5) or double (Fig. 3), the former with an extended length nose 28 which requires substantial pivotting of the hook for withdrawal purposes and the latter with lateral nibs 24 which serve to abut surfaces of the widened slot ends to resist hook disengagement should the straps become slack. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cargo control arrangements This invention relates to cargo control arrangements.

A cargo control arrangement, in terms of the present invention, consists generally of cargo control tracks and hook devices to which cargo control straps, ropes, chains or similar are attached for engaging such control tracks.

More specifically, by "a cargo control track" we mean herein and in the claims an apertured track which can be secured in or to the floor and/or the wall and/or a pillar of a load-accommodating receptacle, such as a van body or a container.

Such a track is preferably engaged by a hook device or similar usually secured to a tensionable webbing strap or cargo net serving to secure cargo in position within the van body or container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cargo control arrangement resistant to disengagement of the hook device from the control track should the tensioned webbing strap for example become slack.

According to the present invention a cargo control arrangement comprises a cargo control track having in its upper surface, when in use, a row of spaced aligned elongate slots, each widened at both ends.

The track may be in the form of a channel or it may be a simple plate secured in bridging relationship between adjacent parallel members or the limbs of a channel.

The track may be located along the floor or vertically in a van body for example.

The track preferably is a channel with its limbs inturned to define a slot along which a headed bolt or screw can be moved, the head of the bolt or screw overlying the inturned limb ends and being engageable by a screwdriver or other tool insertible through the upper elongate slots thereby allowing the bolt or screw to be tightened to secure the track in desired position. If, say, a bolt is used having a hexagonal head requiring the use of a box spanner then the bolt is located under a widened end of a slot to permit insertion of the box spanner. Alternatively, the track may be welded in position.

Also according to the present invention a cargo control arrangement comprises a hook device for use with the cargo control track as defined in the immediately preceding four paragraphs, the hook device comprising a hook engageable in two adjacent slots and having lateral nibs adapted to abut surfaces defining the widened ends of the slots to resist hook disengagement upon webbing strap slackening.

The hook is preferably curved and dimensioned sufficiently normally to resist unwanted disengagement from the track slots.

There may be two aligned and joined hooks each with lateral nibs and each engageable in an adjacent one of a pair of adjacent slots.

Preferably the leading end of the leading hook, in terms of the direction of insertion of the hook device into the track slots, is shorter than the leading end of the trailing hook whereby hook device insertion and removal requires to be effected with the hook device at an inclined attitude. This substantially reduces the tendency for the hook device inadvertently to disengage from the control track.

Alternatively, the trailing hook may be longer than the leading hook to further assist in resisting hook disengagement upon webbing strap slackening.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of cargo control track according to the invention with the hook device also according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the cargo control track with the hook device in position; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the hook device; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a control track and modified double hook device: and Fig. 5 is a side view of an alternative hook device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the cargo control track 10, in this embodiment, comprises an inverted channel 11 whereof the limbs 12 are inturned as indicated at 13 to define a narrow slot 14.

The track 10 is secured, for example, in the floor 1 5 of a van (not shown) with its top surface flush with the floor adjacent the rave (also not shown) by screws 1 6 having heads 17 clampingt overlying the inturned portions 1 3 of the limbs 1 2.

The top surface of the track channel 11 has a series of equi-spaced elongate slots 1 8 whereof the ends 19 are widened.

It is to be noted that the securing screws 16 are located under the slots 1 8 to facilitate tightening or loosening by a convenient tool.

The hook device 20 comprises two hooks 21, 22 joined by a bridging portion 23 with each hook 21,22 having lateral nibs 24. The vertical leg of the hook 21 is slightly longer than that of the hook 22 but need not be so.

A webbing strap 25 which is tensionable and which is used to control cargo within the van is secured to each hook device 20.

It can be seen that each hook device 20 is engaged under bridging pieces 26 between adjacent slots 1 8 and then, in use, the webbing strap 25 is tensioned to secure the cargo in position.

If for some reason the tension in a webbing strap 25 is lost and the hook devices 20 try to lift out of the slots 1 8 then the nibs 24 will tend to abut against the edges 1 9A of the widened slot ends 1 9 thus impeding withdrawal of the hooks 21,22 from their respective slots 1 8.

This impediment will be assisted if the hooks 21, 22 are of unequal length.

It will be noted that each hook device 20 has lateral articulation, and that the hook device 20 lies within the dimensions of the control track 10 so that it does not interfere with the cargo.

The control track can be secured in position by any suitable means and is usually provided in three metre lengths with, say, three to four webbing straps per track length.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, in this instance the hooks 21, 22 are of the same length but the leading portion 22A of the hook 22 is shorter than the leading portion 21 A of the hook 21.

As a result the hook device can be slid into the slots 1 8 in the track 10 with the nibs 24A of the hook 22 above the level of the slots 1 8 and the nibs 24A of the hook 21 below the level of the slots 1 8. An inclined attitude is also required to withdraw the hook device 20 which renders inadvertent withdrawal much more unlikely.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative hook device consisting of a single hook 27. This hook 27 is dimensioned and is of substantial curvature such that it requires to be pivoted through an appreciable angle before it becomes disengaged from the bridging piece 26 which is preferably approximately twice the width, in the longitudinal direction of the track 10, as that of the bridging pieces 26 of a track 10 employing a double hook device.

The extended length of the nose 28 of the hook 27, in effect, achieves the same effect, i.e.

impediment to inadvertent hook withdrawal, as the lateral nibs.

It will be manifest, however, that this hook 27 may, if desired, be provided with lateral nibs to provide a second line of impediment to inadvertent hook withdrawal.

Claims (11)

1. A cargo control arrangement comprising a cargo control track having in its upper surface, when in use, a row of spaced aligned slots, each widened at both ends.

2. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the control track is in the form of a channel.

3. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the control track comprises a plate secured in bridging relationship between adjacent parallel members or the limbs of a channel.

4. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 2, in which the control track is a channel with its limbs inturned to define a slot along which a headed bolt or screw can be moved, the head of the bolt or screw overlying the inturned limb ends and being engageable by a screwdriver or other tool insertible through the slot thereby allowing the bolt or screw to be tightened to secure the track in desired position.

5. A cargo control arrangement for use with the cargo control track as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 including a hook device comprising a hook engageable in two adjacent slots of the control track and having lateral nibs adapted to abut surfaces defining the widened ends of the slots to resist hook disengagement upon webbing strap slackening.

6. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 in which the hook is curved and dimensioned sufficiently normally to resist unwanted disengagement from the track slots.

7. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 in which the hook device comprises two aligned and joined hooks each with lateral nibs and each engageable in an adjacent one of a pair of adjacent slots.

8. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 7, in which the leading end of the leading hook, in terms of the direction of insertion of the hook device into the track slots, is shorter than the leading end of the trailing hook whereby hook device insertion and removal requires to be effected with the hook device at an inclined attitude.

9. A cargo control arrangement as claimed in Claim 7 in which, in terms of the direction of hook device engagement the trailing hook is longer than the leading hook to further assist in resisting hook disengagement.

10. A cargo control arrangement for use with the cargo control track as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 including a hook device comprising a hook engageable in two adjacent slots of the control track, the hook having an extended length nose whereby the hook requires to be pivoted through an appreciable angle before it can be disengaged from the control track.

11. A cargo control arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.