GB2135943A

GB2135943A - Load-retaining apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2135943A
Application number: GB08405972A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul David Keen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-08
Filing date: 1984-03-07
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB2135943B; GB8405972D0

Abstract

Load-retaining apparatus fitted to a vehicle 1 comprises a roller 12 carrying a length of wound up load-retaining sheet material 14 such as tarpaulin canvas which is in use drawn over and in contact with a load 18. The leading edge of the sheet material is terminated by an end rod 16 which has its extremities received in two of a matrix of holes 10 formed in upstanding side panels or frames located on either side of load 18. Other rods or bars 20 are received by their ends in further holes 10 with the sheet material 14 being thereby sandwiched against the load surface and generally following its contours. Sheet material 14 and load-retaining bars 20 cooperate to secure the load in a stable position in which it is restrained against disturbing forces in transit whilst enabling easy and quick part-unloading of the load followed by re-securement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load-retaining apparatus The invention relates to load-retaining apparatus and more especially to apparatus for retaining loads in transit.

Loads carried in motor vehicles and cargo containers for example are subjected to potentially disturbing forces produced by vehicle acceleration, cornering and braking. At present, load-retaining straps are used where necessary which are often time consuming to secure and not always suitable for some loads especially when the load is progressively unloaded at different delivery points and must be retained in position between each delivery.

According to the present invention, load-retaining apparatus comprises a pair of side structures between which in use a load to be positionally retained is located, a roller on which is wound a length of load-retaining material and at least one loadretaining bar for holding in place the load-retaining material, the side structures being arranged to include a plurality of juxtaposed pairs of barreceiving means arranged at different positions on the side structures so that a load-retaining bar can be supported at each position between a pair of the bar-receiving means, whereby the material can be drawn from the roller and held in place by the load-retaining bar or bars to serve in use for retaining a load positioned between the side structures.

The material which is secured at one end thereof to the roller may at the other end be secured to a rod means adapted to be fixed parallel to the loadretaining bar or bars between the side structures.

The side structures may comprise side panels and the bar-receiving means may comprise a matrix of holes or recesses in the panels which serve to receive the load-retaining bar or bars or the rod means.

The roller may in accordance with one embodiment of the invention include spindles on which it can be rotated to enable the material to be drawn therefrom, winch means being provided operatively associated with the roller to serve for rewinding the material onto the roller.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, the roller may be arranged to be spring biased so that the material is in use drawn from the roller against a force provided by the spring and rewound consequent upon rotation of the roller responsively to a restoring force provided by the spring.

The rod means and/or the load-retaining bar or bars may be telescopically constructed so as to facilitate their fixture to the side panels. The telescopically constructed rod means or load-retaining bar or bars may include spring bias means which serves normally to retain them in an extended position.

The rod means may include a handle and a mechanism for retracting pegs arranged to extend from each end thereof, the mechanism including a lever positioned adjacent the handle and operable for retracting the pegs.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic partly sectional side view of a lorry the load compartment of which is fitted with load-retaining apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is view of the load compartment of the lorry shown in Figure 1 from the direction of the arrow II; Figure 3 is a schematic partly sectional side view of the lorry shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing a load retained by the load-retaining apparatus; Figure 4 is a schematic partly exploded perspective view showing part of a roller forming a compo nentofthe load-retaining apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3, together with associated operating mechanism;; Figure 5 is a schematic partly sectional side view of a lorry fitted with another form of load-retaining apparatus according to the invention, a load retained againsttransitdisturbance being shown in position; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a bar forming a part of the load-retaining apparatus shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing in greater detail and arranged in an alternative fashion a part of the bar shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a side panel forming a part of the load-retaining apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a roller carrying load-retaining material which forms a part of load-retaining apparatus; and Figure 10 is a detailed schematic perspective view of an end rod for fitment to one end of the material carried on the roller shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a lorry shown generally at 1 comprises two side walls 2 and 3, a roof 4 and a deck 5 together enclosing a load compartment or freight area 6. A pair of similar polypropylene side panels 7 and 8 typically 50 to 75mm in thickness (one of which is shown in detail in Figure 8) are secured within compartment 6 against side walls 2 and 3.

Each of side panels 7 and 8 is formed with a matrix of circular holes 10 serving as sockets, the holes in one panel being essentially in register with those of the other panel and all of holes 10 being about 40 to 65mm deep. A roller 12 carying a rolled length of load-retaining sheet material 14 is disposed in compartment 6 towards the upper part of the front end behind the driver's cab of the lorry. The load-retaining material 14 is secured at one end to the roller 12 and at the other end to an end rod 16. In use, the load-retaining material 14 can be drawn off the roller 12 over a load 18 carried in the load compartment 6, the load-retaining material 14 being then retained in place at any of various desired positions by means of load-retaining bars which locate in holes 10.The load-retaining bars 20 and the end rod 16 are arranged to be easily located in the holes 10 whereby the load-retaining material may quickiy and easily be secured for load-retaining purposes.

Thus it will be appreciated that fragile loads, for instance of perishable produce in cartons, may simply and effectively be secured by a quick procedure which may conveniently be carried out by the driver of the lorry. In practice, one load is often delivered to a number of different delivery points and with load-retaining apparatus as just before described, part of the load can be removed at each delivery point, the remaining load being easy and quick to retain in position so that a journey to the next delivery point can be undertaken without delay.

In order to facilitate rewinding of the load-retaining material 14 onto the roller 12, the roller 12may, as shown in Figure 4, be equipped with a gear 22 which engages with a worm 24. Worm 24 is driven by means of a crank handle (not shown) which has a square end for reception into an end socket 26 of the worm 24 or by means of a similarly terminated flexible drive shaft which extends, for example, to a drive handle and gear (not shown) in the driver's cab. At the end of the worm 24 remote from the socket 26, a hinge member 28 is provided which enables the worm to hinge about a hinge pin 30 so as to effect disengagement from the gear 22. A ratchet mechanism (not shown) provides a locking means, with a remote ratchet release being provided, for example in the cab.The hinge pin 30 which fits in the end of the hinge member 28 is retained in position by means of a split pin 32.

Control of the roller 12 may be arranged to be effected from inside the driving cab of the lorry or alternatively from within the load compartment 6.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, the load compartment of a lorry 38 is fitted with a supporting grid 34 (which might conveniently form a part of the framework of the load compartment of the lorry).

Where convenient, the existing framework may be drilled and used. The grid 34 may be employed in the same way as side panels 7 and 8 described earlier with openings formed in the grid serving in the same way as openings 10 of panels 7 and 8. However, in the embodiment shown in Figure 5, cross bars 40 are used, as shown in Figure 6, bent at their ends to provide right angle extensions 42 which are entered downwardly (Figure 6) or upwardly (Figure 7) into holes 44 in frame members (longerons) 46 of the load compartment of the lorry 38. The cross bars 40 may be held in position by means of padlocks 48 as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

As shown in Figure 9, load-retaining material 50 may conveniently be supported on a roller 52 which includes a spring-loaded catch and return mechanism similartothe mechanism used in a domestic roller blind. The material 50 which is used for load-retaining purposes might conveniently comprise tarpaulin type sheeting material such as used on taut-liner vehicles. The material 50 may be secured to an end bar 52 which serves the same function as the end rod 16 shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 10, end bar 52 may be provided with end pins 54 which can be retracted by means of a mechanism under the control of a lever 56 fitted in the centre of the bar 52 adjacent to a handle 58.

Various modifications may be made to the arrangements hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the pegs 54 in the end bar 52 may be arranged to be spring-loaded so as easily to fit into sockets provided in load compartment side panels or other load compartment side members (for example, the spring-load mechanism may be trigger-activated at handle 58 with the pins 54 being manually sprung back to their retracted positions). Additionally, the lorry 1 shown in Figure 1 and the lorry 38 shown in Figure 5 could alternatively be any desirable other goods vehicle or goods container, for example an aircraft cargo container, a rail cargo container, a shipping cargo container, a flatbed trailer or vehicle, a tilt vehicle, or a vehicle or trailer having a high-sided open-top cage structure. Further, the load-retaining bars may secure by means of a mole-grip type system which may simply lock onto a framework or an existing container skeleton. The use of a mole-grip type of clamping system may give good flexibility in contour and security.

The invention as described hereinbefore without reference to the drawings may include anyone or more features of the invention as described with reference to the drawings or referred to in the following claims.

Claims

1. A load carrier for goods in transit comprising two opposed members disposed with a storage void of the carrier defined between them and means from which to draw a stored length of load-retaining sheet material over and in contact with a load of goods in the storage void, the two opposed members being so constucted as to cooperate in use with elongate load-retaining members which when provided in use are disposed across the storage void with each such member fixed by engagement of its opposed extremities with a respective one of said opposed members so that a portion of the drawn-over load retaining sheet material is sandwiched against the goods of the load.

2. A load carrier as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the means from which to draw a stored length of load-retaining sheet material comprises a roller which carries said sheet material wound thereon.

3. A load carrier as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the two opposed members are each provided with means for engaging the load-retaining members with said opposed members.

4. A load carrier as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said means for engaging the load-retaining members are openings formed in said opposed members.

5. A load carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the two opposed members comprises a panel formed with a plurality of orifices through each of which can be received the extremity of one of the load-retaining members.

6. A load carrier as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein each of the two opposed members comprises a framework of a plurality of frame members, the frame members having orifices through each of which can be received the extremity of one of the load-retaining members.

7. A load carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two opposed members are essen tially vertical side members.

8. A load carrier as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the load-retaining members are engageable with said side members in essentially horizontal dispositions of the load-retaining members.

9. A load carrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the load-retaining sheet material length has a leading edge terminated with an elongate member which can be engaged with said opposed members with said elongate member in parallel with the load-retaining members, when the sheet material has been drawn by means of said terminating elongate member over the stores load.

10. A load carrier for goods in transit comprising a storage void accessible through an access opening defined above a load-carrying floor and between a pair of opposed sidewall members each of which is formed with a plurality of openings with those in a first of said wall members essentially in register with those in the other, and a roll which a length of stored sheet-form load-retaining material can be drawn from a position remote from the access opening over and in contact with a load of goods stored in said void, the arrangement being such that retaining bars or rods may be disposed across the void with the drawn sheet material sandwiched against the stored goods by said rods or bars and said rods or bars being received by their extremities in openings in said side walls members so that the load is restrained against positional disturbance during transit.

11. A load-retaining apparatus comprising a pair of side structures between which in use a load to be positionally retained is located, a roller on which is wound a length of retaining material and at least one load-retaining barfor holding in place the loadretaining material, the side structures being arranged in include a plurality of juxtaposed pairs of bar-receiving means arranged at different positions on the side sturctures so that a loan-retaining bar can be supported at each position between a pair of the bar receiving means, whereby the material can be drawn from the roller and held in place by the load-retaining bar or bars to serve in use for retaining a load positioned between the side structures.

12. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 3 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

13. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of securing a load on a transit deck which method comprises drawing rearwardly from a forward roll a length of load-retaining sheet material, the sheet material being drawn over the whole of said load and in contact therewith, disposing one or a plurality of elongate load-retaining members between upright support members therefor on opposed sides of the load adjacent the lateral extremities of the sheet material and engaging extremities of the load-retaining members with the support members with the load-retaining members sandwiching the sheet material against the load and cooperating with said sheet material to secure the load and restrain it against positional disturbance during transit.

15. A method of securing a load on a transit deck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of securing a load on a transit deck substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figutres 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A kit for fitting out a load carrier to enable loads to be carried in transit whilst restrained from positional disturbance which kit comprises a roller assembly for mounting to the carrier, a length of load-retaining sheet material being provided wound on said roller assembly in use for drawing off to cover the load and optionally forming part of said kit, a pair of panels for disposition either side of the load at the lateral extremities of said sheet material, each panel being formed with a matrix of openings in at least one face thereof, and a plurality of elongate rigid members for disposition laterally across the load-carrying area with the extremities of each member received and retained in a panel opening and sandwiching a portion of the sheet material against a load surface.

18. A modification of a kit as claimed in Claim 17 wherein a pair of opposed members as defined in Claim 5 or Claim 6 is present instead of said panels.