GB2138366A

GB2138366A - Load retaining means

Info

Publication number: GB2138366A
Application number: GB08408418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Patrice Alan Bria Rowell
Original assignee: PLASTIC PROTECTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: PLASTIC PROTECTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-31
Filing date: 1984-04-02
Publication date: 1984-10-24
Also published as: GB2138366B; GB8408418D0

Abstract

A load retaining means for a vehicle comprises a curtain-like structure 2 of relatively small mesh material, having suspension means 7 along one edge enabling suspension of the curtain structure from an upper part of a vehicle, attachment means 10 at or near the other edge for attachment to a floor, loading bearing platform or associated part of the vehicle, and tensioning means 11 associated with the attachment means for tensioning the curtain structure. The material has webbing straps 5 attached along its top and bottom edges, and between the suspension and attachment means. The tensioning means is an over-centre buckle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Load retaining means This invention relates to load retaining means particularly for vehicles.

In the transport of goods nowadays, considerable use is made of opensided vehicles in which the goods rest on the platform surface of the vehicle and the exterior of the vehicle is surrounded by a curtain which provides protection against the weather and provides for sealing of the vehicle in accordance with various regulations.

Where the load is a number of small articles, parcels or the like, it is necessary to ensure that these are retained in position so that they do not slide about the load platform of the vehicle. Such sliding can upset its centre of gravity and also damage the articles. There are a number of occasions where it is also desired to load bulk goods onto the same vehicle and thus some means of retaining the loads within the vehicle must be used.

It is usual today in this type of vehicle to make use either of means for strapping the goods down, with for example, so called pallet straps, or of a surrounding net or webbing suspended from suitable points on the vehicle structure.

Nevertheless even these arrangements are not entirely satisfactory since it is possible for small, or even only relatively small, articles to pass through the holes in the net and also for individual strands of the net to engage the load under significant tension which can have an adverse effect on the load, particularly on cardboard boxes.

The invention seeks to provide a load retaining means in which some or all ofthe above disadvantages are avoided or substantially reduced.

According to the invention, a load retaining means for a vehicle comprises a curtain like structure of relatively small mesh material having suspension means along one edge enabling suspension of the curtain structure from an upper part of a vehicle, attachment means at or near the edge for attachment to a floor, load bearing platform or associated part of the vehicle, and tensioning means associated with the attachment means for tensioning the curtain structure.

Preferably the material of the curtain comprises a woven mesh strengthened at its edges and between its suspension and attachment means, by webbing straps.

The suspension means may comprise roller or slider arrangements for rolling or sliding on rails (e.g. cant rails) provided around the upper part of the exterior of the vehicle may comprise snap hooks for engagement with a centre roof pole or rail of the vehicle.

The mesh is preferably a woven polyester net which has an exterior coating of p.v.c. The webbing straps are preferably made of polyester which is also p.v.c. coated and which is attached to the mesh, for example, by high frequency welding. The size of the mesh may vary between 1 mm by 1 mm and 50 mm by 50 mm, the preferred dimensions being 3 mm by 3 mum.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawing, the single Figure of which shows a section of a curtain for forming load retaining means in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the load retaining means shown comprises a curtain 1 consisting basically of a mesh material 2 of woven polyester which has been p.v.c. coated. The size of the mesh may range from 1 mm by 1 mm to 50 mm by 50 mm, the preferred dimensions being 3 mm by 3 mm.

As can be seen, the upper edges 3 and lower edges 4 of the curtain are provided with a strengthening webbing 5, preferably a polyester webbing coated with p.v.c. attached to the curtain material i.e.

the polyester mesh, by means of high frequency welding. Spaced along the upper edge 3 at intervals of between 0.3m to 1 .83m, preferably 0.76 m, are roller carriers 7 (with rollers 9) which are attached to the curtain structure by means of webbing 8. As can be seen, this webbing 8 extends the full length of the curtain i.e. from top to bottom and serves at the bottom end to form attachments for bottom attachment hooks 10. In between the bottom hooks 10 and the curtain itself there are provided tensioning devices 11 which include a toggle like arrangement or over-centre buckle for tensioning once the hooks are securely in place.

In a variation, the hooks 10 are provided on the bottom edge of the mesh, either on the webbing 5 or on very short extensions of the webbing 8, This ensures that the curtain virtually reaches the floor, so that articles cannot pass underneath. In this case, the tensioning devices 11 must be positioned part way up the curtain mesh 2. The webbing 8 must therefore be detached from the mesh 2 at least over a part of its length, and when the webbing is tensioned the mesh may no longer be taut.

The above described embodiment has the advantage of providing a tough retaining wall which is, to an extent, transparent so that the contents of the load can be examined before releasing the retainer but is nevertheless sufficiently closely stranded that articles of the load can neither penetrate it nor be seriously affected by individual strands cutting thereinto. The goods are the far side of the mesh (as seen in the drawing), and the mesh is supported by the webbing.

It will of course be appreciated that while the curtain which has been described is designed for running in tracks (cant rails) around the upper outside edge of the vehicle, probably adjacent to the normal exterior curtains of a curtain sided vehicle, the invention could equally be applied to arrangements using the centre pole or rail of the vehicle roof, or transverse poles, for its support. In this case the roller carriers would be replaced by, for example, snap hooks with rings on the poles.

With the arrangement as described, not only can the outside of the vehicle be made secure but it is possible to divide the interior into a number of compartments using the same material, clipping the curtain structure, to the exterior rails and to the lower exterior fastening means.

It will of course be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the rollers and roller carriers shown may be replaced by gliders, using a free running plastic such as nylon. Other known means for retaining the lower part of the curtain may be provided and these may be varied in order to cooperate with the various means of attachment provided on the vehicle either externally or by the provision, for example of apertures or recesses in the floor area containing engagement for the hooks 10.

Claims

1. A load retaining means for a vehicle comprises a curtain-like structure of relatively small mesh material, having suspension means along one edge enabling suspension of the curtain structure from an upper part of the vehicle, attachment means at or near the other edge for attachment to a floor, load bearing platform or associated part of a vehicle, and tensioning means associated with the attachment means for tensioning the curtain structure.

2 A load retaining means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material has webbing straps attached along its top and bottom edges.

3. A load retaining means as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the material has webbing straps attached thereto between the suspension and attachment means.

4. A load retaining means as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the tensioning means is an over-centre buckle.

5. A load retaining means as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the suspension means includes rolling or sliding means.

6. A vehicle having a load platform structure above the load platform from which a load retaining means may be suspended, engagement means on the load platform, and one or more load retaining means, as claimed in any preceding claim, supported between said structure and said engagement means.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engagement means form a grid over the platform to allow the load retaining means to be positioned in a plurality of different positions.

8. A load retaining means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.