GB2205354A

GB2205354A - Load restraining device

Info

Publication number: GB2205354A
Application number: GB08812479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Bailey; Keith Dunne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-28
Filing date: 1988-05-26
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8812479D0; AU1801688A; GB8712621D0; WO1988009273A1

Abstract

A load restraining device comprises a pair of telescopically engaged elongate elements adapted to be locked in a selected adjusted position and each having at or adjacent one end thereof a load or restraining support engagement formation. The telescopic elements comprise a solid metal bar slidable within a metal tube, each provided at one end with a hook. One application of the device is to secure a load, for example ladders, on a motor vehicle roof rack.

Description

LOAD RESTRAINING DEVJCE This invention relates to a load restraining device which is especially but not exclusively suitable for securing loads on a roof rack of a motor vehicle.

A load often carried- on a motor vehicle roof rack is ladders used by builders or painters for example and these are usually secured to the roof rack by ropes or elastic cords. This securement is not particularly stable and also the ropes or cords can readily be loosened or cut by a thief so that there is not only a risk of the ladders falling off the motor vehicle when the latter is moving but also of the ladders being easily stolen.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load restraining device of robust mechanical construction which is resistant to theft.

According to the present invention there is provided a load restraining device comprising a pair of telescopically engaged elongate elements adapted to be locked in adjusted position and each having at or adjacent one end thereof a load or restraining support engagement formation.

An a embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and an end elevation of the load restraining device; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the load restraining device used to secure a ladder onto a roof rack of a motor vehicle.

The load restraining device comprises two telescopically connected elements 10 and 11 of square or rectangular configuration rendering them nonrotatable relative te one anotbr. This nonrotational characteristic may be achieved in any other manner. For example, if the elements 10 and 11 are of circular cross-section they may be keyed one to another.

The element 10 is a solid square cross-section bar of, for example, steel which is received and is slidable in the element 11 which is a tube of square cross-section and which is also formed of steel for example.

The solid bar 10 is a close fit within the bore of the tube 11.

The solid bar 10 is bent or otherwise formed at one end into a hook formation 12 while at its other end it has secured thereto, standing proud of face 13, a retention lug 14 in the form of a rivet which prevents the solid bar 10 from being removed from the tube 11. Thus the solid bar 10 is slidably, nonrotatably, non-withdrawably mounted within the tube 11.

The solid bar 10 on its face 15 opposed to the direction in which the hook configuration 12 extends is formed with a multiplicity of equi-spaced locking recesses 16 along the length of the solid bar 10.

The tube 11 has welded or otherwise secured thereto a hook formation 17 of solid bar construction formed of steel for example. The hook formation 17 is at that end of the tube 11 remote from the hook configuration 12 of the solid bar 10. The hook formation 17 is welded or otherwise secured to the face 18 of the tube 11 remote from the face 15 of the solid bar 10 and extends, as indicated at 19, along said face 18 from the open end thereof through which the tapered end 13 of the solid bar 10 extends. The hook formation 17 lies in the same plane as the hook formation 12 and the hook formations 12, 17 are open towards one another.

The arrangement is such that with the solid bar 10 and the tube 11 fully extended the solid bar 10 is within the tube 11 parallel with the hook extension 19. Thus there is never any length of free tube, which is important for security purposes, whether the load restraining device is fully extended or fully telescoped (collapsed).

The tube 11 has welded or otherwise secured thereto a key-operated lock generally indicated at 20. This lock 20 is disposed in a direction opposite to that in which the hook formations 12, 17 extend.

The locking detent 21 of the lock 20 is adapted to be received in a selected recess 16 in the solid bar 10 depending on the spacing required between the hook formations 12, 17. The disposition of the lock 20 in the opposite direction to the hook formations 12, 17 leaves an unimpeded length between the latter for securing purposes.

The lock 20 may be of any convenient construction. For example, the detent 21, which is in the form of a ball, may be caused to engage in a selected recess 16 by a rotatable cam plate 22 connected by a screw 23 to the key-operated mechanism of the lock 20. The key slot of the lock 20 is indicated at 24.

The lock 20 may, instead of being key operated, be a combination lock.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 where there is shown, in part, the roof 25 of a motor vehicle on which is mounted a roof rack 26.

A set of ladders 27 is arranged on the roof rack 26 and is secured in position by one or more, two at least usually, load restraining devices as hereinbefore described.

In use, the lock 20 is released permitting the solid bar 10 and the tube 11 to be freely slidable relative to one another. The hook formation 17 is engaged with a rung 28 (or side rail) of the ladders 27 while the hook formation 12 is engaged with a cross rail 29 (or side rail) of the roof rack 26.

The solid bar 10 and tube 11 are telescoped together to ensure secure engagement of the hook formations 17 and 12 and are then locked in this telescoped position.

The ladders 27 are thus mechanically secured to the roof rack by the load restraining device or devices.

The fact that the solid bar 10 always extends through the whole length of the tube 11 renders the load restraining device resistant to removal by cutting without considerable effort and time which acts as a deterrent to theft.

It is to be clearly understood that the load restraining device, according to the invention, may have load engaging formations other than hook-shaped formations depending on the nature of the load and the restraining support.

In a modification the solid bar 10 is replaced by a tube.

In another modification one or both of the tubes, if two are provided, or either the tube or solid bar, or both, may be of a material other than metal, for example, toughened or reinforced plastics material.

The load restraining device according to this invention has the advantage that it can be fitted and removed to secure or release the ladders much more readily and speedily than securing ropes or cords.

Claims

1. A load restraining device comprising a pair of telescopically engaged elongate elements adapted to be locked in adjusted position and each having at or adjacent one end thereof a load or restraining support engagement formation.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the telescopic elements comprise a solid metal bar slidable within a metal tube, means being provided to prevent withdrawal of the solid bar out of the tube.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the solid bar has, at one end, its engagement formation, and, at its other end, a lug which serves to prevent withdrawal of the solid bar from the tube.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the solid bar extends wholly through the tube irrespective of whether the device is fully telescoped or fully extended.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the tube externally mounts a lock having a locking detent engagable with a formation on the solid bar to secure the solid bar and tube together.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, in which the locking detent is engagable in any selected one of a plurality of recesses spaced along the length of the solid bar.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the lock is key operated.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which the lock is a combination lock.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8 in which the solid bar and the tube are nonrotatable relative to one another.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3 ro q ir which the engagement f:rmatior.c are book formations.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1C in which the hook formation of the tube is formed of solid bar secured to one face of the tube and extending partly along the length of the tube.

12. A load restraining device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.