GB2321052A

GB2321052A - Means for restraining goods in a container

Info

Publication number: GB2321052A
Application number: GB9700380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Mccann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-09
Filing date: 1997-01-09
Publication date: 1998-07-15
Also published as: GB9700380D0

Abstract

Means for restraining goods loaded inside a container comprises track means (10) extending horizontally along the length of each side wall on the inside of the container, beam means (20) extending between the opposite walls and connecting means at each end of the beam means (20) to connect the beam means (20) to the horizontal track means (10) on each side wall. The connecting means comprise a pair of projections (25A, 25B) on an end face of the beam, the corresponding horizontal track having a series of keyhole shaped sockets (13) for receiving and retaining the projections (25A, 25B).

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to a container, e.g. for cargo, and in particular to a container having means to restrain a load of goods from moving within the container and/or to restraining a load to a selected area of the container.

It is known to locate a beam to bridge the opposite inside walls of a container, the ends of the beam being releasably connected to horizontal tracks on the opposite inside surfaces of those walls. Known beams include those having an extension capacity so that the beam can be extended, i.e. telescopically, across the width of the container, means in the form of cups or the like to fit into appropriate sockets in the horizontal tracks and means on the beam to lock it into the desired extended position.

Prior beams have been found to be not entirely satisfactory. They risk demounting of the cup-socket attachment if the walls of the container flex beyond a certain amount. They require both fitment to the horizontal tracks and then locking in the extended position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved beam attachment means.

Accordingly,.in one aspect the invention provides a container having opposite sidewalls, track means extending horizontally along the length of each side wall on the inside of the container, beam means extending between the opposite walls and connecting means being present at each end of the beam means to connect the beam means to the horizontal track means on each side wall, the connecting means comprising a pair of projections on an end face of the beam and the corresponding horizontal track having a series of keyhole shaped sockets spaced along the track, the spacing of the keyholes corresponding to the spacing of the projections and the projections being shaped to have a body portion, the body portion of the projection being of a size to fit into the main hole portion of a keyhole socket but being of larger size than the tail portion of the keyhole socket whereby the body portion may be inserted through the main hole portion of the keyhole socket and then slid along to be positioned at least partly behind the tail portion.

By this means, the projections are locked to the horizontal track.

Preferably the projections comprise a narrower portion extending from the broader body or locking portion and the invention will be more particularly described below with reference to that embodiment.

Each projection may comprise a central body portion with two narrower portions, one extending from an opposite end of the body to the other narrower portion.

For example, each projection may conveniently take the form of a rectangle having a centrally-disposed arcuate portion extending from each of a pair of parallel sides of the rectangle, the two opposed arcuate portions defining between them the body portion of dimensions greater than the tail of the keyhole socket.

Normally, the keyhole sockets will be positioned along their horizontal track so that their tail portions extend substantially vertically downwards from their hole portions. Correspondingly, narrower portion of the projection may project substantially vertically downwards from its respective body portion.

The beam preferably has the projection means in both end faces so that the locking means of the invention are provided at both side walls of the container.

The body or locking portion of each projection may be circular in transverse cross-section, although this is not essential, and in addition, if desired, and as indicated above, projections may extend from the body portion on diametrically opposite sides of the body portion. Clearly, the overall length of the projection needs to be less than that of the keyhole socket.

The beam may be extensible by known means, so that its projections on one end can be fitted into a pair of keyhole sockets in one horizontal track corresponding to the desired position of the beam along the side wall, the beam can then be extended until its projections at its other end fit into a corresponding pair of keyhole sockets in the other horizontal track. Once both ends of the beam have been so connected to the horizontal tracks and the body portion of each projection has been slid downwardly so that it is at least partly behind the tail portion of its respective keyhole slot, the beam cannot be accidentally uncoupled from the horizontal tracks. Thus, even considerable flexing of the sidewalls of the container cannot dislodge the beam.

It is not necessary that the beam of the invention has locking means to lock it into any particular desired extension position and in this embodiment the invention is particularly advantageous in not requiring an extra locking step to be performed by the operative fitting the beam into the desired position. However, if desired, locking means may be provided for this purpose.

In one specific embodiment, the projections at one or both ends of the beam may be pivotally connected to the beam. For example, the pivotal connection may be at the end face of the beam or on the opposite side of the end face of the beam to the projections. This pivotal arrangement has the advantage that when the beam is disconnected at a first end from a horizontal track while the second end remains connected, the beam may move about the pivoted joint relative to the connectors at the second end so that they are not put under stress. For example, the beam may be disconnected at one end and that end placed on the floor of the container before the second end is disconnected and such an operation may put considerable stress on the connectors. The pivoted connection obviates this problem.

In another aspect, the invention provides a beam for use in a container having opposite sidewalls and track means extending horizontally along the length of each sidewall, the horizontal tracks having a series of keyhole-shaped sockets spaced along the tracks, wherein at least one of the two end faces of the beam has a pair of projections shaped and dimensioned to fit into the main hole portion of a keyhole socket in a horizontal track but being of dimensions larger than the tail portion of a keyhole socket, the spacing of the projections corresponding to the spacing of the keyholes.

Embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not to scale and in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a horizontal track on a sidewall inside a container; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a beam of the invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an end portion of the beam of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a view from the rear of a fragment of the track of Figure 1 showing one beam projection connected via one keyhole; and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the beam with one end attached to the track.

In Figure 1 track 10 extends horizontally along the inside of a side wall 11 of a container (not shown). It is bolted to the sidewall in conventional manner by bolts 12. A series of slots or sockets 13 of keyhole shape are arranged along track 10, the tails 14 of the keyholes extending vertically downwards from the main holes 15 of the keyholes.

A longitudinally-extensible beam 10 (see Figure 2) has two telescopic portions 21, 22 and a handle 23, 24 on each telescopic portion by means of which it can be manoeuvred into any desired position. Locking means 20A are provided to lock portions 21, 22 together when the beam is in place. Each telescopic portion carries a rectangular plate 25, 26 at its outermost end and each plate 25, 26 carries a pair of spaced projections 25A, 25B and 26A, 26B respectively.

(Projections 26A, 26B are not visible in Figure 2.) The spacing of the pairs of projections 25A, 25B and 26A, 268 corresponds to the spacing of keyhole sockets 13 in track 10.

As shown in greater detail in Figure 3, each projection 25A, 258 from end plate 25 is a parallepiped having an arcuate portion 25C, 25D extending from its end face to provide a main body or locking portion 25E, a lower narrow portion 25F extending downwardly from body portion 25E and an upper narrow portion 25G, shorter in length than portion 25F extending upwardly from body portion 25E.

To engage the beam in the desired position in a container, portions 21, 22 are adjusted to the width of the container and one pair of projections 25A, 25B are inserted into a pair of keyhole sockets in rail 10 on one inside wall of the container. One such inserted projection is shown in Figure 4 where projection 25A has been inserted into a keyhole socket 13. As can be seen, the widest portion of main body portion 25E is narrower than main hole 15 of socket 13 but is wider than tail portion 14 of the socket. The projection has, therefore, been inserted into hole 15 until its locking portion 25E has passed through the socket and then slid downwardly so that locking portion 25E is locked behind the narrower tail portion of the socket. Both of the pairs of projections 25A, 25B having being similarly engaged, that end of the beam is firmly locked in place and the other end of the beam is then similarly engaged by its projections 26A, 268 in another rail 10 on the opposite inside wall of the container. (Figure 5 shows the beam 20 with its one end engaged in rail 10.) The beam may be locked into its extended position across the container by suitable locking means 20A but, as explained above, this is not essential.

Claims

1. A container having opposite sidewalls, track means extending horizontally along the length of each side wall on the inside of the container, beam means extending between the opposite walls and connecting means being present at each end of the beam means to connect the beam means to the horizontal track means on each side wall, the connecting means comprising a pair of projections on an end face of the beam and the corresponding horizontal track having a series of keyhole shaped sockets spaced along the track, the spacing of the keyholes corresponding to the spacing of the projections and the projections being shaped to have a body portion, the body portion of the projection being of a size to fit into the main hole portion of a keyhole socket but being of larger size than the tail portion of the keyhole socket whereby the body portion may be inserted through the main hole portion of the keyhole socket and then slid along to be positioned at least partly behind the tail portion.

2. A container according to Claim 1, in which the projections each comprise a narrower portion extending from the broader body portion.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, in which each projection comprises a central body portion with two narrower portions, one extending from an opposite end of the body to the other narrower portion.

4. A container according to Claim 3, in which each projection takes the form of a rectangle having a centrally-disposed arcuate portion extending from each of a pair of parallel sides of a rectangle, the two opposed arcuate portions defining between them the body portion of dimensions greater than the tail of the keyhole socket.

5. A container according to any preceding claim in which the keyhole sockets are positioned along their horizontal track so that their tail portions extend substantially vertically downwards from their hole portions and the narrower portions of the projections project substantially vertically downwards from their respective body portions.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the beam has the projection means in both end faces whereby the locking means are provided at both side walls of the container.

7. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the body or locking portion of each projection is circular in transverse cross-section and the projections extend from the body portion on diametrically opposite sides of the body portion.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the beam is extensible so that its projections on one end can be fitted into a pair of keyhole sockets in one horizontal track corresponding to the desired position of the beam along the side wall, the beam can then be extended until its projections at its other end fit into a corresponding pair of keyhole sockets in the other horizontal track.

9. A container according to Claim 8, in which the extensible beam has locking means to lock it into any particular desired extension position.

10. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the projections at one end of the beam are pivotally connected to the beam.

11. A container according to Claim 10, in which the pivotal connection is at the end face of the beam.

12. A container according to Claim 10, in which the pivotal connection is on the opposite side of the end face of the beam to the projections.

13. A container according to Claim 10, 11 or 12, in which a pivotal connection is provided at each end of the beam.

14. A beam for use in a container having opposite sidewalls and track means extending horizontally along the length of each sidewall, the horizontal tracks having a series of keyhole-shaped sockets spaced along the tracks, wherein at least one of the two end faces of the beam has a pair of projections shaped and dimensioned to fit into the main hole portion of a keyhole socket in a horizontal track but being of dimensions larger than the tail portion of a keyhole socket, the spacing of the projections corresponding to the spacing of the keyholes.

15. A beam according to Claim 14, in which the projections each comprise a narrower portion extending from the broader body portion.

16. A beam according to Claim 14 or 15, in which each projection comprises a central body portion with two narrower portions, one extending from an opposite end of the body to the other narrower portion.

17. A beam according to Claim 16, in which each projection takes the form of a rectangle having a centrally-disposed arcuate portion extending from each of a pair of parallel sides of a rectangle, the two opposed arcuate portions defining between them the body portion of dimensions greater than the tail of the keyhole socket.

18. A beam according to any preceding claim, in which the beam has the projection means in both end faces whereby the locking means are provided at both side walls of the container.

19. A beam according to any preceding claim, in which the body or locking portion of each projection is circular in transverse cross-section and the projections extend from the body portion on diametrically opposite sides of the body portion.

20. A beam according to any preceding claim, which is extensible.

21. A beam according to Claim 20, having locking means to lock it into any desired extension position.

22. A beam according to any preceding claim, in which the projections are pivotally connected to the beam.

23. A beam according to claim 22, in which the pivotal connection is at the end face of the beam.

24. A beam according to Claim 22, in which the pivotal connection is on the opposite side of the end face of the beam to the projections.

25. A beam according to Claim 22, 23 or 24, in which a pivotal connection is provided at each end of the beam.

26. A beam according to Claim 14, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.