GB2327450A - Improvements in tensioning systems for container body covers - Google Patents

Abstract

A tensioning system for transport container bodies employing "curtain-sider" type covers, in particular, but not exclusively, transport container bodies for road going vehicles; the system comprising a multi-sleeved curtain 3 in which a number of the sleeves 5, each contain respective vertical tensioning members 8 running substantially the height of the curtain and characterised in that the or each vertical tensioning member is linked to and under the control of a longitudinal tensioning member 6 running substantially orthogonal thereto, whereby the tensioning of the vertical tension member or members results from a relative orthogonal tensioning or pulling of the longitudinal tensioning member.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN TENSIONING SYSTEMS FOR CONTAINER BODY COVERS Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvements in tensioning systems for container body covers of the "curtain-sider" type known gencrally per se and in particular, but not exclusively to transport container bodies employing such covers that form part of road going vehicles.

Background Art Known to the Applicant The transportation of bulk goods by either road or rail involves the use of transport container bodies specifically adapted not only to carry the goods in question but also adapted to allow ease of access to the interior of the body for loading and unloading purposes.

Prior to the advent of so-called "curtain-sider" transport container bodies, loading and unloading of such container bodies was slow and painstaking as access to the body was usually through a door or doors located at the rear end (or bulk head) of the transport container body.

Since the advent of "curtain-siders", access to one or both walls of the transport container body as well as the rear bulk head has now been made more possible.

Nevertheless, the very design of such "curtain-siders" although solving the immediate problem of transport container body access for loading and unloading, nevertheless creates its own problems.

Typically, a transport container body employing a curtain comprises a top rail running the longitudinal length of the transport container body together with an "angle-iron" type fixture or "rave" also running along the longitudinal length of the same side of the transport container body, but being located at the lower end of the body. A curtain formed from plastics material is fitted to the upper rail in a somewhat similar manner to a domestic curtain, the lower end of the curtain in this particular case, being provided with a plurality of buckles or shackles, webbing straps and so-called "rave-hooks". The rave hooks are connected to the webbing straps and, in use, grip a portion of the rave and through the tensioning of the webbing strap through the buckle, vertical tensioning of that portion of the curtain is achieved. This process is repeated along the entire length of the curtain so as to provide a relatively robust, tensioned "wall" for the transport container body.

The first problem that is immediately apparent with such a system is the length of time required to locate, tension and release each of the buckles that provide the overall tension for the curtain. In addition, the cost of each respective buckle, together with the fitting of each respective buckle to the curtain, contribute a significant amount to the overall cost of the curtain itself. This is indeed a well recognised problem in this area of manufacturing industry as each manufacturer of curtain siders is only too aware of the extremely tight margins that they are working to. Therefore, any way that can be found to reduce or eliminate the number of buckles used would be of tremendous benefit to such a curtain sider manufacturer.

Furthermore, there is now a drive by advertising agencies to use the curtain or wall of the transport container body, once tensioned, as advertising space. This being the case, the existence of a plurality of buckle assemblies (albeit the buckle assemblies all occurring towards the lower in use, longitudinal edge of the curtain) has a tendency to obscure or alternatively, prevent the use of this area of the curtain for promoting the subject matter of the advertisement portrayed on the curtain. This coupled with the fact that within the haulage industry, there is also a continuing move to lower the total weight of the transport container body so that the total weight of the goods to be transported can be increased for a given overall gross weight (transport container plus goods); means that removal of the buckles completely would solve these problems. However, the buckles themselves are essential for providing a vertical tensioning of the curtain so the overall problem that needs to be solved is the problem of providing vertical tensioning of the curtain in use without the use of a buckle assembly adapted to impart and maintain tension in the webbing straps.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention in its broadest aspect, this problem is solved by a tensioning system for transport container bodies employing "curtain-sider" type covers, in particular, but not exclusively, transport container bodies for road going vehicles; the system comprising a multi-sleeved curtain which is of a kind known per se in which a number of the sleeves, in use, each contain respective vertical tensioning members running substantially the height of the curtain and characterised in that the or each vertical tensioning member is linked to and under the control of a longitudinal tensioning member running substantially orthogonal thereto, whereby the tensioning of the vertical tension member or members results from a relative orthogonal tensioning or pulling of the longitudinal tensioning member.

Preferably, the or each vertical tensioning member is provided with an elasticated portion.

More preferably still, the longitudinal tensioning member is located at the lower edge region of the curtain.

Optionally, each respective sleeve containing a vertical tensioning member is apertured, the or each aperture providing a sight for linkage of the vertical and longitudinal tension members.

Preferably, the horizontal distance between any two sleeves that form part of the system is less than 100 centimetres.

The invention includes within its scope a curtain sider tensioning system of the type hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying diagrams.

The invention also includes within its scope a transport container body incorporating a curtain sider tensioning system as specified in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention and is a rear view of a portion of the tensioning system as seen from someone standing on the deck of the transport container body looking at the internal wall of the curtain.

Figure 2 shows the obverse face of Figure 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Throughout this specification, the term "integral" is intended to cover not only something which is formed from the outset as one single-entity component, but also anything which, whilst being assembled from a plurality of initially disparately-produced integers, ends up as one overall and normally nondismantleable structure.

Figure 1 illustrates a curtain-sider tensioning system for transport container bodies for road going vehicles and is generally referenced 1.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the diagram consists of a transport container body top rail 2 that runs the longitudinal length of the transport container body and a curtain 3, the height of which covers substantially the height of the transport container body. The curtain 3 in this particular embodiment, is provided with a number of integral sleeves 5 that are so sized and shaped as to allow the webbing straps 4 to pass through them in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

In this particular embodiment, the sleeve 5 is not only open at both ends but also contains a single aperture 7 located in the wall of the sleeve 5.

The webbing straps 4 pass through both ends of the sleeve 5 and terminate beyond the mouth of the lower end of the sleeve 5 to incorporate a so-called "rave-hook" adapted to grip the rave (not illustrated) when in use. As can clearly be illustrated in Figure 1, each respective sleeve 5 accommodates a single webbing strap that runs the entire length of the sleeve. Parallel to the top rail 2, ie, substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of webbing straps 4, is a tensioning member 6.

The tensioning member 6 overlies each respective aperture 7 that is present in each respective sleeve 5 allowing integral fixing of the tension member 6 directly to each respective webbing strap (or vertical tensioning member) 4 through the use of a linking means 10 eg a metal rivet.

The horizontal distance between each respective sleeve 5 is the distance denoted by the letter "A" in Figure 1. The distance "A", for the avoidance of doubt is that horizontal distance that runs between any two consecutive sleeves 5 and covers that distance between substantially the mid point of the two respective sleeve 5 widths. Preferably, that horizontal distance "A" is less than 100 centimetres.

Each respective webbing strap 4 is provided with an elasticated region 8 to enable that portion of each respective webbing strap 4 that follows the elasticated region 8 (and in particular, each respective rave hook 9) to be pulled vertically downwards to such an extent that fixing of the rave hook 9 to the rave is possible.

Essentially, Figure 1 illustrates what can be termed to be a "repeat-unit" of one embodiment of the present invention that continues along the entire longitudinal length of the curtain 3. In this particular embodiment, one vertical edge of the curtain is securely fitted to one bulk head of the transport container body in a permanent manner whilst the other vertical edge of the curtain is designed to be de-mountable from the other bulk head such that conventional opening of the "curtain-sider" curtain can be achieved.

Figure 1 illustrates that an orthogonal tensioning "T" along the longitudinal length of the tensioning member 6 produces a concomitant vertical tensioning "T"' of each respective webbing strap 4 that the tensioning member 6 is linked to or is otherwise integral with.

The vertical tensioning is maintained during transit by securing of the tensioning member 6 to the body or alternatively, to a vertical pole adapted to rotate along its longitudinal axis, said pole being fitted to one end of the transport container body. The materials and methods for "locking-off" the tensioned tension member 6 can be selected without further inventive thought by the intended skilled addressee of this specification.

For the avoidance of doubt, the location of the tensioning member 6 is at the lower edge region of the curtain in this particular embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, numerous alternative embodiments are possible and these will now be described, For example, the sleeves 5 in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 need not necessarily be, as illustrated, single continuous sleeves that run substantially from the top rail 2 to to the lower edge of the curtain 3. The sleeve 5 in alternative embodiments could, for example, comprise a plurality of straps integral with the curtain 3 that are so sized, shaped and designed to allow relative vertical movement of the webbing strap 4 in use but restricted horizontal (or lateral) movement of the webbing strap 4 to within the confines of the sleeve 5. One way of achieving this, could be for example to have the aperture 7 stretching to cover the full width of the sleeve 5 thereby to all intents and purposes, providing two separate sleeves for the one webbing strap 4.

In yet further alternative embodiments not illustrated, there need not necessarily be any sleeve 5 whatsoever. One could envisage for example a webbing strap 4 directly stitched, welded or attached to the curtain 3 in a manner known by the person skilled in the art providing a non-attached portion that comprises upper and lower elasticated regions that "sandwich" another portion of the webbing strap 4 that is so-linked or is otherwise integral with the tension member 6.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, not illustratc, each respective sleeve containing a webbing strap 4 need not necessarily have an aperture 7 associated with it to allow direct linkage between substantially orthogonal tensioning members 4 and 6. In other words, the tension members 4 and 6 could be linked via, for example a metal rivet 10 of the type illustrated in Figure 1 that passes through and thereby "sandwiches" a portion of the sleeve 5 during the linking process.

Alternative fixing means other than metal rivets, for example stitching, loop and hook fasteners and welding are known to the person skilled in the art and can be used without further inventive thought.

In yet another alternative embodiment not illustrated, so-called "rave-hooks" need not necessarily be used and any method of demountably securing the bottom edge of the curtain 3 to the transport container body could be used and these once again are known to the person skilled in the art and will not be discussed further in this specification.

Alternatively, an embodiment can be envisaged whereby each respective sleeve 5 need not necessarily surround a webbing strap 4 and any appropriate selection or combination of the fixing methods of the webbing straps 4 to the curtain 3 could of course be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The elasticated region or portion 8 can be provided by any known resiliently flexible material that is substantially more resiliently flexible than the webbing straps 4 per se. Typical examples of which are rubber, or man made polymeric materials. Alternatively, the webbing strap 4 may be sufficiently resiliently flexible not the warrant the need for an elasticated region 8 as illustrated in Figure 1 and as such, alternative embodiments devoid of elasticated portions of the type hereinbefore described are also intended to be covered by the present invention.

In another alternative embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the linking means 10A is a D-ring that connects the vertical tensioning member 4 to the horizontal tensioning member 6 via a webbing loop each respective end of which is stitched to a portion of the vertical tensioning member 4 and in this particular exarnple, each respective end of the webbing loop is also stitched to each respective end of the elasticated portion 8. The webbing loop also communicates with an O-ring 30. The linkage means 10A is itself attached to the horizontal tensioning member 6 via a linking tensioning member 6A. This linking tensioning member 6A is of a "belt-strap" construction and the "beltbuckle" is the linking means 10 attached to the horizontal tensioning member 6.

This belt type linkage allows fine tuning of individual pocket straps for easy and reliable fine tuning of tension in the curtain.

Figure 4 illustrates both a front and side view of yet a further alternative embodiment of this invention. In this alternative embodiment, the upper and lower portions of the vertical tensioning member 4 are integral with a sandwiched elasticated portion 8, however there is a further elasticated portion 8A made of stronger elasticated material to compensate for slight differences in the vertical tensioning of the vertical tensioning member 4. As can be seen in Figure 4, a piece of webbing material 40 is integral with the upper portion of the vertical tensioning member 4 and passes through a D-typc ring that is itself, trapped by the elasticated material 8A. The webbing material 40 then passes through an O-ring (not illustrated) in the horizontal tensioning member 6 (not illustrated) and is rivetted to the horizontal tensioning member 6 (not illustrated). In this particular embodiment as shown in Figure 4, a D-ring need not necessarily be used and a three bar slide could also be used.

Figure 5 illustrates a final alternative embodiment to to the invention and as can be seen, there is no elasticated portion 8 linking the upper and lower portions of the vertical tensioning member 4. Instead, there is a three bar slide integral with the lower portion of the vertical tensioning member 4 with a webbing strap from the upper portion of the vertical tensioning member 4 passing through the three bar slide and linked to an elasticated portion 50 which forms part of the horizontal tensioning member 6.

Claims (7)

1. A tensioning system for transport container bodies employing "curtain sider" type covers, in particular, but not exclusively, transport container bodies for road going vehicles; the system comprising a multi-sleeved curtain which is of a kind known per se in which a number of the sleeves, in use, each contain respective vertical tensioning members running substantially the height of the curtain and characterised in that the or each vertical tensioning member is linked to and under the control of a longitudinal tensioning member running substantially orthogonal thereto, whereby the tensioning of the vertical tension member or members results from a relative orthogonal tensioning or pulling of the longitudinal tensioning member.

2. A tensioning system as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the or each vertical tensioning member is provided with an elasticated portion.

3. A tensioning system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the longitudinal tensioning member is located at the lower edge region of the curtain.

4. A tensioning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that each respective sleeve containing a vertical tensioning member is apertured, the or each aperture providing a site for linkage of the vertical and longitudinal tension members.

5. A tensioning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the horizontal distance between any two sleeves that form part of the system is less than 100cm.

6. A tensioning system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any appropriate selection or combination of the accompanying diagrams.

7. A transport container body incorporating a tensioning system as claimed in any of the preceding claims.