GB2330617A

GB2330617A - Releasable restraint mounted on a track

Info

Publication number: GB2330617A
Application number: GB9720889A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Barry Sawdy
Original assignee: NMI Safety Systems Ltd
Current assignee: NMI Safety Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1997-10-01
Filing date: 1997-10-01
Publication date: 1999-04-28
Also published as: GB9720889D0

Abstract

A device for restraining a wheeled container comprising a support element 5 slidably mounted on a track 4 which has at least one inwardly directed lip forming the mouth of a channel. The support element 5 has locking means, (eg a T-section head having arms 20, 21 extending from a rotatable shaft) locatable within the channel to contact the said lip. Means, eg cam lever 29, are provided to provided an up-thrust to the support element to urge it away from the track and to urge the locking means towards said lip. The device acts as a relocatable stop element with engagement means 22 provided to restrain the container.

Description

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A RESTRAINING DEVICE" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a restraining device for restraining wheeled containers in transit.

Wheeled containers, for example, large trolleys, are used to transport goods to supermarkets in the back of vehicles, such as lonies. Whilst in transit, in a lony or even on an incline, wheeled containers have a tendency to roll, this can lead to to damaged goods, damaged containers and possible injury to anyone who comes into contact with the containers.

At present such wheeled containers are constrained in transit in lorries by shoring poles, which span the width of the lony. The problem with this is that the poles are heavy, difficult to manoeu-e, and can take some time to affix.

The present invention seeks to provide a restraint device for restiaining a wheeled container.

According to this invention there is provided a device for restraining a wheeled container, said device comprising a support element adapted to be slidably mounted for movement along a track leaving at least one inwardly directed lip, forming the mouth of a channel, the support element having locking means locatable within the channel to contact the said lip, means to provide an up-thrust to the support element to bias the support element away from the track and to bias the locking means towards said lip, and engagement means to engage and restrain the container.

Preferably means to provide an up-thrust to the support element comprise a pivotally mounted element, mounted to move pivotally relative to the support element about a predeteimined pivot point, between two positions, the pivotally mounted element having a potion adapted to engage the track when in one of the positions to bias the support element away from the track.

Conveniently the pivotally mounted element passes tlu ough a dead centre condition as it moves from the first position to the second position.

Preferably toe pivotally mounted element is a lever having two substantially divergent arms.

Advantageously one of the said divergent amls has an aperture dimensioned to take the digits of one hand.

Conveniently one of the said arms is provided with engagement means adapted to engage with co-operating engagement means provided on the support element, when the pivotally mounted element is In the second position.

Preferably the support element is a substantially rectangular plate of unitary construction.

Conveniently the locking means comprise a cylindrical section having at least one lug adapted to contact the inwardly directed lips of the channel.

Advantageously said cylindrical section is rotatable between a first orientation in which the lugs extend axially of a track on which the device is mounted, and a second orientation in which the lugs extend transversely of a track on which the device is mounted.

Conveniently means associated with the cplindlical section prevent the pivotally mounted element from reaching the second position, unless the rotatable cylindrical section is in the second orientation.

Preferably the engagement means comprises a substantially triangular support plate, which extends perpendicularly above the support element having one edge secured to the support element along an axis of the support element, a transverse engagement plate being secured to pait of the triangular support plate spaced fi-om the support element.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of part of a lony incorporating one embodiment of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a track as mounted in the lorry of Figure I viewed from one end, FIGURE 3 is a side view of the restraining device in accordance nith the invention in an unlocked position, FIGURE 4 is a side view of the device as shown in Figure 3 when in a locked position, FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of part of the device when in the unlocked positioned, FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of the part of tlie device shown in Figure 5 when in the locked position, and FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the device of the Figures 3 and 4.

Referring no". to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown the load carrying compartment of a vehicle in the form of a lorry 1. A wheeled container 2, such as a trolley 2 for deliveries for supermarkets is located in the compartment, having wheels 3. A strip of track 4 is mounted in the floor of the compaitment, extending parallel to the wall of the compartment.

A restraining device 5 is provided which is engaged with the track 4.

As will be described in detail below, the restraining device 5 may be slid along the track until part of the restraining device engages the trolley. The restraining device 5 may then be clamped to the track so that the restraining device restrains the container and prevents it fi-om moving.

Refening now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a strip of track 6 formed an extruded C section of aluminium foiming a central channel 7. The top of the C section has t'vo ouhvardly extending flanges 8 and 9 which are adapted to abut the suiface of the floor of the lorry.

The flanges 8 and 9 extend inwardly to form two inwardly directed lips 10 and 11 which fonn the mouth 12 of the channel 7.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, the restl-ailling device comprises a support element 13 in the form of a rectangular plate. Adjacent one end of the plate there is an elongate axial extending aperture 14 (see Figure 7). In the central region of the plate thee is a circular cross-section bore 15 extending through the plate.

Mounted on to the base of the plate 13, in alignment with the central axis of the plate, are two substantially rectangular positioning guides 16,17, each formed from a squared sectioned steel bar. Each guide extends part of the way along the base of the plate 13 from a respective end of the plate 13. Each guide defines at least one bore therethrough whiclo receives a mounting screw having an extruded end engaged in a respective threaded bore provided on the plate. The positioning guides are dimensioned so as to fit within the mouth of the truck. A locking element is mounted on the plate 13 and comprises a cylindrical section 18 extending vertically through the central bore 15 provided in the plate 13. Affixed to the top of the cylindrical section 18 at a position just above the upper surface of the plate is a grip 19 in the form of a rectangular block. The bottom of the cylindrical section 18 carries, at positions spaced beneath the lower surface of the plate, two diametrically opposed radially outwardly directed horizontal lugs 20 and 2 1.

The cylindrical section 18 is rotatably mounted within the central bore 15. By grasping the grip 19, the lugs 20 and 21 may be located to extend axially of the plate 13, or transverse of the plate 13. The lugs 20 and 21 are dimensioned so that when positioned to extend axially of the plate, the lugs may pass through the mouth 12 of the channel and when subsequently the lugs are located to extend perpendicularly to the axis of the plate and the axis of the track, the ends of the lugs will lie beneath the inwardly directed lips 10 and 11 of the track.

Mounted on the top surface of the plate is means to engage a container.

These means comprise a substantially right angled triangular support plate 22 which is mounted on the top surface of the plate 13 at tlle opposed end to the elongate aperture 14. The support plate 22 is aligned with the axis of the plate 13 and is perpendicular to the plate 13. Mounted transversely the top of the support plate 22, perpendicular to the axis of the plate 13, is a substantially rectangular plate 23 to abut the containers.

Connected to the plate 13 is a lever 24 which can be actuated to provide an up-thrust to the plate tending to move the plate away fi-om the track. The lever comprises a substantially V-shaped lever 24 having two divergent arms which is pivotally mounted on the plate about pivot point 25 which is located adjacent to the base of the V. The pivot point is defined by a pivot extending across the elongate axially extending aperture 14 in tlie plate 13. A substantially triangular shaped potion of the lever, extends from the lower part of the base of the V from the pivot point and extends beneath the plate.

The first of the two arms of the lever, the unlockiiig ann 26 is of substantially triangular shape. The second arm 27 of the lever, the latching arm, is substantially linear, but the fi-ee end of tlle second alm is formed at an angle to the axis of the arm , for reasons which will be further explained herein.

The lower edge of the second arm 27 is provided adjacent its free end with a depending portion which is adapted to contact the plate 13. Formed within the second ann is an aperture 28 suitably diiensioned to take the digits of one hand to facilitate carrying of the device.

Referring now additionally to Figures 5 and 6, it is to be appreciated that the lever may be moved between two operative positions. When in the first position, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the lever is in an un-locked condition.

With the lever in this condition, if the rotating device is mounted on a track 4, the restraining device may be slid along the track 4. The device will be guided by the guide elements 16,17 which slide within tlie mouth 12 of the channel.

Even if the lugs extend transversely to the axis of the channel, they will not grasp the lips 10,11 of the mouth 12 of the channel. The restraining device may thus be moved to engage a trolley.

As can be seen in Figure 5, when the lever is in the un-locked condition, the triangular section 30 extending beneath the plate l3 is not in contact with the base 3 1 of the channel. The lever may be moved towards the second position by applying a force to the second arm of the lever as shown by the arrow 29 in Figure 3. When force is applied in the direction of an-ow 29 to the second lever 27, the point 30 moves in the direction of an-ow 32 to a position where it touches the base of the channel 3 1 and moves through a dead centre condition to a position in which it pushes down on the base of the channel providing an up-thrust to plate 13. This up-tlu:ust provided to plate 13 will cause a similar up-tlu:ust to be applied to lugs 20 and 21, thus engaging them with the inwardly directed lips 10,11 of the mouth 12 of the channel.

A complete movement in the direction of an-ow 32 will lead to the flat edge 33 of the second arm 27 abutting the support plate 22, thus preventing it from moving any further.

Similarly, to move the lever into the un-locked condition, force is applied in the direction of the arrow 34. Moving the ann in this direction will cause the triangular section 30 of the lever to move away from the base of the channel, thus disconnecting the means to provide an up-th]-ust.

The locking element 18 is designed such that when rotated to a position whereby the lugs 20,2 1 extend axially along the mouth 1 2 of the channel, the locking device may pass through the mouth 12 of the channel. but a movement of the lever in the direction of the an-ow 29 will lead to point 35 on the lever coming into contact with the grip 19, thus preventing the lever from moving to the second or locking position. However, if once inserted into the track, the locking means is rotated so that the lugs extend transverse to the axis of the channel, so that they come to rest under the inwardly directed lips, a force applied to the lever in the direction of an-ow 29 will enable the lever to be moved to the locking position.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is to be appreciated that modifications may be effected to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined by the following Claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A device for restraining a wheeled container, said device comprising a support element adapted to be slidably mounted for movement along a track having at least one inwardly directed lip, forming the mouth of a channel; the support element having locking means locatable within the channel to contact the said lip, means to provide an up-thl-ust to the support element to bias the support element away fi-om the track and to bias the locking means towards said lip, and engagement means to engage and restrain the container.
2. A device according to Claim I wherein said means to provide an upthrust to the support element comprise a pivotally mounted element, mounted to move pivotally relative to the suppoit element about a predetermined pivot point, between two positions, the pivotally mounted element having a portion adapted to engage the track when in one of the positions to bias the support element away fi-om the track.
3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein the pivotally mounted element passes through a dead centre condition as it moves fi-om the first position to the second position.
4. A device according to Claims 2 or 3, wherein the pivotally mounted element is a lever having two substantiall divergent anns.
5. A device according to Claim 4 wherein one of the said divergent arms has an aperture dimensioned to take the digits of one hand.
6. A device according to Claims 4 or 5 wherein one of the said arms is provided with engagement means adapted to engage with co-operating engagement means provided on the support element, when the pivotally mounted element is in the second position.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support element is a substantially rectangular plate of unital) construction.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the locking means comprise a cylindrical section having at least one lug adapted to contact the inwardly directed lips of the channel.
9. A device according to Claim 8 wherein said cylindrical section is rotatable between a first orientation in which the lugs extend axially of a track on which the device is mounted, and a second orientation In which the lugs extend transversely of a tack on which the device is mounted.
10. A device according to Claim 9 as dependent, direct1 or indirectly, on Claim 2 wherein means associated with the cylindrical section prevent the pivotally mounted element fi-om reaching the second position, unless the rotatable cylindrical section is in the second orientation.
II. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the engagement means comprises a substantially triangular support plate, which extends perpendicularly above the support element having one edge secured to the support element along an axis of the support element, a transverse engagement plate being secured to part of the triangular support plate spaced from the support element.
12. A vehicle provided with at least one track, the track being provided with at least one device according to any one of the preceding Claims.
13. A device for restraining a wheeled container, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
14. A vehicle provided with a device for restraining a wheeled container, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
15. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.