GB2340797A - Device for restraining movement of cargo in vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for restraining movement of packages in transit in vehicles comprises a base (A) to which is attached an essentially perpendicular disposed retaining arm (B) designed to abut the side of the package. A gripping medium (C) is provided on the underside of the base. The medium (C) might be rubber, wire brush like fabric, a synthetic hook and loop arrangement, magnet or teeth depending on the nature of the surface on which the device and package is placed. The restraining arm (B) is more rigid than the base (A) such that lateral movement of the package causes the base to arch thereby providing further resistance to the movement of the package.

Description

2340797 MOVEMENT RESTRAINING BRACKET This invention relates to a 'Movement

Restraining Bracket' Inanimate objects in transit within a moving vehicle or resting upon any moving surface are prone to sliding or toppling - due to external forces. This shifting or movement of goods can give rise to general annoyance and can also cause damage to the items themselves or to their surroundings. In the case of delicate, fragile, unstable, valuable or potentially hazardous items, this movement can be especially undesirable.

Some simple, self-actuating and dynamic, restraining device is needed which can be easily positioned and which requires no fixing to, or modification of, the items to be restrained or their surroundings.

Previous attempts to solve this problem have depended for their success on either:- the containment of the items to be restrained within some kind of enclosure. or, more commonly:- the employment of some variation of rigid block or stop which is not dynamically reactive when applied against the undesired movement but merely acts as a form of barrier to movement. In addition, previous devices have normally either required attached to one or more of the surrounding supporting surfaces or connection to one or more similar devices to afford mutual restraint and containment.

The device herein described, is a dynamic, semi-rigid structure which reacts proportionally in opposition to the undesired load exerted upon it. Furthermore, it requires no attachment to surrounding surfaces, items to be restrained or other devices in order to be fully functional. Having no reliance on any external provisions for its use, it is readily and completely transferable and portable in operation.

This invention relates to a device intended to prevent the sliding andlor the toppling over of common 'domestic' or small size commercial goods and packages in transit, whilst they are supported upon a generally firm surface.

This device is primarily intended for use within road vehicles such as cars, vans and lorries but can also be used effectively in rail transport or on boats and in any situation where goods or articles need to be restrained whilst under the influence of external forces.

In the spirit of the above, it is envisaged that the most prolific use of this invention will be in the goods or luggage holding areas of domestic or small goods vehicles, particularly where the load bearing surface is covered by a thin layer of durable fabric such as the carpet found in most car boots or trunks. The use of this invention however, is not restricted in any way relative to the size, type, shape or weight of goods or articles to be restrained nor to the type or covering of any supporting surface.

Page 1 The operational essence of the device described herein lies in its ability to prevent movement by transmitting the disruptive force proportionally onto the gripping medium whilst being held in position partially by the weight of the restrained article. In addition, this device is not fastened or in any way physically attached to any adjacent surface nor does it require any modification to those surfaces.

The essential technical feature of this invention lies in the dynamic operational relationship between its two principal components being respectively rigid and flexible. The component directly resisting the undesired force is constructed so as to be rigid and to transmit the force proportionally to the surface engaging component which is located on the comparatively flexible base. In operation, pressure from the restrained item causes:- the normally near vertical thrust resisting arm of the device to react in the direction of the force exerted by the restrained item thereby transmitting a directly proportional force to one end of the (normally horizontally disposed) base component of the device; thus causing:- the (normally horizontally disposed) base component of the device to arch which in turn ensures that the engaging medium is brought into close contact with the supporting surface. This continuing action also ensures that the engaging medium is maintained in close contact with the supporting surface whilst the undesired force upon the restrained item is present. This reactive arching of the base component also simultaneously offers an opposing gradient to the direction of movement of the item in restrainment.

The combined action of the above results in the almost total prevention of movement by a restrained item in one direction; the device reacting immediately and proportionally to oppose any force thus applied upon it. If the movement to be restricted is in more than one direction, the deployment of more than one device may be necessary. In practice however, it is found that by taking advantage of the support offered by surroundings (such as surrounding vertical surfaces and other items) it is commonly possible to prevent undesired movement in all four horizontal directions with the use of two devices only.

A specific example of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows in perspective, a typical example embodiment of the device at rest; Figure 2 illustrates in elevation, a typical example of the device under load and restraining an item and demonstrates the way in which the base arches to facilitate optimum engagement with the supporting surface via the engaging medium; Figure 3 illustrates in plan view, four devices in operating position restraining an item from movement in four directions; Figure 4 illustrates an alternative construction of the device made from a single uniform piece of material which is bent to provide the rigidity where required; Page 2 Figure 5 shows a further alternative construction of the device whereby the surface engaging medium is located at the extreme end of the rigid upright; Figure 6 shows a typical embodiment of the device provided with an example of the type of attachment which may be fitted to more efficiently accommodate certain items; Figure 7 illustrates the employment of only two typical devices to restrain an item in all horizontal directions by taking advantage of the support offered by fixed surrounding vertical surfaces; Referring to the drawings, the device comprises base A which is relatively flexible compared to upright B which is completely rigid and set almost perpendicular to base A. In practice, although a perpendicular relationship between A and B is perfectly efficient, it is recommended for optimum performance that the upright component B should be set in slight inclination towards the expected load as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

If desired, the entire device can be manufactured from one piece of uniform material provided that the behavioural rigid 1 flexible relationship between components A and B is assured. A typical example of such a construction is shown in figure 4.

If the device is of modular construction, the upright arm B can be attached to base A by any means which ensures a permanent close and rigid bond under maximum envisaged load conditions. Such joining methods include welding, riveting, bolting, screwing and adhesives.

The surface engaging medium C can be shaped from, and be an integral part of, either base A or upright B or it may be a suitable attachment. In either case, C must be located generally in the position indicated in the various drawings and should extend sufficiently far and be of such type so as to ensure effective engagement with the supporting surface in question. Medium C, if not an integral part of the device, may be affixed by any means which ensures a permanent, close and rigid bond under maximum envisaged load conditions. In addition, medium C may be detachable and interchangeable to allow for variations in supporting surface composition.

The nature of the surface engaging medium C is dependant upon the properties of the supporting surface on which it is to be used. On the carpeted or fabric covered surfaces found in many vehicle luggage or goods carrying compartments, C may take the form of teeth fashioned from the material of which device is constructed as shown generally in figure 1. Alternatively, for use with fabric covered surfaces, C may be in the form of a small section of wire-brush like material similar to the type used by engineers for cleaning metal-working files or a piece of proprietary nylon hook material such as that marketed under the trade name of Velcro. In the case of either smooth finished or steel supporting surfaces, a permanent magnet or section of high friction resistance rubber may be attached to, or recessed into, the base A.

Page 3 Provided the essential rigid / flexible relationship between components A and B is maintained, any amount or variety of additional components (for example component D in figure 6) may be permanently or temporarily attached in order to improve, adapt or customise the device for the restrainment of specific items. It may be deemed desirable for example, to protect a delicate item from possible contact damage by attaching a soft covering or fitment to parts of the device in contact with the item. Also, in order to effectively restrain an item with an irregularly shaped base, it may be necessary to modify the shape of, or fit an attachment to, component A.

In operation, the device is simply placed upon the common supporting surface in such a way that part or all of the weight of the item to be restrained rests upon component A and that part of the item is in contact with component B in the general manner shown in figure 2.

If the item in question is likely to require restraining in more than one horizontal direction, more than one device may need to be placed in line to oppose the direction of the expected movement as generally shown in figures 3 and 7. The additional support offered by surrounding vertical surfaces, where available, may be used instead of additional devices.

As the device is not permanently fixed or attached to any other surface or device; when no longer required, it is simply removed from contact with the restrained item.

Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

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Claims (11)

1 A Movement Restraining Bracket which automatically and proportionally reacts to oppose movement in an item placed in contact with it and which comprises a generally horizontally disposed base provided with some means of engagement with the common supporting surface upon which it rests and a restraining component which is generally perpendicularly disposed to the base and which is of rigid construction compared to the base.

2 A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in Claim 1 wherein any of the component parts may be specially shaped, sized or relatively orientated so as to accommodate the nature or profile of a particular item or items to be restrained.

3. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein any of the component parts are provided with additional fixed, moving or removable fittings so as to accommodate the nature or profile of a particular item or items to be restrained.

4. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the means of engaging the supporting surface may be any one or a combination of a number of provisions including teeth or protrusions either forming an integral part of the Bracket itself or attached separately, permanent magnets, high friction resistance rubber or similar material, plastic or nylon hook material or brush-like material made from any stiff substance such as metal wire or hard plastic.

5. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the means of engaging the supporting surface, if not an integral part of the Bracket or a separate attachment, may be attached by any suitable means including adhesives, welding, mechanical fastenings or special fittings.

6. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the means of engaging the supporting surface may be situated in any position, orientation and location on the Bracket or on any temporary or permanent attachment.

7. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein there may be provision made whereby more than one Bracket may be connected together either permanently or temporarily in any manner necessary to more efficiently restrain a specific item or items.

8. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein all component parts of the Bracket may be fastened together either permanently or temporarily by any means compatible with expedient manufacture or efficient performance.

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9. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the main component parts of the Bracket may be orientated at any angle relative to each other.

10. A Movement Restraining Bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the entire Bracket including the means of engaging the supporting surface may be manufactured from one piece of material with due regard to the need for differential rigidity between the main component parts.

11. A Movement Restraining Bracket substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-7 of the accompanying drawiings.

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