US20030161700A1

US20030161700A1 - Beam clamp accessory

Info

Publication number: US20030161700A1
Application number: US10/080,941
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Charles Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-25
Filing date: 2002-02-25
Publication date: 2003-08-28

Abstract

An accessory Clamp Device that combined with pre-existing bracing bars utilizing the load rail system, will stabilize a cargo load in a much more secure manner. Thus eliminating shifting of the cargo in any direction. This being side-to-side, back-to-forward or a fore-aft manner of shifting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement for securing cargo.

Transportation industry of cargo has various ways of securing and bracing cargo while in transit; these vehicles have utilized the load rail track system for many years. Usually extending horizontally along the inner surface walls of the van. These support cargo metal bracing beams, used for shoring, and or decking the cargo. Flexible woven straps are also able to utilize the load rail system because they have the same type clip used with the bracing beams for attaching to the load rail track. These flexible woven straps are also used for securing the cargo in an adjustable position around the cargo.

Attention is called to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,988,962, 3,837,048; 3,332,123; 5,609,452; 3,200,772; 3,788,240; 2,901,987; 3,972,500 and 4,464,089, these various types of equipment are used in the industry for cargo securing, but alone or individually, they do not cover the complete job of securing cargo in a secure, safe manner by themselves. The said current invention cargo beam clamp will cooperate with the present referenced equipment in securing the cargo in more efficient manner safe manner.

This invention will give a great improvement to the equipment mentioned by reducing the side-to-side shifting of cargo in transit, thus saving the industry money from damaged freight, insurance claims and high-end premiums.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As to the present invention and forming a primary objective, at which is an improvement m cargo restraining system being associated with Bracing beams, cargo bars, load rail systems and flexible woven straps. This invention allows the use of the bracing beams or cargo bar, including flexible woven straps to be used in a new useful way for securing cargo in van type trailers. Bracing beams, cargo bars and straps were designed to with a clip or lock into the load rail system that allows the beams to facilitate across the trailer in a left to right position from outer wall to the opposite outer wall.

This invention once attached to the bracing beam or cargo bar, will allow for another bracing beam or flexible woven straps to be attached to the front of the said beam clamp invention for securing the cargo front to back manner in the van. This will secure the cargo from a side-to-side shifting motion. This will also make is possible for decking in the van or trailer to allow for providing more storage room.

This is an improvement to the use of the existing cargo equipment. In the shipping industry this will reduce the shifting the cargo saving the shipping industry money in freight damage. The said invention is easy to use, can be attached onto the beam with one hand making easy to use and quick to assemble. The said beam clamp is inexpensive to manufacturer, can be produced in metals and present space age plastics, making the said beam clamp lightweight and easy to apply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With particular reference to the drawings, the [0008] numeral 10 in FIG. 1A designates the section of load rail used on the front section of the surface of the said clamp. Numeral 11 is the top and front section of the clamp, with number 12 a hinge attached to numerals 13 the back section, 14 the side view of 13, 15 is attached to 13 to form the bottom portion which when closed will be secured snugly around the beam. Numeral 18 is an eyebolt, which will tighten the clamp closed around the beam when run through 17 a threaded hole for the placement of 18.
In FIG. 1A, NO. [0009] 10 is a section of load rail; this shows the rail as it looks when used in the truck vans and before attached to the said invention, Beam Clamp. FIG. 1B is a side view of the Beam Clamp invention, showing 12 as the moveable hinge attached to the top section of parts 11 and 13. FIG. 1B shows a side view of the load rail 10 on the front face of the clamp, this is a clear view of the opening position, you can see how the bracing beams 21 and the woven flexible straps 22 each using the same end clip to anchor the equipment to the clamp 11 is used.
In FIG. 2 in carrying out the objective of the invention, pictured here is two different views of a cross section view and top view of a trailer using the said invention Beam Clamp [0010] 11 providing a secure restraining system with the load rail 20, bracing beams 21, woven flexible straps 22 for the transportation of cargo. In the cross section view, bracing beams 21 are used across the van attached to the load rail 20 on each sidewall 26 of the trailer; the cargo 23 is positioned on the floor 25 of the van with bracing beams 21 on each side of the cargo 23, this showing a front to back position around the cargo 23. 11 is securely attached to 21 with the use of 22 in a crosswise manner, this will secure the cargo 23 from a side-to-side shifting resulting in the cargo 23 moving inside the van causing damage. In FIG. 2 the top view of the trailer it is seen the bracing beams 21 in a position attached across the trailer from one outer wall to the other outer wall using the load rail system 20, thus therein the cargo 23 is positioned at different areas of the trailer to show a selection of positions available for loading and transporting. The FIG. 2 top view shows the use of the bracing beams 21 in a crosswise manner with member bracing beams 21 in the trailer. This is accomplished by attaching the beams 21 together by use the said Beam Clamp 11 to secure the cargo 23 in the most new and improved securing method to date. In FIG. 2 top view of the trailer we can see the employed method of dual restraining methods using the woven straps 22 and Bracing beams 21 in the best possible advantage to reduce damage resulting from the side-to-side shifting of the cargo 23, while in transit. It is viewed in FIG. 2 he industry using the said Beam Clamp 11 may be able to choose how many Beam Clamps 11 are needed and where the Beam Clamp 11 is used anywhere in the trailer, thus giving the Transportation Industry better use of existing equipment saving the industry money.

Claims

What I claim my invention is:

1) The beam clamp is an accessory device for load bracing beams or cargo bars. The unique function of this said beam clamp is to provide additional securing methods to equipment already used in the transportation industry presently. The said beam clamp is easily affixed to a bracing beam. The said beam clamp is a four-sided clamp composed of two corresponding two sided braces. The sides of the braces are of sufficient length and at right angles to each other, and the two braces, when connected at right angles, define the square or rectangular shape of the bracing beam to which it is affixed.

The invention has four sides with a load rail receptacle attached to the front part of the invention. Underneath through front the side and back corresponding sections, are threaded holes for the placement of an eyebolt for closing and tightening down the said clamp, therein becoming snug and unable to move or slide on the bracing beam the said beam clamp is made from two halves each bent in a ninety degree manner that forms a square shape cavity to fit exactly to the out side diameter of the bracing beam.

On the front side of the beam clamp there is a section of Load railing attached to the invention, this will enable the said beam clamp to be attached to other bracing beams in a cross decking arrangement in the van. The second side is also bent to form the bottom and backside of the beam clamp, with a moving hinge provided with two flat rectangle pieces to attach at the top of the backside and the top portion of said first section of the said beam clamp to allow the top and bottom portions to open and close. This opening and closing movement will allow easy attachment in a jaw motion around the bracing beam to which it is attached in desired location on the beam. This easily applied said Beam Clamp would become an accessory tool for bracing beams in vans.

2) The inventions primary objective is for new and better possibilities for the cargo restraining system in use today. Which will allow for the cross shoring and cross strapping with the use of currently used bracing beams and flexible straps to secure the cargo from side-to-side shifting in the van due to the movement of the vehicle while in transit.

Currently the present equipment used alone cannot stop the cargo from side-to-side shifting in the van, they can only provide security from shifting in a front to back or fore-aft manner. From the bracing beam or cargo bar a flexible woven strap that has the load rail type clip connector attached to the end of the woven strap, the equipment may be attached to the front of the invention in to load rail receptacle for a wrapping around the cargo and or Pallet of freight to the other side of the cargo attaching the other end of the flexible woven cargo strap with a load rail connector to another beam clamp that is attached to a bracing beam, cargo bar. This will stabilize the cargo shipped on pallets or loose freight, in a new manner. For pallets or loose cargo of freight or cargo can come in different sizes and shapes making it difficult to secure from damage in the usual type manner leaving the cargo prone to extensive damage.

3) The said beam clamp relates to new and useful Improvements in cargo restraining system. In the present, the typical tools for securing cargo are the Load rail system, bracing beams, cargo bars, flexible woven cargo straps, plastic wrap, logistic bars, and air bags these are all limited as to the use for securing cargo down in a safe manner. These types of equipment are expensive and are limited to the way they can be used.

The Beam Clamp Invention will combined with the bracing beams, Load rail system, woven flexible cargo straps will stabilize the cargo in vans a new and better way, making the transit of all types of cargo especially hazardous materials much safer eliminating severe damage (as said in claim 2) the said beam clamp once attached to a bracing beam that is attached to the load rail system allowing bracing beams to be used for securing the freight or cargo from shifting in a front to backwards motion in the trailers or vans.

The object of the said invention is to enable the person to use the Invention anywhere on the bracing beam that would allow the cargo to be secured from shifting in any direction in the van from the front nose section of the van to the rear or door end on of the van. Cargo can be provided in any shape containers or no containers, boxes of any shape and size, barrels, drums, bags, these present new and difficult problems in securing cargo from movement damage. In carrying out the objective of the invention the bracing beams maybe used in a decking manner with the use of other beams in a crosswise direction in the van to form a new section for the use of more room for storing in more cargo in the van.

With the use of the invention for round or odd shaped cargo this will enable the cargo to be secured in more than the one-way direction as with the present type securing systems. With present Inventions for securing freight there are no applications for preventing shifting from a Side-to-side manner or a left to right turn, or from securing the cargo from sudden stops, jerking and or weather related movement.