Abstract:
A method and apparatus for stabilizing cargo within a transport container. First and second tubular elements are provided having generally cylindrical bodies and bearing members are mounted at a terminal end which can react against opposing surfaces within the transport container and stabilize cargo within the container. An extension mechanism allows for the extension and selective translation between the first and second tubular members allowing the apparatus to extend and fill the space between opposing surfaces within the transport container and stabilize the cargo. At least one of the tubular members is composed with two elongate halves. A method for stabilizing cargo within a transport container includes providing an extensible load stabilizer having first and second tubular elements, each having a bearing member. Forming at least one of the tubular members by mating together two tubular halves. The method further includes positioning the load stabilizer between opposing surfaces within the transport container and extending the tubular members with respect to each other, and stabilizing a surface of cargo against an opposing surface.

Description:
RELATED PATENTS 
   This application relates to U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,802 entitled “Cargo Restraint System for a Transport Container” issued on Jul. 18, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,779 entitled “Cargo Restraint Method for a Transport Container” issued on May 8, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,337 entitled “Cargo Restraint System” issued on Aug. 19, 2003; to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/127,193 filed May 12, 2005 and entitled “Adjustable Load Stabilizer Method and Apparatus” application Ser. No. 11/459,356 entitled “Adjustable Load Stabilizer Apparatus Method and Apparatus” filed Jul. 23, 2006 and application Ser. No. 11/459,357 entitled “Adjustable Load Stabilizer Apparatus Method and Apparatus” filed Jul. 23, 2006 all of common inventorship with the subject application. The disclosure of applicant&#39;s prior application Ser. Nos. 11/127,193; 11/459,356 and 11/459,357 are hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth at length. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for stabilizing cargo during transportation. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel, modular, method and apparatus for stabilizing and restraining undesired movement of drums, boxes, rigid and flexible containers, palletized or not palletized, within the interior of a transport container or the like with respect to each other and/or with respect to an internal wall surface of the container. 
   Most shipments for transport are placed in enclosures such as ship cargo holds, intermodal containers, truck trailers, truck bodies, railroad box cars, and the like. Examples of cargo in containment enclosures include fifty five gallon closed head drums, super sacks or plastic reinforced bags, plastic wrapped bundles, cased goods, metal coils, specialty heavy paper rolls, plastic or metal containers mounted on pallets, etc. Although each individual component of cargo may be quite heavy and stationary at rest, the mass of a transport load can produce considerable momentum force as a ship, railroad car, truck trailer or truck body is placed in motion, stops, or changes direction. 
   During ocean transport cargo within cargo holds or intermodal containers are subjected to wave forces including: yaw, pitch, heave, sway, and surge. Depending upon weather conditions and the size of the vessel, cargo can experience various magnitudes of shifting forces throughout the course of a transoceanic voyage. 
   In another transport context, railroad trains are made-up by individual box cars being rolled together in a switching yard. When a railroad car is rolled into a stationary string of cars, the impact causes the car couplings to lock together with a jolt. This impact can apply a significant force to cargo within the rail car. Moreover, during transport, railroad cars and overland transport vehicles are subject to braking forces, bumps, centrifugal forces on curves, vibration, dips in the track or road, swaying, run-in or run-out forces, etc. 
   In overland truck/trailer transport there are frequent brake and acceleration forces imparted to the trailer and its contents, certrifical forces around curves, turning forces, uneven road surfaces, roadway transition junctions, roadway grades, etc. 
   Each of these forces has the potential to impart a substantial force to cargo during transport. When cargo contacts other cargo or the interior walls or doors of a container, the force necessary to reduce its momentum to zero must be absorbed by the goods and/or the container. Such forces can result in damage to the cargo, damage to the interior walls or doors of the container, damage to the cargo packaging, and may even create dangerous leaks if the cargo is a hazardous material. Accordingly, it is undesirable to permit cargo to gain any momentum independent of other cargo or a transport container. This can be accomplished by stabilizing the cargo within the container with respect to other cargo and/or the internal walls of the container so that the cargo and container are essentially united and operationally function as a single object during transport. 
   In order to stabilize cargo with respect to other cargo and the internal walls of a transport container or cargo hold, various forms of load containments, load spacers and void fillers have been used to fill the spaces between cargo and between cargo and the internal walls of an intermodal container, box car, cargo hold, truck trailer, etc. Often, load containment enclosures are secured to the floor or sides of the transport container and prevented from moving with respect to each other by specially fabricated wood or steel framing, floor blocking, rubber mats, steel strapping, or heavy air bags. A variety of dunnage materials and void fillers has been used to prevent the movement of cargo with respect to other cargo and the internal walls of the transport container. Each of these previously known systems has limitations associated with cost, lack of strength, amount of labor required for installation, time expended for installation, lack of flexibility, securement integrity, and transportability and storage of spacer elements, etc. Still further a capacity for reuse would be a desirable aspect of a spacer system. 
   In the past, various dunnage materials have been utilized within transport containers to eliminate unwanted movement or shifting of a load. Drums, boxes, or other containers have been restrained in several different ways. Primarily, cargo has been stabilized by the use of void fillers such as collapsible cardboard frames or cells. These systems use strips of corrugated cardboard configured and assembled to expand into solid rectangular frames or cells of various forms and sizes and incorporate honeycomb and/or diamond-shaped cells for space and strength considerations. These systems while useful for known rectangular voids can exhibit impaired performance due to size and/or dimension variance. Moreover curved surfaces can not be accommodated well with rectangular shaped void fillers. The difficulty in applying various rectangular units to irregular shapes and the on site adjustment for varying sizes of voids to be filled, the unsuitability of corrugated board to absorb strong compression forces, and the use of materials not fully resistant to fluids and condensation moisture can impair use of this type of dunnage void filler system. 
   Other known means of restraint such as the use of inflatable dunnage bags used alone or in combination with collapsible void fillers have tended to exhibit the disadvantage that air bags are subject to rupturing, leakage and loss of air pressure, or simply contraction and securement loosening in low temperature environments. 
   In addition to the above, other restraining systems known in the past often required additional elements and equipment which tended to be cumbersome to store, arduous to handle and/or install, and often required a degree of skilled labor in application. 
   Finally, in certain instances mere wood block and bracing has been used to fill voids and secure loads; however, wood bracing is somewhat time consuming to install and often requires skilled or semi-skilled labor which is often contracted out to third parties. In addition certain wood materials are not suitable for international transport without fumigation which increases the overall cost of the securement system. 
   In view of the above and other limitations, a need exists for securing cargo in cargo holds, transport containers, box cars, truck trailers and the like that is functionally effective; cost-efficient; easy to assemble, transport, use and reuse; and labor-efficient. Still further a need exists for load stabilization systems that have enhanced strength characteristics under a variety of environments, exhibit flexibility for loads of various types and sizes, limit cargo shifting within a container and is operationally functional even with fluid contact and/or in condensation conditions. Still further a need exists for void fillers that are efficient to store and transport, easily assembled with unskilled labor and are capable of a degree of reuse. 
   The problems suggested in the preceding are not intended to be exhaustive but rather are among many which may tend to reduce the effectiveness of load stabilizer methods and apparatus appearing in the past. Other noteworthy problems may also exist; however, those presented above should be sufficient to demonstrate that load stabilizing systems appearing in the past will admit to worthwhile improvement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for stabilizing cargo within a ship hold, transport container, box car, truck trailer, and the like with respect to other cargo and/or an internal wall of the container by the selective application of mutually extendible void filler cylinders wherein at least one of the cylinders is modular. More specifically, stabilization is achieved by application of extension members, which are adjustable with respect to each other. Each extension member is coupled to a base which is designed to fit into an abutment or bearing member for direct or indirect positioning against a face of cargo or an internal wall of a transport container. Securement is achieved by extending the two extension members with respect to each other to fill in a void between the face of opposing cargo surfaces or an internal wall of a container and a cargo surface, or the like. A locking mechanism may be advantageously used to hold the two extension members in position. 

   
     THE DRAWINGS 
     Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an axonometric view showing the interior of a railcar with cargo stabilized, both laterally and longitudinally, within the railcar in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an axonometric view showing the interior of a transport container secured to a flatbed truck or truck trailer, with cargo stabilized within the container in accordance with the subject invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a tubular male member, a modular, female, tubular member, and two bearing elements; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a view of one side of a base that is attached to one of the two tubular members; 
       FIG. 6  is side view of the base depicted in  FIG. 5  including a self adhering composition on one surface; 
       FIG. 7  is a view of an opposite side of the base shown in  FIG. 5  but depicted on a reduced scale for ease of illustration; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded axonometric view of a male tubular member of a modular void filler molded in two sections that are mounted together to form a single male tubular member; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of one section of the male member disclosed in  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is an end view of the male member disclosed in  FIGS. 8 and 9  taken in the direction of arrow “A” in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view of an end portion of the male member disclosed in  FIGS. 8 through 10  taken along section lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view, partially broken away, of a female tubular member with a means for maintaining engagement of the two portions of the female member by a retaining or locking sleeve surrounding the female tubular member; 
       FIG. 13  is another side view similar to  FIG. 12  but rotated ninety degrees to disclose interior detail of the female member within a locking sleeve; 
       FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the female member taken along section lines  14 - 14  in  FIG. 12  in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is an end view of the female tubular member taken in the direction of arrow “B” in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  is an opposite end view of the female tubular member taken in the direction of arrow “C” in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is an axonometric view of one half of a female tubular member that is longitudinally divided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 18  is an axonometric view of the other half of the female tubular member shown in  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is an axonometric view of an alternative embodiment of one half of the female tubular member that is longitudinally divided along its length; 
       FIG. 20  is an axonometric view of the other half of the female tubular member that is longitudinally divided along its entire length; 
       FIG. 21  is an axonometric view of a cylindrical sleeve or locking member for the two halves of a female tubular member; 
       FIG. 22  is an end view of the locking sleeve of  FIG. 21  positioned around an interior female member which has an octagonal exterior configuration and a circular threaded internal shape such as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ; 
       FIG. 23  is an axonometric view of an alternative cylindrical locking sleeve that has an octagon exterior configuration; 
       FIG. 24  is an end view of the locking sleeve of  FIG. 23  positioned around the halves of a female member with a similar octagonal shape; 
       FIG. 25  is an end view of an alternative locking sleeve and female member combination that is hexagonal in cross-sectional configuration; 
       FIG. 26  is an end view of an alternative locking sleeve and female member combination that is square in cross-sectional configuration; 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a locknut used in connection with the invention as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  for retaining a split male member together and locking a positioned void filler unit in a final position; and 
       FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional side view of the locknut shown in  FIG. 27  taken along section lines  28 - 28  in  FIG. 27 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Context of the Invention 
   Turning now to the drawing,  FIG. 1  shows an axonometric view of an operating environment  100  of the invention. In this, a railcar  102 , such as a box car, is shown as a type of container that may be encountered. Railcars are used to transport a wide range of materials including many that must be protected from impact against the railcar walls as well as other cargo. Cargo  104  must be protected from a variety of shifting forces during transit as noted above. One particular force encountered in railcars specifically is the impact force created when two railcars are “humped” or handeled by a switching engine in order to make up a train and secure a solid coupling connection via a coupling assembly  106 . In addition run-in and run-out forces occasioned over grades can be substantial as well as car sway occasioned by uneven tracks. The form of a rail container  102  shown here is merely illustrative and the subject invention can be used to advantage in ship cargo holds, intermodal containers, and all other forms of cargo containers. 
   A partially cut away portion of  FIG. 1  depicts various size and shapes of cargo  104 , which are stabilized against each other or against an internal wall surface of the container  102  by modular load stabilizers  108  in accordance with the subject invention. 
     FIG. 2  shows another, illustrative, operational context  200  of the invention. In this context, container  204  is secured to a trailer towed by tractor  202 . Cargo  206  within the container is subject to a wide range of overland road forces. Modular void fillers  208 , in accordance with the subject invention, serve to provide both lateral and longitudinal securement of the cargo from impact with other cargo and with the walls of the container  204 . 
   Modular Void Filler and Load Stabilizer 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject modular void filler invention  300 . In this, tubular member  302  is a male member which is operably inserted into a female, counterpart, tubular member  304 . In this embodiment male member  302  is externally threaded to match internal threads of female member  304 . Due to this threading, member  302  can be extended or retracted longitudinally by turning either or both of members  302  and  304  which facilitates selective translation between members  302  and  304 . In one embodiment, the members are double threaded and two rows of threads start in diametrically opposing positions. In another embodiment three rows of threads can be started at the same time. Depending on the pitch of the threads and the coefficient of friction of the material and weight of the unit the two members may be advantageously self separating by gravity. This means that the device  300  is turned on its end and the members  302  and  304  will rotate relative to one another, the bottommost member will continue to turn until disengaged from the topmost member. 
   Bearing members  306  comprise the surfaces that will directly or indirectly abut against or contact cargo, cargo containers or the walls of a transport container. These bearing members can be structurally the same and are selectively removable in one embodiment and are connected at point  308  to members  302  and  304  (connection point on member  304  not shown in  FIG. 3 ). The bearing member  306  is released from the tubular member  302  by sliding it out of securing slots  310  that are shown in detail detailed below. They also may be screwed or bolted into position or turned into position and locked with a ratchet type mechanism or pushed axially into slots within the end members  306 . In other words, any securing method and mechanism that reliably attaches the tubular member to the bearing member is appropriate. 
   In this embodiment the female tubular member  304  is formed in two longitudinally extending parts (note one element  312  that will be discussed in detail below) and the female tubular member  304  is fitted with a cylindrical locking sleeve  314  that surrounds the tubular female member. 
   Once extended, void filler  300  holds it position by friction and may be locked into a fixed position by a locknut  316 . Locknut  316  is moved into position with a tool or by hand and secured against the end of female tubular member  304  to prevent counter rotation and disengagement of the void filler from cargo within a transport container. 
   With the detachable modular embodiment of this invention an additional benefit is realized of being efficient to ship to a use destination. For example, drop-down type cardboard void fillers can be shipped at approximately 100 pieces per pallet. The subject invention can be shipped with more than 1000 pieces per pallet. This is due to its modular configuration and the ability to stack the bearing member elements and closely pack the tubular members as modular elements as will be discussed below. 
     FIG. 4  is a side view of one embodiment of the void filler  400  of the subject disclosure. In this embodiment male tubular member  402  is formed from two sections  404  and  406 . The two sections that are longitudinally divided along division line  408  are held together by a first retaining member  410  and a second retaining and locking member  412 . The male tubular member  402  inserts into tubular member  414  and is selectively telescoped by turning the two members relative to one another. Bearing members  416  and  418  are mounted on each end of the void filler and serve to provide load distributed engagement with cargo and with other cargo or a wall surface of a transport container to prevent damage of contents during shipping. 
   Tubular members  402  and  414  are attached to bases  420  and  422  respectively which are fashioned for sliding into a slot within the bearing members  416  and  418  respectively as will be discussed further below. Note that as above, any type of connection mechanism could be used here including permanent attachment. 
   The retaining member  412  also operably serves as a locknut to secure the two tubular members at a particular extension. When the proper expanse of the void filler  400  is reached, locknut  412  is turned into place and tightened either by hand or using a tool and prevents further movement of the tubular members with respect to one another. Note that this nut may be any configuration to fit any type of tightening tool or to be more easily tightened by hand. 
     FIG. 5  is a detailed view of one of the end bearing members  500  showing the side facing toward the tubular members illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Tubular members, such as  402  and  414  are connected to a base element, such as illustrated in  FIG. 8  and discussed below, which serves to attach the tubular members to the bearing member  500 . In this, the base of a tubular member is placed over a ramp  504  and then it can be slid down into position  502  such that an edge of the base for the tubular member, to be detailed below, fits under rails  508 . Once in position, ramp  504  ensure that the base of the tubular member will not inadvertently slide out of its attachment with the bearing member. Dimple  506  is slightly raised and gives additional snugness to the attachment of the base of the tubular member with a bearing member. 
   For added strength, the bearing member  500  may be fashioned with reinforcement rings  510  and  512  as well as radially extending ridges  514  which provide circumferential and radial stiffness for the bearing member  500 . There is no limit to the number of rings or radial elements that may be used and the number is selected to provide both overall stiffness yet flexibility to conform to a degree with the surface of cargo to be engaged. Reinforcing elements  510 ,  512  and  514  are fabricated of the same material as the remainder of the bearing member  500  but are thicker and provide greater support. Nail or screw holes  516  allow the bearing member to be secured to any surface into which nails or screws can be used. These may be actual holes, or they may be portions of the bearing member that are thin with respect to the rest of the bearing member and allow nails or screws to be easily installed. 
   The subject invention may be constructed from a wide range of materials. In one embodiment, the tubular members are molded from a high density polyethylene and the bearing members are constructed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS.) The subject invention can be constructed of any one, or any combination of the following materials: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ABS, polyethylene, and polystyrene. This lists is not meant to be exhaustive, any material that provides the requisite strength and reliability for protecting cargo may be used to advantage. 
     FIG. 6  shows a side view of a bearing member  600  such as the one shown in  FIG. 5 . A base portion of tubular members such as  402  and  414  fit within slot  606  and are held in place by the back end  610  of ramp  612 . Dimple  608  also helps to hold the base of a tubular member securely in place. The base can be released by slightly bending the bearing member to slide the base of the tubular member over ramp  612 . A nail or screw hole  604  is shown extending only partially through bearing member  600 . A nail can be driven through this and into an opposing surface in order to retain the bearing member in place as desired. An optional adhesive element  614  allows the bearing member to be self-adhered to a container wall or cargo surface so that the bearing member can be facilely positioned by an operator working without assistance. Typically, this adhesive will be on a bearing member attached to a male tubular member so that the female member is free to turn and extend into an extended position. 
     FIG. 7  shows an opposite side of a bearing member  700  such as the one shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  that has been reduced in scale for ease of illustration. Surface  702  is smooth and is designed to be in abutting contact, directly or indirectly, with either a container wall surface or a surface of cargo within in the container. Dimple  704  and holes  706  are the reverse side of retention as securement members on the opposite side of the bearing member as previously discussed in connection with  FIG. 5 . The surface normally does not have any protrusions extending out that would damage the cargo. However, in one embodiment, a user may require a mechanical connection with the cargo. In this instance a protrusion extending from the bearing member could be used to secure the bearing member to cargo or a container surface. An optional adhesive element  708  allows the bearing member to be removeably affixed to either a cargo surface or a container wall for temporary securement and to facilitate installation of a void filler. 
   In the above referenced applications, that have been incorporated by reference, a male member was molded as a single piece or element of a void filler combination of components and a unitary male member is fully contemplated by the subject invention, however, in one embodiment of the subject invention a modular male member is envisioned. In this,  FIGS. 8 through 11  disclose a tubular male member  800  that is composed with two elements  802  and  804  that are combined to form a tubular male member. 
   In  FIG. 8 , the male tubular member  800  is illustrated in an exploded arrangement wherein substantially identical halves  802  and  804  include a cylindrical portion that is threaded on its exterior surface as at  806  and  808  respectively and each half cylindrical element included a base or end element  810  or  812  which includes a slot  814  and  816  respectively designed to snuggly fit and attach to portions  508  of a bearing member  500  such as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 9  is a side view of one half  900  of a male tubular member. Threads  902  are molded on an exterior surface of the member  900  and may be of a single thread or a double or triple simultaneous run of threads. A base or end element  904  is molded with the longitudinal portion of the male member and is fashioned with lips  906  and  908  which fit into a slot formed on the bearing member  500  by arms  508  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In order for the two halves of the male member to be in fine registry the side walls  910  of the half of the male member is formed with one or more columns or stanchions  912  as shown in  FIG. 9 . In addition, one or more elongate raised ridges  914  may be molded into the side wall of the half  900  of a male member. In each instance of utilization of columns  912  or elongate ridges  914 , corresponding recesses are formed within the side walls of an opposing half of a male member. 
     FIG. 10  where an end view taken along directional arrow “A” in  FIG. 9  and discloses an end portion  1000  of a male member including a separation line  1002  of two mating halves  1004  and  1006  of a male tubular member. In this view the truncated edges  1008  and  1010  of the end or base mounting member  1000  is easily visualized. 
     FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of the end segment  1000  taken along section lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 . This view discloses two halves  1102  and  1104  of the male tubular member such as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this view a division line  1106  between the two joining male segments is shown as well as a registry column  1108  and corresponding recess  1110  is illustrated. In addition a circular connecting or mounting arm  1112  is shown extending parallel with a truncated arm  1114 . This feature is clearer when viewed in 
   In contrast to the male tubular member of  FIGS. 8-11  corresponding female tubular members are shown in  FIGS. 12-18 . In this,  FIG. 12  shows a tubular female member  1200  composed with two laterally joining elongate body portions  1202  and  1204 . A longitudinally extending dividing line  1206  illustrates the two halves that are joined together to make the tubular female member. An end or base member  1208  in this embodiment is formed from two portions  1210  and  1214  that includes a circular mounting ring  1216  and another circular mounting ring  1218  that has truncated side edges as will be discussed more particularly with respect to  FIG. 16  below. The two halves of the tubular female member are held together by a locking sleeve  1220  which in this embodiment is coextensive with the two tubular female member halves. In other embodiments the longitudinal length of the locking sleeve  1220  may be shortened and may be formed from one or more rings or collars around the halves of the female tubular member  1200 . 
   Another view of the female tubular member depicted in  FIG. 12  as  1200  is shown in  FIG. 13  as  1300  in a position rotated 90 degrees about a longitudinal axis of the female tubular member  1300 . In this view the circular nature of the base or end mounting member  1302  is shown and again a cylindrical securing or locking sleeve  1304  is slid over two halves of the female tubular member to hold the two together. The longitudinal extent of this sleeve may be coextensive with the tubular portion of the female member as shown or may be composed with one or more rings as discussed above. 
     FIG. 14  shows a cross-sectional view of a female tubular member  1400  taken along section line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 12 . In this view a female tubular elongate body  1402  is shown with an internal thread  1404  which may be a single, double or triple run of simultaneous threads and is designed to cooperate external threads on a male tubular member. A columnar registry element  1406  is shown on either side of a wall portion of the female elongate body portion and an elongate registry member  1408  is shown on either side of the side wall at the other end of the female elongate body portion near a base  1410  of the female portion. A sleeve  1412  surrounds the elongate female portion and serves to hold two female halves together as discussed above. 
     FIG. 15  shows an end view taken in the direction of arrow “B” in  FIG. 14  and discloses a tubular female member  1500  with a scalloped exterior configuration  1502  on each half  1504  and  1506  of the female member. A cylindrical sleeve  1508  is positioned around and over the two halves  1504  and  1506  and serves to hold the elongate body portions of the female member together in operation. The base  1510  extends radially outwardly of the cylindrical sleeve  1508 . In this embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  the base is divided in the same plane as each of the halves of the female member as shown by division lines  1512  on the female parts and  1514  on the base. The external scallops of the surface of the female halves facilitate sliding application of the sleeve  1508  along the two halves when placed in registry. 
     FIG. 16  is an end view similar to  FIG. 15  but taken in the direction of arrow “C” on the right hand side of  FIG. 14 . In this view a female member  1600  is shown divided along lines  1602  and  1604 . A base unit or element is shown with outwardly opposing cutout portions  1608  and  1610  from a circular engagement locking rim  1612 . This rim slides under opposing extension arms  508  in  FIG. 5  and serves to lock the female tubular member into a bearing plate or element as discussed above. 
     FIGS. 17 and 18  disclose first and second elongate body portions or halves  1700  and  1800  respectively of a female tubular member. The elongate body member  1700  in this embodiment includes raised column registry members  1702  and  1704  at one end of the elongate member and raises elongate members  1706  and  1708  at the other. A complete base element  1710  is connected at one end of the elongate member opposite to the threaded end  1712 . This base has a first circular bearing rim  1714  and a second circular bearing rim  1716  with truncated sides  1718  and  1720  to fit within a slot of a bearing member  500  shown in  FIG. 5  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
   In  FIG. 18  the other half  1800  of the female tubular member is disclosed and is designed to fit onto the elongate body portion  1700  in the general direction of arrow “D”. In this connection the threads  1802  have a pitch and number of simultaneous thread runs to match with the threads  1712  and together correspond with a matching thread pattern on a cooperating male member of a void filler such as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9  and discussed above. Cylindrical holes  1802  and  1804  are formed on opposing edges of the elongate body member  1800  and are dimensioned to cooperate with and snuggly receive columns  1702  and  1704  respectively. In a similar vein slots  1806  and  1808  are formed within the other end of the side walls of the elongate body member  1800  and are dimensioned to cooperate with corresponding elongate raised portions  1706  and  1708  respectively on female elongate body member  1700 . 
     FIGS. 19 and 20  are similar to  FIGS. 17 and 18  but in this instance the two opposing first and second elongate body portions  1900  and  2000  are the same except for being a mirror image and the registry members used. In this, registry members  1902 ,  1904  and  1906  are column and elongate raised members and corresponding recess portions  2002 ,  2004  and  2006  are fashioned into the side walls of body member  2000 . In operation the two opposing first and second elongate body portions are joined together as illustrated by directional arrow “E” and are then held snuggly in the operative position of a female tubular member by the application of a surrounding sleeve member. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 21-26  there are various embodiments of sleeve members that are operable to advantage in the subject invention.  FIG. 21  discloses the simplest version of a sleeve  2100  which is composed entirely of a right cylindrical tube  2102  with a uniform thickness circular side wall  2104 . This tube may be slid over and surround opposing halves  2202  and  2204 , note  FIG. 22 , comprising first and second elongate body portions of a female tubular member. 
   In  FIG. 23  an alternatively preferred form of the invention sleeve is disclosed which includes a right octagon shaped, tubular sleeve  2300  having a plurality of raised longitudinally extending ridges  2302  which serve as stiffening elements and means for enhancing the grip qualities of the sleeve  2300 . In this embodiment the sleeve is shown in  FIG. 24  mounted about a correspondingly shaped pare of opposing first and second elongate body portions  2402  and  2404  of a female tubular member with an octagonal exterior configuration. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26  disclose similar views as illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 24  with the exception that in  FIG. 25  opposing first and second elongate body portions  2502  and  2504  form a hexagon in exterior configuration and a surrounding sleeve  2506  has a similar internal configuration. Similarly,  FIG. 26  discloses a pair of opposing first and second elongate body portions  2602  and  2604  that have in combination a square external configuration when held together by a square sleeve  2606 . Still further the external and internal configurations of the sleeve and first and second elongate body portions could be shaped in the form of a triangle in cross section (not shown). 
     FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a locknut  2700  such as the one labeled  412  in  FIG. 4 , Threads  2702  correspond to the threads of a male tubular member, such as element  402 . Contours  2704  allow the locknut be to turned into place by hand and may take a variety of forms. The locknut may also be shaped to correspond to a turning tool and tightened into place with that tool. 
     FIG. 28  is a cross sectional side view of a lock nut  2800  taken along section line  28 - 28  in  FIG. 27 . This is the same locknut, labeled  2700  in  FIG. 27 . Threads  2802  and contours  2804  correspond to those described above regarding  FIG. 17 . 
   A method of application of the modular components of the subject disclosure is specifically and inherently disclosed in the above detailed specification. There is no particular order implied in the steps of the method and they can be performed in any suitable order. In one embodiment, the base member is attached to a male tubular member and is placed flush with a piece of cargo or another surface in the transport container. While this is held in place, the female tubular member with attached base is turned in relation to the male tubular member. This extends the female tubular member toward another surface or cargo in the transport container. The female tubular member is turned until the second base member is in contact with the opposing surface and tightened sufficiently. A locknut on the male member is then turned into position to secure the void filler at the desired length. 
   This method is not exhaustive and can be practiced on any of the embodiment described above. The void filler will be extended using the selected extension mechanism and held in place. 
   Use of the terms first and second are expressions of differentiation and while first has been used with respect to a male member in the specification above and second in connection with a female member there is no structural significance intended by this designation and the first member may be designated as the female member and the second a male member. In the claims that follow and define the scope of the invention to be covered the term “means for” a recited function is intended to be an expansive term and includes all structure or steps specifically recited in the specification and in addition all equivalent structure or steps capable of performing the recited function that one of skill in the art knows about now or that may be envisioned in the future for performing the recited function. 
   The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention and some examples of its implementation. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible and would be envisioned by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above teaching. 
   The various aspects were chosen and described in order to best explain principles of the invention and its practical applications. The preceding description is intended to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and aspects and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims; however, it is not intended that any order be presumed by the sequence of steps recited in the method claims unless a specific order is directly recited.