Abstract:
An embodiment consistent with the invention is an apparatus for and method of enabling a securing strap to reliably secure a container. The apparatus restrains the movement of the strap on the container. The apparatus has a hook portion having an opening disposed to engage the upper portion of a container and a loop portion disposed to be below the hook portion. The loop portion comprises an opening for receiving a strap therethrough, and includes a section disposed to prevent downward motion of a strap within the opening.

Description:
[0001]     Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 is claimed based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/463,252, filed on Apr. 16, 2003, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Technical Field  
         [0003]     Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus and method for reliably securing containers to walls of moving vehicles.  
         [0004]     The United States Postal Service (USPS) transports mail in a variety of vehicles. In large vehicles, the mail is transported in large containers. These containers are referred to as “hampers” and are open from the top and are approximately 3.5 feet high, 4 feet long, and 2.6 feet wide at the top. They have a generally rectangular cross section, but taper through approximately the bottom third of their height to a narrower base on which are mounted wheels. Some of these hampers are constructed of molded plastic and have a wall thickness of approximately two inches. Other hampers are constructed of a generally rectangular, open metal frame with a fabric sack suspended from the portion of the frame defining the top opening. The frame also has vertical portions leading to a bottom frame with wheels mounted thereon. The sides of the metal frame generally do not have the taper described above with respect to the hampers constructed of plastic.  
         [0005]     The combined weight of the hampers and the mail they contain when fully loaded is substantial. If the loaded hampers are not restrained in some manner the loaded hampers could move about within the cargo bay of the transporting vehicle with the possibility of damaging other hampers or the interior of the cargo compartment of the transporting vehicle. In addition, the moving could damage any mail spilled into the cargo compartment or possibly damage mail within the hampers as they move about within the cargo compartment of the vehicle.  
         [0006]     The USPS previously used straps that were approximately 2 inches wide and of various lengths to secure the hampers to the interior walls of the vehicle. Each end of the strap has a clip with which it can be removably attached to the wall, by placing a portion of the clip into a vertical slot in a horizontally mounted rail on the interior walls of the cargo compartment of the vehicle. In one embodiment the clips include a T-shaped portion that is inserted into a horizontal slot the approximate size of the upper portion of the T and then slid vertically downward within a narrow vertically disposed slot. The rails in which the strap clips fit are mounted a few feet above of the floor of the cargo compartment of the vehicle. When the straps are pulled tight around at least a portion of the perimeter of the plastic tapered hamper, the strap may work its way down the tapered portion, creating slack in the strap. The hamper may then start to move and the more motion, the further down the strap slips. The strap may even fall to the floor of the cargo compartment and then the hamper is no longer secured to the wall of the cargo compartment of the vehicle.  
         [0007]     There is a need for a simple, inexpensive apparatus and method to prevent a restraining strap from sliding down the sides of a tapered container and reliably securing the container to the interior wall of the cargo compartment of a vehicle.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     As embodied and broadly described herein, an embodiment consistent with the invention is an apparatus for enabling a securing strap to reliably secure a container. The apparatus has a hook portion having an opening disposed to engage the upper portion of a container and a loop portion disposed to be below the hook portion. The loop portion comprises an opening for receiving a strap therethrough, and includes a section disposed to prevent downward motion of a strap within the opening.  
         [0009]     Another embodiment consistent with the invention is a method of securing a container to a wall. The method includes placing a container having four sides with one side abutting the wall, providing a strap detachably affixable to the wall and providing a strap movement-restraining member on the upper edge of the container. The strap movement-restraining member has a hook portion for engaging the edge and a loop portion for receiving the strap. The loop portion has an opening surrounding the strap. The first end of the strap is affixed to the wall, the second end of the strap is passed through the opening in the removable loop, and the second strap end is affixed to the wall to exert a force on the container primarily in a direction toward the wall.  
         [0010]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments consistent with the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  perspective view of a tapered container secured at least in part through the use of an embodiment consistent with the invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment consistent with the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments consistent with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0015]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a container, referred to herein as a hamper  10  has a back wall  12 , a first side wall  14 , a front wall  16 , and a second side wall  18 . Each of walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  narrows toward the base forming a taper over the bottom third of the height of hamper  10 . The bottom edges of walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are mounted to a bottom wall (not shown) the perimeter of which is smaller in dimension than the opening formed by the top edges of walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 . As here embodied there is included a removable member, shown in  FIG. 1  as member  22 . The member  22  is detachably engaged on the edge of wall  16  of hamper  10  and is suspended vertically therefrom. Hamper  10  may be secured to the interior of a vehicle having a walled cargo compartment. As here embodied, the cargo compartment has an interior wall  26 . The hamper  10  is restrained within the cargo compartment by detachably affixing each end of an elongated, flexible restraining member (here strap  20 ) to the interior wall  26 . As here embodied the interior wall  26  includes a rail  24  (commonly referred to as an “e track”) having attachment means onto which can be detachably affixed the opposite ends of the strap  20 . The strap  20  may be elastic with a length less than the combined length of three of the walls of the hamper  10  or it may be non-elastic but having an adjustable length to apply force against the hamper  10  forcing it into contact with the interior wall  26 . The member  22  includes an opening  23 . Strap  20  is passed through the opening  23  and, assuming the member  22  is disposed vertically, is constrained in the vertical direction. Thus member  22  prevents strap  20  from sliding down the tapered portion of hamper  10 . Thus once strap  20  is tight and its ends are clipped into the rail  24 , hamper  10  is secured to interior wall  26 . When the vehicle moves and thus interior wall  26  moves, strap  20  does not slide down and hamper  10  remains secured to interior wall  26  until the ends of strap  20  are detached from rail  24 .  
         [0016]     An embodiment consistent with the invention may comprise a rod, shaped to form a hook and loop in the same plane. It could also be shaped to form two hooks. If two hooks are used, a strap does not need to be threaded through the opening, but may be slipped between the opposing portions of the hook, requiring less time and fewer motions to place the strap in the securing portion of the apparatus. However, a loop is preferred for the additional safety that it offers, preventing the otherwise unattached end of the hook that receives the restraining strap from catching or impaling objects.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a detachably removable strap-retaining member consistent with the invention. As here embodied, removable member  22  comprises a hook portion  28  comprising three straight sections, a catch section  30 , a top-engaging section  32 , and a shank  34 . As here embodied, sections  30 ,  32 , and  34  are connected at generally right angles  36  and  38 . Alternatively hook portion  28  may comprise curved sections. Either way, hook portion  28  is generally an inverted U-shape. In either of such embodiments the distance between opposing sides of the hook (here catch section  30  and shank  34 ) should be approximately the thickness of the wall of the container at the edge that is to receive the member  22  (as here embodied, the upper edge of side  16  of hamper  10 ). It could be slightly less and therefore have some clamping action, or it could be slightly more and slide freely on the upper edge of the container wall.  
         [0018]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , a part of shank  34  may also form a straight section  42  of a loop portion  40 . Loop portion  40  may comprise three straight sections  42 ,  44 , and  46 , connected by three acute angles  48 ,  50 , and  52  and forming a triangular opening  23 , with the longest of the three sections ( 46 ) being joined by welding to the shank  34  of the hook portion at an end of straight section  42  of the loop portion  40 . As here embodied, member  22  is made of round metal rod stock, with one end welded back on itself to form loop portion  40 .  
         [0019]     An apparatus consistent with the invention may be mounted on the exterior surface of one of the walls of the hamper by means of a hook portion coupled to it that hangs from the top edge of one of the walls and preferably clamps to the interior and exterior surfaces of that same wall. The dimensions of the hook portion of the apparatus influences the ability of the hook to resist motion once installed on the hamper. The longer the portion of the hook that rests in the interior of the hamper (the catch section), the more it can resist being dislodged when the cargo of the vehicle experiences vertical motion, as, for example, the result of hitting bumps in the road. The higher the clamping force that the hook portion of the apparatus exerts on the wall of the container the greater resistance it can offer to vertical (or otherwise) forces experienced while the vehicle is in motion or at anytime, including installation.  
         [0020]     However, the shape of the hook portion of the apparatus also influences the ease of installation. In its preferred shape, the apparatus is able to be installed and removed by the vehicle driver without the aid of tools, simply by aligning the opening of the hook portion of the apparatus over the edge of the hamper wall where it is desired to be installed and applying downward hand pressure to slightly spread the opposing sides of the hook to fit the dimensions of the thickness of the container wall.  
         [0021]     While preferably used with open top containers, it can be envisioned to be mounted on closed top containers. In order to do so, the hook portion of the apparatus which preferably clamps onto what ever it is mounted will have to change in dimension to capture two opposing sides. Should the container be round, then the hook portion may comprise five straight sections: one shank connected to two top engaging sections, which form an acute angle between themselves, and two catch sections, each connected to its corresponding top engaging section. Each top engaging section would be approximately the length of whatever chord length it is designed to cross. Alternatively, the top engaging sections could have a hub and spoke construction, comprising three coupled horizontal sections: one connected to the shank, and the other two connected to catch sections. In each of these embodiments for cylindrical containers, the apparatus could foreseeably rotate, but not dislodge due to the expected motion of the vehicle.  
         [0022]     Even with the open top hampers, a hook portion could encompass the width of the hampers and thus clamp on the outside of back wall,  12 , and the outside of front wall, 14. However, it would require more mass and would be thus heavier to install and require more room for storage when not in use.  
         [0023]     As the shape of the hook portion of the apparatus may be designed to fit the particular container to which it preferably clamps when installed, the dimensions of the loop and the location of the loop, once mounted on the container are also with in the scope of this invention. Thus the loop may be of any shape, should restrain movement of a strap placed therein in the direction in which it is desired that the securing strap not be able to move. In the preferred embodiment, the member is disposed to be vertically oriented on the container and the loop has a lower section which prevents the strap from sliding down the container wall.  
         [0024]     Other embodiments consistent with the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.