Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for protecting the edges of cargo and freight from damage caused by contact with tie downs, cable, chains and/or straps used to secure the cargo or freight from shifting during transport. The disclosed invention helps eliminate slippage, dishing and abrasion of cargo caused by traditional devices used in the securement.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to cargo securement devices, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for protecting the edges of cargo and freight from wear caused by chains, straps and tie downs. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    The edges of cargo and freight are often damaged during transport through contact with tie downs, chains or straps used to secure the cargo. Straps and chains can slip across the surface of cargo; causing abrasion, cracking, and dishing of the cargo. 
         [0003]    Many types of cargo and freight are transported long distances via sea, air, truck, and the like. During transport, the very devices used to secure and protect cargo, such as straps and chains, can damage the cargo, resulting in unnecessary insurance claims, unnecessary wear to straps, and product losses. 
         [0004]    Edge guards are known in the industry, which consist of rigid, angularly shaped objects that trace the edges of regularly shaped containers and freight packaging when overlaid on them, and provide a buffer between securement straps and the cargo secured, reducing wear to the cargo. These edge guards are commonly called edge protectors or veeboards (because of the v-shaped angle of the cargo they are designed to protect). 
         [0005]    Cargo and freight containers, however, are not always regularly shaped. Their edges are not always uniform; and there are not edge protectors in the prior art that can be adjusted to effectively protect the edges of a variety of irregularly shaped cargo. 
         [0006]    Shipping organizations often are compelled to keep a large variety of edge guards of different shapes and sizes on hand to meet their needs, rather than a single type of guard protector. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an edge guard that can be adjusted to protect a variety of cargo edges and surfaces. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a means for humans to adjust the edge protector quickly and a means of reducing the number of edge protectors needed to be kept by on hand by shipping companies. 
         [0008]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available information management systems. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an adjustable edge guard for securing cargo, the adjustable edge guard comprising a flexible sleeve which comprises a first socket of a volume and shape to receive a first board, a second socket of a volume and shape to receive a second board, and an intermediate nylon member connecting, and affixed to, the first socket and the second socket, which intermediate nylon member spaces apart the first socket and second socket. 
         [0009]    The adjustable edge guard further comprises a first board jacketed within, and permanently affixed within, the first socket; and a second board jacketed within, and permanently affixed within, the second socket. 
         [0010]    In other embodiments of the adjustable edge guard, the first board and second board are flexible to trace uneven cargo surface edges. In further embodiments, the flexible sleeve is inflatable. 
         [0011]    The first board and second board may be telescopic such that they can be telescopically adjusted to overlay varying lengths of cargo surfaces. The first board and second board may be removable and replaceable. 
         [0012]    In still further embodiments, the first board and second board may be cylindrical in shape. The adjustable edge may comprise a plurality of flexible sleeves, each jacketing a portion of the first board and jacketing a portion of the second board. 
         [0013]    The adjustable edge may further comprise one or more layers of padding overlaying a portion of one or more of the first socket and the second socket. 
         [0014]    In still further embodiments, the present invention discloses an adjustable edge guard for securing cargo, the adjustable edge guard comprising: a plurality of elastomeric bands; a first board permanently affixed to the plurality of elastomeric bands and gripped within the plurality of elastomeric bands; and a second board permanently affixed to the plurality of elastomeric bands and gripped within the plurality of elastomeric bands. 
         [0015]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a top elevational perspective view of an adjustable edge guard in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a top elevational perspective view of an adjustable edge guard in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1C  is cross-sectional side view of an adjustable edge guard in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an adjustable edge guard in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of two adjustable edge guards in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is cross-sectional side view of two adjustable edge guards in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is cross-sectional side view of two adjustable edge guards in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of cargo covered by two adjustable edge guards in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of an edge protector in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of an edge protector in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0029]    The schematic flow chart diagrams that follow are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  is a top elevational perspective view of an adjustable edge guard  100  in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  100  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  a nylon sleeve  104   a,  and a nylon sleeve  104   b.    
         [0031]    The boards  102   a - b  comprise, in the shown embodiment, flat rigid boards with planar surfaces. The boards  102   a - b  may comprise any rigid material, including wood, polyethylene, polyurethane, metal, stone, and the like. 
         [0032]    The surface area of the boards  102   a - b , and consequently the size of the boards  102   a - b , may vary in magnitude from one square inch to ten square meters or more. The thickness of the boards  102   a - b  may vary from less than a millimeter to more ten feet. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the boards  102   a - b  may be cylindrical in shape rather than rectangular or cubic in shape. In other embodiments, they boards  102   a - b  are flexible, so as to trace the edges of irregularly shaped cargo. 
         [0034]    The nylon sleeves  104   a - b  each comprise two sockets with a volume and shape to receive the boards  102   a - b . The two sockets of each nylon sleeve  104  jacket the boards  102   a - b . In some embodiments, the boards  102   a - b  are insertably gripped by the sockets and removable. In other embodiments, the sockets of the nylon sleeves  104   a - b  are permanently affixed to the boards  102   a - b  using glues, staples, nails, or through other means well-known to those of skill in the art. In some embodiments, the nylon sleeves  104   a - b  are stretchable. 
         [0035]    The nylon sleeves  104   a - b  may comprise any durable and flexible material, including spandex, elastomer, nylon, cotton, denim, and the like. 
         [0036]    An intermediary nylon strap  154  (described further in relation to  FIG. 1B ) interconnects the nylon sockets of each of nylon sleeves  104   a - b  and is affixed to both. In the shown embodiment of the present invention, the intermediary nylon strap  154  and the two sockets of nylon sleeve  104   b  are all formed from a single piece of nylon mesh folded over and sewn or hemmed in shape. In some embodiments of the present invention, the nylon sleeves  104   a - b  is made of cloth, elastomer, or other durable, flexible materials well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, the nylon sleeves  104   a - b  are inflatable using means well-known to those of skill in the art. When inflated, the swollen nylon sleeves  104   a - b  may pad the cargo and safety straps in contact with the adjustable edge guard  100 , thus protecting the cargo and/or straps, chain, cable, and the like from unnecessary wear on otherwise hard surfaces. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1B  is a top elevational perspective view of an adjustable edge guard  120  in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  120  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  and a nylon sleeve  104 . 
         [0039]    The boards  102   a - b  and nylon sleeve  104  are substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1A . 
         [0040]    The shown embodiments is meant to illustrate that in some embodiments of the present invention, the adjustable edge guard  120  may comprise a single nylon sleeve  104  of any length that is less than the length of the boards  102   a - b.    
         [0041]      FIG. 1C  is cross-sectional side view of an adjustable edge guard  150  in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  150  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  an intermediate nylon strap  154 , padding  152   a,  padding  152   b,  padding  152   c,  and padding  152   d.    
         [0042]    The boards  102   a - b  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A . 
       — 1 B 
       [0043]    As previously described, the intermediary nylon strap  154  interconnects the nylon sockets and is affixed to both. In the shown embodiment of the present invention, the intermediary nylon strap  154  and the two sockets are all formed from a single piece of rectangular nylon material folded over and sewn in shape. 
         [0044]    The intermediary nylon strap  154  may be webbed. Alternatively, the intermediate nylon strap  154  may be stretchable and made from material differing from the material used in the two sockets of the nylon sleeve  104 . 
         [0045]    The pads  152   a - d  comprise rectangular pads that cover one or more surfaces of the nylon sleeve in whole or in part, or which cover one or more surfaces of the nylon sockets. The pads  152   a - d  may comprise any viscoelastic material, including viscoelastic polymers such as memory foam, polyacrylate gels, cotton, cane wood, cloth, cardboard, and the like. 
         [0046]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of an adjustable edge guard  200  in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  200  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  an elastomeric band  204   a,  an elastomeric band  204   b,  an elastomeric band  204   c,  and an elastomeric band  204   d.    
         [0047]    The boards  102   a - b  are substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1A . 
         [0048]    The elastomeric bands  204   a - d , in the shown embodiment, take the place of the nylon sleeve  104  in previously shown embodiments. A plurality of elastomeric bands  204  connect the boards  102   a - b.    
         [0049]    The elastomeric bands  204   a - d  circumscribe the boars  102   a - b , and comprise flexible, rubber bands. In some embodiments, the elastomeric bands  206   a - d  may comprise spandex, nylon. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2B  is a lower perspective view of two adjustable edge guards  200  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0051]    The edge guards  200  are shown from a lower perspective view for additional clarification. 
         [0052]      FIG. 3A  is cross-sectional side view of two adjustable edge guards  100   a - b  in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0053]    In the shown embodiment, the edges guards  100   a - b  are loosely overlaid on cargo  302 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 3B  is cross-sectional side view of two adjustable edge guards  100   a - b  in accordance with the present invention. The edges guards  100   a - b  overlay a cargo  302 . 
         [0055]    In the shown embodiment, the edges guards  100   a - b  are pressed firmly down by straps, chain or tie-down over the cargo  302 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 3C  is an elevational perspective view of cargo covered by two adjustable edge guards  100   a - b  in accordance with the present invention. The edges guards  100   a - b  overlay a cargo  302 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 4A  is an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of an edge protector in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  100  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  and a nylon sleeve  104 . 
         [0058]    The boards  102   a - b  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A-3C . In the shown embodiment, boards  102   a - b  are affixed together laterally along the boards&#39;  102   a - b  longitudinal axes. 
         [0059]    In the shown embodiment, the nylon sleeve  104  comprises a single socket, rather than two sockets, into which both boards  102   a - b  are inserted. In the shown embodiment, the nylon sleeve is made of a durable elastic material which stretches to conform to the edges of irregularly shaped cargo when the edge guard  400  is overlaid across cargo. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4B  is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of an edge protector in accordance with the present invention. The adjustable edge guard  100  comprises a board  102   a,  a board  102   b,  an elastomericic band  402   a,  an elastomericic band  402   b,  an elastomericic band  402   c,  an elastomericic band  402   d,  an elastomericic band  402   e , an elastomericic band  402   f,  an elastomericic band  402   g,  an elastomericic band  402   h,  an elastomericic band  402   i,  an elastomericic band  402   j,  an elastomericic band  402   k,  an elastomericic band  402   l.    
         [0061]    The boards  102   a - b  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A-4A . In the shown embodiment, boards  102   a - b  are affixed together laterally along the boards&#39;  102   a - b  longitudinal axes. 
         [0062]    In the shown embodiment, the elastomeric bands  402   a - l  laterally circumscribe the boards  102   a - b . In some embodiments of the present invention, the elastomeric bands  402   a - l  are affixed to the boards  102   a - b . In other embodiments, the elastomeric bands  402   a - l  grip and hold the boards  402   a - l  in place. 
         [0063]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.