Abstract:
A method and appartus for stabilizing cargo within a transport container is presented. First and second tubular elements are provided having generally cylindrical bodies and bases 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. A method for stabilizing cargo within a transport container includes providing an extensible load stabilizer having first and second tubular elements, each having a base, 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 
       [0001]    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” and application Ser. No. 11/459,356 filed Jul. 23, 2006 and entitled “Adjustable Load Stabilizer Method and Apparatus” all of common inventorship with the subject application. The disclosure of application Ser. No. 11/127,193 and Ser. No. 11/459,356 as both are referenced above, are hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth at length. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for stabilizing cargo during transportation. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel 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 the internal walls of the container. 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    During ocean shipping, 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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    In overland truck/trailer transport there are frequent brake and acceleration forces imparted to the trailer and its contents, centrifugal forces around curves, turning forces, uneven road surfaces, roadway transition junctions, roadway grades, etc. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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, transportability and storage of spacer elements, etc. 
         [0009]    Further to the above, 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 moisture can impair use of this type of dunnage void filler system. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    Finally, in certain instances wood block and bracing has been used in the past 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. 
         [0013]    Consequently, a need exists for securing cargo in cargo holds, transport containers, box cars, truck trailers and the like that is functionally effective, cost-efficient, 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 and limit cargo shifting within a container. 
         [0014]    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 
       [0015]    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 the internal walls of the container by the selective application of mutually extendible void filler cylinders. More specifically, stabilization is achieved by application of extension members, which are capable of longitudinal movement with respect to each other. Each extension member is coupled to a bearing member which is designed to abut directly or indirectly against a face of cargo or an internal wall of a transport container. Securement is achieved by extending the 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, or the like. A locking mechanism is advantageously used to hold the extension members in place 
     
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an axonometric view showing the interior of a railcard with cargo stabilized, both laterally and longitudinally, within the container in accordance with the subject invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an axonometric view showing the interior of a transport container secured to a flatbed of a truck or truck trailer, with cargo stabilized within the container in accordance with the subject invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention comprising a turnbuckle arrangement of extension members between bearing members; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one extension member used in the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the extension member as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a rotated cross-sectional view of the extension member like the one shown in  FIG. 5  rotated by 90 degrees; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the extension member shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a view of one side of the bearing member that is attached to one of the two extension members; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the bearing member shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a view of an opposite side of the bearing member shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a locknut used in one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of the locknut shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the locknut shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a back view of the locknut shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the tubular members that may be used in an alternate preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of a bearing member that is employed in the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 15 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 17 , note again sheet two, is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the subject load stabilizer invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Context of the Invention 
       [0034]    Turning now to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like parts,  FIG. 1  shows an axonometric view of an operating environment  100  of the invention. In this, a railcar  102  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 within the railcar. Cargo  104  must be protected from the shifting forces during transit. One particular force encountered in railcars specifically is the impact force created when two railcars are cased to collide in order to connect a coupling  106 . The form of container  102  shown here is merely illustrative and the subject invention can be also used to advantage in ship cargo holds, intermodal containers and the like. 
         [0035]    A partially cut away portion of  FIG. 1  depicts various size and shapes of cargo  104 , which are stabilized against each other and against the internal walls of the container  102  by load stabilizers  108  in both a lateral and longitudinal direction in accordance with the subject invention. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows another operational context  200  of the invention. In this context, container  204  is secured to a trailer towed by tractor  202 . Cargo  206  is subject to a wide range of forces as discussed above. The braces or load stabilizers  208  of the subject invention protect the cargo from shifting and impact with other cargo and with the walls of the container  204 . 
       Void Filler and Load Stabilizer 
       [0037]    Turning now to  FIG. 3  there is shown one preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this, a void filler  300  employs a turnbuckle configuration to extend and retract the bearing members. Male tubular members  302  are threaded to correspond to the internal threading of female member  304 . When the female member  304  is turned with respect to the male members  302 , this causes the bearing members  306  to either mutually extend or retract. The female member  304  may be turned by hand or with a tightening tool just as a lock-belt wrench. Male and female tubular members attach to the bearing members  306  by a base sliding into channels and locking at  308 . Contours  310  are placed in bearing members  306  through the injection molding process and allow the bearing members to be extracted from the mold. This is not a requirement for the function of the invention. 
         [0038]    This configuration is particularly useful because it allows the void filler to expand to fit relatively large spaces. The female member  304  may be reverse threaded for use as described above, or it may be a single threaded female member where only one male member is turned to extend to the container wall or to ether cargo. Locknuts  312  are tightened against female member  304  to secure the male members in place and prevent slippage. 
         [0039]    The void filler  300  can be configured to always remain assembled or it can be configured to be broken down into its separate components. When the disassembled embodiment is used, then this invention provides the additional benefit of being easy to ship to its destination. For example, drop-down type cardboard void fillers can be shipped at approximately 100 pieces per pallet. The subject invention can be shipped at between 900 and 1000 pieces per pallet. This is due to its configuration and the ability to stack the base elements and closely pack the tubular members. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a male tubular member  400  such as element  302  of  FIG. 3 . Threads  402  extend along the body of the tubular member and correspond to threads in a female tubular member such as element  304 . In one embodiment, both tubular members are double threaded or even triple threaded so that two or three threads are used simultaneously. In another embodiment, these threads are set with a pitch, that cooperates with the coefficient of friction of the unit and weight of the unit that allows the tubular members to be self driving when the void filler is assembled and a turning force is applied. Lip  406  slides into place on a bearing member such as  306 . The slots of the bearing member fit in space  408  and lip  404  rests on top of the bearing member slots for additional stability. Additional security is b e provided by a small ramp that holds the tubular member in place and prevents sliding out of the slot on the bearing member. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of a male tubular member  500  such as the one designated as element  302  in  FIG. 3 . Threads  502  correspond to the internal threads of a female tubular member. Lip  506  fits into slots on a bearing member as described above and lip  504  rests on the slots on a bearing member for stability as described above. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a view of the same member shown in  FIG. 5  but rotated 90°. This view of a male tubular member  600  shows threads  602  as well as lips  604  and  606 . The slots on the bearing member fit into spaces  608 . This view shows that the lip  606  has flat sides to allow for fitting into the bearing member as described above. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows an end view of a male tubular member  700 . Threads  702  fit into a female tubular member and lips  704  and  706  fit into a bearing member as described above. 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  is a detailed plan view of the bearing member  800  with the side shown facing in toward the tubular members shown in  FIG. 3 , Tubular members, such as  302  and  304 , attach to the bearing member  800  by base elements at the adjacent ends of the tubular members in position  802  of the bearing members. The tubular member is placed over ramp  804 , then it can be slid down into position  802  by ensuring that the edge of the tubular member, to be detailed below, fits under slot  808  on each side. Once in position, ramp  804  ensures that the tubular member will not inadvertently slide out of its attachment with the base. Dimple  806  is slightly raised and gives additional security to the attachment of the tubular member. 
         [0045]    For added strength, the bearing member  800  is reinforced. Reinforcement spines  810  and  812  provide circumferential reinforcement by being placed around the outside of the base as well as in a position between the outside of the base and the center of the base, as  812 . There is no limit to the number of rings that may be used, the more rings, the greater the ability of the base to withstand outside stresses. Additionally, reinforcement spines  814  provide radial reinforcement. Again, there can be any number of reinforcement elements depending on the desired strength. Elements  810 ,  812  and  814  are made of the same material as the remainder of the base but are thicker and provide greater support. Nail, screw or other attachment holes  816  allow the base to be secured to any surface. These may be actual holes, or they may be portions of the base that are thin with respect to the rest of the base and allow nails, and the like, to be easily driven through. 
         [0046]    The subject invention may be constructed of a wide range of materials. In one embodiment, the tubular members are constructed of high density polyethylene and the bases 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. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of a base  900  such as the one shown in  FIG. 8 . Tubular members such as  302  and  304  fit in slot  906  and are held in place by ramp  910 . Dimple  908  also helps to hold the tubular member securely in place. The tubular members are released by slightly bending the base to slide the tubular member over ramp  910 . Nail hole  904  is shown extending only partially through base  900 . A nail can be driven through this and into a surface. Optional adhesive element  912  allows the base to be adhered to a container wall or opposing cargo so it can be easily positioned and the void guard assembled by one person. Typically, this adhesive will be on a base attached to a male tubular member so the female member is free to turn into position. With the turnbuckle embodiment the adhesive may be provided on the outside surface of each of the load bearing members. 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  shows an opposite side of a bearing member  1000  such as the one shown in  FIG. 8 . Surface  1002  is smooth and contacts either the container wall or a surface of cargo in the container. Dimple  1004  and holes  1006  are products of the injection molding process and are not required for the function of the void filler although dimple  1004  does provide extra security for the inserted tubular member on the opposite side as described above, The primary requirement for this surface is that is not have protrusions extending out that would damage the cargo. However, in another embodiment, the user may require a mechanical connection with the cargo and damage is not an issue; in this case, protrusion off the base could be used to secure the base to the surface. Optional adhesive element  708  allows the base to be removeably affixed to either a cargo surface or a container wall. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a locknut  1100  such as the one labeled  312  in  FIG. 3 . Threads  1102  correspond to the threads of a male tubular member, such as element  302 . Contours  1104  allow the locknut 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. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  is a cross sectional view of the same locknut, labeled  1200 . Threads  1202  and contours  1204  correspond to those described above regarding  FIG. 11 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  is another view of the locknut  1300  such as the one illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Threads  1302  and contours  1304  correspond to those described above regarding  FIG. 11 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  is an opposite end view of a locknut  1400  such as the one shown in previous  FIGS. 11-13 . Threads  1402  and contours  1404  correspond to those described above regarding  FIG. 11 . Note reinforcing spines radiating out to provide additional stability and strength for the locknut  1400 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment  1500  of the invention including tubular members that may be used in conjunction with a bearing member. Male tubular member  1502 , female tubular member  1504 , and snap on ends  1506  cooperate with bearing members  1600  as shown in  FIG. 16 . In this embodiment, the tubular members attach to the bearing members  1600  by inserting hooks  1502  into holes  1606  (see below). The device may be made of any material suitable to allow these hooks to flex adequately to fit into position and hold the base secure. Round member  1510  may be raised slightly (no more than the thickness of the base) and insert into hole  1604  of the bearing member. 
         [0054]      FIG. 16  shows an alternative embodiment of a bearing member  1600  that may be used to advantage in the subject invention. Spines  1608  extend radially to the edge  1602  of the bearing member  1600 . The tubular members connect by snapping in with hooks at connection ports  1606 . Optional hole  1604  may correspond to a round stabilizing member on connected tubular member and increase the stability of the connection. Nail holes  1610  may be used to secure the bearing member to an appropriate surface. Adhesive may also be used as described above. 
         [0055]      FIG. 17 , note again sheet two of the drawings, shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. Void filler  1700  employs a pin-lock mechanism for extending, retracting, and holding in place the tubular members. As shown, the tubular members may be square or triangular in cross section alternatively, they may be round, oval or any other appropriate shape that allows for telescoping with respect to one another. In this embodiment, male tubular member  1702  slides into female member  1704 . The holes in  1702  and  1704  are lined up and a pin  1706  is placed through the holes to hold the members in place. Bearing members  1708 , holes  1712 , and slots  1714  correspond to the similar elements described above with regard to the void filler. In addition there may be a single hole in one of the male and female members and multiple holes in the other member. In addition the holes may be finely spaced longitudinally the next closest hole longitudinally being positioned on an alternative lateral surface so that next adjacent holes longitudinally do not intersect on the same surface of extension member. 
         [0056]    Note that although particular extension mechanisms have been described, any suitable extension method and/or apparatus would be acceptable. This may include a ratchet mechanism where the tubular members are easily extended, but cannot move back the opposite direction, or a friction based system where the tubular members are extended and held by locking them and relying on friction to hold them in place. 
         [0057]    The subject invention also includes methods of operation to fill voids within a transport container. 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 bearing member attached to a male tubular member 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 bearing 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. 
         [0058]    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. 
         [0059]    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. 
         [0060]    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.