Abstract:
A track fitting used to secure a covering to a track extending along an item includes a body and a plunger. The body of the track fitting has at least one foot, adapted to be received in one of a series of openings defined by the track, and the body is also adapted to receive and secure a portion of the covering. The plunger of the track fitting is placed adjacent to and is vertically moveable with respect to the body. The plunger generally moves between a first position that allows movement of the track fitting along the track and a second position in which the plunger engages one of the openings defined by the track, preventing further movement of the track fitting along the track.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/797,501, filed Mar. 10, 2004, which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/454,228, filed Mar. 13, 2003. The entire disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/797,501 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/454,228 are incorporated herein by this reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of cargo restraint apparatus for airplanes and other vehicles, and, more particularly, to a track fitting for a cargo security system, which is designed to prevent, detect, and deter the theft and the unauthorized introduction of foreign materials into a cargo load. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   When cargo is being transported, for example, by commercial aircraft, it must be arranged on a pallet, such as a Unit Load Device (ULD), before being loaded into the cargo section of the aircraft. If desired, the cargo may be covered with weatherproof material, such as a layer of plastic, to provide protection from external elements. Thereafter, a net is placed over the cargo and secured to the pallet with anchoring devices, thereby securing the cargo to the pallet. Typically, the cargo net is secured to the pallet in the following manner. The pallet is provided with a track running along its perimeter, a so-called “pallet-track.” The cargo net is equipped with permanently attached anchoring devices, known as cargo track fittings, spaced at predetermined intervals about the perimeter of the net. Each track fitting has a base designed to mate with openings formed in the pallet-track allowing it to be secured to the track. 
   The net primarily serves to protect the interior of the aircraft from damage caused by the shifting of the cargo during transport. In this regard, the net is capable of securing the cargo such that it does not fall from the pallet or become lost during shipment; however, the net does little to protect against the introduction of foreign material, such as explosives or contraband, into the cargo or the removal and theft of items from the cargo. Indeed, by design, the net has a plurality of holes through which material may be introduced or removed. Additionally, gaps remain between the top of the pallet and the base of the net between points where the track fittings secure the net to the pallet. Furthermore, the track fittings are easily disengaged from the pallet-track, allowing introduction of foreign material or removal of larger items. In this manner, potentially dangerous foreign materials and other contraband can be introduced into and/or valuable cargo may be removed without detection. 
   Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and device that satisfactorily addresses the problems associated with known cargo restraint systems as set forth above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses the above identified problems, and others, by providing a system for securing cargo during transport that prevents, detects and deters both the theft of cargo and the unauthorized introduction of foreign materials into the cargo load. 
   The present invention is a track fitting for a cargo security system. The track fitting may be used to anchor a variety of items to a track; for example, the track fitting may be used as part of a complete cargo security system, which includes a cargo covering. An exemplary embodiment of the track fitting includes a body and a plunger that is placed over a front portion of the body. The body also includes a substantially C-shaped rear portion, which is supported by two integral feet and defines an opening between the feet, the importance of which will be discussed below. 
   The exemplary track fitting is designed to be anchored to a track, for example, a track extending around the perimeter of a traditional pallet used in the cargo handling industry. The track defines a channel with a series of enlarged openings spaced at predetermined intervals along its length. Each foot of the rear portion of the body of the fitting fits into each of the enlarged openings defined by the track. Additionally, a lower end of the plunger fits into each of the enlarged openings defined by the track. To secure the exemplary track fitting to the track, the plunger is pulled upward, into a first position, and the track fitting is placed on the track by lowering the feet into adjacent enlarged openings. The track fitting is then slid within the channel defined by the track until the lower end of the plunger is aligned with a desired enlarged opening. The plunger is then released into a second position, allowing the lower end of the plunger to drop into the desired enlarged opening, thereby securing the track fitting to the track. 
   A plurality of exemplary track fittings may used as part of a complete cargo security system, which includes a cargo covering and the plurality of track fittings for securing the covering to a track. In the exemplary embodiment, the substantially C-shaped rear portion of each track fitting is hooked to a catch on the covering and the track fitting is brought down and secured to the track. A sufficient number of fittings are used to secure the covering to the track such that no gap exists between the covering and the upper surface of the track. Each secured track fitting may be locked to the track by temporarily disabling the movement of the plunger. For example, each exemplary track fitting may include an upwardly extending projection, which extends through the top of the plunger and defines an aperture. A locking cable may be fed through the apertures in the projections of each track fitting secured to the track, blocking the upward sliding movement of each plunger. The ends of the cable may then be locked to one another, thereby locking the covering to the track such that foreign material cannot be introduced, nor can cargo be removed without tampering with the system. The ends of the locking cable may be secured with a fastening apparatus, such as a cable tie, which may thereafter be covered with a tag or label carrying a tracking code. In this regard, the locking cable cannot be removed without cutting the fastening apparatus and destroying the tracking label, thereby signaling that the cargo has been tampered with. 
   Additionally, the exemplary covering may have an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein the two surfaces are contrasting colors. If the covering was cut, for example, to effect introduction of material into or removal of material from the cargo, the contrasting color on the inside surface of the covering would become clearly visible, thereby signaling that the cargo had been tampered with. Alternatively, a thread-like material, that frays when cut, could be woven into the surface of the covering. If the covering was cut, the frayed material would provides a signal that the cargo had been tampered with. 
   The system and track fitting may also be used concurrently with a tradition cargo net. For example, the cargo net could be placed over the covering and the track fitting could be used to secure both the covering and the cargo net to a track. The exemplary track fitting could also be used to secure a traditional cargo net to a track, for example, it could be used in place of a traditional cargo-net-repair kit. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a track fitting of the present invention, illustrating the plunger in the second position; 
       FIG. 1A  is a side view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 , again illustrating the plunger in the second position; 
       FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the plunger in the first position; 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 , again illustrating the plunger in the first position; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 , positioned on a track; 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view of the track fitting taken along line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of two exemplary track fittings of the present invention, positioned on a track and securing a covering; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of one of the exemplary track fittings of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is another enlarged perspective view of one of the exemplary track fittings of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is another alternate perspective view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the track fitting of  FIG. 1 , positioned on a track with the plunger in a first disengaged position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a track fitting for a cargo security system for securing cargo during transport, the system being designed to prevent, detect and deter both the theft of cargo and the unauthorized introduction of foreign materials into the cargo load. 
   An exemplary embodiment of the track fitting  10  of the present invention will first be discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  2 ,  2 A, and  7 . The track fitting  10  includes a body  12  and a plunger  14 . The plunger  14  defines a front portion receiving aperture  15 . The body  12  has a substantially C-shaped rear portion  16 , supported by an integral first foot  18  and an integral second foot  20 , and a front portion  22  which is received in the front portion receiving aperture  15  of the plunger  14 . The C-shaped rear portion  16  of the body  12  defines an opening  24  between the feet  18 ,  20 , the importance of which will be discussed further below. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the exemplary track fitting  10  is designed to be anchored to a track  30 , for example, a track extending around the perimeter of a traditional pallet used in the cargo handling industry. However, it is contemplated that the track could be a track secured to the bed of a pick-up truck, or a track mounted to any other desired object, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The track  30  defines a channel  32  with a series of enlarged openings  34  spaced at predetermined intervals along its length. The feet  18 ,  20  of the C-shaped rear portion  16  of the body  12  of the track fitting  10  are each adapted to be received by each of these enlarged openings  34 . Additionally, a lower end  36  of the plunger  14  is adapted to be received by each of these enlarged openings  34 . 
   To secure the exemplary track fitting  10  to the track  30 , the plunger  14  is pulled into a first disengaged position, shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  2 A, and  8 . In this position, the plunger lower end  36  is disengaged from the track  30 . Although it is not necessary, in certain embodiments, the plunger  14  is slidably secured to the front portion  22  of the body  12  and biased toward a second position, shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , using, for example, a spring. With reference again to  FIGS. 3 and 3A , the track fitting  10 , with the plunger  14  in the first position, is placed on the track  30  by lowering the feet  18 ,  20  into adjacent enlarged openings  34 . The track fitting  10  is then slid within the channel  32  defined by the track  30  until the lower end  36  of the plunger  14  is aligned with a desired enlarged opening  34 . The plunger  14  is then released into the second position, allowing the lower end  36  of the plunger  14  to drop into the desired enlarged opening  34 , thereby preventing the horizontal sliding of the fitting  10  within the track  30 . When the lower end  36  of the plunger  14  is aligned with the desired enlarged opening  34 , the feet  18 ,  20  are not aligned with any enlarged opening  34 , thus, the feet  18 ,  20  prevent the vertical movement of the fitting  10  from the track  30 . In this manner, the track fitting  10  is secured to the track  30 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a plurality of exemplary track fittings  10  may be used as part of a complete cargo security system  100 , which additionally includes a cargo covering  11 , the track fittings  10  being used to secure the covering  11  to a discrete section of track  30  positioned along the periphery of a pallet or similar support. In the exemplary embodiment, the substantially C-shaped rear portion  16  of the body  12  of each track fitting  10  is hooked to a catch or eye  48  on the covering  11 . For example, the covering  11  may include a plurality of permanently attached O-shaped rings, each of which act as the catch  48 . The rear portion  16  of the base  12  of each track fitting  10  may receive one of these catches  48  before the fitting  10  is brought down and secured to the track  30 . While the fitting  10  is secured to the track  30 , the opening  24  defined by the rear portion  16  of the body  12  is blocked by the track  30  such that the catch  48  cannot be unhooked from the fitting  10 . Additionally, it is contemplated that the covering  11  include several rows of catches  48  (e.g., attached rings) allowing the covering  11  to be adjusted to fit tightly over cargo loads of various sizes. It should be noted that the catches  48  of the depicted covering  11  are but one example of a contemplated catch capable of being accepted by and hooked to an exemplary fitting, and other catches of various shapes and sizes could certainly be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   Referring still to  FIG. 4 , a sufficient number of fittings  10  are used to secure the covering  11  to the track  30  such that no significant gap exists between the covering  11  and the upper surface of the track  30 . After the track fittings  10  have been secured to the track  30 , each can be locked thereto by temporarily disabling the movement of the plunger  14 . As best shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  2  and  2 A, the body  12  of the exemplary track fitting  10  further includes an upwardly extending projection  38 , which extends through a projection receiving aperture  39  through the top of the plunger  14  and has an aperture  40  defined therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the aperture  40  is adapted for receiving a locking cable  42 , and, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the locking cable  42  can be fed through the apertures  40  in the projections  38  of each of a plurality of track fittings  10  secured to the track  30 , blocking the upward sliding movement of each plunger  14 . The ends of the cable  42  may then be locked to one another, thereby locking the covering  11  to the track  30  such that foreign material cannot be introduced into the cargo, nor can cargo be removed, without tampering with the system  100 . 
   For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the ends  42   a ,  42   b  of the locking cable  42  could be secured with a fastening apparatus  44 , such as a cable tie, which may thereafter be covered with a tag or label  46  carrying a tracking code such that the locking cable  42  cannot be removed without cutting the fastening apparatus  44  and destroying the tracking label  46 . Thus, if the fastening apparatus  44  has been tampered with, such tampering can be easily detected because, even if the same or similar fastening apparatus is used to reattach the ends  42   a ,  42   b  of the locking cable  42 , the tracking label cannot be reproduced. Of course, this is but one example of a manner in which a plurality of track fittings  10  may be locked to the track  30 , and other methods could be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, each track fitting could be provided with an individual fastening apparatus allowing each track fitting to be locked to the track individually. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 4 , it is contemplated that an exemplary covering  11  may have an inside surface (not shown) and an outside surface  50 , wherein the two surfaces are contrasting colors. For example, the inside surface (not shown) could be red, and the outside surface  50  could be white. If the covering  11  was cut, for example, to effect introduction of material into or removal of material from the cargo, the contrasting color on the inside surface (not shown) of the covering  11  would become clearly visible, thereby signaling that the cargo had been tampered with. Alternatively, a thread-like material, that frays when cut, could be woven into the surface of the covering  11 . If the covering  11  was cut, for example, to effect introduction of material into or removal of material from the cargo, the frayed material would provides a signal that the cargo had been tampered with. 
   In any event, the covering  11  in this example is made of water-resistant, durable, lightweight, fiberglass-woven material to provide durability and protection from damage to the cargo and to eliminate the need to pre-wrap the cargo with weather-proof material. However, the covering  11  may be made from a variety of durable and substantially flexible materials, for example, nylon, PP webbing, natural or synthetic cloth, or leather, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   Additionally, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the system  100  and track fitting  10  of the present invention may be used concurrently with a traditional cargo net  52 . In this regard, it is contemplated that the track fitting  10  of the present invention could be used as an alternative to a traditional cargo-net-repair kit. As mentioned above, a cargo net is typically equipped with permanently attached track fittings spaced at predetermined intervals about the perimeter of the net. If the net is damaged, allowing one or more of these attached track fittings to become detached, a traditional cargo-net-repair kit is used in place of each detached fitting to secure the damaged net to the track of a pallet. A traditional cargo-net-repair kit comprises a traditional track fitting having a body defining an aperture through which an adjustable strap is threaded. The strap includes hooks allowing it to be attached to two parts of the damaged net, thereby securing the net to the traditional track fitting and allowing it to be secured to the track of the pallet. Because the rear portion  16  of the body  12  of the track fitting  10  of the present invention defines an opening  24 , forming a hook, the track fitting  10  of the present invention can hooked to a damaged net and secured to the pallet making it an ideal alternative to a traditional cargo-net-repair kit. 
   Finally, it is contemplated that the track fitting  10  of the present invention be compatible not only with the tracks  30  of pallets currently being used in the cargo handling industry, but also with tracks having alternative designs. For example, tracks could be mounted to the bed of a truck, and the fitting of the present invention could be used to secure a covering to the track, thereby securing and protecting cargo being transported in the truck. 
   It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other modifications may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.