Abstract:
The present invention provides a device to secure cargo within the cargo area of a transport vehicle, using a rigid plate and at least one bracing member to maintain the rigid plate upright against the cargo to be secured; and at least one rigid arm to extend from an upper portion of the rigid plate across the top of a portion of the cargo, where the arm is configured to be engageable with at least one retainer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to a new and useful way to secure cargo. 
   Background Art 
   During the transportation of smooth cargo in open haul vehicles, cargo tends to shift upon rapid acceleration or deceleration. This is particularly true for cargo such as planed lumber. 
   The transportation industry has various ways of securing and bracing cargo while in transit. The most common means is the use of flexible straps around the outside of the load which are secured to the bed of the vehicle. 
   In the case of smooth cargo like finished lumber, friction between pieces of smooth lumber is minimized and lumber has a tendency to slide off the transport vehicle, or conversely the load can slam into the forward portion of the transport vehicle, or even flip over the top of the cab, no matter how tightly one straps it in from side to side. This is especially true for items at the top of the stack, including entire packs of lumber which might be resting on other lower packs. 
   The inability to securely fasten a smooth cargo load can create a dangerous and hazardous condition as items can slide off the vehicle while in operation, as well as loss of or damage to cargo. 
   The present invention addresses the need to more firmly secure smooth cargo during operation. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   In some aspects, the invention relates to a device to secure cargo, comprising a rigid plate and a strut or other strong member which braces the rigid plate. 
   In other aspects, the invention relates to a device to secure cargo, comprising a rigid plate, a strut or other strong bracing member which braces the rigid plate and a rigid arm that extends from the top of the rigid plate. 
   In other aspects, the invention relates to a device to secure cargo, comprising a rigid plate, a strut or other strong bracing member which braces the rigid plate, a rigid arm that extends from the top of the rigid plate and a means for securing the rigid arm from movement. 
   In other aspects, the invention relates to a device to secure cargo comprising a rigid plate, a bracing member which braces the rigid plate, a rigid arm that extends from the top of the rigid plate and a means for securing the rigid arm from movement by use of a fastener on the rigid arm, and retainers which attach to the fastener and can be anchored to the vehicle. 
   In still other aspects, the invention relates to a device to secure cargo comprising a rigid plate, a bracing member which braces the rigid plate and a rigid arm that extends from the top of the rigid plate where the rigid arm is connected to the rigid plate by a hinge. 
   Advantages of the present invention include a better method to prevent or retard cargo from sliding forward or backward in transit, especially but not limited to loads at the top of the cargo. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention in operation. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an end view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing a sliding bracing element. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an end view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing a single, wide bracing element. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an end view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing a single, wide bracing element. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an end view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing bracing elements attached to the edge of the rigid plate. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an end view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention utilizing bracing elements attached to the edge of the rigid plate. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a close view of an embodiment of the fastener element of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a close view of an embodiment of the fastener element of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following definitions are provided for a consistent understanding of the invention described. It should be noted that identical features in different drawings are shown with the same reference numeral. 
   The term “rigid plate” refers to a predominantly two-dimensional structure with some thickness, of low flexibility and sufficient strength to secure a cargo load, which can be flat or have convex or concave portions, and can have a continuous surface or a discontinuous surface with holes or porosity. The rigid plate is preferably made of aluminum, steel or other metal. However, it can also be made of plastic, wood, fiberglass or other material of suitable strength. 
   The term “brace” or “bracing member” refers to any article of sufficient strength to stabilize and maintain upright the rigid plate against the load to be stabilized. Preferably it is made of aluminum, steel or other metal. However, it can also be made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, cord, bungee cord, a woven strap or other suitable material. It can be an integral part of the rigid plate, or an integral part of the transport vehicle, or at least one separate piece capable of conjoining the rigid plate to the transport vehicle or to objects or cargo on the transport vehicle. 
   The term “rigid arm” refers to any article of sufficient strength to secure the cargo load. The rigid arm is preferably made of aluminum, steel or other metal. However, it can also be made of plastic, wood, fiberglass or other material of suitable strength. 
   The term “retainer” means an item which can be used to retain another object relatively securely in place, and can be a strap, rope, cord, or other strong flexible material or strong rigid bar, strut, pole or other configuration; generally the retainer is designed to press against the object to be retained so as to hold it in place, but can also pull from an underside attachment to effectuate the retention of the object. 
   The present invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , uses a large rigid plate  5  to secure either the front end or the back end, or both, of a cargo load. The load is stabilized with at least one bracing element  7  which can be joined to the rigid plate at a junction point  13 . In its preferred mode there are two bracing elements  7 . In its preferred mode, each bracing element has three sections; a bottom section  8  which can be anchored to or rest upon a fixed part of the transport vehicle, or cargo or other objects on the transport vehicle; a lower hypotenuse section  9  which is attached to the bottom section  8  forming an angle  10 ; and an upper hypotenuse section  11  which can be joined to the rigid plate at a junction point  13  and is also joined to the lower hypotenuse section  9  by bolts  14  or other suitable connection mechanism. 
   At least one rigid arm  15  extends from the top of the plate forward over at least a part of the load with a lip or flange or other fastener  17  on the end. In its preferred mode, the rigid arm  15  is hinged  19  to the rigid plate. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which at least one retainer  25 , such as a strap, rope, cord, chain, cable, wire, canvas, tarpaulin or other strong and cargo conformable binder, is placed over the load of lumber (or other cargo), anchored to the truck or flatbed on each side of the cargo or, at least in part, substantially adjacent or beyond the farthest extending portion of the fastener  17  in the direction away from the rigid plate, and securely engaging the rigid arm  15  via the fastener  17 . The retainer  25  thus restrains substantial movement of the rigid arm  15 , which in turn retains the rigid plate  5  in place. For even better stability, one or more additional retainers  30  can engage the bracing element  7  with the braces resting on or being anchored to a fixed part of the transport vehicle or to cargo or other objects on the transport vehicle, either separately or together with a retainer  30  passing though the bracing element and being anchored to the transport vehicle on each side of the cargo. With the rigid plate  5  in place at the front or rear of the cargo, or in both places, as desired, the cargo cannot slide significantly. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an end view of the present invention in which the rigid arm  15  is turned back on its hinge  19 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bracing elements  7  slide into and out of the side of the rigid plate  5  from a housing  35  at the base of the rigid plate. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an alternative embodiment of present invention. In this embodiment, a single bracing element  7  is used. The bracing element has a wide width  37  and is centered to the rigid plate  5 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bracing elements  7  are securely fastened to the edges of the rigid plate  5 . The bracing elements slide downward on each side as a receptacle on to posts  45  on the vehicle. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, which is similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the downwardly extending bracing elements  7  are offset on each side of the rigid plate so that in use, the bracing elements  7  can straddle lower cargo. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 , illustrate variations of the fasteners  17  that can be used in lieu of a lip on the end of the rigid arm  15 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a hole  39  at the end of the rigid arm  15  through which a retainer  25  could be run.  FIG. 10  illustrates a spring clip  40  on the end of the rigid arm  15 , into which a retainer  25  could be inserted to fasten the rigid arm  15 . 
   While the present invention is optimally designed for use with planed lumber or similarly smooth cargos, which are among the more difficult types of cargos to control in transit, transporters of other non-fluid cargos (plastic or PVC pipe segments, for example) can also take advantage of the invention. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.