Patent Publication Number: US-2023137753-A1

Title: Method for Securing Cargo Boxes Upon the Bed of a Pick-up Truck; Device for Securing Cargo Boxes Upon the Bed of a Pick-up Truck

Description:
This Utility Application based on Provisional Application No. 63/275,262 filed Nov. 3, 2021. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a method and device for securing cargo boxes upon a floor of a truck; and in particular to securing cargo boxes on the bed of a pick-up truck. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Prior art devices and methods for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of a pick-up truck include ratchet ends (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,272,821 and 8,882,417) that enable strap portions of the device to be secured to cargo rings attached to inner side walls of the pick-up truck; whereby a user can remove all slack in the strap and generate excessive tensile stress in the strap and upon the ratchet ends of the strap. Further, when an operator is driving the pick-up truck upon undulating roads or around tight bends, the forces of motion when added to the tensile stress in the strap can cause a ratchet end of the strap to release or otherwise slip; resulting in cargo boxes secured by cross straps detachably secured to opposing strap portions of the device upon the bed of the pick-up, are released and free to move upon the pick-up truck bed causing damage to the truck and/or injury to the drivers or other vehicles. 
     Further, the strap portions of the prior art patents include apertures that removably receive hook ends of cross straps urging the cargo boxes upon the truck bed. When the cross straps are stretched to generate tensile force upon the cargo boxes after the cross strap hooks are secured to the apertures in the strap portion, the cross straps tend to rotate and twist thereby reducing the surface area of the cross strap that engages the top portion of the cargo boxes and correspondingly reducing the total force urging the bottom of the cargo boxes upon the bed of the truck, resulting in the cargo boxes being released and allow to cause damage to the pick-up truck, driver and/or other vehicles. 
     A need exists for a method and device for securing cargo boxes upon a floor or bed of a truck without using a ratcheted connector to secure a strap member to cargo rings attached to inner side walls of truck. Further, there is a need for the strap member to include a ring having a linear portion integrally joined to the strap member, and the ring having an arcuate portion separated from the strap member; whereby, the ring separates hook portions of cross straps from the strap member after the cross straps have been stretched to secure cargo boxes to the bed or floor of the pick-up truck when the hook portion engages the arcuate portion of the ring, thereby preventing the strap member and cross straps from twisting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method and device for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of a pick-up truck. A feature of the method and device is the securing of a strap member to each inner side wall of the pick-up truck via cargo rings, whereby connecting hooks integrally joined to end portions of each strap member provide a length between outer ends of the connecting hooks greater than the distance separating the cargo rings on each side wall of the truck, resulting in a sag in the mid-portion of the strap member when connected to the cargo rings. An advantage of the method and device is that an acute angle of a force vector is formed relative to the surface of the inner side walls of the truck, thereby reducing the force lineally aligned with the cargo rings and correspondingly reducing the force generated by the tensile force of the cross straps, resulting in the reducing of the force urging the cargo rings toward each other that would otherwise damage the cargo rings. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of a pick-up truck that prevents tensile force imparted upon the strap member from being reduce by slippage or totally released. A feature of the method and device is eliminating ratchet connections for the strap members to the cargo rings. An advantage of the method and device is that the connecting hooks will not release the strap members from the cargo rings, irrespective of the force generated by cross straps connected to the strap members. Another advantage of the method and device is that by preventing the sudden release of the tension generated by ratchet straps upon restrained cargo boxes, movement of the cargo boxes is avoided that can damage the inner side walls of the pick-up truck and/or cause injury to the driver of the pick-up truck. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method and device for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of a pick-up truck that provides strap rings integrally secured to and vertically positioned upon strap members. A feature of the method and device is the integral securing of a base portion of the strap rings between two layers of the strap members, whereby an arcuately configured retaining loop of the strap rings is disposed vertically, thereby enabling the “peak” portions of the arcuately configured retaining loops to be displaced from a centerline of the strap members to detachably receive end portions of cross straps without causing the strap members or the cross straps twisting or rotating due to the strap rings being separated from the end portion hooks of the cross straps and from the strap members. An advantage of the method and device is that preventing the strap members and cross straps from twisting, correspondingly reduces damage to the strap members and maintains the entire surface area of the cross straps upon the top portions of the cargo boxes, thereby increasing the total force urging the bottom portions of the cargo boxes upon the bed of the pick-up truck. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof, will be understood from the following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a back perspective view of a pick-up truck having a device for securing cargo boxes upon the bed of the pick-up truck; the device includes two opposing strap members detachably secured to cargo rings attached to both inner side walls of the pick-up truck, and multiple cross straps connected to the strap members that engage the cargo boxes in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  2   a    is a side elevation view of an end portion of a strap member having a connecting hook with an annular base attached thereto. 
         FIG.  2   b    is a side elevation view of an end portion of a strap member having a connecting hook with a rectangular base attached thereto. 
         FIG.  3    perspective view of the end portion of the strap member of  FIG.  2   a    detachably secured to a cargo ring, which is secured to a structural portion of an inner side wall of the pick-up truck. 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a strap ring integrally secured between two layers of material that forms the strap member. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, a method and device  8  for securing cargo boxes in the bed of a pick-up truck in accordance with the present invention includes determining the distance separating pairs of cargo rings  10  and  11  previously installed and secured to each inner side wall  12  of a bed  14  of a pick-up truck  16 . Although the pairs of cargo rings  10  and  11  are may be factory installed, the user of the method may be required to secure a pair of cargo rings  10  and  11  to a structural portion  18  of each inner side wall  12  of the bed  14  of the pick-up truck  16 . The user installed cargo rings  10  and  11  should be substantially the same as the factory installed cargo rings  10  and  11 . The cargo rings  10  and  11  are secured to the inner side wall  12  about two inches above top portions  6  of wheel wells  7 , thereby preventing engagement between the wheel wells  7  and first and second strap members  20  and  21  that ultimately connect to respective pairs of the cargo rings  10  and  11 . 
     The method requires the user to determine the distance separating cooperating pairs of the cargo rings  10  and  11 . After obtaining the distance, the user must provide connecting hooks  22  that are secured to end portions  24  of the strap members  20  and  21 . The user has the option of selecting a connecting hook  22  with an annular portion  23  ( FIG.  2   a   ) or with a rectangular base  25  ( FIG.  2   b   ) for either end portion  24  of the strap members  20  and  21 . The preferred orientation of the strap members  20  and  21  is a vertical position as depicted in  FIG.  2   b   , but the orientation of the cargo rings  10  and  11  can vary, whereby the connecting hook  22  having an annular portion  23  ( FIG.  2   a   ) is required. Further, a swivel (not depicted) can be integrally joined between the annular portion  23  and the hook portion of the connecting hook  22 ; whereby the annular portion  23  and the strap members  20  and  21  are free to rotate to any position, resulting in the strap members  20  and  21  rotating from a vertically orientation to an angled position that cooperates with cross straps  38  angularly extending from a top wall  42  of a cargo box  40 , when cross straps  38  are secured to the strap rings  30  and  32  and a tensile force is urged upon the cross straps  38  (see  FIGS.  1  and  4   ). 
     The longitudinal dimension of each strap member  20  and  21  with the attached connecting hooks  22  is must have a length between end portions  26  of the connecting hooks  22  that is relatively longer (preferably between six and ten inches) than the distance separating a cooperating pair of cargo rings  10  and  11 . The lengths of the strap members  20  and  21  with the connecting hooks  22  enables each strap member  20  and  21  to be secured to a corresponding inner side wall  12  of the pick-up truck  16 , whereby each strap member  20  and  21  sags at a midportion  28  that is ultimately disposed at a predetermined distance from a respective side wall  12  of the truck  16  when a tensile force is ultimately applied to the strap members  20  and  21 . 
     Before connecting the strap members  20  and  21  to the connecting hooks  22 , a preselected quantity of strap rings  30  must be integrally secured to strap member  20 , and the same quantity of strap rings  32  should be integrally secured to strap member  21 . The preferred arrangement of the strap rings  30  and  32  is to position the strap rings  30  and  32  opposite each other, whereby cross straps  38  connected to the strap rings  30  and  32  are orientated perpendicular to the side walls  12  of the truck  16  when each cross strap  38  engages a top portion  42  of cargo boxes  40 . Further, multiple cross straps  38  can be connected to each strap ring  30  and  32 , thereby enabling cross straps  38  to be orientated perpendicularly and at acute angles to the side walls  12  of the truck  16 , resulting in more force from multiple cross straps  38  being applied to top portions  42  of cargo boxes  38  for maintaining bottom portions  44  of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed  14  of the truck  16 . 
     The cross straps  38  are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and include, but not limited to ratchet straps, bungee cords, ropes and combinations thereof. The cross straps  38  are adjustable in length and include end portions  36  that detachably secure to the strap rings  30  and  32 . After the cross straps  38  are connected to cooperating strap rings  30  and  32 , the cross straps  38  lengths are forcibly “stretched” to generate sufficient tensile force that removes the sag from the midportion  28  from the strap members  20  and  21 , thereby forcibly separating the strap members  20  and  21  from corresponding inner side walls  12  of the pick-up truck  16 . The generated tensile force from the cross straps  38  ultimately results in the cross straps  38  forcibly engaging the top portions  42  of the cargo boxes  40  and correspondingly urging the bottom portions  44  of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed  14  of the pick-up truck  16 , thereby maintaining the position of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed  14  of the pick-up truck  16 , irrespective of the vertical movement of the bed  14  or the directional changes of the pick-up truck  16 . 
     After the cross straps  38  are forcibly stretched, the midportions  28  of the strap members  20  and  21  are positioned a predetermined distance from the inner side walls  12  of the pick-up truck  16 ; whereby, the force (or force vector  41 , see  FIG.  3   ) imparted upon the end portions  24  of the strap members  20  and  21  forms and angle  43  of about forty degrees between the end portions  24  and the inner side walls  12  of the truck  16 . The force imparted upon the angularly disposed end portions  24  of the strap members  20  and  21  is transferred to the cargo rings  10  and  11 , but the forty degrees angle reduces the force urging the cargo rings  10  and  11  together via a force vector  45  parallel with the side walls  12  of the truck  16 . Prior art strap members are substantially parallel to the side walls  12  when forcibly secured to the cargo rings  10  and  11 , thereby increasing the force parallel to the side walls  12  that urges the cargo rings  10  and  11  together. The angle  43  can be reduced to about thirty degrees when the cargo boxes  40  are relatively larger than depicted in  FIG.  1    and disposed closer to the side walls  12 . 
     Further, the connecting hooks  22  are rigidly connected (not ratchet connected as prior art devices) to the strap members  20  and  21 , thereby preventing the connecting hooks  22  from releasing the strap members  20  and  21  from the cargo rings  10  and  11 , irrespective of the force generated by the cross straps  38  connected to the strap members  20  and  21 . The adjustable length of ratchet straps included in prior art devices are capable of “slipping,” resulting in a sudden release of the tension generated by the ratchet for restrained cargo boxes  40 , and correspondingly allowing movement of the cargo boxes  40  that can damage the inner side walls  12  of the pick-up truck  16  and/or cause injury to the driver of the pick-up truck  16 . 
     The strap members  20  are fabricated from multilayered yellow nylon/polyester strap material, wire rope, wire cable, metal link chain, rope, synthetic webbing, combinations thereof and other materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The strap rings  30  and  32  are fabricated from steel having a diameter of at least one-quarter inch. The strap rings  30  and  32  configurations can be annular but a “D” configuration is preferred, whereby, a linear base portion  46  of the strap rings  30  and  32  is engaged and retained between adjacent layers  47  and  48  of the strap members  20  via industrial grade threading after disposing all strap rings at selected locations between the two adjacent layers  47  and  48 , resulting in strap rings  30  and  32  having an arcuately configured retaining loop  50  with an aperture  52  sufficiently large for receiving one layer  48  of a strap member  20  and hook configured ends  36  of multiple cross straps  38 . The D configuration is maintained irrespective of the force generated by multiple cross straps being detachably secured to said strap rings  30  and  32 . The retaining loops  50  of the strap rings  30  are dimensioned to separate the hook ends  36  of the cross straps  38  from the strap member  20  a distance that prevents the hook ends  36  of the cross straps  38  from engaging and damaging the strap members  20 . 
     The linear base portions  46  of the “D” configuration of the strap rings  30  and  32  are secured between the two adjacent layers  47  and  48  of the strap members  20  and  21 , thereby enabling the strap members  20  and  21  to be disposed in a substantially vertical position after being connected to the cargo rings  10  and  11 . The vertical position of the strap members  20  and  21  results in the base portions  46  and the arcuately configured retaining loops  50  of the strap rings  30  and  32  being disposed substantially vertical; whereby, the “peaks”  53  of the arcuately configured retaining loops  50  are substantially horizontally aligned with and separated from a center line of the strap members  20  and  21 , thereby maintaining a consistent force from each cross strap  38  urged upon a cargo box  40 , irrespective of the hook ends  36  becoming angularly orientated relative to the strap rings  30  and  32  when the cross straps  38  forcibly engage a cargo box  40 . 
     The peaks  53  of the strap rings  30  and  32  detachably receive the hook configured end portions  36  of cross straps  38  without causing the strap members  20  and  21  or the cross straps  38  to twist or rotate, due to the strap rings  30  and  32  separating the end portions  36  of the cross straps  38  from the strap members  20  and  21 . This feature differentiates the present invention from the prior art which includes having the end portions  36  of the cross straps  38  engage apertures in the strap members detachably joined to the cargo rings  10  and  11 . Preventing the strap members  20  and  21  and cross straps  38  from twisting, correspondingly reduces damage to the strap members  20  and  21 , and maintains the entire surface area of the cross straps  38  upon the top portions  42  of the cargo boxes  40 , thereby increasing the total force urging the bottom portions  44  of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed  14  of the pick-up truck. 
     The connecting hooks  22  are fabricated from steel and include an aperture  51  for receiving an end portion  24  of a strap member  20  and  21 . The end portion  24  of the strap member  20  and  21  is inserted through the aperture  51 , then folded and secured via industrial thread  54 , or similar means well known to shoes of ordinary skill in the art, upon an opposing wall portion of the strap member  20  and  21 . The strap members  20  and  21  remain attached to the connecting hooks  22 , irrespective of the force generated by the cross straps  38  upon the cargo boxes  40  and strap members  20  and  21  when the pick-up truck  16  is moving, thereby preventing cargo boxes  40  from moving vertically or horizontally upon the bed  14  of the pick-up truck  16 . 
     Although the preferred method for securing cargo boxes  40  in the bed  14  of a pick-up truck  16  includes the step of securing a pair of cargo rings  10  and  11  to a structural portion  18  of each inner side wall  12  of a pick-up truck  16  when the cargo rings  10  and  11  are not factory installed by the manufacturer of the truck  16 ; an alternative method for securing cargo boxes  40  upon a bed or floor  14  of a truck  16  includes installing two longitudinally aligned strap members  20  and two longitudinally aligned strap members  21 , each strap member  20  and  21  secured to three linearly aligned cargo rings  10  and  11  when operating trucks  16  having a bed or floor  14  dimensions relatively longer than the bed  14  of a pick-up truck  16 . Three linear aligned cargo rings  10  and  11  for each side wall  12  can be increased when the scope of the method requires more than three cargo rings  10  and  11  secured to each inner side wall  12 , when trucks  16  are encountered with attached trailers having substantially greater lengths than the lengths of inner side walls  12  requiring three lineally aligned cargo rings  10  and  11  for each side wall  12 . 
     The remaining steps of the method for securing cargo boxes  40  to the bed or floor  14  of a truck  16  longer than a pick-up truck includes: 
     determining the distance separating adjacent cargo rings  10  and  11  secured to each inner side wall  12  of the truck  16 ; 
     providing strap members  20  and  21  having connecting hooks  22  secured to each end portion  24  of each strap member  20  and  21 , whereby, the longitudinal length between end portions  26  of each connecting hook  22  is longer than the distance separating adjacent cargo rings  10  and  11  secured to each inner side wall  12  of the pick-up truck  16 , thereby enabling each strap member  20  to be secured to adjacent cargo rings  10  and  11  secured to an inner side wall  12  of the truck  16  via said connecting hooks  22  secured to adjacent cooperating cargo rings  10  and  11 , resulting in each strap member  20  and  21  having a midportion  28  of the strap member  20  and  21 ; and 
     securing a preselected quantity of strap rings  30  and  32  to each respective strap member  20  and  21 , each strap ring  30  and  32  being separated a predetermined distance from an adjacent strap ring  30  and  32 , whereby, strap rings  30  secured to the first strap member  20  and strap rings  32  secured to the opposing second strap member  21  detachably receive end portions  36  of adjustable length cross straps  38  that engage top portions  42  of cargo boxes  40  disposed upon the bed or floor  14  of the truck  16 ; whereupon, the cross straps  38  lengths are forcibly adjusted until the cross straps  38  generate sufficient tensile force that removes the sag from the midportion  38  of the strap members  20  and  21 , resulting in the cross straps  38  forcibly engaging the top portions  42  of the cargo boxes  40  and correspondingly urging bottom portions  44  of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed or floor  14  of the truck  16 , thereby maintaining the position of the cargo boxes  40  upon the bed or floor  14  of the truck  16 . 
     The foregoing description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted as broadly as the inventive contribution permits.