Patent Publication Number: US-2004047702-A1

Title: Safety sheet system for securing cargo loads in cargo containers

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to cargo tie-down systems, and more particularly to a new and improved cargo tie-down system which is especially useful in connection with the securing of cargo loads, such as, for example, cargo drums, within cargo containers which can be located upon or within, for example, trucks, railroad cars, airplanes, ships, or the like.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Various conventional or PRIOR ART cargo loading and cargo tie-down or securing systems or techniques are of course well-known in the industry. One such conventional or PRIOR ART cargo loading and cargo tie-down securing system or technique is disclosed, for example, within FIG. 1 and is generally indicated by the reference character  10 . A plurality of cargo loads, in the form of barrels or drums  12 , are disposed within a cargo hold  14  of a cargo container  16 , and in order to fixedly secure and retain the cargo drums  12  within the cargo container  16 , a securing system, comprising in effect a grid or framework structure  18  fabricated from wood, is utilized. The primary disadvantage or drawback characteristic of such a conventional or PRIOR ART wooden grid or framework structure  18  resides in the overall relatively high costs involved in connection with such structures. For example, the raw material costs of the lumber are significant, and in addition, the labor costs involved in constructing the framework or grid structure  18  and securing the same to the interior wall or floor portions of the cargo container  16  are likewise considerable. Still further, when the cargo load reaches its destination, additional labor costs are required to be expended in order to deconstruct the framework or grid structure  18 . Accordingly, an improved shipping technique has been warranted.  
       [0003] In light of the foregoing, an improved shipping technique was subsequently developed and is disclosed, for example, within U.S. Pat. No. 6,368,036 which issued to Vario on Apr. 9, 2002. In accordance with such a system or technique, as disclosed, for example, within FIG. 2, which corresponds to FIG. 3 of the aforenoted patent, a cargo truck storage compartment is disclosed at  56 , and it is seen that the cargo truck storage compartment  56  comprises a back panel  63  of the truck, a left side wall  60 , a right side wall  54 , and the floor  66 . The cargo to be transported comprises a plurality of nursery containers  66 , and in order to secure the nursery containers  66  within the truck storage compartment  56 , first and second panels  52 , 62  of a high tensile strength material are adhered to the right side wall  54  of the cargo truck storage compartment  56 , while third and fourth panels  58 , 64  are similarly secured to the left side wall  60  of the cargo truck storage compartment  56 . Each one of the panels  52 , 62 ,  58 , 64  is a product which is commercially available from WALNUT INDUSTRIES, INC. of Philadelphia, Pa. under the trademarked product name TY-GARD2000®, and it is noted, in conjunction with, for example, panel  52 , that panel  52  comprises a first section  53  which extends from a first end  55  of the panel  52  to a center portion  61  of the panel  52 , and a second section  57  which extends from the center portion  61  of the panel  52  to the other end  59  of the panel  52 . The first section  53  of the panel  52  has an adhesive disposed upon the back side thereof by means of which the panel  52  is adhesively bonded to the side wall  54  of the storage compartment  56 , however, section  57  of the panel  52  does not have any adhesive material disposed upon the back side thereof and therefore is not adhesively bonded to the side wall  54  of the storage compartment  56 . The other panels  62 , 58 , 64  have structures which are similar to that of panel  52 .  
       [0004] As best seen in FIG. 3, which corresponds to FIG. 6 of the noted patent, after all of the nursery cargo items  66  have been loaded upon the truck between the left and right side walls  60 , 54  of the truck storage compartment  56 , a gate  82  is positioned rearwardly of the cargo load  66 , and as best seen in FIG. 4, which corresponds to FIG. 10 of the noted patent, the free end portions  59  of the panels  52  and  58 , as well as the free end portions  59  of the panels  62  and  64 , are overlapped as at  106 . By using a special tightening tool  102 , which has a vertically oriented slit  104  formed therein for accommodating the overlapped free end portions  106  of the panels  52 , 58 , the overlapped free end portions  106  of the panels  52 , 58  can be inserted into the slit  104  of the tightening tool  102 . Subsequently, upon twisting the tool  102  while the overlapped free end portions  106  of the panels  52 , 58  are disposed within the slit portion  104  of the tool  102  as shown in FIG. 5 which corresponds to FIG. 11 of the noted patent, the panels  52 , 58  are effectively pulled toward and tightened with respect to each other so as to securely fasten or retain the gate  82 , and in turn, the cargo loads  66 , within the cargo truck storage compartment  56 . While the panels  52 , 58 , as well as the panels  62 , 64 , are then disposed within such tensioned states, an interface adhesive panel  92 , having adhesive disposed upon the entire rear surface thereof, is adhered over each one of the intertwined regions  101 , as shown in FIG. 3, which is formed by twisting the overlapped free end portions  106  of the panels  52 , 58  together as shown in FIG. 6, which corresponds to FIG. 12 of the noted patent. Subsequently, the tool  102  is removed from each intertwined region  101 . In a manner similar to that characterizing the panels  52 , 62 , 58 ,  64 , the interface adhesive panel  92  is commercially available under the trademarked product name TY-PATCH2000®, and is likewise available from WALNUT INDUSTRIES, INC. of Philadelphia, Pa.  
       [0005] While the cargo securing system or technique as disclosed within the noted patent to Vario is operationally viable, and obviously rectifies the economic deficiencies, disadvantages, or drawbacks characteristic of the conventional PRIOR ART wooden framework or grid structure system, it has nevertheless likewise proven to be relatively expensive, as well as being quite tedious and time-consuming to implement. Consequently, a need still exists in the art for a new and improved cargo tie-down system and technique which is especially adapted for use in connection with the tying-down or securing of bulk cargo loads, in the form of barrels, drums, palletized loads, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, which is relatively simple in structure, which is relatively simple to install, and which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like.  
       [0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, wherein such system and technique effectively overcome the various operational and fabrication disadvantages or drawbacks characteristic of conventional PRIOR ART cargo tie-down systems or techniques.  
       [0008] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, wherein such system is relatively simple in structure.  
       [0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, wherein such system is relatively simple to effectively install and implement.  
       [0010] A last object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, wherein such a system is relatively inexpensive to fabricate.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved cargo-tie down system, and a method or technique for using the same, in order to secure cargo loads, such as, for example, palletized loads, barrels, drums, or the like, within cargo containers located upon trucks, ships, railroads, airplanes, or the like, wherein the system comprises a cargo-retention, double-ply safety sheet, having a substantially rectangular configuration, to which four cargo-retention straps are fixedly sewn within the corner regions thereof. A first pair of the cargo-retention straps, comprising a relatively short retention strap and a relatively long retention strap, is effectively disposed along a first diagonal of the cargo-retention sheet, while a second pair of the cargo-retention straps, likewise comprising a relatively short retention strap and a relatively long retention strap, is disposed along a second diagonal of the cargo-retention sheet such that together, the four cargo-retention straps are arranged within an array having a substantially X-shaped configuration. More particularly, all of the cargo-retention straps have first end portions thereof fixedly sewn upon a forward-facing surface of the cargo-retention sheet, they are then respectively passed through snap-hooks which are adapted to be mated with and support upon support hooks fixedly mounted upon interior wall portions of the cargo container, and are effectively routed across the rearward-facing surface of the cargo-retention sheet so as to collectively be disposed within the aforenoted X-shaped array or arrangement. The relatively short cargo-retention straps of each pair of cargo-retention straps, disposed along each one of the diagonals of the cargo-retention sheet, have suitable, conventionally available female-strap fasteners fixedly mounted thereon, while the relatively long cargo-retention straps of each pair of cargo-retention straps, disposed along each one of the diagonals of the cargo-retention sheet, are adapted to be passed through the strap fasteners so as to achieve tightening of the cargo-retention straps. In addition to the aforenoted structure, the cargo-retention sheet is also provided with a pair of interior pockets within which a pair of inflatable air bags are disposed whereby as a result of the inflation of such inflatable air bags, suitable pressure forces are exerted or impressed upon the cargo loads for securing the same as well as for cushioning the cargo loads against impact forces. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012] Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a first conventional PRIOR ART cargo-load retention system for use in connection with the retention of cargo loads within cargo containers;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a truck bed showing a second conventional PRIOR ART system and technique for securing cargo loads thereon wherein cargo loads have begun to be initially loaded onto the truck bed;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the conventional PRIOR ART system in its finalized secured state with respect to a completed cargo load;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a special tool shown being used in conjunction with the overlapped ends of the securing panels of the cargo securing system, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for twisting the overlapped ends of the securing panels together so as to thereby tighten the same with respect to each other;  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the overlapped ends of the securing panels showing the same twisted together by means of the special tool shown in FIG. 4 and secured in their tightened state by means of a TY-PATCH® adhesive panel;  
     [0018]FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing the overlapped ends of the securing panels twisted together and tightened with respect to each other as illustrated in FIG. 5 after, however, the special tool, as shown in FIG. 4, has been removed from the twisted together and secured overlapped end portions of the securing panels;  
     [0019]FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for securing cargo loads within cargo containers;  
     [0020]FIG. 7 a  is an enlarged detail view of one of the corner strapping loops of the tie-down system as illustrated within FIG. 7 showing the attachment of the corner strapping loop to a suspension hook fixedly mounted upon an interior wall portion of the cargo container;  
     [0021]FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view, corresponding to the front elevational view of FIG. 7, of the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for securing cargo loads within cargo containers;  
     [0022]FIG. 9 is a schematic rear elevational view showing the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, being used to secure a plurality of cargo drums within a cargo container; and  
     [0023]FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 9, showing the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, as actually being used to secure a plurality of cargo drums within a cargo container.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0024] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS.  7 - 10  thereof, a new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system, constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for securing cargo loads within cargo containers, is disclosed and is generally indicated by the reference character  110 . More particularly, the safety sheet cargo tie-down system  110  of the present invention is seen to comprise a dual-ply safety sheet component  112  which may be fabricated from a suitable material, such as, for example, polypropylene, and as can be appreciated from FIGS. 9 and 10, the width and height dimensions of the safety sheet  112  are effectively tailored with respect to the width and height dimensions of the rear opening  114  of the cargo hold  116  defined within the cargo container  118 . In this manner, the safety sheet  112  exhibits an area expanse which covers substantially the entire rear opening  114  of the cargo hold  116  of the cargo container  118  so as to not only secure the cargo loads, which are illustrated as comprising, for example, drums or barrels  120 , within the cargo container  118 , but in addition, to effectively and securely prevent any inadvertent discharge of the cargo loads  120  from the cargo hold  116  of the cargo container  118  when, for example, the rear doors  122  of the cargo container  118  are opened by workmen personnel in order to commence unloading of the cargo loads  120 . In addition to the provision of the safety sheet  112  as the basic structural component of the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system  110 , as constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention for securing cargo loads  120  within cargo containers  118 , the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system  110  further comprises other structural components integrally cooperative with the safety sheet  112  in order to render the safety sheet cargo tie-down system  110  a viable means for simply but securely tying-down the cargo loads  120  within the cargo container hold  116 .  
     [0025] More particularly, the safety sheet  112  has a substantially rectangular configuration, and two pairs of securing straps  124 , 125 , and  126 , 127  are adapted to be secured to the forwardly disposed surface  111  of the safety sheet  112  in such a manner that the pairs of securing straps  124 ,  125 , and  126 , 127  will be subsequently arranged within an X-shaped array or arrangement across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  when they are mated together, as will become more apparent shortly hereafter. In particular, as viewed in FIG. 8 and with respect to the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112 , the first pair of securing straps  124 , 125  extends along a first diagonal of the safety sheet  112  as defined between oppositely disposed corner regions  128 , 130  of the safety sheet  112 , while the second pair of securing straps  126 , 127  extends along a second diagonal of the safety sheet  112  as defined between oppositely disposed corner regions  132 , 134  of the safety sheet  112 . In order to actually form the X-shaped array or arrangement of the securing straps  124 , 125 ,  126 , 127 , whereby the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  extend across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  and along the criss-crossed diagonals thereof, it is noted that, in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention, and as can best be seen in FIG. 7, first end portions  136 , 138  of the securing straps  124 , 125 , which are respectively disposed within the immediate vicinities of the corner regions  128 , 130  of the safety sheet  112 , are fixedly secured to the forwardly disposed surface  111  of the safety sheet  112  by suitable means, such as, for example, sewn stitching, while in a similar manner, first end portions  140 , 142  of the securing straps  126 , 127 , which are respectively disposed within the immediate vicinities of the corner regions  132 , 134  of the safety sheet  112 , are likewise fixedly secured to the forwardly disposed surface  111  of the safety sheet  112  by sewn stitching.  
     [0026] After each one of the first end portions  136 , 138 ,  140 , 142  of the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  is fixedly secured to a respective one of the corner regions  128 , 130 ,  132 , 134  of the forwardly disposed surface  111  of the safety sheet  112 , the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  are effectively routed around the corner regions  128 , 130 , 132 , 134  of the safety sheet  112  and second free end portions  144 , 146  of the paired securing straps  124 , 125 , as well as second free end portions  148 , 150  of the paired securing straps  126 , 127 , are brought across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  and disposed toward each other along the diagonals of the safety sheet  112  so as to subsequently be mated together into the aforenoted pairs  124 , 125  and  126 , 127  of securing straps whereby the pairs of securing straps  124 , 125 , and  126 , 127  will be disposed within the X-shaped array or arrangement as best seen in FIG. 8. Accordingly, when the pairs of securing straps  124 , 125 , and  126 , 127  are mated together and disposed within the aforenoted X-shaped array or arrangement, it is noted that, as viewed in FIG. 8, securing strap  124  extends upwardly across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  from the lower right corner  128  of the safety sheet  112  toward the upper left corner  130  of the safety sheet  112 , while the paired or mated securing strap  125  extends downwardly across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  from the upper left corner  130  of the safety sheet  112  toward the lower right corner  128  of the safety sheet  112 . In a similar manner, the securing strap  126  extends upwardly across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  from the lower left corner  132  of the safety sheet  112  toward the upper right corner  134  of the safety sheet  112 , while the paired or mated securing strap  127  extends downwardly across the rearwardly disposed surface  113  of the safety sheet  112  from the upper right corner  134  of the safety sheet  112  toward the lower left corner  132  of the safety sheet  112 .  
     [0027] As can best be appreciated from FIGS. 7,7 a , and  8 , as each one of securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  is routed around the corner regions  128 , 130 , 132 , 134  of the safety sheet  112 , the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  are doubled-over upon themselves at effectively intermediate portions thereof so as to define looped portions  152 , 154 , 156 , 158  which are effectively located within the vicinities of the corner regions of the X-shaped securing strap array or arrangement. As more particularly illustrated within FIG. 7 a , which discloses looped portion  158  as an example of each looped portion  152 ,  154 , 156 , 158  of the securing straps  124 ,  125 , 126 , 127 , the free end portion  150  of the securing strap  127  is passed through a snap-hook type fastener  160  which, in turn, is adapted to be mated with a hook-type fastener  162  which is fixedly mounted upon an interior wall portion of the cargo container  118 . Continuing further, the doubled-over intermediate portions of the securing straps  124 , 125 ,  126 , 127  are loosely tied or secured together by suitable slip-ties as disclosed at  164 , 166 , 168 , 170 , and in order to actually mate or attached the paired securing straps  124 , 125  and  126 , 127  together, each one of the second free end portions  146 , 150  of the securing straps  125 , 127  has a suitable strapping fastener  172 , 174 , commercially available from ITW FASTEX, Des Plaines, Ill., fixedly mounted thereon and through which the corresponding second free end portions  144 , 148  of the securing straps  124 , 126  are adapted to be passed.  
     [0028] As can therefore be readily appreciated, for example, from FIGS. 8 and 10, in view of the fact that all of the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  are effectively free from, or not secured to, the safety sheet  112 , other than being fixed upon the forwardly disposed surface  111  of the safety sheet  112  at the corner regions  128 , 130 , 132 , 134  thereof by means of the respective first end portions  136 ,  138 , 140 , 142 , in view of the looped passage of the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  through the plurality of snap-hook fasteners  160  so as to effectively permit slidable movement of the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  with respect to the plurality of snap-hook fasteners  160 , and furthermore, in view of the engaged mounting of the plurality of snap-hook fasteners  160  upon the mounting hook fasteners  162  mounted upon the interior wall portions of the cargo container  118 , when the free end portions  144 , 148  of the securing straps  124 , 126  are respectively pulled through the strapping fasteners  172 , 174 , the pairs of securing straps  124 , 125 , and  126 , 127  are tightened and tensioned with respect to each other so as to effectively remove any slack from such paired securing straps  124 , 125  and  126 , 127 . Accordingly, the safety sheet  112  can in fact be properly erected, tensioned, and fixedly disposed with respect to the plurality of cargo load barrels or drums  120  as illustrated within FIGS. 9 and 10 so as to in turn fixedly secure the cargo load barrels or drums  120  within the cargo hold  116  of the cargo container  118 .  
     [0029] As a last important structural feature characteristic of the safety sheet cargo tie-down system  110  of the present invention, the safety sheet  112  comprises a pair of internal pockets  176  formed between the two plies of the dual-ply safety sheet  112  and within which a pair of inflatable bladders or air bags  178  are disposed as can be appreciated from FIGS. 9 and 10. Each one of the pockets  176  has an accordion-type expansion structure so as to readily permit the pocket structure  176  to expand as each one of the inflatable bladders or air bags  178  is inflated, and as shown in FIG. 10, each one of the inflatable bladders or air bags  178  has an inflation valve assembly  180  fluidically connected to an interior portion of the bladder or air bag  178 , and externally accessible for connection to a source of pressurized air, not shown, so as to permit inflation and deflation of the bladder or air bag  178 . Accordingly, it can readily be appreciated that after the safety sheet  112  has been installed and properly erected within the rear portion of the cargo hold  116  and in engagement with the cargo load barrels or drums  120  as a result of the securing straps  124 , 125 , 126 , 127  having their looped portions  152 , 154 , 156 , 158  mounted upon the securing hooks  162  of the cargo container  118  through means of the snap-hook fasteners  160 , the safety sheet air bags  178 , 178  can be appropriately inflated. In this manner, the air bags  178 , 178  exert or impress appropriate forces upon or with respect to both the cargo load barrels or drums  120  as well as the paired securing straps  124 ,  125  and  126 , 127  disposed within the aforenoted X-shaped array or arrangement. Still further, the disposition of the inflatable air bags  178 , 178  within or upon the safety sheet  112  also provides impact protection for the cargo load barrels or drums  120 . As a result of the foregoing structural components, the entire safety sheet tie-down system  110  is then properly secured within the rear portion of the cargo hold  116  so as to in turn securely retain the cargo load barrels or drums  120  within the cargo hold  116  of the cargo container  118  whereby the cargo load barrels or drums  120  will not be able to undergo any undesirable movements within the cargo hold  116 , and in addition, none of the cargo load barrels or drums  120  will be inadvertently and dangerously discharged when, for example, the rear doors  122  of the cargo container  118  are opened by operator personnel.  
     [0030] Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, there has been provided a new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system which comprises a substantially rectangular safety sheet, and four securing straps which are fixedly secured to corner regions of the substantially rectangular safety sheet upon the forwardly disposed surface thereof and which are effectively brought around such corner regions to the rearwardly disposed surface so as to form a pair of securing straps arranged within a criss-crossed X-shaped array or arrangement. Each pair of securing straps has a slip-type fastener fixedly secured upon one free end portion of one of the securing straps, and the free end portion of the other one of the securing straps is passed through such fastener. In this manner, as each pair of securing straps is tightened, the safety sheet is properly secured with respect to the cargo load barrels or drums. Further securing forces or pressures can be appropriately impressed or exerted upon the cargo load barrels or drums as a result of the proper inflation of the inflatable air bags, and such inflatable air bags also provide impact protection for the cargo loads. It can therefore be readily appreciated still further that the new and improved safety sheet cargo tie-down system of the present invention is relatively simple in structure, relatively simple to install, and relatively inexpesnive and economical to fabricate or manufacture.  
     [0031] Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.