Patent Publication Number: US-2010124470-A1

Title: Security Load Bra

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a device and method for preventing injuries of drivers and occupants of trucks designed to carry heavy payloads. 
     Heavy trucks have become the predominant means of delivering all types of goods domestically. Trucking accounts for a majority of all domestic freight value in the United States. The use of safety measures to protect drivers during collisions is known in the art. These safety measures have been designed to mitigate injury during collisions. For example the seat belts have been used in the transportation industry to prevent injury during collisions. However, when an impact occurs with a truck carrying a heavy load the, a driver runs the risk of the front seat in the cab giving way during a rearward collision or during a sudden stop. 
     The prior art discloses several patents which address the issue of safety. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,626,462 discloses a safety net and U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,736 disclose a protection shield. However, the current invention discloses a unique novel design to protect the driver carrying a very heavy payload during a sudden stop or small collision. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present device includes a security device used to secure heavy payloads upon a flatbed platform trailer bed thereby preventing injury during sudden stops and collisions. The security device comprises a plurality of interwoven load bearing straps capable of securing heavy payloads on trucks. The security device is situated between the front side of the payload and the backside of the front cab. 
     One of the major objectives of the present invention is to increase the safety of the passengers in the truck cab. Another objective is to construct a safety device that is easily installed and removable. Another objective is to prevent injury to the passengers from a loose payload which may occur during collision or a sudden stop. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       These as well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a heavy truck with a security load bra constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the security load bra; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the interwoven material 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS 
     As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the security load bra ( 10 ) attaches to the vehicle body ( 30 ) of a heavy semi-trailer truck ( 20 ). The vehicle body ( 30 ) is defined by a front cab structure ( 32 ) with a rearwardly attached flat bed platform trailer ( 34 ) supporting a secured heavy payload ( 36 ). In the transportation industry, flat bed plat form trailer ( 34 ) are used to transport large objects such as construction industrial machinery and other types of oversized objects. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , large objects such as pipes or logs can be secured as a payload ( 36 ). As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the security load bra  10  is positioned between the back side of the front cab ( 32 ) and the front side of the payload ( 36 ). Referring to  FIG. 2 , The security load bra  10  further comprises a plurality of interwoven straps ( 42 ,  41 ) forming a polygonal shape mesh structure capable of sustaining the forward momentum of an oversized payload of over  10  tons. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each strap ( 17 ) is capable of securing at least 5000 pounds of payload on a truck and is made of an elongated strip of strong material of a predetermined width and length. In the preferred embodiment, each strap is made of a strong, flexible, durable material with some measure of elasticity such as nylon or another suitable natural fiber or polymer based synthetic fiber. Additionally each strap can be made of a single or multiple layers of material and has a width of 4 inches. However, in the alternative, mesh structure can be scaled downward to support less payloads. For example the payload can be scaled backward to 2500 pounds by using a strap of two inches in width. 
     In yet, other embodiments, the corners can be re-enforced with a unibody triangular shape reinforcement device. This device can be made of 
     In the preferred embodiment, the perimeter of mesh structure  15  comprise top horizontal edge  50 , bottom horizontal edge  52 , left vertical edge  54 , and a right vertical edge  56 . Mesh structure  15  further comprises left top corner  58 , opposing right top corner  60 , left bottom corner  62  and opposing right bottom corner  64 . In the preferred embodiment, mesh structure ( 15 ) is a square of 8 feet by 8 feet. However, mesh structure ( 15 ) is not limited to these dimensions. Mesh structure  15  further comprises a first subset of straps  40  and a second subset of straps  42 . First subset of straps  40  extends across the body of the straps in one direction. Second subset of straps  42  extends across the body in the opposite direction interwoven in a criss-cross arraignment with first subset of straps  42  forming the interior body of mesh structure  15 . 
     In the preferred embodiment the strapped mesh structure ( 15 ) has a polygonal shape preferably in either a square shape or rectangular shape. However, the security load bra  10  is not limited to that particular shape. As depicted in  FIG. 2 , each edge is secured with an additional horizontal strap secured thereto. 
     With other embodiments, each edge of the polygonal mesh structure  15  would have to be secured and the circumference of a circular or oval shape mesh structure would have to be secured  15 . Additionally, diagonal straps ( 72 , 70 ) as discussed below could be situated in any type of polygonal or circular type structure. 
     Additionally, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , mesh structure ( 15 ) can be reinforced by first diagonal strap  70  and second diagonal strap  72 . First diagonal strap  70  extends from top left corner  58  diagonally across the body of mesh structure  15  to bottom right corner  64 . Second diagonal strap  72  extends from top right corner  60  diagonally across the body of mesh structure  15  to bottom left corner  62 . First diagonal strap  70  overlays and second diagonal strap  72  the center forming a reinforcement vertex point ( 63 ) in the center of the body of mesh structure  15 . Top horizontal edge  50 , bottom horizontal edge  52 , left vertical edge  54  and right vertical edge  56  are secured with a single or double layered strap to form a fully secured body. First diagonal strap  70  and second diagonal strap  72  can extend a predetermined distance beyond each corner forming securing means for attaching the mesh structure  15  into position around the front of the payload. The diagonal straps can be secured by sewing or any suitable adhesive type of material. 
     At each corner of the mesh structure  15 , first diagonal strap  70  and second diagonal strap  72  extends a predetermined distance beyond each corner forming a extension top left  81 , extension top right  82 , extension bottom left  83 , and extension bottom right  84 . Left bottom extension  83  and right bottom extension  84  extends a shorter distance than left top extension  81  and right top extension  82  extends. An extension can be situated at each corner or a variation thereof. As shown, in the preferred embodiment fasteners such as hooks can be secured to the bottom right extension  83  and bottom left extension  84 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown device  10  attached in operational use. As shown, the top left extension  81  and the top right extension  82  are pulled downward and secured to the ratchet that is attached on opposing sides of the trailer bed frame. The bottom left extension  83  and the bottom right extension  84  are pulled forward and the fasteners are attached to the frame on opposing sides of the trailer bed frame. 
     In alternative embodiments the load bearing strap device can be build to scaled downward. For example, the load bearing straps can be down scaled to two inches in width capable of handling 2500 pounds. Additionally, the corners can be reinforced with a polygonal shape device securely attached thereto. In the preferred embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  one or each corner can be reinforced with a triangular shape reinforcement device which can be made of fabric, metal, plastic, or another suitable device.