Patent ID: 7156592

Claim:
A load-restraining apparatus to control a vehicle load, the apparatus comprising: a. a load-restraining member having an axis of rotation, said load-restraining member being adapted for selectable rotation about said axis of rotation between a first position and a second position; b. a first slidable member and a second slidable member, said load-restraining member rotatably engaging said first slidable member and said second slidable member, said first and said second slidable members being disposed on opposite sides of said load-restraining member; c. a channel member adapted to be mounted to or defined by a vehicle, said channel member defining a longitudinal channel, said longitudinal channel defining a longitudinal direction, said first and said second slidable members slidably engaging said longitudinal channel, said first and said second slidable members being selectably movable in said longitudinal direction, said axis of rotation of said load-restraining member being substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction, said channel member having an upper side, said upper side of said channel member defining a slot, said load-restraining member having an upper end, said upper end of said load-restraining member extending through said slot when said load-restraining member is in said first position, said upper end of said load-restraining member not extending through said slot when said load-restraining member is in said second position, said channel member having a lower bearing surface, an upper bearing surface, a first side bearing surface and a second side bearing surface, said lower, upper, first side and second side bearing surfaces defining said longitudinal channel, said lower, upper and first side bearing surfaces slidably engaging said first slidable member, said lower, upper and second side bearing surfaces slidably engaging said second slidable member, said lower, upper, first side and second side bearing surfaces substantially precluding a sliding motion of said first and said second slidable members in said longitudinal channel in any direction other than said longitudinal direction; d. a T-slot defined by said channel member; e. a fastener slidably engaging and restrained by said T-slot, said fastener being adapted to selectably retain said load-restraining member in said first position.