The present invention refers generically to a cargo/load containment system for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers.

More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic system for blocking and unblocking of the cargo/load for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers through the use of airbags mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle, which, by inflating, make the roof of the vehicle integral with the cargo/load and to the frame.

The system is particularly efficient for roofing cover of "French" semi-trailer, that is to say employing a series of ratchets that keep the tarpaulin roofing cover of the semi-trailer under tension.

In any case, the system can be installed on any means of transport, curtainsider or not, equipped with tarpaulins or rigid walls, and of any size or shape.

In addition, the system can also be mounted longitudinally or transversely on all types of roofs / ceilings, as well as in the front and/or rear portion of the cargo compartment, both as filler, to reduce reaction/recoil in the event of braking.

Various methods of cargo/load containment for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers are known, including immobilization methods, blocking methods, direct anchoring methods, ground anchoring methods and a combination of the methods indicated above.

The blocking methods provide for stowing the load flush against structures and fixed elements of the semitrailer, such as front sides, lateral sides, sides or struts.

The load can be stowed directly or indirectly, using fillers between the goods and the blocking devices on the semi-trailer, so as to prevent any horizontal movements of the load.

To block the load effectively, keep the goods as close as possible to each other and against the fixed blocking devices of the semitrailer.

When the load does not fill the space between the lateral side and that of the rear and is not secured in any other way, the voids must be filled with a filler, in order to create compressive forces that ensure satisfactory blocking of the load.

Some materials that can be used as fillers consist of pallets for goods transport, inflatable air cushions, stiffening reinforcements, diagonal and transversal axes.

When there is a difference in height between different layers of goods, you can use the threshold block or the block with panels to ensure the base of the upper layer to the lower one.

In practice, by using a suitable material, such as a pallet, the section of the load is raised so as to form a threshold or step and the upper layer of the load is fixed to the base in a way longitudinal.

Other blocking methods involve the use of wooden planks nailed to the load platform and/or chocks and inclined platforms with stop chocks to prevent cylindrical objects from moving forward and backward on the load platform.

The anchoring methods provide for the use of containment devices formed by textile strap, chains or metal cables capable of holding the load together or anchoring it to the platform or to any blocking devices.

Ail the traditional methods described up to now, however, present various drawbacks, among which the most relevant is constituted by the long set-up times of the aforesaid load containment devices.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a load containment system for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers, which considerably reduces the assembly time of the load containment equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a load containment system for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers, which can be implemented at reasonable costs in virtue of the advantages achieved.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a load containment system for semi-trailers, tractors and trailers, which is particularly efficient, reliable and robust.

These and other objects are achieved by means of a load containment system for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers, according to the attached claim 1. Other detailed features of the system are present in the further dependent claims.

The aforementioned objects and advantages will result to a greater extent from the following description, relating to a preferred embodiment of the load containment system for semi-trailers, trucks and trailers, which is the object of the present invention, and with reference to the attached drawings in which :

- figure 1 is a side view of a semi-trailer in which the load containment system, according to the invention, is installed;

- figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the elements of the load containment system, according to the invention;

- figure 3 is a frontal view of the element of the load containment system in a deflated /rest position;

- figure 4 is a frontal view of the element of the load containment system in an inflated/operating position;

First of all, note that even if the following description refers in particular to the application of the load containment system to a semitrailer, the same can also be used in the same way for trucks and /or trailers.

With reference to the above figures, the semi-trailer 1 has a load compartment 2 provided externally with a tarpaulin 3, which is usually fixed to the frame of the semi-trailer and kept in tension by means of pawls (not shown in the attached figures), adapted to be operated manually for opening or closing the load compartment 2, and a rear closure 4.

According to the invention, on the ceiling 11 of the load compartment 2, a series of shaped elements or trolleys 5 are positioned, connected in sequence and provided with lateral fixing plates 6 and a shell profile 7, in a way to be integral with the ceiling 11 of the load compartment 2.

The trolleys 5 are arranged transversely to the compartment 2 of the semi-trailer 1 and internally contain at least an airbag 8; the number of such carriages 5 is directly proportional to the need of load containment 2 inside the vehicle. Said trolley 5 is configured in such a way that it comprises said shell profile, said airbag 8, said lateral fixing plate 6 and an extensible fabric 12.

Said lateral fixing plates are fixable to said ceiling 11 of said load compartment 3. Preferably by means of screw, bolt and nuts, straps and their likes. This is to ensure said trolley is made integral with the ceiling 11 of the load containment 2 of the semi-trailer 1.

Said shell profile 7 is configured such as to house said airbag 8 and said extensible fabric 12 is fixed to said shell profile 7 and apt to hold said airbag to said shell profile 7. In particular, said extensible fabric substantially surrounds said airbag 8, enclosing said airbag 8 between an inner portion of said extensible fabric 12 and an internal portion of said shell profile 7. In particular said extensible fabric is elastic and apt to expand, as well as exert an opposing force on said airbag 8 in order to retain said airbag 8 to its housing.

Said airbag 8 is configured to move from a rest position B, corresponding to when said airbag 8 is deflated, to an operating position C corresponding to when said airbag 8 is inflated and vice versa. The inflation of said airbag 8 is achieved through a conduit 10 apt to supply air to said airbag 8 from a pumping device present in the driver’s cabinet 9. The deflation of said airbag 8 is achieved by an exhaust device apt to expel the air within said airbag 8 to the external environment.

Said shell profile 7 has a frame that is advantageously symmetrical about an axis A.

When the force produced by said airbag 8 when being inflated is greater than the force exerted by elastic tension of said extensible fabric 12, the extensible fabric 12 expands along with the inflating of said airbag 8, till the inflating force produced by said airbag 8 and the tension force of said extensible fabric 12 is equal and inflation comes to a stop. In this embodiment, such limit is advantageously not reached, however, an operating limit is advantageously reached where said airbag 8 produces enough pressure to stabilize the load in the compartment 2 and to adequately substantially take the shape of the profile it comes in contact with, in order not to crash the load in cases when it is delicate and/or less resistant to pressure.

Said shell profile 7, having a frame that is symmetrical about an axis A, however said profile 7 is not limited to a symmetrical frame, comprises an a first and second holders 15a, 15b apt to retain said extensible fabric 12 to said shell profile 7, in particular, to retain the ends of said extensible fabric 12 such that said airbag 8 is enclosed/wrapped by said extensible fabric 12. Said shell profile also comprises a first and second sockets 16a, 16b below said first and second holders 15a, 15b respectively. Said first and second sockets are apt to house a first and second end 131 a, 131b of a first and second elastic lever arms 14a, 14b respectively. Said first and second elastic lever arms 14a, 14b is configured in such a way that said first and second ends 131a, 131b is apt to rotate following a force exerted on said elastic lever arms 14a, 14b by said extensible fabric 12 during in inflation, thus when said airbag 8 is going from rest position B to an operating position C. Said lever arms 14a, 14b rotate about said ends 131a, 131 b along an operating trajectory D. Said lever arms 14a, 14b is advantageously equipped with elastic means preferably springs which oppose the force exerted by said extensible fabric 12, in order to return said lever arms 14a, 14b to their original position when said airbag 8 is said rest position. Preferably, said spring means (not shown) is present at the connections of said ends 131a, 131b and said sockets 16a, 16b and configured to oppose rotation of said lever arms 14a, 14b.

Said shell profile further comprises a first and second arch elements 13a, 13b forming an arch 13. Said arch 13 has a lower external surface configured in such a way that its has a concave shape and apt to accommodate and support a substantial external surface of said airbag 8 and an upper external surface apt to stop said lever arms 14a, 14b, when said airbag 8 is in said operating position C. Said trolley 5 preferably further comprises an engaging means 17 apt to couple said trolley 5 to the ceiling 11 of said compartment 2.

The shell profile 7 is apt to contain the at least an airbag 8 and distribute the thrust of the said airbag 8 over the whole width of the vehicle; the said profile 7 is advantageously made in aluminum, steel, wood, plastic or any other material capable of supporting the vertical thrust exerted by said airbag 8.

Advantageously, a portion of an extensible fabric 12 is fixed to said shell profile 7 of the carriages 5, along the entire length of each carriage 5. Said extensible fabric 12 surrounds said airbag 8 during the whole movement thereof, so as to contain it and control the actuation.

The system advantageously may also include a rigid frame with a series of airbags 8 mounted vertically or horizontally to act as fillers and partitions, when inflated, in the case of non-homogeneous loads.

In practice, according to the present invention, an automatic system for blocking or unblocking the goods contained in the load compartment 2 of the semi-trailer 1 is realized simply by using a series of airbags 8 housed inside carriages 5 fixed to the ceiling of the load compartment 2 .

In order to block the goods contained in the load compartment 2, it is sufficient to actuate, from the cabinet 9 of the semi-trailer 1 , a pumping device for said at least an airbag 8, so that the same, through the conduit 10, can inflate and brought contact with the load below, (normally positioned on special pallets).

Thus, by means of an external control, it is possible to block the entire load of the semi-trailer 1 , even while the vehicle is moving. In this way, the ceiling of the load compartment 2 becomes substantially integral, thus brought in contact, with the aforementioned load and the chassis of the semi-trailer 1 , while the ratchets keep the tarpaulin cover 3 lowered.

The extensible fabric 12 is configured in such a way to extend depending on the volume of air introduced in the airbag 8.

However, it is advantageously provided with an operating limit beyond which it does not extend anymore in order to control the downward movement of each airbag 8 and to safely stabilize the goods placed in the cargo compartment 2, filling any spaces between one good and the other.

Furthermore, when the airbags 8 are deflated, again by means of an external control, preferably when vehicle is at a stop, the extensible fabric 12 follows the movement of the respective airbag 8, returning to the rest position inside the profile 7 of the carriage 5.

By virtue of the foregoing, it can be understood, therefore, how the load containment system for semitrailers, trucks and trailers, achieves the objects and realizes the advantages already mentioned.

Finally, it is clear that many other variations may be made to the containment system in question, without thereby abandoning the novelty principles inherent in the inventive idea expressed in the attached claims, as it is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention , the materials, the shapes and the dimensions of the illustrated details may be any according to the requirements and replaced with other technically equivalent ones.

Where the constructional features and techniques mentioned in the subsequent claims are followed by signs or reference numbers, such reference marks have been introduced with the sole aim of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by such reference marks.