Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a composite dunnage member for supporting loads on a platform. The composite dunnage member has been developed primarily as a substitute for conventional timber dunnage members used on the decks of load carrying vehicles and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. Such load carrying vehicles include articulated and non- articulated trucks, trains, ships, delivery vans, pickup/utility vehicles, self-propelled modular transporters, and the like. However, the composite dunnage member is not limited to this application and may, for example, also be used on stationary platforms, such as warehouse floors.

Background

[0002] The deck of flat bed trucks and other cargo carrying vehicles is typically formed from steel, which has a relatively low coefficient of friction. Accordingly, if cargo is placed directly on the deck, it is prone to slippage. Such slippage can make the cargo carried on the deck unstable and increase the chance of cargo being damaged. Unstable cargo can also fall from the vehicle in transit and represent a significant safety risk to other traffic, and also represents a safety risk to operators during loading and unloading. Slippage of cargo can also negatively impact vehicle dynamics. To reduce slippage, timber dunnage members, such as timber railway sleepers, are conventionally placed on the deck to increase friction between the cargo and the deck.

[0003] Whilst the use of timber dunnage members improves friction, there is still a significant incidence of cargo slippage. Moreover, timber dunnage members wear relatively rapidly and require relatively frequent replacement. Also, as timber dunnage members are relatively hard, they tend to vibrate on the deck, which generates noise and reduces friction, and can also damage the deck. Timber dunnages also vary in structural and other physical properties, such as strength, weather resistance and frictional properties, due to the inherent variability of timber generally, as well as more specific sources of variability, such as the plantation the timber is sourced from and the age of the timber. This variability can increase the risk of failure, fatigue or slippage of timber dunnages. [0004] The timber for known dunnages is typically hardwood. There are negative environmental impacts associated with the use of hardwood, which is often sourced from native forests.

[0005] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary

[0006] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0007] In a first aspect, there is provided a composite dunnage member for supporting cargo on a platform, the dunnage member comprising:

an elongate structural core defining a longitudinal axis; and

at least one resilient sleeve extending around the core at a plurality of locations along the longitudinal axis, the sleeve having a base for contact with the platform and a top for supporting the cargo,

wherein when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the base of the sleeve is enlarged to provide resistance against the dunnage member rolling about the longitudinal axis in use.

[0008] The at least one resilient sleeve may be a continuous resilient sleeve extending substantially along a full length of the core. Alternatively, the at least one resilient sleeve may comprise a plurality of resilient sleeves spaced apart along the length of the core.

[0009] In a second aspect, there is provided a composite dunnage member for supporting cargo on a platform, the dunnage member being formed from a plurality of interconnectable longitudinal modules that together form a unitary dunnage member, wherein each of the modules comprises: an elongate structural core defining a longitudinal axis; and

a resilient sleeve extending around the core and substantially along a full length of the core, the sleeve having a base for contact with the platform and a top for supporting the cargo.

[0010] Referring to the second aspect, when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the base of the sleeve may be enlarged to provide resistance against the dunnage member rolling about the longitudinal axis in use.

[0011] Referring to either of the first and second aspects, when viewed along the

longitudinal axis, the base may be wider than the top.

[0012] The dunnage member may have a length of at least 600mm, at least 1500mm, at least 2000mm or in some embodiments of around 2400mm. The dunnage member may comprise a plurality of longitudinal modules that can be joined together to form a unitary dunnage member of the desired length. For example, four 600mm dunnage member modules or two 1200mm dunnage member modules may be connected together to form a 2400mm dunnage member. At least one connector may span between the cores of adjacent dunnage member modules to facilitate connecting the dunnage member modules together. Apertures may be provided in the cores and may align with corresponding apertures in the connector(s) such that fasteners may be installed through the apertures in the connector(s) and cores to fasten the dunnage member modules together. The sleeves may comprise openings that align with the apertures in the cores to facilitate installation of the fasteners.

[0013] Openings in the core and the sleeve may be provided in the base of the dunnage member to facilitate installation of fasteners to secure the dunnage member to the platform.

[0014] At least one bracket may be fixedly connectable to the core to facilitate connection of one or more accessories to the dunnage member. Such accessories may include posts attachable to opposite longitudinal ends of the core to restrict cargo from moving on the dunnage member in a direction of the longitudinal axis, such as to resist cargo slipping off the ends of the dunnage member. The bracket may include an anchor point, such as a pin, to which a tether can be connected to facilitate tying of cargo to the dunnage member. The bracket may be removably connected to the core. The position of the bracket with respect to the core may be adjustable along the longitudinal axis. The bracket and core may include apertures that are selectively alignable to facilitate securing the bracket to the core at a desired longitudinal position. In some embodiments, the bracket may be connected to the outside of the core. In other embodiments, the core may be tubular and the bracket may include a mounting end that is slidably engageable inside the core whilst an opposite end of the bracket extends from the core. In alternative embodiments, the core may be solid.

[0015] In some embodiments, the sleeve is permanently connected to the core. The sleeve may be formed around the core by moulding. For example, the sleeve may be injection moulded around the sleeve. Alternatively, the sleeve may be compression moulded or extruded. In other embodiments, the sleeve may be removably connected to the core.

[0016] The sleeve may be formed from a plastics material, such as natural rubber or a thermoset plastics material.

[0017] The core may be formed from a variety of materials, including metal, such as steel or iron, or structural plastics.

[0018] Also disclosed herein is a cargo carrying apparatus comprising:

a dunnage member as defined in the first or second aspect above, when comprising the feature of at least one bracket fixedly connectable to the core to facilitate connection of one or more accessories to the dunnage member; and

at least one cargo restraining member removably attachable to the core, via a corresponding said at least one bracket, to restrict cargo from moving on the dunnage member.

[0019] The at least one cargo restraining member may comprise a post for restricting cargo from moving on the dunnage member in a direction of the longitudinal axis. Other accessories for stabilising the dunnage member on the platform or for restraining cargo movement may be connected to the core via the at least one bracket.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0020] Embodiments of the presently disclosed composite dunnage member will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an end portion of a composite dunnage member according to the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the end portion of the dunnage member of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the dunnage member of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an underside view of the dunnage member of Figure 1 ; and

Figures 7 and 8 are schematic perspective views showing various accessories for the dunnage member of Figure 1.

Description of Embodiments

[0021] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a composite dunnage member 10 for supporting cargo on a platform. The dunnage member 10 comprises an elongate hollow structural core 12, which defines a longitudinal axis A, and a resilient sleeve 14 extending around the core and substantially along its full length. The sleeve 14 has a base 14a for contact with the platform and a top 14b for supporting the cargo. As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, when viewed along the longitudinal axis A, the base of the sleeve 14 is enlarged to provide resistance against the dunnage member rolling about the longitudinal axis A in use.

[0022] The dunnage member 10 is formed from a plurality of dunnage member modules 10' joined together. Connectors 16, as shown in Figure 4, span between the cores 12 of adjacent dunnage member modules to facilitate connecting the dunnage member modules together. Corresponding apertures 18 are provided in the cores 12 and connectors 16 such that fasteners

19 may be installed therethrough to fasten the dunnage member modules together. Openings

20 aligned with the apertures 18 in the cores 12 are also provided in the sleeves 14 to facilitate installation of the fasteners 19. [0023] Openings 22 are also provided in the core 12 and the sleeve 14 at the base of the dunnage member 10 to facilitate installation of fasteners to secure the dunnage member to the platform.

[0024] Removable end caps may be provided for closing longitudinal ends of the core 12.

[0025] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, a bracket 30, 30' is fixedly connectable to the core 12 and includes a mounting recess 32 for receiving one end of a vertical post 50. The bracket 30 facilitates connection of vertical posts 50 to opposite longitudinal ends of the core 12 to resist cargo slipping off the ends of the dunnage member 10. Other accessories for stabilising the dunnage member 10 on the platform or for restraining cargo movement may be connected to the core via the bracket 30 or a modified form thereof.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the bracket 30 is connected to the outside of the core 12 by engaging a mounting end 34 of the bracket over the core 12 and sleeve 14 and installing fasteners, such as bolts 19, through openings in the bracket and into corresponding openings 26 in sides of the core 12 and sleeve 14. Alternatively or in addition, fasteners may connect the bracket 30 to the top of the core 12. Three or more openings 26 are provided at a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart locations in the core 12 and sleeve 14 to facilitate positioning the bracket 30 at a desired location along the longitudinal axis A.

[0027] In the Figure 7 embodiment, a pin accessory 40 is also fixedly connectable to the core 12. The pin accessory 40 includes a mounting end 44 slidably engageable inside the hollow core 12. Fasteners 19 secure also the pin accessory 40 to the core 12. The pin accessory 40 has a striker plate 46 that engages the end of the dunnage member 10 to limit longitudinal movement of the bracket 30' relative to the dunnage member. A pin 42 is secured between mounting flanges 48 on the striker plate 46. A tether, such as a rope or strap, can be installed around the pin 42 to facilitate tying of cargo to the dunnage member 10.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the bracket 30' is connected to the inside of the core 12 by slidably engaging a mounting end 34 of the bracket inside the hollow core. Similar to the connection arrangement described above with respect to the Figure 7 embodiment, fasteners, such as bolts, are installed through openings in the bracket 30' and into corresponding openings in top, bottom or sides of the core 12. The bracket 30' has a striker plate 36 that engages the end of the dunnage member 10 to limit longitudinal movement of the bracket 30' relative to the dunnage member. The bracket 30' includes a pin 38 secured between flanges 39 extending from the striker plate 36. A tether, such as a rope or strap, can be installed around the pin 38 to facilitate tying of cargo to the dunnage member 10.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the dunnage member 10 has a length of 2400mm and is formed from two dunnage member modules 10' of 1200mm in length. However, the dunnage member 10 and/or dunnage member modules 10' may be of other lengths.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve 14 is permanently connected to the core 12 and is formed by injection or compression moulding of formulated rubber around the core. In other embodiments, however, the sleeve 14 may be removably connected to the core 12, such as by being slidably engaged over the core 12, to facilitate its replacement.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the core 12 is formed from rectangular or box section galvanised steel. In other embodiments, however, it may be formed from a variety of materials, including other metals, such as iron, or from structural plastics.

[0032] It will be appreciated that the illustrated dunnage member 10 provides a number of advantages. For example, provision of the resilient sleeve 14 significantly increases friction between the dunnage member 10 and a platform compared to that achievable with steel or timber dunnages to ameliorate the risks posed by slippage, whilst the structural core 12 provides the dunnage member 10 with sufficient strength to support cargo. The resilient sleeve 14 also ameliorates the other disadvantages associated with dunnage members that have a relatively hard outer surface (e.g. noise, vibration, damage to the platform and vehicle suspension, and so on). The dunnage member 10 is also well adapted for maintenance when the sleeve 14 becomes worn, at which time a new sleeve 14 can either be remoulded around the core 12 or the old sleeve can be removed and a new sleeve 14 can be slid over the core. Also, by forming the dunnage member 10 from a plurality of interconnected modules 10', formation of the sleeve 14 using rubber compression moulding or injection moulding is facilitated, since most rubber compression moulding and injection moulding machines can typically only mould components having relatively short lengths. [0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of possible variations and/or modifications include, but are not limited to:

• the bracket 30, 30' and core 12 being of unitary construction, for example being cast in one piece or being welded together;

• the bracket 30, 30' and post 50 being of unitary construction, for example being cast in one piece or being welded together;

• instead of a continuous sleeve 14, a plurality of resilient sleeves or rings may extend around the core 12 and be spaced apart along the longitudinal axis A;

• the core 12 may be solid instead of hollow; and/or

• the sleeve 14 may be formed by injection moulding a thermoset plastics material.