Field of the Invention

This invention relates to bad restraining apparatus for a trailer, to a retractable cable reel for use in such load restraining apparatus, and to a method of restraining a load on a trailer.

Background to (he Invention

In a first known method of restraining a load on a trailer, known as "overstrapping", a strap b fastened over the load to load-bearing parts of the trailer such as side roves or a chases, and tcnsioned against trie load-bearing parts to exert a downward and lateral restraining force on the load. Fn a second known metbυd of restraining a load on a trailer, straps connected between a ceiling of the trailer and a load-bearing part of the trailer such as a floor are tcnsioned against the sides of the load to exert a lateral restraining force on the load. By ensuring that the load abuts a headboard of the trailer, and crossing some of the straps at the rear of the load, the load can also be restrained from longitudinal rnovemenL

The lirst method has the disadvantage that someone must climb into the trailer to throw the strap oveτ the load or, if this is not possible, climb onto the load to drop the ends of the strap down the sides of the load. Climbing into the trailer and onto the load are both undesirable because they involve a risk of a fall from height.

The second method hits two disadvantages. First, tensioning straps between the ceiling and the load-bearing part of the trailer stresses the ceiling and can be dangerous if the trailer topples in a road traffic accident, because the weight of the load is exerted on the ceiling by the straps, and the ceiling can Tail catastrophically. For this reason use of the second method is prohibited in certain territories. Second, the straps are frequently damaged, often by crossing the straps at the rear of the load, and replacement of a damaged strap requires access Io lhc ceiling of the trailer, which again involves a risk of a fall from height.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided load restraining apparatus for a trailer, the apparatus comprising an elongate load restraining element adapted to be fastened over a load on a trailer to load-bearing parts of the trailer and tcnsioned against the load-bearing parts to restrain the load, the apparatus further comprising at least one attachment member adapted for attachnieut to a ceiling of a trailer and a retractable support assembly connectable between the at least one attachment member and first and second ends of a middle portion of the load restraining element, the retractable support assembly permitting movement of the middle portion of the load restraining element relative to the at least one attachment member from a retracted position to an extended position, and bcinβ operative to move the middle portion of the load restraining element relative to the ai least one attachment member from the extended position to the retracted position.

The term "trailer" in this specification is intended to cover not only trailers but also large goods vehicles.

In use of the load restraining apparatus of the first aspect of the invention the at least one attachment member is attached to a ceiling of a trailer, the retractable support assembly is suspended from the at least one attachment member, and the middle portion of the elongate load restraining element is suspended by the first and second ends of the middle portion from the retractable support assembly in the retracted position adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer.

Witli the middle portion of the load restraining clement suspended in the retracted position adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer, end portions of the load restraining element hang at the sides of the trailer, such that a load can be loaded onto the trailer between the hanging end portions and beneath the middle portion. Once the load has been loaded onto the trailer, the end portions of the load restraining element can be pulled downwards by a person standing at ground level, moving the middle portion of the load restraining element downwards from the retracted position to the extended position, and (he load restraining clement can be fastened over the load to load-bearing parts of the trailer such as side raves or a chassis, and the load restraining element tcnsioned against the load-bearing parts of the trailer using a tensioning device to restrain the load.

When the load is to be unloaded from the trailer, the load restraining clement is unfastened from the load-bearing parts of the trailer, whereupon the retractable support assembly moves the middle portion of the load restraining element from the extended position to the retracted position adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer, with the end portions of the load restraining element hanging at the sides of the trailer, so that the load can be unloaded from between the hanging end portions and beneath the middle portion.

Thus the invention can provide load restraining apparatus that can both restrain a load on a trailer without applying significant force to a ceiling of the trailer, and can be operated from ground level.

The elongate load restraining element may advantageously form part or an arrangement of the elongate load restraining element and a tensioning device, the arrangement being adapted to be fastened over a load on a trailer to load-bearing parts of the trailer and tensioned by means of the tensioning device aguinsl the load-bearing parts to restrain the load.

The elongate load restraining element may advantageously comprise a canvas strap.

The elongate load restraining element may advantageously be provided with a plurality of fastening elements for engagement with the retractable support assembly.

The fastening elements may, for example, be loops attached to the load restraining element The middle portion of the load restraining element can then be selected to suit different loads or different configurations of the retractable support assembly b y appropriate selection of lirsl and second ones of the plurality of fastening elements to which the retractable support assembly is connected.

The elongate load restraining dement may advantageously be provided with movable pads adapted for attachment to the load restraining clement. The pads may, for example, fit around the load restraining clement and be slidable along the clement, or may be attached to the element, for example by press studs υr hook-and-Joop fasteners.

The tensioning device is preferably a ratchet tensioning device.

The attachment member may, for example, comprise an eye bolt foτ fixed attachment to a ceiling of a trailer.

Preferably, however, the attachment member comprises a runner engageable with a guide of a ceiling of a trailer to permit sliding movement of the runner along the guide.

Where the attachment member comprises a runner, the load restraining apparatus can be fitted to an existing guide of a ceiling of a trailer to replace the ceiling mounted straps previously used on that trailer. The sliding movement permitted by the runner allows the load restraining apparatus to be moved to any point along a trailer at which it is required.

The runner may, for example, comprise a ring thai fits over, and slides along, a rail.

Preferably the runner comprises at least one roller engageable with a track of a ceiling of a trailer. In a first embodiment of the invention the retractable support assembly comprises lϊrst biasing means and a yoke, the first biasing means being connected in use between die at least one attachment member and a middle portion of the yoke, and first and second end portions oϊ the yoke being connected in use to the first and second ends, respectively, of the middle portion of the load restraining element

With this arrangement of the retractable support assembly, rotation of the yoke may occur in ose, such that the yoke is aligned along a trailer instead of across the trailer, so that the end portions of the load restraiiαing element hang near to the middle of the trailer instead of at the sides of the trailer, which would hinder loading and unloading of the trailer.

In a second, preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, the apparatus comprises first and second attachment members and the retractable support assembly comprises frrst and second biasing means, the first biasing means being connected in use between the firet attachment member and the first end of the middle portion of the load restraining clement, and the second biasing means being connected in use between the second attachment member and the second end of the middle portion of the load restraining clement.

In this way the middle portion of the load restraining element will tend in use to be suspended across the trailer rather than along the trailer, and the end portions will tend to hang at the sides of the trailer. The biasing means may advantageously comprise an clastic elongate element such as a bungee cord.

Preferably, however, the biasing means comprise a retractable cable reel having a reel to which a cable is attached, and a mechanism that permits the cable to be unwound from the reel in response to application of a tensile force to a free end of the cable, but acts to wind the cable onto the reel upon removal of the tensile force, the reel typically being operatively connected in use to the at least one attachment member and the free end of the cable typically being operalively connected in use to the yoke or load restraining element

The retractable cable reel can typically be arranged to have a shorter length when the cable is wound onto the reel than an elastic elongate clement such as a bυngee cord would have in an unextended condition, so that the retractable cable reel can suspend the middle portion of the load restraining element closer to a ceiling of a trailer than could an elastic elongate element such as bungee cord. The invention also lies in a trailer or large goods vehicle when fitted with load restraining apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a retractable cable reel comprising a reel, a cable attached to the reel, and a winding mechanism that permits the cable to be unwound from the reel in response to application of a tensile force to a free end of the cable, but acts to wind the cable onlo the reel upon τemovul of the tensile force, wherein the reel is operativeJy connected to a runner for engagement with a guide of a ceiling of a trailer and the free end of the cable is provided wilh u fastening element for attachment to a load restraining clement.

The retractable cuWe reel preferably further comprises a body that contains the reel and from which the free end of the cable extends.

The body is preferably provided with a lug for attachment to the runner.

The body is preferably rigidly attached to the runner. This facilitates movement of the retractable cable reel along the guide by a person holding an end of a load restraining element attached to the fastening element of the cable red. because it prevents rotation of the cable reel relative to the runner.

Preferably the runner comprises at least one rollcT for engagement wilh a track of a ceiling of a trailer. The fastening clement preferably comprises a spring clip.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of restraining a load on a trailer or large goods vehicle, the method comprising the steps of suspending a retractable support assembly from a ceiling of the trailer or large goods vehicle, suspending a middle portion of an elongate load restraining element frutn the retractable support assembly in a retracted position adjacent to the ceiling of the trailer or large goods vehicle, pulling end portions of the load restraining elemeut downwards to move the middle portion from the retracted position to an extended position, fastening an arrangement of the load restraining element and a tensioning device over the load to load-bearing parts of the trailer or large goods vehicle, and tensioning the load restraining element using the tensioning device to restrain the load. Preferably the step of suspending the retractable support assembly from the ceiling of the trailer or large goods vehicle comprises engaging a runner with a guide υf the ceiling.

More preferably still, the step of suspending (he retractable support assembly from the ceiling υftrie trailer or large goods vehicle cυmprise.s engaging a Tunner comprising at least one roller with a track of the ceiling.

Brief Description or the Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic, partially sectional view of a first embodiment of load restraining apparatus in accordance with the invention in a retracted condition; Figure 2 is a schematic, partially sectional view of the load restraining apparatus of - ^•' igurc 1 in an extended condition; Figure 3 is a schematic, partially sectional view of a second embodiment of load restraining apparatus in accordance with the invention in a retracted condition;

Figure 4 is a schematic, partially sectional view of the load restraining apparatus of Figure 3 iα an extended condition;

Figure 5 is a side view of a retractable cable reel according to the invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view into a trailer fitted with load restraining apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

The load restraining apparatus 10 of Figures I and 2 comprises an attachment member in the form of a wheeled runner denoted generally by reference numeral 12, a retractable support assembly comprising a retractable cable reel denoted generally by reference numeral 14 and a yoke denoted generally by reference numeral 16, and an arrangement of an elongate load restraining clement in the form of a canvas strap denoted generally by reference numeral 18 and a γatchet tensioning device denoted generally by reference numeral 20.

The wheeled runner 12 comprises Ά plate 22 through which an axle 24 passes, lust and second wheels 26 and 28, respectively, being mounted on the axle 24 on opposite sides of the plate 22. A ceiling 30 of a trailer (not shown in Figures I and 2) is provided with a track that runs the length of the trailer along the middle of the ceiling 30. The track is defined by a first lip 32 and a second lip 34. In use of the load restraining apparatus the plate 22 is suspended by the axle 24 from the wheels 26 and 28, which are supported by the lips 32 and 34, respectively, which define the track. The wheeled runner 12 is sϋdable along the track by means of the wheels 26 and 28 to any position along the trailer at which it is required foτ use.

The retractable cable reel 14 comprises a cylindrical body 36 from which a rectangular lug 38 projects. The lug 38 is bolted to the plate 22 of the runner 12. The body 36 of the retractable cable reel contains a reel (not shown) to which a cable 40 is attached, and a spring-loaded winding mechanism (not shown), The winding mechanism permits the cable 40 to be unwound from the reel in response to application of a suitable tensile force to a free end of the cable, as shown in Figure 2, but acts to wind the cable 40 onto the reel upon removal of the tensile force, as shown in Figure 1, Λ stop grommct 42 attached to the cable 40 prevents the free end of the cable fnmi being drawn inside the body 36. The body 36, cable 40 and stop grommet 42 are constituted by a tool balancer available from TECNA S.p.A. of Italy under Model No. 9313. The free end of the cable 40 is attached to a middle portion of the yoke 16, which is art aluminiurn tube having a long, straight portion 44 and first and second end portions 46 and 48, respectively, which are bent perpendicularly to the straight portion 44.

First and second spring clips 50 and 52, respectively, are respectively attached to the first and second end portions 46 and 48 of the yoke 16.

The canvas strap 18 is provided with fastening elements in the form of canvas loops stitched to the strap. Six such loops are shown in l igures 1 and 2, denoted by reference numerals 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64. The canvas strap 18 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 suspended from the spring clip 50 by the loop 56 and from the spring clip 52 by the loop 62. The loops to which each spring clip is attached can be chosen to increase the length of the middle portion of the strap between the spring clips 50 and 52 and to decrease the lengths of the end portions of the strap that hang from the spring clips 50 and 52, and vice versa, llϋs enables the load restraining apparatus to be configured for high loads, different lengths of the yoke 16, et c.

Λ pad 66 is attached to the canvas strap 18. The pad is fastened around the strap by press studs, two of which are denoted by reference numeral 67, and can be sJid along the strap to any location required to protect a load when the strap is tcnsioncd over the load.

One end of the strap 18 is provided with a hook 68 for attachment to a side rave on one side of the trailer. The other end of the strap 1 X is provided with the ratchet tensioning device 20, which has a hook 70 for attachment to a side rave OD the other side of the trailer. It wiU be apparent that other arrangements of hooks and ratchet tensioning devices could be used, for example hooks provided at both ends of the strap 18 and a ratchet tensioning device that acts on a bight of the strap 18, or ratchet tensioning devices provided at both ends of the strap, the ratchet tensioning devices being provided with hooks for attachment to the side raves of the trailer. It will also be apparent that attachment of the hooks to the side raves is only one possibility among many; the hooks can be attached to any load-bearing part of the trailer, such as a chassis or eye bolts attached to a floor of the trailer.

With the yoke 16 and strap 18 in the retracted condition shown in Figure 1 , the middle portion of the strap between the spring clips 50 and 52 is suspended adjacent to the ceiling 30 of the trailer. The length of the yoke is selected such that the end portions of the strap suspended from the spring clips 50 and 52 hang at the sides of the trailer,

In this way a load can be loaded into the trailer and the middle portion of the strap is kept clear of the top of the load during loading and the end portions of the strap arc kept clear of the sides of the load during loading. Once the load is loaded into the trailer, the end portions of the strap 18 arc pulled downwards, moving the yoke 16 and middle portion of the strap 18 to the extended condition, as shown in Figure 2, in which the end portion to which the hook 68 is attached is being pulled downwards. The runner 12 is moved along the track in the ceiling 30 until the strap 18 is over the load, then the hooks 68 and 70 are attached to the side raves of the trailer. The tension on the cable 40 provided by the spring- loaded winding mechanism of the cable reel 14 keeps the hooks 68 and 70 attached to the side raves of the trailer. The ratchet tensioning device 20 is used to tension the strap I S over the load ogainst the side raves of the trailer. During tensioning of the strap 18 pads such as pad 66 can be interposed between the strap and corners of theoad to prevent damage of the load by the strap.

When the load is to be unloaded from the trailer, the tension is released from the strap 18 by the tensioning device 20, the hooks 68 and 70 are detached from the side raves of the trailer and the retractable cable reel 14 moves the yoke 16 and middle portion of the strap 18 from the extended cocdition shown in Figure 2 to the retracted condition shown in Figure 1. The load can then be unloaded from the trailer with the middle portion of the strap 18 suspended above the top of the Joad and the end portions of the strap 18 suspended at the sides of the trailer.

It is to be noted that in the event of undue force being applied to the load restraining apparatus, for example due to a fork lift truck snagging one of the banging end portions of the strap 18, or movement of the load in a road traffic accident, the spring clips 50 and 52 will fail, releasing the strap 18 {torn the yoke 16, before sufficient force can be transmitted to the ceiling 30 of the trailer to damage the ceiling.

Turning to Figures 3 and 4, the load restraining apparatus 100 comprises first and second attachment members in the form of Grst and second wheeled runners denoted generally by reference numerals I H and 112, respectively, a retractable support assembly comprising first and second retractable cable reels denoted generally by reference numerals 113 and 1 14, respectively, and an arrangement of an elongate load restraining element in the form of a carrvas strap denoted generally by reference numeral 1 18 and a ratchet tensioning device denoted generally by reference numeraJ 120.

The wheeled runners 111 and 112 are identical to one another. For the purpose of conciseness only the second wheeled runner 112 is described in detail. The structure and operation of the first wheeled runner 1 1 1 are identical to those of the second wheeled runner 1 12. 13ie wheeled runner 112 comprises a plate 122 through which an axle 124 passes, fiist and second wheels 126 and 128, respectively, being mounted on the axle 124 on opposite sides of the plate 122.

A ceiling 130 of a trailer (not shown in Figures 3 and 4) is provided with first and second parallel tracks that run the length of the trailer near to the edges of the ceiling 130. The (racks are normally used to attach straps between a floor of the trailer and the ceiling, so as to provide lateral restraint of a load. The second track is defined by a first Hp 132 and a second lip 134. In use of the load restraining apparatus the plate 122 of the second wheeled runner 112 is suspended by the axle 124 from the wheels 126 and 128, which are supported by the lips 132 and 134, respectively, which deiiπe the second track. The first wheeled runner I I I is similarly supported by the first track.

Where a trailer is provided with floor-to-ceiling straps attached to the ceiling by I racks, therefore, the load restraining apparatus 100 can be fitted to the trailer without requiring modification of the trailer other than τemoval of the floor-to-ceiling straps from the tracks.

The first and second retractable cable reels 113 and 1 14 are identical to one another. For the purpose of conciseness only the second retractable cable reel 1 14 is described in detail. The structure and operation of the first retractable cable reel 113 are identical to those of the second retractable cable reel 1 14. The second retractable cable reel 1 14 comprises a cylindrical body 136 from which a rectangular lug 138 projects, l nc lug 138 is bolted to the plate 122 of the second wheeled runner 1 12. The body 136 of the second retractable cable reel 114 contains a reel (not shown) to which a cable 140 is attached, and a spring-loaded winding mechanism (not shown). The winding mechanism permits the cable 140 to be unwound from the reel in response to application of a suitable tensile force to a free end of the cable, as shown in Figure 4, bul acts to wind the Cable 140 onto the reel upon removal of the tensile force, as shown in Figure 3, A stop grommet 142 attached to the cable 140 prevents the free end of the cable from being drawn inside the body 136. The body 136, cable 140 and stop grommet 142, and the corresponding components of the first retractable cable reel 113, namely body 135, cable 139 and stop grommet 141, are constituted by tool balancers available from TECNA S.p.A. of Italy under Model No. 9313.

First and second spring clips 150 and 152, respectively, are attached to respective free ends of the cables 139 and 140 of the first and second retractable cable reels 1 13 and 1 14.

The structure and operation of the canvas strap 1 18 and ratchet tensioning device 120 are identical to those of the canvas strap 18 and ratchet tensioning device 20 of Figures I and 2. Parts of the canvas strap 118 and ratchet tensioning device 120 that correspond to parts of (he canvas strap 18 and raichei tensioning device 20 of Figures

1 and 2 are therefore denoted by the same reference numerals prefixed with a numeral

1.

The canvas strap 1 18 is suspended from the spring clips 150 and 152 by canvas loops

156 and 162.

Use of the load restraining apparatus 100 is the same as use of the load restraining apparatus 10 of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 showing the middle portion of the strap 118 in the retracted condition and Figure 4 showing one end of the middle portion of the strap 118 in the extended condition. 'ITie load restraining apparatus 100 is considered to be preferable to the load restraining apparatus 10 of Figures I and 2, first because, as explained above, some trailers may require minimal modification to incorporate the load restraining apparatus 100, and second because with only one attachment member, the load restraining apparatus 10 of Figures I and 2 may be prone to rotation of the yoke 16 so that (he straight portion 44 of the yoke extends along rather than across the trailer. In this situation the end portions of the strap 18 would hang near to the centre line of the trailer, where they might impede loading of a load into the trailer.

The retractable cable reel 200 of Figure 5 comprises a cylindrical body 210 containing a reel (not visible in Figure 5) to which a cable 212 is attached, and a spring-loaded winding mechanism (not visible in Figure 5) that permits the cable 212 to be unwound from the reel by application of a suitable tensile force to a free end of the cable 212, but acis to wind the cable onto the reel upon removal of the tensile force from the free end of the cable. A stop grommel 214 is attached near to the free end of the cable to prevent the free end of the cable from being drawn into the body 210. ϊtic body 210, cable 212 and stop grommel 214 are constituted by a tool balancer available from TOCNΛ S.p.A. of Italy under Model No. 9313. A rectangular lug 216 projects radially outward from the body 210 and is boiled to a plate 218 through which an axle 220 passes, the axle 220 having mounted on it first and second wheels on opposite sides of the plate, one such wheel being visible in Figure 5 and denoted by reference numeral 222. The plate 211J, axle 220 and wheels form a wheeled runner that is engageable with a track in a ceiling of a trailer.

The free end of the cable 212 is provided with a spring clip 224 for attachment to a load restraining element such as a canvas strap. It is to be noted that with (he wheeled runner engaged with a track in a ceiling of a trailer, and a load restraining clement attached to the spring clip 224, replacement of the load restraining clement in the event of damage can be carried out from ground level, because the free end of the cable 212 can be pulled down to ground level using the damaged load restraining element and the damaged load restraining element replaced at ground level, the retractable cable reel then returning the free end of the cable and new load restraining clement to the ceiling of the trailer. Replacement of a prior art flooiMo-ceiliπg strap would require access to the ceiling oi ^' the trailer. Figure 6- is a perspective view into a trailer 300 to which the load restraining apparatus 100 shown in Figures 3 and 4 has been fitted. The trailer 300 is a typical curtain- sided trailer having a width of around 2.5 m. The ceiling 302 of the trailer is fitted with first and second parallel tracks 304 and 306, respectively, which run the length of the trailer Io the headboard 308. In normal use of the trailer, the tracks 304 and 306 would be used to support ftoor-to-ceiling straps (not shown) that can be slid along the tracks to a desired position beside the load then tensioned between the tracks and floor of the trailer to provide lateral restraint of a load (not shown).

The floor-to-ceiling straps have been removed from the trailer of Figure 6 and replaced with first and second retractable cable reels 310 and 312, respectively, the fiτsl cable reel 310 being attached to the first track 304 and the second cable reel 312 being attached to the second track 306. Λ middle portion of a canvas strap 314 is suspended from free ends of respective first and second cables 316 and 318 of (he first and second cable reels 310 and 312. The hooks (not shown) of the strap 314 and a ratchet tensioning device (not shown) attached to the strap have been attached to a chassis of the trailer beneath a floor 320 of the trailer, (hereby pulling the middle portion of the strap 314 and the free ends of the cables 316 and 318 into the extended condition shown in Figure 6. In order io unload the trailer, the hooks would be detached from the chassis of the trailer and the middle portion of the strap 314 and the free ends of the cables 316 and 318 would be mo vcd by the retractable cable reels to a rclrddcd condition adjacent to the ceiling. It is to be noted that with the middle jxirtion of the strap 314 Ln the retracted condition, the free ends of the end portions of the strap 314 hang at the sides of the trailer al a height at which they can be grabbed by a person (not shown) standing beside the trailer.