Field of the Invention

[0001 ] The present invention relates to the securing of loads, particularly in the logistics industry, such as strapping down loads on flat-bed trailers and the like. The invention has particular application in situations where a load extends above an individual's standing height.

Background to the Invention

[0002] Loads on a flat-bed trailer are generally secured using straps, ropes, or chains which are passed over the top of the load and then tightened into position relative to the bed of the trailer.

[0003] When a load is higher than arm's reach, the positioning of the straps or other restraint can be awkward, or even potentially hazardous.

Traditionally, this is done by securing one end of the strap on one side of the trailer, and then tossing a free end of the strap over the load to the other side of the trailer, and securing it in position.

[0004] It is reasonably common for the strap to be snagged by part of the load during this operation. In order for the strap to be freed of the snag, and adjusted into the correct position, it may be necessary for an operator to climb up onto the trailer - or even onto the load itself - in order to adjust the strap.

[0005] Once the strap is in the correct position, it is often necessary to locate protective shields between the strap and the load itself, to protect the strap from sharp edges and/or to protect delicate loads from localised stresses. This is done through the placement of pads or other protective materials (such as thick cloths or cardboard sections) between the load and the strap, before the strap is tightened.

[0006] The placement and securement of these shields can be highly problematic. Again, it often involves an operator clambering about on the back of a trailer. Falls and injuries resulting from such activities are considered to be an operational hazard for truck drivers.

[0007] It is considered that the ability to secure loads and to locate appropriate shields without the need for an operator to climb onto the bed of the truck or the load itself will present a significant improvement in safety for truck drivers. The present invention has been developed in an attempt to meet this desideratum.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for placing load restraints, the apparatus including a head portion, an arm portion, and a handle portion, the arm portion extending between the head portion and the handle portion, the head portion including a central member having at least two primary engagement members extending therefrom, the primary engagement members being spaced from each other by the central member.

[0009] It is preferred that the primary engagement members are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the central member.

[0010] The primary engagement members may each include an outer engagement portion. The outer engagement portions may be frusto-conical.

[001 1 ] The head portion preferably includes a secondary engagement member opposed to one of the primary engagement members at an outer end of the central member. The secondary engagement member may have an engaging portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to the central member. The obtuse angle may be between 1 10° and 150°, with 130° being preferred. The engaging portion may include an outer engagement portion, which may be frusto-conical. [0012] The secondary engagement member may have a connection portion extending between the central member and the engaging portion. The connection portion may be perpendicular to the central member.

[0013] The arm portion is preferably connected to the head portion by a shoulder portion, which may extend from the arm portion at an obtuse angle. The obtuse angle may be between 120° and 160°, with 140° being preferred.

[0014] The head portion preferably includes a tertiary engagement member opposed to one of the primary engagement members at an inner end of the central member. The tertiary engagement member may have an engaging portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to the central member. The obtuse angle may be between 1 10° and 150°, with 130° being preferred. The engaging portion of the tertiary engagement member preferably meets with the shoulder portion to form a joint enclosing an angle of about 100°. The tertiary engagement member may have a connection portion extending between the central member and the engaging portion. The connection portion may be perpendicular to the central member.

[0015] It is preferred that the arm portion defines an elongate axis of the apparatus, and that the central member of the head portion is generally symmetrical about this axis.

[0016] The arm portion may be of variable length. It may include an inner arm portion, which telescopes inside an outer arm portion.

[0017] The handle portion may be generally elongate, and may include a generally cylindrical grasping portion having a diameter greater than that of the arm portion.

[0018] The grasping portion may include circumferential ridges spaced along its length. [0019] The handle portion may include a generally cylindrical butt portion, having a radius greater than that of the grasping portion.

[0020] The handle portion may include a frusto conical inner end portion, the inner end portion extending between the grasping portion of the handle portion and the arm portion, the inner portion at its grasping portion end having a radius similar to that of the butt portion, and at its arm portion end having a radius similar to that of the arm portion.

[0021 ] The handle portion may be heavier than the head portion. This assists in ease of use. The handle portion may be formed from an electrically insulating material.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting load restraints, the apparatus including a bed arranged to locate between a load and a load restraint, and at least one releasable engagement member for connecting the apparatus to the load restraint.

[0023] Preferably the bed is generally elongate, and the apparatus includes two releasable engagement members spaced apart along the bed. The releasable engagement members may include a high-visibility material to assist in quick visual identification.

[0024] The bed may include two side portions aligned in the elongate direction, and which are spaced apart to form a channel in which the load restraint may locate. The two side portions may each have an outer part connected to the bed, and an inner part, which is flexible relative to the bed. The load restraint may locate at least partially between the inner part and the bed.

[0025] The side portions may be formed from a high-visibility material to assist in quick visual identification. [0026] The bed is preferably formed from at least two layers of material, which define a pocket at an outer end of the bed. The pocket is preferably sized to receive primary engagement members of a head portion of an apparatus for placing load restraints. The bed may include two such pockets, one at each elongate end.

[0027] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing a load, the method including the steps of: passing a load restraint over a load;

locating at least one apparatus for supporting load restraints about the load restraint;

engaging the apparatus for supporting load restraints with a head portion of an apparatus for placing load restraints;

sliding the apparatus for supporting load restraints along the load restraint into a desired position using a handle portion of the apparatus for placing load restraints; and

tightening the load restraint into a desired position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments are possible, and consequently the particularity of the following discussion is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 is a front view of a placement tool, being an apparatus for placing load restraints in accordance with the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a front view of a head portion within the placement tool of Figure 1 ;

[0031 ] Figure 3 is an upper perspective of a mat, being an apparatus for supporting load restraints in accordance with the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 is an under perspective of the mat of Figure 3; [0033] Figures 5 and 6 are sequential perspectives of the placement tool of Figure 1 engaging with the mat of Figure 3;

[0034] Figure 7 is a perspective of a truck having a load secured with mats such as those of Figure 3;

[0035] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the truck of Figure 7 during use of the placement tool of Figure 1 ; and

[0036] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the truck of Figure 7 showing the mat of Figure 3 in use.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0037] Referring to Figures, Figures 1 and 2 show an apparatus for placing load restraints, being a placement tool 10. The placement tool 10 has: a handle portion having a handle 12; an arm portion 14; and a head portion 16.

[0038] The handle 12 is generally cylindrical. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 12 has a diameter of about 30mm and a height of about 170mm. The handle 12 may be formed with a grasping portion having grooves 18 to assist in grasping the handle. Alternatively, the handle 12 may be covered by a low-friction material, such as a rubberised grip.

[0039] The handle 12 has a generally cylindrical butt end 20, and a frusto- conical inner end 22. These are sized so as to form a step change in diameter from the grasping portion.

[0040] The arm portion 14 is generally cylindrical, having a central axis aligned with a central axis of the handle portion 12. In a preferred

embodiment, the arm portion 14 has a diameter in the order of 8mm. It is anticipated that the height of the arm portion may be varied for different applications, but may be between 0.5m and 2.5m. [0041 ] The head portion 16 is shown in greater detail in Figure 2. It is anticipated that the head portion 16 will be constructed from the same material as the arm portion 14, for instance from 8mm diameter rod.

[0042] The head portion 16 includes a central member 24, which is perpendicular to the arm portion 14, and located such that the central axis of the arm portion passes through a midpoint of the central member 24. In a preferred embodiment, the central member 24 has a length of 55mm. It is anticipated that the length of the central member 24 will be about 5mm greater than the width of a restraining strap with which the placement tool 10 is arranged to work. The 55mm central member 24 shown in the drawings is thus arranged to work with a 50mm strap. Where the placement tool 10 is to work with a 75mm or 100mm strap, the length of the central member 24 will be 80mm or 105mm respectively.

[0043] The head portion 16 includes two primary engagement members 26, one located at either end of the central member 24. The primary

engagement members 26 are generally perpendicular to the central member 24, and parallel to each other and to the arm portion 14. The primary engagement members 26 extend away from the central member 24 in the opposite direction to the arm portion 14. In the preferred embodiment each primary engagement member is about 15mm long, and ends with an engagement portion being a frusto-conical outer end portion 28 having a height of about 5mm and an opening angle of about 70°.

[0044] The head portion 16 includes a secondary engagement member 30. The secondary engagement member 30 is formed by a connection portion 32, which is a continuation of an outer primary engagement member 26 on the opposite side of the central member 24, and an engaging portion 34, which is angled away from the connection portion 32. The engaging portion 34 is angled at 140° relative to the connection portion 32, and at 130° relative to the direction of the central member 24. The engaging portion 34 terminates in an engagement portion, being a frusto-conical outer end portion 28. [0045] The head portion 16 includes a tertiary engagement member 36, which is located on an inner side of the central member 24 and which is generally symmetrical to the secondary engagement member 30, but without the frusto-conical outer end portion 28. Instead, the tertiary engagement member 36 connects to a shoulder portion 38, which extends between the head portion 16 and the arm portion 14.

[0046] The shoulder portion 38 is generally parallel to the engaging portion 34 of the secondary engagement member 30; that is, it forms an angle of about 140° to the arm portion 14. The shoulder portion 38 and the tertiary engagement member 36 meet at a joint 40 outside the bounds of the central member 24, and are joined at an angle of about 100°.

[0047] Figures 3 and 4 show an apparatus for supporting load restraints, being a mat 50.

[0048] The mat 50 is generally rectangular in shape, with a lower edge 52 and an upper edge 54 generally transverse to a longitudinal direction of the mat 50, and two side edges 56 generally parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0049] The mat 50 has a generally rectangular bed 58, formed by two sheets 60 of resilient material such as a webbing material. The two sheets 60 are connected to each other in such a way that a pocket 62 exists between the two sheets 60 at the lower edge 52.

[0050] The mat 50 includes two releasable engagement members being wraps 64, one located near the lower edge 52 and one located near the upper edge 54. The wraps 64 are each formed by a first element connected to one side edge 56 and a second element connected to the other side edge 56. The first and second elements are arranged to connect to each other by a hook-and-loop fastener connection such as Velcro™.

[0051 ] The mat 50 also includes two side portions 66, which are formed from a similar material as the sheets 60 of the bed 58. The side portions 66 each run along a respective side edge 56. Each side portion 66 has an outer part 68 which is bonded to the bed 58, for instance by stiches 70, and an inner part 72 which can be flexed away from the bed 58, such that a central channel 74 is created on the bed 58 between the lower edge 52 and the upper edge 54, bordered by the outer parts 68 of the side portions 66, and partly covered by the inner parts 72 of the side portions 66. The channel 74 is of a sufficient width to receive a restraining strap; that is, is of similar width to the central member 24 of the head portion 16 of the placement tool 10.

[0052] The wraps 64 include patches 76 of high visibility material. The side portions 66 may include similar patches, or may have an upper skin formed entirely of such material.

[0053] In use, restraining straps 80 are located generally about a load 82, as shown in Figures 7 to 9. Should a strap 80 be snagged in an incorrect position, the placement tool 10 (particularly the secondary engagement member 30) may be used to release the strap 80, and to move it into a desired location.

[0054] A mat 50 can then be attached to the strap 80. This is done by opening the wraps 64, and positioning the mat 50 such that the strap 80 is located within the channel 74, with an under side of the mat oriented towards the load 82. The wraps 64 can then be closed, such that the mat 50 is able to slide along the strap 80 but is prevented from disengaging with the strap 80.

[0055] The primary engagement members 26 of the placement tool 10 can locate within the pocket 62 of the mat 50, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The placement tool 10 can then be used to slide the mat 50 into a desired position about a corner of a load 82.

[0056] A number of mats 50 can be positioned along a single strap 80, as required. [0057] When the mats 50 are in the correct position, the strap 80 can be tightened. Should any mats 50 become partially dislodged in this process, they can be returned to the correct position using the placement tool 10.

[0058] It will be appreciated that the placement tool 10 can also be used in positioning of other load restrains, such as chains. The secondary engagement member 30 can be used to engage a chain and to manoeuvre it into position, or indeed to release it from a load. The primary engagement members 26 can also be used to engage a chain and push it into position.

[0059] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.