402results about "Preventing unwanted cargo movement" patented technology

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in rolled form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the fourth edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. At least one sealed inflated bag is separated from the roll and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. In an alternate embodiment, the stock material is provided in a continuous tubular form, and an air inflation needle is used to puncture a surface of the tube for inflation purposes.

A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in web form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the open edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. A plurality of sealed inflated bags is separated from the web and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. The bags have a slip resistant outer surface which causes the bags to interlock in the carton and better protect object therein from shock.

A vehicle sliding floor extension having a composite / plastic sliding extension plate attached to a truck bed or SUV rear compartment by a base plate having molded rails of metal, plastic, or composite to facilitate the controlled movement of the extension plate, the movement of the extension plate being manually or motor actuated. The durable deck surface has a plurality of holes drilled or formed to accommodate the positioning of modular partitions for containing or restraining items being transported. Motorization is also provided.

Disclosed is a cargo space divider wherein a system of dividing walls allow a cargo space, preferably a pick-up truck bed, to be sectioned off into smaller, variably sized sections in order to prevent objects transported therein from rolling or sliding about the bed. The device consists of a pair of support rails that are installed along and clamped to the sidewalls of the truck bed above the wheel wells. Lateral sectioning walls span the width of the truck bed and longitudinal sectioning walls span between the lateral sectioning walls, both in adjustable positions, thus creating divided cargo spaces that are adjustable both in number and size.

An automated material handling system within a transportation craft provides accurate and automatic storage of loads while securely holding the loads even when the structure to which the system is mounted is subject to external forces. Retention systems are provided on the storage positions, transfer machine, and transfer conveyor to substantially impede unwanted motion of the loads while allowing constrained movements of the loads during a storage or retrieval. The transfer machine and storage positions are constructed for cooperatively exchanging loads utilizing a drive mechanism on the transfer machine that is able to selectively engage a driven mechanism located on each of the storage positions.

A method is described for providing an alert when the motion of a ship indicates a potential of sloshing damage from liquid cargo being transported by the ship. The method includes calculating, with a processing device, a natural period for the tanks holding the liquid cargo based on the configuration and fill levels of the tanks, receiving, at the processing device, data describing the actual or predicted motion of the ship with respect to three orthogonal axes, determining, with the processing device, a proximity of the natural period of the tanks to a period defined by the actual or predicted motion of the ship, and providing an alert to a user if the proximity in periods is within a threshold value.

A bulkhead assembly for a vehicle such as, for example, a van or truck comprises a first panel adjacent and substantially perpendicular to a street-side wall of the vehicle, a second panel adjacent and substantially perpendicular to a curb-side wall of the vehicle, and a door panel disposed between the first and second panels, the door being hingedly attached to one of the first and second panels, wherein the panels are formed from a polymer material. In one embodiment, the panel adjacent the street-side wall of the vehicle (i.e., the driver-side panel) defines a cavity extending rearwardly into the cargo area, the cavity being sized (in terms of the cavity's width) to accommodate the seat-back of the driver's seat.

This patent discloses a freight dunnage bag to accommodate discrete units of freight that have been loaded on board a freight carrier for transportation. The freight dunnage bag may include a first layer dividing a freight dunnage bag interior from a freight dunnage bag exterior. An adaptor having a capsule attached between a cap and a valve body may be attached to the first layer so that the first layer may be positioned between the capsule and the cap. A gas cartridge containing compressed gas may be attached to valve body within the freight dunnage bag interior.

Improved panels suitable for use in bulkhead and partition systems. In one embodiment of the invention, the panels are seamless, one-piece members integrally formed from a single resinous material. In other embodiments, the panels include depressions that obviate the need to fill the panels with foam or other supportive filler material. In still other embodiments, the panels have no fasteners extending through panel so the panels are substantially impervious to moisture. Other embodiments have grooves or similar mounting means disposed around their peripheral edges to which edging such as supports or flexible seals may be mounted. In yet other embodiments, the grooves are arranged so as to permit worn out seals to be quickly and easily replaced without the need to remove mechanical fasteners.

An inflatable cargo dunnage bag comprises an inflatable bladder, a first inner bag, and a second outer bag, wherein the inner and outer bags are fabricated from polywoven thermoplastic material so as to render the dunnage bag light in weight and moisture resistant whereby the dunnage bag can be used in the maritime industry. The first inner and second outer bags are also provided with exterior coating so as to enhance the impact resistance, perforation resistance, and abrasion resistance of the dunnage bag. The dunnage bag is also provided with handles which not only facilitate the manipulation and handling of the dunnage bag, but in addition, permits the dunnage bag to be suspendingly attached to cargo loads so as not to be displaced from the cargo loads.

The cargo restraint assembly is for a vehicle cargo bed and includes a vehicle cargo bed liner adapted to lie on the floor of the cargo bed. The liner has spaced parallel grooves extending from the rear to the front of the liner and defined by spaced parallel upstanding ribs. The assembly also includes a cargo stop block having a rear end, opposite front end, top, bottom and opposing sides. The block bottom has parallel spaced forwardly extending ribs defining spaced parallel grooves therebetween. The block ribs and grooves are adapted to mate with the grooves and ribs of the bed liner. The assembly further includes a stop block lock which is adapted to draw the block laterally to engage the sides of the block depending ribs with the sides of the upstanding ribs of the bed liner in order to secure the block in place on the bed liner. In one embodiment the lock has a body with a depending rib which fits in a bed liner groove. The lock is adapted to be positioned adjacent a side of the block and includes a transverse draw screw or threaded draw bolt passing into the block. In another embodiment the lock includes a clamp, one portion of which is secured to the lock body and a second portion of which is secured to the block, with a draw screw spanning the two portions of the clamp. In a further embodiment, the block is split about vertically into two parts and the lock is in the form of a clamp having two portions, one portion being connected to one of the block parts and the other portion being connected to the other of the block parts, with a draw screw spanning the two clamp portions. The sides of the depending block ribs can bear teeth to facilitate engagement with the bed liner ribs. Alternatively, the sides of the block ribs can bear flexible resilient strips which act as wedges to help hold the assembly together.

Stabilizing devices having elongate telescoping tube segments and end clamps. The end clamps of certain of the devices are clamped onto side rails of a cargo bed for segmenting a cargo bed length way. Said end clamps of other of the devices are clamped to the tube segments of the first devices for segmenting a cargo bed width way. Thus providing stabilization of segmented loads having length and / or width dimensions less than the length and / or width of the cargo bed.

A system for rapid, secure transport of cargo by sea includes a monohull fast ship and an arrangement for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the stern of the ship and along a driving surface of a cargo carrying deck of the ship. The arrangement includes a self-propelled, automatically guided vehicle for carrying cargo to be transported during loading and unloading of the ship and a self-contained security scanning system on the vehicle for maintaining control and surveillance of cargo in transit on the vehicle. The ship includes a reader grid of ship communication system on the cargo carrying deck to which continued control and surveillance of the cargo can be handed off from the vehicle scanning system.

An apparatus for supporting and cushioning objects during shipment. The apparatus comprises an inflatable member and a pad. The pad has a honeycomb core, a front face and a rear face. The rear face of the pad has a rear recess adapted to hold the inflatable member. The pad may further include a front recess in the front face for cooperatively receiving the surface of the object. The front recess may be defined by a portion of the pad in which the honeycomb core has been compressively deformed to a predetermined depth and a predetermined width to cushion the object received in the front recess.

A cargo restraint device for resisting movement of cargo items on a vehicle floor or cargo bed has a generally flat octagonal or rectangular base with a slip-resistant bottom surface to be supported on the floor or bed and a top surface for receiving at least a portion of a cargo item, and a hollow upright upper body portion that can be filled with heavy material such as sand to provide weight. The upper body portion has at least two upright members extending upwardly from the base member, each having outer surfaces for abutting the cargo item, and at least one having an aperture for receiving straps to encircle a cargo item held by the device. In one embodiment four upright members intersect at a center portion in a cross-shaped configuration. In another embodiment two upright members intersect at a center portion in an L-shaped configuration.

Stabilizing devices having elongate telescoping tube segments and end clamps. The end clamps of certain of the devices are clamped onto side rails of a cargo bed for segmenting a cargo bed length way. The end clamps of other of the devices are clamped to the tube segments of the first devices for segmenting a cargo bed width way. Thus providing stabilization of segmented loads having length and / or width dimensions less than the length and / or width of the cargo bed.

A unitary void filling apparatus for use as a lengthwise void spacer which is capable of preventing movement of a load disposed on a pallet, protecting the load from end-to-end forces, and acting as a dust cover. The apparatus consists of a frame folded to make a central area, which fits on top of the load, and two vertical sides, which hangs over opposite ends of the load. Attached to each vertical side are covered void fillers, each adapted to substantially fill any lengthwise underhang and protect the load from end-to-end forces. The central area of the frame supports the vertical sides to which the void fillers are attached, thereby holding the void fillers in the proper position and also preventing dust from accumulating on the cargo.

The present Invention is an apparatus for controlling a load in a vehicle, particularly a pickup truck where the load is longer than the bed of the truck. The apparatus comprises a channel mounted to or defined by the bed or tailgate of the truck. A load-restraining member slidably engages the channel to adjust for loads of different sizes. The load-restraining member also rotatably engages the channel and may move between an upright position for use and a horizontal position for storage. The load-restraining member may be secured in the upright position.

An apparatus and method for storing boxes of perishable products and providing that refrigerated air flows relatively uniformly through the stack. The apparatus is an elongated inflatable bag divided into sections by baffles, each section being inflatable independent of the other sections. The bag forms a roof over a corridor between two rows of stacks and a panel encloses one end of the corridor opposite the opposite end which is closed off by the cargo wall. Refrigerated air forced into the corridor at floor level at one end of the corridor is diverted through the stacks of boxes.

An inflation device for inflating containers with non-rigid walls such as bags, which includes a body having a venturi shaped air channel. First and second air inlets lead into the air channel, with an outlet being adapted to allow air to exit from the air channel for inflating a container when joined to the outlet. The second inlet is adapted to be closed by a self-closing valve if air does not flow through the air channel. A sensor associated with the body is adapted to detect when a container, such as a bag, joined to the body has been filled to a predetermined degree and then causes the flow of air through the air channel to be interrupted.

A restraining device that is mountable on a track, has an elongated member and an attachment mechanism connected to an end of the elongated member, to mount the member on a track. The elongated member has a tubular core with an upper end and a lower end and a tubular sleeve having an upper-end opening and a lower-end opening. The core is received within the sleeve such that the sleeve is axially movable relative to the core, and the upper end of the core is connected to the attachment mechanism through the upper-end opening of the sleeve. A spring provides spring-loading for the sleeve such that the upper end of the sleeve is urged against the track to resist motion of the elongated member on the track. The attachment mechanism has a mount for slidably mounting the elongated member on the track, and a pivoting joint connected between the elongated member and the mount, such that the pivoting joint allows the elongated member to be pivoted relative to the track.

A lashing bridge (1) for a cargo ship for supporting containers (2) during transport, which lashing bridge (1) is installed on the deck of the cargo ship in the transverse direction of the cargo ship, and which lashing bridge (1) comprises fixing points (5) for fixing lashing bars (3) to it, which lashing bars (3) are fixed at their other end to the containers (2). The invention is implemented in such a way that at least one tension bar (9) is fixed to the lashing bridge (1) for conveying essentially only the upward forces exerted on the lashing bridge (1) by the lashing bars (3) to the hull of the cargo ship.

An encapsulated bulkhead for use as a void filler to secure and protect cargo loads during transportation, such as in rail cars or trucks, is described. The encapsulated bulkhead includes a bulkhead member and an encapsulation or coating. In one embodiment, the bulkhead member includes two planar parallel deck sheets, a planar peripheral side member, and a honeycomb cell core, which may be made of corrugated paper or other paper. In another embodiment, the bulkhead member is a uniform expanded polystyrene foam. The coating is a water-resistant material which may be an elastomer, such as a polyurea, polyurethane, or polyurethane / polyurea hybrid. A method for encapsulating a bulkhead member is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing a bulkhead member, spraying the bulkhead member with the components of an elastomer to coat or encapsulate the bulkhead, and allowing the components to cure for a period of time sufficient to form the water-resistant elastomer.

An inflation device for inflating containers with non-rigid walls such as bags, which includes a body having a venturi shaped air channel. First and second air inlets lead into the air channel, with an outlet being adapted to allow air to exit from the air channel for inflating a container when joined to the outlet. The second inlet is adapted to be closed by a self-closing valve if air does not flow through the air channel. A sensor associated with the body is adapted to detect when a container, such as a bag, joined to the body has been filled to a predetermined degree and then causes the flow of air through the air channel to be interrupted.

A vehicle trunk organizer includes at least two elongated, generally parallel strut members and at least two elongated, generally parallel cross-piece members. Each strut member comprises at least one longitudinal opening formed therein, and each cross-piece member comprises at least one elongated beam member which extends through the opening in each strut member. The beam members are pivotally connected to the strut members to enable the trunk organizer to be collapsed from an unfolded state to a folded state. In the unfolded state the trunk organizer comprises a generally rectangular lattice configuration which defines a number of individual compartments within which items to be transported may be placed.