US-12623498-B2 - Dunnage securement members for vehicles

Abstract

A dunnage securement member is adapted to be placed on the ends of timber that is used as dunnage for trucking. The dunnage securement member is adapted to be secured to the timber, either permanently or removably. A strap may then be used to secure dunnage on the beds of a truck.

Inventors

• Timothy F. BROWN

Assignees

• Timothy F. BROWN

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240703

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A dunnage securement member comprising: a body having a substantially rectangular shaped cavity adapted to receive a piece of timber; slots formed on at least two sides of the body, each of the slots adapted to receive a bolt for securing the piece of timber; a rounded end forming a portion of the body, the rounded end adapted to receive thereon a strap; at least two pins adapted to secure the strap to the rounded end; and a rounded ridge located on the body, wherein the rounded ridge is sized to be placed into another dunnage securement member; and wherein the rounded ridge is located adjacent the rounded end.
2. 2 . The dunnage securement member of claim 1 , further comprising a setback located on the body.
3. 3 . The dunnage securement member of claim 2 , further comprising an opening located proximate to the setback.
4. 4 . The dunnage securement member of claim 1 , wherein the slots formed are rectangular shaped, the slots adapted to facilitate adjustment of the piece of timber piece of timber secured by the dunnage securement member.
5. 5 . The dunnage securement member of claim 1 , wherein the dunnage securement member is adapted to be removably attached to the piece of timber.
6. 6 . The dunnage securement member of claim 1 , further comprising a notch formed on the body.
7. 7 . The dunnage securement member of claim 6 , wherein the notch is adapted to receive the rounded ridge of another dunnage securement member.
8. 8 . A dunnage securement member comprising: a body having a cavity adapted to receive a piece of timber; slots formed on the body, each of the slots adapted to enable securing the piece of timber; an end adapted to receive thereon a strap; a rounded ridge located adjacent the end; at least two pins adapted to secure the strap to the end; a notch formed on the body located on an opposite side of the body from the rounded ridge; and further comprising a setback located on the body proximate to the notch, wherein the notch is located between the end and the setback.
9. 9 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the notch is adapted to receive the at least one other rounded ridge of another dunnage securement member.
10. 10 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , further comprising an opening located proximate to the setback.
11. 11 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the slots formed are rectangular shaped, the slots adapted to facilitate adjustment of the piece of timber piece of timber secured by the dunnage securement member.
12. 12 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the dunnage securement member is adapted to be removably attached to the piece of timber.
13. 13 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the cavity is rectangular shaped.
14. 14 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , further comprising bolts placed through each of the slots.
15. 15 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the end is rounded.
16. 16 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the end is sloped.
17. 17 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the slots are rectangular shaped.
18. 18 . The dunnage securement member of claim 8 , wherein the slots are circular shaped.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/171,694 filed Feb. 9, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD Disclosed embodiments are generally related to securing dunnage in vehicles. In particular, the disclosure is related to an apparatus for retaining types of dunnage. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART When transporting items in the trucking industry various types of loads are encountered. Some of loads can be very heavy, cumbersome, or unwieldly, such as concrete blocks, oil field equipment, mud motors, pipes, culverts, etc. Prior to placing heavy loads onto a truck that can damage the flooring of trailers and/or having a load that needs to be elevated so as to be able to have fork lifts or other equipment be able to get under and lift the load, usually several timbers are placed across the flat bed surface and under these loads. The timbers generally used are 4×4 boards, 4×6 boards, and/or landscape timbers. The timbers have a tendency to shift or move around during transport. The shifted timbers can be hazardous as they may stick out past the sides of the trailer. This can lead to the timbers striking other vehicles or falling onto the road off and into oncoming traffic. Further, they can lay in the road where they get run over and broken up causing damage to other vehicles and/or potentially harming unsuspecting motorists. Therefore, there is a need in the field to provide a way to improve the safety of using dunnage, such as timbers. SUMMARY Briefly described, aspects of the present disclosure relate to securing dunnage. An aspect of the present disclosure may be a dunnage securement member. The dunnage securement member comprising: a body having a substantially rectangular shaped cavity adapted to receive timber; slots formed on at least two sides of the body, each of the slots adapted to receive a bolt for securing the timber; a rounded end adapted to receive thereon a strap for securing timber; and at least two pins adapted to secure the strap to the rounded end. Another aspect of the present disclosure may be a dunnage securement member. The dunnage securement member comprising: a body having a cavity adapted to receive timber; slots formed on the body, each of the slots adapted to enable securing the timber; an end adapted to receive thereon a strap for securing timber; and at least two pins adapted to secure the strap to the end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a view of the dunnage securement member. FIG. 2 shows another view of the dunnage securement member. FIG. 3 shows a view of the dunnage securement member being secured with a strap. FIG. 4 shows another view of the dunnage securement member being secured with a strap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and features of the present disclosure, they are disclosed hereinafter with reference to implementation in illustrative embodiments. Embodiments of the present disclosure, however, are not limited to use in the described systems or methods and may be utilized in other systems and methods as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The components described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components that would perform the same or a similar function as the components described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 1-4 show an embodiment of dunnage securement member 100. The dunnage securement member 100 discussed below may be incorporated in various embodiments that are further discussed below and that would further be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. An embodiment of the disclosure is a dunnage securement member 100 that is adapted to be affixed to the ends of timber 5. In an embodiment the dunnage securement member 100 is adapted to be affixed to the ends of 4-inch by 4-inch timbers 5. In an embodiment the dunnage securement member 100 is adapted to be affixed to the ends of 4-inch by 6-inch timbers. In an embodiment the dunnage securement member 100 is adapted to be affixed to the ends of landscape timbers. In an embodiment the dunnage securement member 100 is adapted to be affixed to the ends of any one of 4-inch by 4-inch timbers, 4-inch by 6-inch timbers, and land scape timbers. In an embodiment, the dunnage securement member 100 is adapted to be fixed to and adjustable, so as to be fixed to, various types of timbers or similar objects. In an embodiment, the dunnage securement members are adapted to be permanently secured to the ends of each timber. In an embodiment, the dunnage securement members are adapted to be removably secured to the ends of each timber. The dunnage securement member 100 has body 10. In an embodiment, the body 10 is made from