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US-20260124984-A1 - Load Securing Device

US20260124984A1US 20260124984 A1US20260124984 A1US 20260124984A1US-20260124984-A1

Abstract

A load securing device for securing a load in a container. In an example embodiment, the load securing device includes a first support, a second support telescopic connected to the first support and a locking mechanism connected between the first support and the second support. In an adjustment mode, the locking mechanism moves the first support away from the second support until the first support touches a wall of the container and the second support touches the load. In a locked mode, the locking mechanism applies the force against the wall and against the load to secure the load. Another example implementation includes a second adjustment mechanism.

Inventors

  • Steven D. Couch
  • Kyle J. Roe

Assignees

  • Steven D. Couch

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20260102

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A load securing device, comprising: a first support having a first outer member, a second outer member, and a plurality of first teeth; a second support having a third outer member, a fourth outer member; wherein the first support is slidably connected to the second support; and a locking mechanism pivotally connected to the third outer member and the fourth outer member and movable between an adjustment position and a locked position; wherein while in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth to move the first support away from the second support; wherein while in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth to fix a position of the first support with respect to the second support; wherein the locking mechanism further includes an anchor portion pivotally connected to the second support, a ratchet portion pivotally connected to the anchor portion by a hinge pin, and a ratchet pin connected to the ratchet portion, wherein the ratchet pin is removably engageable with one of the plurality of first teeth.
  2. 2 . The load securing device of claim 1 , wherein the first support includes a plurality of second teeth, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to move the first support away from the second support, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to fix a position of the first support with respect to the second support.
  3. 3 . The load securing device of claim 1 , wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the ratchet pin applies a pushing force against one of the plurality of first teeth, whereby the first support, and the second support transfer the pushing force to a load to secure the load.
  4. 4 . The load securing device of claim 1 , wherein the first outer member is slidably connected to the third outer member, and wherein the second outer member is slidably connected to the fourth outer member.
  5. 5 . A load securing device, comprising: a first support having a first outer member, a second outer member, and a plurality of first teeth spaced apart along a length of the first outer member or the second outer member; a second support having a third outer member and a fourth outer member; wherein the first support is slidably connected to the second support; and a locking mechanism having a ratchet pin, wherein the locking mechanism is connected to the third outer member and the fourth outer member and moves between an adjustment position and a locked position; wherein while in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push the ratchet pin against one of the plurality of first teeth to move the first support away from the second support; wherein while in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push the ratchet pin against one of the plurality of first teeth to fix the distance between the first support and the second support.
  6. 6 . The load securing device of claim 5 , wherein the first support includes a plurality of second teeth spaced apart along a length of the first outer member or the second outer member opposite of the plurality of first teeth, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to move the first support away from the second support, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to fix a position of the first support with respect to the second support.
  7. 7 . The load securing device of claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism further includes an anchor portion pivotally connected to the second support, and a ratchet portion pivotally connected to the anchor portion by a hinge pin, wherein the ratchet pin is connected to the ratchet portion.
  8. 8 . The load securing device of claim 7 , wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the ratchet pin applies a pushing force against one of the plurality of first teeth, whereby the first support, and the second support transfer the pushing force to a load to secure the load.
  9. 9 . The load securing device of claim 5 , wherein the first outer member is slidably connected to the third outer member, and wherein the second outer member is slidably connected to the fourth outer member.
  10. 10 . A load securing device, comprising: a first support having a first outer member, a second outer member, and a plurality of first teeth; a second support having a third outer member and a fourth outer member; wherein the first support is slidably connected to the second support; and a locking mechanism having a ratchet pin, wherein the locking mechanism is connected to the third outer member and the fourth outer member and moves between an adjustment position and a locked position; wherein while in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push the ratchet pin against one of the plurality of first teeth to move the first support away from the second support thereby increasing a distance between the first support and the second support; wherein while in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push the ratchet pin against one of the plurality of first teeth to fix the distance between the first support and the second support.
  11. 11 . The load securing device of claim 10 , wherein the first support includes a plurality of second teeth spaced apart along a length of the first outer member or the second outer member opposite of the plurality of first teeth, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to move the first support away from the second support, wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locking mechanism is operable to push against one of the plurality of first teeth and one of the plurality of second teeth to fix a position of the first support with respect to the second support.
  12. 12 . The load securing device of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism further includes an anchor portion pivotally connected to the second support, and a ratchet portion pivotally connected to the anchor portion by a hinge pin, wherein the ratchet pin is connected to the ratchet portion.
  13. 13 . The load securing device of claim 12 , wherein while the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the ratchet pin applies a pushing force against one of the plurality of first teeth, whereby the first support, and the second support transfer the pushing force to a load to secure the load.
  14. 14 . The load securing device of claim 10 , wherein the first outer member is slidably connected to the third outer member, and wherein the second outer member is slidably connected to the fourth outer member.
  15. 15 . The load securing device of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism is adjustably connected to the third outer member and the fourth outer member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/955,985 filed on Sep. 29, 2022 (Docket No. COUC-006), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/718,752 filed on Apr. 12, 2022 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,458,882 (Docket No. COUC-005). Each of the aforementioned patent applications is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable to this application. BACKGROUND The described example embodiments in general relate to a load securing device for securing a load, such as cargo on a pallet, inside a container, such as a cargo trailer, to prevent the load from moving inside the container. A common approach to securing a load inside a transport container is to nail wooden boards to the floor of the container to secure the load. However, driving nails into the floor ruins the floor. Other braces may be used to secure a load; however, such braces require positioning the brace near the center of mass of the load thereby blocking passage along the insides the container. Shippers would benefit from a load securing device that rests on the floor while securing the load and that is adjustable in length to span from the load to the wall of the container. SUMMARY Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a load securing device that can secure a load inside a container, such as a trailer. Some various embodiments of the present disclosure include a first support, a second support, a first inner member, a second inner member, a first rack and a locking mechanism. Other various embodiments of the present disclosure include a first support, a second support, a first inner member, a second inner member, a first rack, a second rack and a locking mechanism. Other various embodiments of the present disclosure further include a second adjustment mechanism. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is used to extend the load securing device between a wall of the container and the cargo to secure the cargo. In other embodiments, the second adjustment member and the locking mechanism are used to extend the load securing device between the wall and the cargo to secure the cargo. The locking mechanism may move between an adjustment position and a locked position. While in the adjustment position, the locking mechanism may be operated to push against the first rack and/or the second rack to extend the load securing device by moving the first support away from the second support. The locking mechanism may be operated until the first support comes into contact with the wall and the second support comes into contact with the cargo, or vice versa. After the load securing device has been extended to reach from the wall to the cargo, the locking mechanism may be moved into the locked position to fix the distance between the first support and the second support. Moving the locking mechanism into the locked position causes the load securing device to apply a force against the wall and against the cargo to secure the cargo. The load securing device maintains the force between the wall and the cargo to hold the cargo in place during transport. In some embodiments, after the cargo has been transported, the load securing device may be removed from between the wall and the cargo by moving the locking mechanism from the locked position to the adjustment position to eliminate the force between the wall and the cargo. The securing device may then be shortened, if necessary, and moved away from the cargo, so the cargo may be unloaded. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the various embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evidence to the contrary from the description, where elements in different figures use identical reference numbe