Portable, scalably adjustable cargo securement apparatus

• US 6,752,575 B1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis Cravens, Manfred Moore
• Original Assignee: Louis Cravens, Manfred Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Manfred, Cravens, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/145,351
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 410/94, 410/121, 410/129, 410/140, 410/151, 296/24.1, 296/37.6, 224/404, 224/42.33, 224/550
• US Class Current: 410/129
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0892 by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/135 Securing or supporting by load bracing means

Abstract

A portable, scalably adjustable cargo securement apparatus is provided which includes laterally extensible rail members, longitudinally extensible rail members, and elongated stabilizer arbors having an elongated, tubular configuration generally circular in cross-section which interconnect via a plurality of impingement locking brackets so as to form a generally square-shaped framework for confining cargo within its boundaries. The impingement locking brackets function to allow for selective, lateral and longitudinal slidable engagement by laterally extensible rail members and longitudinally extensible rail members. The cargo securement apparatus is adapted to be utilized in a cargo area of sport utility vehicles. A plurality of feet function to bear against a cargo floor, thereby according balanced stability to the cargo securement apparatus. A threaded adjustment stud is threadedly received within the laterally extensible rail member and the longitudinally extensible rail member in order to facilitate congruous leveling.

Claims

1. A cargo securement apparatus comprising:

a plurality of laterally extensible rail members, said plurality of laterally extensible rail members having an elongated, tubular configuration generally circular in cross-section;

a plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members, said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members having an elongated, tubular configuration generally circular in cross-section;

a plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors, said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors having an elongated, tubular configuration generally circular in cross-section;

a plurality of impingement locking brackets;

a leveling means; and

a plurality of feet.

2. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of laterally extensible rail members, said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members, and said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors interconnect via said plurality of impingement locking brackets so as to form a generally square-shaped framework for confining cargo within the framework boundaries.

3. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of laterally extensible rail members is U-shaped and each of said plurality of laterally extensible rail members includes a perpendicularly-oriented, bighted end portion terminating into elongated, parallel rail arms, and wherein each said laterally extensible rail member has a guide rod traversing an external circumferential surface of said laterally extensible rail member.

4. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members is U-shaped and each of said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members includes a perpendicularly-oriented, bighted end portion terminating into elongated, parallel rail arms, and wherein each said longitudinally extensible rail member has a guide rod traversing an external circumferential surface of said longitudinally extensible rail member.

5. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members defines a rail member which has a medial sleeve perpendicularly mounted between said rail members.

6. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of laterally extensible rail members defines a rail member which has a medial sleeve perpendicularly mounted between said rail members, and wherein said medial sleeve separates an upper short sleeve and a lower short sleeve, whereby said upper short sleeve and said lower short sleeve are mounted to said medial sleeve utilizing washers and lock nuts.

7. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors are generally defined as having a U-shaped configuration, wherein a stabilizer arbor of said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors includes an elongated sleeve perpendicularly mounted between elongated, parallel rail arms of said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors.

8. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein each stabilizer arbor of said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors includes a vertical support bar mounted perpendicularly therebetween so as to enhance structural rigidity during lateral and longitudinal adjustment of said cargo securement apparatus.

9. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of laterally extensible rail members and each of said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members include laterally opposed stop rings mounted along each said parallel rail arm, wherein said laterally opposed stop rings include first stop rings mounted parallel and opposite to each said bighted end portion, at ends of each said rail arm, and second stop rings mounted parallel and adjacent to each said bighted end portion, whereby each said first stop ring mechanically interferes with a respective said guide rod and each said second stop ring mechanically interferes with a respective impingement locking bracket, thus restricting lateral and longitudinal, slidable adjustment of each said plurality of laterally extensible rail members and of each said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members.

10. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stop clasp of an elongated configuration having a midshaft terminating into annular ends, wherein said stop clasp is removably attached between said rail members of a stabilizer arbor of said plurality of elongated stabilizer arbors, said stop clasp provides an abutment against which a first stop ring of said stabilizer arbor mechanically engages.

11. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cam pin which extends perpendicularly through an end of one of said laterally extensible rail members, wherein said cam pin is held fixedly in place via a pair of opposed locking flanges.

12. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 11, wherein said cam pin defines a cam pin knob, said cam pin knob having a looped end of a lanyard passing through said cam pin knob, and wherein said lanyard having an opposite end attached to a support rod which extends perpendicularly through an end of one of said laterally extensible rail members.

13. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of impingement locking brackets are mounted to said longitudinally extensible rail members and said laterally extensible rail members via a plurality of cam locking assemblies, wherein each cam locking assembly of said plurality of cam locking assemblies includes a pivotal cam locking handle being spring-biased with a pin extending from said pivotal cam locking handle through each impingement locking bracket of said plurality of impingement locking brackets and through said stabilizer arbors.

14. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 13, wherein said pivotal cam locking handle is designed and configured so as to facilitate mechanical impingement by said impingement locking brackets against said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members and said plurality of laterally extensible rail members and release of mechanical impingement by said impingement locking brackets, thereby providing a longitudinally and laterally adjustable securement apparatus for accommodating cargo of varying dimensions and effectively confining such cargo within said securement apparatus'"'"'s boundaries.

15. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said leveling means is defined as a threaded adjustment stud threadedly received within a parallel member of a laterally extensible rail member of said plurality of laterally extensible rail members and a parallel member of a longitudinally extensible rail member of said plurality of longitudinally extensible rail members in order to facilitate congruous leveling of said securement apparatus.

16. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein each foot of said plurality of feet is of a C-shaped configuration and is coupled to an underside of each said rail member of each stabilizer arbor along a linearly elongated centerline of each said rail member, and wherein said plurality of feet function to bear against a cargo floor, thereby according additional balanced stability to said cargo securement apparatus.

17. The cargo securement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cargo securement apparatus is adapted to be utilized in a cargo area of sport utility vehicles, and wherein said cargo securement apparatus is designed and configured so as to be laterally extensible from approximately 24 inches to approximately 48 inches, and longitudinally extensible from approximately 24 inches to approximately 48 inches.