Cargo tie-down system

• US 20050031432A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Stanley
• Original Assignee: David J. Stanley
• Inventors: Stanley, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,214,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 410/97
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0823 Straps; Tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 45/001 Devices for fixing to walls or floors

Abstract

A cargo restraint system comprising, a network of restraining tie-down arms having interconnected common proximal extremities and a plurality of distal extremities, said network arranged to form an angle between each arm, the vertex of said angle being congruent with the common proximal extremities, with a first fastener secured to the arms at the vertex of the angle and a second fastener secured to each of the distal extremities of the arms. Preferably, each of the arms carries a third fastener or connecting eye intermediate the first and second fasteners.

Claims

1. A method of restraining cargo on a surface having at least two spaced apart anchoring points, including the steps of,

attaching the vertex of a first angularly bifurcated restraining strap having two distal extremities to one of the surface anchor points,

attaching the first ends of each of two first tie-down straps to each of the two distal extremities of the first angularly bifurcated restraining strap,

placing the two first tie-down straps over a first cargo disposed on the surface,

attaching the second ends of the two first tie-down straps to each of the two distal extremities of a second angularly bifurcated restraining strap, and

attaching the vertex of the second angularly bifurcated restraining strap to the other of the surface anchor points.

2. The method of claim 1 and further including,

superimposing a second cargo over the first cargo,

placing at least one second tie-down strap having first and second ends over the second cargo,

attaching the first end of the second tie-down strap to a point on one of the first bifurcated restraining straps,

attaching the second end of the second tie-down strap to a point on one of the second bifurcated restraining straps.

3. A method of multiplying the anchor points for tying down cargo on a surface having at least one anchor point, including,

attaching the single common point of a first multi-armed strap network to the anchor point on the surface,

attaching tie down means to each of the arms of the first strap network.

4. The method of claim 3 where the tie down means includes at least one second multi-armed strap network having its common point attached to at least one of the arms of the first strap network.

5. A system for restraining a unit of cargo onto a surface that has at least one anchoring point on each side of the cargo unit, comprising,

on each side of the cargo unit, at least one first network, each of which includes a plurality of angularly related restraining straps having a vertex and being interconnected at the vertex, where each of said straps includes first distally disposed fastening means and where each vertex includes fastening means for attachment to one of the at least one anchoring points on the surface,

on each side of the cargo unit, at least two second networks, each of which includes a plurality of angularly related restraining straps having a vertex and being interconnected at the vortex, where each of said straps includes second distally disposed fastening means and where each vertex includes fastening means for attachment to one of the first distally disposed fastening means of the at least one first network, and

at least one first cargo tie-down strap, each having fastening means on each end thereof for attachment to the second distally disposed fastening means of the at least two second networks on the respective opposing sides of the cargo unit.

6. The system of claim 5 and further including,

intermediate fastening means carried by at least one of the restraining straps of the at least two second networks of angularly related restraining straps, disposed intermediate the vertex and the second distally disposed fastening means.

7. The system of claim 6 and further including,

at least one second cargo tie down strap, each having fastening means on each end thereof for attachment to the intermediate fastening means on the respective opposing sides of the cargo unit.

8. A system for restraining a unit of cargo onto a surface that has at least one anchoring point on each side of the cargo unit, comprising,

on each side of the cargo unit, at least one first network, each of which includes a plurality of angularly related restraining straps having a vertex and being interconnected at the vertex, where each of said straps includes first distally disposed fastening means and where each vertex includes fastening means for attachment to one of the at least one anchoring points on the surface, and

at least one first cargo tie-down strap, each having fastening means on each end thereof for attachment to the first distally disposed fastening means of the at least one first network on the respective opposing sides of the cargo unit.

9. The system of claim 8 and further including,

intermediate fastening means carried by at least one of the restraining straps of the at least one first network of angularly related restraining straps, disposed intermediate the vertex and the first distally disposed fastening means.

10. The system of claim 9 and further including,

at least one second cargo tie down strap, each having fastening means on each end thereof for attachment to the intermediate fastening means on the respective opposing sides of the cargo unit.