AU2002100389A4 - Improved trailer gate - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: "IMPROVED TRAILER GATE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: IMPROVED TRAILER GATE This invention relates to improvements in trailer gates. In particular it relates to trailer gates that are significantly lighter than existing gates.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Trailer gates are fitted to freight vehicles, such as semitrailers, to assist to restrain the load being carried by the vehicle. A typical gate is constructed from 20mm x 20mm x 1.6mm galvanized rolled hollow steel (RHS). The gate consists of an outer bow having a substantially rectangular shape with a grid of internal bars.

Common gates have three gate stakes welded to the bottom of the outer bow that fit into slots in the freight vehicle to position the gates.

A major problem with existing trailer gates is their weight. The weight makes the gates difficult to manoeuvre and therefore they take excessive time to erect. Due to the weight there is a significant risk of injury from the gates if they are dropped. There is also a risk of lower back injury due to incorrect lifting of the heavy gates. A lighter trailer gate is desirable.

Another problem with the prior art gates is that the upright steel bars can damage certain forms of freight, especially cardboard boxes. It is desirable to have trailer gates that are less likely to cause damage to any form of freight.

The existing gates are also subject to damage that occurs over a period time due to normal wear and time. Eventually the gates become ineffective and must be thrown away.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a trailer gate comprising: a rigid frame; a plurality of flexible inner straps connected to form a web, each end of each said inner strap being attached to said frame; and means for assembling said trailer gate to a freight vehicle.

There are preferably one or more rigid inner braces connected at each end to the rigid frame.

The rigid frame and rigid inner braces may suitably be formed from metal that may be steel, aluminium or other suitable metal.

The inner straps are suitably woven cloth, such as synthetic webbing.

The means for assembling the trailer gate to a freight vehicle are suitably gate stakes that insert into slots in the freight vehicle.

The trailer gates are most suitable for semi-trailers, trucks, and rail cars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To assist in understanding the invention, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures in which: FIG 1 shows a first embodiment of a trailer gate; FIG 2 shows a second embodiment of a trailer gate; FIG 3 shows an enlarged view of a portion of a trailer gate; FIG 4 shows the second embodiment assembled to a flat-top semitrailer; and FIG 5 is another view of the trailer gate of FIG 4; and FIG 6 is a detailed view of a gate stake positioned in a slot on the trailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG 1, there is shown a trailer gate, generally indicated as 1. The trailer gate 1 consists of a rigid frame 2 having a substantially rectangular shape with curved corners at the top and square corners at the bottom. In the embodiments shown the frame 2 is made from a bow 3 and a bottom piece 4 welded to the bow 3 at each end. An additional bottom piece 6 is connected between the ends of the bow 3 to provide additional rigidity to the lower part of the gate 1.

The trailer gate 1 has a vertical inner rigid brace 5. Additional small braces 7 provide additional strength to the gate.

The rigid frame and the rigid inner braces are formed from x 20mm x 1.6mm galvanised RHS.

A web of flexible straps 8 fill in the frame. In the embodiment shown there are four horizontal straps and six vertical straps. The straps are formed from 50mm woven polyester cloth and are stitched together at each crossing, as shown in detail later. Each strap is attached to the frame at each end.

Three gate stakes 9 are welded to the bottom of the frame. A gate stake is shown in greater detail in FIG 3. Each gate stake 9 is a flat metal piece that fits into a corresponding slot formed in the freight vehicle for the purpose, as shown in FIG 6. Gate stakes are a standard way of fitting the gates but it will be appreciated that any suitable method can be used. For example, the gate may be bolted to the freight vehicle through a number of brackets formed at the bottom of the gate.

A conventional throw over 10 is included on each gate so that adjacent gates can be held together.

A second embodiment of a trailer gate 11 is shown in FIG 2. It is of a slightly different construction than the embodiment of FIG 1 (using 25mm x 25mm x 2mm galvanised RHS) but has the same basic structure of a rigid frame 2 made from a bow 3 and a bottom piece 4 welded to the bow 3 at each end. As with the first embodiment an additional bottom piece 6 is connected between the ends of the bow 3 to provide additional rigidity to the lower part of the gate 1.

The primary difference between the first embodiment of FIG 1 and the embodiment of FIG 2 is the inclusion of two vertical inner rigid braces 12 and a horizontal inner brace 13.

This embodiment has five vertical flexible straps and three horizontal flexible straps made from 50mm woven synthetic webbing.

An enlarged view of a portion of a trailer gate 1 is shown in FIG 3. As can be clearly seen, the rigid frame is a welded construction and the gate stake is welded to the frame. The ends of the flexible straps are wrapped around the frame and stitched. The straps are also stitched at each crossing.

A gate 11 of the form shown in FIG 2 is shown in position on a flat-top trailer 14 in FIG 4. An old style rear gate 20 is shown on another trailer in the background. FIG 5 shows the gate of FIG 4 from the opposite side. It will be noted that the flexible straps are wrapped around the frame and fixed using bolts rather than the stitching shown in FIG 3.

The trailer gates of FIG 1 and FIG 2 are substantially lighter than the older style gates. The lighter gates are considerably easier to handle and are safer to manipulate. Due to the strength of the synthetic web the improved gates can be still effective in assisting to restrain a load on the trailer.

Claims (4)

1. A trailer gate comprising: a rigid frame; a plurality of flexible inner straps connected to form a web, each end of each said inner strap being attached to said frame; and means for assembling said trailer gate to a freight vehicle.

2. The trailer gate of claim 1 further comprising one or more rigid inner braces connected at each end to the rigid frame.

3. The trailer gate of claim 1 wherein the inner straps are woven cloth webbing.

4. A method of restraining freight loaded on a freight vehicle including the steps: loading the freight on the freight vehicle; assembling a plurality of gates to the freight vehicle, each said gate comprising: a rigid frame; a plurality of flexible inner straps connected to form a web, each end of each said inner strap being attached to said frame; and means for assembling said trailer gate to a freight vehicle. The method of claim 4 further including the step of linking each gate to each adjacent gate to form a barrier to assist to restrain the load on the freight vehicle. Dated this Fifteenth Day of May 2002 On Behalf of TYNAN, GRAEME; DAXROSE PTY LTD; and HALJUDI PTY LTD By Their Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY