GB2308108A - A vehicle load securing device - Google Patents

Description

TRARS-SAFE This invention relates to 'TRABS-SAFE'.

Items(non specific) are transported in vehicles and require to be secured for the duration of their journey for reasons of: a. safety of these non specific item/items.

b. the safety of the driver and/or passengers travelling in the vehicle and accompanying such secured item/items.

'TRANS-SAFE' is a means of securing any item/items that require to be transported from one place to another, safely, in any vehicle boot, including but not limited to saloon cars, hatch-backs, estate cars and trailers towed by vehicles.

Before a journey is undertaken 'TRAXS-SAFE' is placed in the boot of a vehicle, without the need for professional assistance, in such a manner so that it fits rigidly within the interior of the boot by means of the telescopic sections which form the four sides of the equipment, the longitudinal sections wedged against the interior wheel arches and the tranverse sections, the rear section of which is wedged against the sill of the boot and the forward section wedged against the back of the partition (between the boot and rear seats) or the rear seats itself, as the case may be, by means of a telescopic spacer frame section. 'TRANS SAFE' is capable of being used in the boot area of most sizes of vehicles due to the telescopic sections which extend, both, longitudinally and transversely. the telescopic sections are locked in OHttiO position by means of screw down knobs.

Amy iteF.t or items of goods, to be transported, are now placed within the perimeter of 'TRANS-SAFE', the securing-strap is physically drawn from its reel, wrapped around the item or items and hooked into the hookholes provided on the sides of the telescopic sections, the securingstrap reel 1- self-retracting but for purposes of securing aforesaid items of goods the reel is locked by means of a screw-down knob. The self-retracting securing-strap reel unit is free to move along the length of the telescopic section, this allows 'TRANS-.SAFE' to safely secure various sizes of goods to be transported, means of locking it in position on the telescopic section is provided for by another screw-down knob.

At the end of the Journey the aforesaid item is released by slacking the screw-down knob, gently hauling on the securing strap to unhook the hook from the hook-hole and the securing-strap is rewound automatically on its self-retracting reel.

A specific embodiment of 'TRANS-SAFE' will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the equipment.

Figure 2 illustrates the equipment with a parcel, to be transported, secured by means of the securing-strap.

Figure 5 shows the self-retracting securing-strap reel unit.

Figure 4 shows the left side-elevation of a self-retracting securingstrap reel unit.

Figure 5 shows the right side-elevation of a self-retracting securingstrap reel unit.

Referring to the drawing, 'TRABS-SAFE' consists of longitudinal dualtelescopic sections 1 and transverse single-telescopic sections 2. The longitudinal sections are supported midway by support blocks 8, rear end blocks 3 and forward end blocks 4.

The self-retracting securing-strap reel units are slotted on to these aforesaid sections and these sections are secured on the end blocks by retaining screws 6. The telescopic spacer frame section 5 is slotted in position on the forward side of the forward blocks and secured by retaining screws 7.

All the four sections have been provided with hook-holes 13 spaced at regular intervals.

'TRANS-SAFE' is placed in the vehicle boot and its sections are extended, both longitudinally and transversely to fit. rigidly against the interior of the vehicle and the sections are then locked in position by means of the locking knobs 12.

The support blocks 8 are then adjusted to midway of the extended longitudinal sections 1. The support blocks 8 are not locked in position as they only form an additional support to the equipment.

The telescopic spacer frame section 5 comes into its own in hatchbacks and estate cars or similar vehicles where the rear seats can be folded down to extend the stowage area in the boot. This spacer frame section 5 is positioned against the backs of the front seats thus ensuring rigidity of the equipment at the forward end. This telescopic spacer frame section 5 is locked in position, after extending it to match the length of the transverse sections 2 by means of a locking knob 14.

The self-retracting securing-strap reel unit consists of an outer cover a with a slot for the securing strap to be guided on to th reel, an interior reel 16 with the securing-strap wrapped around it (not s-hown!.

The reel is tensioned by spring arrangement (not shown) which allows it to be self-retracting. The securing strap 21 is secured at its inner end to the reel (not shown), the exposed end is provided with an hook 15 of greater dimensions than the slot in the reel outer cover The reel unit is locked in position on the telescopic section (1 or 2) by means of a screw down knob 10 which is turned clockwise which, in turn, tightens on a friction pad l9, the friction pad gripping on the frame section.

The reel (with the securing strap wound on it) is locked by means of a screw down knob 11 which is turned clockwise which, in turn, tightens on a friction pad 17, the friction pad tightening against an extending lip 18 on one of the the reel cheeks (not shown).

An item or items of goods, non specific, that require to be safely transported are placed within the equipment area and against the frames 1 and/or 2 as shown in figure 2, the self-retracting securing-strap reel unit is positioned as close as possible to an item 22 (for the sake of clarity only one item is shown) and locked on the frame by means of screw down knob 1. The securing strap 21 i withdrawn from th reel, wrapped around the item 22 and hooked into the hook hole 13. The reel is then locked, to prevent it slacking with the vehicle movement in travel, by means of the screw down knob 11.

To release the item/items of goods the screw down knob 11 is turned anti-clockwise, the strap 21 is gently hauled to obtain some slack on the strap, the hook 15 is unhooked from the hook hole 13, the strap is automatically rewound on the self-retracting reel 16 when released. As the reel itself is protected by an outer cover 9 with a slot for the securing strap to guide it on the reel the 'TRANS-SAFE' maintains its tidy appearance.

'TRANS-SAFE' can be stowed inside the vehicle permanently ready for use or removed to suit the owner's requirements without damage to the interior trim of the vehicle by way of bolt/screw holes as it is not physically bolted on to the vehicle.

'TRANS-SAFE'can be retained by the owner of the vehicle when he sells/transfers ownership of the vehicle and placed in his/her replacement vehicle as it is designed to fit almost all saloon type vehicles or hatchbacks or estate type vehicles, again, without the need for professional assistance.

Claims (8)

1. 'TRANS-SAFE' comprising telescopic frames sections, dual-telescopic longitudinally and single-telescopic transversely with screw down knobs to ensure rigidity of the whole equipment, with self-retracting securing-strap reel units slotted into the four frame sections, the sections supported at each end by end blocks and in the middle of the longitudinal sections by support blocks, the self-retracting securingstrap reel units consisting of spring tensioned reel with an outer cover slotted to guide the securing strap onto the reel, and wound onto the reel, and with hook, of greater dimensions than the slot, provided at the exposed end, locking arrangements for the unit to frame and independent locking arrangements for the self-retracting reel itself, 'TRAXS-SAFE' capable of being used in boot areas of, almost, all saloon type vehicles, hatchbacks, estate type vehicles and box trailers.

2. 'TRAKS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the telescopic frame sections can be extended and locked to fit rigidly within the interior of a vehicle boot/trailer.

3. 'TRANS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the rigidity of 'TRANS-SAFE' is effected using the existing structure of a vehicle /trailer.

4. 'TRANS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the self-retracting securing-strap reel units, each comprising a spring tensioned reel with an outer cover slotted to guide the securing strap on to the reel, independent locking means for the reel unit to frame sections, independent locking means for the reel itself, are free to move along the length of the telescopic frame sections.

5. 'TRANS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 4 wherein the selfretracting securing-strap reel units are locked in position along the frame to suit the dimension of the good being secured for transport.

6. 'TRANS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim i or Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the self-retracting securing-strap reel is locked in position.

7. 'TRANS-SAFE' as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 4 or Claim 8 or Claim 6 wherein the securing strap is automatically rewound on the reel after use.

8. 'TRANS-SAFE' as described herein with reference to Figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawing.