Patent Application
20090013497
This invention relates to a pull strap assembly for use in transport vehicles, such as trucks and trailer vans, which can be used to enclose a cargo area with a sliding closure while insuring the pull strap is kept within the enclosure.
In a typical semi tractor trailer, a horizontal bed or floor is provided for supporting articles being transported. At the rear of such trailers, a sliding closure, such as a sliding door, is often used to gain entry or access to the cargo area of the trailer to unload the cargo. The height from the street or ground level to the floor of the cargo unit can be in excess of four feet. Consequently, when the sliding door or closure is in the open position, it is difficult for an operator standing on the ground or street level to reach up to any handle provided on the bottom portion on the sliding closure in order to close the sliding closure. Thus straps long enough for an operator to reach from the ground level are often attached to the lower portion of the sliding closure to permit an operator to grab the strap while standing at ground level to close the sliding closure.
There are, however, several drawbacks to having a pull strap attached to a sliding closure. For example, because the pull strap needs to be long enough such that a person standing at the ground level can reach the pull strap with his or her arm extended upward, the pull strap can have a significant section of slack when the sliding closure is in the closed position. The strap can then hang outside of the sliding closure. Such hanging strap outside of the sliding closure is undesirable for purposes of safety, aesthetics, and for the longevity of the strap. Consequently, a need exists for an improved pull strap assembly for a sliding closure.
The present invention comprises a pull strap assembly comprising a first band attached to a second band. In one embodiment, the second band comprises an elastic band. One end of the first band and one end of the second band are attached to a cargo container wall. 1]he other end of the first band is attached to a sliding closure.
In one aspect, the present invention comprises a pull strap assembly kit comprising the first band attached to the second band and one or more twist plates and one or more back plates for attaching the respective bands to the wall. The above, as well as additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following written detailed description.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a partial exploded perspective view of the rearward portion of a truck trailer having a pull strap assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
a is a perspective view of a pull strap assembly installed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
b is a perspective view of the pull strap assembly installed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
While the invention is described below with respect to one or more preferred embodiments, other embodiments are possible. The concepts disclosed herein apply equally to other systems for providing a pull strap assembly for a sliding closure for cargo areas and storage units including cargo vehicles, cargo containers, and ground level storage devices, such as garages, that have a floor at the ground level, or a loading dock door that will be shut from the outside. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
a is a partial exploded perspective view of the rearward portion of a truck trailer having a pull strap assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in
a is a perspective view of a pull strap assembly installed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
In one embodiment, the first band 100 comprises a length of about seven feet, one inch. (7′1″). The second band can be attached to the first band by many methods known in the art and, in one embodiment, the second band 200 is sewn to the first band 100. As shown in
The pull strap assembly of the present invention can be sold as a pull strap kit for an upwards sliding closure. The installation of such kit would be relatively easy since the back plates 144a and 144b can be attached to the wall 320 having a track with only the need for a wrench to tighten the nut. Alternatively, wing nuts could be used and no tools would be necessary to fasten the first and second bands to the wall 320. The rivet plate 146 could be riveted to the sliding closure 310 to fasten the rivet plate 146 to the sliding closure 310. However, although a rivet plate 146 is depicted, other attachment devices could be used. Consequently one embodiment of the present invention comprises a pull strap kit for an upwards sliding enclosure having a first band 100, having a second band 200 attached thereto and at least one twist plate 142 and at least one back plate 144. In one embodiment, the pull strap kit further comprises two twist plates. In an alternative embodiment, the pull strap kit further comprises a rivet plate 146. In one embodiment, the pull strap kit can comprise a first band having a second band, the second band comprising an elastic band attached to the first band, a rivet plate, two twist plates and three back plates. In one embodiment, the back plate 144a 144b 144c all comprise four screw receiving apertures and an elongated strip receiving aperture. In one embodiment, one or more of the back plates 144a 144b 144c comprise an elongated aperture on an angle portion of the back plate. Any suitable angle can be used that facilitates placement of a strap through the elongated aperture when the back plate 144a 144b 144e is fastened to the wall 320 or sliding closure 310. In one embodiment, the elongated aperture is disposed on an angled portion having a 25 degree angle. Of course, such specific angle is provided merely for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Any suitable angle can be used. Further, the elongated aperture is just one geometry that can be used with the flat seat belt-like strip depicted. Other aperture shapes can be used and the shapes can roughly correspond to the shape of the strap being viewed.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
