According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided A gripper comprising a body (1), the body (1) comprising an attachment (12) to a holding body. There is provided a first gripping jaw (2) extending from the body (1) and comprising a concave groove having has two longitudinal opposite edges (4, 5); at least one second gripping jaw (7) having a second concave groove with two longitudinal edges, at least one longitudinal edge of the second longitudinal groove being attached to one edge (5) of the first longitudinal groove either pivotably or detachably; and at least one closing element (10, 11) for pressing the second gripping jaw (7) towards the first gripping jaw (2).

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a pneumatic inflator for automatically inflating inflatable articles, such as dunnage bags, to a desired pressure. Generally, once activated, the pneumatic inflator of the present disclosure inflates an inflatable article via a compressed air source until the air pressure inside the inflatable article reaches an operator-selected desired pressure. Thereafter, the pneumatic inflator automatically stops inflating the inflatable article. In various embodiments, the pneumatic inflator also includes a manual shut-off that, when activated while the pneumatic inflator is inflating the inflatable article, causes the pneumatic inflator to stop inflating the inflatable article. The pneumatic inflator of the present disclosure thus enables automatic inflation of inflatable articles to particular, operated-selected desired pressures with limited operator input.

An automatic multi-air bag pneumatic inflation system for a trailer is also disclosed. The inflation system includes a system control unit coupleable to an air supply for controlling the flow of pressurized air in the pneumatic inflation system. The system control unit comprises an inlet for coupling to the air supply with an on/off valve for providing a flow of air, a primary regulator in communication with the flow of air and the on/off valve, an inflation pressure tank in communication with the flow of air and the primary regulator, a control valve in communication with the inflation pressure tank and/or primary regulator, and used to control the air flow, a function selection valve for selecting between inflation and deflation, and an outlet. A plurality of fill stations are fluidly coupled to the system control unit. One or more fill stations of said plurality of fill stations are fluidly coupled to an air bag for inflation and deflation thereof. The fill stations may include a manifold block, including a first inlet/outlet for fluidly coupling to the system control unit for transmission of the air supply, a safety relief valve joined to the manifold in fluid communication with the air supply, a shut-off valve for manually opening and closing the fluid connection between the manifold and the air bag, and a hose in fluid communication with the manifold and the air bag for transfer of the air supply to the air bag. The plurality of air bags which are spaced about the trailer, and a plurality of fill stations are spaced throughout the trailer, and one or more of the valves in the system control unit and the fill station operate to maintain a predetermined pressure in the air bag(s).

A stretchable adjustable-stiffness assembly includes a casing and first and second friction layers. The casing can be fluidly sealed and includes an interior compartment containing a fluid. The fluid can shift between a first interior pressure and a second interior pressure less than the first interior pressure and an exterior pressure. The first and second friction layers are disposed within the interior compartment. The assembly can shift between relaxed and fixed configurations. In the relaxed configuration, the fluid has the first interior pressure, the casing is stretchable between a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, and the assembly has a first stiffness. In the fixed configuration, the first fluid has the second interior pressure, the casing length is fixed, the first and second friction layers are engaged, and the assembly has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a portable dunnage bag inflator that provides a compact, pressurized source of air and that is easily mounted onto a movable cargo mover (such as a forklift truck or a pallet jack). Generally, the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower that, in operation, draws air at atmospheric pressure through an air intake grid or air inlet into the impellor and expels the air through an inflation hose. Since the portable dunnage bag inflator includes an impellor-driven blower, the pressure of the expelled air is higher than atmospheric pressure. This enables dunnage bags to be inflated to the desired specifications at point-of-use (e.g., during or after loading of cargo into a cargo container) and eliminates the need for a compressed air supply.

The invention discloses a dunnage bag arrangement for securing loads, includes an inflatable dunnage bag having a gastight inflatable bladder; and a hanger member connected to the dunnage bag and adapted to being supported on top of loads and adapted to support the dunnage bag in a void between loads. The dunnage bag includes a reinforcing sleeve made of at least one material ply, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, and the sleeve being folded and sealed and/or stitched to close off at least one of the openings.

A novel securing device includes a frame having an anchor, a tether coupled to the anchor, and an attachment device coupled to the frame. The attachment device is configured to facilitate selective attachment to a planar surface. In a particular embodiment, the attachment device is a magnetic attachment device. Optionally, the magnetic attachment device is encased between the frame and a cover that prevents scratching of the planar surface to which the device is secured. In another particular embodiment, the attachment device is a suction cup. The magnetic attachment device and the suction cup may be interchangeable.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a dunnage bag suspender configured to suspend a dunnage bag in place before inflation and to hold the dunnage bag such that the dunnage bag can automatically pull free of the dunnage bag suspender during inflation.

Systems may include a storage location and a bladder. The storage location may have a volume. The bladder may be selectively inflatable and deflatable to change an amount of the volume of the storage location that is occupied by the bladder. Fluid communication between the bladder and an inflation network may change an amount of pressurized fluid present in the bladder so as to change the amount of the volume of the storage location occupied by the bladder. For example, this may cause the bladder to press against an item in the storage location, such as to secure the item or to facilitate a determination of an amount of space that is occupied in the storage location and/or an amount of space that is available for receipt of additional items.

A dunnage bag and load strap hanger apparatus includes a dunnage bag and load strap hanger and a handle mounted applicator block operative to support and affix the dunnage bag and load strap hanger. The dunnage bag and load strap hanger is fabricated from three distinct and separate parts: a generally planar support substrate and two release papers covering adhesive patches or regions on the support substrate. The support substrate in one embodiment is a sheet that is further divided into two contact members separated by a resilient coupler. Each contact member preferably has a contact body, a hanging loop distal to the resilient coupler, and in alternative embodiments an adhesive coating or other fasteners and affixers. In one alternative embodiment there is one affixing surface, and a fastener to couple two contact members together to support a load strap.