A cargo restraint system includes a driving shaft, a first restraint, and a second restraint. The first restraint is operatively coupled to the driving shaft via a first indexing mechanism arrangement. The second restraint is operatively coupled to the driving shaft via a second indexing mechanism arrangement. The first and second indexing mechanism arrangements are arranged such that rotation of the driving shaft in a first rotational direction causes the first restraint to rotate between a lowered position and a raised position, and further rotation of the driving shaft in the same rotational direction causes the second restraint to rotate between the lowered position and the raised position. The first restraint may be axially offset from the second restraint to allow sequential loading and unloading of cargo.

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 reusable valve in which a seal portion is co-molded with and overmolded to the valve stem to provide a secure mechanical bond therebetween. In one embodiment, the valve includes a snap fit between the valve stem and a retaining cap to provide easy assembly of the valve as well as an efficient and compact retention mechanism for a biasing spring and the valve stem in relation to the valve housing. In one embodiment, the valve includes an easy-to-use opening and closing mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the user when moving the valve stem to an open position and to a closed position to inflate, deflate, or maintain air or gas pressure in the inflatable article. The present disclosure also provides a dunnage bag with such valve.

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.

A method of protecting freight in a cargo area of a freight carrier may include providing a first and second pallet in the cargo area adjacent to and spaced from each other, each pallet having a top surface supporting cargo and four side walls extending from the top surface in a direction away from the cargo; and providing pallet dunnage in the space between the first and second pallet such that the pallet dunnage contacts respective opposing side walls of the first and second pallet.

An airbag system for securing cargo in a container configured as disclosed herein can include: a support structure adapted to attach to a ceiling of the container; an array of airbags suspended from the support structure, each airbag being removeably detachable from the support structure; an air pressure system in fluid communication with each air bag of the array of airbags; and a control system adapted to control the air pressure system to inflate the array of airbags. In an inflated configuration, the array of airbags extends downward from the support structure toward a floor of the container until each airbag of the array of airbags contacts an upper surface of the cargo or the floor of the container.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a reusable valve in which a seal portion is co-molded with and overmolded to the valve stem to provide a secure mechanical bond therebetween. In one embodiment, the valve includes a snap fit between the valve stem and a retaining cap to provide easy assembly of the valve as well as an efficient and compact retention mechanism for a biasing spring and the valve stem in relation to the valve housing. In one embodiment, the valve includes an easy-to-use opening and closing mechanism that provides tactile feedback to the user when moving the valve stem to an open position and to a closed position to inflate, deflate, or maintain air or gas pressure in the inflatable article. The present disclosure also provides a dunnage bag with such valve.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to securing cargo in a cargo area of a vehicle using inflatable panels. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring sensor data about a cargo area of a vehicle from at least one sensor, identifying a presence and a location of an item in the cargo area according to the sensor data, and inflating an inflatable panel to secure the item in the cargo area.

A cargo restraint component such as a cargo restraint panel or a component of a load restraint strip system (e.g., a connecting strip or a load restraint strip) may comprise an attached RF beacon. Additional non-limiting examples of cargo restraint components that can comprise an attached RF beacon include a fluid filled member (e.g. an inflatable air bag), a layered structure (e.g. cardboard dunnage material with an internal honeycomb structure), a cargo retaining strap, a bracing member, a portable bulkhead, an non-skid mat, and an expandable load stabilizer. An RF beacon attached to a cargo restraint component can be configured to transmit identifying data. In some embodiments, an RF beacon attached to a cargo restraint component may include one or more sensors that can measure one or more environmental parameters.

A cargo restraint component such as a cargo restraint panel or a component of a load restraint strip system (e.g., a connecting strip or a load restraint strip) may comprise an attached RF beacon. Additional non-limiting examples of cargo restraint components that can comprise an attached RF beacon include a fluid filled member (e.g. an inflatable air bag), a layered structure (e.g. cardboard dunnage material with an internal honeycomb structure), a cargo retaining strap, a bracing member, a portable bulkhead, an non-skid mat, and an expandable load stabilizer. An RF beacon attached to a cargo restraint component can be configured to transmit identifying data. In some embodiments, an RF beacon attached to a cargo restraint component may include one or more sensors that can measure one or more environmental parameters.