LOAD-STABILIZING WEB

Abstract

The invention relates to a flat securing means, in particular a securing net, for securing a load while the load is being transported on the loading surface (6) of a vehicle. The securing means is equipped with a size-variable flexible securing surface (1, 2) and stop devices (7) provided on the edge side of the securing surface (1, 2) for releasably fixing the securing surface (1, 2) to side walls (5) of the vehicle. According to the invention, a tightening device (8 to 11, H) is provided which converts the flexible securing surface (1, 2) at least from a stretched securing position into a folded storage position and back.

Claims

1. A load-stabilizing web for securing a load during transport in a cargo area of a vehicle, the web comprising: a variable-size, flexible holding zone, having side edges; attachment fittings on the side edges for releasable fixation of the holding zone on side walls of the vehicle; and gathering means for moving the flexible holding zone between an extended holding position and a folded storage position.

2. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 1, wherein the gathering means has at least one gathering cable connected to an upper edge of the load zone.

3. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 2, wherein the gathering means also comprises at least one deflector for the gathering cables at an upper edge of the holding zone.

4. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 2, wherein an end of the gathering cable is provided with a handle.

5. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the gathering cables together are connected together at the upper edge of the holding zone.

6. The load-stabilizing web after claim 5, wherein the gathering cables are spaced from each other at the upper edge of the holding zone.

7. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 6, wherein the gathering cables extend parallel to one another in a gathering direction; and the web further comprising deflectors at the upper edge and through the deflectors which the cables pass.

8. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 6, further comprising: a coupling connected to all of the gathering cables.

9. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 8, wherein the coupling is above a handle.

10. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 7, wherein the deflectors are spaced apart in a row at the upper edge of the holding zone.

11. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 8, wherein the coupling is below a first one of the deflectors in the row.

12. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 2, further comprising: respective guides on the holding zone through which pass the gathering cables the gathering direction through respective guides.

13. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 2, wherein each gathering cable is a steel cable, plastic cable, plastic tape, or combination thereof.

14. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 1, wherein a rigid safety bar is provided at least at the upper edge of the flexible holding zone.

15. The load-stabilizing web according to claim 4, wherein the handle is provided with a fastener for detachable fixation, for example the side wall.

Description

[0026] The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference drawing of a merely schematically shown embodiment. Therein:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows the load-stabilizing web in an extended holding position,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows the web of FIG. 1 in a folded-up storage position, and

[0029] FIG. 3 schematically shows the object according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0030] In the figures, a load-stabilizing web is shown that in the present case is a cargo net. The cargo net is made of plastic straps 1, 2. The plastic straps include vertical straps 1 and horizontal straps 2 connected to each other at crossing points. This can be done in several possible ways forming connections, for example by sewing, gluing, etc.

[0031] The straps or plastic straps 1, 2 define a flexible holding zone 1, 2 of variable area. Furthermore according to this embodiment and optionally an additional such structural element 3 is provided at least at the upper edge of the flexible holding zone 1, 2. This additional structural element 3 is as shown in FIG. 1 a plastic strap. In principle, however, it can include a rigid load bar 3 as shown in FIG. 3. The load bar 3 may be slidable in horizontally extending rails 4 at upper edges of the vertical side walls 5 delimiting the load compartment of a vehicle. The vehicle is illustrated by the two long side walls 5 extending in a longitudinal direction 5 above a surface 6 on which cargo is loaded and prevented from moving with help of the load-stabilizing web.

[0032] The flexible holding zone 1, 2 or the load-stabilizing web also has attachment fittings 7 at outer vertical edges of the load zone 1, 2. The attachment fittings 7 can be hooks, eyelets or adapters, as in the above cited EP 3,154,820. The edge attachment fittings 7 can be detached from the side walls 5 of the unillustrated vehicle. These are side walls 5 with rails, for example provided with holes provided. In principle, the however, such holes could be made directly in the side walls 5. In any case, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 and consequently the load-stabilizing web serve overall for subdivision of the load space of the vehicle. The load-stabilizing web can be fixed longitudinally of the load surface 6 by the attachment fittings 7 in the seats in the side walls 5. It should be emphasized that in the following the illustrated load-stabilizing web is not restricted to a net with the intersecting straps 1, 2. The cargo net can basically be a small-mesh rope net. Alternatively the flexible holding zone 1, 2 could be a plastic tarpaulin, a plastic fabric or something else like a flexible textile or non-textile flat element.

[0033] According to the invention and of particular importance now in addition and in addition to the flexible one holding zone 1, 2 and the edge-mounted attachment fittings 7 there is a gathering means 8 to 11, H. With the help of this gathering means 8 to 11, H the flexible holding zone 1, 2 can move between a spread-out holding position shown in FIG. 1 and a gathered position as shown in FIG. 2. In the holding position according to FIG. 1 the flexible holding zone 1, 2 in this embodiment is spread out to a maximum surface area and is stretched between the opposite side walls 5, so the load placed on the load surface 6 cannot move in the cargo area.

[0034] Starting from this extended holding position according to FIG. 1, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 can move into the folded storage position according to FIG. 2, namely using the gathering means 8 to 11, H. Thus, when moved from the extended holding position of FIG. 1 into the folded storage position according to FIG. 2, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 is folded up like an accordion. The gathering means 8 to 11, H effects this. At the end of this process, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 assumes the folded storage position according to FIG. 2. In the folded storage position, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 is at the upper edge of the holding zone 1, 2 directly below or adjacent the structural element 3. This way, the folded-up holding zone 1, 2 in the holding position, forms an opening through which can easily pass, for example, an operator walking on the load surface 6.

[0035] The gathering means 8 to 11, H has in the extended holding position a plurality of cables, 8, 9, 10, and 11 all connected to the lower edge of the holding zone 1, 2. The schematic representation in FIG. 3 shows that the individual gathering cables 8, 9, 10, 11 are spaced horizontally apart from one another at the lower edge of the holding zone 1, 2 and are each connected to the lower edge of the load zone 1, 2, in the present case at the lowest horizontally running strap 2 or the lowest horizontal strap 2. In addition, the gathering cables 8, 9, 10, 11 extending longitudinally parallel to each other as shown in FIG. 3 by a double-headed arrow in a gathering direction R. According to the invention, the gathering direction R extends predominantly vertically.

[0036] In addition, the gathering cables 8, 9, 10, 11 pass through respective deflectors 12, 13, 14, 15 at the upper edge of the flexible holding zone 1, 2. These deflectors 12, 13, 14, 15 are in a row at the upper edge of the holding zone 1, 2. The deflector 12 is the first one in the row.

[0037] The gathering cables 8, 9, 10, 11 extend to a coupling 16. The coupling 16 is above the previously referred to handle H. In addition, the coupling 16 is below the first deflector 12 of the row of deflectors 12, 13, 14, 15. In this way an operator can manually actuate the handle H to pull all the gathering cables 8, 9, 10, 11 synchronously so that, in a gathering process in the gathering direction R indicated in FIG. 3, the lowest horizontally extending strap 2 of the flexible holding zone 1, 2 extending parallel to the load surface 6 moves, with increasing spacing in the direction R toward the structural element 3 at the upper edge of the flexible holding zone 1, 2. As a result, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 folds together like an accordion until it reaches the folded storage position shown in FIG. 2.

[0038] The handle H is equipped with a fastener 17 The fastener 17 can be releasably fixed at different fixing points. For example, the handle H together with the fastener 17 can be anchored to the side wall of the first deflector 12 in the row of deflectors 12 to 15. In this way, the gathering means 8 to 11, H is kept tensioned and keeps the flexible holding zone 1, 2 at the same time as shown in FIG. 2 in the folded storage position. When the gathering means 8 to 11, H is released, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 drops by gravity from the folded storage position shown in FIG. 2 to the spread-out holding position of FIG. 1.

[0039] The gathering cables 8 to 11 are part of the embodiment and not restricted to steel cables or plastic cables. Alternatively, one can use a plastic tape or several plastic tapes as well as combinations thereof. The gathering cables 8 to 11 are guided additionally through the flexible holding zone 1, 2, typically in the gathering direction R. For guidance according to the embodiment, guides 18, for example loops or eyelets 18, are formed in or connected as shown the illustration in the holding zone 1 and 2 in the vertically extending plastic straps 1. In addition, one recognizes in particular from FIG. 1, that the load-stabilizing web is divided as a whole or open, transversely to its longitudinal extent.

[0040] For this purpose, clamps 19 are provided with whose help not the horizontally running straps 2, 3 can be lengthened or shortened at a separation point indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 1, and the flexible holding zone 1, 2 can be stretched tight between the two walls 5. In any case, the clamps 19 can open and close the horizontal extending plastic straps 2, 3 in the area of the separation point and can stretch the loading zone 1, 2. At the same time, the flexible holding zone 1, 2 can be relaxed with the help of the clamps 19. In this way, each edge of the holding zone 1, 2 is provided with attachment fittings 7 that can be easily attached to the holes in the walls 5 or removed therefrom.

[0041] In addition it is possible for the gathering means 8 to 11, H to move the relaxed flexible holding zone 1, 2 as a whole into the folded storage position. For this purpose, the fastener 17 on the handle H on the side wall 5 of the first deflector 12 side wall 5 is detached and engaged with a hook 20 adjacent the separation point t. In this way the web is secured in the folded storage position aligned in the longitudinal direction of the load surface 6. Then the attachment fittings 7 are simply engaged on the opposite side walls 5 or in the associated seats. Only then is the connected flexible holding zone 1, 2 tightened with the help of the clamps 19.