Cargo trailer access door security barrier

Abstract

The present invention is a cargo trailer security apparatus for use with a cargo trailer or similar container having rear entry outward swing or roll-up doors. The security apparatus creates a barrier to entry into the interior cargo space through the rear doors when the trailer is backed against the apparatus. The apparatus includes a base assembly with a bollard, a support assembly having a vertical central post and two parallel barrier mounted on the central post, and a door handle and latch block.

Claims

1. A moveable cargo door security apparatus for decreasing the risk of theft from a cargo trailer having a rear swing door entry, said apparatus comprising: a base assembly having a base plate with a front edge and a bollard having a top rail and two vertical posts; a support assembly having a vertical post with a front surface, an upper horizontal cross beam, and a lower horizontal cross beam, wherein said upper and lower cross beams are mounted to the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly; and a handle block mounted on the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly between the lower horizontal cross beam of said support assembly and the top rail of said bollard.

2. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base assembly further comprises two extension plates attached to the front edge of said base plate.

3. The security apparatus of claim 2, wherein said base assembly further comprises a plurality of extension plates movably hinged together.

4. The security apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top rail of the bollard of said base assembly further comprises a collar having an aperture for receiving the vertical post of said support assembly therethrough.

5. A moveable cargo door security apparatus for decreasing the risk of theft from a cargo trailer having a single rear entry roll-up door, said apparatus comprising: a base assembly having a base plate with a front edge and a bollard having a top rail and two vertical posts; a support assembly having a vertical post with a front surface, and a horizontal cross beam mounted to the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly; and a handle block mounted on the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly between the horizontal cross beam of said support assembly and the top rail of said bollard.

6. The security apparatus of claim 5, wherein top rail of the bollard of said base assembly further comprises a collar having an aperture for receiving the vertical post of said support assembly therethrough.

7. A security apparatus for decreasing the risk of theft from a cargo trailer having a rear swing door entry, said apparatus comprising: a bollard having a top rail and two vertical posts; a support assembly having a vertical post with a front surface, an upper horizontal cross beam, and a lower horizontal cross beam, wherein said upper and lower cross beams are mounted to the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly; and a handle block mounted on the front surface of said vertical post of the support assembly between the lower cross beam of said support assembly and the top rail of said bollard.

8. The security apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top rail of said bollard further comprises a collar for receiving the vertical post of the support assembly therethrough.

9. The security apparatus of claim 7, wherein the vertical posts of said bollard and the vertical post of said support assembly each have a lower end, said lower ends being secured into the ground.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a moveable security apparatus of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a base assembly of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of the base assembly of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a vertical support assembly of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a handle block of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side rear perspective view of the vertical support assembly and handle block secured to the base assembly of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 is a side front perspective view of the vertical support assembly secured to the base assembly of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side view of the security apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

(11) FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a non-moveable security apparatus of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a moveable security apparatus of the present invention; and

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the security apparatus shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) The present invention is a cargo trailer access door security barrier apparatus which limits access to the interior contents of a trailer having outward-swing doors when the trailer is parked with the rear cargo doors abutting the apparatus. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment 100 of the present invention is shown, including a base assembly 200, support assembly 300, bollard 400, and a door handle block 450.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the base assembly 200 includes a back plate 220, and a plurality of base plates 230 fastened together with standard hinges 240 to form flexible joints between the plates 230 to enable their stacking before movement of the assembled apparatus. Back plate 220 includes two parallel flanges 210 having apertures 215, and a bollard 400. In one embodiment, the bollard body 400 is an inverted U-shape, defined by a horizontal bar 420 and two vertical bars 412. The bottom ends 414 of vertical bars 412 are welded to back plate 220 and the upper ends 416 are welded to opposite ends of bar 420. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, rear surface 422 of horizontal bar 420 includes a collar 424 having an aperture 426 for receiving support assembly 300.

(16) With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the details of the support assembly 300 are shown in FIG. 5. Support assembly 300 includes a vertical support post 310 having ends 312, 314, and two horizontal rails 320, 330. In the preferred configuration 100, upper rail 320 is of sufficient length such that the ends can be seen by a driver of a cargo trailer in the side view mirrors when backing the tractor-trailer into position such that the doors of the cargo trailer against the security barrier apparatus 100. The door handle block 450, as shown in FIG. 6, is an open box having a bottom surface 451, top side 452, bottom side 454, left side 456, and right side 458, which define interior space 455.

(17) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, end 314 of vertical support post 310 of support assembly 300, passes through collar aperture 426 of bollard 400 and rests on back plate 220, receiving flanges 210 with apertures 215 and 315 positioned to receive two support bolts (not shown). Referring to FIG. 8, bolt cover 440 and back brace 430 are optionally included to prevent removal of the bolts and, thereby removing support assembly 300 from base assembly 200. Optionally, end 314 of pole 310 may be welded to back plate 220 using conventional means.

(18) Referring to FIGS. 2, and 9, handle block 450 rests between lower horizontal arm 330 of pole 310 and bar 420 of bollard 400. Handle block top 452 is secured to horizontal arm 330 and block bottom 454 is secured to bollard horizontal bar 420 using conventional means.

(19) In use, with plates 230 unfolded and extended, the driver of the tractor-trailer positions the tires of the cargo trailer onto plates 230, and backs the trailer toward the support assembly 300, using the ends of upper cross beam 320 as a guide to center the rear doors so that, once in position, the handle block 450 receives the door handles and latching mechanisms and shields to shield them from tampering. When correctly parked adjacent to security apparatus 100, the rear entry doors of the cargo trailer will remain proximal to horizontal beams 320, 330, preventing outward movement of the swing doors if the latch shield 450 is breached, thereby preventing access to the interior cargo space of a trailer.

(20) In an alternative embodiment, as exemplified in FIG. 10, security barrier 500 includes a bollard 510, support assembly 530, and door handle block 550. In this embodiment, bollard 510 includes horizontal bar 516 and vertical bars 512, and support assembly 530 includes vertical support post 531, and upper and lower parallel beams 540, 544. Sides 552 and 554 of block 550 are permanently attached to support post 532 between lower beam 544 and horizontal bar 516. In this embodiment, vertical rails 512 and support post 531 are set into ground 504 a sufficient distance below surface 502 to stabilize the structure 500 during use.

(21) In yet another embodiment, a security barrier for use with a cargo trailer having a single rear-entry roll-up door is provided. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, security barrier 600 includes base assembly 610, support assembly 630 and handle block 670. Base assembly 610 includes back plate 612, foldable plates 614, and hinges 616. Bollard 620 includes vertical legs 622 supporting horizontal bar 626. Support assembly 630 includes vertical support post 632, and a single horizontal rail 638. Sides 672 and 674 of handle block 670 is fixed to central post 632 between rail 638 and bar 626.

(22) It will be readily understood by one skilled in the art that multiple moveable or fixed security barrier systems 100, 500, 600 may be used together in alternative configurations to facilitate space conservation for temporary parking of multiple cargo trailers in an unsecured public parking area.

(23) It will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be changed or modified for use on other cargo vehicles having rear entry doors without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.