CORNER PROTECTOR FOR PROTECTING THE TOP CORNERS OF STACKS OF LUMBER AND CARGO

Abstract

A corner protector for protecting the top corners of stacks of lumber or other cargo from being indented or frayed by tie-down cables in a railroad freight car, having a sidewall connected at its top to a top wall so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of a stack of lumber or other cargo and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber, cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and detaining the tie-down cable, whereby when the protector is mounted on the corner of a stack of lumber it is protected against being contacted and indented by the tie-down cable, the corner protector may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable and inserting the protector under the cable and mounting the protector on the top corner of the stack of lumber.

Claims

1. A corner protector for protecting the top corners of a stack of lumber or other cargo from being indented or frayed by tie-down cables in railroad freight cars, comprising: a top wall, a sidewall connected at its top to the top wall at a substantially right angle so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of the stack of lumber or other cargo and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber or other cargo, said sidewall having an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface, said top wall joining the sidewall and forming a corner with the sidewall, cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and retaining a tie-down cable, wherein at least one of said fingers has a free end and an attached end, said attached end attaching said at least one finger to said sidewall, wherein the at least one finger has a camming surface sloping upwardly toward the free end, wherein said finger free end of the at least one finger is disposed at a height above the outer sidewall surface and defines a cable receiving space between the outer sidewall surface and the finger free end; wherein said cable receiving space is defined in part by said outer sidewall surface, and wherein said outer sidewall surface defining said cable receiving space spans from the attached end of the at least one finger to a lateral edge of said sidewall, wherein the cable receiving space defines a cable receiving zone that spans unobstructed between the finger attached end and the sidewall lateral edge.

2. The protector of claim 1, wherein said outer sidewall surface is substantially planar.

3. The protector of claim 1, wherein said at least one finger has a support base at said finger attached end attaching said finger to said sidewall.

4. The protector of claim 1, wherein each said finger has a free end and an attached end, each said attached end attaching said respective finger to said sidewall, and wherein each said finger has a support base at its attached end, said support base attaching said finger to said sidewall.

5. The protector of claim 4, wherein each finger has a finger portion, and wherein said finger portion of said at least one finger having the camming surface points in the direction of its free end.

6. The protector of claim 1, wherein each said retention finger has a support base extending perpendicularly from the outer sidewall surface and a finger portion extending horizontally and at a right angle from the support base.

7. The protector of claim 6, wherein each said support base elevates each said finger portion from said outer sidewall surface to form a space between said finger portion and said outer sidewall surface.

8. The protector of claim 5, wherein the sidewall has a pair of lateral edges, wherein at least a portion of each said finger is disposed above the outer sidewall surface and is spaced apart from the outer sidewall surface, wherein the area of the outer sidewall surface that is below each said finger comprises a finger overlying portion of the outer sidewall surface, and wherein each finger overlying portion of the outer sidewall surface comprises a substantially planar surface spanning from the respective finger support base to a lateral edge of the sidewall.

9. The protector of claim 4, wherein each support has a vertical portion wherein the vertical portion of said support defines a zone that spans in the direction that the finger points, from the vertical portion to the sidewall lateral edge, said zone being unobstructed and comprising a space.

10. The protector of claim 1, wherein said fingers include at least one first finger and at least one second finger, wherein the at least one finger having the camming surface comprises a third finger, wherein said first finger and said second finger are adjacently spaced apart on said sidewall, wherein there is a cable receiving space between said adjacently spaced apart first and second fingers, and wherein rotating the protector relative to the cable in a single direction slides the cable along the protector outer sidewall surface and seats the cable below each respective said first finger and said second finger, and cams the cable over the camming surface of the third finger to retain the cable on the protector.

11. The protector of claim 10, wherein each of said first finger and said second finger has an attached end and a free end, the free end being spaced apart from and positioned above the outer sidewall surface, wherein said outer sidewall surface is substantially planar between the first finger and the second finger, and below each respective finger free end of said first finger and second finger.

12. The protector of claim 4, wherein each said support base elevates each respective said finger free end from said outer sidewall surface to form a respective finger space between said respective finger free end and said outer sidewall surface, wherein said sidewall has a pair of lateral edges, and wherein each respective said finger space of at least a plurality of said adjacent fingers, spans from said respective finger support to one of said sidewall lateral edges to define a cable receiving zone.

13. The protector of claim 1, whereby, when the protector is mounted on the corner of a stack of lumber, the lumber or other cargo is protected against being contacted and indented by the tie-down cable, the cable is protected against wearing and fraying caused by the cable contacting and rubbing against the corner of the stack of lumber or other cargo, and the protector may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable and inserting the protector under the cable and mounting the protector on the top corner of the stack of lumber, and then tightening the cable.

14. The protector of claim 1, wherein each said retention finger has a support base extending perpendicularly from the outer sidewall surface and wherein each said retention finger extends horizontally and at a right angle from the outer end of its respective support base.

15. The protector of claim 1, wherein said retention fingers include at least two retention fingers being mounted in alignment on the outer sidewall surface with their finger portions pointing in the same direction, wherein the at least one finger having the camming surface is one of the at least two aligned retention fingers; wherein said retention fingers include at least one other retention finger being mounted on the outer sidewall surface spaced away from the two aligned retention fingers and with the finger portion of the at least one other retention finger pointed in a direction opposite to the two aligned retention fingers so as to form a space between the two aligned retention fingers and the at least one other retention finger so that the fingers capture and retain the tie-down cable in said space.

16. The protector of claim 2, wherein the cable receiving space has a lower boundary that is defined by the substantially planar outer sidewall surface.

17. A corner protector and railroad car combination for protecting the top corner of a stack of lumber or other cargo on a railroad car from being indented or frayed by tie-down cables, comprising: a railroad freight car, a stack of lumber or other cargo on the railroad freight car, a tie-down cable having each end mounted on the freight car, and a corner protector comprising: a top wall, a sidewall connected at its top to the top wall at a substantially right angle so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of the stack of lumber or other cargo and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber or other cargo, said sidewall having an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface, said top wall joining the sidewall and forming a corner with the sidewall, cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and retaining a tie-down cable, wherein at least one of said fingers has a free end and an attached end, said attached end attaching said at least one finger to said sidewall, wherein the at least one finger has a camming surface sloping upwardly toward the free end, wherein said finger free end of the at least one finger is disposed at a height above the outer sidewall surface and defines a cable receiving space between the outer sidewall surface and the finger free end; wherein said cable receiving space is defined in part by said outer sidewall surface, and wherein said outer sidewall surface defining said cable receiving space extends from the attached end of the at least one finger to a lateral edge of said sidewall, whereby, when the protector is mounted on the corner of the stack of lumber or other cargo, the lumber or other cargo is protected against being contacted and indented by the tic-down cable, the cable is protected against wearing and fraying caused by contacting the corner of the stack of lumber or other cargo, and the protector may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable and inserting the protector under the cable and mounting the protector on the top corner of the stack of lumber, and then tightening the cable.

18. A method of protecting the top corners of a stack of lumber or other cargo from indentations from a tie-down cable in a railroad freight car comprising the steps of: a) loading a stack of lumber or other cargo on the railroad freight car, b) fastening both ends of tie-down cable on the railroad freight car, c) contacting the load of lumber or other cargo with the tie-down cable, and d) providing a corner protector comprising: i) a top wall, ii) a sidewall connected at its top to the top wall at a substantially right angle so that the sidewall is adapted to contact the side of the stack of lumber or other cargo and the top wall is adapted to contact the top of the stack of lumber or other cargo, iii) said sidewall having an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface, iv) said top wall joining the sidewall and forming a corner with the sidewall, v) cable retention fingers mounted on the sidewall for capturing and retaining a tie-down cable, vi) wherein at least one of said fingers has a free end and an attached end, said attached end attaching said at least one finger to said sidewall, wherein the at least one finger has a camming surface sloping upwardly toward the free end, wherein said finger free end of the at least one finger is disposed at a height above the outer sidewall surface and defines a cable receiving space between the outer sidewall surface and the finger free end; vii) wherein said cable receiving space is defined in part by said outer sidewall surface, and wherein said outer sidewall surface defining said cable receiving space extends from the attached end of the at least one finger to a lateral edge of said sidewall, e) loosening the tie-down cable on the railroad freight car, f) placing the corner protector on the top corner of the stack of lumber under the tie-down cable, g) positioning the tie-down cable through said cable receiving space; h) rotating the protector in a direction so that the tie-down cable engages and is moved along the camming surface of the at least one finger, and so that the tie-down cable is secured by the plurality of cable retention fingers.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein rotating the protector rotates the tie-down cable through the space defined between the a lateral edge of the sidewall and the attached end of the at least one finger.

20. The method of claim 18, further including tightening down the tie-down cable to hold the protector in place on the top corner of the stack of lumber.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the outer sidewall surface defining the cable receiving space is substantially planar in the area between the attached end of the at least one finger and the sidewall lateral edge.

22. A corner protector having a base and a top, the base comprising a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, a plurality of fingers disposed on the sidewall surface and extending upwardly from the sidewall surface, each finger forming a cable receiving space between the finger and a lateral edge of said sidewall, wherein the top joins the sidewall to form a corner at the first sidewall end, wherein the sidewall spans from the top corner to a second sidewall end opposite the corner, and wherein at least one finger is disposed closest to one of the said first or second sidewall ends, and wherein said at least one finger is supported on a finger base, and wherein said sidewall outer surface spans from said sidewall lateral edge to the finger base of the at least one finger disposed closest to the said at least one of said first sidewall end or said second sidewall end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a typical center beam bulkhead railroad flat car showing a plurality of protectors installed in an arrangement with cables to secure cargo.

[0021] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a corner protector constructed in accordance with this invention as viewed from the sidewall.

[0022] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the corner protector shown in an exemplary position with cargo, shown represented by portions of a stack of lumber.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the corner protector illustrating the outer surface of the sidewall and fingers, showing the protector in a pre-installation orientation relative to the cable.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the corner protector showing the protector installed to secure the cable with the fingers.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the protector depicting the cable receiving zones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a typical center beam bulkhead railroad flat car 105 having bulkheads 105a and 105b, corner protectors 110 for protecting the top corners 201 of a cargo 200 that is depicted as a stack 202 of lumber 203 from being indented or frayed by a tie-down cable 220 in a railroad freight car 300.

[0027] Referring more particularly to FIG. 2A, corner protector 110 comprises a vertical side wall member 121 connected at its top portion 123 to a top wall 125 at right angles to the side wall member 121 along a fold line 127 so that the side wall member 121 is adapted to contact the side of the lumber stack 202 (FIG. 1) and the top wall 125 is adapted to contact the top 204 of lumber stack 202 (FIG. 1).

[0028] The side wall member 121 has a first or inner side wall surface 133 which is shown facing the cargo 200, and a second or exterior side wall surface 137. The inner side wall surface 133 is vertical. FIG. 2B illustrates the protector 110 in an exemplary installation showing the protector 110 placed on cargo, which in this depiction is a stack of lumber 203.

[0029] The top wall 125 preferably is horizontal and is connected to the top portion 123 of the side wall member 131 at a right angle for contacting the top surface of the stack 202 of lumber 203, and the horizontal top wall 125 forms a corner 145 with the inner side wall surface 133.

[0030] When the corner protector 110 is mounted on the corner 201 of a stack 202 of lumber 203, the stack of lumber 203 is protected against being contacted and indented or frayed by the tie-down cable 220. Also, the cable 220 is protected against wearing and fraying by any contact with the corner 201 of the stack 202 of lumber 203.

[0031] The corner protector 110 may be installed on the corner 201 of a stack 202 of lumber 203 without disconnecting the cable 220 by just loosening the cable 220 and inserting the corner protector 110 under the cable 220 and mounting the corner protector 110 on the top corner 201 of the stack 202 of lumber 203. Then the cable 220 is tightened by turning a device, such as a winch, located at the side of the railroad car with the inner end of the cable 220 having been anchored on the center beam of the car.

[0032] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-5, the protector 110 is configured having a top wall 125 and a side wall 121 with a side wall top portion 123 that form the corner 145 (on the inside wall portions, FIGS. 2A and 2B). Cable retention fingers 151, 152, 153 are mounted on the side wall 121, and preferably on the exterior 137 of the side wall 123 for capturing and retaining a cable, such as the cable 220. According to embodiments, a plurality of cable retention fingers is provided, and preferred embodiments may be configured having three cable retention fingers, as shown in FIGS. 2A-5, where cable retention fingers 151, 152, 153 are provided. The cable retention fingers 151, 152, 153 are supported by support bases 161, 162, 163 that extend perpendicularly from the outer side wall 123, and in particular the outer surface 137. The retention fingers 151, 152, 153 each extend horizontally and at a right angle from the outer end of the respective support bases 161, 162, 163. Two of the retention fingers 151, 153 are mounted so that they are pointing in the same direction, and a third retention finger 152 is mounted on the outer side wall 123 spaced away from each of the two aligned fingers 151, 153. In the embodiments illustrated, the finger 152 pointed in a direction opposite to the direction of the two aligned fingers 151, 153 forms a space 170, 171 (FIG. 3) between the finger 152 and each of the aligned fingers 151, 153 and the centrally positioned retention finger 152 so that the fingers 151, 152, 153 capture and retain the tie-down cable 220 in the space between them.

[0033] The fingers 151, 152, 153 are elevated from the outer wall surface 137, and there is an open space 151a, 152a, 153a formed below and in front of each respective finger 151, 152, 153. The spaces 151a, 152a, 153a preferably are unobstructed to allow the cable to readily seat underneath the respective finger 151, 152, 153. As shown in the illustrations, in the preferred embodiments depicted, there is no opposing wall or structure beneath or in front of the finger support 161, 162, 163, and thereby open access is provided for receiving the cable 220 and for the cable 220 to be positioned without obstruction, under the fingers 151, 152, 153.

[0034] According to preferred embodiments, camming action of the third finger 153 guides the cable 220 over the third finger 153 from behind the third finger 153. According to some preferred embodiments, the third finger 153 may be shorter than the other two fingers, e.g., fingers 151, 152, so that the height of the top of the fingers 151, 152 from the outer wall surface 137 is greater than the top of the finger 153 from the outer wall surface.

[0035] The protector 110 preferably maintains each area below the three fingers 151, 152, 153 and in front of each finger support without an obstruction (e.g., the spaces 151a, 152a, 153a). The spaces 151a, 152a, 153a beneath each of the respective the fingers 151, 152, 153 (relative to the outer wall surface 137 on which the fingers 151, 152, 153 and respective finger support bases 161, 162, 163 are mounted) is maintained for maximum access to provide the cable 220 with access to capture (as well as retain the cable 220).

[0036] A cable receiving zone is provided between each of the respective finger portions 151, 152, 153 and the outer surface of the sidewall 137. Preferably, the cable receiving zone spans from the respective support base 161, 162, 163 to the lateral edge of the sidewall to which the respective finger points. As illustrated in FIG. 5, cable receiving zones are illustrated in broken lines to represent open zones z1, z2 and z3, which facilitate installation and retention of the cable 220 in position by providing an unobstructed area between a respective lateral edge 121a, 121b of the sidewall 121 and the finger support 161, 162, 163. The cable receiving zones z1, z2, z3 preferably also may comprise zones for facilitating installation of the protector 110 on the cable 220 by allowing the cable to access the zone spaces as the protector is being installed on the cable.

[0037] The cable retention fingers 151, 152, 153 are provided with support bases 161, 162, 163 extending perpendicularly from the outer sidewall 137, and the retention fingers 151, 152, 153 extend horizontally and at a right angle from the outer end of the respective support bases 161, 162, 163.

[0038] The side wall 121 comprises a vertical inner side wall surface 133, and an outer side wall surface portion 137, with the fingers 151, 152, 153 being provided on the outer side wall 137, whereby the cable 220 may be threaded through the fingers 152, 152, 153 on the outer side wall 137.

[0039] According to preferred embodiments, the protector 110 may be configured to handle forces and in particular, some embodiments may have a force handling structure. The force handling structure is shown comprising an reinforced portion 157, which is shown configured as a generally L-shaped reinforcing plate. The plate 157 is shown with a first leg or portion 157a provided on the top surface 125a (FIG. 2B) of top wall 125. Optionally though not shown, cable alignment tabs may be provided, extending upwardly from the top wall 125. The plate 157 also includes a second leg or portion 157b provided on the outer surface 137 of the side wall 121 that has the fingers 151, 152, 153 thereon.

[0040] The corner protector 110 is made of a durable material that is suitably strong to withstand exposure to weather conditions (including temperature changes and extremes, rain, snow, and the like), as well as stresses of the cable as the railcar and cargo travel long the tracks. According to preferred embodiments, the corner protector 110 may be constructed from suitable materials, such as, for example, synthetic plastic, and more preferably, a thermoplastic such as urethane.

[0041] The method of using the corner protector 110 to protect cargo, and in particular the top edges or corners of the cargo, such as for example, the top corners 201 of a stack 202 of lumber 203 or other cargo from indentations, wearing and fraying from a tie-down cable 220, such as in a center beam bulkhead flat railroad freight car 105 (FIG. 1), comprises the steps of providing a corner protector 110, placing the corner protector 110 on the top corner 201 of a stack 202 of lumber 203 or other cargo, positioning the cable 220 between the fingers, preferably between the first and second fingers 151, 152, as shown in FIG. 3 (where the cable 220 is preferably aligned horizontally with the fingers 151, 152), and rotating the protector 110 relative to the cable 220 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrows 250, 251. As the protector 110 is rotated, in the counterclockwise direction, the cable 220 engages the foot 158 of the camming surface 159 of the third finger 153, and the continued rotation of the protector 110 causes the camming of the cable 220 along the camming surface 159 of the third finger 153, and eventually the cable 220 passes over the forward edge 153d of the third finger 153, whereupon the cable 220 is secured under the second finger 152, and under the first finger 151. The rotation of the protector 110 captures the cable below the fingers 151 and 152, in the respective finger spaces 151a, 152a. The space in front of the respective fingers 151, 152, allows the cable 220 to seat between the surface 137 of the sidewall and the finger 151, 152, by rotating the cable across the surface 137 of the side wall 125. The camming surface 159 of the third finger 153 facilitates the travel of the cable 220 to move into position over the front edge 153d of the third finger 153 and into the third finger space 153a. According to preferred embodiments, the cable 220 may be loosened but can remain attached in position to hold the cargo, and the protector 110 installed on the loosened cable 220. Once the protector 110 is installed, then the cable 220 may be tensioned to secure the protector 110 and cargo, such as, for example, the lumber stack 202 on the rail car 105, or other cargo. The cable 220 secures within the retention fingers 151, 152, 153 of the side wall 121. The cable also engages the corner 127 and preferably, the cable 220 engages the reinforced portion or plate 157. The plate 157 may be optionally provided and may have alternate configurations.

[0042] Preferably, the protectors 110 are provided on each side of the stack 202 so that the cable 220 spans across the stack 202 and is secured by a protector 110 on each opposite corner of the side of the stack 202. The tie-down cable 220 is passed through the retention fingers 151, 152, 153 of the outer sidewall 137. This preferably is accomplished by positioning the cable 220 in the space 170 between the first finger 151 and second finger 152 (as shown in FIG. 3). Preferably, the cable 220 is installed on the stack prior to the protector 110. The protector 110 is installed on the cable 220 by positioning it so that the space 170 between the first and second fingers 151, 152 receives the cable 220, and then rotating the protector 110 in the counterclockwise direction of arrows 250 and 251 so that the protector 110 captures the cable 220 under each of the respective fingers 151, 152, 153. During installation, the cable 220 is able to move through the cable receiving zones z1 and z2. Finally, the cable moves over the third finger camming surface 159, over the front edge 153d, and into the cable receiving zone z3, and particularly the open space 153a. Once the protector 110 is installed, the fingers 151, 152, 153 retain the cable 220, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the cable 220 is retained in alignment with the reinforced portion 157.

[0043] Alternatively, the cargo protector 110 may be installed by threading the tie-down cable 220 through the retention fingers 151, 152, 153, and then tightening down the tie-down cable 220 to hold the corner protector 110 in place on the top corner of the stack of lumber (or other cargo).

[0044] The cargo protector 110 preferably may be installed without disconnecting the cable by loosening the cable, such as the cable 220 and inserting the protector 110 under the cable 220 and mounting the protector 110 on the top corner of the stack of lumber, and then tightening the cable.

[0045] According to some embodiments, orienting indicia may be provided on the protector 110 to facilitate placement in a preferred orientation when installing the protector 110 onto cargo. The orienting indicia is shown in an exemplary depiction comprising an arrow 175, which points upward to show the position for installation of the protector 110. Although an arrow 175 is shown other indicia may be provided to show the preferred orientation.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the protectors of the invention may be constructed having different heights, lengths and widths, if desired. Protectors may secure cargo, such as, for example, lumber and other materials, including stacked material and unstacked material where protection of the corners or edges is desired. The protectors also may be constructed to conform to appropriate railway association rules or standards, for example, if particular materials or properties for materials are desired or required.

[0047] While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. For example, although the protector finger 153 is shown having a forward edge 153d that protrudes outward from the finger base 163, according to some alternate embodiments, the finger forward edge 153d may be coextensive with the finger base 163. Preferred embodiments preferably provide the forward edge 153d that protrudes beyond the base 163 to provide a recess or cable receiving space. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein and as defined by the appended claims.