Cargo beam

Claim 1

In combination with a structure including opposing walls provided with anchor members secured thereto in opposing relation and defining flange portions generally paralleling and spaced slightly outwardly from said walls and having aligned openings formed therein, an adjustable length member for use in shoring a partial load within said structure, said adjustable length member including an elongated tubular center section, a first elongated tubular end section telescopingly guidingly supported from and lengthwise adjustably extendable and retractable relative to one end of said center section, a second elongated tubular end section telescopingly guidingly supported from and lengthwise freely shiftable relative to the other end of said center section between maximum and minimum extended positions, means connected between said center and second end sections biasing the latter toward its maximum extended position, laterally opening hook means projecting endwise outwardly from and carried by the remote ends of said end sections removably endwise projected through said openings and laterally displaced into engagement with the edge portions of said flange portions defining the boundaries of said openings toward which said hooks open, an elongated abutment slide supported from one of said end sections for lengthwise shifting relative to said one end section longitudinally of said one end section into and out of position disposed along the side of the corresponding hook means remote from the side outwardly of which said corresponding hook means opens, said abutment slide, when out of said position, being shifted relative to said one end section toward the other end section and when in said position closely opposing the side of the corresponding opening remote from the side of said opening engaged by said corresponding hook means to prevent sufficient movement of the corresponding hook means away from the corresponding flange edge portion to enable lengthwise shifting of said one end section to withdraw the corresponding hook means from the corresponding opening, the outer ends of said hook means being only slightly spaced from said walls when said hook means are engaged with said flange edge portions.