Load securing apparatus for a cargo carrying vehicle

Claim 1

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; said connectors including means engaging the side rails for releasably locking said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said locking means being the sole means for releasably locking the first connector and the first retainer on said first side rail whether or not the divider is retained by the first retainer.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; said connectors including means engaging the side rails for releasably locking said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said locking means being the sole means for releasably locking the first connector and the first retainer on said first side rail whether or not the divider is retained by the first retainer.

Claim 7

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated tubes; means for attaching said tubes to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the tubes extending along their associated side wall; first and second connectors, each of said connectors having a mounting portion which at least partially circumscribes an associated tube to mount the first and second connectors on the first and second tubes, respectively, for movement along the associated tube whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated tube can be adjusted; said connectors including means engaging the tubes for releasably locking said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated tubes; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said locking means releasably locking the first connector on the first tube whether or not the divider is retained by the first retainer and being the sole means for locking the first connector and the first retainer on the first tube.

Claim 8

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated tubes; means for attaching said tubes to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the tubes extending along their associated side wall; first and second connectors, each of said connectors having a mounting portion which at least partially circumscribes an associated tube to mount the first and second connectors on the first and second tubes, respectively, for movement along the associated tube whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated tube can be adjusted; said connectors including means engaging the tubes for releasably locking said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated tubes; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said locking means releasably locking the first connector on the first tube whether or not the divider is retained by the first retainer and being the sole means for locking the first connector and the first retainer on the first tube.

Claim 11

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of postions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said first connector being mountable on the first side rail for pivotal movement about said first side rail and said fixing means can fix the first connector and the first retainer in any one of a plurality of angular positions about the first side rail.

Claim 12

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of postions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said first connector being mountable on the first side rail for pivotal movement about said first side rail and said fixing means can fix the first connector and the first retainer in any one of a plurality of angular positions about the first side rail.

Claim 13

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and each of said connectors being removable from the associated side rail and mountable on the first side rail so that each of the retainers extends outboard of the first side rail to support a load.

Claim 14

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and each of said connectors being removable from the associated side rail and mountable on the first side rail so that each of the retainers extends outboard of the first side rail to support a load.

Claim 15

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and the retainers being adapted to extend downwardly into the cargo-carrying compartment and said connectors are removable from the associated side rails and mountable on the side rails so that the retainers extend upwardly to provide support for a panel-like member at least a part of which is above the side rails.

Claim 16

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and the retainers being adapted to extend downwardly into the cargo-carrying compartment and said connectors are removable from the associated side rails and mountable on the side rails so that the retainers extend upwardly to provide support for a panel-like member at least a part of which is above the side rails.

Claim 17

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; an arm for coupling said first connector to said first retainer, said arm projecting inwardly from said first connector when the retainer extends into the cargo-carrying compartment; and each of said connectors being removable from the associated side rail and mountable on the first side rail so that each of the retainers extends outboard of the first side rail to support a load with said arm extending along a path having an upward component with respect to said first side rail to support the first retainer above the first side rail.

Claim 18

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated side rails; means for attaching said side rails to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the side rails extending along their associated side wall and said rails and said side walls being physically separate members; first and second connectors mountable on the first and second side rails, respectively, for movement along the associated side rail whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated side rail can be adjusted; means for fixing said connectors in any of a plurality of positions along their associated side rails; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; an arm for coupling said first connector to said first retainer, said arm projecting inwardly from said first connector when the retainer extends into the cargo-carrying compartment; and each of said connectors being removable from the associated side rail and mountable on the first side rail so that each of the retainers extends outboard of the first side rail to support a load with said arm extending along a path having an upward component with respect to said first side rail to support the first retainer above the first side rail.

Claim 19

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated tubes; means for attaching said tubes to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the tubes extending along their associated side wall; first and second connectors, each of said connectors having a mounting portion which at least partially circumscribes an associated tube to mount the first and second connectors on the first and second tubes, respectively, for movement along the associated tube whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated tube can be adjusted; means for fixing said connector in any of a plurality of positions along their associated tubes; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said mounting means of said first connector being mountable on the first tube for pivotal movement about said first tube and said fixing means can fix the first connector and the first retainer in any one of a plurality of angular positions about the first tube.

Claim 20

An apparatus for use with a vehicle having an open-topped cargo-carrying compartment with first and second side walls having upper ends, said apparatus comprising: first and second elongated tubes; means for attaching said tubes to the first and second side walls, respectively, adjacent the upper ends thereof with the tubes extending along their associated side wall; first and second connectors, each of said connectors having a mounting portion which at least partially circumscribes an associated tube to mount the first and second connectors on the first and second tubes, respectively, for movement along the associated tube whereby the position of each of the connectors along its associated tube can be adjusted; means for fixing said connector in any of a plurality of positions along their associated tubes; first and second retainers coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, for movement therewith and adapted to extend into the cargo-carrying compartment; each of said retainers including means for retaining one side of a divider in position within the cargo-carrying compartment; and said mounting means of said first connector being mountable on the first tube for pivotal movement about said first tube and said fixing means can fix the first connector and the first retainer in any one of a plurality of angular positions about the first tube.