Load-restraining barrier net for use in motor vehicles

Abstract

A load-restraining barrier net for use in a motor vehicle capable of securing cargo within the trunk area of a vehicle in accordance with established safety requirements. The barrier net includes a body primarily made up of diamond/square or hexagon shaped netting, frame strap webbings around the perimeter of the net, and at least two horizontal and at least two vertical central strap webbings across the center of the net. The net is securely affixed on one side through a first set of attachments including oval rings bolted to the vehicle. These attachments prevent the cargo from slipping below the net to an unsecured position. Further, corner oval rings act as the joint attachment for the vertical and horizontal frame strap webbings, allowing the barrier net to withstand angular momentum from inertial forces. A second, releasable, set of attachments including hooks and/or D-ring connections that attach to D-rings and/or fasteners pre-installed in the vehicle. When the barrier net is installed in a horizontal position on the floor of a vehicle trunk compartment, cargo is safely secured, thereby preventing cargo movement and the potential for damage to the cargo itself, to the vehicle trunk, and to other contents in the trunk area.

1 . A load-restraining barrier device that restrains cargo from moving from a cargo area of a vehicle to a non-cargo area of the vehicle, the vehicle having a vertical plane when at rest on horizontal ground, the load-restraining barrier device comprising:
 a. a deformable body having a front portion and a back portion;   b. a first set of at least one connector operable to connect the front portion of the deformable body to a first location of the cargo area of the vehicle;   c. a second set of at least one connector operable to connect the back portion of the deformable body to a second location of the cargo area of the vehicle; and   d. wherein the deformable body, when the first and second set of connectors are installed in the vehicle, is operable to deform over cargo in the cargo area of the vehicle such that the deformable body restrains substantial vertical movement of the cargo, the vertical movement being in relation to the vehicle's vertical plane.   
   
   
       2 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of at least one connector is at least four substantially oval shaped connectors. 
   
   
       3 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least four connectors are spaced along the front portion of the deformable body such that at least two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are not positioned at the middle point of the front portion of the deformable body and at least another two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are each positioned at each end of the front portion of the deformable body. 
   
   
       4 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 2 , wherein the body further has two sides; wherein the body further has a side perimeter strap along each side of the deformable body and a front perimeter strap along the front portion of the deformable body; and wherein each side perimeter strap slideably attaches to at least one substantially oval shaped connector; and wherein the front perimeter strap slideably attaches to the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors. 
   
   
       5 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of at least one connector is at least one releasable connector operable to connect the back portion of the deformable body to at least one back location of the cargo area of the vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body, the first set of at least one connector, and the second set of at least one connector withstand test criteria set out in UN-ECE R17 such that the load-restraining barrier device would restrain cargo from moving from a cargo area of a vehicle to a non-cargo area of the vehicle. 
   
   
       7 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of at least one connector is designed to withstand approximately 12000 N of pressure. 
   
   
       8 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable body further includes netting having a top and a bottom side. 
   
   
       9 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 8 , wherein the deformable body further includes strap webbings, at least one of which is connected to the top side of the netting and at least one of which is connected to the bottom side of the netting. 
   
   
       10 . A load-restraining barrier device that restrains cargo from moving from a cargo area of a vehicle to a non-cargo area of the vehicle, the vehicle having a vertical plane when at rest on horizontal ground, the load-restraining barrier device comprising:
 a. a deformable body having a front portion and a back portion;   b. a first set of at least one connector operable to connect the front portion of the deformable body to a first location of the cargo area of the vehicle;   c. a second set of at least one connector operable to connect the back portion of the deformable body to a second location of the cargo area of the vehicle; and   d. wherein the deformable body, when the first and second set of connectors are installed in the vehicle, further has a substantially non-vertical orientation in relation to the vehicle's vertical plane such that the deformable body restrains substantial vertical movement of the cargo, the vertical movement being in relation to the vehicle's vertical plane.   
   
   
       11 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of at least one connector is at least four substantially oval shaped connectors. 
   
   
       12 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least four connectors are spaced along the front portion of the deformable body such that at least two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are not positioned at the middle point of the front portion of the deformable body and at least another two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are each positioned at each end of the front portion of the deformable body. 
   
   
       13 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 11 , wherein the body further has two sides; wherein the body further has a side perimeter strap along each side of the deformable body and a front perimeter strap along the front portion of the deformable body; and wherein each side perimeter strap slideably attaches to at least one substantially oval shaped connector; and wherein the front perimeter strap slideably attaches to the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors. 
   
   
       14 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the second set of at least one connector is at least one releasable connector operable to connect the back portion of the deformable body to at least one back location of the cargo area of the vehicle. 
   
   
       15 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the deformable body, the first set of at least one connector, and the second set of at least one connector withstand test criteria set out in UN-ECE R17 such that the load-restraining barrier device would restrain cargo from moving from a cargo area of a vehicle to a non-cargo area of the vehicle. 
   
   
       16 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of at least one connector is designed to withstand approximately 12000 N of pressure. 
   
   
       17 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 10 , wherein the deformable body further includes netting having a top and a bottom side. 
   
   
       18 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 17 , wherein the deformable body further includes strap webbings, at least one of which is connected to the top side of the netting and at least one of which is connected to the bottom side of the netting. 
   
   
       19 . A load-restraining barrier device that restrains cargo from moving from a cargo area of a vehicle to a non-cargo area of the vehicle, comprising:
 a. a deformable body having, two sides, a front portion and a back portion, the front portion further having a middle point and two ends;   b. at least four substantially oval shaped connectors operable to connect the front portion of the deformable body to at least one front location of the cargo area of the vehicle, wherein the at least four connectors are spaced along the front portion of the deformable body such that at least two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are not positioned at the middle point of the front portion of the deformable body and at least another two of the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors are each positioned at each end of the front portion of the deformable body; and   c. at least one releasable connector operable to connect the back portion of the deformable body to at least one back location of the cargo area of the vehicle.   
   
   
       20 . The load-restraining barrier device of  claim 19 , wherein the body further has two sides; wherein the body further has a side perimeter strap along each side of the deformable body and a front perimeter strap along the front portion of the deformable body; and wherein each side perimeter strap slideably attaches to at least one substantially oval shaped connector; and wherein the front perimeter strap slideably attaches to the at least four substantially oval shaped connectors.