Bulkhead tether apparatus
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a bulkhead tether apparatus for a container (such as a refrigerator trailer) which generally includes a roller track, a trolley movably attachable to the roller track, a bulkhead bracket securely attachable to the bulkhead, and a relatively short chain releasably attachable to the trolley and to the bulkhead bracket. This combination enables the bulkhead to travel the length of the track, but prevents the bulkhead from being removed from the container. The combination also enables the bulkhead to be moved out of the way during loading and unloading in several different ways to facilitate loading products into and unloading products from the container.
1. A bulkhead tether system comprising:
a roller track;
a first trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track;
a first bulkhead bracket securely attachable to a bulkhead;
a chain attachable to the trolley and to the bulkhead bracket;
a second trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track; and
a second bulkhead bracket securely attachable to the bulkhead such that a line can be attached to the second trolley and the second bulkhead bracket to lift a bottom end of the bulkhead.
2. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the roller track is configured to be attached at a corner defined by a ceiling and a side wall of a container.
3. The bulkhead tether system of claim 2 , wherein the roller track, the first trolley, the first bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing both forward and rearward from extending across the container in a first upright position to extending adjacent to the side wall in a second upright position.
4. The bulkhead tether system of claim 3 , wherein the roller track, the first trolley, the first bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing upwardly from the second upright position adjacent to the side wall to a substantially horizontally extending position adjacent to the side wall.
5. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the first trolley is movably positionable in a channel defined by the roller track.
6. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the first trolley includes a body, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the body, and a stem extending from the body.
7. The bulkhead tether system of claim 6 , wherein the roller track includes an elongated top wall and two opposing spaced apart elongated L-shaped legs integrally connected to and extending downwardly from the top wall, said L-shaped legs respectively including transversely extending elongated wheel supports configured to support the wheels of the first trolley, said elongated wheel supports defining an elongated opening through which the stem of the first trolley can extend.
8. The bulkhead tether system of claim 7 , which includes at least one stopping member attachable to or mounted in the roller track.
9. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the first bulkhead bracket includes a base securable by suitable fasteners to the bulkhead adjacent to an upper corner of the bulkhead.
10. The bulkhead tether system of claim 9 , wherein the first bulkhead bracket includes an engagement loop or ring pivotably connected to the base by a bracket.
11. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the chain is releasably attachable to the first trolley and releasably attachable to the first bulkhead bracket.
12. The bulkhead tether system of claim 1 , wherein the chain includes a plurality of links including a plurality of openable links, a first one of the openable links is attachable to the first trolley, and a second one of the openable links is attachable to the first bulkhead bracket.
13. A bulkhead tether system comprising:
a roller track including an elongated top wall and two opposing spaced apart elongated L-shaped legs connected to and extending downwardly from the top wall, said L-shaped legs respectively including transversely extending elongated roller supports, said elongated roller supports defining an elongated opening, said roller track configured to be attached at a corner defined by a ceiling and a side wall of a container;
a trolley including a body, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the body, and a stem extending from the body, said trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track such that the wheels are rotatable along the elongated roller supports and the stem extends through the elongated opening;
a bulkhead bracket including a base securable by suitable fasteners to the bulkhead adjacent to an upper corner of the bulkhead, and an engagement loop or ring pivotably connected to the base by a bracket; and
a chain releasably attachable to the trolley and releasably attachable to the bulkhead bracket;
wherein the roller track, the trolley, the bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing both forward and rearward from extending across the container in a first upright position to extending adjacent to the side wall in a second upright position;
wherein the roller track, the trolley, the bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing upwardly from the second upright position adjacent to the side wall to a substantially horizontally extending position adjacent to the side wall.
14. The bulkhead tether system of claim 13 , which includes at least one stopping member attachable to or mounted in the roller track.
15. The bulkhead tether system of claim 13 , wherein the chain includes a plurality of links including a plurality of openable links, a first one of the openable links is attachable to the trolley and a second one of the openable links is attachable to the bulkhead bracket.
16. The bulkhead tether system of claim 13 , which includes a second trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track, a second bulkhead bracket securely attachable to the bulkhead, a line configured to be attached to the second trolley and the second bulkhead bracket to lift a bottom end of the bulkhead.
17. A bulkhead tether system comprising:
a roller track;
a first trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track;
a first bulkhead bracket securely attachable to a bulkhead;
a chain attachable to the trolley and to the bulkhead bracket;
a second trolley configured to be movably attached to the roller track;
a second bulkhead bracket securely attachable to the bulkhead; and
a line configured to be attached to the second trolley and the second bulkhead bracket to lift a bottom end of the bulkhead.
18. The bulkhead tether system of claim 17 , wherein the roller track is configured to be attached at a corner defined by a ceiling and a side wall of a container.
19. The bulkhead tether system of claim 18 , wherein the roller track, the first trolley, the first bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing both forward and rearward from extending across the container in a first upright position to extending adjacent to the side wall in a second upright position.
20. The bulkhead tether system of claim 19 , wherein the roller track, the first trolley, the first bulkhead bracket, and the chain are configured to enable the bulkhead to swing upwardly from the second upright position adjacent to the side wall to a substantially horizontally extending position adjacent to the side wall.
21. The bulkhead tether system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first trolley and the second trolley includes a body, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the body, and a stem extending from the body.
22. The bulkhead tether system of claim 21 , wherein the roller track includes an elongated top wall and two opposing spaced apart elongated L-shaped legs integrally connected to and extending downwardly from the top wall, said L-shaped legs respectively including transversely extending elongated wheel supports configured to support the wheels of each of the first trolley and the second trolley, said elongated wheel supports defining an elongated opening through which the stem of each of the first trolley and the second trolley can extend.