Load stabilizer

Abstract

A load stabilizer having telescoping inner and outer tube components with the inner tube threaded and receiving an adjuster are provided. The adjuster may abut the outer tube end for forced extension by turning of the adjuster. Compressible feet may be coupled to the opposed ends and be forced against opposed walls of a load receiving container for retaining a load. Such compression can produce binding of the interengaging threads and with release of such compression, the adjuster can freely turns for rapid adjustment along the threading of the inner tube.

1 . A load stabilizer comprising: 
 an outer tube, an inner tube having external threading and adapted to telescopingly engage the outer tube;    end members adapted to engage opposed inner tube and outer tube ends;    an adjuster adapted to threadably engage the external threading of the inner tube and further adapted to rotatably couple to a second end of the outer tube; and    wherein rotation of the adjuster is adapted to cause extension the inner tube with respect to the outer tube and force the opposed tube ends against side members to produce a load retention force.    
   
   
       2 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the inner tube is configured to have roll-formed threading to allow for usage of thinner tube wall thickness and yet resist buckling upon achieving said load retention force.  
   
   
       3 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the end members are elastomeric inserts interchangeably coupled to the opposed tube ends.  
   
   
       4 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the adjuster has an inner portion, an outer portion and opposed first and second ends, said inner portion including threads extending generally inward from a point at or near the first end, and a outer tube receiver at the second end adapted to slidingly receive an end of the outer tube.  
   
   
       5 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the outer wall is patterned to provide enhanced gripping and/or engagement by a tool.  
   
   
       6 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a threaded insert adapted to nest at least partially in the inner portion of the adjuster.  
   
   
       7 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 1  wherein the adjuster includes threading mated to the inner tube threading such that compression provided by applying said load retentive force produces binding type effect that resists reverse movement of the adjuster and otherwise said threading enabling free movement of the adjuster nut relative to the inner tube as by manual spinning of the adjuster nut.  
   
   
       8 . A load stabilizer as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the end members are adapted to engage a first and/or second end of the adjuster to form a compact arrangement of a first shipping unit, and wherein multiple sets of inner tubes telescopically engaged with outer tubes may be stacked on a shipping pallet, and a corresponding number of said first shipping units may be stacked on top of the stack for shipping purposes.  
   
   
       9 . A load stabilizer assembly comprising: 
 an inner tube, an outer tube, an adjuster and a pair of gripping end members;    said inner tube having external threading that threadably engages the adjuster, the adjuster being located along the threading of the inner tube defining an inner tube section for telescopically engaging the outer tube and defining adjustable spaced apart opposed inner tube and outer tube ends; and    said end members adapted to be forced against side walls of a container by turning of the adjuster nut relative to the inner tube; and    said tubes each having substantially consistent tubular dimension along their lengths and said adjuster being generally tubular with an outer gripping enhanced surface, and said end members having similar inner ends adapted for insertion interchangeably into the tube ends and/or ends of said adjuster whereby multiple quantities of load stabilizer components can be relatively compactly configured for storage and shipment.    
   
   
       10 . A method of shipping load stabilizers, comprising: 
 inserting a plurality of threaded inner tubes telescopically into a corresponding number of outer tubes to form tube shipping units;    inserting a compressible end members adapted to engage ends of the inner and outer tubes in each of a first end and a second end of an adjuster to form adjuster shipping units;    stacking the plurality tube sipping units a desired height and width and leaving a horizontal top portion; and    stacking the plurality of adjuster shipping units on the generally horizontal top portion.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein stacking the plurality of shipping units includes stacking the tube shipping units in a generally stepped fashion.