Cargo support system

Abstract

The combination of: a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle, the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space and including spaced and facing first and second wall surfaces and a floor surface; and b) a cargo support system. The cargo support system has first and second vertically extending tracks operatively mounted on each to the first and second wall surface and at least a first elongate beam having spaced first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second tracks in an operative position spaced above the floor surface. At least one of the tracks is maintained operatively mounted to the first wall surface through the use of an adhesive.

1 . In combination:
 a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle,   the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space and including spaced and facing first and second wall surfaces and a floor surface; and   b) a cargo support system comprising:   first and second vertically extending tracks operatively mounted one each to the first and second wall surfaces; and   at least a first elongate beam having spaced first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second tracks in an operative position spaced above the floor surface,   wherein at least one of the tracks is maintained operatively mounted to the first wall surface through the use of an adhesive.   
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the one track has a vertical extent and is adhesively bonded to the first wall surface over the majority of the vertical extent of the one track. 
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the storage unit comprises a framework and a plurality of panels on the framework defining the internal wall surface, and the one track is secured by at least one fastener extending into the framework at at least one of a top and bottom location on the one track. 
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein the framework comprises top and bottom rails and at least one of the fasteners extends into the one track and each of the top and bottom rails. 
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 2  wherein the one track is adhesively bonded over substantially the entire vertical extent of the one track. 
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo support system unit comprises a first plate that resides between the first wall and the one track. 
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 6  wherein the first plate is adhesively bonded to the first wall surface and the one track is adhesively bonded to the first plate. 
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 7  wherein the internal wall surface further comprises a ceiling surface and the one track and first plate are coextensive over substantially an entire distance between the floor and ceiling surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 8  wherein the first plate is adhesively bonded to the first wall surface and the one track is adhesively bonded to the first plate over substantially the entire distance between the floor and ceiling surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 9  wherein the framework comprises top and bottom rails and fasteners extend into the first plate, first wall surface and framework at each of the top and bottom rails. 
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 4  wherein there are no fasteners extending into the one track and first wall surface over a majority of a distance between the top and bottom rails. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 4  wherein the storage unit comprises a first plate that resides between the first wall surface and the one track over substantially a full vertical extent of the one track and there are no fasteners extending into the first plate and first wall surface over a majority of a distance between the top and bottom plates. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 2  wherein the first wall surface is defined by a first panel comprising an inner and an outer layer with insulation therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 13  wherein the first panel comprises a vertically extending reinforcing component and the first track is operatively mounted in overlying relationship with the reinforcing component. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one fastener comprises a rivet. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the fasteners comprise rivets extending through the one track and first plate and into each of the top and bottom rails. 
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the storage unit comprises a refrigeration source for cooling the storage space. 
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the storage unit is a trailer on a semi-trailer unit. 
     
     
         19 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the storage unit is fixedly attached to a towing unit. 
     
     
         20 . In combination:
 a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle,   the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space; and   b) a cargo support system comprising:   a first track operatively mounted to the internal wall surface at a first location and configured to connect to a part of a cargo support component to operatively support the cargo support component,   the storage unit defined by inner and outer layers at the first location between which insulation is located,   the internal wall surface defined by the inner layer at the first location,   wherein the first track is maintained operatively mounted to the internal wall surface through the use of an adhesive.   
     
     
         21 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the cargo support system comprises a first plate that resides between the first track and the internal wall surface at the first location. 
     
     
         22 . The combination according to  claim 21  wherein the first plate is adhesively bonded to the internal wall surface and the first track is adhesively bonded to the first plate.