Cargo protection devices for railway cars, method for production, and autorack railway car

Abstract

Protective devices, methods and systems for installation on a railway car interior, such as an autorack car designed to transport automobiles. The protector covers structures of the railway car that could potentially damage the automobiles being transported. The protectors may be provided in different lengths to provide a suitable span of coverage of a railway interior structure. The protector has a body with a beaded segment that provides a protective barrier between the automobile, such as its door, and the railway post or other structure. The protectors can be mounted with fasteners or may include integral fastening elements for self-mounting to the railcar. The protector may be formed by assembling together a plurality of sections to provide a protector having a desired length for the installation location. Self-connecting features may be provided on the protector sections for assembly of the protector sections without the need for tools or other equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A railcar protector comprising:
 a) a body having a mounting portion, a connecting portion, and one or more protective surfaces;   b) the mounting portion being located at the mounting portion of the body;   c) a connector being located at the connecting portion of the body;   d) wherein the connector is configured to attach to one or more other protectors or protector portions by engagement with the one or more other protectors or protector portions.   
     
     
         2 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is configured to releasably attach to the one or more other protectors or protector portions by engagement with the one or more other protectors or protector portions. 
     
     
         3 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a press-fit or snap-fit connector. 
     
     
         4 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is integral with the body. 
     
     
         5 . The protector of  claim 2 , wherein the connector is integral with the body. 
     
     
         6 . The protector of  claim 3 , wherein the connector is integral with the body. 
     
     
         7 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is located at one end of the body and the connecting portion is located at the other end of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The protector of  claim 1  wherein the mounting portion comprises a mounting tab. 
     
     
         9 . The protector of  claim 6 , wherein the mounting portion comprises a mounting tab. 
     
     
         10 . The protector of  claim 1 , further including a guide, and wherein the connector is configured to attach to one or more other protectors or protector portions by engagement of the one or more other protectors or protector portions with the guide. 
     
     
         11 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to attach to one or more other protectors or protector portions, and further comprising guide means for aligning the protector and the one or more other protectors or protector portions to facilitate alignment of the connector. 
     
     
         12 . The protector of  claim 10 , wherein the guide comprises a channel. 
     
     
         13 . The protector of  claim 10 , wherein the body has lateral edges, and wherein the guide comprises peripheral channels disposed along each body lateral edge. 
     
     
         14 . The protector of  claim 4 , wherein the connector comprises a flexible arm. 
     
     
         15 . The protector of  claim 14 , wherein the connector arm has a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end being attached to the body. 
     
     
         16 . The protector of  claim 14 , wherein the connector is configured to releasably attach to one or more other protectors or protector portions by engagement with the one or more other protectors or protector portions. 
     
     
         17 . The protector of  claim 6 , wherein the connector comprises a flexible arm, and wherein the connector arm has a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end being attached to the body. 
     
     
         18 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a flexible arm, and wherein the connector arm has a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end being attached to the body. 
     
     
         19 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protector comprises a first protector or protector portion, and wherein a second protector or protector portion comprises the one or more other protectors or protector portions; wherein the second protector or protector portion having a matingly associated connector that is configured to attach to the connector of the first protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         20 . The protector of  claim 19 , wherein the first protector or protector portion is configured to releasably connect with and detach from the second connector protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         21 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the protector comprises a first protector or protector portion, and wherein the one or more other protectors or protector portions comprises a second protector or protector portion, and an intermediate protector or protector portion; wherein the intermediate protector or protector portion has a connector that is configured to attach to the connector of the first protector or protector portion, wherein the second protector or protector portion includes a connector, wherein the intermediate protector or protector portion has a connector that is configured to attach to the connector of the second protector or protector portion, wherein the intermediate protector or protector portion includes a first end and a second end, and wherein said first end is connectable to said first protector or protector portion, and wherein said second end is connectable to said second protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         22 . The protector of  claim 21 , wherein the intermediate protector or protector portion is releasably connectable to and disconnectable from the first protector or protector portion and the second protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         23 . The protector of  claim 22 , comprising guide means for aligning the intermediate protector or protector portion with the first protector or protector portion and the second protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         24 . The protector of  claim 22 , wherein the guide means facilitates alignment of the intermediate protector or protector portion with the first protector or protector portion and the second protector or protector portion, and wherein the guide means facilitates alignment of the connector of the intermediate protector or protector portion with the connector of the first protector or protector portion and facilitates alignment of the connector of the intermediate protector or protector portion with the connector of the second protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         25 . The protector of  claim 22 , including an alignment channel provided on at least one of (i) the intermediate protector or protector portion, or (ii) the first protector or protector portion, and the second protector or protector portion; and a matingly associated edge provided on at least the other of (i) the intermediate protector or protector portion, or (ii) the first protector or protector portion, and the second protector or protector portion; wherein the alignment channel is configured to receive the matingly associated edge. 
     
     
         26 . The protector of  claim 22 , wherein the intermediate protector or protector portion has a pair of lateral edges provided at each end of the intermediate protector or protector portion; and wherein the first protector or protector portion, and the second protector or protector portion each have an alignment channel disposed on each lateral side thereof, and wherein the alignment channels align the intermediate protector or protector portion with the first protector or protector portion, and with the second protector or protector portion. 
     
     
         27 . The protector of  claim 22 , wherein first protector or protector portion has a first mounting tab, and wherein the second protector or protector portion has a second mounting tab, wherein said first protector or protector portion has a connecting portion, and wherein said second protector or protector portion has a connecting portion, and wherein said first mounting tab is located at an end opposite of the first protector or protector portion connecting portion, and wherein said second mounting tab is located at an end opposite of the second protector or protector portion connecting portion. 
     
     
         28 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more protective surfaces comprises a first raised surface and a second raised surface, and a joining portion joining the first raised surface and second raised surface. 
     
     
         29 . The protector of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more protective surfaces comprises a first raised surface and a second raised surface, and wherein a joining portion joins the first raised surface and second raised surface. 
     
     
         30 . The protector of  claim 29 , wherein the connecting portion comprises the joining portion, and wherein the connector is provided on the joining portion. 
     
     
         31 . A railcar protector comprising:
 a) a first portion;   b) a second portion;   c) an intermediate portion;   d) wherein each of said first portion and said second portion has a mounting portion;   e) wherein the intermediate portion is releasably connectable to each of said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
         32 . A railcar protector comprising:
 a) a first portion; and   b) a second portion;   d) wherein each of said first portion and said second portion has a mounting portion;   e) wherein the first portion is releasably connectable to the second portion, the first portion and second portion connectable to form the protector.   
     
     
         33 . The railcar protector of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said first portion and said second portion has a length that is different than the other of said first portion and said second portion. 
     
     
         34 . The railcar protector of  claim 32 , wherein the lengths of each of said first portion and said second portion are the same or substantially the same. 
     
     
         35 . The railcar protector of  claim 31 , wherein one or more connectors connect each of said first portion and said second portion connect to said intermediate portion. 
     
     
         36 . A railcar configured with one or more levels for transporting automobiles, the rail car comprising:
 a) one or more wheelsets;   b) interior structure comprising a plurality of upstanding posts, sidewalls, a roof, and at least one deck for carrying automobiles;   c) an interior space;   d) wherein the plurality of upstanding posts are located on each lateral side of the interior space, and wherein the sidewalls are located on each lateral side of the interior space; and   e) a plurality of protective guards provided on the interior structure, the protective guards comprising:
 i) a first portion 
 ii) a second portion; and 
 iii) an intermediate portion disposed between said first portion and said second portion; 
 iv) wherein the intermediate portion has a protective surface, and wherein the intermediate portion of at least some of said plurality of protective guards has a different length than the intermediate portion of at least some other of said plurality of protective guards, and wherein the intermediate portion is connectable to said first portion and to said second portion via a snap-fit or press-fit connection. 
   
     
     
         37 . The railcar of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of protective guards include a mounting tab, wherein at least one mounting tab is provided on said first portion, and at least one mounting tab is provided on said second portion. 
     
     
         38 . The railcar of  claim 36 , wherein the intermediate portion is releasably connectable to and detachable from said first portion and is releasably connectable to and detachable from said second portion, via a snap-fit or press-fit connection.