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 for an interior of a railcar configured to mount to the railcar interior structure, comprising:
 a) a body portion having a first end and a second end, the body portion having at least one protective surface;   b) a first mounting tab and a second mounting tab each connecting with the body portion, and being provided at an opposite end of the body portion;   c) at least one self-mounting fastener disposed on each of said first and second mounting tabs, each self-mounting fastener being configured to releasably connect to the railcar interior structure.   
     
     
         2 . The railcar protector of  claim 1 , wherein each said self-mounting fastener is integral with a respective one of said first mounting tab and said second mounting tab. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar protector of  claim 2 , wherein each said self-mounting fastener is a press-fit fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar protector of claim, wherein said at least one protective surface comprises a resilient surface. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar protector of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one protective surface comprises a raised surface portion. 
     
     
         6 . The railcar protector of  claim 2 , wherein each said fastener comprises compressible legs. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar protector of  claim 6 , wherein each said tab includes a tab surface, and wherein said compressible legs extend beneath the tab surface. 
     
     
         8 . The railcar protector of  claim 1 , wherein at least one aperture is provided in each of said first mounting tab and said second mounting tab. 
     
     
         9 . The railcar protector of  claim 6 , wherein said compressible legs each have locking ends. 
     
     
         10 . The railcar protector of  claim 9 , wherein said locking ends comprise barbed ends. 
     
     
         11 . The railcar protector of  claim 6 , wherein each of said first mounting tab and said second mounting tab includes fenestrations therein, wherein fenestrations are located in each respective tab adjacent to and on opposite sides of the legs. 
     
     
         12 . The railcar protector of  claim 5 , wherein said raised surface portion comprises a plurality of beads that span longitudinally across the protector, said plurality of beads being connected by a joining portion. 
     
     
         13 . The railcar protector of  claim 12 , wherein the body portion comprises a first body portion, a second body portion and at least one third body portion, wherein the joining portion comprises a central portion, further comprising connectors connecting together said first body portion, said second body portion and said at least one third body portion. 
     
     
         14 . The railcar protector of  claim 13 , wherein said connectors comprise fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The railcar protector of  claim 14 , wherein said fasteners are integrally provided on said first body portion, said second body portion and said at least one third body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The railcar protector of  claim 13 , wherein the fasteners comprise locking tabs, wherein a first locking tab secures together the first body portion and the at least one third body portion and wherein a second locking tab secures together the second body portion and the at least one third body portion. 
     
     
         17 . The railcar protector of  claim 13 , wherein said first body portion has a first connecting end, wherein said second body portion has a second connecting end, and wherein said at least one third body portion has a pair of connecting ends, wherein one or more apertures are provided in each said connecting end, and wherein a plurality of fasteners secure together the first body portion connecting end with one of said pair of connecting ends of the at least one third body portion, and the second body portion connecting end with the other of said pair of connecting ends of the at least one third body portion, the fasteners secure together the respective connecting ends by passing through the respective apertures of the respective connecting ends. 
     
     
         18 . The railcar protector of  claim 17 , wherein said first body portion first connecting end connects with one connecting end of the said at least one third body portion, and wherein the second body portion second connecting end connects with the other connecting end of the said at least one third body portion, and wherein a fastener fastens the said first body portion first connecting end to said connecting end of the at least one third body portion, and wherein a fastener fastens the said second body portion second connecting end to said connecting end of the at least one third body portion, wherein said first body portion first connecting end includes at least a portion that overlaps with at least a portion of one of the connecting ends of said at least one third body portion to align the apertures of the respective first portion and third portion, and wherein at least one of the plurality of fasteners passes through the aligned apertures of the respective first portion and third portion, and wherein said second body portion second connecting end includes at least a portion that overlaps with at least a portion of the other of the connecting ends of said at least one third body portion to align the apertures of the respective second portion and third portion, and wherein at least one of the plurality of fasteners passes through the aligned apertures of the respective second portion and third portion. 
     
     
         19 . A railcar protector comprising:
 a) a first portion;   b) a second portion;   c) an intermediate portion;   d) connectors provided on each said first portion and said second portion,   e) matingly associated connectors provided on said intermediate portion,   f) wherein said connectors of said first portion and said connectors of said second portion are configured to connect with said matingly associated connectors of said intermediate portion to connect said intermediate portion to said first portion and said second portion, and   g) wherein said connectors of said first portion and said connectors of said second portion connect with said matingly associated connectors via a press-fit or snap-fit connection.   
     
     
         20 . The protector of  claim 19 , wherein said connection is a releasable connection, and wherein said intermediate portion is releasably connectable to and releasable from said first portion and said second portion. 
     
     
         21 . The protector of  claim 20 , wherein said connectors comprise a pair of legs. 
     
     
         22 . The protector of  claim 21 , including fenestrations provided in said first portion, said second portion, and said intermediate portion, said fenestrations being located adjacent to said connectors. 
     
     
         23 . A railcar protector comprising:
 a) a first portion;   b) a second portion;   c) an intermediate portion; and   d) connectors;   e) wherein said connectors releasably connect each of said first portion and said second portion to said intermediate portion.   
     
     
         24 . A method of producing a protector for a railway vehicle interior, comprising:
 a) forming a body portion having a first mounting tab at one end thereof, and a second mounting tab at another end thereof;   c) forming an intermediate body portion having a first end and a second end;   d) separating the body portion into a first body portion and a second body portion;   e) connecting the first body portion to a first one of the intermediate body portion ends with a locking connector formed on at least one of the first body portion or the intermediate body portion, and   f) connecting the second body portion to another one of the intermediate body portion ends with a locking connector formed on at least one of the second body portion or the intermediate body portion.   
     
     
         25 . A railcar configured with one or more levels for transporting automobiles, the rail car comprising:
 a) a wheelset;   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 opposite lateral sides and on each lateral side of the interior space, and wherein the sidewalls are located on opposite lateral sides and 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 body portion having a first end and a second end, the body portion having at least one protective surface; 
 ii) a first mounting tab and a second mounting tab each connecting with the body portion and being provided at an opposite end of the body portion; and 
 iii) at least one self-mounting fastener disposed on each of said first and second mounting tabs; 
   f) wherein the self-mounting fastener disposed on each of said first and second mounting tabs is mounted to at least one of the sidewalls.