Cargo tie-downs and rail systems including such tie-downs
AssigneeSport Carriers, Inc.
InventorDarrell L. Breckel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cargo tie-down includes an enlarged head on a first end of a shaft a ring, and a “T” shaped foot on a second end of the shaft. A housing is slidably mounted to the shaft that is biased to move away from the head for engaging a rail between the housing and the foot. A track includes a pair of rails defining a slot extending along a longitudinal axis, and spaced-apart notches within the slot. The foot is inserted into the slot with the foot parallel to the longitudinal axis, the head is depressed, the tie-down is rotated until the foot is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, and the head is released. The tie-down is slid along the rail member until the foot is received in notches, thereby securing the tie-down to the rail member.
Claims39
A device for securing cargo, comprising:
- a shaft comprising first and second ends defining an axis, an enlarged head portion on the first end of the shaft, and a foot on the second end of the shaft comprising one or more toes extending transversely to the axis;
- a plate slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the plate being biased away from the head portion for engaging a portion of a rail between the plate and the foot, the plate being rotatable about the axis relative to the head portion;
- and
- a cargo securing element on the head portion of the shaft;
- a spacer between the plate and the foot for maintaining a minimal spacing between the plate and the foot;
- wherein the spacer extends from the shaft, and wherein the foot has a width that is no larger than a cross-section of the spacer.
A device for securing cargo, comprising:
- a shaft comprising first and second ends defining an axis, an enlarged head portion on the first end of the shaft, and a foot on the second end of the shaft comprising one or more toes extending transversely to the axis;
- a plate slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the plate being biased away from the head portion for engaging a portion of a rail between the plate and the foot, the plate being rotatable about the axis relative to the head portion;
- and
- a cargo securing element on the head portion of the shaft;
- wherein the foot has a “T” shape, thereby defining a pair of opposing toes extending away from one another transversely to the axis;
- and
- wherein the foot is pivotable about an axis that is transverse to the axis defined by the shaft.
A device for securing cargo, comprising:
- a shaft comprising first and second ends defining an axis, an enlarged head portion on the first end of the shaft, and a foot on the second end of the shaft comprising one or more toes extending transversely to the axis;
- a plate slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the plate being biased away from the head portion for engaging a portion of a rail between the plate and the foot, the plate being rotatable about the axis relative to the head portion;
- and
- a cargo securing element on the head portion of the shaft;
- a lock for selectively securing the plate from movement towards the head portion;
- wherein the lock comprises cooperating surfaces on the plate and the head portion that substantially engage one another when the plate is rotated to a predetermined orientation.
A device for securing cargo, comprising:
- a shaft comprising first and second ends defining an axis, an enlarged head portion on the first end of the shaft, and a foot on the second end of the shaft having a flat “T” shape, thereby defining a pair of opposing toes extending away from one another transversely to the axis;
- a plate slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the plate being biased away from the head portion for engaging a portion of a rail between the plate and the foot, the plate being rotatable about the axis relative to the head portion;
- and
- a cargo securing element on the head portion of the shaft.
A device for securing cargo, comprising:
- a shaft comprising first and second ends defining an axis, an enlarged head on the first end of the shaft, and a “T” shaped foot on the second end of the shaft;
- a housing slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the housing comprising one or more side walls extending towards the head, the sidewalls providing a perimeter defining a cavity;
- a spring disposed within the cavity and coupled between the housing and the head for biasing the housing away from the head for engaging a portion of a rail between the housing and the foot;
- a spacer on the shaft for maintaining a minimal spacing between the housing and the foot;
- and
- a ring on the head of the shaft.
A system for securing cargo within a storage space, comprising:
- a rail member comprising a pair of rails defining a slot therebetween extending along a longitudinal axis, the rail member comprising a plurality of notches within the slot and spaced apart along the rail member;
- and
- a tie-down comprising:
- a shaft including first and second ends defining a transverse axis therebetween, an enlarged head on the first end, a foot on the second end, the foot having a width smaller than a width of the slot such that the foot may be received between the rails when the tie-down is disposed in a first orientation wherein the transverse axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis, the foot having a length larger than the width of the slot such that the foot may be engaged within the notches in the rail member when the tie-down is rotated about the transverse axis to a second orientation;
- a housing slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the housing biased away from the head portion for engaging the rails between the foot and the housing for securing the tie-down relative to the rail member when the foot engages notches in the rail member;
- and
- a cargo securing element on the head portion.
A method for securing cargo to a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a rail member mounted to a surface of the vehicle, the rail member comprising a pair of rails defining a slot therebetween extending along a longitudinal axis, the rail member comprising a plurality of notches within the slot and spaced apart along the rail member, the method comprising:
- providing a tie-down comprising a shaft including first and second ends defining a transverse axis therebetween, an enlarged head on the first end, a foot on the second end, and a housing slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the housing biased away from the head portion;
- inserting the foot of the tie-down into the slot such that the transverse axis is transverse to the longitudinal axis and the foot is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- rotating the tie-down about the transverse axis until the foot is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis;
- aligning the foot with a notch within the slot;
- and
- releasing the tie-down such that the foot is biased to enter the notch and the rails are engaged between the foot and the housing, thereby substantially securing the tie-down relative to the rail member.
A method for securing cargo to a vehicle, the storage space comprising a rail member mounted to a surface of the vehicle, the rail member comprising a pair of rails defining a slot therebetween extending along a longitudinal axis, the rail member comprising a plurality of notches within the slot and spaced apart along the rail member, the method comprising:
- providing a tie-down comprising a shaft including first and second ends defining a transverse axis therebetween, an enlarged head on the first end, a foot on the second end, and a housing slidably mounted to the shaft between the first and second ends, the housing biased away from the head portion;
- the foot being engaged with a notch in the slot for securing the tie-down at a first location on the rail member;
- pushing the head portion towards the rails for disengaging the foot from the notch;
- sliding the tie-down along the rail member to a new location;
- and
- releasing the tie-down, whereupon the foot is biased to be automatically received in another notch in the rail member such that the rails are engaged between the foot and the housing, thereby substantially securing the tie-down at the new location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.