Dual track fitting
AssigneeBE Aerospace, Inc.
InventorMark Brian Dowty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track fastener assembly for securing a seat or cargo apparatus to a floor track of a vehicle. The assembly includes a bottom rail with forward and aft ends. Front and rear movable slides carrying locking studs are carried by the bottom rail. A locking rod having a helical groove formed in its outer surface is operatively connected to the bottom rail and the slides. Rotation of the locking rod causes the slides to move axially from an installation position to a locking position. As the slides move to the locking position, they are deflected upwards along with the attached locking studs, clamping the track fastener assembly to the track.
Claims27
A track fastener assembly for use with a locking track of the type used to secure a seat or cargo apparatus to the floor of a vehicle, upper walls of said locking track defining a longitudinally-extending slot therein, upper walls of the slot having regularly spaced-apart enlarged openings along the length thereof separated by relatively narrower track segments defining locking segments, said track fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) an elongated bottom rail having forward and aft ends, and an axially-extending slide channel disposed therein;
- (b) an elongated base having forward and aft ends and including attachment means for attachment to said aft end of said bottom rail, said base having a longitudinal slot formed therein, at least one ramp disposed on an upper surface of said base adjacent a forward end of said longitudinal slot, and at least one downwardly-protruding track stop for engaging said enlarged openings of said track;
- (c) a rear slide movably attached to said base, said rear slide including a first rail received in said longitudinal slot of said base and carrying at least one downwardly-protruding locking stud for engaging said track;
- (d) a front slide slidably received in said slide channel, said front slide including a second rail received in said slide channel and carrying at least one additional downwardly-protruding locking stud for engaging said track;
- and
- (e) a generally horizontally extending locking rod having at least one helical groove formed in its outer surface, said locking rod being operatively connected to said bottom rail, said base, and said front and rear slides, such that rotation of said locking rod causes said front and rear slides and said locking studs to move longitudinally from an installation position to a locked position spaced away from said installation position.
A track fastener assembly for use with a locking track of the type used to secure a seat or cargo apparatus to the floor of a vehicle, upper walls of said locking track defining a longitudinally-extending slot therein, upper walls of the slot having regularly spaced-apart enlarged openings along the length thereof separated by relatively narrower track segments defining locking segments, said track fastener assembly comprising:
- (a) an elongated bottom rail having forward and aft ends, and an axially-extending slide channel disposed therein;
- (b) an elongated base having forward and aft ends and including attachment means for attachment to a seat or cargo apparatus, said base having a longitudinal slot formed therein, at least one ramp disposed on an upper surface of said base adjacent a forward end of said longitudinal slot, and at least one downwardly-protruding track stop for engaging said enlarged openings of said track;
- (c) a rear slide movably attached to said base, said rear slide including a bottom portion defining a first rail which is received in said longitudinal slot of said base, a pair of shoulders adjacent said rail, and an upper surface defining a first channel;
- (d) a front slide movably attached to said bottom rail, said front slide including a bottom portion defining a second rail which is received in said slide channel a pair of shoulders adjacent said second rail, and an upper surface defining a second channel;
- (e) at least one upstanding pin disposed in each of said first and second channels;
- (f) at least one locking stud having an enlarged head attached to said first rail of said rear slide;
- (g) at least one additional locking stud having an enlarged head attached to said second rail of said front slide;
- (h) a locking rod having forward and aft ends and at least one helical groove formed in its outer surface, said locking rod being received in said channels of said front and rear slides such that said helical groove engages said pins in said first and second channels, said locking rod being rotatably attached to said base and said bottom rail;
- wherein rotation of said locking rod causes said front and rear slides and said attached locking studs to move axially from an installation position to a locked position spaced away from installation position, and wherein said shoulders of said rear slide engage said ramp thereby deflecting said rear slide upwards in said locked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.