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US 8,985,922 B2Granted
E-track connector
AssigneeSnap-Loc Cargo Control Systems, LLC
InventorTimothy Neumann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved e-track connector, or lockdown, is presented that can be installed in single locations instead of provided in tracks as in the industry. It also possesses a finished slot that accepts logistics straps buckles. The slot is a complete rectangle with no excess material folded under it and has been deburred and finished smooth. The device also possesses a drain slot along the side of the tang and drain holes in the buckle receiver such that liquid will drain out of the connector when it is mounted horizontally.
Claims4
An elongated connector for anchoring a spring-loaded attachment end of an e-track strap to a planar surface, the connector comprising:
- two opposing tang members having mounting holes extending through the tang members for mounting the connector to the planar surface;
- a central raised portion longitudinally positioned between the tang members, the central raised portion having a planar top portion with two opposing generally semi-circular ends, two downwardly extending end walls that follow the contour of the generally semi-circular ends and two opposing downwardly extending side walls that converge with the downwardly extending end walls, where the two opposing tang members extend away from the central raised portion in opposing directions from the bottom of the two opposing end walls and where the two opposing tang members lie in a common plane with one another to allow the tang members to be mounted flush against the planar surface, the central raised portion creating a hollow cavity for receiving the attachment end of the e-track strap;
- the top portion of the central raised portion including a central receiver slot having finished edges and sized to receive the spring loaded attachment end of the e-track strap within the hollow cavity within the central raised portion;
- the connector is constructed from a single piece of material, where by the two opposing end walls and two opposing side walls form a continuous, one-piece structure elevating the top portion of the central raised portion above the tang members and where bottom edges of the two opposing downwardly extending side walls terminate in the same plane as the tang member common plane to allow the connector to mount flush against the planar surface such that the connector, when mounted to the planar surface, creates a closed area below the top portion of the central raised portion to prevent access to the attachment end of the e-track strap from sides of the connector when the attachment end is positioned in the receiver slot of the connector;
- and where the two opposing end walls and two side walls are contoured such that the respective intersections of the two opposing end walls with the two opposing side walls are devoid of any sharp corners.
2 more elements
An elongated anchor for securing the end of an e-track connecting member to a planar surface, the anchor comprising:
- two opposing tang members for mounting the anchor to the planar surface;
- a central raised portion longitudinally positioned between the tang members, the central raised portion having a planar top portion with two opposing generally semi-circular ends, two opposing downwardly extending end walls that follow the contour of the generally semi-circular ends and two opposing downwardly extending side walls that converge at opposing ends with the downwardly extending end walls;
- the two opposing end walls are rounded such that their respective intersections with the two opposing side walls create a seamless graduated transition between the two end walls and two side walls and elevate the top portion of the central raised portion above the tang members;
- the two opposing tang members extend outward from the bottom of the two opposing end walls, away from the central raised portion such that the two opposing tang members lie in a common plane with one another to allow the tang members to be mounted flush against the planar surface;
- the central raised portion having a hollow cavity created within the area defined by the top portion, two opposing end walls and two opposing side walls for receiving the end of the e-track strap;
- the top portion of the central raised portion including a central receiver slot having finished edges and sized to receive the end of the e-track strap within the hollow cavity of the central raised portion;
- bottom edges of the two opposing downwardly extending side walls terminate in the same plane as the tang member common plane to allow the anchor to mount flush against the planar surface such that the anchor, when mounted to the planar surface, creates a closed area below the top portion of the central raised portion to prevent access to the end of the e-track strap from sides of the anchor when the attachment end is positioned in the receiver slot of the anchor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.