US2743684A

US2743684A - Tie-down track fitting

Info

Publication number: US2743684A
Application number: US298513A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin C Elsner
Original assignee: GORDON D BROWN
Current assignee: GORDON D BROWN
Priority date: 1952-07-12
Filing date: 1952-07-12
Publication date: 1956-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-01

Description

y L 1956 E. c. ELSNER TIE-DOWN TRACK FITTING Filed July 12, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

Arroenrz/ United rates Patent O amass;

rrnnown TRACK rirrmo Edwin G Eisner, Glendale, Calii, assignor to Gordon D. Brown, Beverly Hilts, t'jalit.

Application July 12., 1952, Serial No. 298,513

It) Cinirns. (Cl. res-36m The present invention relates generally to connecting and fastening devices, and is more particularly concerned with an attachment fitting of the type which may be quickly connected and disconnected by simple manipulation.

Fittings of the herein described character are in general susceptible of wide and general application, but are especially advantageous of use in connection with aircraft, and provide means by which various objects may be releasably secured in a desired position, and are particularly adapted for cargo tie-down system where it is desired to secure the cargo to a floor or deck for shipment.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention in accordance with its general concepts proposes to provide a quick attachment fitting of two-part construction, which embodies a releasable part adapted to have a tie member secured thereto, and which is quickly engageable and disengageable with a second part in the form of a track to which the first part is adapted to be secured at selected positions therealong.

One object of the herein described invention is to provide a fitting wherein the tie-down forces will be dis tributed over a considerable section of the associated rail or track, rather than be applied at one point of the rail or track.

A further object is to provide a fitting which will be free from tilt or canting under obliquely applied pulling forces, and which is not apt to become inadvertently disconnected from the associated rail or track due to the application of the pulling forces.

Another object is to provide a fitting of simple construction, which may be attached and detached to a complementary member such as a rail by simple operation, and when so attached is efiiciently retained against move ment to a releasable position, but which by a simple manual operation may be quickly and easily detached, when desired.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing the complementary parts of a fitting embodying the present invention, in interconnected relationship.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, to show the cooperative relationship of certain elements of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now generally to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the invention is. shown in Fig. 1 as comprising complementary structures A and B which are in accordance with the broad concepts of the invention ar- 2,743,684 li atented May 1, 1956 ice ranged to be connected and disconnected quickly, and when connected provide a floor or deck fitting to which an associated member may be anchored. For example, the associated fittings may form an anchor for cargo tiedowns, and the like.

More specifically, structure A may comprise an extruded or otherwise formed track or rail structure having side flanges 10 and 11 which project toward each other and have spaced apart confronting edges 12 and 13 respectively, these flanges mutually cooperating to form a T-slot 14 including an entrance opening 15 which extends longitudinally throughout the rail or track length.

The edges 12 and 13 are provided with pairs of transversely aligned

edge notches

16 and 17 which are formed at spaced intervals longitudinally of the rail or track, so that in effect the material between the adjacent pairs of notches forms confronting projecting

portions

18 and 19, the purpose of which will subsequently become apparent.

The structure B, which forms a complementary part of the fitting, is disclosed as comprising an elongate body 2 3, which may assume various configurations, but is in this instance depicted as being elongate, and rather flat with rounded ends. The body 26 is constructed of suitable material, metal being shown as having the desired strength and rigidity.

The body 29 is provided with a plurality of

studs

21 and 22 which project in the same direction from one surface of the body 20.

Each of the studs has an enlarged head portion 23 and an adjacent shank portion 24 of reduced diameter. The studs 2i and 22 are aligned on the longitudinal central axis of the body 23 in symmetrically spaced apart relation, the studs 21 being mounted adjacent the respective ends of the body 23 and fixedly secured thereto, whereas the stud 22 is positioned centrally between the end studs and is mounted with its shank portion 24 supported in the body 20 for rotational as well as longitudinal or endfor-end movement, the opposite end of the stud 22 from its head portion being provided with an end piece 25' which may have threaded engagement with the stud and supports a loosely associated ring 26.

The

studs

21 and 22 have head portions of a diameter which will enable passage of the respective heads through a pair of the notches in and 17 of the rail member, and the shank portions of these studs is of a diameter which will permit their movement to a position lying between transversely aligned projecting

portions

18 and 19, in which latter position the head portions will engage, upon slight pulling force being applied to the ring 26, with the under side of the tooth portions 1% and U associated with each stud. Due to the fact that the stud 22 is rotatably its f therein, it will be appreciated that a pulling force initially applied on the ring 26 will be transmitted to the projecting

portions

18 and 19 which are associated with the stud 22, and that upon continued application of this force, the force will thereafter be distributed between all of the studs, due to slight flexing or bending of the adjacent rail structure. With such an arrangement, the structure B, upon releasing the pulling force, may be easily slid along the rail to any desired position.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the body 20 has a recess 27 drilled or otherwise formed in the surface thereof on the side from which the studs project. This recess has mounted therein a latching member 2% having a central stem 29 mounted for reciprocable movement in the body Ell. The latching member is formed on diametrically opposite sides with arcuate notches 3i) and 31 for engaging the adjacent wall surfaces of the shank portions of the adjacent stud 21 and adjacent stud 22, so as to retain the latching member against rotation and assist in its guiding movement into a seated position in recess 27 or a position wherein it projects beyond the adjacent surface of the body 26, as shown in Fig. 2. The latching memher is biased towards the latter position by means of diametrically positioned coiled springs 32-32, these springs having their body engaging ends seated in suitable shallow recesses 33-43.

Biased movement of the latching member 28 to latching position is arrested by means of a digitally engageable member 34 which is secured to the end of stem 29 on the opposite side of the body from the headed portion 23 thereof. it will be appreciated that by exerting a pull on the member 34, the latching member 23 may be moved into the recess 2"!" against the spring action, in which position the latch member will be released. Upon release of the latching member, the body 24? may be shifted to a position which permits separation of structures A and B by passage of the head portions 23 of the respective studs through the aligned associated pairs of

notches

16 and 17.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form or forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central stud slidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of the central stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said body surface on the side of said studs; latch means including a member supported for movement to a position within said recess and a position projecting therefrom or said body surface; means resiliently biasing said in l. toward said latter position; and means for applying a pulling force to said central stud.

A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; t central stud slidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of the central stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said body surface on the side of said studs; latch means including a member supported for guiding movement on two of said studs to a position within said recess and a position projecting therefrom beyond said body surface; and means resiliently biasing said member toward said latter position.

3. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central stud slidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of the central stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs having a head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said body surface on the side of said studs; latch means including a member supported for movement to a position within said recess and a position projecting therefrom beyond said body surface; means resiliently biasing said member toward said latter position; and digitally engageable means connecting with said member for manually moving said member into said recess.

4. A fastening device, comprising: an elongate body; a central stud slidably supported in said body, and end studs on opposite sides of the central stud fixedly supported on said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and reduced shank portion; a recess in said body surface on the side of said studs; latch means including a member supported for movement to a position within said recess and a position projecting therefrom beyond said body surface; and means resiliently biasing said member toward said latter position.

5. A fastening device, comprising: a body structure; a plurality of projections carried by said body adapted for insertion into an elongate T-slot formed by spaced flanges of a complementary rail member and having spaced notches for the passage of said projections, said d projections being engageable at spaced points with said flanges upon relative movement to a predetermined position; and a spring latch between two of said projections for releasably engaging at least one of said flanges at said predetermined position.

6. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges and cooperating to form a longitudinally ext nding T-slot, said edges having transversely aligned f pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a central stud swivelled in said body, and fixed end studs on opposite sides of said central stud, each of said studs having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced thead portions may be inserted through seprs of said notches to position said body against and enable movement of the body to a in in which the head portions engage portions of said flanges lying between said pairs of notches; a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said position for releasably latchingly securing said head portions against disengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges; and means for applying a pulling load on said central stud, whereby said force is initially applied to the first part through said til stud prior to its being distributed to said end 7. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail having lateral flanges with spaced contron edges and cooperating to form a longitud tally e2 ending T-slot, said edges having transversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a plurality of spaced studs projecting from said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may be inserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said body against said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position in which the head portions engage portions of said flanges between said pairs of notches; a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said position for releasably latching said head portions against disengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges; and a digitally engageable member on the opposite side of said body from said studs for manually actuating said member to a released position.

8. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges and cooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges having transversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a plurality of spaced studs projecting from said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may be inserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said body against said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position in which the head portions engage portions of said flanges between said pairs of notches; a spring biased member movable into one of said pairs of notches at said position for releasably latching said head portions against disengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges; and digitally engageable means for manually moving said member to a released position.

9. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail having lateral flanges with spaced confronting edges and cooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges having transversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches spaced at intervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a central stud swivelled in said body, and fixed end studs on opposite sides of said central stud, each of said studs having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may be inserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said body against said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position in which the head portions engage portions of said flanges between said pairs of notches; and a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said position for releasably latching said head portions against disengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges.

10. A two-part fastening device, comprising: a first part including a rail having collateral flanges with spaced confronting edges and cooperating to form a longitudinally extending T-slot, said edges having transversely aligned facing pairs of edge opening notches at spaced intervals along said rail; and a second part including an elongate body; a plurality of spaced studs projecting from said body, each of said studs having an end head portion and an adjacent portion of reduced diameter, said studs being so spaced that their head portions may be inserted through separate pairs of said notches to position said body against said flanges and enable movement of the body to a position in which the head portions engage portions of said flanges; and a spring biased member movable into one of said pair of notches at said position for releasably latching said head portions against disengagement movement with respect to said portions of said flanges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,934,697 Butterworth Nov. 14, 1933 2,052,914 Williams Sept. 1, 1936 2,422,693 McArthur June 24, 1947 2,688,289 Sterling Sept. 7, 1954