U.S. patent application number 10/135434 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-06 for floor pocket anchor assembly.
Invention is credited to Girardin, Jean Marc.
Application Number | 20030206783 10/135434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22468097 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030206783 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Girardin, Jean Marc |
November 6, 2003 |
FLOOR POCKET ANCHOR ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A floor pocket assembly for use in securing a load to a vehicle
floor. A pair of slightly spaced coaxial circular plates are bolted
to the floor and a connector means is snapped over the top plate by
means of a U-shaped member on one planar side thereof, and held in
place by a spring loaded pin means which extends into the bore of
the two circular plates.
Inventors: |
Girardin, Jean Marc; (North
Miami Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOWELL & DOWELL, PC
Ralph A. Dowell
Suite 309
1215 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Arlington
VA
22202
US
|
Family ID: |
22468097 |
Appl. No.: |
10/135434 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/101 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/0807
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/101 |
International
Class: |
B61D 045/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A floor pocket assembly for securing a load to a floor,
comprising: a first circular plate having an axial bore
therethrough; a second circular plate coaxial with, and spaced in
overlying relation from, said first circular plate and having an
axial bore therethrough; means to secure said first and second
plates to said floor through said axial bores; circular,
substantially planar connector means having a U-shaped member on
one planar side thereof adapted to slidably and releasably engage
said second circular plate when in overlying planar relationship
thereto, and axially extending spring loaded pin means in said
connector means adapted to slidably and releasably engage said
axial bore in said second circular plate when said connector means
is in said overlying planar relationship to said second circular
plate.
2. A floor pocket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
first and second circular plates are integrally formed.
3. A floor pocket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
connector means and said U-shaped member are integrally formed.
4. A floor pocket assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
means to secure said first and second circular plates comprises a
headed bolt means.
5. A floor pocket assembly as claimed in claim 4, including cap
means for said headed bolt.
6. A floor pocket assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cap
means is selected from a rubber and a thermoplastic cap.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a cargo tie-down system, and more
particularly to a floor pocket anchor assembly for installation in
a vehicle floor and use as a quick release anchor point for a tie
down system. A preferred, but non-limiting, application of the
present invention is for use in securing a wheelchair in a bus or
other van type conveyance.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0002] Numerous floor pockets or anchor points have been developed
for use in vehicles to secure loads of all kinds, including
wheelchairs, and generally include a plate with an anchoring device
which is countersunk into the floor and held in place by an
integral or separate bolt. Such devices may simply be a bar or rod
to which a clip may be snap-attached. While such devices are
generally quite effective, they tend to collect dirt and dust and
require frequent cleaning of the pocket to ensure ease of
operation. Furthermore, such devices are generally directional in
that the attachment must always be from the same direction and/or
the load must be applied from a single preselected direction.
Attempts have been made to eliminate, or at least substantially
reduce, the open pocket size so as to alleviate the dirt collection
problem, and to provide pockets which can be used to accept loads
from a plurality of directions. One such pocket will be discussed
in more detail hereinbelow, but even this pocket does not provide
for positive locking of the connector, nor can the load be applied
over a 360.degree. range. There remains, therefore, a need for a
floor pocket that provides positive locking and full-circle load
application.
OBJECT OF INVENTION
[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a floor
pocket assembly for use in a vehicle floor for securing loads
thereon, which provides positive locking and which can be used from
any direction.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF INVENTION
[0004] By one aspect of this invention there is provided
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor pocket assembly of
the prior art, in unassembled position;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pocket assembly of FIG.
1, in partially assembled position;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor
pocket assembly according to one embodiment of the present
invention, in unassembled position; and
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side view, in section of the floor pocket of
FIG. 3, in assembled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a commercially
available floor pocket assembly, marketed by the Unwin Company of
Great Britain. A circular planar floor plate 1 is provided with an
integral floor bolt (not shown) projecting axially perpendicularly
thereto for attachment through a bolt hole in the floor 2 of a
vehicle. Plate 1 is also provided with an integral coaxial circular
plate 3 in overlying planar relationship thereto, having a somewhat
smaller diameter than plate 1 and spaced from plate 1 by a central
boss (not shown) having a diameter less than the diameter of plate
3, so as to provide a male connector means. Plate 3, is provided
with a radially extending slot 4, extending partially through the
thickness thereof, as best seen in FIG. 1. A load securing belt 5,
generally but not essentially fabricated from nylon webbing, is
secured to one end of a planar metal connector 6 at a proximal end
thereof. The other end of connector 6 secured to a substantially
U-shaped member 7, so as to provide a female connector means
adapted to fit over plate 3, by means of a bolt (not shown) and a
dome-headed nut 8. The lips 9 of U-shaped member 7 slidably and
releasably engage with plate 3. The underside of member 7 is also
provided with a projecting cylindrical pin 10, adapted for slidable
and releasable engagement with slot 4. In operation, the open end
of U-shaped member 7 is aligned with slot 4 so that pin 10 can
slidably engage therewith and member 7 is then pulled into
engagement with member 3 and pin 10 abuts the closed end 11 of slot
4. Member 7 is then rotated through approximately 90.degree., so as
to releasably lock member 7 to the floor plate 1. It will be
appreciated that member 7 can be rotated through 360.degree.,
relative to plate 1, but is not locked thereto when the open end
thereof is aligned with the slot 4. Thus, positive locking in all
positions is not achieved.
[0010] As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention has some
superficial similarities to the prior art device described above,
in that there is provided a circular floor plate 12 having an
integral spaced coaxial circular plate 13 in overlying planar
relationship thereto. Plate 13, generally but not essentially
having a diameter less than plate 12, and integrally formed
therewith, is adapted to be slidably and releasably engaged by the
lips 14 of a U-shaped member 15 on the underside of a circular
member 16. Plates 12 and 13 are secured to a floor 2 by means of a
separate bolt 17 passing axially therethrough. Preferably, but not
essentially, the bolt head 18 is provided with a rubber or
thermoplastic cover plug 19. Note that plate 13 is not provided
with a slot comparable to slot 4 of the prior art, but that the
circumference of plate 13 is provided with a tapered or bevelled
edge 20. Member 16 is provided with a coaxial spring loaded headed
pin 21 which extends from the lower face thereof, under the action
of compression spring 23, and is adapted to releasably engage with
bore 22 of plate 13. In operation, member 16 can be brought into
overlying relationship with plate 13 from any direction. Headed pin
21 contacts bevelled edge 20 of plate 13 and rides up thereon,
compressing spring 23 until the end face of pin 21 is flush with
the underface of member 16. Member 16 then slides into coaxial
relationship with plate 13; whereupon pin 21 is forced into bore 22
so as to provide positive locking of member 16 to floor plate 12,
whatever the position of connector 24 relative to plate 12.
Generally, but not essentially, connector 24 is integrally formed
with member 16. In order to disconnect member 16 from plate 12, an
operator grips the pin release knob 25 and pulls upwardly, thereby
compressing spring 23 and raising pin 21 out of bore 22 so that
member 16 may be slidably disconnected from plate 13.
* * * * *