U.S. patent application number 10/306109 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for pull-up cleat.
Invention is credited to King, William E..
Application Number | 20040099197 10/306109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325597 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040099197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King, William E. |
May 27, 2004 |
Pull-up cleat
Abstract
A pull-up cleat apparatus with a cleat member having downwardly
extending posts telescopically received in tubular extensions of a
cleat base permitting the cleat member limited movement between an
extended and a retracted position and held in position by detent
means. The tubular extensions of the cleat base have screw threads
on the outside surfaces for threadably mounting clamping elements
to secure the cleat base to a boat deck or the like. The cleat
member has a cleat head with an arched center and the cleat base
includes a flat surfaced depression for receiving the cleat head
with side openings in the depression for water drainage around the
cleat head in the retracted position. Water is allowed to drain
downwardly through the tubular extensions and is channeled to a
suitable bilge area.
Inventors: |
King, William E.; (Kapaa,
HI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOWREY RICKARDS
19119 NORTHCREEK PARKWAY
SUITE 106
BOTHELL
WA
98011
US
|
Family ID: |
32325597 |
Appl. No.: |
10/306109 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/218 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/045
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/218 |
International
Class: |
B63B 021/04 |
Claims
1. A pull-up cleat apparatus comprising; a cleat member including a
cleat head and at least one cleat post depending therefrom, a cleat
base for mounting said cleat head and including at least one
depending tubular extension adapted to telescopically receive said
at least one cleat post for reciprocation therein between an
extended position with said cleat member spaced from said base and
a retracted position seated thereon, said at least one tubular
extension including external screw threads along the length
thereof, and a clamping element threadably mounted on said tubular
extension, whereby said base may be clamped to the surface of a
wall member with said tubular extension extending therethrough and
held in place by said clamping element.
2. The pull-up cleat apparatus of claim 1 including; a depression
in the top surface of said cleat base for receiving said cleat head
when in the retracted position, said depression having a bottom
surface and side walls conforming generally to the peripheral
contours of said cleat head and including openings in said side
walls for draining water and debris from said depression.
3. The pull-up cleat apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cleat head
has a bottom surface for seating in said depression and an arched
center portion in said bottom surface allowing water drainage
across the bottom surface of said depression.
4. The pull-up cleat apparatus of claim 3 wherein the openings in
said side walls comprise first and second exit channels on opposite
sides of said depression allowing free cross flow therebetween.
5. The pull-up cleat apparatus of claim 1 wherein; said cleat
member includes two cleat posts spaced along the length of said
cleat head, said cleat base including two tubular extensions
constructed and arranged to receive said cleat posts; and clamp
plate means mounted on said tubular extensions and engaged with
said clamp elements for contacting a wall member for applying
pressure to clamp said cleat base thereagainst.
6. The pull-up cleat apparatus of claim 5 wherein said clamp plate
means comprises a single plate extending between said tubular
extensions and engaging the clamping element on each tubular
extension, said clamp plate comprising the sole clamping means for
anchoring said cleat base.
7. The pull-up cleat of claim 6 including; a drainage fitting
connected to the bottom end of each said tubular extensions for
channeling moisture collected therein to a bilge area.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to cleat structures and more
particularly to pull-up cleats for installation on boat decks or
other surfaces for attaching ropes or lines. The type of cleat
under consideration is widely used in recreational boats for
securing mooring lines and the like and will include a cleat member
and a cleat base with the cleat member having vertical legs or
posts which are telescopically received in suitable tubular members
carried on the cleat base. The cleat member may be pulled up to a
position for use and then retracted into the base for storage with
the cleat and base being made as near to flush with the deck or
other surface as possible to avoid obstructions.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Many prior art cleat designs have been proposed for either
boat use or general utility wherein the cleat member includes
depending legs or posts which are telescopically received by a
cleat base. This structure permits the cleat member to be extended
for use and retracted for storage, usually being held in the
storage position seated on the base by some form of detent or the
like. Cleats of this type require manual extension and retraction
with the extended position being limited by suitable stop means.
This type of design is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,983,820;
6,125,779; D458,891.
[0005] Another common form of cleat structure provides either a
compression or tension spring to move the cleat member to either
the extended position or the retracted position with some devices
having means to reverse the spring action as desired. The following
patents are illustrative of cleat structures of this type: U.S.
Pat. Nos. 4,354,445; 4,809,634 and 4,945,849.
[0006] A common problem with all cleat designs which are adapted to
be mounted on either a boat deck or other surface such as truck
beds and the like is the necessity of drilling multiple holes in
the mounting surface and/or using a "hole" saw to form a large
opening for the reception of the appendages of the cleat base.
Needless to say, this type of material removal from a boat deck for
instance is not desirable and may result in either leakage or
weakening of particular structural areas. Mounting of the cleat
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,779 for instance requires the drilling
of two large and two small closely grouped holes in the deck
structure while mounting of cleats such as shown in U.S. Pat. No.
5,983,820 and D458891 requires an extremely large opening to
accommodate the channels 68 and depending tubes 22 as well as
mounting screw holes top and bottom as illustrated in the
drawings.
[0007] Another common drawback of prior art flush mounted cleat
structures is the inadequate drainage provided for the escape of
water and debris that collects around the cleat in the extended
position. Patents such as Czipri U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,634 and the
Kafka et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,445 are good examples of this
shortcoming. Even those devices which do provide some drainage of
the surface of the base do not provide a clear cross-base channel
for the escape of water and debris.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] The cleat structure of the present invention comprises an
extremely low profile oval shaped base with a flat-surfaced
depression on the top side thereof for reception of an elongated
cleat member shaped to conform to the contours of the depression in
the cleat base. The cleat member is provided with downwardly
depending legs or posts which are received by cylindrical tubes
extending from the bottom side of the base. The depression in the
top surface of the cleat base is provided with a clear
cross-surface channel which allows for the free flow of any water
or debris that collects while the cleat member is in the extended
position. The cleat head is shaped to provide a clearance between
its bottom face and the surface of the depression in the cleat base
thereby allowing free flow of water. The legs of the cleat member
are provided with ample clearance for reciprocation relative to the
base tubular extensions and are held in either a pull-up extended
position or a retracted or seated position on the base by means of
spring pressed ball and d tentes well known in the art. The
movement of the cleat legs out of the base tubular extensions is
limited by means of a stop on the bottom ends of the cleat legs and
a suitable shoulder on the inner surface of the base extensions.
The tubular extensions on the cleat base are provided with drainage
tubes which drain off any moisture that escapes down along the
cleat legs and the tubular extensions. This moisture is then
conducted to a suitable bilge area.
[0009] The downwardly extending tubular extensions on the bottom of
the cleat base are provided with external screw threads along the
length thereof and a pressure plate is fitted over the two
extending tubes and clamped against the bottom of the mounting wall
such as a boat deck by means of clamping nuts or the like. The
force of the pressure plate against the bottom side of the mounting
wall is the only attachment means required for firmly mounting the
cleat structure in position, thus avoiding the need for large
cut-outs or a multiplicity of holes in the deck or mounting
wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleat member in the
retracted or seated position;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleat apparatus of the
present invention with the cleat member in the extended or
pulled-up position;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cleat apparatus
attached to a deck or wall with the cleat member in the retracted
or seated position;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of
FIG. 3; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Although the present embodiment of the invention will be
described with reference to a cleat structure and its mounting on a
boat deck, it will be understood that the cleat is not limited in
its application and may be utilized in other environments such as
trucks, RV's or any other environment where a pull-up cleat is
required. Although the present embodiment is described as mounted
on a generally horizontal surface, it is to be understood that the
structure may be mounted on surfaces otherwise oriented, such as a
wall or a railing. Referring to the drawings, the cleat structure
is indicated generally at 10 and includes pull-up cleat member 11,
a cleat base 12 and a clamping or pressure plate 13. FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate the cleat structure prior to mounting on a surface and
FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the cleat apparatus mounted to a boat deck
14.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be understood that the
various components of the cleat apparatus such as the cleat member
11, the cleat base 12 and the pressure plate 13 may be made from
any material and are commonly constructed from stainless steel
castings or some other durable material of sufficient strength
which is capable of resisting rust and corrosion. The cleat member
11 is an elongated bar with spaced legs or posts 16 and 17
extending at right angles from the bottom side. The posts 16 and 17
are mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylindrical tubular
members 18 and 19 respectively. Thus the cleat member 11 may be
moved between the retracted position shown in FIG. 1, seated on the
top surface of the cleat base, and the raised or operative position
shown in FIG. 2 raised above the cleat base 12. As seen in FIGS. 1
and 2, the head portion 21 of the cleat is an elongated bar having
an arched center section 22 with depressions 23 on each side for
grasping the bar when in the retracted position. As shown most
clearly in FIG. 3, the center arched section 22 is slightly raised
above the surface of the cleat base when the cleat member is in the
retracted or seated position.
[0017] The cleat base 12 includes the downwardly directed
cylindrical tubes 18 and 19 for receiving the legs 16 and 17
respectively of the cleat member 11. The tubular members 18 and 19
may be formed as an integral casting with the base 12 or may be
formed in any other suitable manner so as to be rigidly connected
to the base 12. As shown in the drawings, the tubular members 18
and 19 include external screw threads 24 and 26 respectively for
receiving the clamping nuts 27 and 28 respectively as shown in
FIGS. 3-5. With the cleat plate 12 resting on the surface of the
deck 14, the tubular members 18 and 19 extend through suitable bore
holes 29 and 31 and through suitable holes the in clamping plate
13. The nuts 27 and 28 are then tightened against the plate 13 to
clamp the cleat base securely to the deck wall 14. Although the
plate 13 is shown as a single member in the embodiment illustrated,
it will be apparent that individual washers could also be used to
seat the clamp nuts 27 and 28 against the bottom of the deck
14.
[0018] Referring again to FIG. 1, the cleat base 12 may be a
substantially flat member with a slightly rounded top surface
provided with an elongated depression 32 with side walls conforming
to the peripheral contours of the cleat head 21 and of a depth
substantially equal to thickness of the cleat head. When in the
retracted position, the top surface of the cleat head 21 creates a
continuing surface matching the general contours of the upper
curved surface of the cleat base 12. The depression 32 has a flat
bottom surface for seating the cleat head 21 with the arched center
portion 22 of the cleat head being spaced above the surface of the
depression 32, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3. This structure
allows for unobstructed cross drainage under the central area of
the cleat head. The depression 32 is also provided with exit
channels or openings 33 and 34 in its opposite side walls to insure
free flow of water and debris from the cleat base. The bottom ends
of the tubular members 18 and 19 are provided with internal screw
threads, as illustrated in FIG. 5, for the reception of drainage
nipples 37 and 38 for draining any moisture which may pass down
along the posts 16 and 17, the nipples 37 and 38 being provided
with conduits (not shown) for directing the water to any suitable
bilge area.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates the mounting of the cleat member post 17
for reciprocation within the tubular extension 19. It will be
understood that the structural relationship between the cleat post
16 and the tubular extension 18 is identical to that being
described for the post member 17 in FIG. 5. The post members 16 and
17 may be solid rod structures having a stop plate or the like 37
which functions to engage a stop shoulder 38 of reduced diameter on
the inner wall of the member 19. The engagement between the plate
37 and shoulder 38 limits the upward travel of the posts 16 and 17
in the pull-up or raised position as shown in FIG. 2. Each of the
posts 16 and 17 will include a spring pressed ball 39 in the body
thereof with the ball 39 engaging either the lower d tente opening
41 when the cleat member is in the retracted position or the upper
detent opening 42 when the cleat member is in the extended position
as shown in FIG. 2.
[0020] Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been
shown and described herein with certain specific modifications, it
is to understood that the present disclosure is made by way of
example and that various other embodiments and modifications are
possible without departing from the inventive concept are included
within the scope of the following claims, which claimed subject
matter is regarded as the invention. The aim of the appended claims
therefor is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *