Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Securing cevice for chains t~ use o flatbed t cks
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the general field of vehicte accessories and
is
particuiariy concemed with a device used for securing chains used for tying
down
lumber logs carried on a flatbed truck.
BACKGROUND OF '1'HE INVENTION:
Flatbed trucks used in the transport of timber reguiroe the logs to be well
secured.
Usually, side guard posts can hold the logs relatively well but because trucks
move,
all kinds of longitudinal and lateral forces are appiied to the load as well
as upper and
downward forces. Over the course of a run, the logs can shift in positon to
the point
that some could slip in between the guard posts, that is why chains or straps
are
used tu further tie down the logs to prevent any movements of the iogs.
Over time, truckers have used chains so as to tie down the togs in a pretty
standardized fashion which is to have a chain, attached to one side of the
fiatbed,
passing over the load and dropping on the opposite side of the flatbed so as
to wrap
the load. In order to secure the chain tightly, the end of the chain is hooked
onto a
hook attached to a fever arm or tackle of sort which creates the necessary
tension.
This part of the process is reiativety easy and safe but releasing the chain
afterwards
can be a daunting task fraught with possible Pnjury as a tight chain let loose
can whip
into an unwary trucker or passerby, in fact, just the mere action of releasing
the lever
arm can hit the face or body of the user_
There are currently no devices to make the operation of removing tight chains
safe,
secure and easy. Accordingly, there exists a need for improvement.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIUtV
In view of the foregoing lack of krlown devices in the prior art, the present
invention,
which will be described subsequently In greater detail, is to provide objects
and
advantages which are:
To have a simple device that safely releases a chain tied around a load.
To have a device that can be actuated remotely so as to eliminate the risk of
having
someone nearby be injured.
To have a device which allows a trucker to put his attention on the
surroundings to
secure the area rather than be concentrated on untying chains.
To attain these ends, the present invention generally connprises an electric
pneumatic
system with a piston set partially inside a slit and which pushes the chain
out, Instead
of attaching the chain to a lever arm, the chain is passed through a[oop
attached to a
small piece of chain, which in fact replaces where tlie lever arm would
normally be.
Once the chain is passed through the loop, it oontinues its course over to a
slit at
which point the user pulls on the chain and introduces the chain links into a
slit in
order to secure it tightly. In order to remove the links of the chain from the
slit, a
piston pushes the chain from the slit. The piston which Is pneumabc hydraulic
or
electric is remotely actuated by an electric switch which can be situated in
the truck's
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cabin so as to insure that no one is near the chain when it is released. The
slit and
piston arrangement are designed to fit into a single compact package. Because
trucks already have a pneumatic system as part of their standard equipment,
the use
of an electrically actuated pneumatic piston appears to be the most pracficai,
reliable
and economical system to use. Trucks also have pneumatically assisted
hydraulic
system which makes the use of hydraulic systems equally feasible for use as
part of
this invention_ iiowever, to simplify matters, the system will be described as
a
pushing means which can also inGude electrically actuated worm screws among
other such mechanically equivalent means.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of
the
invention In order that the detailed descripfion thereof that follows may be
better
understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be
better
appreciated. There are additional features of the imrention that will be
descxibed
hereinafter and which wiii forrn the subjW matter of the claims appended
hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in
detail, it
is to be understood that the invention Is not limited in its application to
the details of
eonstruction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the
following
descripfiion or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Aiso, it
is to be
understood that the phraseology and tenninoiogy employed herein are for the
purpose of description and shouid not be regarded as limiting.
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As such, those skilled in the aTt wiii appreciate that the conception, upon
which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other
structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as
Including such
equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and
scope of the
present invention.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of
novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity
in the
claims annexed to and fonning a part of this disotosuce. For a better
understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages and the spe 'crFic objects attained by
its uses,
reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in
which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invenfion.
R! P D~CRlP710N DF THE REFERRED EMBabIMFNT
Figs.la-d Isometric view of the container and top views of the pushing means,
C-shaped rod, and side view of the slit plate, respectivety_
Figs. Za-c Front, side and top view, respectively, of the device.
Fig. 3 Side view of the device in context on a flatbed seen acrass its side.
Fig. 4 Front view of the device in context on a flatbed seen across its
length.
CA 02537284 2005-12-31
DMILED DESCR PT!ON QF THE ~'REPERRED EMBODIMENT
A securing device for chains (10) generally comprises a chain (22) passing
over a
load, as is known in the art, but with the diffference that the chain (22) is
passed
through a loop (26) fixedly attached to a small segment of chain (24), which
in fact
replaces where the lever arm (not shown) would normatly be_ Once the chain is
passed through the loop (26), it continues its course over to a slit (18) at
which point
the user pulls on the chain (22) and introduces the chain links (28) into the
slit (18) in
order to secure it tightly. A pushing means (12) encased within a box like
container
(14) moves a piston (21) linearly so as to push a U-shaped rod (16) connected
to it,
by way of a connnector (15), across and through the slit (18) made into a slit
plate
(20). By moving within the space occupied by the slit (18), the U-shaped rod
(16) can
push out the chain (22) previously put inside the slit (18). The pushing means
(12),
can be any one of known means such as a pneumatiuc apparatus, a hydraulic
apparatus, or even an etectrically actuated worm screw apparatus, all of which
being
able to move a piston over a linear course. These means, being well known in
the art
won't be further discussed. The pushing means (12) Is fixedly attached to the
inside
of the box-like container (14) by any of a variety of mechnical means such as
welding,
mechanical fasteners, adhesive means and any combination thereof. For example,
a
combination nuts and bolts (13) using holes (19). A conduit input (11)
situated onto
the pushing means (12) provides for the actuation of the pushing means (12).
The
conduit input (11) can be a pneumatic hose, a hydraulic hose or an electrical
cable
depending upon the nature of the pushing means (12), whether pneumatic,
hydraulic
or electric.
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The connector (15) is bolted into the U-shaped rod (16) by way of a bolt hole
(23) into
which is threadably inserReci a U-shaped rod bolt (13'). Of course, any
mechanical
equivalent can be used for fmdiy attaching the connectar (15) to the U-shaped
rod
(16) . The connector (15) forins an integral extension of the piston (21). The
connector (15) and piston (21) pass through a cavity (25) made into a front
wall (27)
nt'the box-like container (14).
The sii# plate (20) and the box-like container (14) are positioned proximal
each other
and securedly and fixedly attached underneath a guide post (30) of a truck.
Altemativeiy, an optional connector plate (29) welded or otherwise
mechanically
fixedly attached to both the slit plate (20) and the box-like container (14)
can be used
for easier on-site Installation. The slit (18) made into the slit plate (20)
is generally
horizantally o#Fset upwardly towards an apen end (23) so as to help in keeping
the
chaln (22) inside the slit (18) when installing it in. There can of course be
more than
one securing device torchains (10) per truck (40).
In order to use the securing devioe for chains (10), with the U-shaped rod
(16) being
retracted, that is, away from the oiaen end (23), a user sets uia the chain
(22) over the
load as is known in the art, and then uses the small segment of chain (24)
terminating
with a loop (26) to pass the chain (22) through the loop (26), the chain (22)
is then
pulled hard so as to tighten it and while taught, the chain (22) is inserted
into the slit
(18) so that the links (28) hoid the chain (22) in place within the slit (18).
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When the user wants to slacken the chain (22), such as when arfiving at the
unloading site, the user will actuate asn+itoh (not shown) of some kind which
is set
some distance away from the securing device for chains (10) to actuate the U-
spaped
rod (16) which pushes the chain (22) outside the siit (18). For example, the
switch
(not shown) can be inside the truck' cab (not shown). The details of the
connection
between the switch (not shown) and the securing deviee for chains (10) need
not be
explained here sinoe they are obvious to those versed in the art.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present
invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
Accordingly, no
further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be
provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realted that the
optimum
dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to inciude
variations in size,
materials, shape, forrn, function and manner of operation, assembly and use,
are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent
reiationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing
is
considered as iilustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further,
since
numerous modifications and changes will nvadily occur to those skilled in the
art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and
described, and accorrciingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be
resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. For example, welding
can be
replaced with boiting or glueing or any suitable fastening means.
