Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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'rhis invcntion rclates to an aulomotive tie down nnd to a tie down ~itting
for ef~ectin~ a detachable connection to different loads.
When transporting motor vehicles on anotller vehiclc~ it is common to provicl~
a form of tie down for res$raining the transported v~hicle against substantial move--
ment. Such tie downs normally include a winch for tying down the vehicle, which
winch i5 adapted to be detachably connected l;o a track carried by the supporting
Yehicle. Because OI the low profile of modern motor vehicles, it is essential that the
winch be low profile in itself so as to permit passage beneath the vehicle. Further-
- more, the winch must be constructed in such a way so as to permit the take up of
- ~a considerable chain or other flexible transmitter during the tie down operation.
Furthermore, it is desirable if the tie down be capable of restraining movement of the
- vehicle in a plurality of directions. -
lt is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an impro~ed
automotive tie down.
, It is another object of this invention to provide a low profile automotive
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- - tie down.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an automotive tie down
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that restrains the vehicle in a plurality of directions.
The necessity for tying down a load during transport has been described. ~;
Normally, the tie down includes a fitting for effecting a detachable connection to the ~ -
load and a flexible transmitter for attaching the fitting ancl attached load to the trans-
porting vehicle. In many instances, some device is also provi~ed for tensioning the
flexible transmitter to insure good tie down of the load. It is not uncommon ~or a ! -~
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particular tie down to be used in conjunction with the tying down or uttachment of
,~ varying types of loads or for tying down londs of the same general type but having
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differen~ Rttachmen~ means for cooperat;o~ with the fitting. It ia almost imp~si~le t~
obtain the coop~ration of the shippers in providing the aame tie down a.ttachment for all
lo~ds .
A first embodiment of this invention is adapted ta be incorporated in a
tie down for holding vehicles during transport on another vehicle having an extending
track mounted thereon. The tie dow~ comprises a base member adapted to be affixed
to the track of the transporting vehicle. A shaft is journaled by the base member and
extends with its axis parallel to the length OI the track. Means are provided for
rotating the shaft and for affixing an end of the flexible transmitter to the shaft at one
end thereof. The flexlble transmitter is adapted to carry a hook at a place spaced ~rom
its end for providing a detachable connection to the transported vehicle. The shaft is - ;
adapted to receive the flexible transmitter along its length for effectively shortening ,
the length of the flexible transimitter and tying down the transported vehicle as the
shaft is rotated.
Another feature of the invention is also adapted to be embodied in a vehicle
tie down. The tie down includes a base member that is adapted to be affixed to the
transporting vehicle and a shaft journaled by the base member. Means are incorporated -
for rotating the shaft. Screw-like threads of opposite hands are formed on the shaft at
c~ppo~ite ends thereof and extending toward each other. Respective ends of a flexible
transmitter are adapted to be af~ixed to the shaft at respective end~ of the screw-like
portions. The flexible transmitter i~ adapted to carry a hook between its points of
attachment to the shaft for providing a detachable connection to the transported vehicle. ; ~;
The screw-like threads are adapted to maintain ~ubstantially the same angle between
the flexible tran~mitter a~ the shaft i8 rotated and the transported vehicle iB tied down .
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Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an automotive tie down constructed
in accordance with a first embodiment of this invention, with portions broken away. ` :
Figure 2 is an end elevationai view of the tie down shown in Figure 1,
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tsken generally in the direction of the arrow 2 and with portions broken away.
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view takèn along the line 3-3
o~Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a partial view, in part similar to Figure 2, showing the end
fitting connected to 5 diffcr2n' type Or mGtor vehicle attachment . .
Figure 6 is a top plan view of a tie down constructed in accordance with
a second embodiment of the invention. . ,
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the tie down shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is an enlarged end view of the tie down taken in the direction of
- the arrow 7 in Figure 5 and showing the tie down in cooperation with an associated ~ ~
track. . ~ -
Figure 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view similar to Figure 7 and taken ~ ~
along the line 8-8 in Figure 5. - -
EMBODIMENT OF FIGURES 1 THROUGH
A tie down embodying this invention is identified generally by the referenc~
numeral 11. The tie down 11 includes a winch, indicated generally by the reference
numeral 12, which i8 adapted to ten. ion a pair of flexible transmitters or chains 13 and
14 which are in turn connected to a tie down fitting 15. The winch 12 i~ adapted to be
connected in any of a plurnlity of po3ition~ to a transporting vehicle (not ahown) via
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tr~cls~s 11;. ~'he tic down as~;embly 11 is parlic-lk~rly ad.lJ~Led for use in the transporta-
tion of motor vehiclcs, as will bccome more apl)arcnt as this descriptioll proceeds.
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The winch 12 is comprised of a pair of
spaced bearing members, prefcrably forgings, 17 ancl 1~ that journal a shaft 19. ~n
intermediate shaft support 21 may also be employed. The forgings 17 and 18 and inter-;
mediate shaft support 21 are all affixed to a common ehannel-shaped member 22. The
forgings 1~ and 18 have a generally inverted T-shaped configuration in cross section
(Fig. 2) and are adapted to be inserted into a longitudinally extending opening 23 oi`
the track 16. A pair of inwardly extending legs 24 and 25 of the track 18 engage the
T-shaped portions of the forgings 17 and 18 to hold the wineh 12 vertically relative
to the assoeiated transporting vehicle. A suitable loeking mechanism ineluding a
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pivoted lever 26 is provided for locking the winch 12 in selected longitudinal positions
relative to the transporting vehicle through cooperation with a locking track ~not shown:
The shaft 19 is formed with a pair of serew-like portions 27 and 28 which
are of opposite hand. At the outer ends of the screw portions 2~ and 28 connections ~.
2~ and 31 are provided for affixing one end o each of the chains 13 and 14 to the shaft
19.
The shaft 19 may be rotated by inserting either a female-headed tool or a ,
squared portion 32 at one end of the shaft 19 or a male-headed tool into a square-shaped
o"0 opening 33 formed in the opposite end of the shaft 18. A ratchet wheel 34 i~ affixed t~
the shaft 19 for cooperation with a locking pawl 35 which is spring biased into an
engaged position to prevent the shaft 19 from rotating in a direction so as to relieve , `
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the tension on the chains 13 and 14. The locking pawl 35 is pivotally supported on
the forging 17 by means of a pivot pin 3~ and is movable bel:ween a locl~ed position (as
~hown in Fig. 2) and a relea~sed position in which the shnft 19 is free to rotate in either
direction. Reference may be had to my aforenoted copending application for further ~ ;
det~ils of the winch 12.
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The ends of the chains 13 ~nd 14 remote from the winch 12 are connectecl
to the tie down fitting 15 by a U-shaped clevis 41. The clevis 41 has eyelets 42 and ~3
that receive a bolt 44 and nut 45 for afforcling a detachable connection between the
clevis 41 and the Eitting 15.
The fitting 15 may be formed as a forging, casting or the like and is
configured to effect a detachable connection to motor vehicles having different types ;
of detachment openings. The fitting 15 has first and second respective portions 46 and
47 for this purpose.
The portion 46 is adapted to be used in conjunction with a motor vehicle
having a generally slotted opening in a lower or horizontally extending portion of its
undercarriage. Such an attachment is shown in Figs. 1-3 wherein the motor vehicle
undercarriage is identified generally by the reference numeral 48. The undercarriage
48 is formed with an elongated opening 49 in its lowermost surface. The fitting
portion 46 has a generally T-shaped configuration with a head portion ~;1 that is
adapted to be passed through the opening 49 when the ~itting 15 is rotated 90 from
the position shown in the figures. ~t the base of the head portion 51, a square-sided -
shank portion 52 is provided. The portion 52 has flat sides 53 and 54 (Fig. 3) that
extend parallel to complementary sides 55 and 56 of the opening 49. The cooperation
between the respective flats 53, 55 and 54, 56 prevent the fitting 15 from rotating when
the chains 13 and 14 are tensioned and thus preclude inadvertent detachment OI the
fitting 15 from the vehicle undercarriage 48. Below the square-sided portion 52, a
rounded-sided portion 57 is formed that permits free rotation of the fitting 15 relative
to the frame portion 48 so as to permit attachment and desired disconnection. `
The fitting portion 57 is used for affording a detachable connection to a
vehicle having an undercarriage as shown in Fig. 4. With this type of opening, a
generally circular-shaped aperture 61 is formed in a vertically extending leg 62 oE the
vehicle undercarriage 63. The fitting portion 47 is comprised of a hook-like section 64
that is adapted to be passed into the opening 61 with its flattened end 65 in engagement
with the inner surface of the under-frame portion 82. A pad 66 formed adjacent the
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pivot point afforded by the bolt 44 engages the outer surface of the undercarriage
portion 62 . It should be noted from an inspection oE Fig a, that the tension on the
chains 13 and 1~ will apply a force on the fitting portion 47 that cause~ the pad 66 and
flattened end portion 65 to engage opposite sides of the frame portion 62 thus preventing
inadvertent detachment.
From the foregoing description, it should be readily apparent that the
fitting 15 affords a detachable connection to either of two different types of automotive
attachment openings. Each attachment is designed so as to prevent inadvertent
detachment when the fitting is under load but which will readily be detachable when
the fitting is not tensioned. -
EMBODIMENT OF FIGURES 5 THORUGH 8 - :
In the preceding embodiment the tie down embodied a pair of ~lexible
transmitters each of which was connected to a common winch~ The previously described
tie down has the advantage of restraining the transported vehicle in a plurality of
directions. In some instances, however, it is desirable to provide a low profile tie
down incorporating only one flexible transmitter. The embodiment of Figures 5 through
8 shows such a construction.
The tie down of this embodiment is identified generally by the reference
numeral 111. As with the preceding embodiment, the tie down 111 includes a generally
channel-shaped base member 112. Affixed to one end of the base member 112 is an
inverted T-shaped end piece 113. The end piece 113 is adapted to be received in a
floor mounted track 114, (Figures 7 and 8) of the construction de~cribed in the pre-
ceding embodiment. The track 114 has a pair of inwardly extending flanges 115 and
116 that lie over the cross leg of the end member 113 to retain the winch assembly of the
tie down 111 in the track 114.
At the opposite end of the base member 112, a forging or casting 117 is
provided. The member 117 also has a generally T-shape (Figure 7) and is received
under the track legs 115 and 116 to complete the retention of the winch portion of the
tie down 111 to the trac~ 114 .
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The forging 11l ha~ a transversely extending bore lla in which a slidably
supported locl~ pin 119 is positioned. The lock pin 119 is adapted to be received in
selected apertures of a side leg 121 of the track 114 to lock the end fitting 111 in selected
longitudinal positions along the track. A release pin 122 is staked to the lock pin 119
and extends through a generally L-shaped slot 123 of the forging 117. A coil compression
spring 124 normally urges the lock pin 119 to its engaged position. To release the lock
pin ll9, the pin 122 is slid along the horizontal leg of the slot 123 and rotated vertically
upwardly through the vertical portion of the slot. This compresses the spring 124 and
releases the lock pin 119.
~0 A shaft lZ5 extends with its rotational axis parallel to the length of the
track 114 and is journaled by the end plate 113 and forging 117. The end of the shaft
125 that extends through the forging 117 is squared, as at 126 so as to accommodate
a suitable tool for rotating the shaft 125.
Affixed to the channel-shaped base member 112 between its ends is an
;ntermediate bearing support, indicated generally by the reference numeral 127. The
bearing support 127 provides an intermediate journal for the shaft 125. In addition,
the intermediate support 127 carries a locking pawl, to be described, of a ratchet
assembly for holding the shaft 125 against rotation. In the area of the intermediate
support 127 a ratchet wheel 128 is affixed to the shaft 125. A locking pawl 129 is pivotall~
~o supported on the intermediate support 127 by means of a pivot pin 131. The locking
pawl 129 has a portion 132 that is adapted to be received between the teeth of the ~-
ratchet wheel 128 to hold the ratchet wheel 128 and shaft 125 against rotation. Integrally
formed with the pawl 129 is an extending release lever 133. The releaqe lever 133
extends across the winch portion of the tie down 111 and provides an end that is
engageable by an operator so as to release the engagement of the pawl tooth 132 from -~-
the ratchet wheel 128 so that the shaft 125 may be rotated.
The shaft 125 is formed with ilattened portions 134 and 135 at its opposite
ends and adjacent to the plate 113 and forging 117, respectively. Pairs of holes 136 and ~ -
137 extend through the flattened portions 13~ and 135 respectively. ~ U ~olt 138 is
adapted to extend through either of the pair of holes 136 and 137 to attach a chain or
flexible transmitter 139 to the desired end of the shait 125. The opposite end OI the
chain (not shown) is adapted to carry a fitting~ of the type described in the preceding
embodiment for effecting a detachable connection to the transported vehicle. When
the connection is so made, the shaft 125 is rotated and the chain 13~ will be wound
around the respective end of the shaft to tie down the vehicle, as is believed to be
readily apparent.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description is that of preferred
embodiments of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without
r~ departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
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