US3566804A — Jack for adjusting cargo holddown apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 444 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame, a pinion journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal direction when said frame is disposed in operative position on said anchoring member, a rack extending in said direction through said frame when in said operative position and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in said direction in response to rotation of said pinion, one end of said rack projecting beyond said frame and having a push-pull implement secured thereto adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, means for removably supporting said frame on a longitudinally extending surface of the anchor member with said rack extending in said direction at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device and means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, said frame comprising a base plate and a cover plate secured to and spaced parallel from said base plate, said rack and pinion being mounted between said plates, said projecting means comprising a pair of studs extending perpendicular from said base plate from the side thereof remote from said cover plate whereby said jack is adapted for use with a T-beam which constitutes said anchor member by removable insertion of said studs in a pair of laterally spaced holes in the top flange of the T-beam, said base plate comprising a generally U-shaped channel member having downwardly extending first and second side flanges extending at least for the distance of said studs, the center horizontal portion of said base plate having spacer means on the underside thereof adapted to support said base plate spaced above the flange of said T-beam with said rack at the proper elevation for engagement with a tiedown devicE mounted on said T-beam, said base plate having an anchoring dog secured to said first side flange thereof and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom at the proper elevation for engagement with an anchoring hole in a sidewall of an upwardly open trench type channel anchoring member, said frame being dimensioned to pass through an upper open slot of the channel anchor member, the total lateral dimension from the outer end of said anchoring dog to said second side flange of said base plate being greater than the spacing between the sidewalls of the channel anchor member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 444 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame, a pinion journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal direction when said frame is disposed in operative position on said anchoring member, a rack extending in said direction through said frame when in said operative position and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in said direction in response to rotation of said pinion, one end of said rack projecting beyond said frame and having a push-pull implement secured thereto adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, means for removably supporting said frame on a longitudinally extending surface of the anchor member with said rack extending in said direction at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device and means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, said frame comprising a base plate and a cover plate secured to and spaced parallel from said base plate, said rack and pinion being mounted between said plates, said projecting means comprising a pair of studs extending perpendicular from said base plate from the side thereof remote from said cover plate whereby said jack is adapted for use with a T-beam which constitutes said anchor member by removable insertion of said studs in a pair of laterally spaced holes in the top flange of the T-beam, said base plate comprising a generally U-shaped channel member having downwardly extending first and second side flanges extending at least for the distance of said studs, the center horizontal portion of said base plate having spacer means on the underside thereof adapted to support said base plate spaced above the flange of said T-beam with said rack at the proper elevation for engagement with a tiedown devicE mounted on said T-beam, said base plate having an anchoring dog secured to said first side flange thereof and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom at the proper elevation for engagement with an anchoring hole in a sidewall of an upwardly open trench type channel anchoring member, said frame being dimensioned to pass through an upper open slot of the channel anchor member, the total lateral dimension from the outer end of said anchoring dog to said second side flange of said base plate being greater than the spacing between the sidewalls of the channel anchor member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 394 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame, a pinion journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal direction when said frame is disposed in operative position on said anchoring member, a rack extending in said direction through said frame when in said operative position and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in said direction in response to rotation of said pinion, one end of said rack projecting beyond said frame and having a push-pull implement secured thereto adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, means for removably supporting said frame on a longitudinally extending surface of the anchor member with said rack extending in said direction at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device, means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, a bidirectional ratchet comprising a pawl having a body portion pivotally mounted adjacent said pinion with a pair of spaced ratchets adapted for selective alternate engagement with said pinion teeth in response to pivotal movement of said body between first and second positions thereof, said body having first and second surfaces on the opposite sides thereof from said pinion teeth converging at an intersection located on a line intersecting the pivot axis of said body and said rotational axis of said pinion when said body is pivoted to an unstable position intermediate said first and second positions, and a spring biased detent having a point with converging faces and aligned for movement on said first-mentioned line for engagement with said body surfaces, said detent engaging one of said surfaces when said body is in said first position and tending to rotate said body in one direction to bring said first tooth into ratcheting relation with the teeth of said pinion, said detent engaging said second surface of said body and tending to rotate said body in the opposite direction to bring said second tooth into ratcheting relation with said pinion when said pinion is rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 394 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame, a pinion journaled in said frame for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal direction when said frame is disposed in operative position on said anchoring member, a rack extending in said direction through said frame when in said operative position and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in said direction in response to rotation of said pinion, one end of said rack projecting beyond said frame and having a push-pull implement secured thereto adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, means for removably supporting said frame on a longitudinally extending surface of the anchor member with said rack extending in said direction at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device, means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, a bidirectional ratchet comprising a pawl having a body portion pivotally mounted adjacent said pinion with a pair of spaced ratchets adapted for selective alternate engagement with said pinion teeth in response to pivotal movement of said body between first and second positions thereof, said body having first and second surfaces on the opposite sides thereof from said pinion teeth converging at an intersection located on a line intersecting the pivot axis of said body and said rotational axis of said pinion when said body is pivoted to an unstable position intermediate said first and second positions, and a spring biased detent having a point with converging faces and aligned for movement on said first-mentioned line for engagement with said body surfaces, said detent engaging one of said surfaces when said body is in said first position and tending to rotate said body in one direction to bring said first tooth into ratcheting relation with the teeth of said pinion, said detent engaging said second surface of said body and tending to rotate said body in the opposite direction to bring said second tooth into ratcheting relation with said pinion when said pinion is rotated in the opposite direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 121 words

The jack as set forth in claim 2 wherein said frame comprises a base plate and a cover plate secured to and spaced parallel from said base plate, said rack and pinion being mounted between said plates, said projecting means comprising a pair of studs extending perpendicular from said base plate from the side thereof remote from said cover plate whereby said jack is adapted for use with a T-beam which constitutes said anchor member by removable insertion of said studs in a pair of laterally spaced holes in the top flange of the T-beam, said frame including a backup roller for said rack journaled between said plates for engagement with the side of said rack remote from said teeth thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 128 words

The jack as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plates are spaced apart by first, second and third spacer members extending perpendicularly therebetween, said first and second spacer members being disposed one on each side of said roller adjacent said smooth backside of said rack, said thIrd spacer being disposed longitudinally intermediate said first and second spacer members and on the side of said pinion remote from said rack, said detent being mounted on said third spacer member, and a pair of fastener members extending through said plates to clamp said plates against said spacer members and thereby secure the plates together, one of said fasteners serving as an axle for said roller and the other of said fasteners serving as a pivot pin for said pawl.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The jack as set forth in claim 2 wherein said push-pull implement comprises a generally L-shaped member having an arm secured to the upper side of said rack and projecting longitudinally therefrom beyond the end of the rack and an abutment arm dependent from the free end of said longitudinal arm, said abutment arm having a hook portion with oppositely longitudinally extending lips at the free end of said abutment arm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 56 words

The jack as set forth in claim 5 wherein said rack has an end opposite said one end projecting from the opposite longitudinal end of said frame and a second push-pull implement identical to that described in claim 7 secured to said opposite end of said rack in reversed relation relative to said first push-pull implement.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 412 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along a flat upwardly facing horizontal surface of an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame including a base plate and a cover plate secured to and spaced above and parallel to said base plate, a pinion journaled between said plates for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said plates, means including a hub projecting through said cover plate with means exposed from above said cover plate for applying rotational torque to said pinion, a rack extending through the space between said plates and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in a direction parallel to the planes of said plates in response to rotation of said pinion, said rack projecting at its opposite free ends beyond said plates and having a push-pull means secured to at least one of said ends adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, first and second spacer means for removably supporting said frame on said surface of the anchor member with said base plate spaced therefrom and parallel thereto and such that said rack extends parallel to and spaced above said surface at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device and anchoring means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, said anchoring means including a pair of studs extending perpendicularly from said base plate from the side thereof remote from said cover plate whereby said jack is adapted for use with a T-beam which constitutes said anchor member and has a top flange defining said surface, said studs being spaced apart for removable insertion in a pair of laterally spaced holes in the top flange of the T-beam, said first spacer means projecting downwardly from said base plate at least as far as said studs project downwardly from said base plate and being spaced to clear the side edges of said T-beam top flange, said second spacer means projecting downwardly from said base plate a distance less than said studs and being oriented laterally between said first spacer means to rest on said top flange surface when said studs are inserted in anchoring relation in said holes of said top flange.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 412 words

A manually operable jack for forcibly moving a vehicle tiedown device in a direction longitudinally along a flat upwardly facing horizontal surface of an anchoring member of a vehicle carrier conveyance, said jack comprising a frame including a base plate and a cover plate secured to and spaced above and parallel to said base plate, a pinion journaled between said plates for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said plates, means including a hub projecting through said cover plate with means exposed from above said cover plate for applying rotational torque to said pinion, a rack extending through the space between said plates and having teeth in driven engagement with the teeth of said pinion for producing movement of said rack in a direction parallel to the planes of said plates in response to rotation of said pinion, said rack projecting at its opposite free ends beyond said plates and having a push-pull means secured to at least one of said ends adapted for push-pull engagement with the tiedown device, first and second spacer means for removably supporting said frame on said surface of the anchor member with said base plate spaced therefrom and parallel thereto and such that said rack extends parallel to and spaced above said surface at a proper elevation for engagement with the tiedown device and anchoring means fixed to said frame and projecting therefrom perpendicular to said direction of movement of said rack adapted for removable insertion in a locking recess of the anchor member for restraining movement of said frame longitudinally of the anchor member, said anchoring means including a pair of studs extending perpendicularly from said base plate from the side thereof remote from said cover plate whereby said jack is adapted for use with a T-beam which constitutes said anchor member and has a top flange defining said surface, said studs being spaced apart for removable insertion in a pair of laterally spaced holes in the top flange of the T-beam, said first spacer means projecting downwardly from said base plate at least as far as said studs project downwardly from said base plate and being spaced to clear the side edges of said T-beam top flange, said second spacer means projecting downwardly from said base plate a distance less than said studs and being oriented laterally between said first spacer means to rest on said top flange surface when said studs are inserted in anchoring relation in said holes of said top flange.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 89 words

The jack as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first spacer means comprises first and second side flanges extending downwardly from said base plate at least as far as said studs, said anchoring means including an anchoring dog secured to said first side flange thereof and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom at The proper elevation for engagement with an anchoring hole in a sidewall of an upwardly open trench type channel anchoring member, said frame being dimensioned to pass through an upper open slot of the channel anchor member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

The jack as set forth in claim 8 including a bidirectional ratchet comprising a pawl having a body portion pivotally mounted adjacent said pinion with a pair of spaced ratchets adapted for selective alternate engagement with said pinion teeth in response to pivotal movement of said body between corresponding first and second positions thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The jack as set forth in claim 9 wherein said frame includes a backup roller for said rack journaled between said plates for engagement with the side of said rack remote from said teeth thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 69 words

The jack as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plates are spaced apart by spacer means extending therebetween, and including a pair of fastener members extending through said plates to clamp said plates against said spacer means and thereby secure the plates together, one of said fasteners serving as an axle for said roller and the other of said fasteners serving as a pivot pin for said pawl.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 106 words

The jack as set forth in claim 11 wherein said push-pull means comprises first and second abutment arms, said first arm dependent from said one free end of said rack and said second arm from the other free end of said rack and said second arm from the other free end of said rack, each of said abutment arms having a hook portion with oppositely longitudinally extending lips at the lower free end of said abutment arm, said abutment arms terminating at their lower free ends in a plane disposed slightly above the surface of said top flange when said second spacer means is resting thereon.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-03-01	1974-08-31	1975-03-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-03-01	1978-08-31	1979-03-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-03-01	1982-08-31	1983-03-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Jack for adjusting cargo holddown apparatus

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