Quick release cargo tie down

Claim 2

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain in position relative to stationary anchor means comprising, in combination: a. means on said apparatus for defining a fixed receiving socket, said fixed receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of a link of a tie-down chain; b. means on said apparatus for defining a movable receiving socket, said movable receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of said link of said tie-down chain; c. means for movably supporting said movable receiving socket in operative association relative to said fixed receiving socket whereby said movable socket can be moved to a closed position for latching and securing a chain link in position between said two sockets, with said movable socket capable of being moved to an adjusted position permitting said chain link to be released from said sockets; d. latching lever means on said apparatus operatively associated with said movable socket for latching said movable socket in a closed chain link retaining position, said latch means being selectively movable between a latching position and a latch release position; e. spring means operatively associated with said latching lever for spring biasing said latching lever to said latched position; f. a first latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to a displaced unlatched position; and, g. a second latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to said displaced unlatched position, said first latch release lever being operable independently of said second latch release lever.

Claim 3

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain in position relative to stationary anchor means comprising, in combination: a. means on said apparatus for defining a fixed receiving socket, said fixed receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of a link of a tie-down chain; b. means on said apparatus for defining a movable receiving socket, said movable receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of said link of said tie-down chain; c. means for movably supporting said movable receiving socket in operative association relative to said fixed receiving socket whereby said movable socket can be moved to a closed position for latching and securing a chain link in position between said two sockets, with said movable socket capable of being moved to an adjusted position permitting said chain link to be released from said sockets; d. latching lever means on said apparatus operatively associated with said movable socket for latching said movable socket in a closed chain link retaining position, said latch means being selectively movable between a latching position and a latch release position; e. spring means operatively associated with said latching lever for spring biasing said latching lever to said latched position; f. a first latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to a displaced unlatched position; and, g. a second latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to said displaced unlatched position, said first latch release lever being operable independently of said second latch release lever.

Claim 4

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain in position relative to stationary anchor means comprising, in combination: a. means on said apparatus for defining a fixed receiving socket, said fixed receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of a link of a tie-down chain; b. means on said apparatus for defining a movable receiving socket, said movable receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving a portion of said link of said tie-down chain; c. means for movably supporting said movable receiving socket in operative association relative to said fixed receiving socket whereby said movable socket can be moved to a closed position for latching and securing a chain link in position between said two sockets, with said movable socket capable of being moved to an adjusted position permitting said chain link to be released from said sockets; d. latching lever means on said apparatus operatively associated with said movable socket for latching said movable socket in a closed chain link retaining position, said latch means being selectively movable between a latching position and a latch release position; e. spring means operatively associated with said latching lever for spring biasing said latching lever to said latched position; f. a first latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to a displaced unlatched position; and, g. a second latch release lever movably supported on said apparatus and operatively associated with said latching lever for moving said latching lever to said displaced unlatched position, said first latch release lever being operable independently of said second latch release lever.

Claim 5

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that a single independent spring means is operatively associated with said first and second latch releasing levers and said latching lever for simultaneously biasing said latch releasing levers to inoperable positions and for biasing said latching lever to latch operable position.

Claim 6

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus includes pivot means for supporting said first and second latch releasing levers for coaxial pivotal movement between operable and inoperable positions.

Claim 7

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus includes additional latching means operatively associated with said second latch releasing lever for retaining said second latch releasing lever in an inoperable position, and wherein second latch releasing lever is bodily displaceable relative to said additional latching means to permit movement of said second latch releasing lever to an operable position.

Claim 8

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said movable chain receiving socket means includes a projecting latching surface, and wherein said latching lever means includes a latch blocking surface, with said latching lever means being operatively associated with said projecting latching surface wherEby said latch lever blocking surface is movable from a latched position to an unlatched position along a path of movement complementary to said projecting latching surface.

Claim 9

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 5 further characterized in that said latching surface of said movable socket receiving means includes an arcuate shaped end portion and wherein said latching lever is pivotally supported relative to said movable socket whereby the blocking surface of said latching means is displaceable along said arcuate end portion in movement from said latched position to said unlatched position.

Claim 10

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said latching means and said first latch releasing lever are supported on said apparatus for pivotal movement about coaxial pivot means and wherein a single spring means is operatively associated with said latching means and said first latch releasing lever for biasing said latching means to a latching position and biasing said first latch releasing lever to an inoperable position.

Claim 11

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that said first latch releasing lever is pivotally supported on said latching lever and movable relative thereto from said inoperable position to a displaced latch lever releasing position and wherein said first latch releasing lever is operable when moved to said displace latch lever releasing position for effecting pivotal movement of said latching lever and said first latch releasing lever about said coaxial pivot support means to thereby unlatch said movable socket receiving means.

Claim 12

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus includes a connectible end portion adapted to be connected to anchor means and wherein selectively operable adjusting means is operatively associated with said apparatus and said connectible end portion for varying the effective length of said apparatus, said selectively operable adjusting means being operatively associated with said second latch releasing lever for retaining said second latch releasing lever in an inoperable position and wherein said second latch releasing lever includes means operatively associated with said selectively operable adjusted means for latching said adjusting means in selected adjusted positions.

Claim 13

Apparatus for releasably attaching a cargo tie-down chain as defined in claim 9 further characterized in that a single spring means is operatively associated with said latching lever and said second latch releasing lever for biasing said latching lever to a latching position relative to said movable socket and for biasing said second latch releasing lever into latching position relative to said selectively operable adjusting means.

Claim 14

A quick release cargo tie-down device comprising, in combination: a. a pair of plate support members; b. means for attaching said plate support members in spaced parallel relationship; c. a first block member, said first block member including means defining a receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving at least a portion of one arcuate end of a chain link; d. means for securing said block member in a fixed position between said plate members adjacent one end; e. a second block member, said second block member including means defining a socket portion detailed in dimension for receiving a second arcuate end portion of said chain link; f. means pivotally supporting said second block member between said plate members in opposed inwardly directed relationship with said first block member and operable for pivotal movement to a closed position wherein said chain link is trapped and retained between said socket means defined in said fixed block member and said movable block member, and wherein said second block member is movable to an open posiTion whereby said chain link can be released from engagement within said socket means; g. means on said movable block member for defining a projecting latching surface; h. a latching lever having a shaped surface portion detailed for latching engagement with said projecting latching surface of said movable block member; i. means for pivotally supporting said latching lever between said plate members whereby said latching lever can be moved to a latched position with said shaped latching surface in latching engagement with said projecting latching surface of said movable block member and wherein said latching lever can be moved to a displaced unlatched position; j. a first latch releasing lever, means for supporting said first latch releasing lever between said plate members for coaxial pivoting movement relative to said latching lever, and wherein said first latch releasing lever is operable for moving said latching lever to said unlatched position in response to pivotal displacement of said first latch releasing lever about said coaxial pivot means; k. a second latch releasing lever supported between said plate means for coaxial pivotal movement relative to said first latch releasing lever and said latching lever, said second latch releasing lever being operable for effecting pivotal movement of said latching lever to said unlatched position; and l. a single spring means operatively associated with said latching lever, said first latch releasing lever and said second latch releasing lever for respectively biasing said latching lever to a latched position and for biasing said first and second latch releasing levers to inoperable position.

Claim 15

A quick release cargo tie-down device comprising, in combination: a. a pair of plate support members; b. means for attaching said plate support members in spaced parallel relationship; c. a first block member, said first block member including means defining a receiving socket detailed in dimensions for receiving at least a portion of one arcuate end of a chain link; d. means for securing said block member in a fixed position between said plate members adjacent one end; e. a second block member, said second block member including means defining a socket portion detailed in dimension for receiving a second arcuate end portion of said chain link; f. means pivotally supporting said second block member between said plate members in opposed inwardly directed relationship with said first block member and operable for pivotal movement to a closed position wherein said chain link is trapped and retained between said socket means defined in said fixed block member and said movable block member, and wherein said second block member is movable to an open posiTion whereby said chain link can be released from engagement within said socket means; g. means on said movable block member for defining a projecting latching surface; h. a latching lever having a shaped surface portion detailed for latching engagement with said projecting latching surface of said movable block member; i. means for pivotally supporting said latching lever between said plate members whereby said latching lever can be moved to a latched position with said shaped latching surface in latching engagement with said projecting latching surface of said movable block member and wherein said latching lever can be moved to a displaced unlatched position; j. a first latch releasing lever, means for supporting said first latch releasing lever between said plate members for coaxial pivoting movement relative to said latching lever, and wherein said first latch releasing lever is operable for moving said latching lever to said unlatched position in response to pivotal displacement of said first latch releasing lever about said coaxial pivot means; k. a second latch releasing lever supported between said plate means for coaxial pivotal movement relative to said first latch releasing lever and said latching lever, said second latch releasing lever being operable for effecting pivotal movement of said latching lever to said unlatched position; and l. a single spring means operatively associated with said latching lever, said first latch releasing lever and said second latch releasing lever for respectively biasing said latching lever to a latched position and for biasing said first and second latch releasing levers to inoperable position.

Claim 16

A quick release cargo tie-down device as defined in claim 11 further characterized in that said plate members include means for defining an internally threaded opening adjacent an opposite end from said block members, a complementary externally threaded hook member threadably received within said internally threaded opening, said means defining said internally threaded opening being selectively adjustable relative to said cargo tie-down device for varying the effective length of said hook means, and wherein said selectively adjustable means is operatively associated with said first latch releasing lever for maintaining said first latch releasing lever in an inoperable position, with said first latch releasing lever being operatively associated with said selectively adjustable means for maintaining said selectively adjustable means in a selected adjusted position.