US3796404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for alternatively securing irregular cargo and standard shipping containers
Assignee: STATES STEAMSHIP CO
•
Filing: 1972-04-20
•
Granted: 1974-03-12
•
Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract Irregularly shaped and dimensioned cargo and standardized shipping containers are tied down to the deck of a vessel or the like by installing on deck a tie-down plate which has a first, cross-shaped cutout defined by opposing pairs of communicating cutout arms and a superimposed, substantially rectangular second cutout aligned with the first cutout. Irregular cargo is secured by placing a bulb hook in one of the cutout arms. The bulb hook has a cylindrical base of greater diameter than the width of the cutout arms, an integral shaft extending through the cutout arms and an angularly inclined arm that terminates in an eyelet to which tie-down rope, cable, chain, etc. is secured. For securing standard shipping containers a corner cone is inserted into the superimposed rectangular opening in the plate. An upwardly protruding portion of the cone engages a mating aperture in a corner fitting of the container. The corner cone can be locked to prevent vertical withdrawal of the cone while engaged with a container.
Inventors
- 👤 C Shields
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/06; B60P7/08; B60P7/0807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A system for securing cargo to a deck of a vessel or the like, the cargo including general, irreGularly dimensioned cargo and standardized shipping containers having corner fittings, the system comprising a plurality of tie-down plates secured to the deck above a recessed space in the deck to provide access to an underside of the plate, the plate having a first cross-shaped cutout defined by communicating opposing pairs of cutout arms and a second cutout superimposed on and axially aligned with the first cutout having a generally rectangular configuration and a width greater than a width of the cutout arms, a bulb hook defined by a base having a transverse dimension greater than the width of the cutout arms, an integral, perpendicular shaft extending from the base and having a diameter less than the width of the cutout arms, and an arm terminating in an eyelet integral with and angularly inclined less than 90* with respect to the shaft, and a container cone having a lower portion with a cross section permitting insertion of the cone into the second cutout and an upper portion projecting above the plate for engaging an aperture in a container corner fitting, whereby irregular cargo such as boxes, bales and the like is secured by positioning the base of the bulb hook in the space beneath the plate, sliding the bulb hook to an end of one of the arms and tying such cargo to the eyelet of the hook, and a standard shipping container is secured to the plate by inserting the lower portion of the cone in the second cutout and engaging the corner fitting of the container with the upper cone portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
280 words
A system for securing cargo to a deck of a vessel or the like, the cargo including general, irreGularly dimensioned cargo and standardized shipping containers having corner fittings, the system comprising a plurality of tie-down plates secured to the deck above a recessed space in the deck to provide access to an underside of the plate, the plate having a first cross-shaped cutout defined by communicating opposing pairs of cutout arms and a second cutout superimposed on and axially aligned with the first cutout having a generally rectangular configuration and a width greater than a width of the cutout arms, a bulb hook defined by a base having a transverse dimension greater than the width of the cutout arms, an integral, perpendicular shaft extending from the base and having a diameter less than the width of the cutout arms, and an arm terminating in an eyelet integral with and angularly inclined less than 90* with respect to the shaft, and a container cone having a lower portion with a cross section permitting insertion of the cone into the second cutout and an upper portion projecting above the plate for engaging an aperture in a container corner fitting, whereby irregular cargo such as boxes, bales and the like is secured by positioning the base of the bulb hook in the space beneath the plate, sliding the bulb hook to an end of one of the arms and tying such cargo to the eyelet of the hook, and a standard shipping container is secured to the plate by inserting the lower portion of the cone in the second cutout and engaging the corner fitting of the container with the upper cone portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the second cutout is symmetric with respect to the arm pairs of the first cutout.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the bulb hook base has a cylindrical configuration and a diameter greater than the width of the cutout arms, and wherein the base is concentric with the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the angle of inclination between the shaft and the bulb hook arm is between about 15* to about 45*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 1 including means defined by the lower portion permitting a limited rotation of the cone about an axis which is perpendicular to the plate, and means defined by the lower portion preventing withdrawal of the cone from the second cutout when the cone is rotated into one of the terminal positions of its rotational movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein the means preventing the cone withdrawal comprises a flange substantially parallel to the plate at an end of the lower portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A bulb hook for use with clover leaf type tie-down plates comprising a cylindrical base and a cylindrical shaft of a lesser diameter than the diameter of the base extending perpendicularly and concentrically from the base, an arm integrally constructed with the shaft and angularly inclined therefrom at an angle of less than 90*, and an eyelet integrally constructed with and disposed at a free end of the arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A bulb hook for use with clover leaf type tie-down plates comprising a cylindrical base and a cylindrical shaft of a lesser diameter than the diameter of the base extending perpendicularly and concentrically from the base, an arm integrally constructed with the shaft and angularly inclined therefrom at an angle of less than 90*, and an eyelet integrally constructed with and disposed at a free end of the arm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A bulb hook according to claim 7, wherein the angular inclination between the shaft and the arm is between about 15* to about 45*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A bulb hook according to claim 8 wherein the angle of inclination between the shaft and the arm is about 30*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
178 words
A clover leaf plate for installation in a floor of a shipping vehicle and for securing against movement irregular cargo and conventional shipping containers having corner fittings interengageable with container cones comprising a plate having a centrally located first cutout defined by at least two elongate cutout arms extending from a center of the plate in opposing directions and terminating in end portions of a given width, and a second, superimposed rectangular cutout impressed over the first cutout, the second cutout having a lesser length than the first cutout, the second cutout being defined by opposing, spaced apart sides of equal length which are parallel to the arms, the sides being further spaced apart at a distance greater than said given width so that the Plate can be used alternatively with a bulb hook protruding through the end portion of one of the arms and engaging part of the plate defining the end portion or with a standard shipping container cone extending through the second, superimposed rectangular cutout and engaging a portion of the plate defining the sides.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
178 words
A clover leaf plate for installation in a floor of a shipping vehicle and for securing against movement irregular cargo and conventional shipping containers having corner fittings interengageable with container cones comprising a plate having a centrally located first cutout defined by at least two elongate cutout arms extending from a center of the plate in opposing directions and terminating in end portions of a given width, and a second, superimposed rectangular cutout impressed over the first cutout, the second cutout having a lesser length than the first cutout, the second cutout being defined by opposing, spaced apart sides of equal length which are parallel to the arms, the sides being further spaced apart at a distance greater than said given width so that the Plate can be used alternatively with a bulb hook protruding through the end portion of one of the arms and engaging part of the plate defining the end portion or with a standard shipping container cone extending through the second, superimposed rectangular cutout and engaging a portion of the plate defining the sides.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arms have a width of about 1.75 inches and a length of about 8.25 inches, and wherein the rectangular cutout has a width of about 2.5 inches and a length of about 5.25 inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the plate is round and has a diameter of at least about 12 inches, wherein the cutout arms have a width of about 1 3/4 inches, wherein the rectangular cutout width is about 2.5 inches, and wherein the plate has a thickness of at least about 0.75 inches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2736272A
Cited
US2723631A
Cited
US2856866A
Cited
GB826457A
Cited
US3215390A
Cited
US3331333A
Cited
US3709156A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-11 | 1977-09-10 | 1978-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-11 | 1981-09-10 | 1982-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-11 | 1985-09-10 | 1986-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |