US3841235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wheeled vehicle tie-down device
Assignee: Amsted Industries Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-05
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A tie-down apparatus for securing a normally movable structure to a supporting structure includes a winch mounted on one of the structures and having a rotatable drum from which elongated tying elements extend in opposite directions. The tying elements are connected to the other structure and then the winch drum is turned to bring the tying elements taut, thus securing the movable structure firmly to the supporting structure. Among other applications, the tie-down device may be used to secure automobiles to transport vehicles or mobile homes to the pads on which they rest.
Inventors
- 👤 C Wheeler
- 👤 N Freebourn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/07; B60P3/073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A tie-down apparatus for securing a wheeled vehicle to a supporting structure in a fixed position on the supporting structure, said apparatus comprising: a winch supported on the supporting structure and having a rotatable drum; idler units fastened to the supporting structure near the sides of the wheeled vehicle, two elongated tying elements wound around the winch drum in the same direction so that when the winch drum is turned both tying elements will either wind further around the drum or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation of the drum, one of the tying elements being engaged with the idler unit at one side of the wheeled vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom to the wheeled vehicle to which it connects, the other tying element being engaged with the idler unit at the opposite side of the wheeled vehicle and extended upwardly therefrom to the wheeled vehicle to which it connects, and means for equalizing the forces applied to the tying elements, whereby when the winch drum is turned such that the tying elements wind around it, the wheeled vehicle is secured firmly to the supporting structure with substantially equal tiedown forces applied thereto by the tying elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A tie-down apparatus for securing a wheeled vehicle to a supporting structure in a fixed position on the supporting structure, said apparatus comprising: a winch supported on the supporting structure and having a rotatable drum; idler units fastened to the supporting structure near the sides of the wheeled vehicle, two elongated tying elements wound around the winch drum in the same direction so that when the winch drum is turned both tying elements will either wind further around the drum or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation of the drum, one of the tying elements being engaged with the idler unit at one side of the wheeled vehicle and extending upwardly therefrom to the wheeled vehicle to which it connects, the other tying element being engaged with the idler unit at the opposite side of the wheeled vehicle and extended upwardly therefrom to the wheeled vehicle to which it connects, and means for equalizing the forces applied to the tying elements, whereby when the winch drum is turned such that the tying elements wind around it, the wheeled vehicle is secured firmly to the supporting structure with substantially equal tiedown forces applied thereto by the tying elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tying elements are wire ropes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for equalizing forces applied to the tying elements includes a base on which the drum rotates, and the base pivots relative to the supporting structure at a location offset from the axis of rotation for the drum on the base so that the tension in each of the tying elements equalizes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for equalizing the forces in the tying elements is part of the winch and includes a base which pivots about a vertical axis fixed with respect to the supporting structure and the drum which is carried by the base and rotates about a vertical axis which is fixed with respect to the base and is offset from the axis about which the base pivots so that the tension in each of the tying elements will equalize.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 4 wherein parallel tie-down tracks are mounted on the supporting structure with the spacing between the tracks being such that the wheeled vehicle will straddle both tracks; and wherein the idler units are shiftable along the tracks and can be locked in selected positions on the tracks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the winch is located between the tracks; and wherein guide means are located adjacent to the tracks, the tying elements passing around the guide means and thence along the tracks to the idler units where they turn upwardly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A tie-down apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each wire rope at the end thereof located on the winch drum has an enlargement thereon; and wherein the winch drum comprises: a pair of generally circular end plates, and a hub separating the end plates, the hub having at least one slot sized to accommodate the wire rope but not the enlargement, at least one of the end plates having an opening which exposes the edge of the hub and the end of the slot therein and is large enough to enable the enlargement to be withdrawn from the space between the two plates and reinserted into the interior of the hub so that the wire rope will extend through the slot but will be retained therein by the enlargement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tie-down device according to claim 6 wherein the guide means are sheaves which rotate about vertical axes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a vehicle transporter having a deck onto which wheeled vehicles are driven, a pair of tie-down tracks extended along and secured to the deck with the spacing between the tracks being such that the wheeled vehicles straddle both tracks, and idler units movable along the tracks and capable of being locked to the tracks at selected positions along the tracks; the improvement comprising: a winch positioned on the deck between the tracks thereon and having a rotatable drum, two wire ropes wound around the drum in the same direction so that when the rotatable drum is turned, both ropes will either wind further around the drum or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation, the ropes being extended from the drum to the idler units with the one rope extending through the idler unit on one track and the other rope extending through the idler unit on the other track, the ropes thereafter extending upwardly and being connected to the wheeled vehicle so that the wheeled vehicle will be secured to the deck, and means for equalizing the forces applied to the wire ropes so that equal tie-down forces may be applied to both sides of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
203 words
In a vehicle transporter having a deck onto which wheeled vehicles are driven, a pair of tie-down tracks extended along and secured to the deck with the spacing between the tracks being such that the wheeled vehicles straddle both tracks, and idler units movable along the tracks and capable of being locked to the tracks at selected positions along the tracks; the improvement comprising: a winch positioned on the deck between the tracks thereon and having a rotatable drum, two wire ropes wound around the drum in the same direction so that when the rotatable drum is turned, both ropes will either wind further around the drum or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation, the ropes being extended from the drum to the idler units with the one rope extending through the idler unit on one track and the other rope extending through the idler unit on the other track, the ropes thereafter extending upwardly and being connected to the wheeled vehicle so that the wheeled vehicle will be secured to the deck, and means for equalizing the forces applied to the wire ropes so that equal tie-down forces may be applied to both sides of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The structure according to claim 9 wherein the means for equalizing the forces in the wire ropes is part of the winch and includes a base which supports the winch drum and pivots about a vertical axis fixed in position with respect to the deck, the vertical axis being offset from the axis of rotation for the drum, whereby when the wire ropes are wound around the drums the tnesion in the wire ropes will equalize.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
174 words
A tie-down apparatus for securing normally movable structure to a supporting structure in a fixed position on the supporting structure without varying the position of the supported structure on the supporting structure, said tie-down apparatus comprising: a winch supported on one of the structures and having a rotatable drum and locking means for securing the drum in selected angular positions, the locking means being releasable to permit the drum to turn; two elongated tying elements wound around the winch drum and extended therefrom in opposite directions, the tying elements being wound around the drum in the same direction so that when the drum is turned, both tying elements will either wind further around or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation, the ends of the elongated tying elements being connected to the other structure so that when the winch drum is turned such that the tying elements become taut the normally movable structure is secured firmly to the supporting structure, and means for equalizing the forces in the tying elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
174 words
A tie-down apparatus for securing normally movable structure to a supporting structure in a fixed position on the supporting structure without varying the position of the supported structure on the supporting structure, said tie-down apparatus comprising: a winch supported on one of the structures and having a rotatable drum and locking means for securing the drum in selected angular positions, the locking means being releasable to permit the drum to turn; two elongated tying elements wound around the winch drum and extended therefrom in opposite directions, the tying elements being wound around the drum in the same direction so that when the drum is turned, both tying elements will either wind further around or pay out from the drum, depending on the direction of rotation, the ends of the elongated tying elements being connected to the other structure so that when the winch drum is turned such that the tying elements become taut the normally movable structure is secured firmly to the supporting structure, and means for equalizing the forces in the tying elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tie-down device according to claim 11 wherein the elongated tying elements change direction intermediate the winch drum and said other surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tie-down device according to claim 12 wherein the means for equalizing the forces in the tying elements includes a mounting plate on which the winch drum rotates and a pivot about which the mounting plate rotatEs, the pivot being secured to the structure on which the winch is mounted with its pivot axis offset from the axis of the drum, but parallel thereto; and wherein guides are mounted on the mounting plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |