Deck socket assembly

Claim 2

A socket and an attachment fitting assembly for securing a member such as cargo to a support, the support having a substantially flat upper surface, the combination which comprises: a. a socket member adapted to be secured to said support including a body member having an upper surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the support; b. a generally arcuate peripheral flange projecting upwardly from the body member; c. at least two arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at a generally acute angle to the upper surface of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced radially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of a central conical axis associated with any other lug; d. an attachment fitting adapted for rotatable attachment to the socket member and having a body member having a lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said socket member when the attachment fitting is positioned in face-to-face relation with the socket member; and e. at least two arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said body member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto-conical surface substantially identical to the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at a generally acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, and being correspondingly configured and positioned such that when the attachment fitting is placed in face-to-face relation with said socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the attachment fitting are positioned between the lugs of said socket member and said attachment fitting is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surface of each lug of the attachment fitting is in face-to-face relation with the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member thereby providing axial locking between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member.

Claim 3

The socket member and attachment fitting assembly for securing a member such as cargo to a support according to claim 1 wherein said socket member is adapted to be secured to a support deck and includes four of said arcuate legs positioned and equally spaced along the periphery of said flange and the attachment fitting includes four of said arcuate mating lugs on said body member, said lugs being equally spaced and corresponding in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs on saiD deck socket member.

Claim 4

A deck socket and fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the attachment fitting includes a stacker key defining an aperture lengthwise of the fitting, an elongated holding pin configured to be positioned within said aperture, said pin having means for securely positioning the container to a base support while being restrained from movement out of the aperture of the attachment fitting.

Claim 5

A deck socket and fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the fitting includes a D-ring having an opening including a central internal protuberance, said opening being configured to receive a lashing hook member therein on one side of the protuberance such that the pull of the lashing is held off-center by the protuberance thereby holding said lugs in engagement.

Claim 6

A deck socket and fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the fitting includes a D-ring and a latching lever, said lever being pivoted on said fitting to lockingly engage said socket member and prevent relative rotation between the members which would release the fitting from the socket member.

Claim 7

A deck socket and attachment fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the attachment fitting includes at least one off-center chain link socket configured to receive a lashing chain having links with at least one arcuate end portion, said sockets being configured to define a lengthwise substantially vertical gap dividing the socket into two half sections to receive a vertical chain link and a substantially horizontal gap through the central portion of the socket substantially parallel to the deck, the inner portion having an arcuate configuration so as to engageably receive a horizontal chain link interlocked with the vertical chain link, such that the direction of pull of the lashing chain combines with the off-center location of the chain link socket so as to prevent relative rotation of the attachment fitting which would release the fitting from the deck socket.

Claim 8

A deck socket and attachment fitting assembly according to claim 6 in which the attachment fitting includes four of said off-center chain link sockets equally spaced 90 degress apart on the fitting and each being oriented perpendicularly to adjacent chain link sockets so as to facilitate lashing in several directions whereby the total lashing forces combined with the off-center location of the sockets tend to prevent relative rotation which would release the fitting from the socket member.

Claim 9

A deck socket and attachment fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the attachment fitting includes one of an S and reversed-S shaped lashing hook receiving member having at least two reversed off-center open arcuate sections including arcuate inner surface portions configured to receive a lashing hook, the hook having a stem, a curved hooking portion attached to the upper part of the stem, and a substantially cylindrical anchor member perpendicularly affixed to the lower end of the stem such that when the cylindrical member is positioned within a hook receiving section of the hook receiving member, the stem of the hook is engageably nestled within one of the off-center arcuate inner surface portions and the hooking portion may be used for lashing.

Claim 10

A deck socket and attachment fitting assembly according to claim 8 in which the attachment fitting engageably receives two oppositely positioned spaced apart lashing hooks so as to facilitate lashing in several directions whereby the total lashing forces combined with the off-center location of the lashing hooks prevent relative rotation which would release the fitting from the socket member.

Claim 11

A deck socket and attachment fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the deck socket has two superposed series of said arcuate lugs, the respective lugs of each of said series being in vertical alignment, and said attachment fitting also has two superposed series of said arcuate lugs with the individual lugs of each series in vertical alignment, The lugs of the upper series on said fitting interlocking with the upper series lugs on the deck socket and the lugs of the lower series on said fitting interlocking simultaneously with the corresponding lower series on the deck socket.

Claim 12

A deck socket and fitting assembly according to claim 2 in which the upstanding flange of the deck socket has an upper surface which is substantially flush with the upper surface of the support member.

Claim 13

A socket and an attachment fitting assembly for securing a member such as cargo to a support, the support having a substantially flat upper surface, the combination which comprises: a. a socket member adapted to be secured to said support including a body member having an upper surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the support; b. a generally arcuate peripheral flange projecting upwardly from the body member; c. at least two arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at a generally acute angle to the upper surface of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced radially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of a central conical axis associated with any other lug; d. an attachment fitting adapted for rotatable attachment to the socket member and having a body member having a lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said socket member when the attachment fitting is positioned in face-to-face relation with the socket member; e. at least two arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said body member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto-conical surface substantially equal to the surface of each mating lug of the socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at a generally acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, each lug further being correspondingly configured and positioned such that when the attachment fitting is placed in face-to-face relation with said socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the attachment fitting are positioned between the lugs of said socket member and said attachment fitting is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surface of each lug of the attachment fitting is in face-to-face relation with the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member thereby providing axial locking between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member; and f. at least one off-center chain link socket configured to receive a lashing chain having links with at least one arcuate end portion, said socket being configured to define a lengthwise substantially vertical gap dividing the link socket into two half sections to receive a vertical chain link said link socket defining a substantially horizontal gap through the central portion of the socket substantially parallel to the body member, an inner end portion thereof being arcuately configured to engageably receive a horizontal chain link interlocked with the vertical chain link.

Claim 14

A socket and an attachment fitting assembly for securing a member such as cargo to a support, the support having a substantially flat upper surface, the combination which comprises: a. a socket member adapted to be secured to said support including a body member having an upper surface generally parallel to the upper surface of the support; b. a generally arcuate peripheral flange projecting upwardly from the body member; c. at least two arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at a generally acute angle to the upper surface of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced radially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of a central conical axis associated with any other lug; d. an attachment fitting adapted for rotatable attachment to the socket member and having a body member having a lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said socket member when the attachment fitting is positioned in face-to-face relation with the socket member; e. at least two arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said body member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto-conical surface substantially equal to the surface of each mating lug of the socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at a generally acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, each lug further being correspondingly configured and positioned such that when the attachment fitting is placed in face-to-face relation with said socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the attachment fitting are positioned between the lugs of said socket member and said attachment fitting is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surface of each lug of the attachment fitting is in face-to-face relation with the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member thereby providing axial locking between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member; and f. at least one off-center chain link socket configured to receive a lashing chain having links with at least one arcuate end portion, said socket being configured to define a lengthwise substantially vertical gap dividing the link socket into two half sections to receive a vertical chain link said link socket defining a substantially horizontal gap through the central portion of the socket substantially parallel to the body member, an inner end portion thereof being arcuately configured to engageably receive a horizontal chain link interlocked with the vertical chain link.

Claim 15

A deck attachment fitting assembly according to claim 12 in which the attachment fitting includes four of said off-center link sockets equally spaced 90* apart on the fitting and each being oriented perpendicularly to adjacent chain link sockets so as to facilitate lashing in several directions.

Claim 16

A deck socket member and attachment fitting assembly which comprises a socket member having a body member having an upper surface portion and a generally circular peripheral flange extending upwardly from the upper surface and defining an opening in its upper face, at least four arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at an acute angle to the upper surface portion of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced radially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of the central conical axis associated with any other lug, an attachment fitting adapted for rotatable attachment to the deck socket member and having a body member having a lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said deck socket member when the attachment fitting is positioned in face-to-face relation with the deck socket member, at least four arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said body member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, number, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto conical surface substantially identical to the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at a generally acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said upper edge being spaced from the center of rotation of the body member less than the lower edge, each lug being correspondingly configured and positioned such that when the attachment fitting is placed in face-to-face relation with said socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the attachment fitting are positioned between the lugs of said socket member and said attachment fitting is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the attachment fitting are in face-to-face relation to the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the socket member thereby providing axial locking forces between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member.

Claim 17

A deck socket member and attachment fitting assembly which comprises a socket member having a body member having an upper surface portion and a generally circular peripheral flange extending upwardly from the upper surface and defining an opening in its upper face, at least four arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at an acute angle to the upper surface portion of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced radially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of the central conical axis associated with any other lug, an attachment fitting adapted for rotatable attachment to the deck socket member and having a body member having a lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said deck socket member when the attachment fitting is positioned in face-to-face relation with the deck socket member, at least four arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said body member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, number, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto conical surface substantially identical to the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug of the socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at a generally acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said upper edge being spaced from the center of rotation of the body member less than the lower edge, each lug being correspondingly configured and positioned such that when the attachment fitting is placed in face-to-face relation with said socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the attachment fitting are positioned between the lugs of said socket member and said attachment fitting is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the attachment fitting are in face-to-face relation to the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the socket member thereby providing axial locking forces between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member.

Claim 18

A deck socket and cover assembly which comprises: a. a deck socket member adapted to be secured to a support member including a body member having an upper surface portion generally parallel to the upper surface of the support member; b. a generally arcuate peripheral flange projecting upwardly from the body member; c. at least two arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at an acute angle to the upper surface of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced redially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of a central conical axis associated with any other lug; d. a cover member adapted for rotatable attachment to the deck socket member and having a flat base member having a Lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said deck socket member when the cover member is positioned in face-to-face relation with the deck socket member and a substantially flat upper surface portion which is substantially continuous with the upper surface of said flange member of said deck socket member when said cover member is so positioned; and e. at least two arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said base member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said deck socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto-conical surface substantially equal to the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug on the deck socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said upper edge being spaced from the center of rotation of the base member less than the lower edge, said lugs corresponding at least in number, configuration and position with the lugs of the deck socket member such that when the cover member is placed in face-to-face relation with said deck socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the cover member are positioned between the lugs of said deck socket member and said cover member is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the cover member are in face-to-face relation to the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the deck socket member thereby providing axial locking forces between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member.

Claim 19

A deck socket and cover assembly which comprises: a. a deck socket member adapted to be secured to a support member including a body member having an upper surface portion generally parallel to the upper surface of the support member; b. a generally arcuate peripheral flange projecting upwardly from the body member; c. at least two arcuate lugs projecting inwardly from said flange and positioned in spaced relationship along the periphery thereof, each of said lugs having an arcuate edge and a frusto-conical surface extending outwardly and downwardly at an acute angle to the upper surface of the body member to define a lower arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said lower edge being spaced from the center of said flange a greater radial distance than the upper edge, said frusto-conical surface of each lug being generated about a central conical axis spaced redially from the center of the socket member a distance substantially equal to the radial spacing of a central conical axis associated with any other lug; d. a cover member adapted for rotatable attachment to the deck socket member and having a flat base member having a Lower surface portion substantially parallel to the body member of said deck socket member when the cover member is positioned in face-to-face relation with the deck socket member and a substantially flat upper surface portion which is substantially continuous with the upper surface of said flange member of said deck socket member when said cover member is so positioned; and e. at least two arcuate lugs extending downwardly from said base member, said lugs corresponding at least in thickness, spacing and configuration with the lugs of said deck socket member, each lug having a lower arcuate edge and frusto-conical surface substantially equal to the frusto-conical surface of the mating lug on the deck socket member and being generated about a conical axis substantially identical to the axis of the mating lug, said surface extending from the lower edge upwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the lower surface of the body member to define an upper arcuate edge at the intersection therewith, said upper edge being spaced from the center of rotation of the base member less than the lower edge, said lugs corresponding at least in number, configuration and position with the lugs of the deck socket member such that when the cover member is placed in face-to-face relation with said deck socket member in one of a plurality of relative positions, the lugs on the cover member are positioned between the lugs of said deck socket member and said cover member is rotatable to a second position in which the members become interlocked and the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the cover member are in face-to-face relation to the frusto-conical surfaces of the lugs of the deck socket member thereby providing axial locking forces between the members due to the interlocking surface-to-surface engagement of the correspondingly positioned lugs of each member.