Cargo tie-down gripping anchor assembly

Claim 2

In an aircraft cargo tie-down system having elongate track means for flexibility in stowing cargo and tie-down guy means for restraining cargo from shifting, an improved tie-down clamp means for releasably anchoring the guy means to the track means comprising: locating means having longitudinally extending hinge pin means and a transverse projection received by one of a plurality of openings in the track means, and being operable to position the clamp means longitudinally on the track means; a pair of gripping means, each gripping means being pivotally mounted on the hinge pin means, operable to laterally engage the track means, and operable to underlie a rail portion of the track means; and a pair of hook means, each hook means carried by a corresponding gripping means, extending above the corresponding gripping means and toward the other gripping means, having a bearing surface for partially supporting the guy means against movement, and operable to increase lateral force on the track means when tension increases in the guy means.

Claim 3

The aircraft cargo tie-down system of claim 1 wherein each gripping means includes a serrated edge portion for engagement with the track means, the serrated edge portion being operable to inhibit displacement of the clamp means with respect to the track means.

Claim 4

The aircraft cargo tie-down system of claim 1 wherein each hook means is integrally formed with the corresponding gripping means to aid the transfer of forces therebetween.

Claim 5

The aircraft cargo tie-down system of claim 3 wherein each hook means and the corresponding gripping means are integrally formed from a stamped blank to facilitate the economical production thereof.

Claim 6

The aircraft cargo tie-down system of claim 1 wherein each hook means is positioned closely adjacent the midline of the corresponding gripping means so that the pair of hook means are closely positioned to one another vertically above the locating means to reduce twisting moments resulting from tension in the guy means.

Claim 7

The cargo tie-down system of claim 1 wherein: the locating means also includes a center body means including a pair of generally parallel side portions and the hinge pin means; each of the gripping means is pivotally mounted adjacent to a corresponding side portion and has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being provided with gripping edge means; and the pair of hook means defining a guy-receiving opening above the center body means, each hook means carried by the upper portion of the corresponding gripping means, having the bearing surface contacting the guy means, and operable to urge the corresponding gripping edge means toward the other gripping edge means in response to a force exerted against the bearing surface by the guy means.

Claim 8

A tie-down anchor assembly comprising: locating means including a pair of generally parallel side portions, hinge pin means and having a transversely extending positioning projection; a pair of gripping means, each gripping means being pivotally mounted adjacent to a corresponding side portion of the locating means and having an edge portion operable to underlie the locating means while being spaced therefrom; and a pair of hook means cooperating with the locating means to define a guy-receiving opening above the locating means, each hook means carried by an upper portion of a corresponding gripping means, extending beyond the corresponding gripping means and toward the other gripping means, having a bearing surface, and operable to urge the corresponding edge portion toward the edge portion of the other gripping means in response to a force exerted by a guy against the bearing surface and operable to increase lateral force tending to move the edge portions together in response to an increase in the exerted force.

Claim 9

A tie-down anchor assembly comprising: locating means including a pair of generally parallel side portions, hinge pin means and having a transversely extending positioning projection; a pair of gripping means, each gripping means being pivotally mounted adjacent to a corresponding side portion of the locating means and having an edge portion operable to underlie the locating means while being spaced therefrom; and a pair of hook means cooperating with the locating means to define a guy-receiving opening above the locating means, each hook means carried by an upper portion of a corresponding gripping means, extending beyond the corresponding gripping means and toward the other gripping means, having a bearing surface, and operable to urge the corresponding edge portion toward the edge portion of the other gripping means in response to a force exerted by a guy against the bearing surface and operable to increase lateral force tending to move the edge portions together in response to an increase in the exerted force.

Claim 10

The anchor assembly of claim 7 wherein the locating means includes: an elongate, generally cylindrical center body means having a transverse bore with an axis and a pair of symmetrically disposed longitudinal bores spaced generally perpendicularly from the transverse bore axis; a generally cylindrical positioning pin received by the transverse bore and projecting outwardly from the center body means; and a plurality of hinge pins, each hinge pin being received by an end of a corresponding longitudinal bore.

Claim 11

The anchor assembly of claim 7 wherein each gripping means includes: a body portion substantially coextensive with the locating means having two ends, a lower edge and an upper edge; a pair of ears, each ear connected to a corresponding end of the body portion, extending toward the locating means and having an opening in which a corresponding hinge pin is disposed for pivotal mounting of the body portion with respect to the locating means; a gripping projection connected to the lower edge of the body portion, extending toward the locating means and having a serrated edge; and one of the hook means integrally connected adjacent to the midpoint of the upper edge and extending generally perpendicularly toward the locating means.

Claim 14

A cargo tie-down anchor comprising: a circularly cylindrical center body member having a transverse bore with a circularly cylindrical pin projecting outwardly therefrom for engaging a track, and a pair of longitudinal bores symmetrically spaced in a diametrical plane perpendicular to the transverse bore and having a hinge pin projecting outwardly from each end; a pair of members, each member having a body portion with an upper edge, a lower edge, and two ends, a pair of ears, each ear connected to a corresponding end of the body portion, extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, and having an opening in which one hinge pin is received to pivotally mount the body portion on the center body member, a serrated edge portion extending generally perpendicularly from the lower edge of the body portion in the same direction as the ears and spaced from the center body member to receive a track rail therebetween for lateral engagement below the rail portion thereof, and a hook connected to the upper edge of the body portion adjacent the midpoint thereof, generally perpendicularly extending on both sides of the plane of the body portion, extending beyond the upper edge of the body portion toward the other member, having a bearing surface and cooperating with other hook to define a guy-receiving opening in which a guy engages the bearing surface of each hook.

Claim 15

A cargo tie-down anchor comprising: a circularly cylindrical center body member having a transverse bore with a circularly cylindrical pin projecting outwardly therefrom for engaging a track, and a pair of longitudinal bores symmetrically spaced in a diametrical plane perpendicular to the transverse bore and having a hinge pin projecting outwardly from each end; a pair of members, each member having a body portion with an upper edge, a lower edge, and two ends, a pair of ears, each ear connected to a corresponding end of the body portion, extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, and having an opening in which one hinge pin is received to pivotally mount the body portion on the center body member, a serrated edge portion extending generally perpendicularly from the lower edge of the body portion in the same direction as the ears and spaced from the center body member to receive a track rail therebetween for lateral engagement below the rail portion thereof, and a hook connected to the upper edge of the body portion adjacent the midpoint thereof, generally perpendicularly extending on both sides of the plane of the body portion, extending beyond the upper edge of the body portion toward the other member, having a bearing surface and cooperating with other hook to define a guy-receiving opening in which a guy engages the bearing surface of each hook.