Patent ID: 7021596
Filing Date: 2006-04-04
Classification: B60P,B64D,F16B

Abstract:
1. A quick-release fitting for securing a mounting flange of a piece of equipment to a section of channel, the channel having an upper surface, an inverted T-shaped interior cross-section opening through the upper surface, and a plurality of circular cutouts extending from the upper surface of the channel into the interior of the channel at regularly-spaced intervals along a longitudinal axis of the channel, said quick-release fitting comprising: a lower jaw member having a beveled upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of said lower jaw being adapted to bear against the upper surface of the channel, the lower surface of said lower jaw further including a locating dowel having a partially circular cross section projecting downward therefrom adapted to engage one of said plurality of circular cutouts, the beveled upper surface of said lower jaw adapted to bear against the lower surface of the mounting flange; an upper jaw member disposed above said lower jaw member, said upper jaw member having an upper surface and a beveled lower surface adapted to bear against an upper surface of the mounting flange; a cam member located adjacent to said locating dowel; said cam member having a generally inverted T-shaped profile, comprising a stem of generally cylindrical shape and a pair of radially extending arms having upper surfaces that slope outwardly and downwardly, the upper surfaces of the arms being adapted to provide a camming action against a lower surface of the interior cross-section of the channel as said cam member is rotated from a first position in which the arms of the cam member extend in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel, to a second position in which the arms of the cam member extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel to engage the upper surface of the interior cross-section of the channel, the stem of said cam member passing through corresponding openings in said upper jaw member and said lower jaw member, said cam member further including a collar having a bearing surface that bears against the upper surface of said upper jaw member; and a bell crank member extending radially from the stem of the cam member for applying a torque to the stem of the cam member, whereby as said cam member is rotated by application of a force to said bell crank member, the upper surfaces of the radially extending arms engage the lower surface of the interior cross-section of the channel thereby drawing the lower jaw member against the channel locking the locating dowel into the circular cutout and simultaneously drawing together the upper and lower jaw members to lock the equipment mounting flange between the beveled surfaces of the upper and lower jaw members, thereby securing the equipment mounting flange to the channel while still permitting the equipment mounting flange to rock between the beveled surfaces of the upper and lower jaw members.