Abstract:
A retainer for a hoist ring mounted on an apparatus, comprising: a body; a fastener extending through the body and mountable to the apparatus; and an element to control rotation of the body. The element to control rotation of the body could be a friction member between the body and the fastener such as a spring.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/319,477, filed on Aug. 16, 2002, herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to hoist rings. Specifically, this invention relates to a retainer for securing a hoist ring in a stowed position.  
           [0003]    The placement of hoist rings on fixtures helps the transportation or handling of the fixtures. After such transportation or handling, however, the need for the hoist ring no longer exists. In fact, securing the hoist ring after such transportation or handling helps prevent damage to the fixture or nearby components during subsequent operations using the fixture.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    One embodiment of the present invention is a retainer for a hoist ring mounted on an apparatus, comprising: a body; a fastener extending through the body and mountable to the apparatus; and a means for controlling rotation of the body.  
           [0005]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a retainer for a hoist ring mounted on an apparatus, comprising: a body; a fastener extending through the body and mountable to the apparatus; and a friction member between the body and the fastener to control rotation of the body.  
           [0006]    Another embodiment of the present invention is a hoist ring assembly, comprising: a hoist ring mountable to an apparatus and movable between a deployed position and a stowed position; and a retainer adjacent the hoist ring for keeping the hoist ring in the stowed position. The retainer comprises: a body; a fastener extending through the body and mountable to the apparatus; and a friction member between the body and the fastener. The spring controls rotation of the body. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Other uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the specification and the drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one type of conventional hoist ring assembly;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  are perspective views of another type of conventional hoist ring assembly in a fully stowed and a partially stowed position, respectively;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are perspective views of one embodiment a hoist ring assembly of the present invention in a fully stowed and a partially stowed position, respectively; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hoist ring retainer of FIG. 3 a  taken along line IV-IV. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 displays a conventional hoist ring assembly  10 . The assembly  10  includes a base  11  that rotatably secures to a fixture F with a screw S or other suitable fastener. A hoist ring  13  pivotally mounts to the base  11  in a conventional manner. The ring  13  can pivot between a stowed position (adjacent the fixture F) and a deployed position (extending transversely from the fixture F)  
         [0013]    To transport or handle the fixture F, an operator pivots the ring  13  from the stowed position to the deployed position. This allows the operator to engage the ring  13  with a suitable lifting device such as a hoist (not shown).  
         [0014]    After transportation or handling, the operator stows the assembly  10  by returning the ring  13  to the stowed position and securing the ring  13  to the fixture F with a retainer. Specifically, the assembly uses a clip C mounted to the fixture F as the retainer. The clip C is typically a spring clip. These clips C, however, tend to break even under normal wear and tear. The broken clips C can produce sharp edges at the break. Most importantly, the broken clips C no longer serve to secure the ring  13  at the stowed position. Also, the ability of these clips C to retain the rings  13  decreases with time as the memory of the spring deteriorates.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  display another conventional hoist ring assembly  30 . Similar to the aforementioned assembly  10 , the assembly  30  includes a base  31  rotatably secured to a fixture F with a screw S or other suitable fastener. A hoist ring  33  pivotally mounts to the base  31  in a conventional manner.  
         [0016]    The assembly  30  also uses a retainer to secure the ring  33  to the fixture F. Specifically, the assembly  30  uses a rotatable arm  35 . A screw  37  retains the arm  35  against a bushing  39  mounted to the fixture F.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 a  displays the assembly  30  in a fully stowed configuration. To deploy the ring  33  for transporting or handling the fixture F, an operator must loosen the screw  37 , rotate the arm  35  to an inoperative position (i.e. within the perimeter of the ring  33 ), then tighten the screw  37  (so the arm  35  remains within the perimeter of the ring  33  and does not interfere with deployment of the ring  33 ). FIG. 2 b  shows the assembly  30  in a partially stowed position. From this partially stowed position, the operator can now pivot the ring  33  to the deployed position without interference from the retainer.  
         [0018]    After transporting or handling the fixture F, the operator must reverse the process. Namely, the operator must return the ring to the stowed position, loosen the screw  37 , rotate the arm  35  to an operative position over the ring  33 , then tighten the screw  37  (so the arm  35  remains over the ring  33 ). The assembly  30  is now in the arrangement show in FIG. 2 a . This process involves multiple steps and requires the operator to carry a hand tool, such as a hex wrench, to tighten and to loosen the screw  37 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  display one embodiment of a hoist ring assembly  50  of the present invention. The assembly  50  includes a base  51  rotatably secured to a fixture F with a suitable fastener, such as a screw S. A hoist ring  53  pivotally mounts to the base  31  in any known manner, such as with a pin  55 .  
         [0020]    The assembly  50  also uses a retainer to secure the ring  53  to the fixture F. Specifically, the assembly  50  uses a rotatable arm  57 . A shoulder screw  59  helps mount the arm  57  to the fixture F. The shoulder screw  59  bottoms out within a corresponding threaded blind hole in the fixture F. This creates a space between the shoulder screw  59  and the arm  57 . Differently than the aforementioned assembly  30 , the assembly uses an element that biases the arm  57  relative to the screw  59 . The assembly uses a spring  61  to span the space between the arm  57  and the shoulder screw  59 . The spring  61  could be a coil spring.  
         [0021]    As specifically seen in FIG. 4, the spring  61  locates between a head  63  of the screw  59  and a shoulder  65  within an opening  67  in the arm through which the screw  59  extends. The spring  61  biases the arm  57  away from a head  63  of the screw  59  and against the fixture F. The bias force created by the spring  61  is sufficient to control rotation of the arm  57 . In other words, the spring  61  frictionally retains the arm  57  against the fixture F to retain the arm  57  at any position during normal operation of the fixture F. If the assembly  50  requires additional biasing force to ensure the arm  57  does not rotate during operation of the fixture F, the operator could replace the spring  61  with a spring having a higher rated load (measured in pounds of force) by removing the screw  61 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 a  displays the assembly  50  in a fully stowed configuration. To deploy the ring  53  for transporting or handling the fixture F, the operator merely rotates the arm  57  to a position within the perimeter of the ring  53 . The operator can rotate the arm  57  without loosening the screw  59 . The operator applies a force to the arm  57  sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring  61 . FIG. 3 b  shows the assembly  50  in a partially stowed position. In this partially stowed position, the operator can now pivot the ring  53  to the deployed position for engaging the hoist.  
         [0023]    After transporting or handling the fixture F, the operator reverses the process. Namely, the operator places the ring  53  against the fixture, then rotates the arm  57  to a position over the ring  53 .  
         [0024]    The present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures. It is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.