Abstract:
An improved spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus for rope and the like, made of a main housing, a spline, a push spring, a carriage, a self locking damp, a return spring and a pivot pin whereby a load or the like, will be significantly more secure than the manual knot-tying.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/161,698, filed Oct. 26, 1999, and entitled “Spring Loaded And Latchable Stake Pocket Tie Down Apparatus.” The applicant also filed the U.S. application Ser. No. 09/513,728, filed on Feb. 24, 2000, entitled “Self Locking Device.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to an improved spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus for securing various materials and, more particularly, spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus including a base portion with a cavity space and a self locking damp portion that pivots within the cavity in which ropes, flat webbing, or the like, can be secured. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A variety of devices exist for securing ropes, cables, and the like. These devices are restricted to either rope or flat webbing, such as straps. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,873 (issued to Madias, I.) discloses a self-locking cleat for rope, in which a rotatable spherically shaped member secures a rope in a spacing of a base member. The spherically shaped member rotates in the base member to create the spacing for the rope. An extended arm attached to the shaped member allows it to pivot. 
     Because the device is normally used for heavy duty towing, such as being used on a truck, the rope is dragged by a strong force. Any edges on the device that are in contact with the rope can potentially damage the rope. Prior designs of the device have edges on the spherical member that cuts ropes during the pulling. Because of the sharp edge of the spherically shaped member, this device often damages the rope preventing the rope from being reused. 
     After the spherically shaped member engages the rope for a heavy drag, the rope is stuck in the spacing, and is difficult to release. Because the arm is a thin rod, a person may not be able to release the locking with bare hand, working against such a thin rod. If a tool such as a hammer is used to release the locking, the thin rod protruding from the base may be broken when strong force is applied. The current available device does not allow easy release from the locking. 
     Also, these previous designs are limited to the securing of rope only and does not work well with straps. In addition, some of the designs have the arm protruding out from the side of the base. A rope that is tied to the base may accidentally move the arm and cause the rope to release. 
     Furthermore, because the rope is inserted into a passageway, the pulling is normally limited to a direction of the passageway. The rope does not adjust naturally when an object is towed from a different angle. 
     Still furthermore, the existing devices are attached to their respective attachment surfaces in a stationary manner such that these devices permanently protrude outward from the surfaces and potentially cause objects to get entangled with the devices and otherwise interfere with the overall aesthetics of the objects to which the devices are attached. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to make an improved spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus that does not cut ropes during the pulling, prevents accidental release, adjusts well from different pulling angles, is easy to be released after pulling, and is capable of being hidden below attachment surfaces while not in use and easily extends out when ready for use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the objective of the present invention to provide a spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus that: (1) is capable of securing a variety of tying materials; (2) is simple to use; (3) makes tying loads, or the like, safer for transportation on the roads as well as minimizing litter; (4) is capable of being hidden below its attachment surface while not in use and easily extends out when ready for use; and (5) possesses sufficient strength thanks to the materials that make up the apparatus parts. 
     In the present invention, the apparatus comprises a main housing that has a top housing surface and a bottom housing surface. A spline is securely connected within the housing on the bottom housing surface by a stopper, and a push spring encases the spline. 
     The apparatus also has a carriage that has a substantially semi-round, cylindrically shaped cavity with grooves formed therein. This carriage is attached to the spline. A carriage lock is located on the housing which allows the carriage to automatically spring up upon being unlocked, and which allows the carriage to remain within the housing when being locked. 
     The apparatus also has a damp which rotates around a pivot pin connecting the damp embedded within a cavity of a carriage. One pivot position of the damp creates an opening between the clamp and carriage. A rope, strap, or the like can be inserted in the opening created by the pivot position. A return spring connecting the damp and carriage causes the clamp to engage the rope material securing the rope within the opening of the carriage. 
    
    
     A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus in accordance with the present invention, having the clamp in the open position and resting in a vertically extended position, allowing the unit to be in the operating position and ready for use. 
     FIGS. 1.1 and  1 . 2  are perspective views of one embodiment of the invention in its popped upstate. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded showing the components of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1 is the perspective view of one embodiment of the spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus according to the present invention that is adapted to be attached to surfaces such as railings, luggage racks, and truck beds, shown in its pushed down state. As depicted in the perspective view, the present apparatus includes a main housing  10  with a rectangular shape that conceals the apparatus when not in use. A carriage lock  20  is shown locking a carriage  40  containing a damp  50 , and the carriage  40  is hidden within a carriage opening  37  and below a top housing surface  12 . 
     FIG. 1.1 is the perspective view of one embodiment of the spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus according to the present invention, shown in its popped up state. A carriage lock  20 , when shifted to the open position, releases a push spring  30 , laterally moving a carriage  40  to above the main housing  10 . This vertical position exposes the carriage  40  and a clamp  50  above the top housing surface  12 , while the carriage  40  is secured snugly within the carriage opening  37 . Clamp  50  is pivotally attached to carriage  40  by a pivot pin  70 . Here, a top surface  51  of clamp  50  is shown in its down state, such that the clamp  50  is closed with respect to the carriage  40 . 
     FIG. 1.2 is the perspective view of one embodiment of the spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus according to the present invention, shown in its popped up state. A carriage lock  20 , when shifted to the open position, releases a push spring  30 , laterally moving a carriage  40  to above the main housing  10 . This vertical position exposes the carriage  40  and a damp  50  above the top housing surface  12 , while the carriage  40  is secured snugly within the carriage opening  37 . Clamp  50  is pivotally attached to carriage  40  by a pivot pin  70 . Here, a top surface  51  of clamp  50  is shown in its up state, such that the clamp  50  is open with respect to the carriage  40 , and serrations  47  can be seen. 
     In FIG. 2, an exploded view showing the various components of this preferred embodiment is provided. As previously shown, the device includes the generally rectangular shaped main housing  10  that may be secured to surfaces such as truck beds. On a top housing surface  12  of the main housing  10  is located the carriage lock  20  for locking and concealing the carriage  40  below the top housing surface  12  when the apparatus is not in use. The carriage  40  is supported by a spline  32  that is encased by the push spring  30  and inserted into a push spring housing  35 , such that the spline  32  is securely connected to the main housing  10 . A rectangular shaped stopper  80  is mounted onto a bottom surface  14  of the main housing  10  to prevent the push spring  30  from extending past the bottom housing surface  14  of the housing  10 . The carriage  40  generally has a bottom surface  41  that is flat with two sides  43 ,  44  (shown in FIG. 3) that extend upwards from the bottom surface  41 , forming a cavity for the clamp  50 . The bottom surface of the cavity is characterized by serrations  47 . Also, holes  45 ,  46  on the sides  44 ,  43 , respectively, allow a pivot pin  70  to be inserted across both sides. The clamp  50  generally has a top surface  51  with an extended tab  56  to rotate the clamp around the pivot pin  70 . Holes  52  and  54  on each side of the clamp  50  allow for the insertion of the pivot pin  70 . The bottom surface  58  of the clamp is semi-spherically shaped with the surface having serrations, like the bottom surface of the cavity of the carriage  47 . A return spring  60 , which connects the clamp  50  and carriage  40  allows the clamp  50  to shift between an open and dosed position. 
     In FIG. 3, another exploded view showing the various components of this preferred embodiment is provided. As previously shown, the device includes the generally rectangular shaped main housing  10  that may be secured to surfaces such as truck beds. Within a carriage lock track  25  contained in a top housing surface  12  of the main housing  10  is located the carriage lock  20  for locking and concealing the carriage  40  below the top housing surface  12  when the apparatus is not in use. The carriage  40  is supported by a spline  32  that is encased by the push spring  30 . A rectangular shaped stopper  80  is mounted onto a bottom surface  14  of the main housing  10  to prevent the push spring  30  from extending past the bottom housing surface  14  of the housing  10 . The carriage  40  generally has a bottom surface  41  that is flat with two sides  43  (shown in FIG.  2 ),  44  that extend upwards from the bottom surface  41 , forming a cavity for the clamp  50 . The bottom surface of the cavity is characterized by serrations  47 . Also, to holes  45 ,  46  on the sides  44 ,  43 , respectively, allow a pivot pin  70  to be inserted across both sides, The damp  50  generally has a top surface  51  with an extended tab  56  to rotate the clamp around the pivot pin  70 . Holes  52  and  54  on each side of the clamp  50  allow for the insertion of the pivot pin  70 . The bottom surface  58  of the damp is semi-spherically shaped with the surface having serrations, like the bottom surface of the cavity of the carriage  47 . A return spring  60 , with its one end fitting into a return spring retainer hole  55 , connects the clamp  50  and carriage  40  and allows the clamp  50  to shift between an open and closed position. 
     The spring loaded and latchable stake pocket tie down apparatus of the present invention is extremely strong in its tensile strength thanks to the type of materials that make up the parts. In a preferred embodiment, the parts of the apparatus, including but not limited to the spline, the main housing, the clamp, and the carriage, can be made of an aluminum, thus providing a tensile strength of about 20,000 psi for the entire apparatus. In another embodiment, the parts can be made of stainless steel, in which case the tensile strength is roughly 40-45,000 psi. In yet another embodiment if the parts of the apparatus are made of titanium, the tensile is over 60,000 psi.