Abstract:
A tie down apparatus for pinching a rope within a hollow channel via single-hand manipulation of an ergonomic tie down handle. A plunger lock contains a pinching surface which is drawn into the hollow channel via cam-action rotating handle. The plunger lock contains a threaded surface to allow variable sized rope access, so as to work with a number of different ropes and webbings. An optional lock or set of locks serve to secure tie down in locked position.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application includes subject matter disclosed in and claims priority to a provisional application entitled “Tie Down Mechanism” filed Mar 13, 2015 and assigned Ser. No. 62/132,664 describing an invention made by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to tie-down mechanisms in general. More specifically, the present invention deals with single-hand operable loop tie downs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The Shelter Tie-Down unit was designed to replace the dog bone for a rapid deployment equipment and mobile tactical shelters used by the U.S. Military and FEMA to enhance mobilization. It is preferably made of a glass-filled nylon and is shaped to fit in the grooves of your hand making it a true hand grip tie-down. 
         [0004]    The Shelter Tie-Down may be used as a single barrel or double barrel to suit any need and can even be modified to become a traditional tie-down with over 1,000 lbs of holding capacity. 
         [0005]    The tie-down mechanism utilizes a wedge lock design on a line of rope, webbing, or the like to make the line adjustable length and tie down objects for securement in an ergonomic shape contoured to the user&#39;s hand and improve ease of use. 
         [0006]    The tie down mechanism can be constructed of molded plastics, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, carbon fiber, or any other materials robust enough to withstand high weight limits and extreme pressure. The tie down consists of four parts: a housing body, a plunger/lock, a handle, and a barrel nut or pin to secure the parts together. 
         [0007]    The housing body contains two holes: one to, attach the rope, webbing, or the like [body anchor point], and one as a body finger hold to grip the mechanism. Above the two holes is one or more horizontal shafts [body barrel] running the length of the body for rope, webbing or the like to be inserted in one end and exit out the other side. Near the opposite edge of the two holes is a vertical shaft [body plunger shaft] for the plunger to be inserted. An optional lock can be included which locks the plunger/lock in place, preventing movement until released. 
         [0008]    The plunger/lock can be comprised of the same material as the body housing and contains one hole for each shaft in the body housing. Below the hole(s) is a plunger long arm for connection to the handle. The plunger can be smooth or threaded for adjustment to the diameter of the horizontal shaft. 
         [0009]    The handle can be comprised of the same material as the body housing and/or the plunger and contains a hole to grip the mechanism and a smaller hole for pin or barrel nut to attach the handle to the plunger, and act as an axis of rotation. On one end of the handle are two protrusions that surround the plunger, each with a small hole that align with a small hole in the plunger. A barrel nut or pin is inserted through both sides of the handle and plunger to connect the two parts. The handle can be any length, short with only a finger hole, longer for additional leverage in tensioning, or adjustable length and is shaped to fit the contours of the hand holding it. 
         [0010]    The pin or barrel nut can be comprised of steel, stainless steel, or any material robust enough to withstand the forces placed upon it. A pin is used for non-adjustable diameter of the housing body shaft(s) and a threaded barrel nut and threaded plunger would be used for adjustable diameter of the housing body shaft(s) to accommodate different sizes of rope, webbing, or the like. The pin or barrel nut are inserted through one side of the handle, through the plunger, and terminating at the other side of the handle and is a permanent or semi-permanent attachment. Rope, webbing, or the like is attached to the body anchor point and is inserted through the body barrel and terminating through the other end. The terminal point of the rope, webbing, or the like can be attached to a hook which can be connected to an anchor point or object to be secured. One or more floating or attached hooks can be on the opposite end of the rope between the body anchor point and the body barrel. These hooks can be connected to an anchor point or any object to be secured. 
         [0011]    When handle is in vertical open position, the plunger hole(s) align with the body barrel shaft to allow for free movement of rope, webbing or the like within the mechanism. When handle is rotated counter clockwise into the lock position, the plunger is pulled downward and the plunger hole no longer aligns with the body barrel. This creates pressure on the rope, webbing, or the like, wedging it into the plunger shaft in the body barrel housing, thus preventing rope, webbing, or the like from movement. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  demonstrates an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  demonstrates an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  demonstrates an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  demonstrates a frontal perspective view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  demonstrates a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  demonstrates a frontal perspective view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  demonstrates an exploded frontal perspective view of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  demonstrates an exploded frontal perspective view of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  demonstrates a front view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  demonstrates a front view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  demonstrates a front view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 18  demonstrates an exploded frontal perspective view of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 19  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 20  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 21  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 22  demonstrates a side-view cross-section of an embodiment of the tie down of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 23  demonstrates a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 24  demonstrates a partially exploded side view perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 25  demonstrates an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 26  demonstrates a frontal exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 27A  demonstrates an exploded close-up view of the portion of  FIG. 25  in circle  29 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 27B  demonstrates a close-up view of the portion of  FIG. 25  in circle  29 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 28  demonstrates a side view cross section of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 29  demonstrates a lower perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 30  demonstrate a close-up view of the portion of  FIG. 29  in circle  30 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 31  demonstrates a partially exploded cross-sectional lower perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 32  demonstrate a close-up view of the portion of  FIG. 31  in circle  32 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0045]    The present invention includes a novel means for activating a tie-down of a length of rope by securing the tie down to a rope at a set position along a rope. By securing one end to the tie-down, the tie-down can effectively set the size of a loop and/or the effective length of the rope. As disclosed herein and otherwise claimed, the term rope used herein refers to any length of at least partially flexible material such that the pinching mechanism of the present invention can be utilized. Therefore, the term rope generally refers to a rope, string, segment, cord, webbing, etc. of a variety of materials including cotton, nylon, metal, plastic, as are known in the art. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  a tie-down  100  embodiment of the present invention may be used with first hook  101  attached to a rope  103  at first rope end  110 , typically towards top face  121  of the tie down. Single length  106  of rope provides for a primary lengthening section of the rope. Rope  103  translates through tie down  100  and emerges from back end  121 . Alternatively, first end of rope is secured to anchor and run through back end to emerge from front end. A first segment  104  emerges from tie down  100  and loops around a hook end  111  that allows rope  103  to slip by hook end to modulate the lengths of first segment  104  and second segment  105 , and thereby modify the position and potential distance between first hook  101  and second hook  102 . Second rope segment  105  includes rope that may be tied or fixed at body anchor point  6  on tie down  100  via second rope end  107 . 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , tie down  100  is in locked position with handle  3  closed tightly against body  1 . Rope  103  may be a thin webbing. First segment  104  exits back end  121  and loops back around to second segment  105 . Second rope end  107  attached to tie down at anchor point  6 . In this embodiment, anchor point is a separate cross-hole allowing for attachment of the rope end  107 . Handle  3  is in closed or lock position  37  up against body  1 . Handle includes cam end  200  with cam point  202  engaged with camming surface  26  and cam round or flat  201  facing forward. 
         [0048]    Body  1  includes barrel  5  which functions as a hollow channel longitudinally passing through body from back end  121  to front end  120 . Plunger lock  2  fits in shaft  8 . Shaft  8  intersects barrel  5  to allow plunger lock  2  to fit therein. Plunger lock  2  includes hole  9  to allow for rope  103  to pass through hole  9  within barrel  5 , when tie down is open. However, as shown here, in locked position  37 , hole  9  is slightly offset from barrel  5  and thus restricts the, freedom of rope  103  to pass through or otherwise traverse barrel. When locked  37 , cam point  202  is pressed against body camming surface  26  to pull plunger lock  2  downwards and pinch rope between lock sides  35  and housing sides  34 . Plunger sides  35  and housing sides  34  may be reinforced, or textured/toothed to promote strong locking of rope. 
         [0049]    As an alternative use of the same embodiment, the tie down can be converted into a simple hand-to-hand combat weapon. A single, piece of material, such as a nail or blade, can be inserted into barrel  5  through face  120 , and then plunger lock can bite down to hold in place. The single piece can include complimentary features to better mate and fix on plunger lock when tie down is closed. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , an alternative embodiment of tie down  100  includes long handle  203  to provide additional torque from pivot point  204  at the bottom of plunger lock  2  (bottom not shown), so that when pulled into closed position as shown in  FIG. 6 , cam point  202  meets with camming surface  26  and thereby pulls plunger lock down. Long handle  203  is preferred for smaller rope diameters and webbing, as it allows ease of application of additional pressure to rope within plunger lock and barrel. Larger handle may also be used for stiff rope application, e.g. threaded steel cord, or significantly slippery rope that requires tight tie down, e.g. nylon webbing. When in open position  38 , cam point  202  moves from camming surface  26 , potentially through camming surface channel  226 , and allows plunger lock  2  to rise and return to open position  38 , whereby (not shown) plunger hole better aligns with barrel. Tie down includes optional lock  39  on the side of the tie down to force engagement with the plunger lock in a closed (and possible second open) position. In this embodiment, lock  39  includes a pin or bolt that can be pushed into engagement with plunger lock surface (not shown) to engage and fix the position of plunger lock down so that the rope is fixed. Lock may include a spring loaded pin that will snap into place, pushing into the shaft to engage the plunger lock surface, or a feature on the plunger lock outer surface. A spring loaded lock may require a disengagement, e.g. via push button on the outer surface of the tie down body, to release engagement with the plunger lock and allow the tie down to open. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , tie down  100  is in locked position  37 , and may include finger hole  7  and handle  3 . Body  1  functions as a single hand tool whereby palm can be pressed against top  40  and middle finger can fit in finger hole  7  fixed near anchor point  6 , while the pointer finger can be used in handle  3  handle finger hole  16  to effect closure. Using the torque around pivot point  204 , the handle acts as a lever, tie down  100  can be locked with less than 10 lbs of pressure to achieve hundreds of pounds of translated force against translation of the rope through the barrel. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , an embodiment of tie down  100  includes body  1  with barrel  5  and plunger lock  2 . Handle  3  rotates around pivot point  204 , which in this instance is held by a cylindrical barrel nut  14 . Plunger lock  2  includes plunger hole  9  and pull arm  10 , and extends into shaft  8  in body  1 . The arm end  110  mates with barrel nut  14 . Handle  3  includes cam  200  which may comprise right and left cams  200 A and  200 B with a space therebetween  200 C to provide for the passage of arm  10  as handle  3  rotates around barrel nut  14 . Barrel nut fits in handle barrel nut channel  205 . Barrel nut includes interior hole  114  to accommodate arm  10  end  110 . In one preferred embodiment arm  10  includes a threaded surface to mate with the interior surface of a barrel interior hole. Handle rotates around pivot point  204  and forces cam point  202  against camming surface  26  to pull down plunger lock, and thereby misalign plunger hole  9  from barrel  5 . 
         [0053]    As shown in an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , body  1  includes anchor point  6 , finger hole  7 , shaft  8 , and barrel  5 . Below and surrounding the shaft where it opens at bottom side  41  is camming surface bottom  25 . Handle  3  includes handle finger hole  16 , and potentially includes pin  13  to fit within bifurcated cam  20  through pin holes  18 , whereby pin acts as torque rotation axis. Plunger lock  2  includes plunger hole  9 , which when open should align with barrel  5 . Plunger arm  10  extends below plunger hole  9  and includes plunger pin hole  11  which serves to mount plunger lock  2  through body  1  and on handle  3  via single pin  13 . Optional lock feature  40  is included on arm  10  to allow for locking of plunger lock in relative position with body. Lock may include a rotatable key lock to push a bolt into plunge lock surface and thereby secure tie down in locked position. Plunger lock arm  10  can take a variety of shapes, such as a square, rectangular, or half-moon shape to mate with a retention member, such as pin  13  to secure tie down together. When a specific material and/or diameter of rope is requested, as fixed size plunger can be adequately permanently installed, leading to simpler single-size function item, rather than an adjustable version with lever threads, etc. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 15-16 , tie down body  1  can be in open position  38  whereby barrel  5  aligns with plunger hole  9 . When in closed position  37 , plunger lock is pulled downwards, misaligning with barrel, and partially occludes barrel  5  by insertion of plunger lock side  35  into barrel  5  and pinches a rope (not shown). 
         [0055]    An alternative embodiment with double-barrel double plunger locks is shown in  FIGS. 17-18 . With double-barrel, the rope can be optionally anchored to the body  1  at anchor point  6  and looped on back end  121  and then run through barrel  5 A and looped back into barrel  5 B to form a dog bone or a double loop. Alternatively, two separate ropes can be tied down simultaneously, one through each barrel. In this alternative embodiment, it may be preferable to use an embodiment of the finger hole  7  wherein the hole is extended and further includes anchor point  6 . Extended finger hole  7  can accommodate multiple fingers, i.e. middle finger and ring finger or ring finger and pinky, etc. whereby the remaining finger(s) can be used to activate handle  3  via handle hole  16 . Body  1  includes first and second barrels  5 A and  5 B traversing through body. Body shaft  8  receives plunger lock  2 . The top side can be extended via shield to house the second line and thus shield the hand/palm from the second rope tied there between. Arm  10  includes threaded surface  12  to mate with barrel nut  14  internal threaded surface  22 . Barrel nut fits into handle holes  19  within cams  20 . Barrel nut  14  is held within holes  19  when mated with arm  10 . The advantage of the threaded arm is that as the tie down is in open position, whereby cam short end is facing bottom camming surface  25 , handle with imprisoned barrel nut can be rotated and thus lengthen or shorten the distance along arm between plunger hole(s) and pivot point so as to allow for increasing the area of overlap between plunger holes and barrel. In some cases, when the camming action is not drastic enough to occlude the barrel hole with the plunger sides to restrict movement of rope (for instance with a webbing or narrow diameter rope, it is advantageous to partially occlude the barrel(s) with the plunger(s) when open, just enough to allow the rope to travel freely. Given that the cam can only pull plunger so far, one can tighten the plunger so that when closed, plunger is pulled an adequate amount to restrict and lock the line. This functionality allows the tie down to be used effectively with numerous sized and shaped ropes. 
         [0056]    Arm  10  may also include lock indentation  40  to hold plunger in place when key lock  39  is turn to force a pin or other shaped boss (not, shown) through body side into plunger lock indentation. Plunger includes a first hole  9 A to align with first barrel  5 A and second hole  9 B to align with second barrel  5 B, so that when in closed position  37  plunger sides  35 A and  35 B can occlude barrels. 
         [0057]    Further detail of the tie down locking mechanism is shown in  FIGS. 19-22 . Rope  23  attaches to tie down body  1  at anchor point  6 . When in locked position  37 , handle  3  rests along body. Plunger lock arm  10  is in lock position  32 , and pulled down so that rope is forced down  33 , forcing plunger sides  35  down and into rope, and pinching rope against body housing sides  34 , and thus preventing rope to freely pass. Threaded arm  12  mates with barrel nut within handle  3 . When opened  38 , plunger lock rises and releases rope  23  to slide within barrel. Tie down can use a lock whereby and feature on the external surface of the body can interface with a feature on arm  10  such as key indentation  40 . 
         [0058]    Similarly, when webbing  24  is used, the tie down functions the same. Handle is rotated to engage threads  12  so that even when open, plunge holes will slightly occlude barrel, but not so much as to impede webbing  24 . When closed, plunger lock is in lowered position  32 . 
         [0059]    Referring now to an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 23-32 , tie down body  301  includes dual barrels  5 A and  5 B, whereby rope can extend beyond front face  120 . Spacers or air gaps may be included between the two rope lines in the barrel to provide for lighter and cheaper manufacturing. In addition, as is known in the art, uniform thickness allows for better setting of molded nylon materials—to avoid warping, etc. As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , plunger lock  2  is in down locked position within shaft  8 . Plunger holes are defined by edges, including pinching edges  335  in plunger lock holes  9 A and  9 B. Whereas most of the surface of plunger holes are round, the top may include a flat/straight surface as shown as  335  to further allow trapping of a deformable rope within the barrel. The flat surface on the plunger lock surface  335  better grips materials. For instance, the flat surface provides better alignment with a webbing material presenting a flat edge. Further, the surface features of the plunger lock hole can include various textures and/or teeth to better grip material tied down therein. 
         [0060]    Cams  320  are displayed on either side of planar cavity  310 . Planar cavity  310  is preferably as wide as, or just wider than the diameter of threaded arm  312 . Threads  12  on arm  10  of plunger lock  2  engage barrel nut internal threads  322 . A bolt, such as pin  313  may be placed on or through the bottom of arm to engage arm within shaft. In one embodiment, pin is permanently affixed to arm  10 , as an external surface nub  312 , to ensure that the plunger lock  2  does not disengage from handle  3 . Barrel nut  314  may include a cylinder with indented sides  330 , preferably top and bottom to best engage threaded surface  12 . 
         [0061]    Cams  320 A and  320 B include apertures  305  to hold and bind barrel nut  314 , which in turn holds the plunger lock  2  within shaft  8  and handle  3 . Cams  320  include cam point  302  that faces upwards towards body  301  in the closed position when the handle is closed. 
         [0062]    Body  301  includes a longer finger hole  7  in this embodiment, which doubles as optional anchor  6  if a loop is required. Handle  3  includes finger hole  16  adapted to allow a pointer or middle finger to pull the handle to locked position. Finger extension  303  may be included on handle  3  for additional leverage to provide more torque to force plunger lock into position. In this embodiment, it is considered that a pointer finger would be placed within handle hole  16 , a middle finger upon the extension  303 , and the ring and pinky fingers within finger hole  7 . 
         [0063]    When in close position, handle aperture  316  will align with finger hole aperture  307  so that a single bar may pass through both and lock the tie down in closed position (by disabling the handle from opening). With this pin-lock mechanism, the lock at aperture  307  can prevent the opening of the tie down (i.e. rotating out to release pressure from cam on the body bottom), as well as prevent lateral motion of the handle as the tie down might be jarred, for instance, if such tie down was used on a moving vehicle. 
         [0064]    As further evidenced in  FIG. 28 , the misalignment of plunger lock holes  9 A and  9 B in hollow channels  5 A and  5 B can interfere and occlude the barrels by pressing surface  335  into the barrels and pinch any rope therein with tie down barrel surfaces  34 . Plunger lock  2  may include arm  10  with threads to engage a flat nut, or fixed threaded surface  350  in handle. 
         [0065]    In one embodiment the shelter tie-down can hold any rope with a diameter of ranging 5/16″ to ⅜″. When the pin is set in the barrel nut, the tie-down requires no assembly. When properly set on a half-inch cord, the maximum load limit is at least 1280 lbs against horizontal pull. 
         [0066]    The present invention describes a novel tie down apparatus for pinching a rope within a hollow channel via single-hand manipulation of an ergonomic tie down handle. While the present description discloses many features of preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will understand that additional features either demonstrated in the figures or briefly described would be hereby disclosed and enabled.