Abstract:
A floor pocket assembly for use in securing a load to a vehicle floor. A pair of slightly spaced coaxial circular plates are bolted to the floor and a connector is snapped over the top plate by a U-shaped member on one planar side thereof, and held in place by a spring loaded pin which extends into the bore of the two circular plates.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cargo tie-down system, and more particularly to a floor pocket anchor assembly for installation in a vehicle floor and use as a quick release anchor point for a tie down system. A preferred, but non-limiting, application of the present invention is for use in securing a wheelchair in a bus or other van type conveyance. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART 
     Numerous floor pockets or anchor points have been developed for use in vehicles to secure loads of all kinds, including wheelchairs, and generally include a plate with an anchoring device which is countersunk into the floor and held in place by an integral or separate bolt. Such devices may simply be a bar or rod to which a clip may be snap-attached. While such devices are generally quite effective, they tend to collect dirt and dust and require frequent cleaning of the pocket to ensure ease of operation. Furthermore, such devices are generally directional in that the attachment must always be from the same direction and/or the load must be applied from a single preselected direction. Attempts have been made to eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, the open pocket size so as to alleviate the dirt collection problem, and to provide pockets which can be used to accept loads from a plurality of directions. One such pocket will be discussed in more detail hereinbelow, but even this pocket does not provide for positive locking of the connector, nor can the load be applied over a 360° range. There remains, therefore, a need for a floor pocket that provides positive locking and full-circle load application. 
     OBJECT OF INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a floor pocket assembly for use in a vehicle floor for securing loads thereon, which provides positive locking and which can be used from any direction. 
     BRIEF STATEMENT OF INVENTION 
     By one aspect of this invention there is provided 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor pocket assembly of the prior art, in unassembled position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pocket assembly of FIG. 1, in partially assembled position; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a floor pocket assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention, in unassembled position; and 
     FIG. 4 is a side view, in section of the floor pocket of FIG. 3, in assembled position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a commercially available floor pocket assembly, marketed by the Unwin Company of Great Britain. A circular planar floor plate  1  is provided with an integral floor bolt (not shown) projecting axially perpendicularly thereto for attachment through a bolt hole in the floor  2  of a vehicle. Plate  1  is also provided with an integral coaxial circular plate  3  in overlying planar relationship thereto, having a somewhat smaller diameter than plate  1  and spaced from plate  1  by a central boss (not shown) having a diameter less than the diameter of plate  3 , so as to provide a male connector means. Plate  3 , is provided with a radially extending slot  4 , extending partially through the thickness thereof, as best seen in FIG. 1. A load securing belt  5 , generally but not essentially fabricated from nylon webbing, is secured to one end of a planar metal connector  6  at a proximal end thereof. The other end of connector  6  secured to a substantially U-shaped member  7 , so as to provide a female connector means adapted to fit over plate  3 , by means of a bolt (not shown) and a dome-headed nut  8 . The lips  9  of U-shaped member  7  slidably and releasably engage with plate  3 . The underside of member  7  is also provided with a projecting cylindrical pin  10 , adapted for slidable and releasable engagement with slot  4 . In operation, the open end of U-shaped member  7  is aligned with slot  4  so that pin  10  can slidably engage therewith and member  7  is then pulled into engagement with member  3  and pin  10  abuts the closed end  11  of slot  4 . Member  7  is then rotated through approximately 90°, so as to releasably lock member  7  to the floor plate  1 . It will be appreciated that member  7  can be rotated through 360°, relative to plate  1 , but is not locked thereto when the open end thereof is aligned with the slot  4 . Thus, positive locking in all positions is not achieved. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention has some superficial similarities to the prior art device described above, in that there is provided a circular floor plate  12  having an integral spaced coaxial circular plate  13  in overlying planar relationship thereto. Plate  13 , generally but not essentially having a diameter less than plate  12 , and integrally formed therewith, is adapted to be slidably and releasably engaged by the lips  14  of a U-shaped member  15  on the underside of a circular member  16 . Plates  12  and  13  are secured to a floor  2  by means of a separate bolt  17  passing axially therethrough. Preferably, but not essentially, the bolt head  18  is provided with a rubber or thermoplastic cover plug  19 . Note that plate  13  is not provided with a slot comparable to slot  4  of the prior art, but that the circumference of plate  13  is provided with a tapered or bevelled edge  20 . Member  16  is provided with a coaxial spring loaded headed pin  21  which extends from the lower face thereof, under the action of compression spring  23 , and is adapted to releasably engage with bore  22  of plate  13 . In operation, member  16  can be brought into overlying relationship with plate  13  from any direction. Headed pin  21  contacts bevelled edge  20  of plate  13  and rides up thereon, compressing spring  23  until the end face of pin  21  is flush with the underface of member  16 . Member  16  then slides into coaxial relationship with plate  13 ; whereupon pin  21  is forced into bore  22  so as to provide positive locking of member  16  to floor plate  12 , whatever the position of connector  24  relative to plate  12 . Generally, but not essentially, connector  24  is integrally formed with member  16 . In order to disconnect member  16  from plate  12 , an operator grips the pin release knob  25  and pulls upwardly, thereby compressing spring  23  and raising pin  21  out of bore  22  so that member  16  may be slidably disconnected from plate  13 .