Patent Publication Number: US-4648765-A

Title: Universal tie-down bracket

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates to tie-down brackets as used in connection with rope and lashings, for securing cargo and the like in carry spaces such as vehicle bodies. 
     Heretofore it has been customary to mount fitments such as hooks or brackets on wall surfaces of truck bodies, boat hulls and various storage areas, to enable ropes to be used for tying down the articles which are to be transported. 
     The simplest of such fitments is the screw eye or screw hook. Typically these are not suitable for anchorage in sheet metal walls, and under any circumstance they protrude and require space which often is needed for the cargo. Moreover, in many cases they constitute a hazard since their rigidity and protrusion can cause physical injury. 
     Another fitment that has been previously used comprises a heavy staple or loop as in a hasp, which is carried by a base or mounting plate that is apertured to receive screws for attaching it to a supporting surface. Here, again, the protrusion and rigidity of the staple rendered it undesirable in many situations. 
     SUMMARY 
     The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior tie-down fitments are obviated by the present invention, which has for one object the provision of a novel and improved tie-down bracket which finds universal application in that it is attachable to all manner of surfaces including sheet metal, and does not protrude appreciably into the cargo space. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tie-down bracket in accordance with the foregoing, which is especially safe in its use, having no sharp or other points to cause injury to personnel. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved tie-down bracket as above set forth, which is especially simple and economical to fabricate. 
     The above objects are accomplished by the provision of a unique two-piece tie-down bracket the parts of which are constituted as wireforms, one part comprising an elongate base member having intermediate its ends an open loop, and having openings at said ends to receive hold-down screws or the like by means of which it can be mounted on a supporting surface. Cooperable with the wireform base member is a wireform tethering ring which is passed through the open loop of the base member and is adapted to hang loosely therefrom in an out-of-the-way non-protruding position in readiness for use regardless of the base member being mounted in any one of an infinitely large number of positions. The tethering ring constitutes a continuous annulus which is admitted through the opening of said open loop during assembly of the bracket, and is held captive by the supporting surface to which the base member is affixed. 
    
    
     In the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled tie-down bracket of the invention, and of two mounting screws and washers therefor, illustrating the mode of attachment to a supporting surface. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a utility truck and boat being hauled thereby, illustrating several possible locations for use of the tie-down bracket of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base member of the tie-down bracket, constituted as a wire form. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the base member of FIG. 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the base member of FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the tethering ring per se, of the tie-down bracket. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the tie-down bracket mounted on the bed-liner of a utility truck. The mounting studs or parts are shown in section, and the bracket extends horizontally with the tethering ring hanging down or laterally of the bracket. 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the tie-down bracket in a mounting position wherein it extends vertically. This illustrates a differenet storage position of the tethering ring, and 
     FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the tie-down bracket in an oblique, vertical mounting position, with the tethering ring occupying still another storage or out-of-the-way position. 
    
    
     Referring to the various figures, the improved and simplified, universally adaptable tie-down bracket is, in its preferred form, constituted as a two-part device fabricated of heavy, round wire stock each part of which can be expeditiously and inexpensively manufactured on typical four-slide forming machines. After forming, the tethering ring part has its abutting ends securely welded together. The parts are cleaned or degreased, and then barrel or tumble plated, preferably with cadmium, and thereafter tumble polished. A simple and quick hand assembly of the ring to the base member is done, this being possible by the unique construction of the base member whereby it has an open loop intermediate its ends. 
     As shown, the base member 10 is of elongate configuration and provided with openings 12, 14 at its ends 15, 17 by virtue of oppositely looping the latter, thereby to receive the mounting screws 16, 18 seen in FIG. 1. The screws 16, 18 can be of any type, such as sheet metal or wood screws, or drive screws or drive nails, depending on the nature of the surface with which the bracket is to be used. In conjunction with utility trucks having plastic bed liners such as the bed liner 20 illustrated in FIG. 2, the screws are preferably of the thread-cutting variety known as sheet metal screws. Washers 22 are preferably used under the heads of the screws 16, 18 as seen in FIG. 1, although the use of washers is not essential for the mounting of the base member 10. 
     Intermediate its ends, the base member 10 has straight portions 23 and is bent into a one-turn helix 24 to form an open loop designated 26 in FIG. 4, having a spacing 27 between turns which is somewhat greater than the thickness of the tethering ring 28, thereby to enable the latter to be readily assembled to the member 10. The portions 23 lie in parallel planes and are normal to the axis A of the helix 24. The ends 15, 17 and the straight portions 23 all lie in a common plane. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the tethering ring of the bracket is seen to have a perfectly circular shape. Its abutting ends 30, 32 are securely welded to make the ring continuous, this being done prior to assembly to the base member. 
     As stated above, after the wire forming of the two parts has been effected, they are cleaned or degreased, and then barrel plated with cadmium and tumble polished. 
     By virtue of the open or large pitch angle of the one-turn helix 24, the tethering ring 28 can be easily and quickly slipped into the center open loop 26 of the bracket member 10, by hand. When the base member 10 is mounted on a supporting surface such as the bed liner 20 and truck body wall 34 shown in FIG. 7, the tethering ring 28 will be held captive by such surface. In FIG. 7, the supporting surface comprises only a fragmentary showing of the truck body and the plastic bed liner therefor. 
     An important feature of the present tie-down bracket is the ability of the tethering ring 28 to naturally hang in a pendant, out-of-the-way position when not in use, regardless of the position or angle of mounting of the base member 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The plane of the ring 28 is substantially parallel to that of the supporting surface 20 to which the ends 15, 17 are fastened. This is in sharp contrast to rigid hooks and the like such as were previously used to hold down cargo or other goods, where such hooks were rigid and fixed, and protruded and were inconvenient and sometimes hazardous in use. 
     It will now be seen that the tie-down bracket of the present invention is especially simple and economical to manufacture, and that it has important advantages in enabling easy installation, safety when in use, and strength and reliability. 
     Each and every one of the appended claims is to be reviewed on its own merits as an inventive concept separate from the others when considering the prior art devices, and variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.