Patent Publication Number: US-2009230241-A1

Title: Device for Fastening an Object

Description:
The present invention relates to a device for fastening an object at a lashing point, a rail or the like, inside a space, in particular a cargo hold or a passenger compartment of a helicopter. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Such devices exist in a variety of shapes and designs and are commonly used. Thus, for example, DE 20 2004 007 781 U1 describes a fastening device for insert plates, in particular protective linings or ballast plates, inter alia, in helicopters. In this case the fastening device comprising insert parts and/or protective linings comprises additional fastening rails, which are provided with locking elements, which fit into the first original fastening rail. 
     The drawback with this fastening device is that the two fastening rails are connected to each other in an unwieldy and complicated way. Thus, both the first and the second fastening rails exhibit components for interlocking the two fastening rails. The individual components have to be brought first into alignment with each other by complicated means before the second fastening rail can be mounted on the original fastening rail. This procedure is not easy to carry out and is time consuming. 
     Problem 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a device, which is intended for fastening an object and which eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks. Moreover, the device reliably guarantees the fastening of an object and can be simultaneously accessed at any time, so that it is possible to detach the object. Moreover, it is possible, especially in the case of military helicopters, to secure, for example, so-called ceramic Kevlar plates without limiting the ability to access the devices for fastening an object. 
     Solution of the Problem 
     This object is achieved in that a detachable connecting element is interposed between the lashing point and/or the rail and the object. 
     In order to be able to fasten first the connecting element at the lashing point, the connecting element exhibits a base plate with a recess, which runs in the longitudinal direction in said base plate, in which are inserted bolts, in order to be able to mount a guide rail on an underside of the base plate. This guide rail can be detached again or be securely fastened on the underside. That is, the bolts can be disposed, for example, by means of a thread in a rail track of the guide rail or can be welded securely to said rail track. 
     The guide rail is inserted into a matching longitudinal groove in a surface of a base plate of the lashing point. To this end, a raised rim area of the longitudinal groove exhibits circular recesses, into which can be inserted the wings on the rail track of the guide rail, because said wings are designed so as to be identical in shape to the circular recesses, but yet are slightly smaller. At the same time a bridge section between the wings is designed so as to be identical in shape to a spacer between the circular recesses of the longitudinal groove, but yet is slightly smaller. Therefore, it is possible to recess the guide rail in the longitudinal groove. 
     Furthermore, the rim area projects at least partially beyond the longitudinal groove, so that both sides of the longitudinal groove exhibit an undercut area, in which the wings of the guide rail can traverse, because the wings are slightly narrower than these undercut areas. 
     So that the guide rail and, thus, the connecting element cannot slide out of the longitudinal groove, the bridge section between the wings forms a bridge over a recess in the base plate owing to a material recess. When viewed from the bottom, the recess exhibits a rectangular borehole component, where the two sides of the borehole component are rounded off. When viewed from the top, the recess exhibits a totally circular borehole component. Both borehole components are separated from each other by a step. 
     A fastening element, which is connected securely or detachably to the bridge section on one side, runs through the recess. In the case under discussion the fastening element was disposed by means of a threaded section in a threaded borehole, which is provided for this purpose in the bridge section. However, it is conceivable to weld or the like the fastening element, for example, securely to the bridge section. 
     The other end of the fastening element exhibits a rotating knob on a shaft section. This rotating knob exhibits an upper, totally circular section, conforming with the circular borehole component. In contrast, a bottom section of the rotating knob conforms in its shape with the rectangular borehole component, which is rounded off on two opposite sides. 
     Mounted on a top side of the upper section of the rotating knob is a direction indicator, which is arranged in parallel to the bottom section and, thus, can reproduce the position of the bottom section, when the rotating knob is viewed from the top. 
     In particular, the rotating knob serves to fasten the connecting element at the lashing point. To this end, the rotating knob is mounted in a displaceable manner on the fastening element or rather the shaft section. Therefore, a recess, through which the shaft section of the fastening element runs, extends approximately through the middle of the rotating knob. A spring is provided around the shaft section. One side of this spring is braced against the underside of a screw head of the fastening element. On the opposite side the spring is braced against the bottom floor of the bottom section. 
     In the starting position—that is, in the unlocked state—when, therefore, the connecting element is not yet connected to the lashing point, the rotating knob is located in a position, in which its bottom section runs parallel to the recess in the base plate of the connecting element and, thus, rests with its end side on the step, formed by the two borehole components, in the recess. The upper section is located above the plane of the recess. The spring around the shaft section is compressed between the underside of the screw head and the bottom floor of the bottom section. 
     If then the connecting element has been inserted into the lashing point, as already described multiple times, and is to be locked there, the rotating knob is rotated until its bottom section moves totally into the open area of the rectangular borehole component. 
     At this point the spring, which has been under tension until now, can be relaxed and pushes downwards by way of the floor of the bottom section the rotating knob on the shaft section in the recess. 
     In this way the top side of the rotating knob moves into the plane of the recess, the bottom section of the rotating knob fills the cavity below the bridge section and simultaneously one of the circular recesses in the rim area of the longitudinal groove. At the same time the wings of the guide rail are located in the undercut areas adjacent to the circular recesses of the longitudinal groove. At this point it is no longer possible to remove the connecting element from the lashing point and/or to displace the connecting element in the lashing point. 
     However, the rotating knob does not have to be necessarily rotated; instead, it may suffice to raise the rotating knob above the rim area of the lashing point. In this state the connecting element continues to be displaced until the top side of the rotating knob moves into the plane of the recess, and the rotating knob automatically locks downwards. Then the sequence of events that have already been described above takes place. At this point it is no longer possible to remove the connecting element from the lashing point and/or to displace the connecting element in the lashing point. 
     Both sides of the recess in the base plate of the connecting element are hemmed in the longitudinal direction by strips, which project partially beyond the recess. The result is that in this case, too, undercut sliding channel areas are formed, and the cross section of the recess assumes the shape of an upside down T. The sliding channel areas serve to accommodate and/or to move an object that is to be inserted into the recess. 
     The strips in turn are also provided with circular recesses, in which an object, which is not illustrated in detail, can be fastened, for example, in a way analogous to the connecting element in the lashing point. 
     It is possible to provide along the recess and/or the strips the threaded boreholes, which are configured uniformly in the base plate and which are used to fasten ceramic Kevlar plates (not illustrated in detail) or the like. Such ceramic Kevlar plates are used as ballistic protection for the occupants of, for example, a helicopter or the like and have to be securely anchored on the floor. This anchoring is done with the aid of the threaded boreholes in the base plate of the connecting element or by adhesive cementing. At the same time it is guaranteed that additional objects can be fastened in the connecting element. That is, despite the attachment of the ceramic Kevlar plates, the connecting element remains freely accessible. 
     The embodiment under discussion was designed so that both the rim area of the longitudinal groove of the lashing point and the strips of the connecting element are configured with two respective circular recesses. However, the present invention shall include the option of also providing only one circular recess or more than two circular recesses. Usually this number depends on the type of application. 
     Furthermore, the guide rail was also provided with two wings on each side of the rail track. In this case, too, it is conceivable that only one wing or more than two wings is/are provided on each side of the rail track. Furthermore, there is the possibility of dispensing with a connection of the wings, so that these wings can be fastened individually to a single rail track on the underside of the base plate of the connecting element. Then, however, there must exist the option of fastening by a different method the fastening element, on which the rotating knob is mounted. In this case, for example, it is possible to provide a separate bridge piece, which is mounted in parallel or orthogonally to the rail tracks. However, it is also possible to continue to connect together the two rail tracks by means of a bridge section, to which then the fastening element is fastened. Then, additional wings and/or rail tracks can also be connected either individually or all of them together by means of such bridge sections. 
     The various possibilities with respect to the number, design and arrangement of the guide rail and/or the rail tracks and the wings individually or in combination shall be included in the present invention. The important factor is that there is a possibility of arranging the fastening element and with it the rotating knob in such a manner that the result is a simple and easy way of fastening the connecting element to the lashing point. 
     Instead of the fastening element, at which the rotating knob can be moved in a spring loaded manner, it is also possible to provide any type of system that guarantees that the rotating knob will move from an unlocking position into a locking position. These possibilities shall also be included in the present invention. 
     In summary it should also be mentioned that, instead of the circular recesses and the wings, the round rotating knob and the round shapes of the recess, any other shape is conceivable and shall be included in the present invention. Therefore, it is quite conceivable to replace the round shapes with angular, oval or similar shapes. In this respect the only feature that must be guaranteed is the continued existence of the interaction of the individual components (that has been repeatedly described above), said interaction being also obvious on account of the shape. 
     The present invention provides a device for fastening an object. This device makes it possible, on the one hand, to fasten the aforementioned ceramic Kevlar plates or the like to the connecting element and simultaneously, on the other hand, to have the option of fastening additional objects to or in the connecting element. That is, despite the attachment of the ceramic Kevlar plates, there is still access to the connecting element. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Other advantages, features and details of the present invention are disclosed in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, enlarged view of a device, which is intended for fastening an object and comprises a lashing point and a connecting element, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the lashing point in  FIG. 1  and the connecting element in  FIG. 4  along the line II-II. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the connecting element in  FIG. 1  in the locked state. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the connecting element in  FIG. 1  in the locked state. 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal view of the connecting element in  FIG. 3  along the line V-V. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the connecting element in  FIG. 1  in the unlocked state; and 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the connecting element in  FIG. 1  in the unlocked state. 
     
    
    
       FIGS. 1 and 2  depict a device  1 , which is intended for fastening an object (not illustrated in detail) and which comprises a lashing point  2  and a connecting element  3 . 
     The lashing point  2  is preferably a milled part made of aluminum and exhibits at least two rail arms  4  and  5 , with which the lashing point  2  can be fastened, for example, on a floor (not illustrated in detail) of a helicopter. The rail arms  4  and  5  are connected preferably as one piece to a base plate  6 . 
     On the side of the base plate  6  that lies opposite the rail arms  4  and  5 , this base plate exhibits a longitudinal groove  8 , which runs on the surface  7  of said base plate. Around the longitudinal groove  8  extends a raised rim area  9 . This rim area  9  covers at least partially the longitudinal groove  8  in the longitudinal direction, so that the sliding channels  10  are formed there. Only in the area of the circular recesses  11 , cut into the rim area  9 , is the longitudinal groove  8  not covered. 
     Therefore, a width b 1  of the longitudinal groove  8  is less than a width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . A diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  in turn is approximately as large as the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     The connecting element  3 , which is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , is also made preferably of aluminum and exhibits a base plate  12  with a recess  13 , which runs in the longitudinal direction in said base plate. Both sides of the recess  13  are hemmed in the longitudinal direction by strips  14 , which project partially beyond the recess  13  and in this way also form an undercut sliding channel area  15 . On the whole, the result is that the cross section of the recess  13  has the shape of an inverted T, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The strips  14  are also provided with circular recesses  16 . Therefore, a diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16  corresponds in essence to the width b 3  of the recess  13 . A width b 4  between the strips  14  in turn is less than the width b 3  of the recess  13 . 
     At the same time the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16  of the connecting element  3  corresponds in essence to the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  of the lashing point  2 . The width b 3  of the recess  13  of the connecting element  3  in turn corresponds to the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10  of the lashing point  2 , and the width b 4  between the strips  14  of the connecting element  3  corresponds to approximately the width b 1  of the longitudinal groove  8  of the lashing point  2 . 
     Furthermore, the base plate  12  can exhibit threaded boreholes  17 , which are uniformly arranged along the recess  13  and/or the strips  14  and which are used to fasten, for example, ceramic Kevlar plates, which are not shown in detail. 
     The bolts  18  in the recess  13  are used to mount securely or detachably a guide rail  20  on an underside  19  of the base plate  12 . This guide rail matches up to a certain extent the shape of the longitudinal groove  8 , including the circular recesses  11 , and/or matches the shape of the recess  13 , including the circular recesses  16 . The wings  22 , which are formed as one piece on an approximately rectangular rail track  21 , match the circular recesses  11  and/or  16 . 
     Thus, a width b 5  of the rail track  21  is slightly less than the width b 4  between the strips  14  and the width b 1  of the longitudinal groove  8 , and a diameter d 3  between the wings  22  is slightly less than the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16  and the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  as well as the width b 3  of the recess  13  and the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     One section  37  of the rail track  21  between the wings  22  exhibits a material recess  38  and forms in this way a bridge over a recess  23  in the base plate  12 , which is especially evident in  FIG. 7 . The recess  23  is formed as two steps and, when viewed from the bottom, exhibits a rectangular borehole component  33 . In this case the two sides of the borehole component  33  are rounded off in the shape of a circle. When viewed from the top, it is obvious in  FIG. 3  that the borehole component  34  has the shape of a complete circle. 
     In this case the length l 1  of the bridge section  37  corresponds to approximately a width b 6  of the straight sides of the rectangular borehole component  33  and a width b 7  of a spacer  39  between the circular recesses  11  of the lashing point  2  and a width b 8  of a spacer  40  between the circular recesses  16  of the connecting element  3 . 
     Furthermore, a width b 9  of the bridge section  37  is slightly less than the width b 4  between the strips  14  and the width b 1  of the longitudinal groove  8 . A diameter d 4  of the rounded off sides of the borehole component  33  is slightly larger than the diameter d 3  between the wings  22 , and corresponds to approximately the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16 , the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  as well as the width b 3  of the recess  13  and the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     When viewed from the top, the circular borehole component  34  exhibits throughout the diameter d 4 , which, as already stated above, is slightly larger than the diameter d 3  between the wings  22 , but corresponds to approximately the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16 , the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  as well as the width b 3  of the recess  13  and the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     A fastening element  24  having a threaded section  35  is inserted securely or detachably into approximately the center of the bridge section  37 . This fastening element exhibits a screw head  32  and a shaft section  36  between the screw head  32  and the threaded section  35 . The shaft section  36  runs through the recess  23 , and said shaft section has a rotating knob  25 . 
     The rotating knob  25 , which is depicted in  FIG. 5  in a sectional view, exhibits an upper section  26 , which passes at least partially through the circular borehole component  34 . The shape of this upper section matches the circular recess  16 , but also the circular recess  11 . That is, a diameter d 5  of the rotating knob  25  corresponds to approximately the diameter d 3  between the wings  22 , but is slightly less than the diameter d 4  of the circular borehole component  34 , the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16 , the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  as well as the width b 3  of the recess  13  and the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     The shape of the bottom section  27  of the rotating knob  25  matches the rectangular borehole component  33 , which is rounded off on two opposite sides. That is, a width b 10  of the bottom section  27  is slightly less than the width b 6  of the straight sides of the borehole component  33  as well as the width b 7  of a spacer  39  between the circular recesses  11  and the width b 8  of a spacer  40  between the circular recesses  16 . 
     A length l 2  of the bottom section  27  is slightly less than the diameter d 4  of the opposite, rounded off sides of the borehole component  33 , the diameter d 3  between the wings  22 , the diameter d 2  of the circular recesses  16 , the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11  as well as the width b 3  of the recess  13  and the width b 2  between the sliding channels  10 . 
     However, the length l 2  of the bottom section  27  is larger than the width b 6  of the straight sides of the borehole component  33 , the length l 1  of the bridge section  37  as well as the width b 7  of a spacer  39  between the circular recesses  11  and the width b 8  of a spacer  40  between the circular recesses  16 . 
     Mounted on a top side  28  of the upper section  26  of the rotating knob  25  is a direction indicator  29 , which runs parallel to the bottom section  27  and, thus, reproduces the position of the bottom section  27 . 
     The rotating knob  25  is configured so as to be displaceable along the shaft section  36 . Therefore, a borehole  30  runs approximately through the middle of the rotating knob  25 . The shaft section  36  passes through said borehole. A spring  31  is provided around the shaft section  36 . The spring  31  is braced on its one side against the underside of the screw head  32  of the screw bolt  24 . On the opposite side the spring  31  is braced against the bottom floor of the section  27 . 
     The working principle of the present invention is as follows. 
     The lashing point  2  had already been fastened beforehand in a floor (not illustrated in detail) of a helicopter or the like. Then the connecting element  3  is mounted on the rim area  9  of the lashing point  2  in the direction of the arrows  41  and  42 , shown in  FIG. 1 , and is slid until the guide rail  20  on the underside  19  of the connecting element  3 —that is, the rail track  21 , the wings  22  and the bridge section  37  of the guide rail  20 —engages with the longitudinal groove  8 , the circular recesses  11  and the spacer  39  of the lashing point  2 . As soon as this happens, the connecting element  3  slides into the longitudinal groove  8 . The underside  19  of the connecting element  3  rests on the rim area  9  of the lashing point  2 . 
     In this position the rotating knob  25  of the connecting element  3  is still in the unlocked state (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). That is, since the length l 2  of the bottom section is greater than the width b 6  of the straight sides of the borehole component  33 , the bottom section  27  of the rotating knob  25  lies towards the end on the step  43 , formed by the two borehole components  33  and  34 , in the recess  23 . Therefore, the spring  31 , enveloping the shaft section  36 , is in a prestressed state. 
     In order to lock the connecting element  3  in the longitudinal groove  8  of the lashing point  2 , the connecting element  3  is first moved to the left or to the right. In this way the wings  22  of the guide rail  20  move into the sliding channels  10  of the longitudinal groove  8  and cannot be removed from the sliding channels  10 , because the diameter d 3  of the wings  22  is greater than the width b 1  of the longitudinal groove  8 . 
     Then the rotating knob  25  is rotated preferably about 90° out of its starting position, shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , until it assumes its position, according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This rotation of the rotating knob  25  allows the bottom section  27  to move completely into the open area of the rectangular borehole component  33 . The spring  31 , which was beforehand in a prestressed state, can now relax and pushes the rotating knob  25  downwards, so that the bottom section  27  is accommodated by the rectangular borehole component  33 , and the upper section  26  is accommodated by the circular borehole component  34 . 
     As a result, the top side  28  of the rotating knob  25  moves into the plane of the recess  13 . The bottom section  27  of the rotating knob  25  fills the cavity below the bridge section  37  and simultaneously one of the circular recesses  11 , because a length l 2  of the bottom section  27  is slightly less than the diameter d 1  of the circular recesses  11 . At this stage it is no longer possible to displace the connecting element  3 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 DR. PETER WEISS; A. BRECHT, GRAD. 
               
               
                 ENG.; &amp; PETRA ARAT, GRAD. FORESTRY 
               
               
                 Patent Attorneys 
               
               
                 European Patent Attorneys 
               
               
                 File Number: G 1277/PCT 
               
               
                 Date: Nov. 16, 2005 
               
               
                 AR/HE 
               
               
                 List of Reference Numerals 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 device 
               
               
                 2 
                 lashing point 
               
               
                 3 
                 connecting element 
               
               
                 4 
                 rail arm 
               
               
                 5 
                 rail arm 
               
               
                 6 
                 base plate 
               
               
                 7 
                 surface 
               
               
                 8 
                 longitudinal groove 
               
               
                 9 
                 rim area 
               
               
                 10 
                 sliding channels 
               
               
                 11 
                 circular recess 
               
               
                 12 
                 base plate 
               
               
                 13 
                 recess 
               
               
                 14 
                 strip 
               
               
                 15 
                 sliding channel area 
               
               
                 16 
                 circular recess 
               
               
                 17 
                 boreholes 
               
               
                 18 
                 bolt 
               
               
                 19 
                 underside 
               
               
                 20 
                 guide rail 
               
               
                 21 
                 rail track 
               
               
                 22 
                 wing 
               
               
                 23 
                 recess 
               
               
                 24 
                 fastening element 
               
               
                 25 
                 rotating knob 
               
               
                 26 
                 upper section 
               
               
                 27 
                 bottom section 
               
               
                 28 
                 top side 
               
               
                 29 
                 direction indicator 
               
               
                 30 
                 borehole 
               
               
                 31 
                 spring 
               
               
                 32 
                 screw head 
               
               
                 33 
                 rectangular borehole component 
               
               
                 34 
                 circular borehole component 
               
               
                 35 
                 threaded section 
               
               
                 36 
                 shaft section 
               
               
                 37 
                 bridge section 
               
               
                 38 
                 material recess 
               
               
                 39 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 40 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 41 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 42 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 43 
                 step 
               
               
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                 79 
               
               
                 l 1   
                 length 
               
               
                 l 2   
                 length 
               
               
                 b 1   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 2   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 3   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 4   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 5   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 6   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 7   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 8   
                 width 
               
               
                 b 9   
                 width 
               
               
                     b 10   
                 width 
               
               
                 d 1   
                 diameter 
               
               
                 d 2   
                 diameter 
               
               
                 d 3   
                 diameter 
               
               
                 d 4   
                 diameter 
               
               
                 d 5   
                 diameter