Abstract:
A tie down or strap anchor apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus provides a housing that can be mounted flush with a deck, floor or the like. A connector removably attaches to the housing by depressing a piston downwardly. When not in use, the connector is removed and a spring urges the piston.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/697,236, filed Jul. 7, 2005, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to fittings, namely anchors that are used to tie down objects to a supporting deck (for example, a marine vessel, truck, platform or the like) using a plurality of straps or slings. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     In the marine industry, boats are hampered by the lack of suitable structure for anchoring cargo to the deck of the boat. In rough seas, this cargo tends to shift if not properly restrained. Vessels have used cleats, padeyes, and winches to hold straps, lines or slings that hold the cargo in place. 
     One of the problems with placing such anchors or fittings on the deck of a boat is that they present a hazard to personnel. Workers can be injured when traversing a deck that has a projecting member such as a cleat. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves these prior art problems and short comings by providing a strap anchor apparatus or tie down anchor apparatus of improved configuration and that is recessed, flush with the deck, so that seamen will not trip on them. Such apparatus can be used on trucks or other vehicles as well. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention illustrating expansion of the locking fingers; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, illustrating the final attachment of the connector to the anchor housing a threaded nut; 
         FIGS. 5-8  are sequential views illustrating installation of the apparatus of the present invention to a section of deck plate; and 
         FIGS. 9-11  are sequential views illustrating connection of the apparatus of the present invention to a package to be secured on a deck. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  show generally the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . Strap anchor apparatus  10  is an apparatus that can be used to secure a package  37  to a deck  28  of a building, vessel or vehicle (e.g. boat, truck, vehicle, platform, building)  28  using a plurality of straps or slings  36 . Strap anchor apparatus  10  can be used as a tie down for securing a package wherein a strap  36  spans between the package  37  and an anchor housing  11  to which connectors  35  have been attached. Typically, multiple straps or slings  36  and multiple connectors  35  are required as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     In  FIG. 1 , anchor housing  11  has an upper end portion  12  and a lower end portion  13 . The anchor housing  11  provides an upwardly extending socket  14 . Housing  11  can be closed at the bottom, and provides a smaller diameter section  15  and a larger diameter section  16 . The larger diameter section  16  provides internal threads  17  that are receptive of a threaded sleeve  18 . The threaded sleeve  18  has an internal bore that includes smaller diameter bore section  19  and larger diameter bore section  20 . Annular shoulder  21  extends generally horizontally in between the bore sections  19 ,  20  of sleeve  18 . 
     A piston  22  is mounted in socket  14  to move between an upper position shown in  FIG. 1  and a lower position shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . Piston  22  has a smaller diameter section  23  and a larger diameter section  24 . Annular shoulder  25  is placed at the intersection of smaller diameter section  23  and larger diameter section  24 . 
     A washer  26  (such as a rubber washer or polymeric washer) can be placed on annular shoulder  25 . During use, the washer  26  bares against annular shoulder  25  of piston  22  and annular shoulder  21  of sleeve  18  when the piston  22  is in the upper position of  FIG. 1 . 
     Spring  27  urges piston  22  to the upper position of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows the piston  22  in its upper position with spring  27  in its expanded position.  FIGS. 2-4  show piston  22  in lower positions wherein spring  27  is compressed. 
       FIGS. 5-8  illustrate an installation of the apparatus  10  of the present invention to a section of deck plate  28  or the like. In  FIG. 5 , deck plate  28  is cut using cutter  30  that moves in a circular path as shown by arrow  31 . In  FIG. 6 , a section  32  is removed by the cut of  FIG. 5  to provide an opening  29  that is receptive of housing  11 . In  FIG. 7 , arrow  33  indicates that housing  11  is lowered into opening  29 . In  FIG. 8  housing  11  is welded at weld  34 . In this position, the upper surface of housing  11  is flush with deck plate  28  as shown. 
     In  FIGS. 2-4  and  9 - 10  a connector  35  is shown that can attach to housing  11 . Connector  35  has an eyelet  49  that enables a strap  36  to be connected to the connector  35  and also to the anchor housing  11 . In  FIG. 11 , a plurality of straps  36  are seen spanning between package  37  and the connectors  35  that are each attached to a strap anchor apparatus  10 . Shackles  38  can be used to form an attachment between each strap  36  and padeye  39  of package  37 . Similarly, shackles  51  can be used to form part of the rigging between package  37  and connector  35 , being attached to the upper end portion of connector  35  at eyelet  49  as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . 
     In  FIGS. 2-4  and  9 , attachment of connector  35  to strap anchor apparatus  10  is shown and illustrated by the arrow  40  in  FIG. 9 . To perfect the connection between strap anchor apparatus  10  and connector  35 , the connector  35  is lowered into smaller diameter bore section  18  of threaded sleeve  18  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 . Connector  35  includes a tool body  41  having an upper end portion  42  and a lower end portion  43 . The tool body  41  is externally threaded, providing external threads  44 . A central shaft  45  extends vertically through the tool body  41 , occupying a provided open-ended bore. At the lower end portion  43  of tool body  41 , plate  46  is connected to central shaft  45  and rotates therewith. A plurality of two or more extendable fingers  47  are pivotally mounted upon pegs that are attached on plate  46  that extend from the upper surface of plate  46 . Each peg is generally parallel to central shaft  45 . Slots  48  are radially extending slots that extend from the bore occupied by central shaft  45  to the outer surface of tool body  41  at its lower end portion  43  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In order to form a connection between connector  35  and housing  11 , the extendable fingers  47  are inserted into socket  14  a sufficient distance so that they are positioned below annular shoulder  21  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Shaft  45  is then rotated as indicated by arrow  50  in  FIG. 3 . This rotation of the shaft  45  rotates plate  46  and its pegs, causing the extendable fingers  47  to move to the extended position of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Nut  53  is then rotated in the direction of arrow  54 , which elevates the extended fingers  47  in the direction of arrow  52 . Nut  53  is then tightened by rotating it in the direction of arrow  54  in  FIG. 4  pulling the fingers  47  upwardly until they engage the shoulder  21 . 
     The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 10 
                 strap anchor apparatus 
               
               
                 11 
                 anchor housing 
               
               
                 12 
                 upper end portion 
               
               
                 13 
                 lower end portion 
               
               
                 14 
                 socket 
               
               
                 15 
                 smaller diameter section 
               
               
                 16 
                 larger diameter section 
               
               
                 17 
                 internal threads 
               
               
                 18 
                 threaded sleeve 
               
               
                 19 
                 smaller diameter bore section 
               
               
                 20 
                 larger diameter bore section 
               
               
                 21 
                 annular shoulder 
               
               
                 22 
                 piston 
               
               
                 23 
                 smaller diameter section 
               
               
                 24 
                 larger diameter section 
               
               
                 25 
                 annular shoulder 
               
               
                 26 
                 washer 
               
               
                 27 
                 spring 
               
               
                 28 
                 deck plate 
               
               
                 29 
                 opening 
               
               
                 30 
                 cutter 
               
               
                 31 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 32 
                 removed section 
               
               
                 33 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 34 
                 weld 
               
               
                 35 
                 connector 
               
               
                 36 
                 strap 
               
               
                 37 
                 package 
               
               
                 38 
                 shackle 
               
               
                 39 
                 padeye 
               
               
                 40 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 41 
                 tool body 
               
               
                 42 
                 upper end 
               
               
                 43 
                 lower end 
               
               
                 44 
                 external thread 
               
               
                 45 
                 central shaft 
               
               
                 46 
                 plate 
               
               
                 47 
                 extendable fingers 
               
               
                 48 
                 slot 
               
               
                 49 
                 eyelet 
               
               
                 50 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 51 
                 shackle 
               
               
                 52 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 53 
                 nut 
               
               
                 54 
                 arrow 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.