Abstract:
A mounting adapter for use with E-track modular cargo track comprises a face plate and a jaw member. The jaw member comprises a generally cuboid body with two steps in the front face near each end and a bevel in the back face at each end. The steps and bevel cooperate to enable the jaw member to be inserted through the rectangular opening of the E-track into the narrow confines between the web of the E-track and the side or floor of the cargo bed. Once inserted, the steps center the jaw member vertically within the rectangular opening so that the face plate can be attached without the jaw member dropping into the space behind the E-track. The raised portions of the jaws include female threads adapted to receive a threaded fastener for fastening an object to the E-track while simultaneously capturing the E-track between the jaw and the face plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to cargo restraint systems, in particular, to cargo restraints for use with modular cargo restraints installed in trucks and other vehicles. 
     Light and medium-duty trucks and other trucks intended for use in hauling cargo are frequently equipped with modular cargo restraint systems. A popular modular cargo restraint system known as “E-track” comprises a winged a.k.a. “hat section” channel member, usually formed of galvanized steel, having a 4 inch wide web, ½ inch tall flanges and ½ inch wide wings mounted longitudinally along the walls and/or floor of the truck cargo bed. The channel member has rectangular openings spaced at regular intervals along the length of the track. Cargo restraints, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,846, are attached to the E-track by inserting a connector (typically a T-shaped sheet metal bracket) into one of the rectangular openings. A second connector is inserted into a second one of the rectangular openings. A cargo strap, extending between the two E-track connectors is wrapped around the cargo and drawn tight. The tension on the cargo strap keeps the E-track connectors tight against the E-track so that they cannot twist out of the opening or rattle loose while applying a restraining force to the cargo. 
     Because E-track connectors rely on tension to keep the E-track connectors in place, they are not generally well-suited for securing an item to the wall or floor of the truck cargo bed. For example, a class II or similar fire extinguisher typically comes with a wall-mount bracket, which rigidly secures the fire extinguisher to the wall while providing a quick-release in the event the fire extinguisher is needed. If the fire extinguisher is secured to the E-track using a single E-track connector, the lack of tension on the E-track connector will allow the fire extinguisher to rattle against the wall and possibly shake loose. If the fire extinguisher is secured to the E-track using to conventional E-track connectors and a strap, the fire extinguisher will be secured but cannot be quickly released in the event the fire extinguisher is needed. Accordingly, what is needed is an E-track mounting adapter that is capable of providing a rigid mounting point so that a fire extinguisher or other equipment can be mounted without the necessity of maintaining external tension on the E-track connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises an E-track mounting adapter that is capable of providing a rigid mounting point. According to an illustrative embodiment, the E-track mounting adapter comprises a face plate and a jaw member, which is attached to the face plate by one or more threaded fasteners. The jaw member comprises a generally cuboid body, however, the front face of the jaw member has two steps near each end and the back face has a bevel at each end. The steps and bevel cooperate to enable the jaw member to be inserted through the rectangular opening of the E-track into the narrow confines between the web of the E-track and the side or floor of the cargo bed. Once inserted, the steps center the jaw member vertically within the rectangular opening so that the face plate can be attached without the jaw member dropping into the space behind the E-track. The raised portions of the jaws preferably include female threads adapted to receive threaded fasteners for fastening an object to the E-track. Preferably the raised portions of the jaws are formed so that they are slightly shorter than the thickness of the web of the E-track. This is so that when an object is secured to the adapter, the fasteners themselves cause the adapter to forcefully squeeze the E-track between the jaw and the face plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like references designate like elements and, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular cargo track mounting adapter system incorporating features of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of the jaw and face plate members of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1  in an unassembled position; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1  in a partially assembled position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1  in a more fully assembled position; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of the jaw and face plate members of an alternative embodiment of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed view of the jaw and face plate members of another alternative embodiment of the modular cargo track mounting adapter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a vehicle with a modular cargo track mounting adapter system incorporating features of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a modular cargo track mounting adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The drawing figures are intended to illustrate the general manner of construction and are not necessarily to scale. In the detailed description and in the drawing figures, specific illustrative examples are shown and herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawing figures and detailed description are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but are merely illustrative and intended to teach one of ordinary skill how to make and/or use the invention claimed herein and for setting forth the best mode for carrying out the invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a popular modular cargo restraint system known as “E-track” comprises a winged channel member  10 , usually formed of 12 Ga (0.108 inch thick) galvanized steel. Winged channel member  10  has a web  12  having a web width  14 , which is typically about 4 inches. Winged channel member  10  has a pair of flanges  16 ,  18  each of which has a flange height  20  (the distance from mounting surface to the back side of web  12 ), which is typically about ½ inch. Winged channel member  10  also has a pair of wings  22 ,  24  each of which has a winged width  26 , also typically about ½ inch. The winged channel member  10  is typically secured to the wall or floor of a vehicle (not shown) by means of screws, rivets or other conventional fasteners extending through holes  28  formed in wings  22  and  24 . The winged channel member  10  includes a plurality of regularly-spaced rectangular openings  30 , which typically are oriented so that the long side  32  of rectangular opening  30  is transverse to the longitudinal axis  34  of winged channel member  10  and the short side  36  of rectangular opening  30  is parallel to the longitudinal axis  34  of winged channel member  10 . However in certain installations the orientation is rotated 90 degrees. As noted herein before, when used in a conventional manner, E-track connectors are inserted into two of the rectangular openings  30  and a strap connected between the E-track connectors is drawn tight to secure a load between the connectors and also to prevent the connectors themselves from rattling. 
     A modular cargo track mounting adapter  40  incorporating features of the present invention includes a faceplate  42  and a jaw member  44 . Faceplate  42  may be formed of any suitable material and in any suitable thickness but in the illustrative embodiment faceplate  42  is formed of 10-12ga steel, preferably zinc plated, having a thickness  46  of approximately 0.138 inches. Faceplate  42  has a front surface  48 , which provides a rigid flat mounting surface as described more fully hereinafter. Faceplate  42  further includes a back surface  50 , which bears against the front face  80  of web  12  when cargo track mounting adapter  40  is installed. Faceplate  42  preferably has a width dimension  52  that is wider than the short side  36  of rectangular opening  30  or a height dimension  54  that is longer than the long side  32  of rectangular opening  30 , so that faceplate  42  will not pass through rectangular opening  30  when loaded in that direction. 
     With additional reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , jaw member  44  comprises a substantially cuboid body  56  with a front face  58 , a back face  60 , a top end  62 , a bottom end  64 , and two parallel sides  66  and  68 . Jaw member  44  is formed so that the length dimension  70  between top end  62  and bottom end  64  is greater than the long side  32  of rectangular opening  30 , so that jaw member  44  will not pass through rectangular openings  30  when loaded in that direction. Jaw member  44  includes a first raised portion  72  that extends above front face  58  to form a step in the profile of jaw member  44  at both ends. The height  74  of raised portion  72  above front face  58  is selected to be no more than the thickness “t” of web  12  of channel member  10 , and the length dimension  76  between outside walls  84  and  86  of raised portion  72  is selected to be no more than the long side  32  of rectangular openings  30 . The thickness  82  of jaw member  44  between back face  60  and raised portion  72  is selected to be less than flange height  20  of channel member  10 . 
     Jaw member  44  further includes a second raised portion  88 , which in the illustrative embodiment contains apertures  92 ,  94  which are threaded to receive a conventional threaded fastener. The height  118  of second raised portion  88  is selected to be no more than the thickness  46  of faceplate  42  plus the thickness “t” of web  12 . Raised portion  88  may optionally have a recess  90  formed therein and may include an additional threaded aperture  96 . Raised portion  88  together with a recess  90  forms a pair of bosses  102 ,  104  which correspond with apertures  106 ,  108  formed in faceplate  42 . Jaw member  44  further includes bevels  98 ,  100  formed in back surface  60 . Bevels  98 ,  100  are formed so that the distance “d” measured perpendicular to bevels  98 ,  100  taken from bevels  98 ,  100  to the surface of raised portion  72  is less than flange height  20  of channel member  10 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , a modular cargo track mounting adapter  40  incorporating features of the present invention is assembled to channel member  10  by inserting one end of jaw member  44  through one of the plurality of rectangular openings  30  into the recess behind web  12  until outside wall  110  comes to rest against short side  36  of rectangular opening  30  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The distance between outside wall  110  of second raised portion  88  and bottom end  64  is no more than the long side  32  of rectangular openings  30 . Accordingly jaw member  44  can be rotated completely through rectangular opening  30  into the position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment, with jaw member  44  rotated into position, the overall thickness  116  prevents jaw member  44  from falling completely into the cavity. It then may be moved into the position as shown in  FIG. 5  with front face  58  of jaw member  44  bearing against rear surface  78  of channel member  10 . In this position, the length dimension  76  between outside walls  84  and  86  of first raised portion  72  centers jaw member  44  within rectangular opening  30 . Faceplate  42  may then be optionally attached with a flathead screw  114  threaded into aperture  96 . Because the height  74  of first raised section  72  is less than the thickness “t” of channel member  10 , channel member  10  is held firmly between jaw  44  and faceplate  42 . A bracket, for example fire extinguisher bracket  120  is then attached with conventional threaded fasteners  122 ,  124 . Because the height  118  of second raised portion  88  is less than the thickness  46  of faceplate  42  plus the thickness “t” of web  12 , (and since the height  74  of the first raise portion is less than the thickness “t” of web  12 ) threaded fasteners  122 ,  124  add additional squeeze to channel member  10  between jaw  44  and faceplate  42  when bracket  120  is tightened onto faceplate  42 . This additionally secures mounting bracket  120  to channel member  10  to withstand the roughest environments, for example when mounted in the bed of an off road vehicle  132  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the invention. For example although in the illustrative embodiment the flange  18  has a linear cross section, flange  18  may have a Z cross section or other nonlinear shape prior to joining web  12 . Also, although in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  second raised portion  88  is threaded to receive a conventional threaded fastener other fasteners including for example rivets or threaded stud extending from raised portion may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. Similarly although in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  second raised portion  88  is substantially rectangular and therefore raised bosses  102  and  104  are substantially rectangular or square, as shown in  FIG. 6 , raised portion  72   a  may have a curvilinear profile to form circular raised bosses  102   a  and  104   a . Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 7 , recess  90  may be omitted so that raised portion  72   b  is a single rectangular surface in which case aperture  106   b  in faceplate  42   b  is also rectangular. Additionally although the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  contemplates a face plate that bears on the front surface  80  of web  12 , a face plate that bears on the slanted flaps that form of openings  30 , and therefore is mounted flush with surface  80  is within the scope of the invention. Finally, although the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  contemplate optional use of a flathead screw  114  threaded into aperture  96  as a means of retaining modular cargo track adapter  40  to channel member  10 , an alternative means is shown in  FIG. 9 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , faceplate  42   c  comprises a post  142  having a groove adapted to receive a conventional retaining ring  144 . Jaw member  44   c  is formed with a recess  146  and a bore  148 . Faceplate  42   c  is assembled to jaw member  44   c  by inserting post  142  through bore  148 . A compression spring  140  is placed over post  142  and retained by retaining ring  144 . Cargo track adapter  40   c  is attached to channel member  10  by pressing against raised portions  88   c  to compress spring  140 . Once cargo track adapter  40   c  is in place, the force of spring  140  prevents cargo track adapter  40   c  from falling out of place. Securing a load to cargo track adapter  40   c  by threading into threaded apertures  92   c  and  94   c  then clamps jaw member  44   c  tightly to channel member  10 . 
     Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law. Additionally, as used herein, references to direction such as “up” or “down” are intend to be exemplary and are not considered as limiting the invention and, unless otherwise specifically defined, the terms “generally,” “substantially,” or “approximately” when used with mathematical concepts or measurements mean within ±10 degrees of angle or within 10 percent of the measurement, whichever is greater. As used herein, a step of “providing” a structural element recited in a method claim means and includes obtaining, fabricating, purchasing, acquiring or otherwise gaining access to the structural element for performing the steps of the method. As used herein, the claim terms are to be given their broadest reasonable meaning unless a clear disavowal of that meaning appears in the record in substantially the following form (“As used herein the term  ——————  is defined to mean  —————— ”)