Abstract:
A mounting fastener comprises a piston having an extendable and retractable piston head. The piston head is mounted in a through bore defined by a first surface to allow slidable movement of the piston head in relation to the first surface along an axis of the through bore. A second surface is configured to overlie and mate with the first surface. The second surface defines a through opening disposed along the second surface such that the through opening is brought into registration with the through bore when the second surface is mated with said first surface. The through opening is sized to receive and engage the piston head. Thus, mating of the first and second surfaces and engagement of the piston head by the second surface secures the second surface against movement along the piston central axis and along the first surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/701,076, filed on Sep. 14, 2012, incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0004]    The invention relates to fasteners, and more particularly, to a mounting fastener which is useful, for example, in mounting one or more items to a surface, such as for example to a deck of a marine vessel. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The use of fasteners to secure a load to a surface is known in the art. For example, in the use of marine vessels, it is often desirable to place a load, such as for example a loaded container, pallet, rack, frame, heavy object or bundle of objects, or other such item (hereinafter “load”), on a deck of the marine vessel for transportation or for use by the marine vessel. It is often desirable that such loads be capable of being quickly placed on the deck, and if necessary, quickly removed therefrom. In several applications, it is further desirable to secure the load against movement away from or along the deck, for example to limit shifting or other movement of the load during operation of the marine vessel in a body of water. 
         [0007]    Oscillating movement of the marine vessel deck in various directions, which is often created by waves encountered by the marine vessel as the marine vessel moves through water, often results in several challenges in securing loads along deck surfaces of a marine vessel. In order to secure loads against movement in all directions along the deck as well as away from the deck, large amounts of lashings, chains, netting, or other such devices are often used. However, such lashings and/or netting often restrict access to the load, such that quick access to and utilization of items comprising the load by the marine vessel is often limited. Traditional fasteners such as nut and bolt fasteners may be used, however, such traditional fasteners often limit the speed at which such loads may be placed on and secured to, or unsecured and removed from, the deck. Thus, there is a need in the art for a mounting fastener which is capable of quickly securing a load to a surface, and which allows for speedy release and removal of the load from the surface. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to several features of the present general inventive concept, a mounting fastener may be provided which is useful in securing a load to a surface. In certain embodiments, the mounting fastener may comprise a piston having an extendable and retractable piston head, the piston head defining a T-shaped cross-section along a central axis of the piston head, and a first surface defining a through bore. Such piston may be, for example, a hydraulic piston. The piston head may be mounted within the through bore for slidable movement in relation to the first surface along an axis of the through bore. The mounting fastener may further comprise a second surface configured to overlie and mate with the first surface, the second surface defining a through opening disposed along the second surface such that the through opening is brought into registration with the through bore when the second surface is mated with the first surface, the through opening being sized to receive and engage the piston head. Thus, mating of the first and second surfaces and engagement of the piston head by the second surface may secure the second surface against movement along the piston central axis and along the first surface. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, the first surface may have a contoured shape, and the second surface may conform to the first surface. For example, in certain embodiments, the mounting fastener may comprise a first member defining a tapered depression on a first surface thereof and a through bore at a central location along the first depression, the through bore opening to a second surface of the first member opposite the first surface. A piston may be provided having a piston head mounted within the through bore for slidable movement in relation to the first member along an axis of the through bore, and a second member may be provided defining a protrusion sized and shaped to mate with the tapered depression. The second member may further define a through opening sized to receive the piston head to allow engagement of the piston head by the second member. Thus, mating of the protrusion with the tapered depression and engagement of the piston head by the second member may secure the second member against movement along the through bore axis and along the first member first surface. In certain embodiments, the depression may have a substantially rectangular, tapered shape. 
         [0010]    In certain embodiments, the piston head may be rotatable along a central axis thereof in relation to the first member between a first rotational position and a second rotational position. The piston head may further have a T-shaped cross-section along the piston head central axis. The first member may further define a second, oblong depression extending partially along an axial dimension of the through bore. The oblong depression may cooperate with a portion of the through bore to define a cavity keyed to the piston head. Thus, the piston head may be receivable within the cavity at a first rotational position of the piston head. 
         [0011]    The through opening of the second member may, in certain embodiments, have an oblong shape corresponding to the oblong depression. Thus, the through opening may be positioned to align with the oblong depression in the first member along an axial dimension of the through bore when the protrusion is mated with the tapered depression. In some embodiments, the piston head may be retractable within the through bore at a first rotational position of the piston head. In some embodiments, the piston head may be extendable through the oblong depression and the through opening in the first rotatable position and rotatable to the second position. The piston head may be non-retractable through the through opening in the second rotatable position. In certain embodiments, the second member may define a first surface thereof opposite the protrusion. The second member first surface may define a blind bore extending from the second member first surface to the through opening. This blind bore may have a diameter greater than or equal to a long dimension of the through opening and the oblong depression, thus providing access to the piston head when the piston head is received into the blind bore. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above-mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a mounting latch constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway perspective view of the mounting latch of  FIG. 1 , showing the second member in engagement with the first member; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a partial cutaway perspective view of the mounting latch of  FIG. 2 , showing the piston head extended and in the first rotational position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a partial cutaway perspective view of the mounting latch of  FIG. 3 , showing the piston head extended and in the second rotational position; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partially exploded perspective view of a platform incorporating one embodiment of a mounting latch constructed in accordance with several features of the present general inventive concept, together with a load to be secured along the platform. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    A latch which is useful, for example, in securing a load to a surface, such as for example a cargo container or other load to a deck of a marine vessel, is disclosed herein and in the accompanying figures. The latch provides positive engagement between two fastener members which may be quickly and conveniently engaged to one another and/or quickly released therefrom. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate one embodiment of a fastener  10  suitable for use in securing a load to a platform. Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, the fastener  10  includes a first member  12  defining a first surface  14  which is adapted to mate with and engage a first surface  16  of a second member  18  to establish a releasable connection thereto. The first member  12  is defined in the illustrated embodiment by a first block having an upper surface  14  defining a substantially rectangular and tapered depression  20 . A through bore  22  is defined at a central location along the tapered depression  20  and opens to a lower surface of the first member  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, an upper portion of the through bore  22  defines an oblong depression  24  having a depth extending partially along an axial dimension of the through bore  22 . The oblong depression  24  has a long dimensional width extending along the surface of the tapered depression  20  defined by the first member  12 . A central location of the tapered depression  20  is in registration with a central axis of the through bore  22 . Thus, the oblong depression  24  cooperates with the through bore  22  to define a cavity having a generally T-shaped cross-section along an axial dimension of the through bore  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first member  12  comprises an upper member  26 , which generally defines the upper surface  14  of the first member  12  and the oblong depression  24 , and a lower member  28 , which defines the remainder of the through bore  22 . The upper and lower members  26 ,  28  are arranged in an overlying, stacked configuration, such that the central location of the oblong depression  24  is brought into registration with the central axis of the through bore  22 , and joined by means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Other means for forming the first member  12  will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0020]    A piston  30  is received within the through bore  22  and is configured for slidable movement generally along the central axis of the through bore  22 . The piston  30  defines a head portion  32  having a T-shaped cross-section which is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity formed by the oblong depression  24  and the through bore  22 , such that the piston head  32  is capable of extending from the through bore  22  into the region above the tapered depression  20  and retracting from above the tapered depression  20  and into the through bore  22  and the oblong depression  24 . In the illustrated embodiment, the piston  30  defines a generally cylindrical housing  34  having an externally threaded surface  36 . The externally threaded surface  36  of the housing  34  is sized to threadably mate with an internally threaded surface  38  of the lower member  28 , such that the housing  34  may be fastened within the through bore  22 . In this configuration, the piston head  32  extends generally upwardly through the through bore  22  and into the oblong depression  24  of the upper member  26 . 
         [0021]    As discussed above, the piston head  32  is configured to extend from the housing  34  into the region above the tapered depression  20  and retract from above the tapered depression  20  and into the through bore  22  and the oblong depression  24 . In several embodiments, the piston  32  is a hydraulic piston, such that slidable movement of the piston head  32  is actuated through movement of fluid into an interior of the housing  34 , thereby driving the piston head  32  outwardly from within the housing  34 , and conversely, through movement of fluid from an interior of the housing  34 , thereby drawing the piston head into the housing  34 . However, it will be recognized that the piston  30  may be any of a number of piston types known in the art, such as for example a hydraulic or pneumatic piston, a spring-biased piston, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present general inventive concept. In several embodiments, the piston  30  is biased toward retraction within the through bore  22  and the oblong depression  24 , as by a spring bias, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, or other such device. However, such bias is not necessary to accomplish the present general inventive concept. 
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment, the second member  18  is defined by a second block having a lower surface  16  defining a substantially rectangular and tapered protrusion  40  which is generally shaped to conform to and mate with the tapered depression  20  of the first member  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, a top surface  42  of the second member  18  defines a blind bore  44  extending generally downwardly toward the second block lower surface  16  and having a diameter greater than or equal to the long dimension of the oblong depression  24  of the first member  12  and corresponding T-shaped head portion  32  of the piston  30 . An oblong through opening  46  is defined on a base surface of the blind bore  44  having dimensions approximately equal to the dimensions of the oblong depression  24  and opening to the lower surface  16  of the second member  18 . The oblong through opening  46  is disposed along the second member  18  such that, when the protrusion  40  is received in mating engagement with the tapered depression  20 , the oblong through opening  46  is brought into substantial registration with the oblong depression  24 . 
         [0023]    According to several features of the present general inventive concept, the piston head  32  is rotatable between a first position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), in which the T-shaped piston head  32  is aligned to mate with the oblong depression  24  and the through opening  22 , and a second position ( FIG. 4 ), in which the T-shaped piston head  32  is out of alignment, such that the T-shaped piston head  32  is not able to mate with the oblong depression  24  and the through opening  22 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the piston head  32  is positioned in the first position and retracted into the oblong depression  24  and through opening  20 , the protrusion  40  of the second member  18  may be received within the tapered depression  20  of the first member  12 , such that the oblong through opening  46  is brought into substantial registration with the oblong depression  24 . In this configuration, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the piston head  32  may be extended along the central axis of the through bore  22  such that the piston head  32  extends through the oblong through opening  46  and into the blind bore  44 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the piston head  32  may then be turned about the long dimension of the piston head  32  to the second position (approximately  90  degrees in the illustrated embodiment), such that the T-shape of the piston head  32  no longer aligns with the oblong through opening  46  and oblong depression  24 , and therefore cannot be slidably withdrawn from the blind bore  46  along the axis of the piston  30 . In this manner, the piston head  32  serves to lock the first and second members  12 ,  18  in mating engagement with one another. Conversely, by rotating the piston head  32  to the first position ( FIG. 3 ), the piston head  32  may be retracted into the oblong depression  24  and through bore  22  of the first member  12 , thereby allowing the second member  18  to be disengaged from the first member  12 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in several embodiments, a plurality of first fastener members  12  are provided at selected locations along a platform  48 . It will be recognized that the platform  48  may form a portion of any surface to which it is desirable to attach a load  50 , such as for example the deck of a marine vessel. An equal number of second fastener members  18  are provided at selected locations along an underside of a load  50 , such that each fastener member  18  of the load  50  aligns with and mates with a first fastener member  12  of the platform  48  when the load  50  is placed at a desired location on the platform  48 . Upon placement of the load  50  on the platform  48  with each first fastener member  12  in mating engagement with a corresponding second fastener member  18 , each piston  30  of each first fastener member  12  may be actuated and rotated to the second position, as described above, to lock each second fastener member  18  in mating engagement with a corresponding first fastener member  12 . In this manner, at least a portion of the various first and second fastener members  12 ,  18  may cooperate to releasably secure the load  50  in place on the platform  48 , and to at least discourage, and preferably prevent, movement of the load  50  in relation to the platform  48 . In several embodiments, each fastener  10  is in operative communication with suitable controls (not shown), which are provided to allow selective locking and/or unlocking of the fasteners  10  from a location remote from the load  50  and platform  48 , such as for example from within a wheelhouse or other operative location of a marine vessel, or from another remote location. 
         [0025]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.