Patent ID: 7125212

Claim:
A skid assembly for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place, the cargo locking system comprising a plurality of elongate tracks attached to a top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor, and a retractable locking device which is movable between two positions, 1) a retracted position wherein the retractable locking device is substantially retracted so as to permit the skid assembly to move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, and 2) an engaged position wherein at least one locking pin of the retractable locking device is extended above the top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor to prevent the skid assembly from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, the skid assembly comprising: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface; a plurality of side extensions for slideably engaging at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, a plurality of side extensions being spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface such that the skid assembly can freely move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the retracted position, and such that the skid assembly is restrained from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the engaged position; a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fittings to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively.