Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the cargo restraint art and more particularly to a latch arrangement for restraining the horizontal and vertical movement of cargo in vehicles such as aircraft, trucks, railroad freight cars and the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the above mentioned transportation of cargo by various vehicles such as cargo aircraft, vehicular trucks, railroad freight cars and the like it is often necessary to restrain the cargo from undesired movement during the transportation. In many applications, flexible cargo straps secured to the structure of the vehicle and wrapped around the cargo with the ends of the straps secured together have heretofore been utilized. Such flexible straps have not always been successful in restraining variously configured cargos against all undesired movements. 
     In other applications, mechanical devices have been utilized for cargo restraint in vehicles, such as cargo loads mounted on pallets. The restraints for such pallet type mounted cargo have proven to be satisfactory, but in many transportation vehicles special tracks, generally of a pre-designated configuration, are provided as mounted on or embedded in the load bearing surfaces such as the deck, side walls, bulkheads and even on the roofs of the cargo carrying vehicle and the cargo load is positioned over the tracks. Since the cargo loads may be in a regular, such as rectangular configuration as well as an irregular configuration, there have often been applications where cargo restraints are required to be in contact with the load both in an aligned array as well as a non-aligned array. In some prior restraint devices heretofore proposed for use with restraining cargo in vehicles equipped with known track configurations, the restraint devices were difficult to mount on or in connection with the track as well as remove from the track. Further, in such devices when the device was idle in the track and not in use for restraining the cargo, the devices would have some relative movement with respect to the track and/or the surface supporting the track. Such relative movement often created rattling type noises in the transportation vehicle as well as possible undue wear or breakage of the device or damage to the vehicle structure or track. 
     Thus, it has long been desired to provide a cargo restraint that can provide restraint for any configuration of a cargo mounted in a transportation vehicle in which standardized tracks are mounted on one or more of the cargo supporting structural surfaces of the vehicle. It has also been long desired to have such restraints that easily installed into and removable from the tracks. It is yet additionally desired that the restraints provide secure restraint of the cargo against undesired movement in any direction depending on the location of the tracks on decks, walls, bulkheads or roofs during transportation. It is even further desired that such restraints may be left in the tracks when not restraining cargo and will not rattle or have undesired relative movement to the track or cargo bearing surface so that there is no rattling of the restraints in order to minimize wear and tear as well as eliminate undesired noise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cargo restraint mountable in transportation vehicles. 
     It is another object of the present invention to proved such a cargo restraint mountable on tracks in the transportation vehicle which tracks are of a known configuration. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a cargo restraint that is easily installed in the track and removable from the tracks and movable along the tracks to a desired location for restating the cargo. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such a restraint that may be securely held in the tracks when not restraining cargo so that there is no relative movement between the restraint and the tracks and/or the surface of the vehicle thereby eliminating rattle and undue wear or damage to the restraint and/or the vehicle. 
     The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved, in a preferred embodiment thereof by providing a movable cargo restraint mounted on a bracket for movement along a rail type track in which the track has a known, generally modified rectangular, tubular cross section with a channel having a plurality of evenly spaced apertures in the top portion of the track extending along the length of the track. The track per se does not form part of the present invention but because of the interrelationship of the restraint of the present invention to the track, the track is described herein in detail to illustrated the environment in which the invention is utilized and to provide a better understanding of the invention. Similarly, the bracket upon which the restraint may be mounted does not form a part of the present invention as the restraint itself may be mounted on a bracket of any desired configuration required to restrain cargo of any desired shape and arranged in any orientation in the vehicle. However, the restraint interacts with the bracket and therefore portions of a bracket are shown and described herein so that the invention maybe more completely understood. 
     Depending on the application, there may be a plurality of the tracks affixed in spaced apart alignment to the surface comprising the base, floor, deck, wall, bulkhead or even the roof or ceiling, or the like, of the vehicle and in any orientation with respect to the direction of gravity, and a plurality of the movable restraints are mounted on the tracks. 
     For purposes of the description of the present invention, the invention is described as providing the restraints movably mounted on a horizontally disposed track which track may be mounted on the surface so that the top surface of the tracks are spaced above the surface of the structure carrying the cargo or the tracks may be embedded in the structure carrying the cargo with the upper surface of the tracks in substantial planar alignment with the cargo carrying surface. However, as noted above, the restraint of the present invention is equally able to be movably mounted on vertical or other oriented tracks. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a single movable restraint according to the principles of the present invention is mounted in a bracket and the restraint and the bracket is movable along the track, the bracket providing the load bearing surface for contact with the cargo to provide the restraining force thereon. The restraint positions the bracket to the desired location on the tracks where the bracket may engage the cargo to provide the restraint thereof. Many configurations of brackets may be utilized in which the restraint may be mounted. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a pair of movable restraints according to the principles of the present invention are positioned in spaced apart, back to back relationship on a bracket which is movable along the tracks. 
     The tracks, on which the restraint of the present invention and the bracket on which the restraint is mounted, have a generally modified box channel cross section. The box channel has a bottom wall, a pair of opposed side walls and a top wall defining an open channel therebetween. The top wall of the track has centrally located connecting passageway of a first transverse width extending along the length of the track and communicating with the channel. A plurality of circular apertures in an evenly spaced apart array are also provided extending through the top wall of the track along the connecting passageway and the apertures have a second transverse width of the diameter thereof greater than the first transverse width of the passageway. The apertures also communicate with the channel. The apertures are circular in plan view. The top wall of the tracks has an inside surface and the inside surface of the top wall is spaced from the inside surface of the bottom wall. The top wall of the track at the connecting passageway between the apertures has a narrower transverse width than the transverse width of the top wall at the apertures so that the inside surface of the top wall at the connecting passageway between the apertures may provide a bearing surface. A plurality of mounting holes may be provided in a spaced array along the bottom wall of the track to allow a connecting member such as a screw to be inserted therethrough to secure the track on or in the surface. 
     The restraint according to the principals of the present invention has three basic positions when mounted on the track of a transportation vehicle. These three positions are the locked position, wherein the restraint and the bracket to which it is coupled is prevented from movement along the track, an engaged position wherein the restraint and the bracket are moveable along the track but the restraint is not fixed into a position on the track and a disengaged position wherein the restraint and the bracket to which it is attached may be readily removed from the track. 
     The restraint, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, is provided with a control and the control member is operatively connected to the other structural elements of the restraint and the control member is movable between the three positions of the restraint so as to manipulate the other structural members of the restraint into and out of the three positions thereof. 
     The control member has a handle portion which may be manually grasped to move the control member between the three positions. The control member has a first end with walls defining a tab accepting aperture extend therethrough. The control member also has a second end which is comprised of a forked portion spaced from the first end. The second end has a pair of spaced apart handle arms and each of the handle arms has an outer surface and an inner surface. Inner walls defining a aligned axle accepting apertures extend through both handle arms from the outer surface through the inner surface, the handle arms also have outer edges defining a plurality if three cam surfaces. A first of the three cam surfaces is a locking cam surface, a second of the three cam surfaces is a disengaging cam surface and the third of the three cam surfaces define an engaging cam surface. 
     A control pin is mounted on the outer surfaces of each of the handle arms and the control pins extend outwardly therefrom. 
     An axle member is positioned in the axle accepting apertures of the handle arms and the handle arms are rotatably movable on the axle member between the three positions of the restraint. The axle member has a body portion between the inner surfaces of the two handle arms and outer portions extending outwardly from the outer surface of the two handle arms to regions external the handle walls. The body portion of the axle member is provided with a radially extending threaded aperture extending therethrough. 
     A tension stud is provided and the tension stud has a circular base portion configured to slidably move in the channel of the track along the connecting passageway thereof and a stem portion that is at least partially threaded extending from the base portion and the threaded portion may threadingly engage the threaded radially extending aperture in the body portion of the axle member and extend therethrough to regions external the axle member. A nut may be placed on the outer end of the threaded portion to aid in restraining the tension stud in the desired position in the axle member. The base portion clampingly engages the inside surface of the top wall of the track for the restraint in the locked position thereof to prevent relative movement of the restraint and the bracket to which it is attached along the track. The base member is free of clamping engagement with the track so as to be able to move in the channel of the track as the tension stud moves along the connecting passageway for the restraint in the engaged position and the disengaged position. The base portion of the tension stud has a diameter dimension that is less than the diameter dimension of the apertures in the track so that the base portion may be placed into the track as well as removed from the track at any of the apertures thereof for the condition of the base portion aligned with one of the apertures in the track. 
     A hat shaped bottom washer is mounted on the stem portion of the tension stud and has a washer portion and a tubular portion. The bottom surface of the washer portion of the hat shaped bottom washer is in bearing engagement with a surface of the bracket. A top washer is mounted on the stem portion of the tension stud and the top surface of the top washer is in bearing engagement with the cam surfaces of the handle arms. 
     A spring member is mounted on the stem portion of the tension stud between the top washer and the bottom washer and, in preferred embodiments of the present invention the spring member is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed spring washers. 
     A lift arm is provided and the lift arm has a first end wall and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from the first end wall to a second end. The first end wall and the spaced apart side walls of the lift arm have a top surface and a bottom surface. A tab portion extends from the top surface of the first end of the lift arm and the tab portion is movable into and out of the tab accepting aperture in the handle portion of the control member and tab extends into the tab accepting aperture for the restraint in the locked position thereof and free of penetration into the tab accepting aperture for the restraint in the engaged position and the disengaged position, thereof. Each of the spaced apart side walls of the lift arm have walls defining aligned back slots extending therethrough and a first preselected direction towards the first end of the lift arm The back slots extend in a first direction and each have a back end and a front end. The outer portions of the axle member extend through the back slots of the lift arm to position the spaced apart side walls of the lift arm adjacent the outer surfaces of the spaced apart handle arms and the lift arm may rotate on the axle member as well as move in limited reciprocating motion for the outer portions of the axle member moving between positions adjacent the back ends of the back slots in the lift arms and the front ends of the back slots in the lift arm. 
     The bottom surface of the spaced apart side walls of the lift arm also have a guide surface extending upwardly towards the top surface in a second direction different from the first direction from regions adjacent the second end of the lift arm toward the first end of the lift arm and the guide surface. The guide surfaces have a blocking tab in regions adjacent the first end thereof. The guide surface is operatively engageable with the control pins on the outer surfaces of the spaced apart handle arms of the control member so that the control pins slide therealong. 
     The lift arm has walls defining a pair of aligned lift slots in the spaced apart side walls of the lift arm and the lift slots extend in a direction substantially parallel to the second direction of the guide surface. The lift slots have a first end and a second end. 
     A plunger member is provided and the plunger member has a plunger head that is sized to fit into the apertures in the track and a plunger stem extending upwardly therefrom. The plunger stem has a radially extending pin accepting aperture therethrough in regions adjacent a top end of the plunger stem. A pin member extends through the lift slots in the lift arms and through the pin accepting aperture in the plunger stem. The pin member has a head on one end thereof adjacent the outer surface of one of the spaced apart side walls of the lift member and a cotter pin accepting aperture on the other end thereof adjacent the outer surface of the other of the side walls of the lift arm. A washer is provided between the cotter pin accepting aperture and the outside surface of the adjacent side wall of the lift arm. 
     The plunger member moves reciprocatingly towards and away from the track and the plunger head is positioned in one of the apertures of the track to project into the channel of the track for the restraint in the locked position thereof and free of projection into an aperture of the track for the restraint in the engaged position and the disengaged position of the restraint. The plunger stem extends through a wall of the bracket on which the restraint is mounted and a compression spring is mounted on the plunger stem between the plunger head and the wall of the bracket. The compression spring urges the plunger head into the aperture of the track and resists movement of the plunger head from the aperture in the track 
     The plunger is spaced from the tension stud a preselected distance that is different from the spacing of the apertures in the track. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the spacing of the plunger from the tension stud is one and one half times the spacing of the apertures in the track. Such spacing of the plunger from the tension stud insures that for the condition if the plunder head in the aperture of the track the base portion will be aligned with the inner surface of the top wall of the track between the apertures in the track and can bear against the inner surface of the connecting passageway for the restraint in the locked position thereof. 
     The restraint is mounted on the track adjacent the cargo load to be restrained with the control member in the upright position thereof, that is, perpendicular to the track and such position defines the disengaged position thereof to allow insertion and removal from the track. The base portion of the tension stud is inserted through one of the apertures in the track. The handle is then moved from the disengaged position to the engaged position wherein the control member is at about a 45 degree angle to the track and the lower surface of the plunger head is in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the top wall of the track. The restraint is moved along the track in either direction and the lower surface of the plunger head slides along the outer surface of the top wall of the track. The plunger head will find the next aperture in the track and, under the influence of the compression spring, the plunger head will drop into the aperture in the track. With the plunger head in the aperture in the track, because of the difference in spacing between the apertures in the track and the distance between the plunger and the tension stud, the base portion of the tension stud is thus aligned with the inner surface of the top wall of the track, between the apertures. The control member may then be moved into the locked position substantially parallel to the track. 
     For the restraint in the disengaged position thereof, the disengaging cam surface of the handle arms of the control member bears against the upper surface of the top washer mounted on the stem portion of the tension stud and the spring member is released from tension so that the base portion of the tension stud may slide in the channel of the track. In the disengaged position control pins are at the second end of the guide surface and the outer portions of the axle member is at the back end of the back slots in the spaced apart side walls of the lift member. In the disengaged position of the restraint, the headed pin is at the lower end of the lift slots in the side walls of the lift member. The guide surface of the lift member and the lift slots extend in substantially the same angular orientation for example 45 degrees from the plane of the track. 
     When the control member is rotatingly moved on the axle member into the engaged position, the control pins move along the guide surface towards the front end thereof and the headed pin moves in the lift slots towards the first end of the lift arm and the engaging cam surface of the handle arms bears against the upper surface of the top washer. The lift member moves slightly forward on the outer portion of the axle. The spring member is still not compressed and the base portion of the tension stud is free to move along in the channel in the track. When the plunger head is aligned with an aperture in the track the plunger head moves into the aperture under the force of the compression spring. 
     The control member is then moved into the locked position of the restraint. In the locked position of the restraint, the locking cam surface bears against the upper surface of the top washer and compresses the spring against the bracket thereby forcing the base portion of the tension stud into clamping engagement with the inner surface of the top wall of the track. The control pins move along the guide surface toward the second end of the lift member to cause the locking cam surface to move into bearing relationship with the top washer thereby compressing the spring and bringing the base portion of the tension stud into the clamping engagement with the track and preventing any further movement of the restraint with respect to the track which also eliminates the rattle often present in prior restraint arrangements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other objects of the present invention my be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which: 
         FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D illustrate a track useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is exploded view of a restraint according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a tension stud useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate an axle member useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C illustrate a lift arm useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D and  6 E illustrate the assembly of a control member with the axle and the lift arm as utilized in the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a plunger useful in the practice of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a hat shaped washer useful in the practice of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a headed pin useful in the practice of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing, there is shown thereon a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As noted above, even though the track upon which the restraint of the present invention interacts is not part of the present invention but defines the environment in which the restraint operates to provide the desired objects of the present invention, the configuration of the track is described herein.  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  1 C and  1 D illustrate a generally rectangular tubular track on which the restraint of the present invention may be mounted along with the bracket to which the restraint is coupled. The track, generally designated  10 , has a modified, rectangular, tubular box shaped channel configuration. 
     The box channel track  10  has a bottom wall  12 , a pair of opposed side walls  14  and  16  and a top wall  18  defining an interior open channel  20  therebetween. The top wall  18  of the track has a centrally located connecting passageway  22  of a first transverse width W extending along the length of the track  10  and communicating with the channel  20 . A plurality of circular apertures  24  in an evenly spaced apart array indicated at S are also provided extending through the top wall  18  of the track  19  along the connecting passageway  22  and the apertures  24  have a second transverse width of the diameter D 1  thereof greater than the first transverse width W of the passageway  22 . The apertures  24  also communicate with the channel  20 . The apertures  24  are circular in plan view. The top wall  18  of the track  10  has an inside surface  28  and the inside surface  28 ′ of the top wall  18  is spaced from the inside surface  28 ″ of the bottom wall  12 . The top wall  18  of the track  10  at the connecting passageway  22  between the apertures  24  has a narrower transverse width than the transverse width of the top wall  18  at the apertures  24  so that the inside surface  28 ′ of the top wall  18  at the connecting passageway  22  between the apertures  24  may provide a bearing surface. A plurality of mounting holes  30  may be provided in a spaced array along the bottom wall  12  of the track to allow a connecting member such as a screw (not shown) to be inserted therethrough to secure the track on or in the surface upon which it is mounted. In some installations, the outer surface  18 ′ of the top wall  18  may be flush with the surface upon which the cargo to be restrained rests and in other applications the track  10  may be mounted on the surface upon which the cargo to be restrained is positioned with the bottom surface  12 ′ if the bottom wall  12  resting on the surface. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  there is shown an exploded view of a restraint  40  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The track  10  upon which the restraint  40  is mounted is omitted for clarity and only a fragmentary portion of a bracket upon which the restraint is mounted is shown to illustrate the relationship between the restraint  40  and the bracket which must exist in order to utilize the restraint  40 . 
     The restraint  40  has a tension stud  42 , which is described below in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 3A and 3B , having a circular base portion  44  and a threaded stem like connecting portion  46  extending from the base portion  44 . The base portion  44  is adapted to slidingly move in the channel  20  of the track  10 . The base portion  44  has a diameter D 2  that is less than the diameter D 1  of the apertures  24  in the track  10  but provides a transverse distance that is greater than the transverse distance W of the connecting passageway  22  of the track  10 . The base portion  44  of the tension stud  42  fits through the apertures  24  of the track  10  for positioning in the channel  20  of the track  10  during utilization of the restraint  40 . As shown on  FIG. 2 , there is a fragmentary portion of a bracket  52  upon which the restraint  40  is mounted and the bracket  52  has walls defining an aperture  48  through which the threaded connection portion  46  of the tension stub  42  projects. A bottom washer  60  is positioned on the tension stud  42  and the bottom washer  60  may be a hat shaped washer as shown on  FIG. 2  and as described below in greater detail in connection with  FIG. 8 , having a washer portion  62  and a tubular portion  64 . The washer portion  62  has a bottom surface  66  which bears against the surface  50  of the bracket  52 . In some embodiments of the present invention the hat shaped washer  60  may be replaced by a flat washer without the tubular portion  64 . 
     A top washer  68  is mounted on the tubular portion  64  of the hat shaped washer  60  and has an upper surface  70  and a lower surface  72 . A spring member  70  is mounted on the tubular portion  64  of the hat shaped washer  60  and, in preferred embodiments of the present invention the spring member is comprised of a pair of spring washers  76  and  78 . In those embodiments of the present invention wherein the hat shaped bottom washer  60  is replaced by a flat washer, the top washer  70  and the spring member  74  are positioned directly on the connection portion of the  46  of the tension stub  42 . 
     A control member  80  and a lift arm  82  are pivotally mounted on an axle member  84  for pivotal motion in the direction of the arrow  86  as the control member  80  and lift arm  82  move from a locked position as shown  FIG. 2  through the engaged position as described above and to the disengaged position as described above. The interconnection of the control member  80 , the lift arm  82  and the axle  84  is described below in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D and the axle member  84  is described below in greater detail in connection with  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The axle member  84  has a threaded aperture, as shown on  FIGS. 4A and 4B , but not visible on  FIG. 2 , and the threaded connection portion  46  of the tension stud  42  threadingly engages the threaded aperture in the axle member  84 . A nut  89  is provided to threadingly engage the connection portion  46  of the tension stub  42  that projects above the axle member  84  and bears against the axle member  84  to retain the tension stub  42  in place. 
     A plunger  90  is provided and is spaced a preselected distance indicated at L from the tension stud  42 . The distance L is, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, one and one half the spacing S of the apertures  24  in the track  10 . The plunger  90  has a plunger head  92  and a plunger stem  94 . The plunger head  92  has a dimension D 3  that is slightly less than the dimension of the apertures  24  of the track  10  so that the plunger head  92  is adapted to fit into the apertures  24  of the track  10 . For the restraint  40  in the locked position shown in  FIG. 2 , the plunger head  92  is in the channel  20  of the track  10 . For the plunger head in the aperture  24  of the track  10  because of the relationship of the dimensions S and L, for the base portion  44  in the channel  20  of the track  10 , the base portion  44  is aligned with the inside surface  28 ′ of the connecting passageway  22  of the track  10 . The dimension D 2  of the base portion  44  of the tension stem  42  is greater than the distance W of the track  10  at the connecting passageway  22 . 
     A compression spring  98  is mounted on the plunger stem  94  and the lower surface  98 ′ of the compression spring  98  bears against the upper surface  92 ′ of the plunger head  92 . A washer  100  is placed on the plunger stem  94  and abuts the upper surface  98 ″ of the compression spring  98 . The compression spring  98  urges the plunger  94  downwardly in the direction of the arrow  102 . The plunger stem  94  has a pin receiving aperture  104  extending radially therethrough. A headed pin  106 , described in greater detail below in connection with  FIG. 9 , extends through lift slots  108  in the lift arm  82  and through the pin receiving aperture in the plunger stem  94 . The headed pin  106  is retained by cotter pin  110  extending through a cotter pin receiving aperture  106 ′ (shown in  FIG. 9 ) in the headed pin  106 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention the headed pin  106  may be replaced by a straight pin that is press fit into pin receiving aperture  104  of the plunger stem  94 . 
     The plunger stem  94  also passes through an aperture  112  in another wall section  52 ′ of the bracket  52  and the wall section  52 ′ is positioned between the washer  100  and the lower surface  82 ′ of the lift arm  82  so that the lower surface  52   a ′ bears against the washer  100  and the upper surface  52   a ″ bears against a lower surface  82 ′ of the lift arm. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  there is shown thereon the tension stud  42 . The base portion  44  may have the configuration shown on  FIG. 2  or the configuration shown on  FIGS. 3A and 3B , depending upon the particular application. As noted above, the nut  89  threadingly engages the top  46   a  of the threaded connection portion  46 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , there is shown thereon the axle member  84  in a perspective view in  FIG. 4A  and in a plan view in  FIG. 4B . The axle member  84  has a body portion  120  and outer portions  126  and  128 . The control member  80  is rotatably mounted on the body portion  120  and the lift arm  82  is rotatable mounted on the outer portions  126  and  128  for rotation thereon. The body portion  120  has a radially extending threaded aperture  122  extending therethrough and the threaded connection portion  46  of the tension stud  42  threadingly engages the threaded aperture  122  for retention therein. The nut  89  (not shown on  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) bears against the body portion  120  when the nut  89  is tightened on the top  46   a  of the connection portion  46  of the tension stud  46 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, there is shown thereon the lift arm  82 .  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the lift arm  82  and  FIG. 5C  is a top plan view thereof.  FIG. 5B  is view along the line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5C . The lift arm  82  has first end wall  140  and a pair of spaced apart side walls  142  and  144  extending from the first end wall  140  to a second end indicated at  150 . The first end wall  140  and the pair of spaced apart sie walls  142  and  144  have an upper surface  146  and a lower surface  148 . A tab portion  152  extends upwardly from the first end wall  140  and extends into a tab receiving aperture  80 ″ of a handle portion  80 ′ of the control member  80  for the restraint in the locked position thereof, as shown more clearly and described below in connection with  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D and  6 E and free of projecting into the tab receiving aperture  80 ″ for the restraint in the engaged and disengaged positions thereof. Each of the spaced apart side walls  142  and  144  have walls  152 ′ defining aligned back slots  152  and the outer portions  126  and  128  ( FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B ) of the axle member  84  are positioned in the back slots  152 . The lift arm  82 , in addition to rotating on the outer portions  126  and  128  of the axle  84  also has a linear motion from a rear portion  152   a  of the back slots  152  towards a front end  152   b  of the back slots as the control member  80  is moved from the locked position thereof through the engaged position to the disengaged position. The spaced apart side walls  142  and  146  of the lift arm  82  also have a guide surface  154  and walls  160  defining the aligned lift slots  108  located in regions adjacent the first end  140  of the lift arm  82 . The lift slots  108  are angle upwardly at the same angle as the guide surface  154 . As noted above the headed pin  106  extends through the lift slots  108  and through the pin receiving aperture in the plunger  90  ( FIG. 2 ) thereby connecting the plunger  90  as part of the restraint  40  and maintaining the distance L between the plunger  90  and the tension stud  42 , the first end  140  has an upstanding tab  157  that is adapted to fit into the tab receiving aperture  80 ″ in the control member  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D and  6 E there is shown the assembly of the lift arm  82 , the axle  84  and the control member  80 .  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  6 C and  6 D show the restraint in the locked position thereof and  FIG. 6D  shows the restraint in the disengaged position thereof. As shown thereon, the control member  80  has a handle portion  80 ′ which may be manually grasped to move the control member  80  between the locked, engaged and disengaged positions thereof. The handle portion  80 ′ has a first end  170  thereof and the first end  170  has walls  172  defining the tab receiving aperture  80 ″ extending therethrough for receiving the tab  157  of the lift arm  82  for the restraint in the locked position thereof. The control member  80  has a forked portion  174  with a pair of space apart substantially identical handle arms  176  and  178 . Each of the engagement arms  1776  and  178  have inside surfaces  176 ′ and  178 ′, respectively, and outside surfaces  176 ″ and  178 ″, respectively. Each of the handle arms has walls  180  defining axle receiving aperture  182  extending therethrough and the axle member  84  extends through the axle receiving apertures  182  to allow the rotary motion of the control member  80  thereon. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 6E , outer edges  186  of the handle arms  176  and  178  have walls defining three cam surfaces  190 ,  192  and  194 . The cam surface  192  is a locking cam surface and for the restraint  40  in the locked position thereof the cam surface  192  bears down on the top washer  68  ( FIG. 2 ) compressing the springs  76  and  78  thereby forcing the base portion  44  of the of the tension stud  42  into clamping engagement with the inside surface  28 ′ of the track  10  to thereby hold the restraint  40  and the bracket to which it is attached firmly in place as well as eliminating any relative movement of the restrain with respect to track to eliminate any rattling. 
     As the handle portion  170  is rotated upwardly in the direction of the arrow  198 , the engaging cam surface  194  bears on the top washer  68  with less force than exerted by the locked cam surface  192  to release the clamping action of the base  44  in the track  10  and the restraint  40  can move forward an backward on the track  10  until the plunger head  92  is aligned with an aperture  24  of the track  10  and the compression spring  98  pushes the plunger head  92  into the aperture  24  of the track  10  and the handle portion  170  may then be moved into the locked position as shown in  FIG. 6E , or into the disengaged position shown in  FIG. 6D . As the handle  170  is moved further in the direction of the arrow  198  to the disengaged position shown in  FIG. 6D , pins  200  on the outside surfaces  176 ′ and  178 ′ slide along the guide surface  154  which lifts the lift arm  82  for rotation on the outer portions  126  and  28  of the axle member  84 . As the lift arm rotates on the outer portion  126  and  128  of the of the axle member  84  the headed pin  108  moves upwardly in the slots  108  thereby raising the plunger  90  so that the plunder head  92  is free of projection into the aperture  24  of the track  10 . In the disengaged position of the restraint  40 , the restraint may be moved along the track  10  until the base portion  44  of the tension stud is aligned with an aperture  24  of the track  10  and the restraint  40  may lifted out of the track  10 . The axle member  84  may be retained in place by, for example, split ring washers  153  and  155  positioned in grooves  171  ( FIG. 4B ) in the outer portions  126  and  128 . Washers  181  may be placed between the split ring washers  153  and  155  and the spaced apart side walls  142  and  144  of the lift arm  82 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated the plunger  90  as described above in connection with  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated the hat shaped bottom washer  60  as described above in connection with  FIG. 2 . As described above, the hat shaped washer  60  has a washer portion  62  and a tubular portion  64 . The bottom surface  66  is substantially planar for engagement with the surface  50  of the wall portion  52  of the bracket. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the hat shaped washer  60  may be replaced by a flat washer have the configuration of the washer portion  62  but including the tubular portion  64 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9  there is illustrated the headed pin  106  as described above in connection with  FIG. 2 . The headed pin  106  has walls  210  defining a cotter pin aperture  212  extending radially therethrough in regions adjacent the outer end  214 . The cotter pin  110  is positioned in the cotter pin receiving aperture  212  and the washer  111  is positioned on the headed pin  106  between the washer  111  and the side wall  142  of the lift arm  82 . The head  216  of the headed pin  106  bears against the other side wall  144  of the lift arm  82 . The headed pin  106  also extend through the pin receiving aperture  104  of the plunger  90  so that the plunger moves upwardly with the movement of the headed pin  108  moving upwardly in the lift slots  108 . 
     While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been above described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangements disclosed. Those persons knowledgeable in the art may conceive of certain modifications, changes and variations in the detailed embodiments disclosed above as illustrative, to suit particular circumstances or products to be formed. The invention is therefore not intended to be limited to the preferred embodiments depicted, but only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent apparatus and methods to those defined therein

Technology Category: b