Safety chain tie down apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10843513-B2
Application number	US-201815936583-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2018
Priority date	Oct 2, 2013
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A tie down apparatus for securing an item is shown and described herein. The tie down apparatus may include first and second body members, where the first body member is configured to be located and rotated about a first axis within a first receiving member and the second body member is configured to be located and rotated about a second axis within a second receiving member. The tie down apparatus may also include first and second locking members each extending through the first and second body members, respectively, where rotating the first and second body members about the respective first and second axes engages the first and second locking members and generally prevents removal of the first and second body members from the first and second receiving member, and a safety chain holding member selectively engaged with either of the first and second body members.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A tie down apparatus for securing an item, the tie down apparatus comprising:
a first body member;
first and second mounting members extending through at least a portion of the first body member, wherein the first mounting member is configured to be located and rotated about a first axis within a first receiving member and the second mounting member is configured to be located and rotated about a second axis within a second receiving member;
first and second locking members each extending from the first and second mounting members, respectively, wherein rotating the first and second mounting members about the respective first and second axes engages the first and second locking members and generally prevents removal of the first and second mounting members from the first and second receiving members;
a safety chain holding member formed in the first body member contoured to secure a safety chain;
a second body member;
third and fourth mounting members extending through at least a portion of the second body member;
third and fourth locking members each extending from the third and fourth mounting members, respectively, wherein the third and fourth locking members generally prevent removal of the third and fourth mounting members from third and fourth receiving members; and
a second safety chain holding member formed in the second body member contoured to secure the safety chain, wherein the first body member is not directly attached with the second body member.

2. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second handles attached with the first and second mounting members, respectively.

3. The tie down apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first handle is configured to rotate the first mounting member about the first axis.

4. The tie down apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second handle is configured to rotate the second mounting member about the second axis.

5. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the safety chain holding member includes a safety chain engaging portion and a safety chain locking portion.

6. The tie down apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the safety chain locking portion is configured to generally prevent removal of a hook from the safety chain holding member.

7. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the safety chain holding member is configured to operatively handle a load of at least 30,000 pounds.

8. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting member and second mounting member are of substantially a similar configuration.

9. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second receiving members are of substantially a similar configuration.

10. A tie down apparatus for securing an item, the tie down apparatus comprising:
a body member contoured to secure a safety chain; and
a first mounting member extending from the body member, wherein the first mounting member is configured to be received by a first receiving member whereby rotating the first mounting member about a first axis selectively engages the first mounting member with the first receiving member;
a second mounting member extending through the body member, wherein the second mounting member is configured to be received by a second receiving member whereby rotating the second mounting member about a second axis selectively engages the second mounting member with the second receiving member,
wherein the first and second mounting members being engaged to the first and second receiving members, respectively generally prevents axial movement of the body member;
a second body member contoured to secure the safety chain;
a third mounting member extending from the second body member, wherein the third mounting member is configured to be received by a third receiving member;
a fourth mounting member extending through the second body member, wherein the fourth mounting member is configured to be received by a fourth receiving member,
wherein the third and fourth mounting members being engaged to the third and fourth receiving members, respectively generally prevents axial movement of the second body member; and
wherein the body member and second body member are not directly attached to one another.

11. The tie down apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first mounting member is fixed relative to the body.

12. The tie down apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second mounting members include first and second locking members, respectively to selectively engage the respective first and second receiving members.

13. The tie down apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a handle that extends from the second mounting member configured to rotate the second mounting member relative to the body to operatively secure the second mounting member to the second receiving member.

14. The tie down apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the handle is configured to be operatively secured to the body when the second locking member is engaged to the second receiving member.

15. A tie down apparatus for securing an item, the tie down apparatus comprising:
a body member contoured to secure a safety chain thereto, the body member including first and second apertures;
first and second mounting members extending through the first and second apertures, respectively, wherein the first and second mounting members are configured to be received by first and second receiving members, respectively;
first and second handles operatively secured with the first and second mounting members, respectively, wherein rotating the first and second handles about first and second axes, respectively engages the first and second mounting members to the first and second receiving members generally preventing axial movement of the body member relative to the first and second receiving members;
a second body member contoured to secure the safety chain thereto;
third and fourth mounting members extending through the second body member, wherein the third and fourth mounting members are configured to be received by third and fourth receiving members, respectively; and
wherein the body member and second body member are not directly attached to one another.

16. The tie down apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second mounting members include first and second locking members, respectively to selectively engage the first and second receiving members.

17. The tie down apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second mounting members are attached with first and second handles, respectively.

18. The tie down apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first and second handles are operatively engaged with the body member.

19. The tie down apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first and second handles are operatively secured to one another as the first and second mounting members are operatively engaged to the first and second receiving members.

20. The tie down apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the body member further comprises a channel that is configured to receive the first and second handles therein as the first and second mounting members are operatively engaged to the first and second receiving members.

21. The tie down apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the body member includes a third aperture configured to operatively accept the safety chain.

22. The tie down apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the third aperture includes a reinforced area whereby the safety chain is operatively engageable.

23. The tie down apparatus of

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Mccoy Richard

Classifications

• B60D1/06

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/28 Primary

  for preventing unwanted disengagement, e.g. safety appliances · CPC title

• B60D1/488

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title