Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Rigid members retainer – e.g. – wraparound type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-10-09
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Rigid members retainer, e.g., wraparound type
C410S077000, C410S034000, C410S035000, C410S038000, C182S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299396
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates broadly to apparatus for securing equipment to vehicles and, more particularly, to an apparatus for securing equipment, particularly ladders to an exterior portion of the vehicle with the apparatus being controllable from an interior portion or an exterior portion of the vehicle.
Ladders, hoses and other elongate equipment that may be required at a job site, rescue site or other event can typically be difficult to transport to and from the event. Construction workers, house painters, firemen, rescue personnel and even homeowners may need to transport ladders or other elongate equipment over highways with their vehicle. Typically, the vehicle may be a truck or van. The equipment is typically sufficiently elongate that the ladders or other equipment cannot be carried within the confines of the vehicle body, or the bed of a pick-up truck.
Typically, ladders and other elongate equipment are lashed to an overhead rack with rope, bungee cords, chains or other strandlike elements. Such impromptu tiedown arrangements can provide an unsafe condition when the vehicle is operated on a roadway. Further, should the vehicle be left unattended, the lack of any locking or securing of the ladders can lead to theft.
Danger also exists when placing ladders on the racks. Typically, when bungee cords or ropes are used, the person securing the ladder to the rack must stand on the bumper tires, or other body structure to gain access to the ladders that are disposed on the roof or other elevated portion of the vehicle. Similar safety hazards exist when trying to remove ladders stowed on the ladder rack and lashed down with bungee cords or other strands.
The equipment can also become missile hazards in the event of a vehicle crash.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a device which will securely attach ladders or other elongated equipment to overhead racks or other body panel mounted support structures that can quickly and safely secure the equipment while providing an added measure against theft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective equipment securing apparatus that will securely retain the equipment against a support structure or against the vehicle itself.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an equipment securing apparatus that will provide interior control while providing exterior securing support.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an equipment securing apparatus having a compact latching assembly and minimal impact on vehicle interior and exterior storage space.
To those ends, an equipment securing apparatus is provided for securing equipment to an exterior surface of a vehicle. The vehicle includes body panels defining an interior vehicle portion and an area exterior to the vehicle with at least one of the body panels having a body panel opening formed therein. The equipment securing apparatus is operable from the interior portion of the vehicle to secure equipment exterior to the vehicle. The equipment securing apparatus includes a support member attached to a portion of the vehicle and having a shaft retaining portion with a first passageway formed therein. The securing apparatus also includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one opening formed therein. The shaft is slidably mounted to the support member and extends through the first passageway of the shaft retaining portion and the body panel opening and projects outwardly into the area exterior to the vehicle. An equipment engagement member is formed on the distal end of the shaft for securing engagement with equipment on the vehicle. The equipment securing apparatus further includes a latching assembly operatively associated with the shaft. The latching assembly is selectively operable to retain the engagement member in a securing relationship with the equipment and to release the engagement member from the securing relationship. The latching assembly includes a pin arrangement for locking the latching assembly wherein the pin arrangement includes a pin configured to extend through a select one of the at least one opening of the shaft. The latching assembly also includes an arrangement for biasing the shaft in a condition whereby the engagement member is engaged with the equipment.
The support member of an equipment securing apparatus according to the present invention is illustratively attached to an elongate support beam attached to the vehicle panel. The support beam has a hole formed therein in substantial alignment with the at least one body panel opening.
The arrangement for biasing of an equipment securing apparatus according to the present invention illustratively includes a slide block having a pin engagement surface and defining a second passageway in substantial alignment with the first passageway. The shaft is slidably disposed through the second passageway. The arrangement for biasing further includes at least one piston assembly including a housing attached to the support member and defining a chamber. The piston assembly also includes a piston having first and second faces and being slidably disposed within the chamber. A piston spring is disposed within the chamber so that the spring is in engagement with the first face. The piston spring is configured to impart a biasing force to the piston. The at least one piston assembly further includes at least one link member for transferring the biasing force from the piston to the slide block whereby the pin engagement surface is biased against the pin, thereby biasing the shaft in the condition whereby the engagement member is engaged with the equipment.
The at least one link member of an equipment securing apparatus according to the present invention illustratively has a first end pivotally attached to the slide block and a second end pivotally attached to the piston. The link member links the piston and the slide block so that movement of the piston within the chamber causes a corresponding movement of the slide block. Further, a biasing force applied to the piston causes the slide block to impart a corresponding biasing force to the pin.
It is preferred that an equipment securing apparatus of the present invention further include a cam arrangement having a camshaft rotatably mounted to the housing. A cam is mounted to the camshaft for rotation therewith. This cam is configured for operative engagement with the second face of the piston, whereby the cam may be rotated to cause the piston to slide within the housing, thereby compressing the spring and causing the slide block to move relative to the shaft. The cam is preferably further configured to have a non-engagement position wherein the cam is not in engagement with the second face of the piston. The cam may be rotated from the non-engagement position to engage the second face of the piston and may be further rotated to cause the piston to slide within the housing.
An equipment securing apparatus according to the present invention may further include a cam return arrangement for biasing the cam arrangement in the non-engagement position. The cam return arrangement preferably includes a second spring configured for engagement with the cam for biasing the cam arrangement in the non-engagement position. The second spring is also preferably configured for engagement with the piston and is disposed intermediate the piston and the cam. The piston may be formed so that it defines a spring pocket adjacent the second face for disposition of at least a portion of the second spring therein.
An equipment securing apparatus according to the present invention preferably includes a manually operable control arm attached to the camshaft for selectively rotating the camshaft, thereby rotating the cam for engagement and movement of the piston.
It is preferred that the engagement member be formed on the shaft and include a first engagement arm projecting laterally away from the distal end of the shaft. It is further preferred t
Gordon Stephen T.
Hunton & Williams
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