Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct
Utility Patent
2000-02-22
2001-01-02
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct
C410S097000, C410S108000, C410S110000, C410S115000, C410S116000
Utility Patent
active
06168360
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to hooks adapted to be located on tension members and associated with rails or anchor bars of predetermined configuration wherein the relationship between the anchor bar and the hook is such that the rail or anchor bar remains in the hook until the operator requires hook release.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hooks are commonly used with straps and webs to anchor the strap for tensioning purposes. Such straps are often used with trucks to hold the load on the truck bed during transit. Web straps are capable of withstanding high tension forces as produced by small web winches or tighteners, and the hooks are usually attached to rail pins or anchors located in the truck bed, often adjacent the truck bed edges.
One of the problems with hooks for tension members, particularly when holding down loads on vehicles, is that, upon the web being untensioned, or losing its tension, the hook accidentally releases from its rail pin. This problem is particularly troublesome when initially positioning the webs and hooks, or when the load web straps are being re-positioned on the load and must have the tension released therefrom prior to re-tightening.
Strap hook retainers for vehicle loads are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,388,938 and 5,516,246. However, these devices are expensive and cumbersome, and relatively complicated to operate.
It is known to shape the hooks of tension members in such a manner as to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent release of the hook and its rail pin. Attention is drawn to U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,746,707; 2,346,099; 3,665,562; 3,668,746; and 4,256,338. However, the hooks shown in these patents are not suitable for use with webs holding down vehicle loads, and there is a need for a web or strap hook which is of low cost, easy to use, does not use pivoted locks, latches or complicated anchor retainers, but yet does not permit the hook to become inadvertently disengaged from its rail upon tension in the strap being released.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a strap hook of economical construction which includes a hook opening of a particular configuration that permits the hook to be readily attached to an anchor bar or rail pin, but inadvertent disconnection from the rail pin is highly unlikely.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strap hook of a low cost plate construction which does not require locks, latches or secondary elements to maintain association between the hook and its rail pin upon release of strap tension.
A further object of the invention is to provide a strap hook having a hook opening of a particular configuration and dimensional relationship to the hook rail anchor which prevents the hook from disengaging from its rail anchor unless the hook is angularly oriented to the rail anchor in a purposeful manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A strap hook utilizing the concepts of the invention is preferably formed by a stamping process of sheet steel, for instance of approximately ¼ inch thickness. However, a hook utilizing the inventive concepts can be formed by casting, injection molding, machining, etc.
The hook includes a body which, for purposes of orientation and description, will be referred to as having an upper region and a lower region. An eye is defined in the hook upper region which is usually of an elongated configuration as to receive a conventional tensioning web. Of course, the eye could be of a circular configuration for receiving a chain link, or clevis, the particular configuration of the eye forming no part of the inventive concept. Tension is imposed upon the hook body through the tension member associated with the eye, and a vertical tension axis will be defined in the body upon a vertical tension force being applied to the tension member associated with the eye.
A hook is defined in the lower region of the body, and the hook is formed by an opening defined in the body which intersects a body vertical edge wherein this intersection defines a throat. The hook opening lowermost surface forms an anchor bearing or engageable surface which will lie upon the tension axis so that the hook body will be vertically oriented when affixed to an anchor bar or rail pin and under tension.
Further, the hook opening includes a recess disposed toward its upper region in substantially opposed relationship to the rail or anchor engaging surface and of a shape and dimension to receive the rail pin or anchor when tension is released on the tension member. A guide surface interconnects the hook rail engaging surface and the recess to guide the rail into the recess upon release of web tension.
The throat defined in the hook body by the opening is formed by a convex radiused hook point, and the recess defines a downwardly extending convex radiused brow in substantially opposed and spaced relationship to the hook point. The dimension between the hook point and the brow constitutes the dimension of the throat or access to the hook opening.
The rail pin or anchor with which a hook in accord with the invention is normally associated is attached to or constitutes a portion of a truck bed body. This anchor may constitute a short pin of generally oblong cross sectional configuration. The anchor rail pin “top” surface disposed toward the web slot is of a generally flattened shape with radiused corners which corresponds to the shape of the recess. The anchor rail pin includes a vertical height of given dimension and a horizontal width of given dimension.
The vertical dimension of the hook body throat is less than the vertical dimension of the anchor rail pin. However, the given width of the anchor rail pin is less than the dimension of the hook throat. Further, the horizontal width of the hook body opening, and opening recess, is greater than the width of the anchor rail pin, and the vertical dimension of the hook body opening between the anchor engaging surface and the uppermost portion of the opening recess, is greater than the vertical dimension of the anchor rail bar.
Thus, when the web is untensioned, it is possible to angularly orient the hook body approximately 90° relative to the anchor rail pin to slip the anchor rail pin into the hook throat, or remove the body from the anchor rail pin. The degree of angular orientation of the hook body required to pass the anchor rail pin through the hook throat is such that this angular orientation is not likely to occur during hook use, and a predetermined and purposeful effort is required to insert the anchor rail pin through the hook opening, or remove the anchor rail pin therefrom.
When the hook is in engagement with the anchor rail pin, tension of the web will hold the rail pin into firm engagement with the hook anchor rail pin engaging surface. In the event that tension is released on the web, the weight of the hook permits the hook to “fall” onto to the anchor rail pin. The guide surface defined in the hook opening is obliquely oriented to the tension axis and guides the hook relative to the anchor rail as it moves downwardly so that the anchor rail is received within the recess. Because the recess brow extends below the upper portion of the anchor rail, the anchor rail will be firmly retained within the hook opening even though tension on the strap has been released. Thereupon, upon tension being restored to the strap, the hook body will raise and the hook will engage the anchor rail at the anchor rail engaging surface.
Because the upper anchor rail surface and upper recess surface engaged by the anchor bar are generally flat, the hook will rest upon the anchor rail and the hook construction prevents the hook and anchor rail from inadvertently disengaging, eliminates the need for locks, latches and spring biased abutments or stops, and yet prevents many of the annoying disengagements between hooks and anchor rails that presently occur. A hook constructed in accord with the inventive concepts fulfills all of the aforementioned objects.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1746707 (1930-02-01), Mallory
patent:
Gordon Stephen T.
The Shane Group, Inc.
Young & Basile P.C.
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