Concentric counter-coil tie down system for quickly securing objects

• US 10,059,248 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David O. Burton, Jeffrey S. Horwich, Marla E. Orr, Merrill B. Orr, Michele C. Faraci-Horwich, Yvonne E. Burton
• Original Assignee: David O. Burton, Jeffrey S. Horwich, Marla E. Orr, Merrill B. Orr, Michele C. Faraci-Horwich, Yvonne E. Burton
• Inventors: Orr, Merrill B., Orr, Marla E., Burton, David O., Burton, Yvonne E., Horwich, Jeffrey S., Faraci-Horwich, Michele C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US15/178,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 410101, 410106, 410102, 410116, 410 97, 410104, 410 21, 410143, 410 77, 410 81, 410 84, 410 90, 248499, 248500, 248503, 248424, 248692, 428131, 428137, 428138, 428156, 428166, 428172, 428167
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for securing items with respect to a fixed location using an elongate cord-member include a mounting assembly, a first cylindrical coil having a first radius from a central axis, a second cylindrical coil having a second radius from the central axis and oriented coaxially at least partially around the first cylindrical coil, and the first and second cylindrical coils are each coupled to a surface of the mounting assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing one or more items with respect to a fixed location using an elongate tie-down element, comprising:

a mounting assembly;

a first cylindrical coil having a first radius from a central axis, including at least one first coil loop; and

a second cylindrical coil having a second radius from the central axis, including at least one second coil loop, and oriented coaxially at least partially around the first cylindrical coil; and

at least one gap, formed in a space between the at least one first coil loop and at least one second coil loop, that is oriented substantially horizontally,

wherein the first and second cylindrical coils are each coupled to a surface of the mounting assembly, and

wherein, when the tie-down element is snugly pulled into at least one gap, it operatively secures the one or more items by inhibiting their movement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical coil has a first, clockwise helix shape and the second cylindrical coil has a second, counter-clockwise helix shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first cylindrical coil and second cylindrical coil have a ninety-degree offset in orientation.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a central post coupled with the mounting assembly, located centrally and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises:

a first mounting plate, including;

the surface coupled to the first and second cylindrical coil and a mounting surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises:

a clamp, removably coupled with the mounting surface of the first mounting plate such that it can secure the apparatus to a fixed mounting location.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

at least one separator member for separating the clamp, the opposing surface of the mounting plate or both from the fixed mounting location.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a central post slidably coupled with the mounting assembly, located centrally and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils,

wherein the clamp, is removably coupled with the mounting surface of the first mounting plate by coupling with the central post.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises:

a first housing coupled with the mounting surface, having a third radius and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils,

wherein the third radius is greater than the second radius.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a central post coupled at a first end with the mounting assembly, located centrally, and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a second housing coupled with a second end of the central post, having a fourth, radius and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils,

wherein the fourth radius is the same as the third radius and wherein a gap between the first housing and the second housing separates the first housing and the second housing, such that the first and second cylindrical coils are operably accessible through the gap between the first housing and the second housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second housing includes at least one drainage hole that operably allows drainage through the second housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second cylindrical coils are permanently coupled at their upper ends.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a central post coupled with the mounting assembly, located centrally and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils.

15. A method for securing at least one item with respect to a fixed location using an elongate tie-down element, comprising:

orienting the elongate tie-down element substantially near the at least one item such that it can affects movement of the item in at least one direction during operation, when coupled with a tie-down element securing apparatus; and

securing the elongate tie-down element to the tie-down element securing apparatus that is mounted to the fixed location, by tightly wedging the elongate tie-down element in at least one gap oriented horizontally between at least one loop of a first cylindrical coil and at least one loop of a second cylindrical coil of the tie-down element securing apparatus, such that the elongate tie-down element is at least partially prevented from moving out of position with respect to the fixed location,

wherein the tie-down element securing apparatus comprises;

a mounting assembly mounted to the fixed location and includes a mounting surface and an opposing surface;

the first cylindrical coil has a first radius from a central axis; and

the second cylindrical coil has a second radius from the central axis that is greater than the first radius,

wherein the second cylindrical coil is oriented coaxially and at least partially around the first cylindrical coil and the first and second cylindrical coils are each coupled to the opposing surface of the mounting assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

after securing the elongate tie-down element to the tie-down element securing apparatus,

a) extending the tie-down element to a next tie-down element securing apparatus of a plurality of tie-down element securing apparatuses;

b) securing the elongate tie-down element to the next tie-down element securing apparatus mounted to a next location by tightly wedging the elongate tie-down element in at least one gap oriented horizontally between at least one loop of the first cylindrical coil and the second cylindrical coil of the next tie-down element securing apparatus, such that the tie-down element is at least partially prevented from moving out of position with respect to the next location; and

repeating a) and b) as necessary until the elongate tie-down element has been secured to some or all of the plurality of tie-down element securing apparatuses.

17. A system for securing an item near a fixed location using an elongate tie-down element associated with a close proximity of the item, comprising:

at least one tie-down element securing apparatus, operable to secure a tie-down element between at least one loop of a first cylindrical coil and at least one loop of a second cylindrical coil of the cord-member securing apparatus upon a user tightly wedging the elongate tie-down element in at least one gap oriented horizontally between the loops, such that the elongate tie-down element is at least partially prevented from moving out of position with respect to the fixed location and thereby secures the item in close proximity to the elongate tie-down element by at least partially preventing the item from moving,

wherein the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus comprises;

a mounting assembly mounted at a mounting location;

the first cylindrical coil has a first radius from a central axis; and

the second cylindrical coil has a second radius from the central axis and located coaxially at least partially around the first cylindrical coil,

wherein the first and second cylindrical coils are each coupled to a surface of the mounting assembly.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first cylindrical coil of the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus has a first, clockwise helix shape and the second cylindrical coil of the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus has a second, counter-clockwise helix shape.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first cylindrical coil and second cylindrical coil of the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus have a ninety-degree offset in orientation.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a central post coupled with the mounting assembly of the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus and located centrally and oriented coaxially with respect to the first and second cylindrical coils.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the mounting assembly of the at least one tie-down element securing apparatus further comprises:

a first mounting plate, including;

the surface coupled to the first and second cylindrical coils; and

a mounting surface.