DUAL PURPOSE TRACK FOR HOLDING WHEEL CHOCKS AND STRAP CLIPS TO TIE DOWN DIRT BIKES TO TRAILERS

• US 20050238455A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas S. Toteff
• Original Assignee: Thomas S. Toteff
• Inventors: Toteff, Thomas S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,966,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 410/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/077 Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/079 Tie-down retainers B60P3/075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/122 by supporting the whole vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0815 Attachment rails or trellis

Abstract

The dual purpose track comprises a unitary elongated body having a longitudinal axis and a raised center section extending along the axis from one end to the other. The center section includes a flat base with downwardly tapering sides terminating in laterally outwardly extending flanges. The flat base which extends along the longitudinal axis is provided with longitudinally spaced apart elongated slots, as an example, spaced every four inches, which extend lengthwise along the axis. Each slot is configured to receive either the head of the bolt of a wheel chock used to retain a dirt bike along the floor of a trailer or a tie down fastening device. A strap is connected between the tie down device and the handle bar of the dirt bike to assist in retaining the bike in a fixed position. Thus, the track serves two purposes, namely, it holds the wheel chocks and the anchoring devices for the straps.

Claims

1. A track comprising a unitary elongated body having a longitudinal axis, said body having a raised center section extending along said longitudinal axis from one end to another end, said center section having a flat base with downwardly tapering sides terminating in laterally outwardly extending flanges extending parallel to and spaced from said longitudinal axis from one end of said body to another end, the flat base of said raised center section having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart slots extending lengthwise along said longitudinal axis, each slot having a pair of longitudinally extending first side walls which are spaced laterally apart, said first side walls of each slot being connected by first and second parallel end walls, an entrance opening of arcuate configuration enlarging said slot between said first and second parallel end walls, and a slot extension intersecting said second end wall and extending lengthwise along said longitudinal axis, said slot extension having a pair of parallel longitudinally extending second side walls terminating in a third end wall which is spaced from said first and second end walls.

2. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second side walls of each slot are closer together than said first side walls.

3. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of longitudinally spaced apart slots are identical.

4. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the entrance opening of each slot is generally located midway between said first and second parallel end walls.

5. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flanges are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings for permitting the flanges to be secured by fastening devices to a support.

6. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein said unitary elongated body is made from a strong metal.

7. The track as set forth in claim 6, wherein said unitary elongated metal body is made from steel.

8. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein the parallel longitudinally extending second side walls of said slot extension are closer to one another than are the first mentioned pair of longitudinally extending first side walls whereby the second side walls which are closer together are adapted to receive therebetween the shank of a fastening bolt.

9. The track as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third wall is curved to receive and to abut a fastening bolt located adjacent thereto.

10. The track as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated body has a length from four feet to eight feet.

11. The combination of a track as set forth in claim 1, and a latch of U-shaped configuration received in one of said slots, said U-shaped latch having one end portion adapted to fit under the first end wall of said one slot and at another end having a portion adapted to fit under said second end wall of said one slot, said latch having a tie down strap connected thereto.

12. The combination of a pair of parallel tracks, each track as set forth in claim 1, and a wheel chock having a pair of spaced apart tubular sides connected at the top and terminating in a pair of spaced apart legs which overlie said parallel tracks, each leg having a threaded bolt extending therethrough, each bolt having a head on one end and nut on a threaded end, with each head extending into one of said slots of the respective track and moved into the corresponding slot extension where the bolt engages the respective pair of parallel longitudinal extending second side walls and the corresponding third end wall.

13. The combination of the track as set forth in claim 1, and a threaded bolt having on one end a head adapted to fit into the slot extension of one of said slots and on the other end a hook to which a rope or a line may be connected.

14. The combination of the track as set forth in claim 1, and a threaded bolt having on one end a head adapted to fit into the slot extension of one of said slots and on the other end a closed loop to which a rope or a line may be connected.

15. The combination of a track as set forth in claim 1, and a tubular element which overlies said track, a threaded bolt extending through said tubular element having a head end and a nut end, with either of said bolt ends extending into one of said slots of said track and moved into the corresponding slot extension where the bolt engages the pair of parallel longitudinal extending second side walls and the corresponding third end wall.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein the head end of said bolt is located in said slot extension.

17. The combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein a nut end of said bolt is located in said slot extension.