Tie-down device and method

• US 6,574,838 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dedra J.O. Moll
• Original Assignee: Dedra J.O. Moll
• Inventors: Maurer, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAKRAN, VICTOR N
• Application Number:
  US09/865,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 241/36.R, 241/36.K, 241/27, 241/15.M, 241/226, 247/00, 247/01, 174/79, 403/371, 248/63, 188/65.3, 188/65.4, 294/31, 114/273, 244/2, 244/25, 244/29, 59/78
• US Class Current: 24/136.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/16 Pickets or ground anchors; Wheel chocks
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/046 by bending the cable around a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/143 Hooks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3969 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3971 Rope looped about movable member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3996 Sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7058 Split or slotted bushing

Abstract

A tie-down device secures an aircraft to the ground. The tie-down device includes a hook and slide member operating within the hook to secure a line. In use the line passes through an aperture within the slide member for biasing against a bottom portion of the hook when an opposing end of the line is placed under tension pulling against a top portion of the hook and is used to secure an aircraft to a ground anchor. A second embodiment includes an elongated slide member replacing the wheel. The slide member includes an aperture for receiving the line therethrough and a groove along a peripheral portion for sliding engagement with the hook. In addition, the slide member includes a release arm, accessible to a user, for pulling against the tension holding the line in frictional contact against the bottom portion of the hook.

Claims

1. A method of tying down an aircraft comprising the steps of:

affixing a generally “

C”

-shaped sliding member to an aircraft, the “

C”

-shaped member having an opening between two ends thereof leading to an interior space;

passing a first end of a securing line through an aperture of a sliding member from a rear face to a front face thereof, the sliding member retained within an interior space of the “

C”

-shaped member;

passing a portion of the securing line extending from the sliding member rear face through the “

C”

-shaped member opening into the interior space and in front of the “

C”

-shaped member, with the sliding member in an upper position generally adjacent a top of the “

C”

-shaped member; and

moving the sliding member from the upper position to a lower position generally adjacent a bottom portion of the “

C”

-shaped member to frictionally engage the securing line against the “

C”

-shaped member bottom portion.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the “

C”

-shaped member is formed from a generally cylindrical rod-shaped material.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the rod-shaped material comprises aluminum rod.

4. The method recited claim 1, wherein the sliding member comprises a generally wheel-shaped member having a groove around a periphery thereof dimensioned for slidingly engaging the “

C”

-shaped member and an exterior diameter larger than a width of the hook interior space.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the sliding member comprises an elongate member having a groove around a periphery thereof dimensioned for slidingly engaging the sliding member and an exterior width larger than a width of the hook interior space.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the elongate member further comprises a release arm extending from at least one of the front face and the rear face for moving the elongate member.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the release arm extends from both the front face and the rear face.