Vehicle tiedown systems and methods of use
First Claim
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1. A tiedown system to attach a vehicle to a support floor, the tiedown system comprising:
- a wheel cage configured to be attached to the support floor and to receive a wheel of the vehicle; and
a locking assembly separate from the wheel cage, comprising a base configured to be attached to the support floor at a separate location than the wheel cage, a lever arm pivotally attached to the base, and an engagement member attached to the lever arm and arranged such that the engagement member exerts a force on the vehicle to maintain the wheel of the vehicle in the wheel cage when the lever arm is in a locked position;
wherein a first angle between the lever arm and the base in an unlocked position is greater than a second angle between the lever arm and the base in the locked position;
wherein the lever arm includes a first end pivotally attached to the base, a second end opposite from the first end, and an interior section positioned between the first and second ends, the interior section being in an overlapping arrangement with the base when the lever arm is in the locked position and being spaced away from the base when the lever arm is in an unlocked position.
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Abstract
Tiedown systems and methods to attach a vehicle to a support floor. The tiedown system may include a wheel cage configured to be attached to the support floor and to receive a wheel of the vehicle. The tiedown system may also include a locking assembly comprising a pivoting lever arm and an engagement member attached to the lever arm. The lever arm may be pivotal between an unlocked position to attach the engagement member to the vehicle, and a locked position that causes the engagement member to exert a force on the vehicle to maintain the wheel of the vehicle in the wheel cage.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A tiedown system to attach a vehicle to a support floor, the tiedown system comprising:
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a wheel cage configured to be attached to the support floor and to receive a wheel of the vehicle; and a locking assembly separate from the wheel cage, comprising a base configured to be attached to the support floor at a separate location than the wheel cage, a lever arm pivotally attached to the base, and an engagement member attached to the lever arm and arranged such that the engagement member exerts a force on the vehicle to maintain the wheel of the vehicle in the wheel cage when the lever arm is in a locked position; wherein a first angle between the lever arm and the base in an unlocked position is greater than a second angle between the lever arm and the base in the locked position; wherein the lever arm includes a first end pivotally attached to the base, a second end opposite from the first end, and an interior section positioned between the first and second ends, the interior section being in an overlapping arrangement with the base when the lever arm is in the locked position and being spaced away from the base when the lever arm is in an unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tiedown system to attach a vehicle to a support floor, the tiedown system comprising:
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a wheel cage configured to be attached to the support floor and to receive a wheel of the vehicle; and a locking assembly configured to be attached to the support floor at a separate location than the wheel cage, the locking assembly including a base, a pivoting lever arm with a first end attached to the base and an opposing second end, and an elongated engagement member that extends outward from the lever arm at a point that is closer to the first end than the second end, the locking assembly movable between an unlocked position to be operatively connected to the vehicle and a locked position to exert a force on the vehicle to maintain the wheel in the wheel cage; wherein a first distance between the second end and the support floor in the unlocked position is greater than a second distance between the second end and the support floor in the locked position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification