Abstract: A tie down fitting is adapted to fit into a cutout or hole formed in a track or the like installed on the floor of a vehicle. The fitting has a pair of slotted portions which fit into the cutout in engagement with the end edges thereof. A spring actuated plunger is provided on the fitting which when manually raised permits the slotted portions to be fitted in the cutout and after being so fitted limits motion of the fitting thereby retaining the fitting in the cutout. In one embodiment of the invention, a latch formed with a protrusion on the plunger and a pair of rivets on the main body of the fitting provide upper and lower limit stops for the plunger.

Abstract: A strap assembly has one or more cleat members slidably installed on the strap portion thereof. These cleat members have projections thereon which engage the tread of the tire of a vehicle to be retained in position for transportation on a rail car or other transport. The opposite ends of the strap assembly are secured to the body of the transport. A ratchet buckle or other such device is installed in series with the strap and is used to tighten down the strap against the vehicle tire.

Abstract: A cargo handling system has a main drive panel and fore and aft end panels for driving cargo in one direction or the other in the cargo compartment of a vehicle such as an aircraft. The main drive panel is driven in either direction on a plurality of toothed belts which are anchored to the system floor panels, the teeth of such belts engaging the teeth of trolley wheels which are rotatably driven by the motor. The main panel is thus driven in trolly-like fashion along the drive belts in loading cargo. Each end panel is attached to a separate endless chain drive. The chain drives are selectively attached to the main drive panel and one or the other of the end panels drawn along with the main drive panel in the unloading of cargo.

Abstract: A retractable roller system for handling cargo has a main channel which is mounted on the floor of a vehicle into which cargo is to be loaded. a pneumatically actuated bladder is mounted along the bottom of the channel and a roller tray on which a plurality of roller members are rotatably supported is mounted in the channel above the bladder. Extending outwardly from each of the opposing side walls of the roller tray is a flange member, the flange member of one of the walls being at a lower level therealong than the flange member of the opposing wall. Extending inwardly from each of the side walls of the main channel is a flange member, the flange member of one of the channel walls being at a lower level therealong than the flange member of the other channel wall.

Abstract: A cargo handling system for use in combination with an airplane cargo compartment having a floor structure and a door opening moves cargo placed in the loading area inside the compartment at the door opening to the further recesses of the compartment and returns the cargo to the loading area for unloading. The system generally comprises fore and aft end panels, each attached to its own looped cable and movable from a position adjacent its respective end of the compartment to a position adjacent its respective side of the door opening; a movable main panel attached to a power cable; a drive means, such as a hydraulic cylinder, is attached to the power cable and drives the main panel in the door area between the door positions of the end panels; and indexing plungers which selectively couple the main panel with a cable of an end panel such that, when coupled, the end panel is driven simultaneously with and in the same direction as the main panel.

Abstract: A quick release two piece buckle of economical construction for use in situations where rapid release of a strap is required such as for example a buckle for a strap holding a scuba air tank to a back pack. The buckle has a handle member with a pair of oppositely positioned side arm portions extending therefrom. The arm portions have slots formed on the outer walls thereof, there being a detent at the entry portion of each slot. Detents are further formed on the outer walls of the arms adjacent to the bottoms of each of the slots. One end of the strap is attached to a cross arm extending between the two side arm portions. The other end of the strap is connected to an attachment member which has a pair of opposing arms. Each of the arms has an inwardly extending post member at the end thereof which is adapted to slidably fit into a respective one of the slots of the main body portion.

Abstract: An anchor fitting has flat surfaced pads with shoulders extending therefrom and a post portion extending along an axis substantially normal to the flat surfaces of the pads. A fastening device is provided on the post for anchoring a load to a track on which the fitting is removably mounted. The device further includes a screw adjustable plunger and clamp member which can be adjustably positioned by the screw along an axis substantially normal to the flat surfaces of the pads. The fitting is removably retained in a selected position along a slotted track, having a plurality of notched portions separated by narrow neck portions formed by flanges, with the shoulders of the pads and the track slots underneath the flanges and with the plunger lowered by the screw so that it is seated in one of the notched portions of the track with a clamping shoulder portion of the plunger-clamp unit in tight engagement with the top surface of the track.

Abstract: A cargo restraint device is automatically adapatable for the retention and conveyance of half size width or full size width pallets and containers on a floor mounted track in a vehicle such as an aircraft. A pair of similar wing portions are spring urged to an upright position opposite each other. Each of the wing portions has an arm which extends outwardly therefrom from a support plate in a direction substantially normal to the support plate, these wing portions being adapted to engage the edges of the pallets or containers to retain them to the track. A camming member has a camming arm which engages camming surfaces on the wing members. This camming member is spring urged upwardly so that the camming arm thereof firmly engages the camming surfaces of the wing members at all times.

Abstract: A hook is retained to an article to which it is connected a flexible rubber keeper member in the form of a strip having a pair of holes formed therein through which opposing portions of the "U" of the hook are fitted. The rubber keeper is removably held in position on the hook by virtue of the elasticity of such keeper, and further, in one embodiment, by means of a pair of grooves formed in the "U" portion of the hook into which one of the apertured portions of the keeper fits. In another embodiment of the invention, such retention is aided by means of a dimple formed in this "U" portion over and beyond which one of the apertured portions of the keeper is pulled, this dimple inhibiting the removal of this apertured portion of the hook.

Abstract: A two piece buckle has a frame member and a bale member which is pivotally supported on the frame member. The frame member includes a central elongated substantially flat piece and a pair of arm members extending from the edges of the central piece at an angle of substantially 90 degrees. These arm members have a pair of apertures formed therein which provide sockets into which the opposite ends of the bale fit. A pair of detents which are in the form of protrusions extend outwardly from the frame arm members. The bale member is resilient such that the bale member can be pivotally moved over the detents and thus positioned on either side thereof. The central piece of the frame has a first cross arm with an elongated slot formed on either side thereof and a second cross arm spaced from the first cross arm by one of said slots, a clamp member being slidably mounted on the second cross arm.

Abstract: A cam buckle assembly has a main body portion fabricated of a suitable resilient material such as a resilient plastic. A cam member is pivotally assembled in the main body portion and is resiliently urged towards the main body portion by a resilient arm member which extends from the main body portion and abuts against the cam member. A strap is wound around a cross arm formed in the main body portion at one end thereof, this strap being adjustable as to its effective length and once so adjusted retained in such position by means of the cam member. Means are provided at the other end of the body portion, for attaching the body portion to securing means which in one embodiment comprises a resilient hook and in another embodiment a cross bar for receiving an attachment strap.

Abstract: A two piece buckle has a frame member and a bale member which is pivotally supported on the frame member. The frame member includes a central elongated substantially flat piece and a pair of arm members extending from the edges of the central piece at an angle of substantially 90 degrees. These arm members have a pair of apertures formed therein which provide sockets into which the opposite ends of the bale fit. A ramp is formed directly beneath each one of these apertures to facilitate the installation of the bale member in the apertures in a snap fit. A pair of detents which are on the form of projections extending outwardly from the frame arm members are located forward of the apertures in which the bale member is pivotally supported. The bale and arm members are both resilient such that the bale member can be pivotally moved over the detents and thus positioned on either side of the detents.

Abstract: An end stop for restraining the motion of a pallet in a cargo loading system, such as might be employed in an aircraft. A pair of similar left and right-hand pieces are removably mounted in a track or mounting channel having alternate lip and cutout portions. Each of these members has a main body portion having an elongated tension lug extending normally along the bottom edge thereof and a plurality of shear lugs directly above the tension lugs and extending substantially parallel thereto, such lugs being spaced from each other along the longitudinal extent of the main body. Each body portion further includes an overhanging restraining arm extending along the top edge of the body in a direction substantially normal to that in which the shear and tension lugs extend, a stop plate extending downwardly from the inner edge of the restraining arm in a direction normal thereto and a sloped shoulder which extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the stop plate towards the bottom edge of the body portion.

Abstract: A side guide for a cargo loading system for use in loading cargo-loaded pallets into a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The side guide assembly is removably mounted in a track or channel assembly having alternate cutout portions and lip portions. The side guide assembly includes a frame on which rollers are mounted and a side guide portion suitable for receiving the edge of a pallet, a plurality of such assemblies being employed for restraining such pallet against other than slidable motion on the rollers. The frame assembly has tension lug means extending outwardly and normally from the bottom edge thereof, and shear lug means extending therefrom normally and in an opposite direction to the tension lug means. The frame further has an opening formed on the end of an arm extending therefrom.

Abstract: A removable operating lever is provided for a ratchet buckle device for tightening and tensioning straps. The ratchet buckle has a bifurcated frame member with a pair of oppositely positioned parallel arms between which a reel member and ratchet wheels are rotatably mounted and employs a bifurcated handle member having a pair of oppositely positioned parallel arms rotatably mounted on the reel. The handle has a ratchet drive plate which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheels such that when the handle is actuated, the reel is rotatably driven. The buckle has a cross member on the handle member thereof which has mounting means thereon for mounting an elongated lever member which can be employed to actuate the handle member.

Abstract: A roller rail assembly for a cargo loading system for loading cargo-loaded pallets into a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The roller rail assembly is removably mounted in a track or channel assembly having alternate cutout portions and lip portions. The roller rail assembly includes an elongated rail member which has a tension stud extending substantially normally from the main body of the assembly along the bottom edge thereof, and a support shoulder extending from the main body of the assembly substantially normally thereto above the tension stud and in a substantially opposite direction thereto. Mounting blocks and axles are provided for rotatably mounting pairs of rollers on the main body of the assembly, the rollers being positioned on opposite sides of the track for rotation on an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the track. The rail is removably supported in the track with the tension stud fitted underneath the lip portions of the track.

Abstract: A quick-release buckle of economical construction for use in situations where rapid release of a strap is required, such as, for example, a buckle for a strap holding a scuba air tank to a backpack. The buckle has a main body portion which has a pair of oppositely positioned similar side walls with a pair of spaced apart cross bars or arms running therebetween. An operating handle for use in retaining the strap to the main body portion and releasing it therefrom is pivotally supported between the side members of the main body of the buckle. The operating handle as a pair of side arms which are connected together by a cross arm, the side arms being pivotally retained in apertures formed in the side plates of the main body portion of the buckle.