AIRCRAFT TIE-DOWN DEVICE

Abstract

A tie-down device is provided by the present disclosure that includes an elongated member, a pliable cord engaged with the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion. A distal securing member is fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord, and a proximal securing member is slidably engaged along the pliable cord opposite the distal securing member. The grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to an object, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/050,057, filed on Oct. 9, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to tie-down devices and more specifically to tie-down devices for securing aircraft.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Securing devices for aircraft come in a variety of types. One such type is sliding cord lock devices such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 234,896; U.S. Pat. No. 1,422,804; U.S. Pat. No. 2,561,371; U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,306; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,748.

Many of the known securing or tie-down devices are relatively complicated, expensive, and often do not properly secure the object sufficiently, for example, during dangerous weather conditions.

SUMMARY

In one form of the present disclosure, a tie-down device is provided that comprise an elongated member having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. A pliable cord is engaged with the first and second end portions of the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion. A distal securing member is fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord, and a proximal securing member is slidably engaged along the pliable cord between the first end portion and second end portion at the upper surface portion of the elongated member. The grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to an object, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

In another form, a tie-down device is provided that consists of an elongated member, a pliable cord engaged with the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion, a distal securing member fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord, and a proximal securing member slidably engaged along the pliable cord opposite the distal securing member. The grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to an object, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

In still another form, an aircraft tie-down device is provided that consists of an elongated member having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, a pliable cord engaged with the first and second end portions of the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion, a distal securing member fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord, and a proximal securing member slidably engaged along the pliable cord opposite the distal securing member. The grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to the aircraft, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the aircraft tie-down device, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the aircraft tie-down device when engaged;

FIG. 3 is a depiction of one possible use of the aircraft tie-down device;

FIG. 4 is a side view of one possible embodiment of the elongated member with a pliable cord passing through the apertures therein; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of the elongated member having markings on a side surface portion customized to the aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. It should also be understood that various cross-hatching patterns used in the drawings are not intended to limit the specific materials that may be employed with the present disclosure. The cross-hatching patterns are merely exemplary of preferable materials or are used to distinguish between adjacent or mating components illustrated within the drawings for purposes of clarity.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one form of the aircraft tie-down device is given generally indicated by reference numeral 20. The aircraft tie-down device includes a single piece of pliable cord is shown by element 24. The aircraft tie-down 20 further comprises an elongated member 22 that has an upper surface portion 26a and a lower surface portion 26b, and a first end portion 28a opposite a second end portion 28b. The first end portion has an aperture 30a extending transversely through the upper and lower surface portions, 26a and 26b, and the second end portion 28b has an aperture 30b extending transversely through the upper and lower surface portions 26a and 26b.

The pliable cord 24 defines an outer dimension, e.g., outer diameter, that is substantially the same as the opening size of the apertures 30a and 30b. As such, there exists a friction fit between the pliable cord 24 and the elongated member 22, such that when the pliable cord 24 is slid through the elongated member 22, an appreciable amount of friction occurs therebetween, as set forth in greater detail below. The pliable cord 24 extends through the apertures 30a and 30b as shown and has a stop end portion 32, secured with a knot in this embodiment, and a grounding end portion 34. The grounding end portion 34 forms a loop secured by a sleeve 35, which his an elastomeric crimp in this form of the present disclosure.

A distal securing member 36 is fixed to the grounding end portion 34 of the pliable cord 24. A proximal securing member 38 is slidably engaged along the pliable cord between the apertures 30a and 30b extending through the upper surface portion 26a of the elongated member 22. In this form, the securing members are rigid hooks having an elastomeric coating, however, it should be understood that other devices may be employed while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the tie-down device 20 is depicted engaged, with the distal securing member 36 secured to a ground member 40 and the proximal securing member 38 secured to an aircraft 42.

More specifically, to engage or tighten the device 20, the distal securing member 36 is secured to a ground member 40 and the proximal securing member 38 is secured to an aircraft 42. The elongated member 22 is then drawn distally towards the grounding end portion 34 of the pliable cord 24. As the elongated member 22 is slid distally, the pliable cord 24 slides through the aperture 30b, while the stop end portion 32 remains fixed, thereby tightening the pliable cord 24 as shown.

Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of the elongated member 22 is shown, looking upon second end portion 28b, with the pliable cord 24 passing through the aperture 30b in the upper surface portion 26a and lower surface portion 26b of the elongated member 22.

Referring to FIG. 5, a close-up front view of the elongated member 22 is depicted having markings 44 customize to the aircraft. These markings 44 can be any form, including graphical patterns, and thus the example illustrated herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. For example, although the tie-down device is shown for use in aircraft, it should be understood that any object may be secured using the tie-down device according to the teachings of the present disclosure. For example, securing a motor vehicle to a trailer, an awning to the ground, or a kayak/canoe/paddleboard to the roof of a vehicle, among others. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A tie-down device consisting of:

an elongated member having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

a pliable cord engaged with the first and second end portions of the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion;

a distal securing member fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord; and

a proximal securing member slidably engaged along the pliable cord between the first end portion and second end portion at the upper surface portion of the elongated member,

wherein the grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to an object, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

2. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated member is hollow.

3. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the elongated member are smooth.

4. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein each end portion of the elongate member has an aperture extending transversely through the upper and lower surface portions, and the pliable cord extends through the apertures.

5. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated member is of a generally cylindrical shape.

6. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the hollow elongated member has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

7. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the stop end portion defines a knot.

8. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the proximal and distal securing members are rigid hooks.

9. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein grounding end portion of the pliable cord defines a loop secured by a sleeve.

10. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the pliable cord defines a camouflage pattern.

11. The tie-down device according to claim 1 wherein the elongated member comprises customized markings on a side surface portion.

12. The tie-down device according to claim 11 wherein the object is an aircraft, and the customized markings comprise an N-number of the aircraft.

13. A tie-down device consisting of:

an elongated member;

a pliable cord engaged with the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion;

a distal securing member fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord; and

a proximal securing member slidably engaged along the pliable cord opposite the distal securing member,

wherein the grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to an object, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

14. The tie-down device according to claim 13 wherein the stop end portion defines a knot.

15. The tie-down device according to claim 13 wherein the proximal and distal securing members are rigid hooks.

16. The tie-down device according to claim 13 wherein grounding end portion of the pliable cord defines a loop secured by a sleeve.

17. The tie-down device according to claim 13 wherein the elongated member comprises customized markings.

18. An aircraft tie-down device consisting of:

an elongated member having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion;

a pliable cord engaged with the first and second end portions of the elongated member, the pliable cord having a grounding end portion and a stop end portion;

a distal securing member fixed to the grounding end portion of the pliable cord; and

a proximal securing member slidably engaged along the pliable cord opposite the distal securing member,

wherein the grounding end portion is secured to a ground member, the proximal securing member is secured to the aircraft, and the elongated member is slid distally towards the grounding end portion to tighten the device.

19. The aircraft tie-down device according to claim 18 wherein the elongated member comprises customized markings on a side surface portion.

20. The aircraft tie-down device according to claim 19 wherein the markings comprise an N-number of the aircraft.