Patent Application
20140271021
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Technical Field
The embodiments described and claimed herein relate generally to restraint devices for vehicles. More specifically, the embodiments described relate to improved track fittings that can withstand higher loads than existing fittings, for safely securing an object to a floor track in a vehicle (train, bus, van, plane, etc.).
2. Background Art
Conventionally, vehicles equipped with passenger seats, wheelchair restraints, or the like, have embedded on their floors channel-shaped tracks with slots into which one or more anchors can be inserted. For example, in wheelchair-accessible vehicles such as a bus, a track is installed onto vehicle floors and walls, and used as an anchoring point to secure standard bus seats, wheelchairs, occupant restraint systems, or securement accessories. Oftentimes, the tracks are installed lengthwise (front to back of vehicle) on the vehicle floor to create a plurality of anchoring points to attach seats. This method of installing the track is very efficient because with a one-track layout on the floor, the seats can be placed at different locations in the bus to meet customer specifications. It is common for bus operators to reconfigure seating and wheelchair configurations periodically and thus, it is important to have a fastening device that allows for quick removal and installation of seats.
One type of track that is commonly used in vehicles is the L track. Each L track has a series of spaced-apart circular slots between which the open upper side of the channel-shaped track narrows. Anchors are designed with lugs extending laterally from the lower part of the anchor. The lugs fit through the slots in the track, and the anchor is moved such that the lugs lie underneath the narrowed portions of the upper side of the channel-shaped track to prevent removal of the anchor from the track. Such devices also include a locking mechanism to lock the lugs underneath the narrowed portions of the track.
Current systems on the market that aim for quick removal and installation of seats onto the track are the commonly-used single and double stud fittings. In buses equipped with L track, these single and double stud fittings are designed to be bolted to the track for semi-permanent installation and have been moderately successful for attachment of seats while retaining a low profile as to size and numerosity of parts. However, due to changes in the industry and upcoming new regulations, these studs may not have sufficient strength to secure the seat to the vehicle floor tracks. The single and double stud fittings have small surface areas when installed into the L track, increasing stress concentration, which reduces the pull-out force of the fitting from the track. For example, school buses can incorporate seat belts which are attached to the attached seat frame rather than the vehicle frame. The added mass of the seated occupants will induce higher loads to the seat frame, which in turn will be transmitted to the stud fitting via the seat legs, and the load further intensified in the event of sudden deceleration. Further, the locking mechanisms of the single and double stud fittings provide for only one index member on each side of the track, resulting in a device that is compact but not one that can provide sufficient shear loads necessary for high mass or force.
Existing technology is also limited by the placement of the stud. Existing fittings place the stud in a location where it must be able to fit in between the narrowing portions of the L-track. Therefore, the maximum diameter of the stud is limited by the width of the narrowing portions of the L-track. This limits the size and overall strength of the fitting.
For these reasons, a stronger stud fitting capable of withstanding these forces while retaining a low profile is needed. An added benefit of having a stronger stud fitting is that it can be used in combination with the double and single studs to be able to attach different seat leg designs as well as minimize the amount of fittings needed to meet strength requirements. The present invention is an improvement over existing technology, which places the stud such that it is located in between the narrowing portions of the L-track. This limits the size and overall strength of the fitting. The fittings embodying the present invention allow the stud to be above the narrowing portions and the stud is supported by a strong beam. This allows the stud to be wider than the narrowed portions of the L-track.
The embodiments described and claimed herein solve at least some of the problems of the prior art track fittings. One of several objects of the system described herein is to provide a track fitting that has a higher pull-out force than existing single and double stud fittings by having more lugs and better load distribution, while also retaining a low profile and minimum number of parts. The embodiments described and claimed herein utilize at least three lugs on each side of the anchor for a larger and uniform distribution of the load on the floor track and fitting. The shear strength of the fitting is further enhanced by a load beam portion of the anchor that has a larger cross-section, enabling the anchor to withstand larger pull-out forces before starting to bend under force. Even further, the locking mechanism that locks the anchor in place on the track actually locks onto the load beam of the body and not onto the stud, maximizing the shear strength of the fitting. The locking mechanism, by having at least two locking members on each side, provides for an additional safeguard against slippage of the anchor on the track.
Other embodiments, which include some combination of the features discussed above and below and other features which are known in the art, are contemplated as falling within the claims even if such embodiments are not specifically identified and discussed herein.
These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of the embodiments described and claimed herein will become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments described and claimed herein or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the inventions described herein are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated. Indeed, it is expected that persons of ordinary skill in the art may devise a number of alternative configurations that are similar and equivalent to the embodiments shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.
Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure in the following detailed description of the drawings.
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In this particular embodiment, the anchor 10 includes three lugs 11, a load beam 15, and a stud 20. It is contemplated that the stud 20 is a 7/16-inch UNF stud, although the stud size can be varied depending on load requirements. In fact, because the base of the stud 20 is positioned on top of the load beam 15, which in turn is positioned above a top surface of the track 1, the diameter of the stud is not limited by the width of the narrowed portions 3 of the track. Indeed, the diameter of the stud 20 can exceed the width of the narrowed portions 3 of the track to increase the sheer load capacity of the fitting 5. If the diameter of the stud 20 exceeds the width of the load beam 15, filler material may be added to the load beam 15 and the stud 20 in an area around and below the stud 20 to avoid concentrating stress at a corner between the two. The width of the load beam 15 at a elevation below the top surface of the track, however, should be maintained less than the width of the narrowed portions 3 of the track 1 so as to not interfere with the ability of the fitting 5 to slide between the narrowed portions 3 of the track 1.
The locking mechanism 30 is shaped to match the contours of the anchor 10 and has an opening that mates with the periphery of the load beam 15. The locking mechanism 30 has two index members 35 on each side of the mechanism 30 to be fitted between the lugs 11 of anchor 10. The stud 20 that is to engage with the hardware 50 to be secured is disposed at the center of the load beam 15, directly above one on the lugs 1 lb. The opening of the locking mechanism 30 is widened at its center to permit passage of the stud 20. The stud 20 being disposed at the center of the anchor 10 helps with varied load distribution across all three lugs 11 extending from the anchor 10 to minimize any bending at the center and distribute the load across a bigger area. The nut 40 fastens the hardware 50 to be engaged with the stud 20 and would correspond in size to the stud 20. It is contemplated that the nut is also a 7/16-inch UNF nut, although the nut size can be varied depending on stud size.
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Although the inventions described and claimed herein have been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described and claimed herein can be practiced by other than those embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/798,177 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61798177 | Mar 2013 | US |
