US 7,537,423 B1
Chain tiedown for transportation vehicle
Ralph L. Abato, Jr., New Britain, Conn. (US)
Assigned to Ancra International, LLC., Hawthorne, Calif. (US)
Filed on Dec. 21, 2007, as Appl. No. 12/4,760.
Application 12/004760 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/897037, filed on Aug. 28, 2007.
Int. Cl. B60P 7/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 410—107  [410/106; 410/111; 410/112; 410/116] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device in form of a chain fitting for firmly holding a support chain to a floor of a vehicle, said floor having a floor aperture formed therein, a rail structure including a bracket and attached to the floor, said rail structure having a bracket aperture formed therein directly opposite the floor aperture, a support chain being attached at a first end thereof to a second chain, said second chain being attached to cargo being restrained in said vehicle, said device comprising:
an upper cap attached to a first end of said chain fitting;
said upper cap being installed on a top side of the floor with a second end of said chain fitting running through said floor aperture and bracket aperture and through a top side of the bracket;
a lower cap attached to said second end of said chain fitting opposite to said first end thereof;
said bracket aperture having a greater diameter on a top side than a bottom side to form a rim between said top side and said bottom side of the bracket aperture, a top portion of said upper cap comprising a beveled edge portion that is removably attachable and abutting against said rim; and
means for removably attaching said support chain to the second end of said chain fitting;
wherein the chain fitting and the support chain are firmly retained to the floor of the vehicle and to prevent removal of the chain fitting from the floor of the vehicle; and
wherein at least one portion of the chain fitting is accessible for connecting with the support chain while the at least one portion of the chain fitting is enclosed within an area occupied by the bracket.