Securing device for chains for use on flatbed trucks

Abstract

A securing device for chains used on flatbed trucks comprises an electric pneumatic system with a piston set partially inside a slit and which pushes the chain out. Instead of attaching the chain to a lever arm, the chain is passed through a loop attached to a small piece of chain, which in fact replaces where the lever arm would normally be. Once the chain is passed through the loop, it continues its course over to a slit at which point the user pulls on the chain and introduces the chain links into a slit in order to secure it tightly. In order to remove the links of the chain from the slit, a piston pushes the chain from the slit. The piston which is pneumatic hydraulic or electric is remotely actuated by an electric switch which can be situated in the truck's cabin so as to insure that no one is near the chain when it is released. The slit and piston arrangement are designed to fit into a single compact package.

1 . A securing device for chains comprising a box-like container being securedly and fixedly mechanically fastened underneath a side guard post located on a flatbed of a vehicle and comprising:
 a chain having links passing over a load and said chain being passed through a loop;   said loop being fixedly attached to a small segment of chain;   a pushing means encased within said box-like container;   said pushing means moving a piston linearly so as to push a U-shaped rod connected to said piston, by way of a connnector;   said U-shaped rod moving linearly across and through a slit;   said slit being located on a slit plate;   said pushing means being fixedly attached to the inside of said box-like container by mechnical means;   said connector and said piston passing through a cavity made into a front wall of said box-like container;   a conduit input situated onto said pushing means to provide for the actuation of said pushing means;   said slit plate and said box-like container being positioned proximal each other and securedly and fixedly attached underneath a guide post of a truck.   
     
     
         2 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said actuating means being selected from the group comprised of hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical means. 
 
     
     
         3 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said conduit being selected from the group comprised of pneumatic hose, hydraulic hose or electrical cable. 
 
     
     
         4 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said mechanical means for said pushing means being mechnical means such as welding, mechanical fasteners, adhesive means and any combination thereof. 
 
     
     
         5 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said mechanical means for said pushing means being a combination nuts and bolts using holes. 
 
     
     
         6 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said connector being bolted into said U-shaped rod by way of a bolt hole into which is threadably inserted a U-shaped rod bolt. 
 
     
     
         7 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said slit plate being connected to said box-like container by way of a connector plate. 
 
     
     
         8 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 7  wherein:
 said connector plate being welded to both said slit plate and said box-like container, or otherwise mechanically fixedly attached. 
 
     
     
         9 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said slit made into said slit plate being generally horizontally offset upwardly towards an open end so as to keep said chain inside said slit when installing said chain inside said slit. 
 
     
     
         10 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  wherein:
 a connector plate welded or otherwise mechanically fixedly attached to both said slit plate and said box-like container to connect together said slit plate and said box-like container proximal each other. 
 
     
     
         11 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  having a mode of operation comprising the steps of:
 when moving within the space occupied by said slit, said U-shaped rod pushes out said chain having been previously put inside said slit. 
 
     
     
         12 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  having a method of use comprising the steps of:
 having said U-shaped rod retracted away from an open end of said slit; 
 setting up said chain over the load; 
 using said small segment of chain with a loop to pass said chain through said loop; 
 pulling onto said chain so as to tighten said chain; 
 said chain, being taught, is inserted into said slit so that said links from said chain hold said chain in place within said slit; 
 
     
     
         13 . A securing device for chains as in  claim 1  having a method of use comprising the steps of:
 actuating a switch to slacken said chain; 
 said actuated switch actuating said U-spaped rod; 
 said U-spaped rod pushing said chain outside of said slit.