초록 ▼

A tie-down apparatus for securing a vehicle to a longitudinally-extending elongate vehicle transporter comprises a vehicle support assembly and at least four securement devices associated with the vehicle support assembly and attachable to the vehicle. A respective tension member portion is intercon

A tie-down apparatus for securing a vehicle to a longitudinally-extending elongate vehicle transporter comprises a vehicle support assembly and at least four securement devices associated with the vehicle support assembly and attachable to the vehicle. A respective tension member portion is interconnected with a respective one of each of the four securement devices. Each tension member portion is capable of exerting a pull-down force on a respective one of the securement devices. A tension-applying mechanism is interconnected with each tension member portion to adjust the pull-down force on each of the securement devices. A tension-equalizing mechanism is interconnected with each tension member portion and is capable of automatically substantially equally distributing tension applied by the tension-applying mechanism among each tension member portion, to substantially equalize the pull-down force automatically with respect to the four securement devices. A tension-limiting mechanism is interconnected with the tension-applying mechanism and is capable automatically of limiting the pull-down force exerted by the tension member to a predetermined amount.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A tie-down apparatus for securing a vehicle to a longitudinally-extending elongate vehicle transporter, comprising:(a) a vehicle support assembly;(b) at least four variably positionable securement devices associated with said vehicle support assembly and attachable to said vehicle;

[ We claim:] [1.] A tie-down apparatus for securing a vehicle to a longitudinally-extending elongate vehicle transporter, comprising:(a) a vehicle support assembly;(b) at least four variably positionable securement devices associated with said vehicle support assembly and attachable to said vehicle;(c) a respective flexible tension member portion interconnected with a respective one of each of said four securement devices to enable nonuniform variations in relative positions of said securement devices, each tension member portion capable of exerting a pull-down force on a respective one of said securement devices;(d) a tension-applying mechanism interconnected with each said tension member portion to adjust said pull-down force on each of said securement devices; and(e) a tension-equalizing mechanism, interconnected with each said tension member portion, capable of automatically distributing tension applied by said tension-applying mechanism among each said tension member portion so as to substantially equalize said pull-down force automatically with respect to said four securement devices despite nonuniform variations in the relative positions of said securement devices.