US2018127992A1PendingUtilityA1

Adjustable spreader cleat

38
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Nov 9, 2016Filed: Oct 30, 2017Published: May 10, 2018
Est. expiryNov 9, 2036(~10.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Terry Hartman
E04G 13/02E04G 17/12
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An adjustable spreader cleat includes a first spreader cleat element with a first horizontal leg, a first vertical element attached to an outside end of the first horizontal leg and a first canted retaining element. A locking mechanism is located at an insertion end of the first spreader cleat element. A second spreader cleat element has a second horizontal leg end, a second vertical element and a second canted retaining element. The second horizontal leg includes a receiving end opening to a channel for receiving the insertion end, the channel includes a set of distributed latching regions for the locking mechanism. The first horizontal leg slides into the channel and locks into the second horizontal leg to join the first spreader cleat element with the second spreader cleat element. The first and second canted retaining elements and the first and second vertical elements cooperate to retain a form.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable spreader cleat comprising:
 a first spreader cleat element having a first horizontal leg, a first vertical element attached to an outside end of the first horizontal leg and a first canted retaining element substantially parallel to, and displaced inwardly from, the first vertical element;   a locking mechanism at an insertion end of the first spreader cleat element;   a second spreader cleat element having a second horizontal leg end, a second vertical element attached to an outside end of the second horizontal leg and second canted retaining element substantially parallel to, and displaced inwardly from, the second vertical element;   wherein the second horizontal leg includes a receiving end opening to an elongated channel in the second horizontal leg for receiving the insertion end, and wherein the channel includes a set of distributed latching regions for securing the locking mechanism; and   wherein the first horizontal leg is adapted to slide into the channel and lock into the second horizontal leg at one of the set of distributed latching regions, thereby joining the first spreader cleat element with the second spreader cleat element, and wherein the first and second canted retaining elements and the first and second vertical elements are adapted to cooperate in pairs to retain a form.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  further comprising first support webbing formed between the first horizontal leg and first vertical element, and second support webbing formed between the second horizontal leg and the second vertical element. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second canted retaining elements include a pinch point. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein each of the first and second horizontal leg elements include a plurality of nail holes. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring clip mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 5  wherein the spring clip mechanism includes opposing cantilevered clips biased in a locked position protruding outwardly from a surface of the first horizontal leg. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein the first horizontal leg further includes a guide affixed at the insertion end. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 7  wherein the guide is a triangular guide. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 8  wherein the second horizontal leg includes a notch for receiving the triangular guide. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein all of the elements comprise material selected from the group consisting of plastic, nylon, metal, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism comprises devices selected from the group consisting of spring clips, cantilevered spring clips, opposing spring clips, and offset spring clips. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 1  wherein the width of the first and second horizontal elements is adjustable in a range from 6 inches to 24 inches. 
     
     
         13 . A kit for an adjustable spreader cleat comprising:
 a first spreader cleat element having a first horizontal leg end, a first vertical element attached to an outside end of the first horizontal leg and a first canted retaining element substantially parallel to, and displaced inwardly from, the first vertical element by a predetermined length;   a locking mechanism at an insertion end of the first spreader cleat element;   a second spreader cleat element having a second horizontal leg end, a second vertical element attached to an outside end of the second horizontal leg and second canted retaining element substantially parallel to, and displaced inwardly from, the second vertical element by a predetermined length;   wherein the second horizontal leg includes a receiving end opening to an elongated channel in the second horizontal leg for receiving the insertion end, and wherein the channel includes a set of distributed latching regions for securing the locking mechanism; and   wherein the first horizontal leg is adapted to slide into the channel and lock into the second horizontal leg at one of the set of distributed latching regions.   
     
     
         14 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  further comprising first support webbing formed between the first horizontal leg and first vertical element, and second support webbing formed between the second horizontal leg and the second vertical element. 
     
     
         15 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second canted retaining elements include a pinch point. 
     
     
         16 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  wherein each of the first and second horizontal leg elements include a plurality of nail holes. 
     
     
         17 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring clip mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 17  wherein the spring clip mechanism includes opposing cantilevered clips biased in a locked position protruding outwardly from a surface of the first horizontal leg. 
     
     
         19 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  wherein the first horizontal leg further includes a guide affixed at the insertion end. 
     
     
         20 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 19  wherein the guide is a triangular guide. 
     
     
         21 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 20  wherein the second horizontal leg includes a notch for receiving the triangular guide. 
     
     
         22 . The kit for an adjustable spreader cleat of  claim 13  wherein all of the elements comprise material selected from the group consisting of plastic, nylon, metal, and carbon fiber.

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