Load securing tie down clamp

Abstract

A tie down clamp comprises two U-shaped pieces interconnected via roll pins or similar mechanisms, wherein a cam arm is pivotally mounted on an axle between the two U-Shaped pieces. A double torsion spring wraps around the axle with the “hook” of the spring pressing against the cam arm when engaged. The cam arm includes a bore sized to accommodate a hook as may be found on a load securing mechanism. The bore may be beveled on each side to prevent “sharp edges” from being formed by the load securing mechanism. The bore is close to the pivot point of the cam arm. The cam arm includes a protrusion at the bottom so that the point of contact with the trailer angle iron, when the cam arm is engaged, is toward the end of the cam arm and offset from the vertical plane that runs through the axle roll pin.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A clamp, comprising:
 a. a first body piece;   b. a second body piece interconnected to the first body piece via an axle;   c. a cam arm that rotates on the axle, the cam arm including a protrusion configured to press against a portion of an object and secure the clamp to the portion of the object between the protrusion and the first and second body pieces; and   d. a double torsion spring that wraps around the axle between the first body piece and the second body piece and is configured to urge the protrusion to press against the portion of the object at a point of contact that is offset from a vertical plane that runs through the clamp at the axle.   
     
     
         17 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the first body piece and the second body piece are U-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . The clamp of  claim 17 , wherein a first side of the U-shape is shorter than a second side of the U-shape in the first body piece and in the second body piece. 
     
     
         19 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the axle runs through the first side of the U-shape in the first body piece and in the second body piece. 
     
     
         20 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the cam arm further includes a tie-down apparatus accommodating bore configured to receive a tie-down apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The clamp of  claim 20 , wherein the tie-down apparatus accommodating bore is on a first side of the cam arm and the protrusion is on a second side of the cam arm opposite the first side, with the axle being located between the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         22 . The clamp of  claim 20 , wherein the tie-down apparatus accommodating bore is circular with beveled edges. 
     
     
         23 . The clamp of  claim 20 , wherein the tie-down apparatus is a hook of a tie-down strap. 
     
     
         24 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the axle is a roll pin. 
     
     
         25 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the double torsion spring includes feet that wrap around a first pin that interconnects the first body piece to the second body piece. 
     
     
         26 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the object is a piece of angle iron on a trailer. 
     
     
         27 . The clamp of  claim 16 , further comprising a second pin that interconnects the first body piece and the second body piece and is located beneath the protrusion when the clamp is secured to the portion of the object. 
     
     
         28 . The clamp of  claim 27 , further comprising a third pin inside of the second pin. 
     
     
         29 . The clamp of  claim 28  further comprising a fourth pin inside of the roll pin. 
     
     
         30 . The clamp of  claim 16 , wherein the protrusion includes a rounded edge in contact with the portion of the object. 
     
     
         31 . A method of securing a clamp to an object, comprising:
 a. rotating a cam arm of the clamp on an axle to an open position by pressing the cam arm against a double torsion spring that wraps around the axle;   b. while holding the cam arm in the open position, placing a body of the clamp in contact with the object; and   c. releasing the cam arm from the open position such that the double torsion spring causes a protrusion of the cam arm to press against a portion of the object at a point of contact that is offset from a vertical plane that runs through the clamp at the axle, with the object secured between the protrusion and the body of the clamp.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising attaching a tie-down hook to a tie-down apparatus accommodating bore of the cam arm. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tie-down apparatus accommodating bore is on a first side of the cam arm and the protrusion is on a second side of the cam arm opposite the first side, with the axle being located between the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the tie-down hook pulls the cam arm in a same direction that the double torsion spring presses against the cam arm. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the object is a piece of angle iron on a trailer.