Tool-less track fastener
View Patent ↗A tool-less track fastener for anchoring an aircraft seat to a track having spaced-apart access openings and a retaining slot interconnecting the access openings is provided. The track fastener includes a main body for attaching to a leg of an aircraft seat and a track stud positioned at least partially within the main body and having at least one groove circumferentially and an enlarged foot for engaging the retaining slot of the track. At least one locking pin is positioned within the main body to adjustably engage a selected groove of the track stud. A locking bracket is carried about the main body and moveable between a first position wherein the track stud is in an unlocked position and a second position wherein the track stud is locked in the retaining slot by engagement of the at least one locking pin and the selected groove of the track stud.
1. A tool-less track fastener for anchoring an aircraft seat to a track having spaced-apart access openings and a retaining slot interconnecting the spaced-apart access openings, comprising:
(a) a main body for attaching to a leg of an aircraft seat;
(b) a lock disk positioned within the main body and movable relative thereto and configured to engage within and spanning adjacent ones of the spaced-apart access openings;
(c) a push rod positioned at least partially within the main body and adapted to impart movement of the lock disk;
(d) a locking bracket carried by the main body and in engagement with the push rod and moveable between a first position in which the lock disk is free of interference with the selected one of the spaced-apart access openings and a second position in which the push rod imparts movement of the lock disk into engagement with the selected one of the spaced-apart access openings; and
(e) a plurality of fixed track studs extending from the main body in the direction of the track, wherein the plurality of track studs engage an underside of the track when the locking bracket is in the second position such that the track is compressed between the lock disk and the plurality of track studs to prevent vertical and horizontal movement of the main body with respect to the track.
2. The track fastener according to claim 1 , further including a pad positioned on a bottom surface of the main body.
3. The track fastener according to claim 1 , further including a biasing spring positioned on a reduced circumference area of the push rod for biasing the push rod away from the lock disk.
4. The track fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the lock disk comprises at least one shoulder formed on opposing ends of the lock disk, and the at least one shoulder has a generally arcuate cross section that conforms to the shape of a portion of an access opening.
5. The track fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the main body defines an opening that receives a spherical bushing, and the spherical bushing receives a fastener therethrough for fastening the main body to an aircraft seat.
6. The track fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the locking bracket defines a cavity therein that receives the push rod.
7. The track fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the push rod is attached to the lock disk by a selectively releasable fastener.
8. The track fastener according to claim 1 , wherein the push rod is attached to the lock disk by peening a surface of the push rod into engagement with the lock disk.
9. An aircraft seat including a plurality of legs, each of the plurality of legs terminating in a tool-less track fastener for being attached to a track having spaced-apart access openings and a retaining slot interconnecting the spaced-apart access openings, the tool-less track fastener of each of the plurality of legs comprising:
(a) a main body for attaching to a leg of an aircraft seat;
(b) a lock disk positioned in within the main body and movable thereto and having at least one locking shoulder configured to engage within and spanning adjacent ones of the spaced-apart access openings;
(c) a push rod positioned at least partially within the main body and in proximity to the lock disk for imparting movement to the lock disk;
(d) a locking bracket carried by the main body and in selective engagement with the push rod and moveable between a first position in which the shoulders of the lock disk are free of interference with the selected one of the spaced-apart access openings and a second position in which the push rod imparts movement to the lock disk until the shoulders of the lock disk engage the selected one of the spaced-apart access openings; and
(e) a plurality of fixed track studs extending from the main body in the direction of the track, wherein the plurality of track studs engage an underside of the track when the locking bracket is in the second position such that the track is compressed between the lock disk and the plurality of track studs to prevent vertical and horizontal movement of the main body with respect to the track.
10. The seat according to claim 9 , further including a pad positioned on a bottom surface of the main body.
11. The seat according to claim 9 , further including a biasing spring positioned on a reduced circumference area of the push rod for biasing the push rod away from the lock disk.
12. The seat according to claim 9 , wherein the lock disk comprises at least one shoulder formed on opposing ends of the lock disk, and the at least one shoulder has a generally arcuate cross section that conforms to the shape of a portion of an access opening.
13. The seat according to claim 9 , wherein the main body defines an opening that receives a spherical bushing, and the spherical bushing receives a fastener therethrough for fastening the main body to the aircraft seat.
14. The seat according to claim 9 , wherein the locking bracket defines a cavity therein that receives the push rod.