US 12,404,022 B2
Retractable cargo hook
Simon Rodrigue, Laval (CA); and Sebastien Duval, Terrebonne (CA)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/368,218.
Prior Publication US 2023/0009616 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B64D 1/12 (2006.01); B64D 1/10 (2006.01); B64D 1/14 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 1/12 (2013.01) [B64D 1/10 (2013.01); B64D 1/14 (2013.01); B64D 2201/00 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo hook for an aircraft, comprising:
an arm portion configured to be operatively coupled to the aircraft and comprising a first torsion spring, the first torsion spring configured to allow the arm portion to rotate about a first axis;
a load hook configured to be coupled to a cargo load that is outside of the aircraft;
a hook body coupled to the arm portion and to the load hook, wherein the hook body is coupled to the arm portion by a second torsion spring configured to allow the hook body to rotate about a second axis, wherein the arm portion defines a plane that includes the first axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the plane, wherein the first torsion spring is configured to rotatably bias the hook body about the first axis and relative to a surface of the aircraft; and
an attachment plate having a top-most surface which is configured to contact the surface of the aircraft, wherein the attachment plate is configured to support the entirety of the arm portion, wherein the attachment plate includes a first mount and a second mount,
wherein the arm portion includes a first projection and a second projection, wherein the first and second projections are each positioned between the first mount and the second mount of the attachment plate, wherein the first torsion spring is positioned between the first mount and the second mount and between the first projection and the second projection.