Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct – Anchor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-31
2001-09-18
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct
Anchor
C410S102000, C410S110000, C410S116000, C296S100070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290441
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a tie down for securing cargo within the bed of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tie down removably mounted within the stake pocket of a pick up truck.
DISCUSSION
The use of a cargo carrying vehicle such as a pick up truck often times involves the need to secure cargo in place. In addition, it is often advantageous to cover the open bed area of a pick up truck with a tonneau cover, camper top or other similar device. Accordingly, operators of pick up trucks and other cargo carrying vehicles commonly utilize tie downs fixed around the perimeter of the truck bed to provide anchorages for securing the cargo located within the vehicle bed.
One type of tie down provides a hook or cleat type anchorage which is fastened to the vehicle sidewall by screws or other threaded fasteners. In order to attach this type of tie down to the vehicle, additional fastener apertures must be drilled or punched through the vehicle sidewall. The drilling of the special fastener apertures is not only tedious and time consuming, but very likely detracts from the aesthetic appeal and resale value of the vehicle. Furthermore, access to both sides of the vehicle sidewall may be limited thereby impeding attachment using a standard bolt and nut.
Another type of tie down such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,449 provides an anchorage at the stake pocket found in pick up truck models. While these tie downs do not require the drilling of additional fastener apertures, they have certain disadvantages. In some cases, the tie down structure includes a lower plate that must be specifically sized for insertion within the stake pocket. Because the stake pocket is a blind aperture, the tie down must be articulated in order for the lower plate to enter the stake pocket opening and subsequently be long enough to engage the vehicle sidewalls. Accordingly, many different assembly levels may be required to retrofit a wide variety of vehicles. In other cases, the device provides only a rigid anchorage to the vehicle sidewall without any shock absorbing provision for rough road use. Therefore, composite structures such as bed caps and tonneau covers may prematurely fail due to impact loading.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stake pocket tie down which may be removably fitted to a pick up truck sidewall without drilling or cutting the sidewall.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a stake pocket tie down having a shock absorber or damper anchorage for releasably coupling a tonneau cover or top.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a tonneau cover latch releasably engagable with the stake pocket tie down of the present invention.
The present invention includes a stake pocket tie down for a motor vehicle having a cargo area defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a bed and a tailgate. The first sidewall has a stake pocket defined by a top surface and a downwardly extending flange. The stake pocket tie down includes a cap, a first locking plate, a second locking plate and a fastener. The cap has a wall with a first aperture and a second aperture and a flange radially extending from the wall. The first locking plate has male clasp and a finger disposed in the first aperture. The second locking plate has female clasp engaged with the male clasp and a finger disposed in the second aperture. The fastener interconnects the second locking plate and the cap.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Gordon Stephen T.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
The Budd Company
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