VEHICLE RAIL CLAMP MOUNT

• US 20080197663A1
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 89908 Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0815 Attachment rails or trellis

Abstract

A vehicle rail clamp mount can include a first mount portion that can be engaged with a vehicle rail at any position along the rail. The first mount portion can be positioned to overlie a vehicle rail in transverse to an axis of the rail, then rotated to a position parallel to the rail such that the first mount portion engages the rail. An interlock portion such as a tab on the first mount portion, or a second mount portion can also engage the rail or the first mount portion to prevent the first mount portion from rotating with respect to the rail. The clamp mount device can have a pin or another positioning member to maintain the position of the clamp along the rail. Various accessory mounts can be positioned on the clamp mount.

Claims

1. A vehicle rail mounting assembly comprising:

a first mount portion, the first mount portion configured to overlie a vehicle rail and to removably engage the vehicle rail;

the first mount portion rotatable between a first position in which the first mount portion is removable from the vehicle rail and a second position in which the first mount portion is only movable along a rail axis of the vehicle rail; and

a second mount portion, the second mount portion having an engagement position, said second mount portion configured such that when said second mount portion is in said engagement position said first mount portion is prevented from rotating between said first position and said second position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said assembly rotates between said first position and said second position about an axis transverse to said rail axis

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said assembly defines a first face configured to rest against a vehicle rail

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said assembly defines a first depending flange and said second depending flange straddling said first face.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking portion which secures said second mount portion in said engagement position.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said locking portion prevents movement of said first mount portion relative said second mount portion.

7. A vehicle rail mount comprising:

a vehicle mount having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first flange, and a second flange, the first and second flanges extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the mount is positionable over a vehicle rail such that in a first position the rail extends transverse to the first flange and the second flange and the mount is removable from the rail and in a second position, the rail extends along the lower surface generally parallel to the first flange and the second flange and the mount is only movable along said rail axis.

8. The mount of the claim 7, wherein said mount is rotatable between said first position and said second position about an axis which is transverse to an axis of the vehicle rail.

9. The mount of claim 8, further comprising an interlocking portion, which has a locking position in which said interlocking portion secures said mount against movement relative to said rail.

10. The mount of claim 9, wherein said interlocking portion is formed by a first mount portion, the first mount portion configured to overlie a vehicle rail and to removably engage the vehicle rail;

the first mount portion rotatable between a first position in which the first mount portion is removable from the vehicle rail and a second position in which the first clip is only movable along said rail axis the vehicle rail;

11. The mount of claim 9, further comprising a second mount portion, wherein said second mount portion comprises said interlocking portion.

12. A vehicle rail mount comprising:

a mount clip having a rail interface surface, a mount surface opposite the rail interface surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a central area between the first end and the second end, a central axis extending between the first and second ends, a first flange extending from the rail interface surface, and a second flange extending from the rail interface surface,

wherein the first flange extends from the first end of the clip towards the central area, the first flange generally parallel to the central axis, wherein the second flange extends from the second end of the clip towards the central area, the second flange generally parallel to the central axis, and

wherein the first flange and the second flange are configured to receive a vehicle rail therebetween extending generally parallel to the central axis; and

wherein the first flange and the second flange define a transverse passage on the rail interface surface such that a vehicle rail can extend across the rail interface surface transverse to the central axis between the first flange and the second flange.