Tie down

• US 4,288,188 A
• Filed: 08/24/1978
• Issued: 09/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patent Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Patent Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US05/936,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 410/85, 410/97, 410/112, 410/10, 410/11, 410/21, 410/23, 296/40, 224/318, 224/329, 224/42.46 R, 248/499, 294/74
• US Class Current: 410/97
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/048 Carriers characterised by article-gripping , -covering,-retaining, or -locking means

Abstract

The tie down is constructed of a flexible metal cable with a loop at one end and a bore at the opposite end to receive a screw for anchoring the tie down to the frame of an automobile. The entire surface of the tie down is coated with a plastic coating to prevent marring of the adjacent surfaces of the automobile. A plurality of tie downs are used to anchor luggage, boats, and the like on the roof of an automobile. The tie down can be anchored in a rain gutter of the automobile frame so as to pivot from a concealed location to an exposed location ready for use.

Claims

1. A tie down comprising

a self-supporting flexible strand of limited length

a ferrule at one end of said strand defining a bore for anchoring said strand to a support;

in a pivotal relation

a loop at the opposite end of said strand; and

a plastic cover covering said strand, said loop and said ferrule.

2. A tie down as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strand is a metal cable.

3. A tie down as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strand has a tensile strength of at least 350 pounds.

4. A tie down comprising

a self-supporting flexible metal cable of limited length having one end looped over onto an intermediate portion of said cable to define a loop;

a clamp securing said one end of said cable to said intermediate portion;

a ferrule secured to said cable at an opposite end from said loop, said ferrule having a bore passing therethrough on an axis perpendicular to the axis of said cable; and

a plastic coating covering said cable, clamp and ferrule.

5. A tie down as set forth in claim 4 wherein said loop is disposed perpendicularly of said bore.

6. A tie down as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cable is of a length of about eight inches.

7. In combination with a vehicle having a support therein;

a tie down having a self-supporting flexible strand of limited length;

means at one end of said strand defining a bore; and

a loop at an opposite end of said strand; and

a fastening means passing through said bore into said support to anchor said strand to said support in pivotal relation.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said strand is a metal cable.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 which further comprises a soft cover covering said strand, said means, said fastening means and said loop.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cover is a plastic coating.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said loop is disposed perpendicularly of said bore.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said support is an automobile fender having a rain gutter and said fastening means is a screw positioned within said fender to permit pivoting of said strand from a concealed location within said rain gutter to an exposed location.