Side rail tie-down anchor

• US 4,850,770 A
• Filed: 09/27/1988
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CARR Pattern Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Henry E. Millar Jr
• Inventors: Millar, Henry E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/249,951
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 410/101, 410/104, 410/106, 410/107, 410/108, 410/109, 410/110, 410/111, 410/112, 410/113, 410/114, 410/116, 296/40, 296/41, 296/43, 105/390
• US Class Current: 410/110
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 45/001 Devices for fixing to walls or floors

Abstract

The present invention provides a tie-down anchor attachable to any location along the side rail of the pickup bed, which anchor includes an L-shaped member having a horizontal leg which extends outwardly across the top of the side rail, and a vertical leg which extends downwards to the inside of the side rail. A tie-down connection member, such as a hook, is attached to the horizontal leg extending upwardly. A hole is formed in the horizontal leg of the L-shaped member between the tie-down connection member and the vertical leg. A U-shaped clamping member has two legs, which define a vertical slot, so that the clamping member may straddle the lip of the side rail, with one leg outside and the other leg beneath the side rail and inside the side rail lip. A vertical hole is formed through the outer leg of the clamping member. A threaded bolt extends through the hole in the horizontal leg of the L-shaped member, through the hole in the outer leg of the clamping member, and is threadingly engaged, so that when the bolt is tightened, the side rail is tightly clamped between the horizontal leg of the L-shaped member and the upper surface of the inner leg of the clamping member, while forcing the inner surface of the vertical leg of the L-shaped member tightly against the outer surface of the outer leg of the clamping member.

Claims

1. A tie-down anchor, for use in combination with the side rail of a pickup bed or the like, where the side rail has a lip extending downwardly from its inner edge, the tie-down anchor comprising:

(a) an L-shaped member having a horizontal leg and a vertical leg;

(b) a tie-down connection member attached to the horizontal leg of the L-shape member and extending upwardly so as to be available for a tie-down line;

(c) a hole formed in the L-shaped member on the horizontal leg between the location of said tie-down connection member and the vertical leg;

(d) a clamping member having two legs, a first or outer leg and a second or inner leg which define a vertical slot between said legs;

said slot being of depth of equal to or greater than the length of the downward extension of the lip of the side rail and of a width greater than the thickness of said lip;

the outer leg having an outer surface opposing said slot;

a hole being longitudinally formed through the first or outer leg of the clamping member; and

the upper end of the second or inner leg of the clamping member being a clamping surface; and

,

(e) a threaded bolt extending through the hole in the horizontal leg of the L-shaped member and through the hole in the first or outer leg of the clamping member into a threaded engagement;

(f) so that upon tightening said bolt the side rail is tightly clamped between the horizontal leg of the L-shaped member and the upper surface of the second or inner leg of the clamping member, and the vertical leg of the L-shaped member is forced tightly against the outer surface of the first or outer leg of the clamping member.

2. A tie-down anchor, as recited in claim 1, wherein the tie-down connection member is in the form of a hook.

3. A tie-down anchor, as recited in claim 1, wherein an extending lip is formed on the upper end of the second or inner leg of the clamping member so as to extend the upper surface thereof and provide an extended clamping surface.

4. A tie-down anchor, as recited in claim 1, wherein a protective pad is adhesively joined to the horizontal leg, so as to protect the finish of the side rail during use.