Tie down apparatus for an automobile luggage rack

• US 5,388,744 A
• Filed: 07/22/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Research & Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Glorio, David M., Cucheran, John S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/095,318
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 224/324, 224/325, 224/326, 224/321
• US Class Current: 224/324
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/048 Carriers characterised by article-gripping , -covering,-retaining, or -locking means

Abstract

A tie down apparatus for an automotive luggage rack includes a holder located inside the outer rails of the luggage rack. The holder consists of a upper section with an aperture; two resilient retaining rails; and two stay rods. The assembly process consists of placing a washer inside the holder and then inserting the combination inside the channel of a luggage rack'"'"'s outer rails. The tie down stud then can be easily inserted into the apertures of the upper portion and washer. The completed assembly can then be translated to an appropriate location along the outer rail.

Claims

1. A tie down apparatus for an automobile luggage rack comprising:

an outer rail having an inside channel;

a tie down stud having a knob portion and a shaft portion for assisting in preventing luggage on an automobile roof from falling off; and

a combination, of a holder and a washer, disposed inside said channel for connection with said tie down stud;

wherein said holder includes an aperture, formed in an upper portion of said holder, which has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the shaft portion of said tie down stud; and

wherein said holder further comprises a resilient retaining rail for lifting the upper portion of said holder to be flush with a top surface of said outer rail.

2. A tie down apparatus for an automobile luggage rack as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said resilient retaining rail has a curved surface which makes contact with a bottom surface of said inside channel.

3. A tie down apparatus for an automobile luggage rack comprising:

an outer rail having an inside channel;

a tie down stud having a knob portion and a shaft portion for assisting in preventing luggage on an automobile roof from falling off; and

a combination, of a holder and a washer, disposed inside said channel for connection with said tie down stud;

wherein said holder includes an aperture, formed in an upper portion of said holder, which has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the shaft portion of said tie down stud; and

wherein said holder further comprises at least one securing member positioned near a bottom portion of said holder, said securing member and said upper portion forming a space therebetween for containing said washer.