Anchor plate securing method for vehicle seat cargo

• US 5,641,254 A
• Filed: 02/16/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sullivan, Daniel B.
• Original Assignee: Sullivan, Daniel B.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/390,216
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 410/96, 410/97, 410/98, 410/101, 410/102, 410/116, 224/275, 224/556, 224/563, 24/136 K, 24/136 L, 24/115 M, 24/130, 248/548, 248/503, 248/505, 297/253, 280/801.2
• US Class Current: 410/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/90 Details or parts not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3918 Wedge slot

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for restraining cargo securely in or on a vehicle seat. In particular, the invention relates to a method for anchoring a strap, cord, or cable to the vehicle seat which secures and restrains cargo in or on the vehicle seat. The method secures cargo to a vehicle seat having a rear by anchoring a strap to the vehicle seat. The method includes channeling or threading the strap through a wedge-shaped slotted portion communicably attached to an anchor plate, the strap being tightened around the cargo, whereby the anchor plate bears against the rear of the vehicle seat, thereby securing the cargo to the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat having a bottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat having a rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of the bottom cushion, comprising the steps of:

channeling a strap at an angle through a convergent region communicably attached to an anchor plate;

passing the strap through a gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

placing the anchor plate against the rear of the vehicle seat;

securing the cargo to the vehicle seat with the strap; and

in response to said securing step, bearing the anchor plate against the vehicle seat to thoroughly secure the cargo.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the convergent region defines a wedge-shaped slotted region, and wherein said channeling step includes a step of channeling a strap through the wedge-shaped slotted region.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channeling step includes a step of forming convergent strap portions in channeling through the convergent region.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channeling step is accomplished with a contiguous portion of the strap and said passing step includes a step of passing two contiguous portions of the strap through the gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of, in the event of breakage of the anchor plate, locking the strap with the anchor plate.

6. A method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat in a vehicle, the vehicle seat having a bottom cushion, an upright cushion, a front and a rear, the rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of thee bottom cushion, comprising steps of:

passing the anchor plate with a strap attached thereto from the front of the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle seat through a gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

fastening the cargo with the strap in the vehicle seat;

placing the anchor plate to span the gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

tightening the strap to secure the cargo; and

in response to said tightening step, bearing the anchor plate against the rear of the vehicle seat to thoroughly secure the cargo.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including a step of channeling the strap at an angle through the anchor plate.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said channeling step includes a step of channeling the strap at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees through the anchor plate.

9. The method of claim 6, further including a step of channeling the strap at a fixed angle through the anchor plate.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of channeling the strap twice at an angle through the anchor plate.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising steps of

channeling a strap at a first angle through the anchor plate from a first side of the anchor plate to a second side of the anchor plate,

channeling a strap at a second angle through the anchor plate from the second side of the anchor plate to the first side of the anchor plate.

12. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tightening step includes a step of thoroughly tightening the cargo with the strap to the vehicle seat.

13. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tightening step includes a step of thoroughly tightening the cargo with the strap to make the anchor plate bear against the vehicle seat.

14. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including a step of converging strap portions in channeling the strap portions through the anchor plate.

15. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including steps of

looping a strap around a portion of the anchor plate, and

channeling strap portions through the anchor plate.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, further including a step of converging strap portions in channeling the strap portions through the anchor plate.

17. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, in the event of breakage of the anchor plate, locking the strap with the anchor plate.

18. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, in the event of sudden stopping of the vehicle causing breakage of a portion of the anchor plate, further securing the cargo by wedging the strap between the portion and a remaining part of the anchor plate.

19. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of, in the event of breakage of the anchor plate, wedging the strap between portions of the anchor plate.

20. A method of securing cargo in a vehicle seat having a bottom cushion and an upright cushion, the vehicle seat having a rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of the bottom cushion, comprising steps of:

attaching a strap to an anchor plate;

passing the strap through a gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

placing the anchor plate against the rear of the vehicle seat;

securing the cargo to the vehicle seat with the strap; and

in response to said securing step, bearing the anchor plate against the vehicle seat to thoroughly secure the cargo.

21. A method of dampening the force of stopping a vehicle on cargo placed in a vehicle seat in the vehicle, the vehicle seat having a bottom cushion, a front, and a rear, the rear including a lower portion of the upright cushion and a back of the bottom cushion, comprising steps of:

passing an anchor plate with a strap attached thereto from the front of the vehicle seat to the rear of the vehicle seat through a gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

fastening the cargo with the strap in the vehicle seat;

placing the anchor plate to span the gap between the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat;

tightening the strap to secure the cargo and to make the anchor plate bear against the rear of the vehicle seat in securing the cargo; and

dampening the force on the cargo during stopping of the vehicle by compressing the bottom cushion and the upright cushion of the vehicle seat with the anchor plate.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising a step of channeling the strap at an angle through an anchor plate.