Truck bed tie down anchor cleat
First Claim
1. A truck bed tie down anchor cleat for a utility vehicle having a truck bed with side rails comprising:
- a) a structural clamp bracket essentially in a U-shape with a vertical face equivalent in height to a truck bed side rail and a pair of outwardly extending arms formed from said vertical face,b) a pivoting latch plate disposed movably between said outwardly extending arms for tying down objects within the truck bed,c) a wedge member contiguously positioned between said clamp bracket and the truck side rail on opposed ends, for removable attachment to the truck body,d) a rod shaped nut coterminous and centrally superimposed upon said wedge member in a pivotal manner, ande) tensioning means connected to said nut through said clamp bracket such that a continuous compressive force is exerted between the nut and bracket drawing the wedge member into intimate contact with the truck side rail using the clamp bracket as a fulcrum therebetween and said nut'"'"'s pivotability permitting variation in wall thickness and shape of the truck side rails.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A truck bed tie down anchor cleat for pickup utility vehicles which includes a clamp bracket (26) in U-shape having a pair of outwardly extending arms (32) to which a pivotal latch plate (52) is securely positioned inbetween. A wedge member (60) is located between the bracket and the truck bed side rail (30) and a rod shaped nut (70) is superimposed on top of the angular shaped wedge member. A bolt (74) is inserted through the bracket and wedge member and tightened into the nut applying a continuous compressive force wedging the cleat between a fulcrum flange (44) integral with the bracket and the side rails holding the invention securely in place with no modification to the truck bed. A second embodiment omits the latch plate and utilizes only one arm (32'"'"') in a horizontal position. A third embodiment substitutes a bicycle axle adapter (82) for the latch plate. A fourth embodiment uses a two piece clamp bracket with studs (84) on the bracket face and a detachable clamp bracket (86) held together with hex nuts (90).
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A truck bed tie down anchor cleat for a utility vehicle having a truck bed with side rails comprising:
-
a) a structural clamp bracket essentially in a U-shape with a vertical face equivalent in height to a truck bed side rail and a pair of outwardly extending arms formed from said vertical face, b) a pivoting latch plate disposed movably between said outwardly extending arms for tying down objects within the truck bed, c) a wedge member contiguously positioned between said clamp bracket and the truck side rail on opposed ends, for removable attachment to the truck body, d) a rod shaped nut coterminous and centrally superimposed upon said wedge member in a pivotal manner, and e) tensioning means connected to said nut through said clamp bracket such that a continuous compressive force is exerted between the nut and bracket drawing the wedge member into intimate contact with the truck side rail using the clamp bracket as a fulcrum therebetween and said nut'"'"'s pivotability permitting variation in wall thickness and shape of the truck side rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A truck bed tie down anchor cleat for a utility vehicle having a truck bed with side rails comprising:
-
a) a structural clamp bracket essentially in a) U-shape with a vertical face equivalent in height to a truck bed side rail and an outwardly extending horizontal arm formed from said vertical face, having a round cavity therein for tying down objects within the truck bed, b) a wedge member contiguously positioned between said clamp bracket and the truck side rail on opposed ends, for removable attachment to the truck body, c) a rod shaped nut coterminous and centrally superimposed upon said wedge member in a pivotal manner, and d) tensioning means connected to said nut through said clamp bracket such that a continuous compressive force is exerted between the nut and bracket drawing the wedge member into intimate contact with the truck side rail using the clamp bracket as a fulcrum therebetween and said nut'"'"'s pivotability permitting variation in wall thickness and shape of the truck side rails. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification