Tie-down anchor assembly

• US 6,256,844 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Extang Corporation (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Donald G. Wheatley
• Inventors: Wheatley, Donald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US09/433,399
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 242/65.CD, 242/65.EC, 241/15.K, 241/15.R, 241/30, 245/14, 245/69, 410/110, 410/116, 410/106, 114/218, 248/499, 296/249, 296/238
• US Class Current: 24/265.0CD
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0807 Attachment points
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 45/001 Devices for fixing to walls or floors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4773 Cargo tiedown

Abstract

A tie-down anchor for attachment to a side rail of a pickup truck bed. The tie-down anchor assembly comprises an anchor plate having an upright portion that defines a side face having an anchor protruding therefrom. The anchor is positioned on the face beneath the upper end of the plate and at a distance closer to the upper end than to the lower end of the plate. A mounting means for mounting the plate to the side rail is also provided. In this manner, the side rail is loaded in shear generally at its top when the tie-down anchor assembly of the present invention is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to the anchor of the assembly.

Claims

1. A tie-down anchor assembly for use attached to a side rail of a pickup truck bed, the side rail having a top surface and a flange downwardly extending from an inner edge of said top surface, said tie-down anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor plate, said plate having an upright portion defining a side face, said plate also having an upper edge, a lower edge, said upper edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the side rail when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto;

an anchor protruding from said side face, said anchor fixed to said anchor plate in a position on said face beneath said upper edge and at a distance closer to said upper edge than to said lower edge, said anchor defining a lead-off area being coincident with the top of the side rail;

mounting means for mounting said plate to the side rail; and

whereby the side rail is loaded in shear generally at the top when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to said anchor.

2. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein an upper surface of said anchor is located adjacent to the top of the side rail when said tie-down down anchor assembly is mounted thereto.

3. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a portion of said anchor defines said lead-off area as an area where a rope tied to said anchor will extend laterally off of said anchor.

4. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said anchor is a cleat.

5. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lead-off area is at least partially defined by an upper surface of said cleat.

6. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate further includes a lateral portion, said lateral portion extending laterally off of said upright portion.

7. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lateral portion extends off of said upright portion at said upper edge thereof.

8. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lateral portion extends in a direction opposite of said anchor so as to be positioned over the top surface of the side rail when mounted thereto.

9. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said lateral portion is spaced a predetermined distance beyond said anchor thereby self-positioning said anchor relative to the top of the side rail when mounted thereto.

10. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means being adapted to mount said plate to the side rail without drilling.

11. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a clamping member, said clamping member being secured to said plate by a threaded fastener.

12. A tie-down anchor assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said mounting means includes a vertical positioning means for engaging an underside surface beneath the top of said side rail.

13. A tie-down anchor assembly for use attached to a side rail of a pickup truck bed, the side rail having a top surface and a flange downwardly extending from an inner edge of said top surface, said tie-down anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor plate, said plate having an upright portion defining a side face, said plate also having an upper edge, a lower edge, said upper edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the side rail when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto;

an anchor protruding from said side face, said anchor positioned on said face beneath said upper edge and at a distance closer to said upper edge than to said lower edge, said anchor defining a lead-off area being coincident with the top of the side rail;

mounting means for mounting said plate to the side rail; and

whereby the side rail is loaded in shear generally at the top when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to said anchor;

wherein said plate further includes a lateral portion, said lateral portion extending laterally off of said upright portion; and

wherein said lateral portion extends off of said upright portion at said upper edge thereof.

14. A tie-down anchor assembly for use attached to a side rail of a pickup truck bed, the side rail having a top surface and a flange downwardly extending from an inner edge of said top surface, said tic-down anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor plate, said plate having an upright portion defining a side face, said plate also having an upper edge, a lower edge, said upper edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the side rail when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto;

an anchor protruding from said side face, said anchor positioned on said face beneath said tipper edge and at a distance closer to said upper edge than to said lower edge, said anchor defining a lead-off area being coincident with the top of the side rail;

mounting means for mounting said plate to the side rail; and

whereby the side rail is loaded in shear generally at the top when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to said anchor;

wherein said plate further includes a lateral portion, said lateral portion extending laterally off of said upright portion; and

wherein said lateral portion extends in a direction opposite of said anchor so as to be positioned over the top surface of the side rail when mounted thereto.

15. A tie-down anchor assembly for use attached to a side rail of a pickup truck bed, the side rail having a top surface and a flange downwardly extending from an inner edge of said top surface, said tie-down anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor plate, said plate having an upright portion defining a side face, said plate also having an upper edge, a lower edge, said upper edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the side rail when said tic-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto;

an anchor protruding from said side face, said anchor positioned on said face beneath said upper edge and at a distance closer to said upper edge than to said lower edge, said anchor defining a lead-off area being coincident with the top of the side rail;

mounting means for mounting said plate to the side rail; and

whereby the side rail is loaded in shear generally at the top when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to said anchor;

wherein said plate further includes a lateral portion, said lateral portion extending laterally off of said upright portion;

wherein said lateral portion extends in a direction opposite of said anchor so as to be positioned over the top surface of the side rail when mounted thereto; and

wherein said lateral portion is spaced a predetermined distance beyond said anchor thereby self-positioning said anchor relative to the top of the side rail when mounted thereto.

16. A tie-down anchor assembly for use attached to a side rail of a pickup truck bed, the side rail having a top surface and a flange downwardly extending from an inner edge of said top surface, said tie-down anchor assembly comprising:

an anchor plate, said plate having an upright portion defining a side face, said plate also having an upper edge, a lower edge, said upper edge positioned adjacent to the top surface of the side rail when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto;

an anchor protruding from said side face, said anchor positioned on said face beneath said upper edge and at a distance closer to said upper edge than to said lower edge, said anchor defining a lead-off area being coincident with the top of the side rail;

mounting means for mounting said plate to the side rail; and

whereby the side rail is loaded in shear generally at the top when said tie-down anchor assembly is mounted thereto and a tie-down member is secured to said anchor;

wherein said mounting means includes a clamping member, said clamping member being secured to said plate by a threaded fastener; and

wherein said mounting means includes a vertical positioning means for engaging an underside surface beneath the top of said side rail.