Illuminated tie-down cleat

• US 9,517,723 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Salter, Stuart C., Maj, Michael Henry, Musleh, Michael, Karmo, Talat
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/002,703
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 362/485, 362/496, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/30 for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that includes a pickup box defining a storage area therein with at least one cleat assembly extending into the storage area. The cleat assembly includes a base, a tie-down cleat coupled to the base, and a lock assembly. The lock assembly is configured to removably couple the tie-down cleat to the base. The lock assembly includes a translucent polymer and a first phosphor material and a key configured to operate the lock assembly. The key includes a polymeric material mixed with a second phosphor material.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a pickup box defining a storage area therein;

at least one cleat assembly extending into the storage area, the cleat assembly comprising;

a base;

a tie-down cleat coupled to the base;

a lock assembly, the lock assembly configured to removably couple the tie-down cleat to the base, wherein the lock assembly includes a translucent polymer and a first phosphor material; and

a key configured to operate the lock assembly, the key comprising a polymeric material mixed with a second phosphor material.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second phosphor materials are configured to have a perceptible glow for greater than 10 hours after charging.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a light disposed proximate the pickup box configured to charge a least one of the first and second phosphor materials.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly includes between about 0.1% and about 25% of the first phosphor material.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer is impact modified.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein an indicia is disposed on top of the key and the indicia is configured to be illuminated by the second phosphor material.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first and second phosphor materials are configured to emit different colors.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a pickup box defining a storage area therein;

at least one cleat assembly extending into the storage area, the cleat assembly comprising;

a base;

a tie-down cleat coupled to the base;

a lock assembly configured to removably couple the tie-down cleat to the base; and

a key configured to operate the lock assembly, wherein the key and the lock assembly are both configured to illuminate by having a photoluminescent structure.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the key and the lock assembly each comprise a phosphor material.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the key and the lock assembly each comprise a different phosphor material.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least one of a first and a second phosphor materials are configured to have a perceptible glow for greater than 10 hours after charging.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a light disposed proximate the pickup box configured to charge the phosphor material.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the lock assembly includes between about 0.1% and about 25% of the first phosphor material.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the lock assembly comprises a transparent polymer.

15. A cleat assembly, comprising:

a tie-down cleat; and

a lock assembly configured to removably couple the tie-down cleat to a motor vehicle,

wherein the lock assembly is configured to emit light; and

a light separately disposed away from the lock assembly and configured to charge the lock assembly.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the lock assembly comprises a phosphor material.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the phosphor material is disposed within a lock cylinder of the lock assembly.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the lock cylinder comprises a transparent polymer.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

a key configured to operate the lock assembly, wherein the key is configured to emit light.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the key comprises between about 0.1% and about 25% of a phosphor material and the cleat assembly is positioned within a vehicle.