Rail and accessory arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

A rail and accessory assembly, comprising: a rail with at least one attachment point on its front side, wherein the at least one attachment point includes an opening; and an accessory designed to engage with the rail on which at least one attachment point is configured, wherein the accessory comprises a pair of opposing hooks, a knob for moving a first of the opposing hooks towards a second of the opposing hooks, and a pretensioning element for pretensioning the first of the opposing hooks away from the second of the opposing hooks; wherein the accessory can be inserted into the rail at the at least one attachment point by positioning the pair of hooks behind the front of the rail, and the accessory can be removed from the rail by pressing the button to move the first of the opposing hooks towards the second of the opposing hooks so that the accessory can be removed from the rail.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an accessory connection, in particular a rail and accessory arrangement for a vehicle.

[0002] Pickup trucks have various rails with hooks, anchors, or mounting brackets in their cargo beds. These hooks, anchors, or mounting brackets allow for the securing of various items (e.g., bicycles or other cargo) in the truck beds.

[0003] It is desirable to develop easier-to-use and safer hook, anchoring and mounting assemblies.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, it relates to a rail and accessory arrangement comprising a rail with at least one attachment point on a front face, wherein the at least one attachment point includes an opening, and an accessory configured to engage with the rail at the at least one attachment point. The accessory has a pair of opposing hooks, a knob for moving a first of the opposing hooks toward a second of the opposing hooks, and a pretensioning element for pretensioning the first of the opposing hooks away from the second of the opposing hooks.The accessory can be inserted into the rail at least at one attachment point by positioning the pair of hooks behind the front of the rail, and the accessory can be removed from the rail by pressing the button to move the first of the opposing hooks towards the second of the opposing hooks so that the accessory can be removed from the rail.

[0005] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a rail and accessory arrangement comprising a rail with a plurality of attachment points on its front face, each attachment point having a non-circular opening, all of which have the same shape, and at least one accessory configured to engage with the rail at any of the attachment points. The at least one accessory has at least one engagement element for engaging with the rail at any of the attachment points. The at least one accessory further comprises a knob for moving the at least one engagement element to release the rail so that the at least one accessory can be removed from the rail.The at least one accessory can be inserted into the rail at any of the attachment points by positioning the at least one engagement element behind the front of the rail, and the at least one accessory can be removed from the rail by pressing the button to move the at least one engagement element so that the at least one accessory can be removed from the rail.

[0006] One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by means of examples and should not be regarded as limited to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote similar elements. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a pick-up truck with a rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a front view of a rail of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the rail of the rail and accessory assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 shows an exploded view of an accessory of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 shows a front view of the accessory part of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 7 shows a rear view of the accessory part of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 8 shows a side view of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 9 shows a side view of a rail and accessory arrangement according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the rail of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 11 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the rail of the rail and accessory arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 12 shows a side view of the rail and accessory arrangement according to the second embodiment of the rail of the present invention.

[0007] The specific devices and methods shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Therefore, certain dimensions and other physical properties relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting.

[0008] Reference number 10 in Fig. Reference numeral 1 generally denotes a vehicle in the form of a pickup truck with a rail and accessory assembly 50 according to the present invention, although it is intended that the vehicle can be any type of vehicle. The illustrated vehicle 10 comprises a vehicle body 12, wheels 14 for moving the vehicle 10, and a loading platform 16. The loading platform 16 comprises side walls 18 with an inner surface 20. In the illustrated example, the rail and accessory assembly 50 comprises a rail 52 and an accessory 54 that is detachably connected to the rail 52. While the rail 52 is shown to be connected to the inner surface 20 of the side wall 18 of the loading platform 16, it is conceivable that the rail 52 of the rail and accessory assembly 50 of the present invention could be connected to or integrated into any wall (e.g., inside or outside a vehicle).Furthermore, a single or a variety of accessories 54 can be used with the rail 52 and / or a variety of rails 52.

[0009] Furthermore, multiple rails 52 can be connected to or integrated into multiple walls 18 at any point. For example, the rail and accessory arrangement 50 could comprise multiple rails 52 connected to or integrated into multiple walls 18 of the loading platform 16 and / or a tailgate 22 of the pickup truck.

[0010] The accessory 54 can have any structural form that can be connected to the rail 52, including load securing devices, loading boxes, loading bags and loading partitions.

[0011] The illustrated accessory part 54 of the rail and accessory arrangement 50 (see Fig. 2) is configured so that it can be detachably attached at a selected point within the rail 52. The rail 52 of the rail and accessory assembly 50 (see Fig. 2-4) comprises a front face 56 with a plurality of attachment points 58. Each of the attachment points 58 comprises an upper attachment edge 60 and a lower attachment edge 62. As explained in more detail below, the accessory 54 is configured such that it can be detachably positioned in one of the attachment points 58 by engaging the upper attachment edge 60 and the lower attachment edge 62.

[0012] In the illustrated example, the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62 each form three sides of a rectangle, so that together they form a rectangular shape. However, it is intended that the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62 can have any shape that allows an element to move from a central region 64 of the mounting points 58 either to the upper mounting edge 60 or to the lower mounting edge 62 and engage a substantial portion of the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62. For example, the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62 could each be semi-oval, V-shaped, or sawtooth-shaped.

[0013] Rail 52 of the in the Fig. The rail and accessory arrangement 50 shown in Figures 2-3 can be formed from a C-shaped rail element 66 having a plurality of fastening points 58 in its front face 56 and a slot 68 extending between each of the fastening points 58. The C-shaped rail element 66 is provided to be made from a metal sheet with opposing edges, including the upper fastening edge 60 and the lower fastening edge 62, and the metal sheet is formed by the C-shaped rail element 66 as shown in the figures. Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the rail 52 can be formed. The rail 52 can have a visible marking on its upper side to indicate the fastening points 58. It is further provided that the rail 52 can have holes in its underside for draining water and / or dirt.

[0014] In the example shown, the accessory 54 of the rail and accessory arrangement 50 is configured such that, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the accessory 54 can be detachably locked onto the rail 52. The accessory 54 comprises a housing with a stationary component 70 and a movable component 72. The movable component 72 is configured to be movable relative to the stationary component 70, allowing the accessory 54 to be positioned on and removed from the rail 52. As explained in more detail below, the stationary component 70 is configured to allow any element (e.g., a U-shaped hook) to be attached to it, enabling the stationary component 70 to perform an intended function.

[0015] The stationary component 70 shown can consist of several interconnected parts or of a single part. In the example shown, the stationary component 70 of the housing comprises a housing section 74 to which a hook section 76 is attached. The housing section 74 comprises a shell housing 78 with a front wall 80, a top wall 82, a bottom wall 84, and a pair of side walls 86. The shell housing 78 shown has vertical symmetry, such that the side walls 86 have the same but opposite configuration. The front wall 80 comprises an outer surface 88, as shown in Fig. Figure 6 shows a pair of screw countersinks 90 terminating in holes 92 to receive screws or other parts. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the holes 92 extend into cylinder 94 from an inner surface 96 of the front wall 80 inwards. The upper wall 82 can also have a countersunk screw hole 98 terminating in a hole 100 to accommodate a fastening element 102. It is intended that the countersunk holes 90, 98 can also be configured as mating holes or can be omitted entirely, and that any number of holes 92, 100 and associated structures can be used. As explained below, each of the side walls 86 includes a guide element 146, which allows a portion of the movable component 72 to be received therein, enabling the movable component 72 to move in a specific direction relative to the stationary component 70.

[0016] The illustrated hook section 76 of the stationary component 70 is configured to be received into and connected to the housing section 74. The hook section 76 comprises an inverted L-shaped body 104 with an upper section 106 and a side section 108. The side section 108 has a pair of through holes 110 to accommodate the fasteners that extend through the holes 92 in the front wall 80 of the housing section 74 to connect the hook section 76 to the housing section 74. Similarly, the upper section 106 has a through hole 112 to accommodate the fastener 102 that extends through the hole 100 in the upper wall 82 of the housing section 74 to further connect the hook section 76 to the housing section 74.The upper section 106 comprises an upwardly extending end hook 114 at one end opposite the side section 108 and an upwardly extending rib 116, which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the upwardly extending end hook 114, thereby forming an upper receiving space 118 between them. As shown in the... Fig. 5 and Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the upwardly extending rib 116 can be accommodated in a recess 120 in the upper wall 82 of the housing section 74.

[0017] A lower edge of the side section 108 opposite the upper section 106 includes a pair of aligned pivot openings 122 in lower cylinder lugs 124, although it is provided that any number of lower cylinder lugs 124 and associated aligned pivot openings 122 could be used. A portion of the movable component 72 is configured to rotate about the aligned pivot openings 122, as explained in more detail herein. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the lower cylinder tabs 124 include a stop 126 that extends radially away from them to limit the movement of part of the movable component 72.

[0018] In the illustrated example, the movable component 72 is connected to and movable relative to the stationary component 70 of the accessory 54. The movable component 72 comprises a sliding section 128 and a rotating section 130. The sliding section 128 has a U-shaped body 132 with a pair of lateral supports 134. The U-shaped body 132 has a thicker central section 136 and thinner outer sections 138, as shown in Fig. Figure 5 shows a T-shaped cross-sectional shape. An L-shaped push rod 140 extends rearward and upward from a central arm 142 of the U-shaped body 132 of the sliding part 128. The L-shaped push rod 140 terminates in a sliding surface 144.

[0019] The illustrated sliding section 128 of the movable component 72 is configured such that it can slide within the stationary component 70. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the side walls 86 of the housing 78 of the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70 each have a guide element 146. Each guide element 146 comprises a pair of opposing L-shaped flanges 148 with outer arms 150 that extend towards each other to define a slot 152 under the outer arms 150. A channel 154 is also formed between the pair of opposing L-shaped flanges 148. The side rails 134 of the U-shaped body 132 of the sliding part 128 of the moving component 72 are configured to slide within the guide elements 146. The thinner outer sections 138 of the side rails 134 of the U-shaped body 132 slide within the slots 152 under the outer arms 150 of the L-shaped flanges 148 of the guide elements 146.Furthermore, the middle thicker sections 136 of the side stringers 134 of the U-shaped body 132 slide within the channel 154 between the L-shaped flanges 148 of the guide elements 146. Pins 156 protrude through openings 157 in the middle thicker section 136 of the side stringers 134 of the U-shaped body 132 and are located in limiting grooves 158 in the side walls 86 of the housing 78 of the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70. The pins 156 limit the movement of the sliding section 128 of the moving component 72 relative to the stationary component 70 between a coupled position, in which the pins 156 bear against a lower end 160 of the limiting slots 158, and a release position, in which the pins 156 bear against an upper end 162 of the limiting slots 158. The pins 156 also prevent the sliding section 128 from sliding out of the guide elements 146.

[0020] In the illustrated example, the sliding section 128 of the movable component 72 abuts the rotary section 130 to rotate the rotary section 130. The rotary section 130 comprises a main plate 164 with a first end tube 168 and a second, downwardly extending hook 170. The first end tube 168 has a through bore 172. The rotary section 130 also comprises a pair of lateral stop arms 174 extending from opposite sides of the main plate 164. The main plate 164 also comprises an upwardly and forwardly extending post 176 with an alignment pin 178 arranged coaxially thereto.

[0021] The illustrated accessory 54 is mounted so that it can engage with the rail 52. In a first step, the first end tube 168 of the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 is positioned between the lower cylinder lugs 124 of the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70, such that the bore 172 in the first end tube 168 is aligned with the pivot opening 122 in the lower cylinder lugs 124. A trailing edge of the main plate 164 of the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 is provided to have curved surfaces 180 to allow it to slide on curved outer surfaces 182 of the lower cylinder lugs 124. In the first step, a bottom surface 184 of the main plate 164 of the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 rests on the stops 126 extending from the lower cylinder lugs 124.

[0022] During the assembly of the accessory 54, a pivot pin 186 is inserted into the bore 172 in the first end tube 168 and the rotary opening 122 in the lower cylinder lugs 124 to connect the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 to the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70. The pivot pin 186 is designed to have an interference fit in either the rotary openings 122 in the lower cylinder lugs 124 or in the bore 172 in the first end tube 168, but the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 should be able to rotate freely around the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70 (subject to locking by the stops 126).

[0023] Then a preload element 188 (e.g. a spring) is positioned between the rotary section 130 of the movable component 72 and the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70 in order to push the upwardly extending end hook 114 of the upper section 106 of the inverted L-shaped body 104 of the hook section 76 away from the second, downwardly extending hook end 170 of the rotary section 130.

[0024] A first end 190 of the prestressing element 188 can, if it is as in Fig. Figure 5 shows the spring-shaped aligning pin 178 at the end of the forward-extending post 176 of the main plate 164 of the pivot section 130. An opposite second end 192 of the preload element 188, if spring-shaped, can receive an aligning pin 194 extending from the upper section 106 of the inverted L-shaped body 104 of the hook section 76. The preload element 188 pushes the upward-extending end hook 114 of the hook section 76 away from the second, downward-extending hook 170 of the pivot section 130.

[0025] Once the rotating section 130 of the movable component 72 is connected to the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70, the combination is positioned within the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70 as described above. Fasteners are inserted through the holes 92 in the front wall 80 of the housing section 74 and into the pair of holes 110 in the side section 108 of the L-shaped body 104 of the hook section 76.

[0026] Likewise, a fastening element 102 is inserted through the hole 100 of the upper wall 82 of the housing section 74 and into the hole 112 in the upper section 106 of the L-shaped body 104 of the hook section 76.

[0027] Once the rotary section 130 of the moving component 72 and the hook section 76 of the stationary component 70 are positioned within the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70, the sliding section 128 of the moving component 72 is connected to the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the side rails 134 of the U-shaped body 132 of the sliding part 128 are pressed into the guide elements 146 from an underside until the openings 157 in the side rails 134 align with the limiting slots 158 in the side walls 86 of the housing section 74. Then, the pins 156 are inserted into the openings 157 in the side rails 134 and into the limiting slots 158. This fully connects the movable component 72 of the accessory 54 to the stationary component 70 of the accessory 54. As shown in Figure 5, the side rails 134 of the U-shaped body 132 of the sliding part 128 are pressed into the guide elements 146 from an underside until the openings 157 in the side rails 134 align with the limiting slots 158 in the side walls 86 of the housing section 74. Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the stop arms 174 of the rotary section 130 of the movable component 72 are located within the rear channels 200 in the side walls 86 of the housing section 74, the rear channels 200 having upper limiting edges 202 and lower limiting edges 204 to limit the movement of the stop arms 174 within the rear channels 200 and thereby limit the rotation of the rotary section 130 within the housing section 74.

[0028] The Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 8 shows the accessory 54 of the rail and accessory assembly 50, which engages the rail 52 of the rail and accessory assembly 50 in an engagement position at one of the mounting points 58. In the engagement position, the upper mounting edge 60 of the mounting point 58 is received in the upper receiving space 118 between the upwardly extending end hook 114 and the upwardly extending rib 116, which extends upward from the upper section 106 of the L-shaped body 104 of the stationary section 70 of the accessory 54. Likewise, the second, downward-extending hook 170 of the main plate 164 of the rotating section 130 is arranged behind the lower mounting edge 62 of the mounting point 58 to position the lower mounting edge 62 between the second, downward-extending hook 170 and the housing section 74 of the stationary component 70 of the accessory 54.Therefore, accessory part 54 is in the engagement position.

[0029] To detach the accessory 54 from the rail 52, the accessory 54 must be moved into a released position. To move the accessory 54 into the released position, a base 250 of the middle arm 142 of the U-shaped body 132 of the sliding part 128 of the movable component 72 must be pressed upwards against the preload of the preload element 188. The pressure surface 144 of the push rod 140 then presses against the underside 184 of the main plate 164 of the rotating section 130 to rotate the rotating section 130 around the pivot pin 186 against the preload of the preload element 188. The push rod 140 slides upwards until the pins 156 at the upper end 162 of the limiting slots 158 are in contact, with the pivot section 130 being at a pivot point where the second downward-projecting hook 170 of the main plate 164 of the pivot section 130 is no longer behind the lower mounting edge 62 of the mounting point 58.The base of the accessory 54 can therefore be rotated outwards to remove the second, downward-projecting hook 170 from the mounting point 58. The accessory 54 can then be lowered to remove the upper mounting edge 60 of the mounting point 58 from a position within the upper receiving space 118 between the upward-extending end hook 114 and the upward-extending edge 116, which extends upwards from the upper section 106 of the L-shaped body 104 of the stationary section 70 of the accessory 54. The accessory 54 can then be completely removed from the rail 52.

[0030] The rail and accessory arrangement 50 of the present invention enables a system in which the accessory 54 can be easily positioned in and removed from the rail 52. The second, downward-projecting hook 170 of the main plate 164 of the rotating section 130 and the upward-projecting end hook 114 of the upper section 106 of the L-shaped body 104 of the stationary section 70 of the accessory 54 can each engage external chamfered surfaces 300 (see Figure 1). Fig. 8) have features that can bear against the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62 of the mounting point 58 to force the second downward-extending end hook 170 and the upward-extending end hook 114 to move towards each other as they are inserted into the mounting point 58. Once the second downward-extending end hook 170 and the upward-extending end hook 114 pass the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62, the accessory 54 can engage on the rail 52. It should be noted that the second downward-extending end hook 170 and the upward-extending end hook 114 can have shapes that correspond to the shapes of the upper mounting edge 60 and the lower mounting edge 62 to ensure a secure engagement (e.g., circular shapes or sawtooth shapes, as described above).

[0031] The illustrated accessory 54 can comprise any element connected to the housing section 74, and / or the housing section 74 can have any desired configuration. For example, a U-shaped hook, a circular ring, a hook and snap device, a push button and toothed rail, a double snap device, or a cam with upward and downward projecting pins can be connected to or integrated into the housing section 74. Furthermore, a belt tensioning device for securing a belt or fastening device can be connected to the housing section 74. It is also provided that a single device (e.g., a toolbox) can comprise several accessories 54 so that the single device can be connected to the rail 52.The rail and accessory assembly 50 offers users a simple, cost-effective and lockable way to manage cargo in vehicles safely and easily.

[0032] In addition to attaching the accessory 54 to the rail 52 by pre-tensioning the pre-tensioning element 188, it is provided that the accessory 54 can be securely positioned on the rail 52. Fig. Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the rail and accessory assembly 50a, in which the rail 52 is configured as described above, but the accessory 54 includes a locking device 500 for locking the accessory 54 to the rail 52. The locking device 500 includes a locking cylinder 502 for receiving a key 504, wherein the locking cylinder 502 can be rotated, as is known to those skilled in the art. When the locking cylinder 502 of the locking device 500 of the second embodiment of the rail and accessory assembly 50a is rotated into a locking position, a locking element of the locking device 500 prevents rotation of the rotating part 130 of the movable component 72 and / or sliding movement of the sliding part 128 of the movable component 72.For example, the locking element can be rotated into engagement with the main plate 164 of the rotating part 130 in the locking position and rotated out of engagement with the main plate 164 in an unlocked position.

[0033] The Fig. Figures 10-12 show a second embodiment of the rail 52a of the rail and accessory assembly 50a' according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the accessory 54 can be locked to the rail 52a. In this embodiment, the rail 52a comprises a locking device 600 with a locking cylinder 602 for receiving a key 604, wherein the locking cylinder 602 can be rotated, as is known to those skilled in the art. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the locking cylinder 602 can be arranged at one end of the rail 52a. The locking device 600 also has a locking arm 606 which rotates within the locking cylinder 602 when the key 604 is turned. The locking arm 606 has an unlocked position, as shown in Figure 10. Fig. Figure 11 shows that the second downward-pointing hook 170 can be removed from the rail 52a and locked in a position as shown in Fig. Figure 12 shows the locking arm 606 resting against the top of the second downward-projecting hook 170 to prevent the second downward-projecting hook 170 from being removed from the rail 52a.

[0034] Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it should be noted that variations or modifications of the disclosed device, including rearrangements of parts, are within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] A rail and accessory assembly comprising: a rail with at least one attachment point on its front side, wherein the at least one attachment point includes an opening; and an accessory designed to engage with the rail on which at least one attachment point is configured, wherein the accessory comprises a pair of opposing hooks, a knob for moving a first of the opposing hooks towards a second of the opposing hooks, and a pretensioning element for pretensioning the first of the opposing hooks away from the second of the opposing hooks; wherein the accessory can be inserted into the rail at the at least one attachment point by positioning the pair of hooks behind the front of the rail, and the accessory can be removed from the rail by pressing the button to move the first of the opposing hooks towards the second of the opposing hooks so that the accessory can be removed from the rail. [2] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the accessory can be inserted into the rail at the at least one attachment point by moving the accessory towards the rail and the pair of hooks engaging behind the front of the rail. [3] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the two hooks has a conical surface such that a movement of the two hooks against the rail at at least one attachment point causes the two hooks to move relative to each other. [4] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the opening is not circular. [5] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the preload element is a spring. [6] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, which further comprises a locking device for locking the accessory to the rail. [7] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a locking device is integrated into the accessory. [8] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment point comprises a plurality of attachment points, each of which has the same configuration so that the accessory can be connected to the rail at each of the attachment points. [9] A rail and accessory arrangement comprising: a rail with a plurality of attachment points on its front, each of the attachment points having a non-circular opening, all of which have the same shape; and at least one accessory configured to engage with the rail at each of the attachment points, wherein the at least one accessory has at least one engagement element to engage with the rail at each of the attachment points, and wherein the at least one accessory further comprises a button for moving the at least one engagement element to release the rail so that the at least one accessory can be removed from the rail; wherein at least one accessory can be inserted into the rail at each of the attachment points by positioning the at least one engagement element behind the front of the rail, and that at least one accessory can be removed from the rail by pressing the button to move the at least one engagement element so that the at least one accessory can be removed from the rail. [10] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the at least one engagement element comprises a hook and pressing the button moves the hook against a preload of a preload element to enable the removal of the at least one accessory from the rail. [11] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the preload element is a spring. [12] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the at least one engagement element comprises a pair of opposing hooks and wherein the at least one accessory comprises a pretensioning element for pretensioning a first of the opposing hooks away from a second of the opposing hooks. [13] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the at least one accessory can be inserted into the rail at the attachment points by moving the at least one accessory towards the rail and the pair of hooks snapping into place behind the front of the rail. [14] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the two hooks has a tapered surface such that the movement of the pair of hooks against the rail at the attachment points causes the two hooks to move relative to each other. [15] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the preload element is a spring. [16] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 9, which further comprises a locking device for locking the at least one accessory to the rail. [17] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the locking device is integrated into the at least one accessory. [18] The rail and accessory arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the at least one accessory comprises a plurality of accessories 54, each of which has a different configuration.

Images