FOLDABLE, ATTACHED CLAMP FOR LASTING LOAD

Abstract

Holding device, which includes the following: a base element (62) with a reinforcing part (64) engaging with a first side of a fixed plate (30), a cleat (68) engaging with a second side of the fixed plate (30), and a neck part (66) connecting the reinforcing part (64) to the cleat (68) and slidably engaging with a keyway (40) in the fixed plate (30); and a locking element (72) coupled to the base element (62) via a hinge (76), wherein the locking element (72) is pivotable in an engaged position spaced apart from the fixed plate (30) in order to secure the device to the fixed plate (30), wherein the reinforcing part (64) is spaced apart from the clamp (68) such that the reinforcing part (64) and the clamp (68) sandwich-like enclose an offset section (36) of the fixed plate (30), wherein the locking element (72) comprises at least one projection (78) which engages a lower edge of the keyway (40) when the locking element (72) is in the engaged position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to removable cargo tie-down structures for vehicle body systems. BACKGROUND

[0002] Various vehicles include a cargo area or bed for transporting cargo. Beds may include tie-down fasteners for securing the load during transport. Tie-down fasteners may be permanently attached to the bed structure. Permanently attached fasteners may require securing with tools. These permanently attached fasteners may also be rigid with respect to the locations available for lashing cargo. In addition, tie-down fasteners may interfere with cargo stored on the bed that is not intended to be secured using tie-down fasteners.

[0003] US 2007 / 0 228 215 A1 relates to a holding device comprising a base element with a reinforcement part that engages with a first side of a fixedly attached plate, a cleat that engages with a second side of the fixedly attached plate, and a neck part that connects the reinforcement part to the cleat. The neck part can slide in a keyway hole of the plate. The base element is coupled to a locking element via a hinge. The locking element is pivotable from a disengaged position spaced from the fixedly attached plate into an engaged position in order to secure the device to the fixedly attached plate. The reinforcement part is spaced from the cleat such that the reinforcement part and the cleat sandwich an offset portion of the fixedly attached plate.

[0004] DE 10 2011 056 722 A1 describes a fastening device for securing cargo in a cargo hold, wherein the fastening device can be locked by means of an airline rail or through a keyhole in the cargo hold.

[0005] US 2 422 693 A discloses a holding device for a keyhole, which has an insertion part with a reinforcement part, cleat and neck part as well as a locking element for securing the holding device.

[0006] The object of this disclosure is to solve the above problems and other problems as summarized below. SUMMARY

[0007] The object is achieved by holding devices and a load retention system having the features of claims 1 and 6 as well as claim 12.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a retaining device comprises a base member having a reinforcement portion engaged with a first side of a fixed plate and a cleat engaged with a second side of the fixed plate. A neck portion connects the reinforcement portion to the cleat and slidably engages a keyway hole in the fixed plate. The retaining device also includes a locking member hingedly coupled to the base member. The locking member defines a disengaged position spaced from the fixed plate and is pivotable to an engaged position to secure the device to the fixed plate.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a retaining device comprises a base member having a reinforcement member and a cleat sandwiching an upper portion of a keyway in a fixedly attached plate. The retaining device also includes a locking member hinged to the base member and pivotable between a first disengaged position spaced from the fixed plate and a second engaged position engaging a lower portion of the keyway to secure the base member in the upper portion of the keyway.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a cargo restraint system includes a fixedly mounted plate secured to a cargo bed and defining an offset portion. The cargo system also includes a retainer having a base member for slidably engaging the offset portion. The retainer is provided with a locking member hinged to the base member. The locking member is pivotable from a disengaged position spaced from the offset portion to an engaged position engaging an edge of a hole in the offset portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle loading bed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fixed connecting plate. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a removable retainer detached from a fixed connecting plate. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a removable retaining device secured to a fixed connecting plate. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 with a locking member in a first disengaged position. Fig. Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 with the locking element in a second engaged position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention.

[0012] Referring to Fig. 1, a vehicle 10 includes a cargo bed 12 having a plurality of panels joined together to define a cargo area 14. A floor panel 16 is disposed beneath the cargo area to support cargo elements from below. A pair of opposed side walls 18 extend vertically from the floor panel 16 to retain cargo laterally within the cargo area. A bulkhead panel 20 extends vertically from the leading edge of the floor panel 16 to retain cargo in a forward portion of the cargo area 14. A pivotally mounted tailgate 22 is attached to a rear portion of the floor panel 16 and is in Fig. 1 in an open horizontal position, which facilitates the positioning of cargo in the loading area 14. The tailgate 22 is pivotable upward to be locked in a closed vertical position to retain a load in the rear of the loading area 14.

[0013] The overall size of the cargo area 14 is maximized to increase the loading capacity of the cargo bed 12 and to support various cargo types. Cargo types smaller than the overall size of the cargo area may not occupy the entire space of the cargo area 14. Allowing a smaller load to shift around on the cargo bed during transport is undesirable.

[0014] It may be desirable to tie down cargo at various locations on the cargo bed 12 based on the size and shape of the cargo items during transport. A plurality of fixed plates 24 may be attached to the various panels of the cargo bed 12 to provide a variety of different securing points for different types of cargo. In at least one embodiment, standard-sized fixed plates 24 are provided at various locations on the floor panel 16 and / or the side walls 18 and / or the headwall panel 20 and / or the tailgate 22. In alternative embodiments, the fixed plate 24 may be an elongated rail with a variety of different attachment points along its length.

[0015] Referring to Fig. 2, an example of a fixed plate 30 is shown. As explained above, each of a number of fixed plates can define standard dimensions to accommodate modular connections using interchangeable components. In the example of Fig. 2, the fixed plate 30 is secured to a vertical wall 32, for example, a side wall 18, of the cargo bed 12. The fixed plate 30 includes a pair of opposed mounting flanges 34 secured to the vertical wall 32 of the cargo bed. An offset portion 36 is provided between and interconnects the opposed mounting flanges 34. The offset portion 36 is spaced from the vertical wall 32 to provide a gap 38. A variety of devices may be mechanically retained to the offset portion 36 by extending into the gap 38 and engaging a rear surface of the offset portion 36. In one example, a hole 40 is provided near a central portion of the offset portion. The hole 40 may be shaped to receive a locking feature of a terminal component on the fixed plate 30.In other examples, a connecting component may be secured to a top edge 42 or a bottom edge 44 of the fixed plate 30.

[0016] The hole 40 acts as a keyway and includes an elongated upper portion 46 that is narrower than a lower receiving portion 48. The wedge shape of the hole 40 allows a retainer to be inserted through the lower receiving portion 48 and slid upward to engage the upper portion 46. The device is held horizontally to the fixed panel 30 after the upper portion 46 is engaged. In addition, a lower edge of the hole 40 defines one or more recesses 50 dimensioned to correspond to retaining projections of a retainer. After an upper portion of the retainer slidably engages the upper portion 46 of the hole 40, a lower portion of the retainer engages one or more of the recesses 50 to lock the retainer to the fixed panel, as explained in more detail below.The recesses 50 along the lower edge of the hole 40 act to hold the retainer vertically relative to the fixed plate 30.

[0017] Referring to Fig. 3 through 5, a removable retainer 60 is shown including a base member 62 configured to engage the upper portion 46 of the keyway hole 40 as discussed above. The base member 62 includes a reinforcement portion 64 that is inserted through the lower receiving portion 48 to protrude into the space 38 between the offset portion 36 and the vertical wall 32. The retainer slides upward in the direction indicated by arrow 74, with the reinforcement portion 64 engaging a rear surface of the offset portion 36. The base member 62 also includes a neck portion 66 that fits into the narrow upper portion 46 of the keyway hole 40. The neck portion 66 connects the reinforcement portion 64 to a cleat 68 on a front surface of the fixed plate 30, which engages a front surface of the fixed plate.The reinforcement member 64 and the cleat 68 sandwich the offset portion 36 of the fixed plate 30. The base member restricts movement of the retainer in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the fixed plate when the base member 62 engages the keyway 40.

[0018] The cleat 68 may include one or more tie-down anchors for receiving tie-down fasteners for securing cargo. The cleat 68 may define a T-shaped configuration with opposing parallel horns 70 extending from a central portion. Additionally, each horn 70 may include through-holes near a distal end. Side loads from a customer load lashed to the cleat 68 are transferred almost entirely through the base member 62 to the fixedly attached plate 30. The base member with the cleat is constructed of a strong and rigid material to withstand loads applied when lashing heavy loads. The base member 62 with the cleat 68 may be constructed of a molded polymer material.

[0019] As in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the holding device 60 also includes a locking element 72 that is hingedly coupled to the base element 62. A hinge 76 is provided to allow relative movement between the locking element 72 and the base element 62. The locking element 72 is configured to move from a first disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 5A, into a second engagement position, as shown in Fig. 5B, to be pivotable to secure the retainer 60 to the fixed plate 30. The locking member 72 includes at least one projection 78 to engage a lower edge of the hole 40 when the locking member is in the second position. The projection 78 extends through the offset portion 36 into the space 38. The projections 78 may correspond to the location of the recesses 50 along the lower edge of the keyway hole 40 (in Fig. 2). After the locking element 72 is fixedly mounted in the second engagement position, the locking element 72 restricts movement of the retainer 60 in a vertical direction parallel to the fixed plate 30.

[0020] Referring again to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the hinge 76 may be a fish-hinged hinge, with a first half molded integrally with the base member 62 and a second half molded integrally with the locking member 72. The base member 62 and the locking member 72 each include a series of cylindrical portions 84 that overlap with an opposing series of cylindrical portions 84. The overlapping cylindrical portions 84 are aligned along a spine of the hinge 76. A metal hinge pin 86 is provided along the spine of the hinge 76 to hold the cylindrical portions 84, molded from a polymeric material, together and define a hinge axis.

[0021] The device slides a distance L along the keyway 40 to engage the offset portion 36 to provide a sufficient length of engagement of the reinforcement member 64 and neck portion 66 with the keyway hole 40. The base member 62 must be generally parallel with respect to the fixed plate 30 while sliding along the distance L to provide a snug fit when sandwiching the offset portion 36. The locking member 72 pivots to the first disengaged position with sufficient clearance to avoid interference between the projections 78 and the lower portions of the offset portion 36 below the hole 40. The clearance allows the retainer to be installed more easily and without undue constraints. The clearance also requires minimal flexion of the retainer 60, which would cause stress if the device were not flexible.These stresses can lead to premature fractures or other failures during installation of the retaining device.

[0022] The locking member 72 may also include additional securing features to selectively restrict pivoting of the locking member from the engaged position. For example, a rotatable lock 80 may be attached to the locking member 72 to engage a rear surface of the offset portion 36 below the keyway hole 40. The rotatable lock 80 may be key-operated to rotate a tab 82 about an axis 88 between a locked position and an unlocked position. The rotatable locking tab 82 is elongated and is generally horizontal in the unlocked position, as shown in Fig.5A, such that there is no overlap at an edge of the keyway hole 40. The tab 82 is generally vertically aligned in the locked position to overlap a lower edge of the keyway hole 40 to prevent movement of the locking member 72 from the second engaged position.

[0023] The fixed plate 30 may be attached to a panel in a cargo area of ​​a vehicle in any orientation. The references to direction provided with respect to the vertical plate example are not intended to be limited to any particular orientation of a vertical fixed plate.

[0024] The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined with one another to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the description are descriptive rather than limiting. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.

Claims

[1] Holding device comprising: a base member (62) having a reinforcement portion (64) engaging a first side of a fixed plate (30), a cleat (68) engaging a second side of the fixed plate (30), and a neck portion (66) connecting the reinforcement portion (64) to the cleat (68) and slidably engaging a keyway hole (40) in the fixed plate (30); and a locking member (72) coupled to the base member (62) by a hinge (76), the locking member (72) being pivotable in a disengaged position spaced from the fixed plate (30) into an engaged position to secure the device to the fixed plate (30), the reinforcing member (64) being spaced from the cleat (68) such that the reinforcing member (64) and the cleat (68) sandwich an offset portion (36) of the fixed plate (30), the locking member (72) including at least one projection (78) engaging a lower edge of the keyway hole (40) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position. [2] The retaining device of claim 1, wherein the locking member (72) includes a pivot tab (82) for engaging the first side of the fixed plate (30) to restrict movement of the locking member (72) from the engaged position. [3] The retaining device of claim 1, wherein the base member (62) is a molded polymer having a series of cylinder portions (84) overlapping an opposing series of cylinder portions (84) on the locking member (72), and wherein a metal hinge pin (86) is inserted through the cylinder portions (84) to define a hinge axis. [4] The retainer of claim 1, wherein the keyway hole (40) defines at least one recess (50) along the lower edge to receive the at least one projection (78). [5] The retainer of claim 1, wherein the base member (62) restricts movement of the retainer in a direction perpendicular to the fixed plate (30) when engaged with the keyway hole (40), and the locking member (72) restricts movement of the retainer (60) in a direction parallel to the fixed plate (30) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position. [6] Holding device comprising: a base member (62) having a reinforcement member (64) and a cleat (68) sandwiching an upper portion (46) of a keyway (40) in a fixedly attached plate (30), the plate (30) being configured for attachment to a cargo bed (12); and a locking member (72) coupled to the base member (62) by a hinge (76) and pivotable between a disengaged position spaced from the fixed plate (30) and an engaged position in which it engages a lower portion (48) of the keyway (40) to secure the base member (62) in the upper portion (46) of the keyway (40), the locking member (72) including at least one projection (78) extending through the keyway (40) to engage a lower edge of the keyway (40) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position. [7] The retaining device of claim 6, wherein the hinge (76) comprises a first row of cylinder parts (84) on the base member (62) overlapping with a second row of cylinder parts (84) on the locking member (72), the first row and the second row of cylinder parts (84) being aligned via a hinge pin (86). [8] The retaining device according to claim 6, wherein the reinforcement portion (64) engages a rear surface of the fixed plate (30), the cleat (68) engages a front surface of the fixed plate (30), and a neck portion (66) extends through the keyway (40) to connect the reinforcement portion (64) to the cleat (68). [9] The retaining device according to claim 6, wherein the locking member (72) comprises a rotatable locking tab (82) that restricts movement of the locking member (72) from the engaged position. [10] The retaining device according to claim 6, wherein the upper part (46) of the keyway (40) is narrower than a lower part (48) of the keyway (40) and wherein the base member (62) is inserted through the lower part (48) and slides into the upper part (46) of the keyway (40). [11] The retainer of claim 6, wherein the base member (62) restricts movement of the retainer (60) in a direction perpendicular to the fixed plate (30) when engaged with the keyway (40), and the locking member (72) restricts movement of the retainer (60) in a direction parallel to the fixed plate (30) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position. [12] Load restraint system comprising: a fixed plate (30) secured to a loading bed (12) and defining an offset portion (36); and a retaining device (60) having a base member (62) for slidably engaging the offset portion (36), and a locking member (72) coupled to the base member (62) via a hinge (76) and pivotable from a disengaged position spaced from the offset portion (36) to an engaged position in which it engages an edge of a hole (40) in the offset portion (36), wherein the base member (62) includes a reinforcement portion (64) spaced from a cleat (68) such that the reinforcement portion (64) and the cleat (68) sandwich a layer of the offset portion (36), wherein the locking member (72) includes at least one laterally extending projection (78) engaging a recess (50) formed along a lower edge of the hole (40) in the offset portion (36) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position. [13] The cargo restraint system of claim 12, wherein the hole (40) in the offset portion (36) is a keyway (40) defining an upper portion (46) that is narrower than a lower portion (48) of the keyway (40), and wherein the base member (62) is inserted through the lower portion (48) and slides into the upper portion (46) of the keyway (40). [14] The cargo restraint system of claim 12, wherein the locking member (72) includes a rotatable locking tab (82) that restricts movement of the locking member (72) from the engaged position. [15] The load restraint system of claim 12, wherein the base member (62) restricts movement of the retaining means (60) in a direction perpendicular to the fixed plate (30) when engaged with the offset portion (36), and the locking member (72) restricts movement of the retaining means (60) in a direction parallel to the fixed plate (30) when the locking member (72) is in the engaged position.

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