Patent ID: 6695556
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B60P,B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle rear door tie down apparatus for attachment to a tailgate for restraint of items being hauled in the cargo area of a truck or sport utility vehicle, comprising:an elongated cushioning member of flexible material, said cushioning member having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first side edge and a second side edge, a first end edge and a second end edge opposite said first end edge; at least one tie down strap, said tie down strap having an attachment end, and a distal end, said attachment end affixed to said cushioning member adjacent to said first side edge; means of removable attachment of said distal end of said tie down strap to said elongated cushioning member to an attachment point adjacent to said second side edge; at least one mounting strap, said mounting strap having a first end and a distal end opposite said first end, and having a determined length, said mounting strap attached at said first end to said cushioning member adjacent to said first-end edge; means of removable attachment of said distal end of said mounting strap to a mounting point adjacent to said second end edge and with said mounting strap tightly engaged around the outside surface of a tailgate thereby frictionally engaging said bottom surface of said cushioning member to a substantially fixed position over a top edge of said tailgate; said tie down strap being positioned to be in line with said top edge of said tailgate when said bottom surface is in said substantially fixed position; and whereby an item placed on said top surface of said cushioning member and supported by said tailgate is restrained thereon when said distal end of said tie down strap extends over said item and is attached to said elongated cushioning member at said attachment point.