Abstract:
An adjustable clamp assembly for attaching an accessory to a vehicle having a cargo rail. The assembly includes a rail clamp member attachable to the cargo rail and an adjustable clasp catcher operatively attached to the rail clamp member. A clasp is configured to selectively interface with one of at least two attachment features on the adjustable clasp catcher. An accessory fitting configured to accept attachment of the vehicle accessory is connected with respect to the clasp such that the accessory fitting is selectively attachable to the adjustable clasp catcher, thereby capable of attaching the accessory to the vehicle through the cargo rail. A locking member may be operatively attached to the clasp and configured to selectively exert a locking force between the clasp and adjustable clasp catcher.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to mechanisms for attaching accessories to vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known to provide a bed for a vehicle such as a pickup truck. Typically, the bed is rectangular in shape to define a cargo compartment and is closed at the end by a tailgate. The tailgate is hinged to the bed to have an upright position to close the end of the bed and a horizontal position to open the end of the bed. Other vehicles, such as sport-utility and crossover vehicles may also have small beds. Vehicle beds have traditionally been used to carry or haul cargo, but with the attachment of accessory devices, it may be possible to expand the utility of such vehicles. 
         [0003]    Many of such vehicles sold today also have a cargo cover (or tonneau cover) to cover the bed. The cover may be made as a one-piece panel of a relatively strong and rigid material to comply with predetermined strength and performance specifications. Multi-piece cargo covers are also available. These multi-piece foldable cargo covers are usually flat, hard plastic. Anther type of tonneau cover may be flexible cloth or vinyl, and uses a rib-like system to support the fabric and keep the cover taut. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An adjustable clamp assembly for attaching an accessory to a vehicle having a cargo rail is provided. The assembly includes a rail clamp member attachable to the cargo rail and an adjustable clasp catcher operatively attached to the rail clamp member. A clasp is configured to selectively interface with one of at least two attachment features on the adjustable clasp catcher. An accessory fitting configured to facilitate attachment of the accessory to the vehicle is connected with respect to the clasp such that the accessory fitting is selectively lockable to the adjustable clasp catcher, and thereby capable of attaching the accessory to the vehicle through the cargo rail. 
         [0005]    A locking member may be operatively attached to the clasp and configured to selectively exert a locking force between the clasp and adjustable clasp catcher. A clasp housing portion may be operatively attached to the accessory fitting and interposed between the locking member and adjustable clasp catcher. Furthermore, a slide lock may be operatively attached to the rail clamp member to selectively restrict movement of the rail clamp member along the cargo rail in predetermined positions along the cargo rail. 
         [0006]    The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the claimed invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a rail clamp assembly attached to a cargo rail on a bed rail of a pickup bed; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic close up perspective view of the rail clamp assembly of  FIG. 1 , shown removed from the cargo rail; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a rail clamp assembly having a pin-lock and different lever configuration, and shown attached to a cargo rail on a bed rail of a pickup bed. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures,  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a universal cargo rail clamp assembly  10 . In this application, the rail clamp assembly  10  is attached to a cargo rail  12  which is attached to a bed rail  14  of a pickup truck bed (not fully shown). The rail clamp assembly  10  is composed generally of two mechanisms: an adjustable rail clamp mechanism  16  and an accessory attachment mechanism  18 . 
         [0011]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment of the cargo rail  12  shown in  FIG. 1  is only one possible type of cargo rail  12  to which the rail clamp assembly  10  may be attached within the scope of the claims. Other systems may include, without limitation: rails placed on top of the bed rail  14 , rails molded into the top or side edges of the bed rail  14 , rails mounted on the floor (not shown) of the bed, intermittent portions (as opposed to continuous) of cargo rail, or rail portions mounted to, or molded in, the front wall (not shown) or tailgate (not shown) of the bed. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows the rail clamp assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. A rail clamp member  20  is configured to attach to the cargo rail  12  which is positioned in a rail channel  22  shaped such that its surfaces are lockable to the cargo rail  12 . In this embodiment, the cargo rail  12  rides inside of the rail clamp member  20 . However, the rail clamp member  20  could be configured to sit entirely or partially within the cargo rail  12 , which would place the contact areas of the rail channel  22  on the outer surfaces of rail clamp member  20 . Depending upon the configuration, the rail clamp member  20  may be installed by sliding it onto an open end of cargo rail  12 , or the rail clamp member  20  may be rotated or snapped directly into its location on the cargo rail  12 . 
         [0013]    Operatively attached to the rail clamp member  20  is an adjustable clasp catcher  24 . In this embodiment the adjustable clasp catcher  24  is oriented generally vertically with respect to the vehicle, with the adjustable rail clamp mechanism  16  below the accessory attachment mechanism  18 . However, other orientations (such as horizontal or angular) may be utilized within the scope of the claims. 
         [0014]    The adjustable clasp catcher  24  may be integrally formed with the rail clamp member  20 —such as by extrusion—from a single piece of material, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, however, it is not necessary to form these elements together. The rail clamp member  20  and adjustable clasp catcher  24  could be separately formed and bonded together, such as by, without limitation: welding, adhesives, fasteners, or another form of bonding. 
         [0015]    Adjustable clasp catcher  24  includes at least two attachment features  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , there are five attachment features  26 , each of which is configured to lock, grasp, or connect to a clasp  28 . In this embodiment, the attachment features  26  are slots or channels and the clasp  28  is U-shaped, with a bar portion that slides into the slots. Those skilled in the art will recognize numerous other shapes for the clasp  28  and corresponding attachment features  26  that may be utilized within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the clasp  28  could be designed such that it simultaneously interfaces with more than one of the attachment features  26  (having two parallel bar portions, for example). 
         [0016]    By varying the specific attachment feature  26  to which the end of the clasp  28  connects or locks, the relative distance between the cargo rail  12  and clasp  28  is varied. This adjustability allows the rail clamp assembly  10  to be used with vehicles having different distances (vertical or otherwise) between the cargo rail  12  and the top of the bed rail  14 . In  FIG. 2 , clasp  28  is locked to the lowest (as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) attachment feature  26 , such that the adjustable rail clamp mechanism  16  is in its closest position with respect to accessory attachment mechanism  18 . 
         [0017]    Clasp  28  is actuated by a locking member  30 , which selectively exerts or applies a locking force between the clasp  28  and one of the attachment features  26 . Locking member  30  therefore substantially fixes the position of the adjustable rail clamp mechanism  16  relative to the accessory attachment mechanism  18 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the locking member  30  further includes a lever  32  configured to actuate the locking member  30  when rotated counter clockwise (as viewed in  FIG. 2 ). The lever  32  and locking member  30  are shown in the locked position in  FIGS. 1 and 2  (and, as further described below, also  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0018]    Those skilled in the art will recognize myriad other ways to actuate the locking member  30 , and will further recognize that lever  32  does not have to be actuated exactly, or even similarly, as shown. An additional included feature of the embodiment of the locking mechanism  30  shown in  FIG. 2  is an over-center cam  31 , which is the generally cylindrical portion of locking mechanism  30 . The over-center cam  31  is one way to cause the clasp  28  to apply force. Because the clasp  28  is attached to the over-center cam  31  above the axis of the cylinder, as the over-center cam  31  rotates, clasp  28  raises and increases the force transferred to the adjustable clasp catcher  24 . 
         [0019]    Accessory attachment mechanism  18  is held to the locking mechanism  30 —and therefore the adjustable rail clamp mechanism  16 —by a clasp housing portion  34 . In the embodiment shown, clasp housing  34  partially covers and surrounds the adjustable clasp catcher  24 . However, complete or partial coverage is not required. In this embodiment, the clasp housing  34  provides structure configured to align the clasp  28  while the locking mechanism  30  is disengaged. 
         [0020]    An accessory fitting  38  is operatively attached to the clasp housing portion  34 . This attachment may be achieved by welding, adhesives, fasteners, or any other bonding method acceptable to those having ordinary skill in the art. In this embodiment, the accessory fitting  38  sits horizontally on top of, and generally parallel to, the top surface of the bed rail  14 . Other embodiments within the scope of the claims, however, may include vertically or angularly-oriented accessory fittings  38 , and the orientation need not be parallel to the top of the bed rail  14 . 
         [0021]    Accessory fitting  38  provides structure configured to attach one or more accessories (concurrently or alternatively) to the vehicle. Furthermore, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the accessory fitting  38  may be integrally formed with the clasp housing portion  34 —such as by extrusion—from a single piece of material. 
         [0022]    Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize a large range of accessories attachable to the accessory fitting  38  within the scope of the claims. Some exemplary accessories, without limitation of size, structure, or function, are: hard-cover cargo covers, soft tonneau covers, tool boxes or other equipment storage units, cargo-transportation and hauling equipment, and camper tops, tents or other recreational structures. Such a wide range of attachable accessories is accommodated by myriad designs for the accessory fitting  38  within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, different accessories may require different numbers of universal cargo rail clamps  10  to be used on the vehicle, and may vary the overall size and strength of each rail clamp assembly  10  used. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the accessory fitting  38  is configured for attachment of a soft tonneau cover (of cloth, vinyl, leather, rubber, or the like) having a rib or rib-like portions. 
         [0023]    Those having ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that the locking member  30  may generate enough force between the cargo rail  12  and the bed rail  14  to hold the rail clamp assembly  10  in place on the cargo rail  12 . Some embodiments, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 , may include a slide lock  40  configured to selectively restrict movement, and allow adjustment, of the rail clamp assembly  10  along the cargo rail  12 . This slide lock  40  restricts movement by turning a bolt  44  or other device to apply pressure between the rail clamp member  20  and the cargo rail  12 . The slide lock  40  may be configured as a separate component, or integrally formed into the rail clamp member  20 . 
         [0024]    Another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , further includes a pin-lock  42 . Unlike the slide lock  40 , the pin-lock  42  includes a pin  46  which selectively interfaces with holes  48  in the cargo rail  12 . The holes  48  are configured to receive the pin  46 , such that by pulling or disengaging the pin  46 , the rail clamp assembly  10  is free to slide along cargo rail  12 . The pin  46  may then be pushed back—possibly by a spring (not shown) biasing the pin  46  toward the cargo rail—into one of the holes  48  to lock the rail clamp assembly  10  into one of the corresponding, predetermined positions along cargo rail  12 . Note also that, in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the lever  32  is positioned such that the clasp  28  is locked by rotating the lever  32  into contact with the clasp housing  34 . 
         [0025]    While the best modes for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.