Flush mount interior trim tie down loop

A product may include a base that may have a first face and an opposite second face. An anchor may be connected to the first face. A pivot may be provided for the base so that the base may be turned on the pivot. The base may be moveable to a first position where the first face may face in a first direction where the first face may be revealed and the second face may be concealed. The base may be moveable to a second position where the second face may face in the first direction where the first face may be concealed and the second face may be revealed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes retention, and in particular includes retention of objects in place relative to a surface.

BACKGROUND

Securing objects in place may involve the use of an anchoring device that may function as a tie-down appliance. A common anchoring device involves an anchor that is attached to a surface to which objects, such as cargo, are desirably retained.

SUMMARY OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

A number of illustrative variations may involve a product that may include a base that may have a first face and an opposite second face. An anchor may be connected to the first face. A pivot may be provided for the base so that the base may be turned on the pivot. The base may be moveable to a first position where the first face may face in a first direction where the first face may be revealed and the second face may be concealed. The base may be moveable to a second position where the second face may face in the first direction where the first face may be concealed and the second face may be revealed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

According to a number of variations as illustrated inFIG. 1, a product10may include an anchor loop12. The anchor loop12may be provided so as to be revealed on the side of a surface14, where retention of objects relative to the surface14is desirable. The surface14may be on a panel16that may be flat or contoured. The panel16may be a deck panel, or a load floor, or a side panel, or a roof panel, or may be of another nature, and may be disposed in any orientation. The panel16may be a trim panel, or a structural panel, or any other structure on which an anchor loop is desirable. The panel16may be an exterior panel or an interior panel. For example, the panel may be an interior or exterior panel of a vehicle, or may be located in another environment. The anchor loop12may be used to secure articles in a position relative to the panel16. In one example, the anchor loop12may be used as a tie down point to hold articles against shifting in relation to the panel16. The articles may rest on the panel16, on a neighboring panel, or on a supplemental device. In another example, a cargo net may be secured to the anchor loop12and may hold articles. The anchor loop12may be mounted to, or formed with, a base18, which may be secured to the panel16. The anchor loop12may be located on a first face20of the base18. The base18may be located in an opening22in the panel16.

The anchor loop12may project from the surface14in the position ofFIG. 1. In other variations, the anchor loop12may be recessed in the panel16, but may remain readily available for securing a line or clip thereto. The anchor loop12may pivot relative to the base18, or may be fixed thereon. In either case, the distance the anchor loop projects from the surface14may be reduced. However, the surface14may have a discontinuity as a result of the existence of the anchor loop12. In a number of variations the anchor loop12and the base18may be reversible. As shown inFIG. 2, they may be configured to flip around in the opening22to reveal a second face24of the base18, which is on an opposite side of the base18from the first face22. The second face24may be substantially flush with the surface14for reduced discontinuity. A clearance gap26between the base18and the panel16may be minimized so as to be only large enough to allow the base18to reverse. As a result, the product10may provide an anchor loop12that may be revealed in a convenient location when desired, and may be concealed when not needed. The concealed anchor loop12may improve appearance, or may provide a more continuous surface14.

With reference toFIG. 3, in a number of variations the anchor loop12may be positioned in a concealed state as inFIG. 2. The second face24of the base18and the surface14of the panel16may cooperate to provide a substantially continuous surface. The anchor loop12may be concealed behind the panel16and the base18. The base18may be supported by a shaft28, or shafts that may project from opposite edges of the base12and that may be supported by the panel16. The shaft(s)28may provide a pivot for the base18to flip around in the opening22. The panel16may include an offset30with a stop32to hold the base18in line with the panel16. The stop32may be disposed inside the perimeter of the opening22and behind the base18. The face20near the edge34of the base18may be biased against the stop32to maintain the second face24in alignment with the surface14.

In a number of variations as illustrated inFIG. 4, the base18, with the anchor12, may be rotated against the bias so that the edge34is lifted away from the stop32. As the base18is rotated, the edge34is moved toward an opposite side36of the opening22from the stop32. As the edge34approaches the opposite side36, the stop32may interfere with rotation of the base18. As shown inFIG. 5, the base18near the edge35may contact the stop32. Optionally, sufficient clearance may be provided so that no interference occurs, or the stop32may be flexible so that the edge35may be pushed past the stop32as it flexes to complete a one-hundred-eighty degree rotation of the base18. In a number of variations, the stop32may be omitted and the base18may be latched to the panel16, or may have a detent, in either or both of the positions ofFIGS. 1 and 2. In a number of variations as shown inFIG. 6, the shaft28may be provided with compliance so that the base18may be translated toward the opposite side36of the opening22in the direction37, and the edge35may clear the stop32. As shown inFIG. 7, this allows the base18to complete rotation, at which point the compliance of the shaft28may re-center the base18in the opening22. The second face24of the base18at the edge35, may be biased against the stop32so that the first face20of the base18may be substantially continuous with the surface14. The position ofFIG. 7corresponds with the position ofFIG. 1with the anchor loop12located on the front side of the panel16at the surface14.

In a number of variations as illustrated inFIG. 8, bias to position the base18against the stop32may be provided through a spring element38. The spring element38may have an end40in a catch in the panel16, and may be wound around the shaft28a sufficient number of times to allow the base18to pivot at least one-hundred-eighty degrees. The shaft28may be positioned in an opening42in the panel16sufficiently large to accommodate the shaft28and the spring element38. At the opposite edge of the base18, another shaft29may be positioned in an opening44in the panel16. With reference toFIG. 9, the openings42,44may be elongated to accommodate a pair of spring elements46,48, respectively. The spring elements46,48may center the base18in the opening22. The spring elements46,48may provide compliance to allow the shafts28,29to slide in the openings42,44, and the base18may be translated toward the opposite side36of the opening22so that the edge35can clear the stop32during rotation from the position ofFIG. 5to the position ofFIG. 6.

In a number of variations as illustrated inFIGS. 10, 11 and 12, a product may include the base18and anchor loop12that may be rotatable relative to the panel16. The spring38may be disposed around the shaft28and may apply a force47to the base18. The force47may load the base18to close the opening in the panel16. A resilient isolator or isolators53,55may be positioned near the edges of the base18and may interact with the panel16to provide an energy absorber or damping function. In the position ofFIG. 10with the anchor loop12in a concealed state behind the panel16, the isolator53may lie against the panel16at the offset30. The offset30may include a catch function via retention clip49. When the base18is rotated in the direction57as shown inFIG. 11, to reveal the anchor loop12in front of the surface14, the base18may contact the retention clip49, which may flex to allow the base18to rotate past. The edge of the base18may then enter a receptacle61in the panel16, as shown inFIG. 12, where it may be retained by the retention clip49. The isolator55may contact the panel16with the anchor loop in the revealed state ofFIG. 12, such as at a lip with the base18captured by the retention clip49. To return the product to an anchor loop12concealed state, the base18may be forced past the retention clip49in a direction opposite to the direction57.

In a number of variations as illustrated inFIGS. 13 and 14, the base18and anchor loop12may be provided in a cartridge assembly50. The cartridge assembly50may provide a convenient way of assembling the product10in a panel or other structure. The cartridge assembly50may include a case51with five walls52,54,56,58,60. A sixth wall may be provided as a flange62surrounding the opening22provided into the case51. The wall60, on an opposite side of the case51from the opening22, may be provided with mounting holes63for fasteners64,65. The cartridge50may be received in an opening68in the structure70on which the anchor loop12may be provided, which may be the panel16. The cartridge50may be inserted into the opening68, the base18may be rotated on the shaft(s)28to open the case51, and the fasteners64,65may be applied to the structure70. The case51may provide various functions of the panel16as set forth in the description related toFIGS. 1-9.

Through the foregoing variations, an anchor loop12may be provided in a desirable location and may be concealed when not needed. The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth.

Variation1may involve a product that may include a base that may have a first face and an opposite second face. An anchor may be connected to the first face. A pivot may be provided for the base so that the base may be turned on the pivot. The base may be moveable to a first position where the first face may face in a first direction where the first face may be revealed and the second face may be concealed. The base may be moveable to a second position where the second face may face in the first direction where the first face may be concealed and the second face may be revealed.

Variation2may include the product according to variation1and may include a panel to which the base may be mounted. When in the second position, the second face may form a continuous surface with the panel.

Variation3may include the product according to variation1and may include a panel to which the base may be mounted. The panel may define an opening within which the base may be mounted. The panel may include an offset on one side of the opening. A stop may be provided on the offset against which the second face may be biased when the base is in the first position and against which the first face may be biased when the base in in the second position.

Variation4may include the product according to variation3and may include a spring element that may apply a load to the base to close the opening.

Variation5may include the product according to variation1wherein the pivot may include a shaft. A spring element may bias the shaft in a second direction that may be perpendicular to the first direction.

Variation6may include the product according to variation5wherein the spring element may be compressible so that the base is translatable linearly.

Variation7may include the product according to variation1and may include a case to which the pivot may be connected. The case may have four side walls around an opening in which the base may be mounted.

Variation8may include the product according to variation7wherein the case may include a flange around the opening.

Variation9may include the product according to variation1wherein the base may be moveable on the pivot around at least one-hundred-eighty degrees.

Variation10may include the product according to variation1wherein the anchor may form a loop.

Variation11may involve a product that may include a panel defining an opening. The panel may have an outer surface. A base may be reversibly mounted in the opening and may have a first face and a second face. An anchor may be fixed on the base at the first face. The base may be reversibly positioned in a first position where the first face and the anchor may be revealed on a side of the panel at the outer surface and the second face may be concealed on an opposite side of the panel. The base may be reversibly positioned in a second position where the second face may be revealed on the side of the panel at the outer surface and the first face may be concealed on the opposite side of the panel.

Variation12may include the product according to variation11wherein when in the second position, the second face may form a continuous surface with the outer surface free of projections but with a clearance gap around the base.

Variation13may include the product according to variation11wherein the panel may include an offset on one side of the opening. A stop may be provided on the offset against which the second face may be biased when the base may be in the first position and against which the first face may be biased when the base may be in the second position.

Variation14may include the product according to variation13and may include a shaft moveably supporting the base. A spring element may bias the base against the stop in each of the first and second positions. The spring element may be wound around the shaft.

Variation15may include the product according to variation14and may include a second spring element biasing the shaft in a linear direction.

Variation16may include the product according to variation15wherein the second spring element may be compressible so that the base may translatable linearly.

Variation17may include the product according to variation11and may include a case to which the base may be connected forming a cartridge. The case may have four side walls around a second opening in which the base may be mounted.

Variation18may include the product according to variation17wherein the case may include a flange around the second opening that may abut against the outer surface of the panel.

Variation19may include a method of repositioning the product of claim11and may include providing a stop to hold the base in each of the first and second positions. The base may be rotated from the first position in one direction until it contacts the stop. The base may be translated linearly until it clears the stop. Rotation of the base may be completed in the one direction until it moves past the stop. The base may be translated linearly until it arrives in the second position against the stop.

Variation20may include the method according to variation19and may include biasing the base against the stop in each of the first and second positions with a spring element.