Attachable tie-down loop for a truck and method of use thereof

A tie-down attachment device and system for use in pickup trucks featuring a plurality of clamps that slide along the upper edge of the pickup truck bed rail used to hold bed caps in place without having to drill into the pickup truck bed is herein disclosed. The device comprises a clamping means that is secured by tightening a bolt with a strong grip or by wrench or pliers. The device further comprises a large eye bolt to which a strap, a rope, or other securing means can be connected and thus securing a load. The clamping device can be left in place on the bed rail or removed and stored when not in use.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention filed on Jul. 22, 2008 at the offices of Montgomery patent and Design in Washington, Pa. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tie-down anchor assemblies and, more particularly, to an attachable tie-down loop anchor which is removably mounted to an upper rail of a pickup truck bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With sales at an all-time high, the popularity of the pickup style truck as an everyday vehicle is more wide spread than it ever has been. Their utility and convenience in hauling items coupled with the availability of luxury interiors and extended cab space have made the pickup a popular alternative to other vehicles. Many of these pickup trucks are equipped with tie-down hooks. These hooks are typically provided in the four stake posts holes provided in the upper rail of the pickup truck bed. Manufacturers may also provide hook assemblies within the bed itself to aid in attaching straps, ropes and other tie-down means. However, as handy as such tie-downs are, it seems they are never in the right location to adequately and safely tie down the cargo at hand. Another style of tie-down anchors are those which utilize a clamping means to attach to the upper rail of the truck bed. These anchors may provide improved flexibility regarding anchoring locations, but due to the manner in which they attach to the upper rail they suffer from the load forces applied. This bending force can damage the upper rail of the truck bed since the clamping assemblies do not provide suitable contact area to properly disperse the load created by the tie-down. Solutions to this bending force often require a user to use additional securing hardware to mount the anchor to the upper rail or otherwise prepare the truck bed for attachment of the anchor. As such, many users resort to devising improvised strapping methods which may result in damage to the cargo or truck at best or present a safety issue at worst.

Various attempts have been made in the past to overcome these problems and provide tie-down anchors for truck beds. These attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,844, issued in the name Wheatley, describes a tie-down anchor assembly for attachment to a side rail of a pickup truck bed. The Wheatley anchor assembly comprises an anchor plate with an upright portion, an anchor which protrudes from the anchor plate, and a clamp assembly that is secured via a threaded fastener.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,991, issued in the name of Porter, describes a tie-down anchor for a truck bed for use in securing loads to an open truck bed. The Porter anchor comprises a mounting platform, two (2) pivoting arms with a spring mounted between, and a tie fastening ring and is installed within the existing post receiving wells commonly provided on the t upper rail of a pickup truck.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,090, issued in the name of Salmon et al., describes an anchorage assembly which enables a vehicle accessory to the selectively mounted to a vehicle comprising a rectangular housing having a central cavity and an anchor which is partially disposed within the cavity. The Salmon et al. assembly further provides a resilient material within the cavity that absorbs vibrations and impact loads to the anchor.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,969,219, issued in the name of Speece et al., describes a cargo anchor for a truck bed sidewall top plate which covers a post receiving aperture for securing an anchor line. The Speece et al. anchor comprises an anchor bar for securing the anchor line to an anchor cover plate and a locator plate that is fastened to the cover plate with screws and engages the inside of the sidewall of the truck bed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,900, issued in the name of Boltz, describes a cargo tie-down device for securing cargo and other loads to truck beds or supports. The Boltz device is installed within the post receiving well of the pickup truck comprises a rectangular first plate and an eye nut that are affixed to an elongated rod.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffers from one (1) or more deficiencies by failing to provide a tie-down anchoring assembly which addresses these disadvantages. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which tie-down points in a pickup truck bed can be provided where needed to safely secure cargo. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a position adjustable tie-down strap anchor for an upper rail of a pickup truck bed that provides a secure contact surface with the sidewall of the upper rail and thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need.

To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachable tie-down loop for trucks that provides a removable means of attaching a tie-down assembly to multiple points on a truck bed or other similar vehicle without drilling or other preparation to the body of the vehicle.

Another object of the attachable tie-down loop for a truck is to provide a device comprising a tie-down loop for assisting a user to secure objects stored in a truck bed further comprising a “C”-shaped bracket adapted to be slidingly clamped to an upper rail of the truck bed, a “U”-shaped bracket adapted to be slidingly clamped to the upper rail of the truck bed, a bolt that is threadably interconnected to the “C”-shaped bracket and the “U”-shaped bracket respectively, an eye bolt connected to the “C”-shaped bracket and above the “U”-shaped bracket.

Yet still another object of the attachable tie-down loop for a truck is to provide a device where the “C”-shaped bracket cooperates with The “U”-shaped bracket to simultaneously clamp the upper rail of the truck bed while the eye bolt is adapted to receive an existing tie-down strap.

Yet still another object of the attachable tie-down loop for a truck is to provide a device where the “C”-shaped bracket and the “U”-shaped bracket linearly approach each other when the bolt is threadingly tightened and adapts corresponding edges of the brackets to clamp a horizontal wall of the upper rail of the truck bed.

Yet still another object of the attachable tie-down loop for a truck is to provide a method of utilizing the device that enables quick and easy securing of any object that is transported in a pickup truck bed in a safe manner which is quick, easy and effective.

Further objects and advantages of the attachable tie-down loop for a truck will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention describes an attachable tie-down loop for a truck (herein described as the “device”)10, which provides a removable means of attaching a common tie-down70to multiple points on a truck60or other similar vehicle with no drilling or other preparation to the body of said truck60. The device10comprises a “C”-shaped bracket30and a “U”-shaped bracket40which slidingly clamp thereto an upper rail61of a bed portion of the truck60and provides a superior holding and securing means for the tie-down70.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an exploded isometric view of the device10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device10comprises an eye bolt20, a “C”-shaped bracket30, and a “U”-shaped bracket40. The “C”-shaped bracket30slidingly engages the “U”-shaped bracket40and the two (2) brackets provide a clamping means. The “U”-shaped bracket40and the “C”-shaped bracket30comprise a preferred dimension of at least two (2) inches wide. The eye bolt20comprises expected features similar to standard eye bolt hardware fasteners such as an eyelet21and a lower threaded stem22. The “C”-shaped bracket30comprises a first horizontal side31, a second horizontal side32, and a first vertical side33. The “C”-shaped bracket30further comprises a first edge34which is located thereon a distal end of the first horizontal side31.

The first edge34comprises an arcuate profile terminating ninety)(90° degrees therefrom the first horizontal side and provides a contact means therewith a top surface of the upper rail61of the truck60. The first edge34is covered by a first liner35which is preferably a soft, flexible material such as rubber or the like which is affixed thereto and covers said first edge34, thus preventing scratching or similar damage to the exterior of the truck60. The second horizontal side32is shorter in length than the first horizontal side31and comprises a second edge36which is located thereon a distal end of the same. A first aperture38comprising a through hole is located thereon a center portion of the first horizontal side31. The first aperture38receives the stem22of the eye bolt20which is inserted therethrough and secured thereto the “C”-shaped bracket via a nut23.

The “U”-shaped bracket40comprises a second vertical side41, a third vertical side42, and a third horizontal side43. The “U”-shaped bracket40further comprises a third edge44which is located thereon a distal end of the third vertical side42. The third edge44provides a contact means therewith a bottom surface of the upper rail61and comprises a third liner45which is affixed thereto and covers said third edge44, thus preventing scratching or similar damage to the exterior of the truck60. The “U”-shaped bracket further comprises two (2) guide rails46which are located on opposing outside edges of an inner surface of the second vertical side41. The guide rails46provide a guide track and receiving slot for the outer surface of the first vertical side33, such that the “U”-shaped bracket40provides a stabilizing means thereto the “C”-shaped bracket. The “C”-shaped bracket30is connected thereto the “U”-shaped bracket40via a bolt50which threadingly engages a threaded second aperture39which is located therethrough the second horizontal side32and a threaded third aperture47which is located therethrough the third horizontal side43. The second aperture39is superjacently aligned therewith the third aperture47such that when the bolt50is turned in a clockwise manner the second horizontal side32of the “C”-shaped bracket30approaches the third horizontal side43of the “U”-shaped bracket40, thus closing or tightening the device10such that the first edge35and the third edge44clamp to the upper rail61of the truck60.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3, various environmental views of the device10, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device10is intended to be utilized singularly or in plurality as desired by the user.FIG. 2illustrates four (4) devices10as attached thereto the upper rails61of the truck60. Once attached the device10may remain on the upper rail61when not being utilized or may be easily removed and stored in the truck60for future use.FIG. 3illustrates two (2) devices10as attached to the upper rails61of the truck60in a utilized state. Once mounted thereto the upper rail61, a common tie-down70can be connected thereto the eyelet21in a normal manner and used to secure objects80which are being transported in the bed of the truck60.

Referring now toFIG. 4, side view of the device10depicted as attached, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed.FIG. 4illustrates the positioning of the “C”-shaped bracket30, the “U”-shaped bracket40, and the bolt50as attached thereto the upper rail61. The third vertical side42is positioned behind a side wall62of the upper rail61such that the third edge44can make contact therewith the bottom surface of said upper rail61. When the bolt50is tightened, the “C”-shaped bracket30and the “U”-shaped bracket40approach one another, thus enabling the first edge34and the third edge44to clamp the horizontal wall63of the upper rail61. The second edge36comprises a second liner37which is preferably a soft, flexible material such as rubber or the like which is affixed thereto and covers said second edge36, thus preventing scratching or similar damage to the exterior of the truck60. The second edge36and thus the second liner37make contact therewith an outer surface of the side wall62of the upper rail61, thus providing additional stability to the device10.

The method of utilizing the device10may be achieved by performing the following steps: retrieving a desired plurality of said device10; positioning said plurality of said device10thereon the upper rails61of the truck60as desired depending on the orientation of the objects80in the bed of said truck60; tightening the bolt50, thus clamping said device10thereto said upper rail61; connecting a first end of the tie-down70thereto the eyelet21of the eye bold20on a first device10in a normal manner; positioning said tie-down70thereover said objects80; connecting a second end of said tie-down70thereto the eyelet21of a second device10in a normal manner; repeat the previous steps as needed to secure said objects80in said bed of said truck60.