Abstract:
A retainer for securing items to a wall of a vehicle that may be installed by the user without the use of special tools or fasteners. The retainer includes an upper component that is slidably mounted to a lower component through the use of mating rails. The upper component includes an integral ring for securing items thereto, such as cargo nets, and the lower component includes a retainer leg that may be snap-fitted into an opening formed in a vehicle wall. A release member on the lower component engages a rib on the upper component for locking the upper component to the lower component. By moving the release member to a disengaged position, the upper component may be slidably removed from the lower component. To remove the lower component from the opening in the vehicle wall, the lower component includes opposing leg fingers that when pressed cause the retainer leg to disengage from the opening in the vehicle wall.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This Non-Provisional Application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/428,074 filed Nov. 21, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to devices for securing items within a vehicle and more particularly to removable retainers having an integral hook or ring for securing various items such as cargo nets to an interior wall of a vehicle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Various retainer devices are known to secure items to an interior wall of a vehicle. For example, it is known that various types of rings and hooks are used within a vehicle to secure items, such as cargo nets, to the vehicle&#39;s interior wall. Many of these devices are secured or otherwise anchored to the interior wall of the vehicle through the use of fasteners, pins, and the like. These known retainer devices, however, have several drawbacks. As an example, many of these retainer devices include multiple components, including metal or plastic hooks, mating components, and multiple fasteners, that are needed for the operation and securement of the retainer device. Moreover, these known retainers are installed by the vehicle manufacturer and typically require the use of special tools and several manufacturing and assembly steps. The present invention is directed at overcoming these and other known drawbacks and shortcomings with existing retainer devices.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to a retainer device that is useful for securing items to a wall or other surface, such as an interior wall of a vehicle. The invention may be installed and removed by the user without the use of special tools or fasteners. The invention includes the use of two components — an upper component that includes a ring for mounting numerous types of items to the retainer, and a lower component that includes a leg that may be snap-fitted into an opening in the wall or other surface. The upper component may be slid onto the lower component and snapped into place. By operating a quick-release member, the upper component may be slid off of and removed from the lower component. Similarly, by operating a release member in the lower component, the lower component may be removed from the wall or  
           [0005]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an exemplary retainer of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of the invention of FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the invention of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 shows another side view of the invention of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of exemplary upper and lower components of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the exemplary upper component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 shows a side view of the exemplary upper component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 shows another side view of the exemplary upper component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of the exemplary upper component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the exemplary lower component of the invention FIG. 5.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 shows a side view of the exemplary lower component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 12 shows another side view of the exemplary lower component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 13 shows a bottom view of the exemplary lower component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 14 shows a partial isometric view of the exemplary upper component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 15 shows a partial isometric view of the exemplary lower component of the invention of FIG. 5.  
         [0021]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 5 , there is depicted a retainer  10  of the present invention. The retainer  10  includes an upper component  12  that is removably mounted to a lower mounting base  14 . The retainer  10  of the invention may be snap-fitted into an opening or other aperture in a substrate, such as an opening in a vehicle interior wall, and may serve as an anchor to secure items within a vehicle, such as a cargo net, as discussed below. It should be understood that the retainer  10  not only is useful for securing items within a vehicle, but may also be used in numerous other applications where it is desired to secure items to a substrate or similar surface.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIGS.  6 - 9 , the upper component  12  includes an upper component base  16  that defmes a top surface  18  and a bottom surface  20 . Formed integral with the base  16  and extending outwardly from the top surface  18  is a ring or hook  22 . The ring or hook  22  receives other rings, hooks, or similar means for securing attachments such as cargo nets to the upper component  12 . As depicted, the top surface  18  of the upper component  12  is a relatively flat, planar surface and defines a peripheral edge  24  that is rounded or contoured to create a smooth surface transition from the top surface  18  to a downwardly extending side wall  26 . As shown in FIGS.  7 - 9 , the side wall  26  extends approximately half-way around the peripheral edge  24  of the upper component base  16  and defmes a side wall opening  28  through which extends a release member or finger  30  of the lower mounting base  14 , described below, for permitting selective removal of the upper component  12  from the lower mounting base  14 . The side wall  26  includes terminating side wall ends  32  that will engage with terminating side wall ends  34  formed on the lower mounting base side wall  36  of the lower mounting base  14 , as described below.  
         [0024]    Referring to FIGS.  6 - 8 , the ring or hook  22  extends outwardly from the top surface  18  of the upper component  12  near the peripheral edge  24 . It should be understood that the ring or hook  22  may define numerous shapes and configurations, and may extend outwardly from the upper component  12  at numerous locations on the upper component  12  and still permit securement of another ring, hook, or other device thereto. As illustrated, the ring or hook  22  defines a rounded and smooth body, free of sharp edges and comers, to create an aesthetically pleasing appearance and a safe, non-abrasive mounting surface on which to mount or secure another ring, hook, or other device.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS.  7 - 9 , located on the bottom surface  20  of the upper component  12  are a plurality of ribs and rails for permitting the slidable alignment and mounting of the upper component  12  to the lower mounting base  14 . Specifically, the upper component  12  includes a center rib  38  and a pair of opposing side ribs  40 . The center rib  38  extends outwardly from the bottom surface  20 , across the bottom surface  20  at or near the center of the bottom surface  20 , and to the side wall opening  28  in the component side wall  26 . As assembled with the lower mounting base  14 , the center rib  38  interlocks with the release member or finger  30 , which permits the selective, slidable removal of the upper component  12  from the lower mounting base  14 . Positioned on opposite sides of the center rib  38  are the side ribs  40 . Similar to the center rib  38 , the side ribs  40  extend outwardly from the bottom surface  20  and across the bottom surface  20 . The side ribs  40  assist in the slidable alignment of the upper component  12  with the lower mounting base  14  and prevent rotation of the upper component  12  relative to the lower mounting base  14 . The side ribs  40  defme a tapered end  42  to facilitate the slidable insertion of the upper component  12  to the lower mounting base  14 .  
         [0026]    Also located on the bottom surface  20  of the upper component  12  are a pair of opposing rails  44  that receive mating rails  46  extending outwardly from the lower mounting base  14 , described below, to hold the upper component  12  to the lower mounting base  14 . As illustrated by FIGS. 7, 11,  14 , and  15 , the rails  44  extend outwardly from the bottom surface  20 , have generally an L-shaped cross-section, and defme a rail groove  48  for slidably engaging with a mating rail rib  50  defined by the rails  46 , described below, of the lower mounting base  14 . The rail groove  48  and mating rail rib  50  assist in interlocking the rails  44  and  46  together. In addition, the rail groove  48  facilitates the slidable engagement of the rails  46  of the lower mounting base  14  to the rails  44  of the upper component  12 . Referring back to FIGS.  7 - 9 , similar to the center rib  38  and side ribs  40 , the rails  44  extend across the bottom surface  20  of the upper component  12  and are aligned substantially parallel with the center rib  38  and side ribs  40 . As depicted in FIG. 9, the rails  44 , at one end, are formed integral with the side wall  26  to provide additional structural support for the rails  44 . At the opposite end, the rails  44  define a rounded or contoured surface to assist with and facilitate the slidable alignment of the rails  46  of the lower mounting base  14  to the rails  44  of the upper component  12 . It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other arrangements, configurations, alignments, and positions of the ribs  38 ,  40  and rails  44  extending outwardly from the bottom surface  20  of the upper component  12  are possible with the invention and yet facilitate the removable mounting of the upper component  12  to the lower mounting base  14 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  10 - 13 , the lower mounting base  14  includes a top surface  70  and a bottom surface  72 . Extending outwardly from the top surface  70  are the rails  46  that slidably engage with the mating rails  44  of the upper component  12 . The rails  46  are positioned substantially parallel on the top surface  70  and have generally an L-shaped cross-section. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 15, each rail  46  includes a rail rib  50 , which extends outwardly from the rail  46  and aligns and mates with the rail groove  48  of the rail  44  of the upper component  12 . The rail rib  50  and rail groove  48  facilitate the interlocking of the rails  44  and  46 . Referring back to FIG. 10, the rails  46  at rail end  74  define a rounded or contoured surface to assist with the slidable alignment of the mating rails  44  and  46 . As above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other arrangements, alignments, configurations and positions of the rails  46  of the lower mounting base  14  are possible with the invention.  
         [0028]    The lower mounting base  14  also defines a peripheral edge  76 . Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, extending outwardly from the top surface  70  at the peripheral edge  76  is the lower mounting base side wall  36  that extends approximately half-way around the peripheral edge  76  of the mounting base  14 . The mounting base side wall  36  includes terminating side wall ends  34  that will engage with the terminating side wall ends  32  of the upper component side wall  26  upon the slidable insertion of the upper component  12  onto the lower mounting base  14 . In other words, the component  12  is slidably mounted to the lower mounting base  14  along the mating rails  44 ,  46 , until the terminating side wall ends  32 ,  34  contact each other, thereby stopping the slidable movement of the component  12  relative to the lower mounting base  14 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS.  10 - 13 , extending radially from the lower mounting base  14  is the release member or finger  30  that permits the selective, slidable removal of the upper component  12  from the lower mounting base  14 . As depicted, the release finger  30  includes a secured end  80  that permits pivotable movement of the release finger  30 , and a free end  82  defining an upwardly extending shoulder  84  that, when the release finger  30  is aligned with the center rib  38  of the upper component  12 , serves to retain and lock the upper component  12  onto the lower mounting base  14 . To unlock the upper component  12  from the mounting base  14 , the release finger  30  may be moved tangentially at the free end  82 , as indicated by direction arrow  86  in FIGS. 2, 5 and  10 , until the shoulder  84  no longer aligns with the center rib  38 . The upper component  12  may then be slidably removed from the lower mounting base  14 , as indicated by direction arrow  87 , depicted in FIGS. 2 and 6. Similarly, to install the upper component  12  onto the mounting base  14 , the release finger  30  may be moved tangentially at the free end  82 , as indicated by direction arrow  86 , until there is suitable clearance for the center rib  38  of the upper component  12  to pass alongside the release finger  30 . The upper component  12  is then slid onto the lower mounting base  14 , via the mating rails  44 ,  46 , until the terminating side wall ends  32 ,  34  contact each other, at which point the release finger  30  may be moved tangentially until the shoulder  84  of the release finger  30  aligns with the center rib  38 . At this point, the upper component  12  is locked to the lower mounting base  14  by the release member or finger  30 .  
         [0030]    As assembled, the side ribs  40  of the upper component  12  may contact the side walls of the rails  46  to prevent rotation of the upper component  12  relative to the lower mounting base  14  to further secure the upper component  12  onto the lower mounting base  14 . In addition, the center rib  38  of the upper component  12  aligns with a center rib  88 , depicted in FIG. 10, positioned on the upper surface  70 .  
         [0031]    Referring to FIGS.  11 - 13 , the lower mounting base  14  further includes a retainer leg  90  located central to the mounting base  14  for snap-fitting the retainer  10  of the invention to a hole or opening in a substrate, such as a wall or other surface. The retainer leg  90  extends outwardly from the bottom surface  72  of the lower mounting base  14 . The retainer leg  90  has generally a cylindrical shaped body and a rounded end  92  to facilitate the insertion of the retainer leg  90  into the hole or opening in the substrate. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 15, extending from the retainer leg  90  are opposing retainer leg fingers  94  for permitting the removal of the lower mounting base  14  from the substrate, as described below. The retainer leg fingers  94  extend through a central opening  96 , depicted in FIGS. 10 and 13, in the lower mounting base  14  and protrude above the upper surface  70 , as illustrated by FIG. 15. As shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and  15 , the retainer leg  90  also includes opposed ridged, inclined surfaces  98  that, when the retainer leg  90  is installed through the hole or opening in the substrate, the retainer leg  90  will snap-fit into the hole or opening and secure the lower mounting base  14  to the substrate by gripping the bottom surface of the substrate. To remove the lower mounting base  14  from the substrate or surface on which it is mounted, the leg fingers  94  may be pressed by hand toward each other, thereby releasing the engagement of the ridged, inclined surface  98  from the bottom surface of the substrate. The lower mounting base  14  may then be removed or pulled from the opening in the substrate.  
         [0032]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
         [0033]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.