Abstract:
An apparatus for securing cargo to a vehicle, and to tie-downs or sliders receivable in rails mounted to a bed, load deck, or other storage area of a vehicle, such as a pickup, sport utility vehicle, or trailer is described. A user may easily change, adjust or customize the tie-down locations to suit a desired application. The cargo securing system has a rail with a generally C-shaped cross section, the open end of the C-shape defining a slot which may run along the entire length of the rail. The C-shaped rail also defines a channel which may run along the entire length of the rail. A slider member may reside in the channel and include a foot or base portion and an integral elongate portion which may protrude through the slot in the rail. The slider member may include an integral tie-down location on the elongate portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/155,645, filed on Feb. 26, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of securing cargo using a rail system, and more particularly to tie-down devices for securing cargo in a truck, trailer, or other vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicles are often used to carry cargo, for example, in a bed or on a load deck of a pickup truck, sport utility vehicle, trailer, or other vehicle. In order to secure the cargo to the load deck, it is common to wrap tie-lines around or over the cargo and to connect the ends of the tie-lines to preexisting holes in the body of the pickup truck or to fixed tie-downs on the body of the pickup truck. The tie-lines can be in the form of wires, straps and/or ropes made of either inelastic or elastic material. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,711 to Beck and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,558 to Lechner, the tie-downs are generally rings or hooks for receiving the tie-lines and are separate pieces joined to one or more other pieces to form the slider. Furthermore, many pickup trucks are constructed with few or no exposed tie-downs in the load deck, making the use of tie-lines difficult if not impossible. Often, if a pickup truck does have tie-downs, the locations of the tie-downs are limited in number, can not be adjusted, or can be adjusted only to predetermined positions which may not be ideal. This makes it difficult or impossible to properly secure the cargo. 
     In order to provide tie-down locations for a load deck, track or rail systems have been proposed. Rail systems may include tie-downs in the form of sliders that move along the rail. Often, mechanical latches are used to secure the sliders at desired locations. U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,784 to Yanke shows an anchoring means  30  with a lock means (nut)  34  which is tightened to secure the slider against the track. Such lock means, however, may require tools or special handling, thereby complicating and delaying adjustment of the sliders. Other means of securing the sliders to the rail are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,558 to Lechner shows gripping means  32 ,  34  in the form of wedge-like teeth which protrude into channels formed in the base of the slider. These teeth are designed for “jamming or gripping engagement” flanges of the rail. Lechner has the disadvantages that the tie-down is constructed from a plurality of parts and may be difficult to produce and assemble. Another example is shown in Beck (U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,335), which uses a spring-biased plunger mechanism to engage the slider with the rail. The prior art lock means are complicated and contain many parts, which may be difficult to manufacture or adjust during use. Consequently, there is a need for a cargo securing system that is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to adjust. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for securing cargo to a vehicle, and more particularly to tie-downs or sliders receivable in tracks or rails mounted to a bed, load deck, or other storage area of a vehicle, such as a pickup, sport utility vehicle, or trailer. A method for securing cargo is also disclosed. For purposes of illustrating the invention, an embodiment of the invention will be described, but the invention is not limited to that embodiment. 
     The adjustable cargo securing system of the present invention allows a user to easily change, adjust or customize tie-down locations to suit a desired application. The cargo securing system may include an elongated hollow rail having a generally C-shaped cross section. As such, the C-shape defines a slot which may run along the entire length of the rail. The C-shaped rail also defines a channel which may run along the entire length of the rail. The rail may be secured to a vehicle with bolts. A slider member may reside in and engage the channel. The slider may be formed as a unitary piece. The slider may have a foot or base portion having a beveled top surface extending to an elongate portion. The elongate portion may protrude through the slot in the rail. The slider member may include an integral tie-down location on the elongate portion. The slider member may be selectively slidably adjusted to a desired position along the rail. 
     According to the present invention, a method of securing cargo to a load deck of a vehicle may be accomplished by providing an elongated hollow rail secured to the load deck of the vehicle with bolts. The rail may have a generally C-shaped cross section which defines a channel running along the entire length of the rail. The C-shape may also define a slot in an upper surface of the channel. A slider member may be provided. The slider member may have a foot or base portion having a beveled top surface extending to an elongate portion. The base portion may reside within the channel, while the elongate portion may protrude through the slot in the rail. The slider member may include an integral tie-down location on the elongate portion. The slider member may then be selectively slidably adjusted by a user to a desired position along the rail. The user may engage a tie-line to the cargo and secure the tie-line to the tie-down location of the slider. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference numerals are used throughout to indicate the same or like elements of the invention in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of components of the cargo securing system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end view of a cargo securing system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the cargo securing system taken along line  3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the cargo securing system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cargo securing system of  FIG. 2  shown in use on a pickup truck; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the pickup truck of  FIG. 5  showing how cargo may be secured with the inventive cargo securing system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an adjustable cargo securing system  10  for securing cargo that is resting on the load deck (or bed) of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck.  FIG. 1  shows components of the cargo securing system  10 , which include one or more rails or rail segments  20 , one or more sliders  50 , and one or more keeper pins  70 . The adjustable cargo securing system  10  may be installed on the pickup truck by the manufacturer, or the cargo securing system  10  may be installed as an after-market item, which can be added to the pickup truck after the truck is sold. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the adjustable cargo securing system  10 . The system  10  may include one or more rails or rail segments  20 . The rail  20  may include a base portion  22  from which a pair of opposing side walls  24 ,  26  may extend at substantially right angles to the base  22 . A pair of lap walls  25 ,  27  may extend inwardly from the opposing side walls  24 ,  26  at substantially right angles to the side walls  24 ,  26 , but ending spaced apart, thereby defining a slot  30 . The slot  30  may run along the entire length of the rail  20 . The base portion  22 , the opposing side walls  24 ,  26 , and the pair of lap walls  25 ,  27 , define a channel  32 , which may run the entire length of the rail  20 . The channel  32  is best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     One or more sliders  50  may reside in the channel  32 . The slider  50  may include a base portion  52  and an elongate portion  54 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the base portion  52  may be sized to remain in the channel  32  when the system is in use. The elongate portion  54 , which may be integrally formed with the base portion  52 , may protrude through the slot  30  in the rail  20 .  FIG. 3  shows that the elongate portion  54  may include an eyelet  55  which is used as a tie-down location in the cargo securing system  10 . One or more keeper pins  70  may be inserted into holes  72 , which may be located in the ends of the rails  20 , in order to prevent the sliders  50  from leaving the channel  32  when the sliders  50  are not in use in securing cargo to a pickup truck bed. The keeper pins  70  may have a protrusion  71  at one end and a removable ring  73  at the opposing end. The keeper pin  70  may be inserted into the holes  72  so that the protrusion  71  lies outside one of the side walls  24 ,  26  of the rail  20  and the ring  73  may be installed through a hole in the pin  70  so that the ring  73  lies outside the opposing side wall  24 ,  26 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . This arrangement prevents the sliders  50  from leaving the channel  32 . The keeper pins  70  may be removed by the user in order to remove one or more sliders  50  from the rail  20 , or to allow the addition of more sliders  50  into the rail  20 . Alternatively, in lieu of a keeper pin, other abutments may be used. 
       FIG. 2  shows that the base portion  52  of the slider  50  may have a beveled top surface  53  extending to the elongate portion  54 . The beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  does not include teeth or notches. In use, when tie-lines are secured to the slider  50 , tension is applied to the slider  50  and the tension is transferred to the rail  20  by contact between the smooth top surface  53  of the slider  50  and the inside surfaces  28 ,  29  of the lap walls  25 ,  27  of the rail  20 . The beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  helps to securely tighten, or wedge, the slider  50  against the rail  20 . The beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  also helps to center the elongate portion  54  of the slider  50  in the slot  30 , thereby transferring tension forces more equally to each of the lap walls  25 ,  27  of the rail  20 . 
     For example, the present invention may be used with a pickup truck  1 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  show this arrangement.  FIG. 5  shows that a pair of rails  20  may be sized to fit and may be installed along a top portion  5  of each of the side walls  3  of a standard the pickup truck  1 . The rails  20  may be preferably constructed of aluminum, but steel or other suitable material may also be used. The rails  20  may be constructed in one continuous length, or may be constructed in segments which may be installed end to end onto the top portion  5  of each of the side walls  3  of the pickup truck  1 . The rails  20  may be secured to the pickup truck side walls  3  by conventional means, such as with bolts  80 .  FIG. 4  shows that the rails  20  may include indentations  90  in the lap walls  25 ,  27  through which the bolts  80  may be accessed. The indentations  90  make the slot wide enough at the locations of the indentations  90  to accommodate a tool, such as a screwdriver, socket wrench or other tool, to allow the user to engage the bolts  80 . The bolts  80  may be inserted through the indentations  90  and through the holes  84  in the base portion  22  of the rail and thereby be secured to the side walls  3  of the pickup truck  1 . The head  82  of the bolt  80  may protrude into the channel  32  of the rail  20 , as best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The head  82  of one or more bolts  80  may be countersunk into the base portion  22  in order to minimize or eliminate the extent to which the head  82  protrudes into the channel  32 . 
     For example, specific dimensions of an embodiment of the rail  20  and slider  50  are shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . It should be noticed that the base portion  52  of the slider  50  may be sized for a fairly close, but loose fitting arrangement with channel  32  defined in the rail  20 . For example, the total width W 1  of the rail  20  may be 2 inches, the width W 2  of the opposing side walls  24 ,  26  may each be 3/16 inches, and the width W 3  of the base portion  52  of the slider  50  may be 1½ inches, thereby allowing a close but loose fit of the slider  50  in the channel  32 . In this way, the slider  50  may be easily slidably adjusted along the channel  2  by the user without special tools to a desired location. 
     By example, the base portion  52  of the slider  50  may have a height H 1  of ¼ inch which is sized to fit within the channel  32  defined in the rail  20 . The height H 2  of the rail  20  may be 1¼ inches. The elongate portion  54  of the slider  50  may have a width W 4  of ¼ inch which allows the elongate portion  54  to fit in the slot  30  in the rail  20 . 
     Because the beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  does not include teeth, a user may be able to align the slider  50  at any desired position along the rail  20 . Adjustment of the slider  50  may be effected quickly and conveniently by manual manipulation of the slider  50  to a location desired for tying down of cargo in a particular application. 
     The keeper pins  70 , which may have a diameter D 1  of ⅜ inch, may be inserted into holes  72  located in the ends of the rails  20  in order to prevent the sliders  50  from leaving the channel  32  when the sliders  50  are not in use. The holes  72  may have a diameter D 2  of ⅜ inch. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6 , the adjustable cargo securing system  10  is shown in use with a standard pickup truck  1 . One or more sliders  50  may typically be carried on each rail  20 , the sliders  50  being arranged on the same rail or on different rails, including being on opposing side walls  3  of the pickup truck  1 . Tie-lines  2  may be routed around, over, or adjacent to the cargo  4  from one slider  50  to another, and connected to the slider  50  to hold the cargo  4  relative to the bed of the pickup truck  1 . The ends of the tie-lines  2  may be looped through the eyelet  55  of the slider  50  and tied, in order to secure the tie-lines  2  relative to the pickup truck bed.  FIG. 6  shows that the eyelet  55  may also readily accommodate and hold a metal hook  6  commonly provided at the ends of many tie-lines  2 . 
     In use, when cargo  4  is secured using the cargo securing system  10 , the tie-lines  2  are engaged with the sliders  50  and the tie-lines  2  are drawn taught. In so doing, tension is thereby applied to the sliders  50  so that the beveled top surface  53  of the base portion  52  of the slider  50  is brought into contact with the inside surfaces  28 ,  29  of the lap walls  25 ,  27 , and the location of the slider  50  is thereby held relative to the rail  20  by friction forces. 
     In contrast to the prior art, the present invention may be simple to manufacture and easy to use. The manually adjustable slider  50  of the present invention may be made from one piece of material, or several pieces welded together to form a unitary body, having a base portion  52  with a beveled top surface  53  that extends to an elongate portion  54 . The elongate portion  54  may include an integral tie-down location  55 . This is unlike known sliders which may comprise many parts, such as those disclosed in Lechner (U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,558) and Beck (U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,335). Neither of these known sliders has a base portion with a beveled top surface nor a tie-down location that is integral with the elongate portion of the slider. 
     These, and other prior art sliders also may be difficult and expensive to manufacture, and also may be difficult or impossible for the user to operate manually. The present invention also does not include teeth as disclosed in Lechner (U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,558). Because the beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  of the present invention does not include teeth, a user may be able to align the slider  50  at any desired position along the rail  20 . Unlike Beck, the present invention does not use a spring to bias the slider against the rail. Rather, the beveled top surface  53  of the slider  50  of the present invention is held by friction forces against the rail  20  when the sliders  50  are used to secure cargo  4 . The slider of the present invention is a simple device which may be constructed from one piece having a base with an integral elongate portion and tie-down incorporated into the elongate portion. 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.