Abstract:
The present invention pertains to a trailer tie-down bracket that may be removably attached to, and repositioned along, a trailer frame and/or rail without having to permanently alter the trailer frame and/or rails (e.g., by drilling holes therein). The trailer tie-down bracket is preferably comprised of a clamp portion for removable and repositionable attachment to a trailer frame, an eye-bolt attached to said clamp, a fastener for removably attaching said clamp to the frame or rail and a locking nut for locking the same in a desired position. The trailer tie-down bracket enables a user to (i) securely transport a trailer load by offering a secure anchoring point to which tie-downs can be secured and that can be attached to a trailer frame and/or rail without altering the same; and (ii) reposition the trailer tie-down bracket along the frame to suit the user&#39;s needs and/or a particular application.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/647,126 filed on May 15, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a repositionable trailer tie-down bracket for attachment to a rail or frame on a trailer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many outdoor enthusiasts, homeowners, craftsman, farmers and other folks utilize small utility trailers attached to their vehicles to transport their gear, equipment or other articles to their destination. Many of the same trailers are comprised of frames with what is commonly referred to as “angle iron” rails. Unfortunately, said trailer frames and rails typically do not have an adequate place to attach tie-down straps to secure the trailer contents. Further, drilling into the frame and/or rail to install a tie-down attachment point, such as an eye-bolt, tends to weaken the trailer frame and does not permit for the repositioning of said attachment points once installed. Drilling holes into the frame of the trailer may also unintentionally impact the trailer&#39;s load rating, which is also undesirable. 
         [0004]    Consequently, there is a long felt need in the art for a trailer tie-down bracket that can be removably attached to a trailer without permanently altering the trailer frame and or rails by, for example, drilling holes in the same. There is also a long felt need for a trailer tie-down bracket that can be relatively easily and quickly repositioned along the rail or frame of a trailer to suit user need or a particular application. Finally, there is a long felt need for a repositionable trailer tie-down bracket that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0006]    The subject matter disclosed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a trailer tie-down bracket that can be removably attached to, and repositioned along, a trailer frame and/or rail without having to permanently alter the trailer frame and/or rails (e.g., by drilling holes therein). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trailer tie-down bracket is comprised of a generally C-shaped beam clamp for removable and repositionable attachment to a trailer frame, an eye-bolt attached to said beam clamp, a fastener for removably attaching said beam clamp to the frame or rail and a locking nut for locking the same in position. The eye clamp provides a convenient anchoring point for temporarily securing trailer tie-downs that are, in turn, used to secure a trailer load to ensure that the load arrives at its destination in an undamaged state. 
         [0007]    The trailer tie-down bracket enables a user to (i) securely transport a trailer load by offering a secure anchoring point to which tie-downs can be secured and that can be attached to a trailer frame and/or rail without altering or damaging the same; and (ii) reposition the trailer tie-down bracket along the frame to suit the user&#39;s needs and/or a particular application. Finally, the repositionable trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to install and use. 
         [0008]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention attached to a prior art trailer rail. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention attached to a prior art trailer rail, and being used to tie-down an all terrain vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0014]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket  100  of the present invention. Tie-down bracket  100  is preferably comprised of a clamp portion  110 , a tie-down portion  150 , a fastener  170  and a locking nut  180 . Unless otherwise stated herein, tie-down bracket  100  and its various components are preferably comprised of a durable, generally weather resistant material such as galvanized steel. Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that tie-down bracket  100  and its various components could also be comprised of various other materials such as non-galvanized, painted steel, iron or the like, provided that the materials used can withstand the strain and stresses of the particular application. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, clamp portion  110  is integrally formed and generally C-shaped, and comprised of a body  112 , a first arm  114  and a second arm  116  and has a load rating of at least 300 lbs. Body portion  112  further comprises a threaded opening  113  therein for receipt of tie-down portion  150 , as described more fully below. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each of first arm  114  and second arm  116  extend outwardly from said body portion  112  in spaced apart relationship, thereby forming a channel  118  for receipt of a portion of a frame or rail, as described more fully below. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of channel  118 , as measured between first arm  114  and second arm  116  is between ½ and 1¾ inches to accommodate most sizes of rail and/or frame member. 
         [0016]    As best seen in the FIGS, first arm  114  preferably further comprises a continuous opening  115  therein for receipt of fastener  170 , the structure of which is further described below. Fastener  170  is useful for quickly and removably attaching bracket  100  to a trailer rail or frame once the trailer rail or frame is positioned within channel  118 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the trailer tie-down bracket  100  of the present invention. Tie-down portion  150  may be integrally formed (e.g., an eye-bolt) and is comprised of an elongated member  152  for insertion into opening  113  in body portion  112 , and an eyelet  154  with a continuous opening  156  therein for receipt of a trailer tie-down strap or hook as described more fully below. A portion of elongated member  152  may be threaded to correspond to the threaded opening  113  in clamp portion  110  and to removably secure tie-down portion  150  to clamp portion  110 . Alternatively, it is also contemplated that clamp portion  110  and tie-down portion  150  may be integrally formed as a single unit. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  also illustrates the structure of fastener  170  and its interplay with clamp portion  110 . More specifically, fastener  170  can be any type of threaded fastener that is known in the art, such as a bolt, a screw, etc., and is preferably comprised of an elongated body portion  172  and a head portion  172 . Body portion  172  is preferably threaded and corresponds in diameter to threaded continuous opening  115  in first arm  114 . Further, the overall length of body portion  172  should be such that it is long enough to extend through continuous opening  115  and span the length of channel  118 , as measured between first and second arms  114 ,  116 , respectively. Head portion  174  may be comprised of any of shape, size and/or configuration as is known in the art for the head of a fastener, and is useful in enabling a user (not shown) to turn body portion  172  within threaded opening  115  to move fastener  170  into and out of channel  118 . 
         [0019]    As previously mentioned, bracket  100  may further comprise a locking nut  180  that can be positioned along threaded body portion  172 , between head portion  174  and first arm  114 , to lock or secure fastener  170  in a desired position relative to channel  118 , as explained more fully below. Locking nut  180  may be any type of locking nut that is commonly known in the art provided that it can accommodate the particular size of the fastener  170  being used. 
         [0020]    Having described the overall structure of repositionable trailer tie-down bracket  100  of the present invention, it&#39;s use and usefulness will now be described. A user (not shown) desiring to secure a load in a prior art trailer  200 , may attach one or more brackets  100  of the present invention at desired positions along a trailer rail  210 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . To attach bracket  100  to trailer rail  210 , a user would simply unthread fastener  170  far enough out of threaded opening  115  to allow trailer rail  210  to fit within channel  118 . Once trailer rail  115  is positioned in channel  118  between first arm  114  and second arm  116 , fastener  170  can again be threaded into continuous opening  115  by rotating head portion  174  in a clockwise direction until trailer rail  210  is secured between fastener  170  and second arm  116 . Once bracket  100  has been removably secured to trailer rail  210  in a desired location, the user (not shown) can turn locking nut  180  in a clockwise direction along body portion  172  until it is snug against first arm  114 , thereby locking fastener  170  in place and preventing it from prematurely loosening from trailer rail  210 . 
         [0021]    Once clamp portion  110  is secured to trailer rail  210 , if tie-down portion  150  is not already attached to clamp portion  110  it can now be installed by screwing threaded elongated member  152  in a clockwise direction into opening  113  in body  112 . Once installed, a tie-down hook  230  attached to a tie down strap  220  can be removably attached to bracket  100  by inserting hook  230  into eyelet  154  to secure a load, such as an all terrain vehicle  250 , to trailer  200 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Moreover, to unsecure the load, or reposition one or more of brackets  100  along trailer rail  210 , a user (not shown) simply (i) loosens locking nut  180  by unthreading the same along body portion  172  in a counter-clockwise direction away from first arm  114 , and then (ii) loosens fastener  170  from trailer rail  210  by unthreading fastener  170  through continuous opening  115  in first arm from the same along body portion  172  in a counter-clockwise direction away from trailer rail  210 . 
         [0022]    In this manner, improved trailer tie-down bracket can be removably attached to a trailer without permanently altering the trailer frame and or rails, and without the need to drill holes in the trailer frame that could impact the trailer&#39;s load rating. The trailer tie-down bracket of the present invention can also be easily repositioned along the rail or frame of a trailer to suit the user&#39;s need and/or a particular application, and can be used to better secure the trailer&#39;s load. Finally, the repositionable trailer tie-down bracket is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and safe and easy to use. 
         [0023]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0024]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0025]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading, the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.