Patent Abstract:
A channel connector comprises a main portion having a connecting portion, a clamping element having at least two opposite ends, and a threaded element threadably connecting the main portion to the clamping element. Each of the two opposite ends are spaced to interfere with walls of an interior portion of a channel during rotation of the clamping element in the interior portion of the channel.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Many conventional vehicles are utility focused in nature and are adapted to carry components, furniture, construction materials, and other such items. These vehicles are commonly equipped with a bed or interior space that is sufficiently large and suitably oriented to support its cargo. The demand for vehicles having this capability is ever increasing. For example, sales for pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles have dramatically increased over the last few years. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a channel connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view along II-II in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of a channel connector according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a channel connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a channel connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a channel connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a channel connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a channel connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a channel connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a channel  10  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown disposed on a vehicle  12 . The channel  10  is connected to the vehicle  12  by fasteners, such as fasteners  22  (one shown in the Figure), which pass through apertures in the channel  10 . The fasteners  22  may be any type of fastener such as screws, nuts, bolts or any other known means for attaching the channel  10  to the vehicle  12 . Additionally, other apertures, such as apertures  23 , may also be used to interconnect channel  10  with the vehicle  12 . Also, although the channel  10  is shown positioned on a surface of the vehicle  12 , it will be understood that the channel  10  may interrelate with the vehicle  12  in any known means such as where the upper surface  18  is flush with the surface of the vehicle  12 . The channel  10  may also be disposed at any location in or on the vehicle. 
   The channel  10  generally includes a channel opening  16 , an upper surface  18  and a lower surface  20 . An interior portion  24  is defined by bottom, top and side walls of the channel  10 . Likewise, corner regions  26  are defined by locations where upper surface  18  meets sidewalls of the channel  10 . Although the channel  10  has been described as including sidewalls, corner portions, top and bottom surface, and other geometrical features, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that the channel  10  may employ other geometrical configurations. 
   The channel  10  includes a channel connector  14  connected to the channel  10 . The channel connector  14  is fastened to the channel  10  by means that will be discussed in greater detail. The channel connector  14  includes a connecting portion  28  that has a loop  38  for attaching rope, tie down straps or other known fastening means. The loop  38  may be used for numerous reasons such as fastening items in the vehicle  12 . Of course, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that other suitable fastening devices other than loop  38  may be employed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the channel connector  14  is described in greater detail. In an embodiment, the channel connector  14  includes the connecting portion  28 , a base  30 , a threaded element  40  and a clamping element  42 . 
   As discussed, the connecting portion  28  includes a loop  38  for connecting rope or other connecting means thereto. The connecting portion  28  may be covered with a rubber material or other suitable means to ease handling. 
   The base  30  supports the connecting portion  28  and generally includes bottom portion  47  and a locating boss  56 . In one embodiment, the bottom portion  47  is adapted to abut the upper surface  18  of the channel  10 . This abutting relationship helps secure the channel connector  14  to the channel  10  when the clamping element  42  (that will be discussed) is secured. 
   The locating boss  56  has an outside diameter  58  that is slightly smaller than a width  17  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the channel opening  16 . As will be discussed in greater detail, this relationship between the width  17  and outside diameter  58  helps to locate the locating boss  56  and therefore the channel connector  14  within the channel opening  16 . The locating boss  56 , in one embodiment, also has a recessed region  54  defined by an outer circumference of the threaded element  40  and an inside diameter of the locating boss  56 . 
   The threaded element  40 , in one embodiment, is a screw like member that is affixed to the base  30  and extends vertically away from the bottom portion  47 . The threaded element  40  includes threads  44  that are adapted to thread to the clamping element  42 . Thus, rotation of the threaded element  40  with respect to the clamping element  42  causes the clamping element  42  to move either upward or downward with respect to the Figure. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clamping element  42  generally includes a rectangular portion  46  that extends substantially horizontal with respect to the bottom portion  47 . At outer ends of the clamping element  42  are located pointed portion  48 . As generally shown in  FIG. 3 , pointed portions  48  are angled in an upward direction with respect to the Figure such that tips of the pointed portions  48  are, in an embodiment, the most upward located regions of the clamping element  42 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment, a damping element, such as a spring  52 , is positioned around and outside diameter of the threaded element  40  such that one end of the spring  52  is positioned within the recessed region  54  and an opposite end of the spring  52  abuts an upper surface of the clamping element  42 . Frictional interaction between the spring  52 , clamping element  42  and at the base  30  assists in assuring that the clamping element  42  rotates with the rotation of the base  30  for reasons that will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5-8 , the operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be shown and described. In operation, the channel connector  14  is first positioned in an operational relationship with the channel  10 . To accomplish this, the clamping element  42  is first oriented in a lengthwise direction with respect to the channel opening  16 . In this orientation, the clamping element  42  is passed downward through the channel opening  16  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Next, the base  30  is rotated (such as by hand). As shown in  FIG. 6 , the interrelationship between the threads of the clamping element  42 , the threaded element  40  and the base  30  cause the clamping element  42  to also rotate until pointed portions  48  abut the sidewalls of the channel  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the spring  52  provides additional frictional interrelationship between the base  30  and the clamping element  42  to assist the clamping element  42  in rotating with the base  30 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , once the pointed portions  48  abut against the walls of the channel  10 , the clamping element  42  ceases rotational movement. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 8 , continued rotation of the base  30  causes rotational movement of the threads of the threaded member  40  with the clamping element  42  to move the clamping element  42  upward with respect to the Figure until the pointed portions  48  abut against the inside surface of the upper surface  18 . Continued rotation of the base  30  continues to clamp the pointed portions  48  of the clamping element  42  against the inside surface of the upper surface  18 . The angled orientation of the pointed portions  48  allows the pointed portions  48  to flex slightly with respect to the rectangular portion  46  to create an elastic force, which increases the clamping force of the clamping element  42 . Additionally, the reduced surface area of the pointed portions  48  provides increased clamping force against the upper surface  18 . 
   The present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1