Patent Abstract:
A tie down assembly for a vehicle is provided. The tie down assembly includes a retention body and an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly is slidably disposed within the retention body for reciprocating movement between a release position and a restraint position. The tie down assembly also includes a stop secured to the anchor assembly. The stop is positioned on the anchor assembly for releasably locking with a portion of the retention body when the anchor assembly is in the restraint position.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Utility and recreation vehicles, including pick-up trucks and medium weight flat bed trucks, often include a bed having partial sidewalls. Such sidewalls extend at least three feet from the floor of the bed. To accommodate loads requiring higher sidewalls, a plurality of post bores are positioned along the length of the sidewalls. These post bores are sized to receive a post forming extensions of the sidewalls. When not in use, such post bores include a drill port located in the bottom of the post bores to permit drainage. 
     Regardless of whether the bed of such vehicles include sidewall extensions, it is becoming more commonplace for states to enact laws requiring loads be secured within the bed. In the past, load binding cables were often strung between the post bores of opposing sidewalls and were secured to the post bores by a clip, such as an S-shaped clip, attached to opposite ends of the load binding cables. In other arrangements, the ends of load binding cables were either tied to opposite sides of the beds or where attached to an overhang located at the top of opposed sidewalls. Although effective, existing methods of attaching such load binding cables to the bed of a vehicle are not without their problems. 
     As an example, the clip of the load binding cable may slip from its attachment point to the bed. In other examples, tying the ends of the load binding cables to opposing sidewalls did not provide a secure coupling of the load binding cable to the sidewalls. As such, there exists a need for a low cost and effective tie down assembly for a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A tie down assembly for a vehicle is provided. The tie down assembly includes a retention body and an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly is slidably disposed within the retention body for reciprocating movement between a release position and a restraint position. The tie down assembly also includes a stop secured to the anchor assembly. The stop is positioned on the anchor assembly for releasably locking with a portion of the retention body when the anchor assembly is in the restraint position. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a tie down assembly constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded isometric view of the tie down assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side planar view of the tie down assembly of  FIG. 1 , showing the tie down assembly is a release position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side planar view of the tie down assembly of  FIG. 3 , showing the tie down assembly is a restraint position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A tie down assembly  20  constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-4 . The tie down assembly  20  is illustrated and referenced with respect to providing a portable anchor point of a vehicle (not shown) having sidewalls  22 . Such well-known sidewalls  22  include an attachment bore  24  located either within the sidewall  22  itself or within a post bore (not shown) extending vertically through the top of the sidewall  22 . It should be apparent that the location of the attachment bore  24  is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. 
     The tie down assembly  20  includes an anchor assembly  30 , a retention body  32 , and a stop  34 . The anchor assembly  30  includes an eyelet  40  and a cord section  42 . The well-known eyelet  40  is either integrally formed with one end of the cord section  42  or is attached to the end of the cord section by any well-known manner, such as crimping. 
     The cord section  42  is suitably manufactured from a braided material or may be a section of solid material, such as plastic. Disposed in an end of the cord section  42  opposite from the eyelet  40  is a stiffening member  44 . The stiffening member  44 , which is optional, is used to assist in stiffening the cord section  42  as the anchor assembly  30  is reciprocated between a release position and a restraint position, as described in greater detail below. 
     The stop  34  is suitably manufactured from a high strength multiple plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride. In one embodiment, the stop  34  is bell-shaped in configuration, such that the stop increases is cross-sectional diameter along an axis extending longitudinally through the stop  34  from a first diameter to a second diameter. As a non-limiting example, the stop  34  increases from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter, thereby resulting in the bell-shaped configuration. 
     The stop  34  is disposed on the end of the cord section  42  opposite from the eyelet  40  in any well-known manner, such as molding the stop  34  around the cord section  42 . In another embodiment, the stop  34  includes first and second housings  34   a  and  34   b  secured in placed by an o-ring  36 . As disposed on the cord section  42 , the smaller diameter portion is positioned toward the eyelet  40  and, therefore, increases in diameter, such that the stop  34  translates into the retention body  32 , narrow end first. 
     The retention body  32  includes a collar  50  and a gripping portion  52 . The collar  50  and gripping portion  52  are suitably integrally formed from a plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride. Although a retention body  32  having an integrally formed collar section  50  and a gripping portion  52  is preferred, other embodiments, such as an embodiment that includes separately formed collars and gripping portions press fitted together, are also within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As may be best seen by referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the gripping portion  52  includes a plurality of splits  56  to allow the gripping portion  52  to be splayed radially as the anchor assembly  30  is translated within the retention body  32 . 
     The retention body  32  may include an optional shank portion  54  either integrally formed or press fitted into the collar  50  on a side of the collar  50  opposite of the gripping portion  52 . The optional shank portion  54  is used to assist in retaining the retention body  32  against the attachment bore  24  as the anchor assembly  30  is reciprocated between the release and the restraint positions. 
     Operation of the tie down assembly  20  may be best understood by referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In operation, the stop  34  and gripping portion  52  are inserted into the attachment bore  24  of the vehicle. After the tie down assembly  20  is inserted into the attachment bore  24 , an operator pulls with one hand on the eyelet  40  to translate the anchor assembly within the retention body in a first direction causing the stop  34  to be pulled inwardly of the gripping portion  52 . At the same time, the retention body  32  is held with the other free hand of the operator within the attachment bore  24  and the operator continues to pull on the cord section  42  to securely draw the stop  34  within the gripping portion  52 . This action causes the gripping portion to splay radially and, therefore, adjustable to resist movement of the stop  34  as it translates in the first direction. 
     The radial splaying action of the gripping portion  52  against the perimeter of the attachment bore  24  causes the gripping portion  52  to be in an interference fit with the attachment bore  24  to restrain the gripping portion  52  within the attachment bore  24 . Further, the stop  34  creates an interference fit with the gripping portion  52  to resist further movement of the stop  34  as it translates in the first direction. Because of the pinching action between the gripping portion  52  and the stop  34  against the perimeter of the attachment bore  24 , the anchor assembly  20 , in this restraint position, is prevented from further translation relative to the retention body  32 . As such, a rope or other load binding member may be looped through and attached to the eyelet  40 , thereby defining a convenient, removable tie down assembly  20  for a vehicle. 
     To release the tie down assembly  20  from the restraint position, the cord section  42  is translated within the retention body  32  toward the vehicle, thereby pushing the stop  34  outwardly from within the gripping portion  52  and decreasing the diameter of the gripping portion  52  such that the entire anchor assembly  20  may be withdrawn from the attachment bore  24 . 
     While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1