Abstract:
A pickup truck bed portable tie-down apparatus for providing tie down points in an associated pickup bed includes a pair of cooperating clamping plate members held together by a set of bolt fasteners. One of the cooperating clamping plate members includes a set of threaded holes and the other is provided with a set of clearance holes so that the bolt fasteners can be selectively tightened to bring the plate members together into a cooperating clamping relationship onto the flange of an associated pickup truck bed. At least one of the cooperating clamping plate members carries one or more integral eyelets or hooks for connection of the subject pickup up truck bed portable tie-down apparatus to cargo straps or the like. The eyelets are embossed to provide strength at the eyelet and to minimize sharp edges that may cut into cargo ropes or straps. An outwardly extending flange area on one of the clamping plate members enables the device to be loosely connected in place anywhere along the edge of a pickup truck bed rail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/127,030, filed Mar. 31, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to the art of accessories used with pickup truck beds and, more particularly, to a portable tie-down apparatus having connection eyelets carried on a pair of cooperating plate members that are selectively clampable together for quick connection of the tie-down apparatus onto a structural flange formed around the perimeter of standard pickup truck beds. 
     Many vehicle manufacturers offer integral eyelets or connection tabs in the beds of their pickup truck vehicles. These connectors have proven useful as attachment points for ropes, chains, straps, or the like to hold cargo securely in place within the bed. Typically, the connectors provided by original equipment manufacturers are molded integrally with the pickup truck bed by welding them in place or by stamping eyelet holes in structural members. Further, they are normally located only at the extreme four corners of the bed. 
     One disadvantage of connectors of the type described above, however, is that they are not readily movable from their pre-installed positions. Rather, as noted above, the connectors supplied by the original equipment manufacturers are permanently fixed in their pre-established positions in the bed, typically in the four corners. 
     Other more portable connectors have been proposed, including stake bed pocket tie-down connectors. In those systems, the connectors typically include a main body formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, and an eyelet connected to one end of the body. In use, the resilient rubber body portion is inserted into the pickup truck stake pockets whereupon it is expanded using a nut and a bolt to compress or “squeeze” the rubberized main body within the pocket. This holds the main body, and in turn the connection eyelet, in place. 
     One disadvantage of connectors usable with stake pockets of the type noted is they are distinctly limited in where they can be used along truck bed top rails. In that regard, most full size pickup trucks have only three stake bed pockets on the driver&#39;s side rail and three pockets on the passenger&#39;s side. Therefore, these connectors are only usable at three predefined locations on each side of the vehicle. 
     Another disadvantage of the stake bed pocket type connectors is that they interfere with the use of other useful pickup truck accessories such as tonneau covers, truck caps, and the like. Although the main rubberized body of this type connector is received completely within the stake pockets and below the bed rail, the eyelet portions thereof protrude upwardly beyond the horizontal plane defined by the structural flange formed along the perimeter of most pickup truck beds. 
     It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a portable tie-down apparatus of the type that is useful in pickup truck bed applications. Preferably, the tie-down apparatus would not be limited for use at only a small number of predefined locations but, rather, would be usable along substantially the entire structural flange area around the full extent of the truck bed perimeter. 
     It would further be desirable to provide a portable tie-down apparatus that does not interfere with the use of tonneau covers, truck caps, or other accessory items that require unimpeded access to the top rail along the entire perimeter of the truck bed. 
     It would be still further desirable to provide a portable tie down apparatus that, in an alternative embodiment, is usable with truck caps to secure the cap onto the truck bed and simultaneously provide tie down connections such as eyelets or hooks for securing cargo within the truck bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, therefore, provides a portable tie-down apparatus for use with pickup truck beds that is easy to use and solves the problems identified above and others. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a pair of cooperating clamping plate members are held together by a set of bolt fasteners. Preferably, one of the cooperating clamping plate members includes a set of threaded holes and the other is provided with a set of clearance holes so that the bolt fasteners can be used to bring the plate members together into a cooperating clamping relationship. In that regard, the plate members are preferably disposed in a substantially parallel relationship so that, as they are brought together using the bolt fasteners, the subject portable tie-down device can be attached to the structural flange area formed around the perimeter of a pickup truck bed using a frictional interference-type connection. 
     Preferably, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, an outer plate member is substantially “L” shaped in cross section and includes a vertical planar main body portion having a flat inner face surface that is adapted to engage an associated downwardly projecting lip portion of the structural flange in the pickup truck bed. Outer edges of the main body portion carry at least one, but preferably two, integral eyelets or hooks for connection of the subject apparatus to cargo straps or the like. Preferably, the eyelets are embossed to provide strength at the eyelet and to minimize sharp edges that may cut into cargo ropes or straps. The upper edge of the main body portion includes at least one outwardly projecting horizontal support flange adapted to engage the top rail portion of the pickup bed structural flange. The support flange enables the subject device to be loosely connected to the pickup truck bed structural flange prior to its more secured clamped-on position. 
     The inner or backing plate member includes a substantially planar main body portion. The lower portion of the backing plate member engages the opposite lower lip inner surface of the outer plate member. The upper portion of the backing plate member is adapted to clamp the structural flange of the pickup truck bed between the backing plate member and the main body portion. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the backing plate member carries an inwardly projecting foot member adapted to engage the opposite flat inner face surface of the outer plate member. In addition, in the alternative embodiment, a resilient strip of high friction material is carried on the flat outer face surface along the upper area of the backing plate member. The friction material is adapted to abut against the back face of the lip portion of the associated structural truck bed flange. 
     A set of threaded holes on the backing plate member and a corresponding set of clearance holes on the outer plate member enable a set of bolt fasteners to be used to bring the cooperating clamping plate members of the subject portable tie-down apparatus into their cooperative clamping position onto the associated structural flange of a pickup truck bed. As the bolts are tightened, the lower portion of the backing plate member first contacts the flat inner face surface of the outer plate member. Thereafter, further tightening of the bolt fasteners causes the backing plate member to pivot, urging the upper portion of the backing plate member into engagement behind the lip area of the structural flange of the pickup truck bed. The lower portion of the backing plate member acts as a fulcrum to transmit the tension force generated in the bolt fasteners into a compressive force between the top portion of the backing plate member and the outer plate member, preferably with the structural flange of the pickup truck bed held pinched therebetween. In the alternative backing plate member embodiment, the foot member carried on the lower portion thereof acts as the fulcrum to convert the bolt fastener tension force into the preferred clamping force. The strip of high friction material ensures firm clamping to hold the tie-down apparatus firmly on the truck bed rail. 
     In a further alternative embodiment, the “L” shaped outer plate member extends upwardly beyond the vertical extent of the truck bed lip portion to provide a gap for receiving the outer perimeter engagement frame portion of an associated truck cap therein. A connection bolt member is threaded through the upper region of the outer plate member in an orientation to engage the perimeter frame of the cap onto the truck bed flange as the bolt is tightened. The outer plate member selectively carries a connection tie down member such as an eyelet, hook, or the like. 
     One primary advantage of the subject invention is that a tie-down type connector is provided that can be used substantially anywhere along the perimeter of a pickup truck bed. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that, in an alternative embodiment, a low profile portable tie-down type connector is provided that can be used together with tonneau covers, truck caps, or the like. 
     Other benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the subject application. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, the preferred embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view illustrating the major components of the subject portable tie-down apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the subject portable tie-down apparatus installed on the structural flange of an associated pickup truck bed; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 5 illustrating the subject portable tie-down apparatus in a loose, pre-connected, configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a view of the subject portable tie-down apparatus of FIG. 3 arranged in a clamped-on installed position on the structural flange of the associated pickup truck bed; 
     FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the outer plate member; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the outer plate member; 
     FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a backing plate member formed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the backing plate member taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view illustrating the subject tie-down apparatus with the alternative backing plate members in a loose, pre-connected configuration; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the tie down apparatus of FIG. 9 shown in a clamped-on installed position on the structural flange of the associated pickup truck bed; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the subject tie-down apparatus adapted for use with a truck cap and shown in a loose, pre-connected, configuration; and, 
     FIG. 12 is a view of the portable apparatus of FIG. 11 arranged in a clamped-on installed position holding the perimeter frame of an associated truck cap tightly connected with the structural flange of an associated truck bed flange. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows the overall arrangement of the subject portable tie-down apparatus  10  including a pair of cooperating clamping plate members  12 ,  14  that are selectively held together by a set of bolt fasteners  16 , preferably formed of stainless steel. As shown, an outer plate member  20  includes a set of clearance holes  22  disposed on the outer plate member in a spaced apart relationship substantially as shown. The clearance holes  22  accommodate the set of bolt fasteners  16  and are sized to enable the fasteners to pass freely through the outer plate member and into threaded engagement with a corresponding set of threaded holes  24  formed on the backing plate member  26 . Preferably, the set of threaded holes  24  are formed by press-fitting a set of clinch nuts into the backing plate member  26 . The fasteners are used to bring the plate members together into their cooperating clamping relationship onto an associated structural flange of a pickup truck bed as shown best in FIG.  2 . 
     In that regard, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the plate members are preferably disposed in a substantially parallel relationship during use so that, as they are brought together and clamped using the bolt fasteners, the subject portable tie-down apparatus  10  can be attached to the structural flange area formed around the perimeter of a pickup truck bed using a frictional interference-type connection. 
     The subject portable tie-down apparatus  10  is illustrated in a pre-installation configuration in FIG.  3  and in its installed configuration in FIGS. 2 and 4. As shown there, the subject apparatus is adapted to clamp onto the structural flange  30  of an associated pickup truck bed  32 . The typical structural flange  30  includes a top rail portion  34  disposed in a generally horizontal plane and a lip area  36  held in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     Of particular importance to the subject invention, as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  5 , and  6 , the outer plate member  20  includes a pair of connection areas  40 ,  42 , preferably comprised of a pair of eyelets  44 ,  46 . As illustrated, the eyelets extend on opposite sides of a main body portion  48  of the outer plate member  20 . The eyelets are bent outwardly from the main body portions to provide clearance between the eyelet and the flange of the truck bed. Alternatively, the connection areas  40 ,  42  may comprise other configurations that function as a connection including hooks, snap-lock clips, or the like. In addition, the connection areas could be located anywhere on the outer plate member including along the main body portion  48  at or below the lower edge  50 . Moreover, outer plate  20  can be configured to connect apparatus that span the truck bed such as load bars, bike carriers, and equipment racks. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the subject portable tie-down apparatus  10  in a pre-installation position  52  relative to the associated structural flange and an installed position  54 , respectively. With reference now to those FIGURES in particular but with reference also to FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that the outer plate member  20  is substantially “L” shaped and includes an outwardly projecting support flange  60  adapted to engage the top rail portion  34  of the structural flange  30  of the associated pickup truck bed. Further, the main body portion  48  includes a substantially planar main face surface  62  formed thereon in a manner corresponding to the vertically oriented lip area  36  of the structural flange. The support flange  60  preferably extends upwardly only a small amount d above the plane defined by the top rail portion  34  so that the pickup truck bed, with the subject connection device in place, can be used with other accessory items that attach directly onto the top rail portion. 
     The backing plate member  26  includes a substantially planar main body portion  64  and a lower portion  66  adapted to engage a lower lip member  67  extending from the flat inner surface  62  of the outer plate member  20 . 
     Of particular importance to the portability of the subject invention, the set of bolt fasteners  16  extend through the set of clearance holes  22  formed in the outer plate member  20  and into a correspondingly arranged set of threaded holes  24  preferably formed in the backing plate member  26  by a set of clinch nuts pressed into the backing plate member. The interaction between the components as described above enables the subject portable tie-down apparatus to be used anywhere on the associated structural flange of the pickup truck bed. 
     Functionally, as the bolts  16  are tightened, the lower portion  66  is brought into abutment with the flat inner lower lip member  67  of the outer plate member  20 . Thereafter, further tightening of the bolt fasteners  16  urges the upper portion  72  of the backing plate member  26  into engagement behind the lip area  36  of the structural flange  30  of the pickup truck bed. The lower lip member  67  acts as a fulcrum or pivot point against the lower portion  66  of the backing plate member  26  to transmit the tension force generated in the bolt fasteners into a compressive force between the top portion  72  of the backing plate member and the outer plate member, preferably with the structural flange  30  of the associated pickup truck bed held pinched therebetween. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 7-10, an alternative embodiment of the backing plate member will be described. In the description to follow, like elements to those described above with similar design or function will be indicated using like reference numerals having a primed (′) suffix. The backing plate member  26 ′ of the alternative embodiment includes a substantially planar main body portion  64 ′ and an inwardly projecting foot member  66 ′ adapted to engage the flat inner surface  62 ′ of the outer plate member  20 ′. Further, a resilient strip  68  is carried on the flat outer face surface  70 ′ of the backing plate member  26 ′ as shown. Preferably, the resilient strip is formed of a high friction material, such as, for example, rubber and is adapted to compress as necessary to accommodate a irregular truck bed flange surfaces. Essentially, the resilient material provides an interface between the flat outer face surface  70 ′ of the backing plate member  26 ′ and the lip area  36  of the structural flange  30  of the pickup truck bed. 
     Operationally, as the bolts  16 ′ are tightened, the foot member  66  is brought into abutment with the flat inner face surface  62  of the outer plate member  20 . Thereafter, further tightening of the bolt fasteners  16 ′ urges the upper portion  72  of the backing plate member  26  into engagement behind the lip area  36  of the structural flange  30  of the pickup truck bed. The foot member  66  carried on the backing plate member  26  acts as a fulcrum or pivot point to transmit the tension force generated in the bolt fasteners into a compressive force between the top portion  72 ′ of the backing plate member and the outer plate member, preferably with the structural flange  30  of the associated pickup truck bed held pinched therebetween. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate yet another alternative embodiment of the subject portable tie-down apparatus in a pre-installation position  52 ″ relative to the associated structural flange and an installed position  54 ″, respectively. In the description to follow, like elements to those described above with similar design or function will be indicated using like reference numerals having a double primed (″) suffix. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 11 and 12, it can be seen that the outer plate member  20 ″ is substantially “L” shaped and includes an outwardly projecting support flange  60 ″ as shown. The support flange  60 ″ is preferably held in a spaced apart relationship relative to the plane defined by the top rail portion  34 ″ so that the pickup truck bed, with the subject connection device in place, can be used with an associated truck cap  100  as shown. To that end, the support flange  60 ″ carries a connection bolt member  80  that is adapted to engage the perimeter engagement frame  82  of the associated truck cap. The support flange  60 ″ preferably extends upwardly by a distance D above the plane defined by the top rail portion  34 ″ so that the pickup truck bed, with the subject connection device in place, can be used to receive the perimeter engagement frame  82  of the associated truck cap between the bolt  80  and the rail  34 ″ as shown. 
     The backing plate member  26 ″ includes a substantially planar main body portion  64 ″ and an inwardly projecting foot member  66 ″ adapted to engage the flat inner surface  62 ″ of the outer plate member  20 ″. Further, an optional resilient strip  68 ″ is carried on the flat outer face surface  70 ″ of the backing plate member  26 ″ as shown. Preferably, if used, the resilient strip is formed of a high friction material such as, for example, rubber and is adapted to compress as necessary to accommodate irregular truck bed flange surfaces. Essentially, the resilient material provides an interface between the flat outer face surface  70 ″ of the backing plate member  26 ″ and the lip area  36 ″ of the structural flange  30 ″. 
     Functionally, as the bolts  16 ″ are tightened, the foot member  66 ″ is brought into abutment with the flat inner face surface  62 ″ of the outer plate member  20 ″. Thereafter, further tightening of the bolt fasteners  16 ″ urges the upper portion  72 ″ of the backing plate member  26 ″ into engagement behind the lip area  36 ″ of the structural flange  30 ″ of the pickup truck bed. After the bolt fasteners  16 ″ are used to securely fasten the backing plate member and outer plate member onto the structural flange  30 ″ of the associated pickup truck bed, the one or more connection bolt members  80  are tightened to thereafter fasten the perimeter engagement frame  82  of the associated truck cap in place on the top rail portion  34  as shown. 
     In the above embodiment it is to be understood that the outer plate member  20 ″ could equally be formed with a lower lip member (not shown) such as, for example, the lower lip member  67  shown in FIGS. 1,  3  and  4 . In that case, the foot member  66 ″ on the backing plate member  26 ″ is no longer necessary, thus simplifying the overall construction of the device. 
     One primary advantage of the subject invention is that a tie-down type connector is provided that is usable substantially anywhere along the perimeter of a pickup truck bed. 
     Another benefit of the present invention is that a low profile portable tie-down type connector is provided that can be used together without interfering with tonneau covers, truck caps, or other accessory items that attach directly onto the top rail portion of pickup truck beds. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a portable device is provided for securing a truck cap onto a pickup truck bed rail. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred and alternative embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.