Patent ID: 8360385

Claim:
A tie down assembly, comprising: a cup having a base with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first sidewall extending from the first surface and terminating at a first end, an interior portion defined by the first sidewall, and a plurality of seats, each of which extends from the first surface and within the interior portion, wherein each of the plurality of seats includes a top surface haying at least one aperture formed therein, and wherein each of the plurality of seats is spaced apart from the other of the plurality of seats such that a space is formed between each of an adjacent pair of the plurality of seats; and a plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface of the plate, a first aperture extending from the first surface of the plate to the second surface of the plate, wherein the first aperture is cross-shaped and includes an inner wall and a plurality of arms, a plurality of second apertures extending from the first surface of the plate to the second surface of the plate, and a plurality of tabs, each of which extends from the second surface of the plate, wherein the plate is attached removably to the cup within the interior portion of the cup by a plurality of fasteners such that each of the plurality of second apertures of the plate aligns with a corresponding one of the at least one aperture of the plurality of seats of the cup, wherein each one of the aligned second apertures of the plate and the at least one apertures of the plurality of seats of the cup is sized and shaped to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners, and wherein the first surface of the plate is positioned proximate to the first end of the cup, and wherein the second surface of the plate is positioned on each of the top surfaces of the plurality of seats, and wherein each of the plurality of tabs of the plate is positioned within a corresponding one of the spaces of the cup and is adapted to engage a corresponding one of the plurality of seats of the cup so as to inhibit rotation of the plate relative to the cup.