Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/233,758, filed Sep. 3, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present application relates to an apparatus that retains a bed liner in the cargo bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck.  
           [0003]    Various patents have been granted in the field of truck bed liners. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,820 (“the &#39;820 patent”) (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) discloses a fastener assembly for holding a bed liner in a pickup truck bed. A perspective view of the fastener disclosed in the &#39;820 patent is shown on FIG. 4. 1 . The fastener assembly includes a faceplate and a trough-shaped wall that supports a linearly movable clamp member. The clamp member can be rotated within the trough to swing a clamp arm upwardly to a generally vertical position where it is aligned with the downwardly extending lip on the top of a truck bed side wall. A screw extends through the trough into a threaded hole in the clamp member. The screw can be rotated to rotate the clamp arm and move it linearly along the trough such that surface  30  is engaged in a clamping arrangement with the inside of the rail lip. The fastener assembly is a self-contained unitary structure that can be installed through a circular opening in the bed liner side wall after the liner is placed in position within the truck bed.  
           [0004]    Pickup trucks normally have cargo-securing tie-down devices that are supplied as original equipment. The device disclosed in the &#39;820 patent, however, does not include a tie-down device for securing cargo. Moreover, after the fastener assembly and bed liner is installed according to the &#39;820 patent, the bed liner covers the original-equipment tie-down devices. Thus, to use one or more of the supplied tie-down devices, holes must be cut in the bed liner, which holes necessarily should be larger than the tie-down device. Water, sand, rocks or other debris may accumulate in the holes and damage the pickup truck bed. For example, holes may allow water into the space between the bed liner and the bed, corroding the bed.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,090 (“the &#39;090 patent”) (the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference) provides a tie-down member but presents other problems. The &#39;090 patent discloses a retainer apparatus for securing a bed liner to a pickup truck bed having a plurality of factory-installed tie-down members. The tie-down members are removed, exposing factory-drilled holes containing threaded members. The retainer apparatus of the &#39;090 patent includes retaining plates that have holes corresponding to the factory-drilled holes in the bed. First, the retaining plates are installed into the bed holes. The bed liner is then placed into the pickup truck bed. The bed liner has holes that correspond to additional holes in the retaining plates, and the bed liner is secured through its holes onto the additional retaining plate holes. Tie-down members are attached to the bed liner in alignment with corresponding holes in the front and rear retaining plates. The tie-down members include a base member with a plurality of holes that align with corresponding holes on the bed liner, and a fold-down ring that is pivotally attached to the base member and that has a tie-down hole through it. The major disadvantage to this design is that it is only usable with certain truck bed designs. If the pickup truck bed does not have holes at locations roughly corresponding to the holes in the bed liner, the retaining plates cannot be used to fasten the bed liner to the pickup bed. Otherwise, to use the apparatus of the &#39;090 patent to secure a bed liner to a pickup truck bed, new holes are drilled in the truck bed, which is not preferred because drilling of new holes is an invasive installation process that may damage the truck bed. The possible applications of the apparatus of the &#39;090 patent are therefore limited.  
           [0006]    Thus, there is a need for a retainer apparatus or fastener assembly for securing a bed liner to a wide variety of pickup truck beds without requiring either factory-drilled or consumer-drilled holes in the truck beds. Moreover, there is a need for a fastener assembly that provides a tie-down device for securing cargo within the truck bed.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a fastener assembly that secures a bed liner to a cargo bed, such as those found in pickup trucks, without the need to drill holes in or otherwise alter the bed itself. The present invention also includes a device that may be used to secure cargo within the cargo bed after the bed liner is installed. The present invention comprises three main parts: a retaining plate, a base member, and a tie-down member. The retaining plate has a trough that engages a lip that extends from the terminal end of the inner wall of the cargo bed (or bed rail). The foldable tie-down member engages the base member and the base member engages the retaining plate. A screw is inserted into a hole on the base member and engages a threaded hole in the retaining plate. This clamps the bed liner and cargo bed between the retaining plate and the base member to secure the bed liner to the cargo bed. The tie-down member need not be any particular shape; it need only be suitable for securing rope or other devices that can be used to tie-down cargo in the bed. When in use, the tie-down member is rotated up to be 90 degrees to the base member so that the user can use the tie-down member to secure cargo to or within the cargo bed. When not in use, the tie-down member is folded down to lie flat against the base member.  
           [0008]    It is anticipated that the present invention will be used mainly to secure a plastic bed liner to the cargo bed of a pickup truck. The present invention may be used, however, to secure a liner to the cargo area on any type of vehicle, or to a cargo area that is not part a vehicle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.  
         [0010]    In the drawings:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a rear sectional elevation of a truck bed with a bed liner installed using the fastener assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line  1 - 1  of FIG. 17. 1 ;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the pickup truck bed and attached bed liner of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an additional sectional view of the truck bed and bed liner similar to FIG. 2 with the fastener assembly shown in side elevation;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art fastener assembly;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4. 2  is a perspective view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1 mounted to a retaining plate in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5. 1  is a perspective view of the retaining plate of FIG. 4. 2 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5. 2  is a side elevational view of the retaining plate of FIG. 4. 2 ;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a front exploded perspective view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a rear exploded perspective view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8. 1  is a side elevational view of a fastener assembly with a tie-down member in an inserted position;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8. 1  A is a sectional view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 8. 1  with the tie-down member in the inserted position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8. 2  is a side elevational view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 8. 1  with the tie-down member in a rotated position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8. 2 A is a sectional view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 8. 1  with the tie-down member in the rotated position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8. 3  is a side elevational view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 8. 1  with the tie-down member in a stored position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8. 3 A is a sectional view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 8. 1  with the tie-down member in the stored position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the tie-down member of FIG. 8. 1  and a socket for receiving the tie-down member;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10. 1  is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 with the tie-down member located in the socket;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10. 2  is a side elevational view of the socket and tie-down member located in the socket;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11. 1  is a front perspective view of the fastener assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11. 2  is a rear perspective view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 11. 1 ;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12. 1  is a rear perspective cut-away view of the fastener assembly of FIG. 11. 1 ;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12. 2  is an enlarged rear perspective view of the cut-away portion of the fastener assembly of FIG. 12. 1 ;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13. 1  is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck bed with an installed bed liner prior to securing the bed liner to the truck bed;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13. 2  is an enlarged perspective sectional view of a portion of the truck bed and liner of FIG. 13. 1  showing a marking stage of a method of installing the liner in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 14. 1  is a rear perspective view of the pickup truck bed with the bed liner removed and showing installation markings.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 14. 2  is an enlarged perspective sectional view of a portion of the truck bed of FIG. 14. 1  and showing initial installation of the retainer plate in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective sectional view similar to FIG. 14. 2  showing initial installation of the retainer plate in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 16 is an enlarged exploded perspective sectional view of a portion of the truck bed and installed liner with the fastener assembly aligned for installation;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 17. 1  is a rear perspective view of the pickup truck bed with the bed liner installed using the fastener assembly according to the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 17. 2  is an enlarged perspective sectional view of a portion of the truck bed, liner and fastener assembly of FIG. 17. 1 ; and  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective sectional view of a portion of the truck bed, liner and fastener assembly with the tie-down member of the fastener assembly in a rotated position for use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]    [0042]FIG. 17. 1  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention securing a bed liner  28  to a pickup truck cargo bed. As shown in FIG. 17. 1 , a plurality of fastener assemblies  100  secure bed liner  28  to cargo bed rail  29 . Front and rear perspective views of a fastener assembly  100  are shown in FIGS. 11. 1  and  11 . 2 . FIG. 17. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of one fastener assembly  100  with the tie-down member  4  in the down position. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the pickup truck cargo bed showing the fastener assembly  100  securing the bed liner  28  to the cargo bed rail  29 . As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener assembly  100  comprises a retaining plate  1  and a base member  2 . FIG. 4. 2  shows the base member  2  and retaining plate  1  in perspective view.  
         [0043]    As shown in more detail in FIGS. 5. 1  and  5 . 2 , the retaining plate  1  includes a trough  8 . The inside surfaces  9  and  10  of the trough  8  engage a lip  27  of the cargo bed rail, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Adhesive  5  allows the installer to temporarily mount the retaining plate  1  to the inside surface of the cargo bed rail  29  during installation. FIG. 4. 2  shows the surfaces  31  and  32  of the retaining plate  1  that engage the inner surface of the bed rail  29  and the outer (i.e., facing the cargo bed) surface of the bed liner, respectively. Hole  6  in the retainer plate  1  engages alignment pin  15  of the fastener assembly  100  while threaded hole  7  in the retaining plate  1  engages screw  25 , as shown in FIG. 2. Alignment pin  15  keeps the base member  2  properly aligned with the retaining plate  1 , while screw  25  secures the base member  2  and retaining plate  1  to the lip  27  of the cargo bed rail  29  and bed liner  28  by providing a compressive or clamping force. Alignment pin  15  and screw  25  fit through the hole  26  in the bed liner  28 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded perspective views of the base member  2 , tie-down member  4 , and a mounting pad  3 . The pad  3  is preferably made of rubber or some other elastomeric material, and its primary purpose is to provide an interface or cushion between the bed liner  28  and the base member  2  so that the compressive force applied by the screw  25  as it engages the threaded hole  7  in the retaining plate  1  does not damage the bed liner  28 . A hole  20  in the pad  3  allows the screw  25  and the alignment pin  15  to the engage holes  6  and  7  in the retaining plate  1 . Protrusions  19  extending from pad  3  engage corresponding holes  16  in the base member  2  to align the pad  3  with the base member  2 . Protrusions  18  extending from pad  3  engage pockets  24  in the tie-down member  4  when the tie-down member  4  is in the folded-down position as shown in FIG. 4. 2 . Protrusions  18  keep the tie-down member  4  from vibrating when the tie-down member  4  is in the folded-down position. Finally, U-shaped members  17  of the pad  3  fit within sockets  14  in the base member  2  and engage axle ends  21  of the tie-down member  4 , as explained below.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIGS. 7 and 8. 1 - 8 . 3 A show how the tie-down member  4  engages the pad  3  and base member  2 . The tie-down member  4  attaches to base member  2  by two axles, each of which has three parts. The inner portion  23  is generally circular in shape, but has cutouts along the top and bottom that allow the inner axle portion  23  to fit through opening  13  to socket  12  in base member  2 . As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 1 , dimension b at the bottom of inner axle portion  23  is longer than dimension a. Socket  12  has a similar shape, with opening  13  having a dimension d that is slightly larger than the height c of inner axle portion  23 . As shown in FIGS. 8. 1  through  8 . 3 A and FIGS. 10. 1  and  10 . 2 , and as discussed below, the shape of inner axle portion  23  and the socket  12  allows the user to install the tie-down member  4  through the outer, or cargo bed side of the base member  2 , as shown initially in FIG. 8. 1 . FIG. 10. 2  shows how the axle centerline  33  aligns with the socket centerline  34  during installation. As shown in FIG. 8. 2 , when the tie-down member  4  is rotated 180 degrees after installation to its in-use position, inner axle portion  23  cannot be pulled out of the socket  12 . Finally, FIG. 8. 3  and  8 . 3 A shows the tie-down member  4  in its stowed position, where it is kept when it is not in use.  
         [0046]    Collars  22  on the tie-down member  4  engage sockets  14  in the base member  2 , as shown in FIG. 7. The collars  22  act against the sides of sockets  14  to bear any loads that are lateral to the base member  2 . Loads that are lateral to the base member  2  are loads that are parallel to the front-rear axis of the cargo bed.  
         [0047]    Finally, axle ends  21  are circular in shape and engage the U-shaped protrusions  17  on the rubber pad  3 . The axle ends  21  help the keep rubber pad  3  from being pulled out of the base member  2 . FIGS. 12. 1  and  12 . 2  show cut-away views of the tie-down member  4 , base member  2 , and rubber pad  3  in an assembled condition.  
         [0048]    The present invention is installed on a cargo bed to retain a cargo bed liner as follows: First, the cargo bed liner  28  is placed in the cargo bed  29  as shown in FIGS. 13. 1  and  13 . 2 . As shown in FIG. 13. 2 , the top part of the holes  26  in the bed liner  28  overlap the lower portion  40  of the inner, vertical portion of the cargo bed rail  29 . Where a portion  40  of the cargo bed rail  29  is visible through the bed liner hole  26 , the installer places a small vertical mark  35  on portion  40  downwardly from the center top of circle  26 . Next, the installer removes the bed liner  28 . The installer then places a retaining plate  1  on the inside surface of the cargo bed  29  using tape or adhesive  5  so that the trough  8  engages the lip  27  and the vertical mark  35  is aligned with the center of hole  6 , as shown in FIGS. 14. 1  and  14 . 2 . FIG. 15 depicts an alternative means of attaching the retaining plate  1  to the cargo bed rail  29  but does not involve the use of tape or adhesive  5 . Specifically, clips  36  engage the outer surface  39  of the cargo bed rail  29  in a friction engagement, holding the retaining plate  1  in place against the inner surface  38  while the bed liner  28  and base member  2  are put in place and secured.  
         [0049]    Next, the bed liner  28  is replaced in the cargo bed  29 .  
         [0050]    Once the retaining plate  1  is in place and the bed liner  28  is replaced in the cargo bed  29 , the tie-down member  4  and pad  3  are installed on base member  2  as shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. 3 A. Pad  3  is installed on the base member  2  by fitting the U-shaped protrusions  17  within sockets  14 , while protrusions  19  are fitted within sockets  16 . Then, the axles of the tie-down member  4  are slipped into sockets  12  from the bed liner side of the base member  2 , and then the tie-down member  4  is rotated 270° as shown in FIGS. 8. 1 - 8 . 3 A. Thus, when the base member  2  is installed on the cargo bed rail  29 , the rubber pad  3  is attached to the base member  2 , and the tie-down member  4  is in its down position. Once the pad  3  and tie-down member  4  are assembled with the base member  2 , the entire fastener assembly  1   00  engages the retaining plate  1  as shown in FIG. 16. The alignment pin  15  passes through hole  26  in bed liner  28  and engages hole  6  in the retaining plate  1 . Likewise, the screw  25  passes through hole  11  in the base member  2  , through hole  26  in bed liner  28  and engages the threaded hole  7  in the retaining plate  1 . Using allen wrench  37 , the screw  25  is tightened until the base member  2  is securely attached to the retaining plate  1 , thereby securing the bed liner  28  in place within the cargo bed  29 .  
         [0051]    When it is desired to use the tie-down member  4  to secure cargo within the cargo bed, the tie-down member  4  is rotated up 90° as shown in FIG. 18. When not in use, the tie-down member  4  is kept in its down position as shown in FIGS. 17. 1  and  17 . 2 .  
         [0052]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 4