Rack-and-pinion mounting device for vehicle-mounted storage containers and accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10035470-B2
Application number	US-201615251329-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Aug 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed are rack-and-pinion mounting devices, methods for making and methods for using such devices, and motor vehicles with storage containers secured by rack-and-pinion mounting devices. A mounting device is disclosed for attaching an accessory to a surface. The mounting device includes a latch housing that mounts to the accessory (or surface). A bolt latch, which is slidably coupled to the housing, includes a linear gear bar and locking pins. These locking pins engage tie-down loops attached to the surface (or accessory). A pinion gear is rotatably coupled to the housing and intermeshed with the gear bar. Spinning the pinion gear in one direction slides the bolt latch to disengage the locking pins from the loops and detach the accessory from the surface. Spinning the pinion gear in the opposite direction slides the bolt latch to engage the locking pins with the loops and attach the accessory to the surface.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A mounting device for attaching an accessory to a surface, the mounting device comprising:
a latch housing configured to mount to one of the accessory or the surface;
a bolt latch slidably coupled to the latch housing, the bolt latch including a linear gear bar and a locking pin, the locking pin being configured to engage complementary mounting structure of the other of the accessory or the surface; and
a pinion gear rotatably coupled to the latch housing and intermeshed with the linear gear bar of the bolt latch,
wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a first rotational direction slides the bolt latch in a first translational direction and thereby disengages the locking pin from the mounting structure such that the accessory detaches from the surface, and
wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a second rotational direction slides the bolt latch in a second translational direction and thereby engages the locking pin with the mounting structure such that the accessory attaches to the surface.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the locking pin includes first and second locking pins projecting from opposing first and second ends, respectively, of the bolt latch.

3. The mounting device of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the bolt latch includes a hook and the second end of the bolt latch includes a stepped arm, the first locking pin projecting from the hook and the second locking pin projecting from the stepped arm.

4. The mounting device of claim 2 , wherein the complementary mounting structure includes a pair of tie-down loops, and wherein each of the locking pins is configured to thread into a respective one of the tie-down loops to thereby attach the accessory to the surface.

5. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the latch housing defines an interior compartment, the bolt latch being slidably mounted within the interior compartment.

6. The mounting device of claim 5 , wherein the complementary mounting structure includes a tie-down loop, and wherein the latch housing includes a loop aperture configured to receive the tie-down loop to engage with the locking pin.

7. The mounting device of claim 6 , wherein the loop aperture includes a ramped surface configured to engage with and align the tie-down loop with the locking pin.

8. The mounting device of claim 1 , further comprising a pinion housing mounted to the latch housing, the pinion gear being nested within the pinion housing.

9. The mounting device of claim 8 , wherein the latch housing defines a window, and wherein teeth of the pinion gear project out of the pinion housing, through the window in the latch housing, and intermesh with teeth of the linear gear bar of the bolt latch.

10. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the pinion gear includes a tool drive feature configured to mate with a tool bit or head such that rotation of the tool bit or head spins the pinion gear.

11. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the latch housing includes a pair of mounting flanges with fastener holes configured to receive therethrough fasteners to thereby couple the mounting device to one of the accessory or the surface.

12. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the linear gear bar and the locking pin are integrally formed with the bolt latch as a single-piece unitary structure.

13. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the accessory is a vehicle-mounted accessory, and wherein the surface is a surface of a motor vehicle.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle body with a rear cargo compartment aft of a passenger compartment, the rear cargo compartment including a cargo bed and a cargo sidewall with a pair of tie-down loops attached thereto;
a vehicle-mounted storage container disposed in the rear cargo compartment, the storage container including a container basin seated on the cargo bed and covered by a lid; and
a rack-and-pinion quick-release mounting device, comprising:
a latch housing rigidly mounted to the basin of the storage container;
a bolt latch slidably mounted within an interior compartment of the latch housing, the bolt latch including a linear gear bar and a pair of locking pins, each of the locking pins being releasably engaged with a respective one of the tie-down loops; and
a pinion gear rotatably coupled to the latch housing and intermeshed with the linear gear bar of the bolt latch,

wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a first rotational direction slides the bolt latch in a first translational direction and thereby disengages the locking pins from the tie-down loops such that the storage container detaches from the cargo sidewall, and
wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, slides the bolt latch in a second translational direction, opposite the first translational direction, and thereby reengages the locking pins with the tie-down loops such that the storage container reattaches to the cargo sidewall.

15. A method of constructing a mounting device for attaching an accessory to a surface, the method comprising:
forming a latch housing configured to mount to one of the accessory or the surface;
slidably coupling a bolt latch to the latch housing, the bolt latch including a linear gear bar and a locking pin, the locking pin being configured to engage complementary mounting structure of the other of the accessory or the surface; and
rotatably coupling a pinion gear to the latch housing such that the pinion gear intermeshes with the linear gear bar of the bolt latch,
wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a first rotational direction slides the bolt latch in a first translational direction and thereby disengages the locking pin from the mounting structure such that the accessory detaches from the surface, and
wherein spinning of the pinion gear in a second rotational direction slides the bolt latch in a second translational direction and thereby engages the locking pin with the mounting structure such that the accessory attaches to the surface.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locking pin includes first and second locking pins projecting from opposing first and second ends, respectively, of the bolt latch.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the bolt latch includes a hook and the second end of the bolt latch includes a stepped arm, the first locking pin projecting from the hook and the second locking pin projecting from the stepped arm.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the latch housing defines an interior compartment, the bolt latch being slidably mounted within the interior compartment.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising mounting a pinion housing to the latch housing, the pinion gear being nested within the pinion housing.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising integrally forming the linear gear bar and the locking pin with the bolt latch as a single-piece unitary structure.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Pulleyblank Mark A

Classifications

• E05C1/08

  with latching action · CPC title

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title

• B60R9/065 Primary

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks · CPC title

• B60R11/06

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title

• E05C9/021

  with rack and pinion mechanism · CPC title