Removable safety chain tie down apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850580-B2
Application number	US-201916240835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Oct 14, 2008
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A tie down apparatus that may be utilized for securing an item, such as a safety chain, wherein the tie down apparatus may be used with a hitch mounting system. In one embodiment, the tie down apparatus may include a receiving member, a tie down member, and a clocking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the tie down member may be capable of being located and rotated within the receiving member. The tie down member may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The locking member may include at least one leg capable of being housed within the aperture. The locking member may engage the receiving member once the tie down member is rotated, thereby trapping the item within the tie down apparatus.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A tie down apparatus comprising:
a body member;
a post extending from the body member, the post capable of being positioned within a receiving member of an underbed hitch mounting system;
a handle extending from the body member; and
a locking member engaged with the body member and being moveable relative to the body member between engaged and unengaged positions, wherein the locking member in the engaged position prevents rotation of the body member from a second rotational position to a first rotational position.

2. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the handle is contoured to secure a safety chain.

3. The tie down apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the handle is attached to one side of the body member.

4. The tie down apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the handle is monolithically formed with the body member.

5. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein post generally prevents displacement of the body member from the receiving member.

6. The tie down apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the post has a generally T-shaped portion.

7. The tie down apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the generally T-shaped portion extends from the post in a generally perpendicular direction.

8. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body member is capable of being rotated in either of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

9. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the post is positionable within the receiving member of the underbed hitch mounting system when the body member is in the first rotational position and the post is prevented from removal when the body member is in the second rotational position.

10. The tie down apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the body member is rotated ninety degrees from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

11. A tie down apparatus comprising:
a body member rotatable about an axis between first and second rotational positions within a receiving member;
a post extending from the body member; the post having a generally T-shaped portion configured to engage a receiving member of an underbed hitch mounting system;
a handle extending from the body member, the handle configured to accept a safety chain; and
a locking member engaged with the body member and being moveable relative to the body member between engaged and unengaged positions, wherein the locking member in the engaged position prevents rotation of the body member from the second rotational position to the first rotational position.

12. The tie down apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the handle is contoured to secure a safety chain.

13. The tie down apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the handle is attached to one side of the body member.

14. The tie down apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the handle is monolithically formed with the body member.

15. The tie down apparatus of claim 11 , wherein post generally prevents displacement of the body member from the receiving member.

16. The tie down apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the post has a generally T-shaped portion.

17. The tie down apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the generally T-shaped portion extends from the post in a generally perpendicular direction.

18. The tie down apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the body member is capable of being rotated in either of a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction.

19. The tie down apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the post is receivable within the receiving member of the underbed hitch mounting system when the body member is in the first rotational position and the post is prevented from removal when the body member is in the second rotational position.

20. The tie down apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the body member is rotated ninety degrees from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Mccoy Richard W

Classifications

• B60D1/06 Primary

  Ball-and-socket hitches · CPC title

• B60D1/187 Primary

  characterised by the connection to the towing vehicle or to the trailer · CPC title

• Y10S280/901

  Adaptation of nonspecialized vehicles to semitrailer tractors · CPC title

• B60P7/0807

  Attachment points · CPC title

• B60D1/58

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title