Apparatus and method of securing an item for transport in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10899279-B2
Application number	US-201916389440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for securing an item for transport in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a tether anchor bezel, having a housing and a displaceable cover, a tether anchor held within the tether anchor bezel, and a hook carried on the displaceable cover.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a tether anchor bezel including a housing and a displaceable cover;
a tether anchor within said tether anchor bezel; and
a hook carried on said displaceable cover, wherein said hook has a distal end that extends generally toward said tether anchor bezel when the displaceable cover is in an at least partially open position, and wherein said hook is configured to support an object that may be hung from the hook.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a recess defining a compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said tether anchor extends across said compartment within said recess.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said displaceable cover is displaceable between a first position, at least partially closing said compartment and concealing said tether anchor, and a second position, at least partially opening said compartment and exposing said tether anchor for access.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said hook is concealed in said compartment when said displaceable cover is in said first position and exposed for use when said cover is in said second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said hook includes a first prong and a second prong.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further including a tether receiver between said first prong and said second prong allowing passage of a tether between said first prong and said second prong when a tether is connected to said tether anchor and said displaceable cover is in at least a partially closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further including a pivot connecting said displaceable cover to said housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further including a latch feature releasably securing said displaceable cover in said first position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said latch feature is a resilient tab carried on said housing and configured to engage at least one of said first prong and said second prong when said displaceable cover is in said first position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said pivot includes opposed trunnions on said displaceable cover received in opposed sockets in said housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said hook includes a first prong and a second prong.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a pivot connecting said displaceable cover to said housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tether anchor bezel is held in a rear face of a motor vehicle seat.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tether anchor bezel is held in a trim panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tether anchor bezel further comprises a forked tab within said tether anchor bezel.

17. An apparatus, comprising:
a tether anchor bezel including a housing;
a tether anchor within said tether anchor bezel; and
a hook carried on said housing, said hook including a first section, a second section and a hinge connecting said first section and said second section, wherein said second section deforms at said hinge and toward said first section when a force directed towards said first section is applied on said second section.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said first section includes a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being connected to said housing by a pivot and said distal end being connected to said second section by said hinge.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said hinge biases said hook into an open position for receiving and holding an item.

20. A method of securing an item for transport in a vehicle having a tether anchor bezel, including a tether anchor configured to engage a tether hook, comprising:
displacing a cover of a tether anchor bezel into a deployed position; and
engaging a portion of said item with a hook that is carried on said cover and exposed for use in said deployed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Yilma Benjamin
• Chehade Saeed
• Weaver James Cornell
• Susko Thomas J

Classifications

• B60N2/2809

  with additional tether connected to the top of the child seat and passing above the top of the back-rest · CPC title

• B60R2011/0015

  Back-rests · CPC title

• B60R2011/0071

  using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like · CPC title

• B60R7/10 Primary

  for supporting hats, clothes or clothes hangers · CPC title

• B60R7/043 Primary

  mounted on or under a seat · CPC title