Safety chain tie down mechanism for under bed hitch mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10994793-B2
Application number	US-201715594906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

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 locking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the locking member may extend therethrough. The locking member may selectively engage the receiving member. The locking member may include a head that engages with a safety chain member positioned on the tie down apparatus to prevent disengagement between the locking member and the receiving member.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A tie down apparatus for securing an item to an underbed vehicle mounting system, the tie down apparatus comprising:
a tie down member comprising a body and a handle;
a locking member extending from the body, the locking member comprising a threaded post extending downward from the body;
a receiving member having an upper rim, a pair of sidewalls extending downward from the upper rim and a bottom portion, the receiving member configured to engage the underbed vehicle mounting system;
wherein the upper rim, the sidewalls define an aperture which receives the threaded post; and
wherein at least a portion of an inner facing surface of each of the sidewalls include corresponding threads to the threaded post.

2. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom portion further defines an opening.

3. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein only a portion of the threaded post engages the corresponding threads of the receiving member.

4. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is attached to and extends upward from the body.

5. The tie down apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle forms an enclosed area configured to accept a safety chain.

6. The tie down apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle attaches to the body at two separate points.

7. The tie down apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle is integrally formed with the body.

8. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the locking member is rotatably secured to the receiving member.

9. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the threaded post is integrally formed with the body.

10. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper rim, the sidewalls, and the bottom portion of the receiving member are integrally formed.

11. The tie down apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper rim abuts a flattened bottom portion of the body when the locking member engages with the receiving member.

12. A tie down apparatus for securing an item to a vehicle mounting system, the apparatus comprising:
a tie down member comprising a body and a handle, the body comprising an aperture; and
a locking member insertable through the aperture, the locking member comprising a post and at least one wedge member, the post being engageable with the at least one wedge member,
wherein the post has a narrowing T-shape as it extends from the body of the tie down member, and
wherein the at least one wedge member comprises a plurality of wedge members removably positioned between a narrowing portion of the post and an inner facing surface of the receiving member.

13. The tie down apparatus of claim 12 wherein the post wedgingly engages a receiving member of the vehicle mounting system to secure the locking member to the receiving member.

14. The tie down apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one wedge member has a tabbed portion proximate to the narrowing portion of the post.

15. The tie down apparatus of claim 14 wherein the tabbed portion is biased.

16. The tie down apparatus of claim 12 wherein the handle attaches to the body at two separate points.

17. The tie down apparatus of claim 12 wherein the handle is integrally formed with the body.

Assignees

• Horizon Global Americas Inc

Inventors

• Ward Brian

Classifications

• B60D1/488 Primary

  mounted directly to the chassis of the towing vehicle · CPC title

• B60D1/58

  Auxiliary devices · CPC title

• B62D53/0807 Primary

  adjustable coupling saddles mounted on sub-frames; Mounting plates therefor · CPC title

• B62D53/10

  with means for preventing accidental uncoupling · CPC title