Baseplate mounting system with locking mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296744-B2
Application number	US-202217865587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2022
Priority date	Oct 11, 2021
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

An accessory attachment system includes a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface. The baseplate is configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the accessory to the support surface. The attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory. At least one mounting foot is associated with the at least one accessory and is configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions. The at least one mounting foot includes an adjustment feature to account for any warpage of the support surface when the at least one accessory is mounted in the desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory attachment system, comprising:
a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface, the baseplate configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the at least one accessory to the support surface, and wherein the attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory; and
at least one mounting foot associated with the at least one accessory and configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions, and wherein the at least one mounting foot has a distal end face and protruding portions formed about an outer periphery of the at least one mounting foot, and wherein the protruding portions taper outwardly from the distal end face to an engagement area that is configured to engage a lower surface of the baseplate, and wherein the at least one mounting foot includes an adjustment feature to account for any warpage of the support surface when the at least one accessory is mounted in the desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions.

2. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment interface comprises a plurality of mounting holes formed within the baseplate, and wherein the at least one mounting foot has a head portion associated with the at least one accessory and a foot portion to be inserted into one of the plurality of mounting holes.

3. An accessory attachment system, comprising:
a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface, the baseplate configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the at least one accessory to the support surface, wherein the attachment interface comprises a plurality of mounting holes formed within the baseplate, and wherein the attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory;
at least one mounting foot associated with the at least one accessory and configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions, wherein the at least one mounting foot has a head portion associated with the at least one accessory and a foot portion to be inserted into one of the plurality of mounting holes, and wherein the at least one mounting foot includes an adjustment feature to account for any warpage of the support surface when the at least one accessory is mounted in the desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions; and
wherein the head portion and foot portion are coupled together with a spring-loaded fastener assembly such that the foot portion can move relative to the head portion along an axial direction to provide vertical compensation and to mitigate vibration.

4. The accessory attachment system of claim 3 , wherein one of the head portion and foot portion includes a channel and the other of the head portion and the foot portion includes a protrusion that is received within the channel such that pivotal movement can occur between the head portion and the foot portion to account for the warpage.

5. The accessory attachment system of claim 4 , wherein the protrusion extends from a base surface to a distal end, and wherein the protrusion decreases in thickness in a direction toward the distal end.

6. The accessory attachment system of claim 5 , wherein the channel has a chamfered entrance to facilitate insertion of the protrusion into the channel.

7. The accessory attachment system of claim 3 , wherein the foot portion includes chamfered surfaces to facilitate insertion of the foot portion into the one of the plurality of mounting holes.

8. The accessory attachment system of claim 2 , wherein the foot portion is selectively moveable between a locked position where the at least one mounting foot cannot be detached from the baseplate and an unlocked position where the at least one mounting foot can be detached from the baseplate.

9. The accessory attachment system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of mounting holes are each configured to receive the foot portion such that once the foot portion is inserted through a selected one of the plurality of mounting holes, the head portion is then rotated to move the foot portion into the locked position.

10. The accessory attachment system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of mounting holes each have a diamond shape.

11. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory includes an interior power locking mechanism that can be wirelessly actuated.

12. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , including a position sensor and/or limit switch that can determine if the at least one mounting foot has moved to a locked position, and wherein a locking condition is wirelessly communicated to a user interface when a lock position is detected.

13. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory includes a locking mechanism that automatically locks or unlocks in response to a vehicle operation status, a vehicle location, and/or a designated type of person.

14. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory includes exterior lighting that changes based on a vehicle operation status and/or a locked/unlocked condition of the at least one accessory.

15. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the protruding portions are spaced apart from each other and gradually and continuously increase in thickness from the distal end face to the engagement area to provide an angled or beveled side surface.

16. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting foot has a head portion and a foot portion that is moveable relative to the head portion along a vertical axis to provide a desired adjustment range of compensation.

17. The accessory attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the baseplate comprises a planar surface that surrounds a mounting hole within which the at least one mounting foot is received.

18. An accessory attachment system, comprising:
a baseplate that provides an attachment interface on a support surface, the baseplate configured to engage with at least one accessory via the attachment interface to secure the at least one accessory to the support surface, and wherein the attachment interface provides a plurality of different mounting positions for the at least one accessory; and
at least one mounting foot associated with the at least one accessory and configured to be selectively coupled to the attachment interface to provide a desired one of the plurality of different mounting positions, and wherein the at least one mounting foot has a distal end face and protruding portions spaced apart from each other about an outer periphery of the at least one mounting foot, and wherein the protruding portions taper outwardly from the distal end face to an engagement area that is configured to engage a lower surface of the baseplate, and wherein the at least one mounting foot includes an adjustment feature that includes rotational movement about a vertical axis defined by the at least one mounting foot and/or linear movement along the vertical axis.

19. The accessory attachment system of claim 18 , wherein the protruding portions gradually and continuously increase in thickness from the distal end face to the engagement area to provide an angled or beveled side surface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Rutman Matthew B
• Azzouz Michael M
• Lozano Michael
• Sturges Jeffrey R
• Wurz William
• Glickman David Brian
• Levine Eric Scott

Classifications

• B60P7/10

  the load being plates, cases, or boxes · CPC title

• B60Q1/509 Primary

  specific to unauthorised use, e.g. for indicating stolen vehicles or infringements of traffic rules · CPC title

• B60P7/0815 Primary

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title