An enclosure for use with a cargo bed liner providing access to a tie-down fastener attached to the cargo bed, and method for installing the liner to provide such access. The fastener has a connecting portion for connecting the fastener to the cargo bed wall and an extended portion extending from the cargo bed wall. The liner with which the enclosure is used includes a wall portion having a hole therein. The liner wall is aligned in relation to the cargo bed wall such that the extended portion of the fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall when the liner is installed. The enclosure includes a casing used for insertion into the hole in the liner wall. The casing also includes as least one aperture for the receipt of the connecting portion of the fastener and an open portion sized to be substantially coincident with the hole in the liner wall when the casing is inserted through the hole. In this manner, access is provided to the fastener through the open portion of the casing. Also included as part of the enclosure is a flanged portion having an opening therethrough. The flanged portion is connected to the casing adjacent the open portion of the casing such that the opening of the flanged portion is substantially coincident with the open portion of the casing and the hole in the liner. The method for installation of the enclosure requires provision of such a liner and enclosure, aligning the liner so that the hole is positioned over the tie-down fastener, and passing a portion of the fastener through the enclosure to secure the liner to the cargo bed. In this manner, the tie-down fastener is accessible from within the cargo bed for use thereof. The enclosure of the present invention allows one to utilize the tie-down fasteners attached to the cargo bed while protecting the cargo bed with a cargo bed liner. Further, the enclosure may be used in lieu of retainers ordinarily employed to hold the liner in the proper position relative to the cargo bed.
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1. In combination, a vehicle cargo bed having a wall and a fastener attached to the wall, and a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, the improvement comprising:
an enclosure for .providing access to the fastener on the cargo bed wall, the enclosure comprising a casing sized for insertion through the hole in the liner wall, said casing having an open portion substantially coincident with the hole in the liner wall when said casing is inserted through the hole, said casing further including at least one aperture therethrough of a size sufficient to permit said casing to be placed over said fastener; and a flanged portion forming an opening, said flanged portion connected to said casing adjacent said open portion such that said opening of said flanged portion is substantially coincident with said open portion of said casing and said hole in said liner wall. 11. A system, comprising:
a cargo bed comprising a wall, the wall including a recessed portion, and means for securing a tie-down fastener to the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall, a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the cargo bed wall, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the hole is positioned over the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall, an enclosure adapted to be inserted into the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall comprising: a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, and a flange extending from the perimeter edge of the casing, the flange being sized to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner; a tie-down fastener comprising: at least one connecting portion for connecting the tie-down fastener to the securing means of the cargo bed wall, tie-down fastening means, and an intermediate portion between the at least one connecting portion and the tie-down fastening means, such that the tie-down fastening means extends away from the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall, and the at least one connecting portion of the tie-down fastener passes through the at least one aperture in the casing. 2. The combination defined in
3. The combination defined in
4. The combination defined in
5. The combination defined in
6. The combination defined in
8. The combination defined in
9. The combination defined in
10. The combination defined in
12. The system of
the means for securing a tie-down fastener to the cargo bed wall comprises at least two internally threaded holes, the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener comprises a cleat comprising two outwardly extending members, and the at least one connecting portion for connecting the tie-down fastener to the securing means of the cargo bed wall of the tie-down fastener comprises two threaded shafts engaging the at least two internally threaded holes of the means for securing a tie-down fastener to the cargo bed wall, said shafts passing through the at least one aperture in the casing.
13. The system of
a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering a wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the tie-down fastening means is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, and an enclosure for providing access to the tie-down fastening means on the cargo bed wall, the enclosure comprising, a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, and a flange extending from the perimeter edge of the casing, the flange being sized to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner; a tie-down fastener, at least a portion of which passes through the at least one aperture in the casing, the fastener comprising: a fastener portion, a first connecting portion for providing connection to the fastener portion, and an intermediate portion between the first connecting portion and the fastener portion, the intermediate portion operable to space the fastener portion from the enclosure.16. The system of claim 15 wherein the cargo bed wall includes a hole in the wall for alignment with the hole of the cargo bed liner, and wherein the connecting portion of the fastener is secured to the hole of the cargo bed wall.17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fastener comprises a cleat.18. The system of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of the tie-down fastener is of a size that completely covers the at least one casing aperture.19. The system of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of the tie down fastener is removably attachable to the connecting portion.20. The system of claim 19 wherein the connecting portion of the tie down fastener comprises a threaded shaft, and the intermediate portion of the tie down fastener has a hole into which the threaded shaft passes.21. A system comprising: a cargo bed having a wall, means for securely holding a fastener extendable from the wall, a bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the means for securely holding a fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, and an enclosure for providing access to the means for securely holding a fastener, the enclosure comprising, a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, the casing aperture being located such that the means for securely holding a fastener is accessible when the casing is positioned in the hole of the liner, and a flange extending from the perimeter edge of the casing, the flange being sized to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner; a fastener to be held by the means for securely holding a fastener, the fastener comprising: a connecting portion for connecting the fastener to the means for securely holding a fastener, such that the casing is secured against the cargo bed wall to thereby prevent movement of the casing with respect to the cargo bed.22. The system of claim 21 wherein the casing flange extends around the entire perimeter edge of the casing.23. The system of claim 21 wherein the fastener further comprises a tie-down fastening means operatively connected to the connecting portion of the fastener.24. The system of claims 21 wherein, the means for securely holding a fastener comprises at least one hole, and the connecting portion of the fastener comprises a threaded shaft adapted to engage the hole of the means for securely holding a tie-down fastener.25. A system comprising: a cargo bed having a wall, and first and second means for securely holding first and second fastener connecting portions to the wall, a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having at least first and second holes therein, a fastener comprising: a fastener body having first and second holes therein, a first connecting portion passing into the first hole of the fastener body and the first hole of the cargo bed liner wall and being secured to the first means for securely holding a fastener, a second connecting portion passing into the second hole of the fastener body and the second hole of the cargo bed liner wall and being secured to the second means for securely holding a fastener, the first and second connecting portions in combination with the first and second means for securely holding being operable to hold the cargo bed liner wall in position relative to the cargo bed wall.26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first and second connecting portions are further operable to secure the fastener body and bed liner against the cargo bed.27. The system of claim 25 wherein the fastener further comprises a tie-down fastening means extending from the fastener body.28. The system of claim 27, wherein the tie-down fastening means comprises a cleat.29. A method comprising the steps of: providing a cargo bed wall having a means for securing a tie-down fastener thereto, providing a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the cargo bed wall, the liner wall having a hole therein, aligning the cargo bed liner against the cargo bed wall so that the hole is positioned over the cargo bed wall's means for securing a tie-down fastener thereto, providing an enclosure sized to cover the hole of the cargo bed liner, the enclosure comprising: a casing, a peripheral flange of a size to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner, and at least one hole in the casing, placing the enclosure over the hole of the cargo bed liner, providing a tie-down fastener comprising: at least one connecting portion for connecting the tie-down fastener to the securing means of the cargo bed wall, tie-down fastening means, and an intermediate portion between the at least one connecting portion and the tie-down fastening means, and passing the at least one connecting portion of the tie down fastener through the hole of the enclosure and securing it to the means for securing a tie-down fastener, such that the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener is spaced from the enclosure and accessible from the cargo bed.30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of tightening the at least one connecting portion to the cargo bed wall with a sufficient amount of force so that the intermediate portion of the tie-down fastener is secured against the cargo bed wall.31. The method of claim 29 wherein the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener comprises a cleat.32. The method of claim 29 wherein the tie-down fastener covers the at least one aperture in the enclosure. |
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Inserted through hole 41 of first liner side wall 26 is one embodiment of a tie-down fastener enclosure according to the present invention. Enclosure 40 includes casing 48 having an open portion 50. Casing 48 also has at least one aperture therethrough for receipt of fastener 42 (see FIGS. 4-5). Casing 48 is sized for insertion through hole 41. When inserted, open portion 50 is substantially coincident with hole 41 such that access is provided to fastener 42 through open portion 50 of casing 48. Enclosure 40 also includes flanged portion 52 connected to casing 48 adjacent open portion 50 of casing 48 such that flanged portion 52 is sized to prevent casing 48 from passing through hole 41 in liner 14. Flanged portion 52 also includes an opening (see FIGS. 3-5) providing access to open portion 50 of casing 48 therethrough. As is explained in greater detail below, once enclosure 40 is installed in hole 41 of first liner side wall 26, fastener 42 extends through casing 48 into open portion 50 of casing 48, flanged portion 52 of enclosure 40 is substantially flush with first liner side wall 26, and casing 48 resides within gap 54 defined by first cargo bed side wall 14 and first liner side wall 26. In this manner, access is provided to fastener 42 through enclosure 40. Further, because flanged portion 52 is substantially flush with first liner side wall 26, enclosure 40 limits or eliminates the potential for water or contaminants to leak into gap 54 to thereby damage first cargo side wall 14 by either moisture damage or by chemical reactions of such contaminants with the surface of first cargo bed side wall 14.
It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the gap formed between the cargo bed wall and the liner may be the result of a recess formed in the cargo wall as shown in FIG. 2, or the gap may be the result of a formation in the liner. Either arrangement is anticipated to be within the scope of the present invention as it only necessary that there be sufficient space between the liner wall and the cargo bed wall for receipt of the casing of the enclosure.
It will also be appreciated that the tie-down fastener for which enclosure 40 is utilized may reside on any surface of the cargo bed liner. It is possible and contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention that the tie-down fastener be located at a junction between two walls of the cargo bed. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a tie-down fastener may extend from the corner joining first cargo bed wall 14 and front cargo bed wall 18. Also, fastener 42 need not extend above a horizontal bed surface as is illustrated in FIG. 2. Fastener 42 may extend, for example, perpendicular to the liner surface. To accommodate the location and orientation of fastener 42, the aperture of enclosure 40 is properly located on casing 48 for receipt of fastener 42 therethrough when enclosure 40 is inserted through hole 41 of first liner side wall 26.
In addition to allowing the use of a cargo bed liner which provides access to tie-down fasteners attached to the cargo bed, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the receipt of fastener 42 through enclosure 40 also assists in holding first liner side wall 26 in its position relative to first cargo bed side wall 14. As a result, it is feasible to eliminate the requirement of a retainer proximate the fastener for use in holding first liner side wall 26 in position relative to first cargo bed side wall 14. Further, should a sufficient number of tie-down fasteners and enclosures therefor be utilized, it may not be necessary to use retainers for holding any portion of the liner to the cargo bed. Thus, manufacturing costs and subsequent cost to the consumer are reduced through the implementation of the tie-down fastener enclosure according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of one embodiment of the tie-down fastener enclosure of the present invention through which a cleat attached to a cargo bed extends. In the embodiment shown, casing 48 and flanged portion 52 are comprised of ABS plastic and are of unitary construction. However, it is feasible that different materials may be used or that casing 48 and flanged portion 52 may be formed as separate pieces and then adhered to each other in ways well-known in the art, and such construction is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention. Flanged portion 52 includes opening 51 which, in this embodiment, is defined by inner peripheral edge 53 of flanged portion 52. Thus, when flanged portion 52 is connected to casing 48 adjacent open portion 50 of casing 48, opening 51 is substantially coincident with open portion 50 of casing 48 and the hole in the liner wall. Fastener 42 in the embodiment of FIG. 3 comprises a cleat. Extending from cleat 42 are bolts 46. Specifically, fastener 42 includes first and second connecting portions, or bolts, 46, intermediate portions 75, and tie-down fastening means, or arms, 76. Intermediate portions 75 have first and second holes 73 and 74, respectively, therein for receipt of bolts 46. Tie-down fastening arm means 76 extend outward for attachment of a tie-down thereto. Intermediate portions 75 connect bolts 46 to tie-down fastening means 76. As shown in FIG. 4 wherein cleat 42 has been removed from enclosure 40, casing 48 of enclosure 40 includes holes 56 serving as apertures through which bolts 46 of cleat 42 may be inserted. In this embodiment, bolts 46 are threaded into cleat 42 as shown.
To install enclosure 40 such that access is provided to cleat 42, before first liner bed side wall 26 is installed, cleat 42 is removed from first cargo bed wall 14 by unscrewing bolts 46 from nuts 44. First liner side wall 26 is then placed in position to substantially cover first cargo bed side wall 14, leaving gap 54 therebetween. If first liner side wall 26 is not precut or preformed to include hole 41, hole 41 is cut into first liner side wall 26 such that hole 41 provides access to the point along first cargo bed side wall 14 from which fastener 42 was removed. Enclosure 40 is then inserted through hole 41 such that holes 56 of casing 48 align with the holes in first cargo bed side wall 14 through which bolts 46 are inserted. Of course, hole 41 of first liner side wall 26 should be properly located and sized such that when enclosure 40 is in this position casing 48 resides within gap 54 and flanged portion 52 is substantially flush with first liner side wall 26 and the periphery of liner hole 41. After enclosure 40 is properly aligned, cleat 42 is refastened to first cargo bed side wall 14 by screwing bolts 46 into nuts 44.
Though cleat 42 having two bolts 46 extending therefrom is illustrated in FIG. 3, other removable tie-down fasteners, such as clamps, eye bolts, rings, and the like are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a front view of another embodiment of the tie-down fastener enclosure of the present invention in which the opening of the enclosure is a slot. In this embodiment, the aperture of casing 48 adapted to receive a tie-down fastener comprises slot 58. In this manner should tie-down fastener 42 be permanently attached to the cargo bed as may be the case if the fastener is, for example, welded to the cargo bed, enclosure 40 may still be utilized. Specifically, slot 58 of casing 48 may simply be slid over the top of tie-down fastener 42 during installation of enclosure 40. For this embodiment, to further assist in preventing moisture from entering the gap between the liner and the cargo bed, it may be desired to utilize a seal or washer about fastener 42 at slot 58.
Though the embodiment of FIG. 5 serves the purpose of providing access to a fastener connected to the cargo bed and offers the advantages of the enclosure as discussed herein, it may be desired to provide an additional means for securing the enclosure to the liner. In this embodiment, rivets 60 are provided to serve as a means for attaching enclosure 40 to cargo bed liner. Rivets 60 extend through flanged portion 52 of enclosure 40 as well as through the portion of the cargo bed liner through which enclosure 40 is inserted.
It will be appreciated that other means for fastening enclosure 40 to the cargo bed liner may be utilized. Various fastening means well known in the art, such as adhesives, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. Also, if desired, a seal may be placed between flanged portion 52 and that portion of the liner wall to which flanged portion 52 is substantially flush. Such a seal may be desired, for example, to further prohibit the passage of moisture or contaminants through the liner to the gap between the liner and the cargo bed. Further, the aperture(s) of the enclosure, such as holes 56 illustrated in FIG. 4 and slot 58 illustrated in FIG. 5, may be similarly sealed with washers or other materials well known in the art.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
Wood, Stephen R., Kremer, Richard J.
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