Safety chain tie down mechanism with t-pin

Inventors: Brian Wayne Ward (Swartz Creek, MI); Curt Nowak (Plymouth, MI)

Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.

B60D1/488 B60D1/187 B60D1/583 B60D1/06

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,134,288
App. No.: 17/286,012
Filed: Apr 16, 2021
Granted: Nov 5, 2024
Kind: B2
Examiner: ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
Art Unit: 3611
USPC: 280/495

External Links

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Abstract

A safety chain tie down assembly is shown and described. The safety chain tie down assembly may comprise a body member, a pin member, and a securing member. The pin member may include a plunging portion configured to engage with a receiver of an under bed hitch mounting device. The pivot motion of the plunging portion may position the pin member between an unlocked position and a locked position. The safety chain tie down assembly may include a securing member that includes a lever, in which actuation of the lever positions the securing member into a secured configuration.

Claims (33)

1. A safety chain tie down assembly, comprising:

a body member comprising a body, a handle, and an anti-rotation member extending from the body member;

a pin member engageable with the body member, the pin member including a plunging portion configured to engage with a receiver of an under bed hitch mounting device;

wherein pivot motion of the plunging portion positions the pin member between an unlocked position and a locked position; and

a securing member including a lever attached to the pin member wherein actuation of the securing member positions the lever into engagement with the body member in a secured configuration.

2. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 1 , wherein the securing member further comprises a linkage member attached to the lever.

3. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body member further comprises a receiving portion positioned within the body, wherein the receiving portion includes a perimeter wall and a bottom floor.

4. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a body opening positioned along the bottom floor wherein the body opening has a complimentary shape to the shape of the plunging portion of the pin member.

5. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 4 , wherein the perimeter wall and bottom floor have a generally complementary shape to a shape of a top portion of the pin member such that the body member is configured to receive the top portion of the pin member and the top portion is rotatable relative to the body of the body member.

6. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 4 , wherein the perimeter wall includes a generally circular configuration to allow a perimeter wall of the top portion of the pin member to rotate when received within the receiving portion of the body.

7. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 4 , wherein the top portion of the pin member includes a bottom surface configured to abut against the bottom floor of the body member to allow the pin member to be received and rotate within the body member.

8. A safety chain tie down assembly, comprising:

a body member including a body, a handle shaped to define a chain receiving space with the body and an anti-rotation member extending from the body opposite from the handle;

a pin member engageable with the body member, the pin member including a top portion, an elongated portion and a plunging portion wherein the plunging portion is configured to engage with a receiver of an under bed hitch mounting device; and

wherein the plunging portion is configured to pivot relative to the body member to position the pin member between an unlocked position and a locked position.

9. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 8 further comprising a securing member including a lever attached to the pin member wherein actuation of the securing member positions the lever into engagement with the body member in a secured configuration.

10. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 9 , wherein the securing member further comprises a linkage member attached to the lever.

11. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 8 , wherein the body member further comprises a receiving portion positioned within the body, wherein the receiving portion includes a perimeter wall and a bottom floor.

12. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a body opening positioned along the bottom floor wherein the body opening has a complimentary shape to the shape of the plunging portion of the pin member.

13. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 11 , wherein the perimeter wall and bottom floor have a generally complementary shape to a shape of the top portion of the pin member such that the body member is configured to receive the top portion of the pin member and the top portion is rotatable relative to the body of the body member.

14. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 11 , wherein the perimeter wall includes a generally circular configuration to allow a perimeter wall of the top portion of the pin member to rotate when received within the receiving portion of the body.

15. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 11 , wherein the top portion of the pin member includes a bottom surface configured to abut against the bottom floor of the body member to allow the pin member to be received and rotate within the body member.

16. A safety chain tie down assembly, comprising:

a body member including a body, a handle shaped to define a chain receiving space with the body and an anti-rotation member extending from the body opposite from the handle;

a receiving portion positioned within the body, wherein the receiving portion includes a perimeter wall and a bottom floor;

a body opening positioned along the bottom floor;

wherein the body opening has a complimentary shape to the shape of a plunging portion of the pin member; and

wherein the plunging portion is configured to pivot relative to the body member to position the pin member between an unlocked position and a locked position.

17. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a securing member including a lever attached to the pin member wherein actuation of the securing member positions the lever into engagement with the body member in a secured configuration.

18. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 17 , wherein the securing member further comprises a linkage member attached to the lever.

19. The safety chain tie down assembly of claim 18 , wherein the securing lever includes a lever handle and a lever body laterally disposed from the lever handle, wherein the securing lever is attached to the top portion of the pin member by a linkage member located at the top body portion of the body member; and

the body member includes an engaging portion such that the securing lever is configured to be biased to engage the engaging portion in an engaged position to prevent rotation of the pin member relative to the body member and to disengage the securing lever from the engaged portion in a disengaged position to allow rotation of the pin member relative to the body member.