Accessory attachment system

1. An accessory attachment system, said system comprising:

a fastening key, the fastening key comprising:

an accessory retention cap;

a stem extending from the retention cap, the stem structured and operable to be inserted through a key aperture in an accessory to be attached to a vehicle; and

at least one bit fixedly disposed within and extending laterally from a distal end portion of the stem;

a tubular stand-off fixture disposable adjacent an accessory portal provided in the vehicle, the stand-off fixture having a hollow elongated body with an internal lumen extending therethrough that is sized and shaped to receive, and allow to pass therethrough, the stem and at least one bit; and

a locking bracket fixedly connectable to a distal end of the stand-off fixture, the locking bracket comprising:

a base plate;

a keyhole disposed through the base plate, the keyhole structured and operable to receive the stem distal end portion and the at least one bit therethrough; and

at least one inclined securing structure extending exteriorly from a back side of the base plate and disposed along at least a portion of a circumference of the locking bracket keyhole, the at least one inclined securing structure structured and operable to engage the at least one bit and thereby interlock the fastening key with the locking bracket,

wherein the stand-off fixture is structured and operable to receive the fastening key therethrough when the fastening key is interlocked with the locking bracket.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one inclined securing structure comprises a ramp and a detent disposed at the end of the ramp, the ramp and detent structured and operable such that rotation of the fastening key will move each bit along a corresponding ramp and into the respective detent, thereby moving the fastening key longitudinally in a tightening direction and interlocking the fastening key with the locking bracket.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one biasing device disposable around the fastening key stem and structured and operable to provide a resistive force to the fastening key when the fastening key is interlocked with the locking bracket.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the bit comprises a dowel rod extending laterally through the distal end portion of the fastening key stem.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fastening key accessory retention cap is structured to be engageable with a fastening tool such that the fastening tool can be used to interlock the fastening key with locking bracket.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one anti-rotation aperture disposed in the vehicle adjacent the accessory portal, each anti-rotation aperture sized and shaped to receive an anti-rotation tab provided on the accessory to prevent rotation of the accessory.

7. An accessory attachment system, said system comprising:

a fastening key, the fastening key comprising:

an accessory retention cap;

a stem extending from the retention cap, the stem structured and operable to be inserted through a key aperture in an accessory to be attached to a vehicle; and

at least one bit fixedly disposed within and extending laterally from a distal end portion of the stem;

a tubular stand-off fixture disposable adjacent an accessory portal provided in the vehicle, the stand-off fixture having a hollow elongated body with an internal lumen extending therethrough that is sized and shaped to receive, and allow to pass therethrough, the stem and at least one bit; and

a locking bracket fixedly connectable to a distal end of the stand-off fixture, the locking bracket comprising:

a base plate;

a keyhole disposed through the base plate, the keyhole structured and operable to receive the stem distal end portion and the at least one bit therethrough; and

at least one inclined securing structure extending exteriorly from a back side of the base plate and disposed along at least a portion of a circumference of the locking bracket keyhole, each inclined securing structure comprising a ramp and a detent disposed at the end of the ramp,

wherein the fastening key is structured and operable to be rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof via manipulation of the retention cap to advance each bit along a corresponding ramp and into the respective detent, thereby moving the fastening key longitudinally in a tightening direction and interlocking the fastening key with the locking bracket, and

wherein the stand-off fixture is structured and operable to receive the fastening key therethrough when the fastening key is interlocked with the locking bracket.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the bit comprises a dowel rod extending laterally through the distal end portion of the fastening key stem.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising at least one anti-rotation aperture disposed in the vehicle adjacent the accessory portal, each anti-rotation aperture sized and shaped to receive an anti-rotation tab provided on the accessory to prevent rotation of the accessory.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising at least one biasing device disposable around the fastening key stem and structured and operable to provide a resistive force to the fastening key when the fastening key is interlocked with the locking bracket.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fastening key accessory retention cap is structured to be engageable with a fastening tool such that the fastening tool can be used to interlock the fastening key with locking bracket.

12. A method for attaching a vehicle accessory to a vehicle, said method comprising:

attaching a tubular stand-off fixture of an accessory attachment system adjacent an accessory portal provided in the vehicle, the stand-off fixture having a hollow elongated body with an internal lumen extending therethrough;

fixedly attaching a locking bracket of the accessory attachment system to a distal end of the stand-off fixture, the locking bracket comprising:

a base plate;

a keyhole disposed through the base plate; and

at least one inclined securing structure extending exteriorly from a back side of the base plate and disposed along at least a portion of a circumference of the keyhole, each inclined securing structure comprising a ramp and a detent disposed at the end of the ramp,

inserting a distal end portion of a stem of a fastening key of the accessory attachment system through a key aperture of a vehicle accessory, the fastening key additionally comprising:

an accessory retention cap disposed at a proximal end of the stem; and

at least one bit fixedly disposed within and extending laterally from the distal end portion;

inserting the distal end portion of the stem through the accessory portal provided in the vehicle;

inserting the distal end portion of the stem through an internal lumen of the tubular stand-off fixture that is sized and shaped to receive, and allow the stem and at least one bit to pass therethrough, and through the keyhole of the locking bracket such that the fastening key accessory retention cap abuts a surface of the accessory surrounding the key aperture of the accessory, and the accessory abuts a surface of the vehicle surrounding the accessory portal of the vehicle;

turning the head of the fastening key to engage the at least one bit with, and move the at least one bit along, the corresponding ramp and into the respective detent, thereby moving the fastening key longitudinally in a tightening direction and interlocking the fastening key with the locking bracket to secure the vehicle accessory to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the distal end portion of the stem through the keyhole of the locking bracket comprises inserting the distal end portion of the stem through a cavity of the stand-off fixture prior to inserting the distal end portion of the stem through the keyhole of the locking bracket and interlocking the fastening key with the locking bracket.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein turning the head of the fastening key to interlock the fastening key with the locking bracket comprises compressing at least one biasing device disposed around the fastening key stem as the fastening key accessory retention cap is turned and the at least one bit is move along the corresponding ramp and into the respective detent, thereby providing a resistive force to the fastening key when the fastening key is interlocked with the locking bracket.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein turning the head of the fastening key to interlock the fastening key with the locking bracket comprises:

engaging a fastening tool with the head of the fastening key; and

utilizing the fastening tool to turn the fastening key accessory retention cap and interlock the fastening key with the locking bracket.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising inserting at least one anti-rotation tab provided on the accessory into at least one anti-rotation aperture of the accessory attachment system that is disposed in the vehicle adjacent the accessory portal to prevent rotation of the accessory.