IP Library Granted Patent US 11,179,830
Granted Patent B2
US 11,179,830 · App. 16/334,532 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Roof rack installation tool

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,179,830
App. No.
16/334,532
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adapter assembly configured to install a roof rack accessory to a vehicle is provided. The roof rack accessory may include a vehicle attachment assembly having a fastener and a locking mechanism. In particular, the adapter assembly may comprise a wrench, an adapter, and a driving sleeve. The adapter engaging with the wrench includes an adapter body that includes first and second engagement portions and a driving post that engages the fastener of the vehicle attachment assembly. The driving sleeve may be engageable with the adapter, wherein the locking mechanism of the vehicle attachment assembly is engaged with the driving sleeve while the fastener of the vehicle attachment assembly is engaged with the adapter.

Claims (36)

1. An adapter assembly configured to install an accessory to a vehicle, the accessory having a fastener and a locking mechanism, the adapter assembly comprising:

an adapter body comprising first and second engagement portions;

a driving post selectively engageable with the fastener; and

a driving sleeve selectively engaged with the adapter body, wherein the locking mechanism of the vehicle attachment assembly is engaged with the driving sleeve while the fastener of the vehicle attachment assembly is engaged with the adapter.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion of the adapter body includes a drive-receiving bore.

3. The adapter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the drive-receiving bore releasably engages with a driving head of a wrench.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second engagement portion includes the driving post.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the driving post inserts through the driving sleeve.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the driving post engages directly with the fastener of the vehicle attachment assembly.

7. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the driving sleeve includes a curved portion with a similar shape to that of the adapter body.

8. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the driving sleeve includes an insert.

9. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a grip selectively engageable with the driving sleeve.

10. The adapter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the grip is a pattern disposed on the driving sleeve.

11. A system comprising:

a fastener configured to securely install a vehicle attachment assembly to a vehicle;

a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the fastener; and

a tool securely engageable with the fastener and the locking mechanism, the tool comprising:

a wrench;

an adapter engageable with the wrench, the adapter comprising:

an adapter body including first and second engagement portions; and

a driving post engageable with the fastener; and

a driving sleeve selectively engageable with the adapter, wherein the locking mechanism is engaged with the driving sleeve when the fastener is engaged with the adapter.

12. The system of claim 11 , further including an insert engaged with the locking mechanism.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the driving sleeve includes a curved portion with a similar shape to that of the adapter body.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a grip selectively engageable with the driving sleeve.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the grip is a pattern disposed on the driving sleeve.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one tab whereby the driving sleeve is selectively engageable with the at least one tab to disengage the at least one tab.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the driving sleeve is selectively engageable with the second engagement portion of the adapter body.

18. A system comprising:

a fastener configured to secure a vehicle attachment assembly to a vehicle;

a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the fastener;

an adapter body including first and second engagement portions; and

a driving post engageable with the fastener of the vehicle attachment assembly; and

a driving sleeve, the driving sleeve engageable with the adapter body, wherein the locking mechanism is engaged with the driving sleeve while the fastener is engaged with the adapter.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one tab whereby engagement of the driving sleeve with the at least one tab disengages the at least one tab.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a wrench selectively engageable with the adapter body.

Assignments (7)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS COLLATERAL AGENT (AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.)
To: HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; CEQUENT CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055262/0842 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; C.P. WITTER LIMITED; WESTFALIA-AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055262/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 052463/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052272/0918 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052272/0939 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2020
From: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
To: ENCINA BUSINESS CREDIT, LLC
Reel/Frame 052183/0590 →