Mounting device, system, and method for anchoring an item to a truck bed
A mounting device has a bracket having two ear portions. The bracket is couplable to a surface and rotatable relative to a first horizontal axis. A first pivot arm is coupled to a first one of the two ear portions. A second pivot arm is coupled to a second one of the two ear portions. The first and second pivot arms are rotatably coupled to the respective first and second ear portions relative to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The mounting device is configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the first and second pivot arms hang vertically relative to the surface.
1 . A mounting device, comprising:
a top region;
a bottom region;
a bracket having two ear portions, the bracket configured to couple to a surface and rotate relative to a first horizontal axis; and
a first pivot arm coupled to a first one of the two ear portions;
a second pivot arm coupled to a second one of the two ear portions; wherein
the first and second pivot arms are rotatably coupled to the respective first and second ear portions relative to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; whereby
the mounting device is configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the first and second pivot arms hang vertically relative to the surface and the surface is a mounting plate shaped and configured to attach to a truck bed; and wherein: the bracket is rotatably coupled to the mounting plate.
2 . The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein:
the mounting plate, bracket, and first and second pivot arms comprise at least one of the following: steel, stainless steel, HSLA steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, and iron.
3 . The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first and second pivot arms have passages through distal ends thereof, whereby the first and second pivot arms can receive a mounting pin of a ratchet tie-down strap assembly.
4 . The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second pivot arms are configured to rotate into a second configuration in response to a pulling force applied to the first and second pivot arms.
5 . The mounting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pivot pin rotatably coupling proximal ends of the first and second pivot arms to the bracket.
6 . The mounting device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a spacer tube encasing a portion of the pivot pin, the spacer tube shaped and configured to maintain a desired spacing between the first and second pivot arms.
7 . The mounting device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spacer washer between the first one of the two ear portions and the first pivot arm.
8 . The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein:
when the mounting device is attached to the truck bed in an upright position, the mounting device is configured to store a ratchet tie-down strap assembly in a hanging position.
9 . The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein:
the bracket is a u-shaped bracket.
10 . A system for anchoring goods to a truck bed, the system comprising:
the mounting device of claim 1 , wherein a ratchet tie-down strap assembly coupled to the first and second pivot arms, the ratchet tie-down strap assembly having a ratchet system and a strap for anchoring goods to the truck bed.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the ratchet tie-down assembly is coupled to distal ends of the first and second pivot arms by a mounting pin on a proximal portion the ratchet tie-down assembly, the mounting pin passing through passages in distal ends of the first and second pivot arms.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first and second pivot arms are configured to rotate into a second configuration in response to a pulling force applied to the ratchet tie-down assembly, whereby the ratchet tie-down assembly is movable from a first hanging position to a second extended, swiveled, tilted position.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the mounting device further comprises a pivot pin rotatably coupling proximal ends of the first and second pivot arms to the u-shaped bracket.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein:
the mounting device further comprises a spacer tube encasing a portion of the pivot pin, the spacer tube shaped and configured to maintain a desired spacing between the first and second pivot arms.
15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the mounting system further comprises a spacer washer between the first one of the two ear portions and the first pivot arm.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the mounting plate, bracket, and first and second pivot arms comprise at least one of the following: steel, stainless steel, HSLA steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, and iron.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:
when the system is attached to the truck bed, the mounting device stores the ratchet tie-down strap assembly in a hanging position.
18 . A method of anchoring an item to a truck bed, the method comprising:
provide the mounting device of claim 1 ;
provide a ratchet tie-down strap assembly with a proximal end having a mounting pin, a strap, and a ratchet system for the strap;
attach the first mounting device to a side of a truck bed with the top region vertically above the bottom region;
couple the proximal end of the ratchet tie-down strap assembly by passing the mounting pin through passages in distal ends of the first and second pivot arms.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
position an item on the truck bed;
pull a distal end of the strap from the ratchet tie-down assembly;
at least one of: attach the distal end of the strap to the item, or attach the distal end of the strap to the truck bed;
ratchet the ratchet tie-down strap assembly to tension the strap, whereby the first and second pivot arms rotate into a second configuration, and whereby the ratchet tie-down assembly is movable from a first hanging position to a second extended, swiveled, tilted position.