IP Library Granted Patent US 7,874,774
Granted Patent B2
US 7,874,774 · App. 11/858,234 · Granted Jan 25, 2011

Vehicle cargo arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,874,774
App. No.
11/858,234
Granted
Jan 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle cargo arrangement has a track with an elongated slot and a tie-down assembly. The tie-down assembly includes a tie-down fitting, a retainer coupled to the tie-down fitting to selectively retain the tie-down fitting to the track, and a blocking part. The blocking part is movably coupled with respect to the tie-down fitting between a blocked orientation and an unblocked orientation. The tie-down assembly is removable from the track by rotational movement when the blocking part is in the unblocked orientation. However, the tie-down assembly is not removable from the track by the rotational movement when the blocking part is in the blocked orientation.

Claims (40)

1. A tie-down assembly comprising:

a main body including a tie-down fitting;

a retainer supported by the main body and being configured to be fitted into an elongated slot, the main body is rotatable relative to the elongated slot between a removable orientation and a non-removable orientation; and

a blocking part movably coupled with respect to the main body, the blocking part being movable between a blocked orientation, in which the blocking part prevents rotation of the main body, and an unblocked orientation.

2. The tie-down assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the blocking part includes a stop block pivotally supported by the main body, and a first biasing element arranged to apply a biasing force on the stop block to urge the stop block from the unblocked orientation towards the blocked orientation.

3. The tie-down assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the blocking part includes a release member that engages the stop block to selectively retain the stop block in the unblocked orientation against the biasing force of the first biasing element.

4. The tie-down assembly according to claim 3 , wherein

the blocking part includes a second biasing element arranged to apply a biasing force on the release member to urge the release member towards engagement with the stop block to hold the stop block in the unblocked orientation.

5. The tie-down assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the blocking part includes a stop block pivotally supported by the main body, and the main body includes a recess with the stop block having a first end supported in the recess such that in the unblocked orientation the stop block is retained within the recess and in the blocked orientation the stop block extends outward perpendicular to a length of the recess.

6. The tie-down assembly according to claim 1 , wherein

the blocking part prevents rotation of the main body from the non-removable orientation to the removable orientation while the blocking part is in the blocked orientation.

7. A tie-down assembly comprising:

a main body including a tie-down fitting;

a retainer supported by the main body and being configured to be fitted into an elongated slot, the retainer including a clamping member; and

a blocking part movably coupled with respect to the main body, the blocking part being movable between a blocked orientation, in which the blocking part prevents rotation of the main body, and an unblocked orientation.

8. The tie-down assembly according to claim 7 , wherein

the retainer includes a tightening member that tightens the clamping member relative to the main body.

9. The tie-down assembly according to claim 7 , wherein

the clamping member is configured to pass through the elongated slot when the main body is in a removable orientation.

10. A tie-down assembly comprising:

a main body including a tie-down fitting, the main body being rotatable relative to an elongated slot between a removable orientation and a non-removable orientation;

a retainer supported by the main body and configured to be fitted into the elongated slot; and

a blocking part movably coupled to the tie-down fitting, the blocking part being movable between an unblocked orientation and a blocked orientation, with the blocking part preventing rotation of the main body from the non-removable orientation to the removable orientation when in the blocking orientation.

11. The tie-down assembly according to claim 10 , wherein

the blocking part includes a stop block pivotally supported by the main body, and a first biasing element arranged to apply a biasing force on the stop block to urge the stop block from the unblocked orientation towards the blocked orientation.

12. The tie-down assembly according to claim 11 , wherein

the blocking part includes a release member that engages the stop block to selectively retain the stop block in the unblocked orientation against the biasing force of the first biasing element.

13. The tie-down assembly according to claim 12 , wherein

the blocking part includes a second biasing element arranged to apply a biasing force on the release member to urge the release member towards engagement with the stop block to hold the stop block in the unblocked orientation.

14. The tie-down assembly according to claim 10 , wherein

the blocking part includes a stop block pivotally supported by the main body, and the main body includes a recess with the stop block having a first end supported in the recess such that in the unblocked orientation the stop block is retained within the recess and in the blocked orientation the stop block extends outward perpendicular to a length of the recess.

15. The tie-down assembly according to claim 10 , wherein

the retainer includes a clamping member.

16. The tie-down assembly according to claim 15 , wherein

the retainer includes a tightening member that tightens the clamping member relative to the main body.

17. The tie-down assembly according to claim 15 , wherein

the clamping member is configured to pass through the elongated slot when the main body is in the removable orientation.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2011
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 026727/0309 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2010
From: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 025073/0093 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 20, 2007
From: PETERSON, BLAKE
To: NISSAN TECHNICAL CENTER NORTH AMERICA,INC.
Reel/Frame 019853/0661 →