AU754243B2 - Bed liner fastening means - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT *5*S

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*SSS

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.5 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: EASTERN POLYMER INDUSTRY CO. LTD PAWAT VITOORAPAKORN WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Bed Liner Fastening Means" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- S iT -2- "Plastic Bed Liner Retainer for a Pick-up Truck" Field of the Invention The invention relates to retainers for attached a plastic bed liner to pick-up truck beds.

Background Art There are two kinds of pick-up truck beds sold in the market. One type are those pick-up truck beds having an upper bed rail extending outwardly such as those found on 1997 and 1998 model year ISUZA pick-up trucks. The other type are those pick-up truck beds having an upper bed rail extending inwardly, such as 10 those found on 1996 and 1997 model year TOYOTA, MITSUBISHI, NISSAN, FORD, and MAZDA pick-up trucks. Therefore, there are patterns and methods of attaching a plastic bed liner to a pick-up truck varying accord to the kind of pick-up truck bed.

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0. Methods of attaching a plastic bed liner to the cargo bed of a pick-up truck by 15 drilling holes in the cargo bed and fastening the plastic bed liner with screws or bolts are well known. These methods have many drawbacks such as rust forming on the cargo bed and imprecise installation position. Many holes that are drilled in order to fasten the bed liner with screws can cause develop of harmful rust which can spread and damage the truck bed.

Disclosure of the Invention An object of this invention is to provide apparatus used to attach a plastic bed liner to a pick-up truck without the necessity of drilling holes through the truck body. The invention has been developed from the idea that the retainer must securely fasten the plastic bed liner to the truck bed. As a result, the strength of the bed liner will be improved. Another object of the invention is to provide a number of tie-down loops for securing a load placed in the bed. Moreover, the invention has been designed so that it does not require any holes to be drilled in the truck bed which create potential rust sites.

The invention includes a plurality of tie-down loops, tie-down loop retaining plates, inner retaining locking members, tailgate toggle members, rubber insulation strips, plastic caps and tie-down loops supplemental members. All are used in bonding the plastic bed liner to a pick-up truck bed having an outwardly extending top bed rail without drilling holes into the truck body. Four tie-down loop retaining plates are provided, one each for the front and rear portions of each side wall of the truck bed. Retainers are made from sheet metal or high S. 10 quality plastic such that they are both strong and durable. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, rubber insulation strips are adhered to the plastic bed liner for close fitting engagement between the plastic bed liner and the truck body, hence reducing wear of the truck bed. Alternatively, inner retaining locking members are provided to attach the bed liner to a truck bed having an inwardly extending top bed rail. Furthermore, the tie-down loop supplement members are designed to be used to tie-down cargo items without drilling the truck body. The above, as well as additional objections, will be better illustrated in the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings S" 20 The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a bed liner in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the plastic bed liner retainer assembly showing A the left side front and rear positions for attaching the tie-down retaining plates to a pick-up truck bed having the upper bed rail extending

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outwardly; Figure 2a is a perspective view of a front tie-down retaining plate in accordance with the plastic bed liner retaining assembly of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 2b is a perspective view of a rear tie-down retaining plate in accordance with the plastic bed liner retaining assembly of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 2c is a perspective view of a pick-up truck bed showing the tiedown retaining plates installed in the pick-up truck bed in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; 10 Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the left rear end of the truck bed o;and plastic bed liner showing the first fasteners being installed into the left oo rear tie-down retaining plate through the plastic liner in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a partial perspective as Shown in Figure 3 showing caps being 15 installed to cover the first fasteners of the left rear tie-down retaining plate in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 4.1 is a perspective view of a tie-down supplementary member in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the right rear corner of the pick-up truck bed and tailgate showing removal of the factory installed caps in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 5.1 is a more limited partial perspective view as shown in Figure showing installation of tailgate fasteners through cover holes and into factory drilled tailgate holes in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged, partial cutaway view of the tailgate cover showing installation of the tailgate fasteners and toggle members in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 6.1 is a greatly enlarged, partial cutaway view as shown in Figure 6, showing installation of the tailgate cover onto the tailgate in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the tailgate cover, showing the installation of a tailgate fastener through the tailgate cover and into the S. tailgate in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; 10 Figure 7.1 is a perspective view as shown in Figure 7, showing installation of a cap covering the tailgate fastener in accordance with the first preferred embodiment; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a plastic bed liner in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the plastic bed liner retainer assembly 15 showing the positions for installation of the inner retaining lock members; Figure 8.1 is a vertical sectional view of the inwardly-extending pick-up truck bed top rail and the corresponding portion of the plastic bed liner showing installation of the inner retaining locking member in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the top left rear portion of the truck bed and plastic bed liner illustrating the attachment of the inner retaining locking member to a truck bed that has inwardly extending top rails in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; Figure 9.1 is a vertical sectional view as shown in Figure 8.1 illustrating engagement of the inner retaining locking member with the under side of A the truck bed top rail in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; -6- Figure 9.2 is a partial perspective view as shown in Figure 9, illustrating installation of a cap over the head of a rail fastener in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; Figure 9.3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a plastic cap covering a rail fastener; Figure 10 is a partial perspective view of the right rear end portion of the pick-up truck bed and the tailgate showing factory drilled tailgate holes in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; Figure 10.1 is a partial perspective view as shown in Figure 10, illustrating S 10 positioning of the tailgate cover in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; Figure 11 is a partial perspective view the tailgate cover illustrating installation of factory installed screws to retain the tailgate cover in accordance with the second preferred embodiment; •coo 15 Figure 11.1 is a partial perspective view as shown in Figure 11, illustrating installation of a plastic cap over the head of a factory installed screw; and Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the bed rail portion of a plastic bed liner showing installation of a rubber insulating strip in accordance with the first, second, and third preferred embodiments.

Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention The plastic bed liner retainer apparatus shown in Figures 1 12 includes apparatus for securely attaching a plastic bed liner 10 (shown in Figure 1) to a pick-up truck bed 12 (shown in Figure 2c) having either an outwardly-extending top bed rail (not shown) or an inwardly-extending top bed rail 14 (shown in Figure 8.1).

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-7- Tie-down rings 11 are generally provided as factory installed original equipment on pick-up trucks, there generally being a plurality of tie-down rings 11 mounted to the interior surface of the pick-up truck bed 12. Generally, the tie-down rings 11 are positioned such that there are two on the front side portion of the pick-up truck bed 12, and two on the rear side portion of the pick-up truck bed 12. The tie-down rings 11 are fastened to the pick-up truck bed 12 by a plurality of factory-installed fasteners 24, generally two per tie-down ring 11. The factory-installed fasteners 24 pass through the tie-down rings 11, through factory-drilled bed holes 16, and into internally-threaded members (not shown) mounted to the pick-up truck bed 12. Thus, when one moves the factory installed tie-down rings 11, the factory drilled bed holes 16 and internallythreaded members remain. To expose additional factory drilled bed holes for mounting of the plastic bed liner retainer apparatus, it is contemplated that additional factory-installed fasteners (not shown) can be removed, particularly at 15 the front part of the pick-up truck bed 12.

In a first preferred embodiment, wherein the plastic bed liner 10 is to be installed in a pick-up truck having an outwardly extending top bed rail, and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2c, a plurality of front and rear tie-down ring retaining plates 13a, 13b work in conjunction with the factory drilled bed holes 16 to secure the bed liner 10 to the pick-up truck bed 12. As best shown in Figure 2c, after having removed the tie-down rings 11, the front and rear retaining plates 13a, 13b are attached to the inside surface of the pick-up truck bed 12 with the factory-installed fasteners 24, passing through washers 22, holes 32 in the retaining plates, 13a, 13b, through the factory drilled bed holes 16, and into factory installed internally-threaded members. Preferably, the pair of front retaining plates 13a are installed at each front side portion of the truck bed 12 and a pair of rear retaining plates 13b are installed at each rear side portion of the truck bed 12. The retaining plates 13a, 13b are preferably made from galvanized iron or tough and durable plastic.

After installation of the retaining plates 13a, 13b, the plastic bed liner 10 is placed into the pick-up truck bed 12. The plastic bed liner 10 includes a plurality of liner 'I I -8holes 34 (see Figure 3) that align with a plurality of retaining plate holes 26 such that no new holes need be drilled, obviating the risk that corrosion will occur as a result of such newly drilled holes. Referring now to Figures 1 and 3, after aligning the liner holes 34 with the retaining plate holes 26, a plurality of first fasteners 36 are installed through the liner holes 34 and into the retainer plate holes 26, preferably using cup washers 38 and space washers 40, as shown in Figure 3, between the head of each first fastener 36 and the plastic bed liner As shown in Figure 4, a plastic cap 42 is then installed over the head of each first fastener 36 and into engagement with each cup washer 38. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the plastic cap 42 is well known in the art and is configured to engage a cup washer 38.

The description of the first preferred embodiment will now turn to mounting the .tailgate cover 44 of the plastic bed liner 10 to the tailgate 46 of the pick-up truck bed 12 having an outwardly extending top bed rail. Referring now to Figure there is shown a plurality of factory installed caps 48 which cover factory-installed rivets (not shown). The rivets are fitted into factory drilled tailgate holes 50 in the interior surface of the tailgate 46. Prior to installing the tailgate cover 44, the rivets must be carefully drilled out by one of several methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is preferred that a drill bit diameter of 4 millimeters be used for the drilling process. It should be noted that in removing the rivets, one should use care not to drill into the factory painted surface, otherwise corrosion may result from exposure of the metal to the elements.

Referring to Figure 5.1, the tailgate cover 44 includes cover holes 52 that are configured to align with the factory drilled tailgate holes 50 on the tailgate 46.

Having removed the rivets, the tailgate cover 44 is then prepared for installation on the tailgate 46. As shown in Figure 5.1, a tailgate fastener 54 having a cup washer 56 and a space washer 58 adjacent to the head of the tailgate fastener 54 is inserted through each cover hole 52 in the tailgate cover 44 from the interior side of the tailgate cover 44. As shown in Figure 6, prior to positioning Lthe tailgate cover 44 onto the tailgate 46, a toggle member 60 is positioned on -9each tailgate fastener 54 so as to leave room on the tailgate fasteners 54 such that the toggle members 60 can toggle to a closed position (not shown) for installation through the factory drilled tailgate holes 50. Preferably the toggle members 60 are made from galvanized iron or tough and durable plastic material.

Referring now to Figure 6.1, the tailgate cover 44 is positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the tailgate 46 such that the toggle members 60 are aligned with the factory drilled tailgate holes 50. The toggle members 60 are then toggled, compressed, and passed through the factory drilled tailgateholes 50 and 10 once through the tailgate holes 50 they are permitted to expand, thereby engaging the tailgate 46. The tailgate fasteners 54 are then tightened as shown in Figure 7 to draw the tailgate cover 44 into secure engagement with the tailgate 46. Referring to Figure 7.1, a cap 62 is pressed onto the cup washer 56 accompanying each tailgate fastener 54 such that the caps 62 engage the cup washers 56.

Referring now to Figures 8 11.1, there is shown a second preferred embodiment of the plastic bed liner retainer assembly which is configured to attach to truck beds having an inwardly extending top bed rail 14, shown in Figures 8.1 and 9.1. As shown in Figure 8, the plastic bed liner 100 includes a 20 plurality of liner holes 102 located along the upper side of the plastic bed liner 100. These liner holes 102 are positioned at a height below that of the top bed rail 14 for purposes that will become apparent in the foregoing description. A rail fastener 104 having a cup washer 106 immediately adjacent to its head and a space washer 108 immediately adjacent to the cup washer 106 is passed from the interior side of the plastic bed liner 100 through each of the liner holes 102.

Preferably the rail fasteners 104 are of the size M8X30. As best shown in Figure 8.1, a flat washer 110 and an inner retaining locking member 112 having an eccentric hand 114 are positioned on each rail fastener 104 on the external side of the plastic bed liner 100, the flat washer 110 being adjacent to the plastic bed liner 100. Preferably the inner retaining locking members 112 are made from Agalvanized iron or tough and durable plastic material and the rail fasteners 104 and inner retaining locking members 112 have complementary machine threads.

The inner retaining locking members 112 are preferably turned onto the fail fasteners 104 and about 3 4 revolutions so as to ensure that it will remain on the rail fasteners 104.

The plastic bed liner 100 is then positioned on the truck bed 12. The rail fasteners 104 are then tightened as shown in Figure 9 so that the eccentric hand 114 of each inner retaining locking member 112 will be rotated into contact with the underside of the top bed rail 14 as shown in Figure 9.1, thus preventing further rotation of the inner retaining locking members 112. It will be understood 10 from reading this disclosure that the eccentric arm 114 of each inner retaining locking member 112 is sufficiently long such that the eccentric arm 114 will rotate into engagement with the under-side of the top bed rail 14 and that the inner retaining locking member 112 will not further rotate upon further tightening of the rail fasteners 104. As shown in Figure 9.2, a plastic cap 116 is placed over each rail fastener 104 into engagement with the cup washers 106, resulting in the covered configuration shown in Figure 9.3.

To attach a tailgate cover 118 of the plastic bed liner 100 to a tailgate 120 having an inwardly extending top bed rail (not shown), the factory installed screws 122 on the inwardly-facing surface of the tailgate 120 must be removed as shown in 20 Figure 10, exposing factory drilled tailgate holes 124. The tailgate cover 118 is provided with cover holes 126 that are positioned to align with the factory-drilled tailgate holes 124. As shown in Figure 10.1, the tailgate cover 118 is positioned on the tailgate 120 and the factory installed screws 122 which had been removed from the tailgate 120 are then reinstalled through the cover holes 126 into the factory drilled tailgate holes 124 as shown in Figure 11. A cup washer 128 is positioned on each factory installed screw 122 adjacent to the head and a space washer 130 is positioned on each factory installed screw 122 between the cup washer 128 and the tailgate cover 118. A cap 132 is installed over the head of each factory installed screw 122, engaging with the cup washers 128 as shown in Figure 11.1.

-11 Importantly, the pick-up truck bed 12 should be cleaned prior to installation of the plastic bed liner 10, 100 into the truck bed 12 and the tailgate 46, 120 should be cleaned prior to installation of the tailgate cover 44, 118. The elimination of contaminants from the interface between the truck bed 12 and tailgate 46, 120 and the plastic bed liner 10, 100 and tailgate cover 44, 118, respectively, will reduce wear and hence the potential for corrosion of the truck bed 12 and the tailgate 46, 120. To further reduce wear between the plastic bed liner 10, 100 and the truck bed 12 and between the tailgate cover 44, 118 and the tailgate top rail 14, rubber insulation strips 134 preferably are installed at the interface between these components, as shown in Figure 12.

o• In a third preferred embodiment, the tie-down rings 13a, 13b may be replaced by ;tie-down ring supplemental members 213 shown in Figure 4.1. The tie-down ring ooo.

supplemental members 213 shown in Figure 4.1. The tie-down ring see: supplemental members 213 include a fold-down ring 214 such that when it is desired to tie-down a load in the cargo bed, the fold-down ring 214 is merely configured to a usable orientation with respect to the base member 215 and includes a tie-down hole 216 through which cargo is attached. When not in use, the fold-down ring 214 is folded down adjacent to the base member 215.

The procedures of installation disclosed above can be used with most pick-up 20 trucks sold in the market without the need to drill the truck bed, thus eliminating the risk of rust developing as a result of such drilling.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1. A retainer apparatus for securing a bed liner to a pick-up truck bed, the pick- up truck bed having a plurality of bed holes and the bed liner having a plurality of liner holes, the retaining apparatus including: a front tie-down ring retaining plate for positioning between the pick-up truck bed and the liner, the front tie-down ring retaining plate having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having at least one first hole therethrough for alignment with a first bed hole, the first end being secured to the first bed hole, the second end having at least one second hole 10 therethrough for alignment with a first liner hole, the second end being secured to the first liner hole; and e a rear tie-down ring retaining plate for positioning between the pick-up truck bed and the bed liner, the rear tie-down ring retaining plate having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the rear tie-down ring having at oege.. 15 least one first hole therethrough for alignment with a second bed hole, the e~g e first end of the rear tie-down ring being secured to the second bed hole, the second end of the rear tie-down ring having at least one second hole gtherethrough for alignment with a second liner hole, the second end of the rear tie-down ring being secured to the second liner hole.

2. The retainer apparatus of claim 1 further comprising tie-down rings attached to the bed liner in alignment with the front and rear tie-down ring retaining plates.

3. The retainer apparatus of claim 2 wherein the tie-down rings are supplied as original equipment with the pick-up truck bed.

4. The retainer apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pick-up truck bed has a tailgate, the tailgate having an inner face and a plurality of tailgate holes V through the inner face, the bed liner having a tailgate cover, the tailgate -13- cover having a plurality of cover holes therethrough corresponding in position with the tailgate holes, the retainer apparatus further comprising: a plurality of tailgate fasteners for simultaneous positioning in at least some of the cover holes and tailgate holes; and a plurality of toggle members, one positioned on each tailgate fastener, for engaging an inner surface of the inner face of the tailgate.

The retainer apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a space washer S. positioned on each tailgate fastener adjacent to the tailgate cover, a cup washer positioned between the space washer and a head of each tailgate 10 fastener, and a cap engaging each cup washer and covering the head of each tailgate fastener.

6. A retainer apparatus for securing a bed liner to a pick-up truck bed, the pick- up truck bed having a plurality of bed holes and the bed liner having a plurality of liner holes, the retainer apparatus including: 000• *.15 a front tie-down ring retaining plate for positioning between the pick-up truck bed and the bed liner, the front tie-down ring retaining plate having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end having at least one hole S. therethrough for alignment with a first bed hole, the first end being secured to the first bed hole, the second end having at least one hold therethrough for alignment with a first liner hole, the second end being secured to the first liner hole; a rear tie-down ring retaining plate for positioning between the pick-up truck bed and the bed liner, the rear tie-down ring retaining plate having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the rear tie-down ring having at least one hole therethrough for alignment with a second bed hole, the first end of the rear tie-down ring being secured to the second bed hole, the Ssecond end of the rear tie-down ring having at least one hole therethrough -14- for alignment with a second liner hole, the second end of the rear tie-down ring being secured to the second liner hole; and tie-down rinds attached to the bed liner in alignment with the front and rear tie-down ring retaining plates wherein the tie-down rings are tie-down ring supplemental members, the tie-down ring supplemental members having a base member with a plurality of holes therethrough for alignment with the least at one of the plurality of liner holes, and a fold-down ring which is pivotably attached to the base member and which has a tie-down hole therethrough. 10

7. The retainer apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bed liner is secured to the second ends of the front and rear tie-down ring retaining plates by a plurality of first fasteners, each of the fasteners including a cup washer adjacent to a head of the first fastener and a space washer positioned between the cup washer and the bed liner, and a cap engaging the cup washer and covering the head of the fastener. Dated this twenty-eighth day of August 2001. EASTERN POLYMER INDUSTRY CO. LTD Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant