초록 ▼

An enclosure for use with a cargo bed liner providing access to a tie-down fastener attached to the cargo bed.Iadd., and method for installing the liner to provide such access. The fastener has a connecting portion for connecting the fastener to the cargo bed wall and an extended portion extending f

An enclosure for use with a cargo bed liner providing access to a tie-down fastener attached to the cargo bed.Iadd., and method for installing the liner to provide such access. The fastener has a connecting portion for connecting the fastener to the cargo bed wall and an extended portion extending from the cargo bed wall.Iaddend.. The liner with which the enclosure is used includes a wall portion having a hole therein. The liner wall is aligned in relation to the cargo bed wall such that the .Iadd.extended portion of the .Iaddend.fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall when the liner is installed. The enclosure includes a casing used for insertion into the hole in the liner wall. The casing also includes as least one aperture for the receipt of the .Iadd.connecting portion of the .Iaddend.fastener and an open portion sized to be substantially coincident with the hole in the liner wall when the casing is inserted through the hole. In this manner, access is provided to the fastener through the open portion of the casing. Also included as part of the enclosure is a flanged portion having an opening therethrough. The flanged portion is connected to the casing adjacent the open portion of the casing such that the opening of the flanged portion is substantially coincident with the open portion of the casing and the hole in the liner. .Iadd.The method for installation of the enclosure requires provision of such a liner and enclosure, aligning the liner so that the hole is positioned over the tie-down fastener, and passing a portion of the fastener through the enclosure to secure the liner to the cargo bed. In this manner, the tie-down fastener is accessible from within the cargo bed for use thereof. .Iaddend.The enclosure of the present invention allows one to utilize the tie-down fasteners attached to the cargo bed while protecting the cargo bed with a cargo bed liner. Further, the enclosure may be used in lieu of retainers ordinarily employed to hold the liner in the proper position relative to the cargo bed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A system, comprising:a cargo bed comprising a wall, the wall including a recessed portion, and means for securing a tie-down fastener to the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall,a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the cargo bed wall, the liner wa

[ What is claimed is:] [11.] A system, comprising:a cargo bed comprising a wall, the wall including a recessed portion, and means for securing a tie-down fastener to the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall,a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the cargo bed wall, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the hole is positioned over the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall,an enclosure adapted to be inserted into the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall comprising:a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, anda flange extending from the perimeter edge of the casing, the flange being sized to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner;a tie-down fastener comprising:at least one connecting portion for connecting the tie-down fastener to the securing means of the cargo bed wall,tie-down fastening means, andan intermediate portion between the at least one connecting portion and the tie-down fastening means,such that the tie-down fastening means extends away from the recessed portion of the cargo bed wall, and the at least one connecting portion of the tie-down fastener passes through the at least one aperture in the casing..Iaddend..Iadd.