초록 ▼

A hold down mechanism for securing a camper to a vehicle bed which provides a spring lever connected to the undercarriage of the vehicle which is flexible in a vertical direction and which acts as a shock absorber when the vehicle is in motion over various rough road conditions and the like. The ass

A hold down mechanism for securing a camper to a vehicle bed which provides a spring lever connected to the undercarriage of the vehicle which is flexible in a vertical direction and which acts as a shock absorber when the vehicle is in motion over various rough road conditions and the like. The assembly provides a device for readily releasing the tie-downs of the camper or adjusting the same with regard to the vehicle mounts.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A camper tie-down assembly for securing a camper or the like to a vehicle bed comprising:a) a vehicle frame mounting bracket for securing said camper tie-down assembly beneath said bed and to said vehicle frame;b) a substantially arcuate upwardly shaped spring lever flexible in a vertical directi

1. A camper tie-down assembly for securing a camper or the like to a vehicle bed comprising:a) a vehicle frame mounting bracket for securing said camper tie-down assembly beneath said bed and to said vehicle frame;b) a substantially arcuate upwardly shaped spring lever flexible in a vertical direction mounted on and extending laterally from said frame mounting bracket and having first and second ends;c) said first end of said spring lever vertically secured to said vehicle frame mounting bracket;d) said second end of said spring lever when said vehicle frame mounting brackets is secured to said vehicle frame extending below and outwardly beyond and at all times clear of said vehicle bed when said spring lever is flexing in a vertical direction; ande) said spring lever at said second end having tie-down engaging means for securement to a camper tie-down. 2. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 1, and wherein:a) said vehicle frame mounting bracket including spring lever adjustment means. 3. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 1, and wherein:a) said spring lever including vehicle frame mounting bracket adjustment means. 4. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 1, and wherein:a) said spring lever is a leaf spring. 5. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 1, and wherein:a) said second end of said spring lever including a camper tie-down engaging slot. 6. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 5, and wherein:a) said camper tie-down engaging slot is formed by a pair of extending downwardly bent fingers. 7. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 6, and including:a) a camper tie-down release mechanism for applying a vertical force to said spring lever to release said camper tie-down from said camper tie-down engaging slot. 8. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 5, and wherein:a) said camper tie-down release mechanism includes a crank;b) said crank having a handle at an end and a yoke at the other end for engaging said downwardly bent fingers;c) an adjustable hook intermediate of said crank for engaging said tie-down above said downwardly bent fingers;d) whereby downward pressure on said handle will cause said downwardly bent fingers and said spring lever to raise vertically to release said tie-down from said slot. 9. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 5, and wherein:a) said camper tie-down release mechanism includes a crank; said crank having spaced first and a second lugs;b) whereby when said first lug is positioned under said spring lever and said second lug is positioned above said spring lever, upward pressure on said crank will cause said camper tie-down to release from said camper tie-down engaging slot. 10. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 7, and wherein:a) said camper tie-down release mechanism includes a pawl and ratchet crank handle release. 11. The camper tie-down assembly as in claim 1, and wherein:a) said spring lever has a vertical upward flex of about 3 inches from normal and a vertical downward flex of about 3 inches from normal.