TW200416160A - Accessory mounting/adapter assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessory mounting assembly includes a mounting bar, a first cross member carried on the mounting bar and a second cross member carried on the mounting bar a spaced distance from the first cross member.

Description

200416160 发明 Description of the invention: [Technical field to which the invention belongs] This application is assisted by US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 423,840 (filed on November 5, 2002). The present invention relates to auto accessories; more particularly, the present invention relates to an accessory mounting assembly or adapter: the auto accessory can be installed in a car through a receiving port of a trailer hook receiving assembly. [Previous Technology] Today's active lifestyle makes people have higher requirements for cars. Many cars must be able to carry a considerable amount of goods. Other cars are used to transport large volumes of equipment, home or garden supplies, and / or equipment and supplies for camping. No matter what type of car we are, we always feel that there is not enough space. To meet this need, Reese Products (formerly known as Cequent Towing Products) has developed a Dual Port System device to carry different useful accessories in a car. These accessories include bicycle carriers, open article carriers, closed article carriers, locomotive carriers, cranes, folding tables, and the like. These dual access system accessories are specifically designed for two-point installations: they can be mounted on one of the receivers with two phased receivers. Many cars are supplied with standard trailer hitch receivers, but these do not include receivers that can be fitted with dual access system accessories. The present invention can provide such an accessory mounting assembly: a receiving box that can accept the dual access system accessory and then transfer it to a standard trailer hook receiving assembly.

89158.DOC 200416160 7 These examples and modifications should still be included in the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions in this specification should be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.实施 [Embodiment] In the following, the present invention will be described in a manner related to a preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. Please refer to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, which shows the accessory mounting assembly 10 'of the present invention to mount the accessory 12 to a standard trailer hook receiving assembly 14. As shown, the trailer hitch-receiving assembly 14 includes a spanning member "made of tubular steel or other high-strength material. A flange 18 made of this material is connected to it by welding or other means. The two ends of the straddle member 16. The mounting bracket 20 can be fixed to the two flanges via the fixing members 22 (nuts and bolts) which cooperate with each other. Each of the brackets 20 includes a mounting flange. 24, the flange includes a series of holes 26. The holes 26 in the flange 24 may be aligned with the holes that fit in the frame of a car. Next, the fittings 28 (nuts and Bolts) are used to fix the trailer hook receiving assembly 14 to the frame of the car. As shown in FIG. 1, the hook receiving assembly 14 includes a receiving box 30, which has an imposed tongue edge 32. The oppositely facing walls 34 of the receiving 30 box have latch receiving holes 36, the function of which will be described below. A plate% and a reinforced plate 40 can be provided to provide additional Rigidity and a high strength connection between the box 30 and the cross member 16 The accessory mounting assembly 10 includes an elongated mounting rod 50. One of the rods 89158.DOC -9- 200416160 [Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides-an accessory shirt assembly. Includes-rotation, cross member and-second A cross member, the first cross member is carried on the read mounting guard, and the second cross member is carried on the mounting guard and separated from the second and second members. The mounting rod includes a pair of aligned holes, The two = accept a socket plug lock to fix the mounting rod to a standard trailer hook receiving box of the receiving module. 1 Hooking the socket: the cross member includes a first mounting flange, the flange has a The first column f is spaced apart (fixing holes. Similarly, the second span member includes a ΓΓ mounting flange, the flange has—the second sequence of spaced apart spears—the straddle member system is substantially parallel to the The second cross member, and the second mounting flange and the second mounting flange are substantially coplanar. In this way, the riding member and the flange provide a stable base for receiving and fixing a matching fixing member. Fixed through the fitting and the flanges The hole is to form a strong connection between the accessory and the accessory installation assembly. The hole is horizontal according to the present invention. Another aspect, the first cross member includes a hole, and the σ is capable of receiving the M & A talent. One end. The end of the mounting rod is open to connect with additional accessories. Similarly, the second cross member also includes a. A child hole can receive an interstitial portion of the mounting rod to help the The fixation of the second cross member is positioned. In the following, the “preferred embodiment of the present invention” will be described, and the embodiment is used to explain the mode of implementing the present invention. We will understand that the present invention may include other Examples and details of the invention may have different modifications,

89158.DOC 200416160 The first or proximal end 52 is received in the receiving box 30 of the trailer hook receiving assembly 14. A pair of mutually aligned holes 54 (in this figure, only one hole is shown) is provided to mutually opposing walls of the mounting rod 50. When the mounting rod 50 is properly seated in the receiving box 30, the two holes 54 located in the mounting rod may be aligned with the two holes 36 located in the receiving box. Next, a connection pin 56 is inserted through the holes; then, a pin clip 58 is engaged with a groove located at the end of the pin to fix the accessory mounting assembly 10 to the receiving box 30. And complete a firm connection. A first cross member 60 is mounted on a second end or a distal end of the mounting rod 50. More specifically, the member 60 has a central hole 62 having a size and shape that can receive the mounting rod 50. We should understand that the end 64 of the mounting rod is open. The end 64 can then be used as a receiver to receive or install additional accessories, if needed. A second cross member 66 is also carried on the mounting rod 50, and the member 66 is carried at a position spaced from the first cross member 60. The member 66 also includes a hole 68 having a size and shape that can receive the hooking rod 50. The two cross members 60 and 66 can be fixed to the mounting rod by the following methods: welding, suitable fixing parts such as nuts and bolts matched with it, and other suitable methods (not shown). The first cross member 60 includes a first mounting flange 70 that includes a first sequence of spaced-apart fixing holes 72. Similarly, the second cross member 66 includes a second mounting flange 74 that includes a second series of spaced apart fixing holes 76. We should understand that the two members 60, 66 are installed in a manner substantially parallel to each other and along the mounting rod 50, and the two flanges -10-

89158.DOC 200416160 70 and 74 are approximately coplanar. In this manner, the members 60, 66 and the two flanges 70, 74 may provide a stable base for receiving one of the fittings 12. As shown in the figure, the accessory 12 is an open item carrier. We should understand that substantially any other type of automobile accessory can be installed in the accessory mounting assembly 10 of the present invention, including but not limited to: closed items Carriers, transport trays, bicycle racks, ski racks, snowboard racks, locomotive carriers, cranes, folding tables, workbenches and the like. More specifically, the accessory 12 can be fixed to the accessory mounting assembly 10 in such a manner that: the mounting hole 80 in the frame 82 of the accessory and the holes 72 in the first and second mounting flanges 70 and 74 , 76 are relatively aligned. Then, the mating member 84 (bolt and nut) is used to fix the accessory 12 to the accessory mounting assembly 10. According to another aspect of the present invention, the accessory mounting assembly 10 may include an optional tensioner, and the tensioner is assigned a reference number 86 to fix the mounting assembly 10 to the receiving box 30 and prevent gridlock. Rattle. One such tensioner is described in detail in pending US Patent Application No. 09/98 1,5 15 (filed on October 16, 2001, and its name is "Tensioner for Hook Bars" ), The patent application is listed here for reference. As shown in FIG. 2, the tensioner 86 has a main body including a middle section 88 and a pair of outwardly extending mounting ears 90. Each An ear 90 has an inclination with respect to the middle section 88: between 0 and 35 degrees, and more typically between 10 and 30 degrees. A channel 92 is provided in the middle section 88. The channel 92 of The opening direction is opposite to the extending direction of the ear-like member 90, and the channel and the ear-like members make the main body have a substantially W-shaped shape. 通 -11-

89158.DOC 200416160 The connection between the side wall 94 of the channel 92 and the proximal ends of the two mounting ears 90 forms a pair of spaced apart shoulders 96. We should understand that one of the distal ends of each of these ears 90 has a beaded end 98. It will be described in detail below that the two shoulders 96 and the two beaded ends can securely mount the tensioner 86 within the mounting rod 50.

More specifically, we should understand that the mounting rod 50 is formed of a square tube-shaped steel and includes a channel or tubular opening 100. The tensioner 86 can be installed in the channel 100 of the mounting rod 50. The tensioner 86 is formed of aluminum. Since aluminum is a relatively soft material, the ears 90 may be allowed to form an inclination (between 0 and 35 degrees) with respect to the middle section 88 to provide the One span between the two beaded ends 98 to allow the two ends to closely mesh with the upper and lower walls 102, 104 of the mounting rod 50. The user can use a hammer or other suitable device to set the tensioner 86 in the channel 100 of the mounting rod 50: until the threaded hole 106 in the middle section 88 and the side of the mounting rod 50 The wall holes 54 are relatively aligned. As the tensioner 86 is driven into the channel 100, the beaded ends 98 abut against the upper and lower walls 102, 104 of the mounting rod 50. Through the force applied to these beaded ends 98, the elasticity of aluminum ensures good contact and a firm friction fit. After the tensioner 86 is seated in the channel 100 in the manner described above, the mounting rod 50 can be inserted into the receiving box 30 of the hooking assembly 14. In particular, the end of the mounting rod 50 may be aligned with the cavity defined by the box 30 and inserted into the cavity: until the hole 54 in the mounting rod 50 and the side wall of the receiving box The holes 36 are relatively aligned. Next, the threaded mounting bolt 108 is inserted into the aligned holes 54, 36 and the threaded hole 89158.DOC -12- 200416160 106. More specifically, a first end of the threaded mounting bolt 08 has an enlarged head 110, and the head is preferably a hexagonal head. The second end of the mounting bolt 108 includes a chamfered conical end ^ 2 and an adjacent groove 114 ′. The end 112 can help the bolt to align with the hole 36. When the threaded mounting bolt 108 is properly aligned with the hole 36 and is placed within the hole 36 in the first side wall of the receiving box 30, the bolt 108 can be pushed in and penetrated through the mounting The hole 54 of the first wall of the rod 50, the threaded hole ι06 located in the middle section 88 of the tensioner 86, and the two holes 54, 36 located on the opposite sides of the mounting rod and the receiving box: Until the threaded portion Π6 of the mounting bolt 108 is engaged with the threaded hole 106 of the tensioner. At this time, the bolt 108 can be tightened by turning clockwise. A spanner can be used to make a connection with the hexagonal head 1 1 Q of the bolt. If the tensioner 86 is not already fixed within the channel 100 of the mounting rod 50, and the shoulders 96 are not against the side wall of the mounting rod, the initial tightening of the bolt 108 enables the tensioner The tightener seat is positioned within the mounting rod and the shoulders 96 are tightly engaged with the side wall 118. The two shoulders 96 provide two meshing lines, which can concentrate the frictional holding force to further secure the tensioner 86 within the channel 100, and the threaded hole 106 and The two holes 54 in the mounting rod 50 are relatively aligned. Continued tightening of the mounting bolt 108 can cause the mounting rod 50 to be pushed to firmly abut against the side wall 119 of the receiving box 30. In this position, all the causes of the rattling of the mounting rod 50 in the receiving box 30 are probably eliminated. When the mounting bolt 1 08 is suitable as described above

89158.DOC -13- 200416160 Locally seated, a bolt clamp 120 can be placed in the groove 114 at the second end of the mounting bolt to complete the receiving of the mounting rod 50 and the trailer hook assembly 14 One of the boxes 30 is firmly connected. In summary, there are many benefits to be gained from the application of the concepts of the present invention. The accessory mounting member 10 includes the first and second cross members 60, 66. These two members can provide a stable and firm platform to facilitate the installation of an accessory. The mounting bar 50 allows the accessory to be conveniently and securely mounted in the receiving box 30 of a standard trailer coupling assembly 14. This is still true in the following cases: If the accessory is designed for two-point installation, for example by

Products (a predecessor of Cequent Towing Products) developed a dual access system accessory. A preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above to illustrate the present invention. The above should not be considered limiting. The principle of the present invention may have different features and modifications. In the above, the selection and description of these embodiments are to best explain the principles and practical applications of the present invention, to allow those who know the technology to apply the present invention to different examples and Produces different modifications. All such modifications and changes should still be included in the scope of the invention, and this scope is defined in the following patent scope. The drawings and preferred embodiments of the present specification should not be considered as a medium. Please limit the scope of the patent. [Brief description of the drawing] Please exploded oblique view, showing an accessory, the accessory installation group of the present invention, and a standard trailer hook receiving assembly that can be fixed to a car. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the evaluation, showing the use of-tensioner

89158.DOC -14- 200416160 Fix the mounting rod of this accessory mounting component to the receiving box of a trailer hook receiving component. [Illustration of representative symbols] 10 Accessory mounting assembly 12 Accessory 14 Trailer hook receiving assembly 16 Cross member 18 Flange 20 Mounting bracket 22 Fixing piece 24 Mounting flange 26 A series of holes 28 Fixing piece 30 Receiving box 32 Tongue edge 34 wall 36 hole 38 plate 40 plate 50 mounting rod 52 first end 54 hole 56 connection pin 58 clip 60 first cross member 62 center hole 89158.DOC -15- 200416160 64 end 66 second horizontal Cross member 68 hole 70 first mounting flange 72 fixing hole 74 second mounting flange 76 fixing hole 80 mounting hole 82 frame 84 fixing member 86 tensioner 88 middle section 90 pair of mounting ears 92 channel 94 side wall 96 one To shoulder 98 beaded end 100 channel 102 upper wall 104 lower wall 106 threaded hole 108 threaded mounting bolt 110 enlarged head 112 chamfered cone end 114 groove 116 threaded portion 89158.DOC- 16- 118200416160 119 120 sidewall clamp

89158.DOC -17-

Claims (1)

The scope of the patent application: L An accessory mounting assembly, including a mounting rod; two: i span member 'bearing on the mounting rod; & span member, bearing on the mounting rod and the- Separated across members. The accessory mounting assembly of claim 1 of the patent, wherein the mounting rod includes a pair of mutually aligned holes. • The accessory mounting assembly of item nfl of the patent application 4, wherein the first cross member includes a first mounting flange. 4. The accessory mounting assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first mounting flange includes a first sequence of spaced apart fixing holes. 5. The accessory mounting assembly according to item 4 of the patent application, wherein the second cross member includes a second mounting flange. 6. The accessory mounting assembly according to item 5 of the patent application, wherein the second mounting flange includes a second series of spaced apart fixing holes. 7. The accessory mounting assembly according to item 6 of the application, wherein the first cross member is substantially parallel to the second cross member. 8. The accessory mounting assembly according to item 6 of the application, wherein the first mounting flange and the second mounting flange are substantially coplanar. 9. The accessory mounting assembly according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the first cross member includes a hole that can receive one end of the mounting rod, and the end is open. 10. The accessory installation component of item 2 in the scope of the patent application, wherein the second span 89158.DOC includes three holes, and the hole can receive a middle section of the mounting rod. u · If the accessory installation component of item 丨 of the patent application scope further includes a tensioner. 2. The accessory mounting assembly of item 11 of the patent application, wherein the tensioner is carried on the mounting rod. 13. The accessory installation component of item 12 in the scope of patent application, in which the tensioner includes (a)-master! §_, with a middle section and a pair of outwardly extending mounting ears, the middle section has a threaded hole (b)-the threaded mounting bolt can be engaged with the threaded hole in the main body. 89158.DOC 2-