The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 25, 1989
Filed:
Jan. 14, 1988
Phillip L Emery, Portage, WI (US);
Penda Corporation, Portage, WI (US);
Abstract
A fastener (10) is disclosed for fastening a truck bed liner (58) to the side walls (50) of a truck bed. The side walls (50) are bounded at the top edge by a top rail (52) extending inwardly from each side wall (50) and a side rail extending downwardly from the inner margin (56) of the top rail (52). The fastener (10) is designed to be used for a truck bed liner (58) having a flange (62) that fits over the top of the top rail (52). The fastener (10) has a body (12), clip (18), screw (14), and washer (16). In the use of the fastener (10), the truck bed liner (58) is loosely positioned against the side wall (50). The screw (14) is inserted through a hole (63) in the liner (58), with the washer (16) being behind the head (64) of the screw (14). The clip (18) slides over a hole (30) of the body (12), and the screw (14) is threaded through the body (12) and clip (18). The body (12) fits behind the side rail (54) of the side wall (50) and the truck bed liner (58) is drawn toward the wall as the screw (14) is tightened. Upon rotation of the head of the screw (14), the body (12) rotates until a finger (68) of the body (12) abuts against the inner margin (56) of the top rail (52), thereby holding the body (12) in place as the screw (14) is tightened. The hole (30) of the body (12) is angled so that the front surface (26) of the body (12) initially contacts the side rail (54) of the side wall (50) at an acute angle. As the screw (14) is tightened, the angle closes, which causes a rotational force against the length of the screw (14), and which is transferred to the flange (62), causing the flange (62) to be engaged against the top rail (52).