Liner tie-down fastener enclosure and liner installation method

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination, a vehicle cargo bed having a wall and a fastener attached to the wall, and a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, the improvement comprising: an enclosure for .providing access to the fastener on the cargo bed wall, the enclosure comprising a casing sized for insertion through the hole in the liner wall, said casing having an open portion substantially coincident with the hole in the liner wall when said casing is inserted through the hole, said casing further including at least one aperture therethrough of a size sufficient to permit said casing to be placed over said fastener; and   a flanged portion forming an opening, said flanged portion connected to said casing adjacent said open portion such that said opening of said flanged portion is substantially coincident with said open portion of said casing and said hole in said liner wall.     
     
     
       2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said flanged portion of said enclosure is situated substantially flush with the liner wall when the enclosure is inserted through the hole to provide access to the fastener. 
     
     
       3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said flanged portion of said enclosure includes an inner peripheral edge defining said opening of said flanged portion and wherein said flanged portion is connected to said casing at said inner peripheral edge of said flanged portion. 
     
     
       4. The combination defined in claim 1, further comprising a means for fastening said flanged portion of said enclosure to the liner wall. 
     
     
       5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive placed between said flanged portion and the liner wall. 
     
     
       6. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said fastening means comprises rivets extending through said flanged portion and the liner wall. 
     
     
       7. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said enclosure is made of plastic. 
     
     
       8. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said casing and said flanged portion of said enclosure are of unitary construction. 
     
     
       9. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture of said casing comprises a slot through which the fastener extends. 
     
     
       10. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said fastener includes a bolt engaging the cargo bed wall and said at least one aperture in said casing comprises a hole through which said bolt extends. .Iadd. 
     
     
       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, and   a 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, and   an 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.     
     
     
       12.  The system of claim 11 wherein: the means for securing a tie-down fastener to the cargo bed wall comprises at least two internally threaded holes,   the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener comprises a cleat comprising two outwardly extending members, and   the at least one connecting portion for connecting the tie-down fastener to the securing means of the cargo bed wall of the tie-down fastener comprises two threaded shafts engaging the at least two internally threaded holes of the means for securing a tie-down fastener to the cargo bed wall, said shafts passing through the at least one aperture in the casing..Iaddend..Iadd.   
     
     
       13.  The system of claim 12 wherein the tie-down fastener covers the at least one aperture in the casing..Iaddend..Iadd.14. The system of claim 12 wherein the two threaded shafts are operable to limit movement of the cargo bed liner with respect to the cargo bed..Iaddend..Iadd.15. A system for use with a cargo bed having a wall and a tie-down fastening means extending from the wall, comprising: a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering a wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the tie-down fastening means is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, and   an enclosure for providing access to the tie-down fastening means on the cargo bed wall, the enclosure comprising, a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, and   a 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, at least a portion of which passes through the at least one aperture in the casing, the fastener comprising: a fastener portion,   a first connecting portion for providing connection to the fastener portion, and   an intermediate portion between the first connecting portion and the fastener portion, the intermediate portion operable to space the fastener     
     
     
        portion from the enclosure..Iaddend..Iadd.16.  The system of claim 15 wherein the cargo bed wall includes a hole in the wall for alignment with the hole of the cargo bed liner, and wherein the connecting portion of the fastener is secured to the hole of the cargo bed wall..Iaddend..Iadd.17. The system of claim 15, wherein the fastener comprises a cleat..Iaddend..Iadd.18. The system of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of the tie-down fastener is of a size that completely covers the at least one casing aperture..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The system of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion of the tie down fastener is removably attachable to the connecting portion..Iaddend..Iadd.20. The system of claim 19 wherein the connecting portion of the tie down fastener comprises a threaded shaft, and the intermediate portion of the tie down fastener 
     
     
        has a hole into which the threaded shaft passes..Iaddend..Iadd.21.  A system comprising: a cargo bed having a wall,   means for securely holding a fastener extendable from the wall,   a bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having a hole therein and adapted to be aligned relative to the cargo bed wall such that the means for securely holding a fastener is accessible through the hole in the liner wall, and   an enclosure for providing access to the means for securely holding a fastener, the enclosure comprising, a casing comprising a perimeter edge and at least one aperture, the casing aperture being located such that the means for securely holding a fastener is accessible when the casing is positioned in the hole of the liner, and a 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 fastener to be held by the means for securely holding a fastener, the fastener comprising: a connecting portion for connecting the fastener to the means for securely holding a fastener,   such that the casing is secured against the cargo bed wall to thereby prevent movement of the casing with respect to the cargo     
     
     
        bed..Iaddend..Iadd.22.  The system of claim 21 wherein the casing flange extends around the entire perimeter edge of the casing..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The system of claim 21 wherein the fastener further comprises a tie-down fastening means operatively connected to the connecting portion of the fastener..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The system of claims 21 wherein, the means for securely holding a fastener comprises at least one hole, and   the connecting portion of the fastener comprises a threaded shaft adapted to engage the hole of the means for securely holding a tie-down fastener..Iaddend..Iadd.25. A system comprising:   a cargo bed having a wall, and first and second means for securely holding first and second fastener connecting portions to the wall,   a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the wall of the cargo bed, the liner wall having at least first and second holes therein,   a fastener comprising: a fastener body having first and second holes therein,   a first connecting portion passing into the first hole of the fastener body and the first hole of the cargo bed liner wall and being secured to the first means for securely holding a fastener,   a second connecting portion passing into the second hole of the fastener body and the second hole of the cargo bed liner wall and being secured to the second means for securely holding a fastener,   the first and second connecting portions in combination with the first and second means for securely holding being operable to hold the cargo bed     
     
     
        liner wall in position relative to the cargo bed wall..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The system of claim 25 wherein the first and second connecting portions are further operable to secure the fastener body and bed liner against the cargo bed..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The system of claim 25 wherein the fastener further comprises a tie-down fastening means extending from the fastener body..Iaddend..Iadd.28. The system of claim 27, wherein the tie-down 
     
     
        fastening means comprises a cleat..Iaddend..Iadd.29.  A method comprising the steps of: providing a cargo bed wall having a means for securing a tie-down fastener thereto,   providing a cargo bed liner having a wall for substantially covering the cargo bed wall, the liner wall having a hole therein,   aligning the cargo bed liner against the cargo bed wall so that the hole is positioned over the cargo bed wall's means for securing a tie-down fastener thereto,   providing an enclosure sized to cover the hole of the cargo bed liner, the enclosure comprising: a casing,   a peripheral flange of a size to prevent the casing from passing through the hole in the liner, and   at least one hole in the casing,     placing the enclosure over the hole of the cargo bed liner,   providing 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, and   an intermediate portion between the at least one connecting portion and the tie-down fastening means, and     passing the at least one connecting portion of the tie down fastener through the hole of the enclosure and securing it to the means for securing a tie-down fastener,   such that the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener is spaced   
     
     
        from the enclosure and accessible from the cargo bed..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of tightening the at least one connecting portion to the cargo bed wall with a sufficient amount of force so that the intermediate portion of the tie-down fastener is secured against the cargo bed wall..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The method of claim 29 wherein the tie-down fastening means of the tie-down fastener comprises a cleat..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The method of claim 29 wherein the tie-down fastener covers the at least one aperture in the enclosure..Iaddend.