Securement mechanism

Abstract

A securement mechanism includes a tie-down cleat assembly for engagement with a mating component, the tie-down cleat assembly including a pin, a lock plate adjacent to one of the ends of the pin, and a housing having an aperture receiving the pin. An actuating member is operationally connected to the pin and causes selective movement of the pin and lock plate between a secured and unsecured orientation. The lock plate has a first dimension permitting the lock plate to be inserted into a channel associated with the mating component and a second dimension permitting the securement of the mating component between the housing and locking plate. The pin and locking plate and preferably the housing are all rotatable as a single unit.

1 . A tie-down cleat assembly for engagement with a mating component, the mating component including a channel, comprising: 
 a pin extending along a generally longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end;    a lock plate adjacent to said second end;    a housing having an aperture, said pin extending through said aperture, said pin, said lock plate, and said housing being configured so that rotation of one of said pin and said lock plate about said longitudinal axis results in a corresponding rotation of the other of said pin and said lock plate;    an actuating member operationally connected to said pin for causing selective movement of said pin and said lock plate between a secured and an unsecured orientation to secure the mating component between said housing and said lock plate, said lock plate being received in the channel in said secured orientation; and    a support member secured to said housing.    
   
   
       2 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pin, said lock plate and said housing are configured such that rotation of one of said pin, said lock plate and said housing about said longitudinal axis results in corresponding rotation of the other two of said pin, said lock plate, and said housing between a secured and an unsecured orientation.  
   
   
       3 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lock plate has a first dimension and a second dimension smaller than said a first dimension, said second dimension selectively permitting said lock plate to be received within the channel of said mating component and said first dimension selectively trapping said lock plate within the channel.  
   
   
       4 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of said mating component is clamped between said lock plate and said housing using said pin and said actuating member when said lock plate is trapped within the channel of the mating component by way of the second dimension of said lock plate.  
   
   
       5 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said lock plate is generally rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       6 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said lock plate may be freely rotated within the channel of the mating component.  
   
   
       7 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said actuating member is threadingly engaged with said pin, a rotation of said actuating member resulting in longitudinal movement of said pin with respect to said housing and said actuating member.  
   
   
       8 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said support member selectively secures at least one fork of a bicycle.  
   
   
       9 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said housing further includes a second aperture for selectively securing said support member.  
   
   
       10 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said support member is molded to said housing.  
   
   
       11 . A tie-down cleat assembly for engagement with a mating component, the mating component including a channel, comprising: 
 a pin extending along a generally longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end;    a lock plate adjacent to said second end;    a housing having an aperture, said pin extending through said aperture, said pin, said lock plate, and said housing being so configured that rotation of one of said pin and said lock plate about said longitudinal axis results in a corresponding rotation of the other of said pin and said lock plate between a secured and an unsecured orientation;    an actuating member operationally connected to said pin for causing selective movement of said pin and said lock plate between said secured and said unsecured orientation to secure the mating component between said housing and said lock plate, said lock plate being received in the channel in said secured orientation; and    a support member secured to said housing;    whereby a portion of said pin and a portion of said aperture of said housing include a noncircular cross-section to minimize rotation of said pin with respect to said aperture.    
   
   
       12 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said housing includes at least one base plate member and at least one tie-down member.  
   
   
       13 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said base plate member includes a lowermost surface, at least one protrusion extending away from said lowermost surface and receivable in the channel of the mating component, said protrusion minimizing rotation of said assembly within the rail when in said secured orientation.  
   
   
       14 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said housing is a one-piece member.  
   
   
       15 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said pin includes a notch extending inwardly from an outer periphery of said pin; a retainer received in said notch and extending outwardly from said periphery, said retainer selectively engaging a surface of said aperture to limit longitudinal movement of said pin within said housing.  
   
   
       16 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said housing includes an upper surface and at least one groove adjacent to said aperture of said housing; a thrust washer engaging said upper surface, wherein said thrust washer includes an ear, said ear engaging said groove to minimize rotation of said thrust washer with respect to said housing.  
   
   
       17 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , including a biasing member disposed between said housing and said actuating member and biasing said actuating member away from a surface of said housing.  
   
   
       18 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said support member selectively secures at least one fork of a bicycle.  
   
   
       19 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said housing further includes a second aperture for selectively securing said support member.  
   
   
       20 . The tie-down cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said support member is molded to said housing.