Retaining arrangement

Abstract

A retaining arrangement for securing an object to a surface includes a retaining element which is moveable between a stowed position and a retaining position. The retaining element is substantially level with, or below, the level of the surface. The retaining element protrudes from the surface and presents at least one elongate retaining slot above the surface which is substantially parallel with the surface, into which a part of an object to be retained maybe inserted. The retaining slot is at least partially formed by a retaining surface of the retaining element, the retaining surface facing, when the retaining element is in the retaining position, in a direction having at least a component that extends towards the plane of the surface in the vicinity of the retaining element.

1 . A retaining arrangement for securing an object to a surface, said retaining arrangement comprising.
 a retaining element moveable between a stowed position and a retaining position, said retaining element being substantially level with, or below, a level of the surface, said retaining element protruding from the surface; and   at least one elongate retaining slot above the surface on said retaining element protruding from the surface, the slot being substantially parallel with the surface, a part of the object to be retained being inserted into the retaining slot, the retaining slot being at least partially formed by a retaining surface of the retaining element, the retaining surface facing, when the retaining element is in the retaining position, in a direction having at least a component that extends towards the plane of the surface in the vicinity of the retaining element.   
   
   
       2 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining surface comprises an upper surface of the retaining slot, and the retaining slot further comprises a lower surface which at least partially opposes the upper surface. 
   
   
       3 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower surface comprises the surface to which the object is to be secured, or another component which is substantially coplanar therewith. 
   
   
       4 . A retaining element according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower surface comprises a part of the retaining element. 
   
   
       5 . A retaining element according to  claim 1  wherein the retaining element presents, when it is in the retaining position thereof, a pair of retaining slots provided on opposite surfaces thereof. 
   
   
       6 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein a first part of the retaining element, which protrudes a first distance from the surface in the retaining position, has a first width, and a second portion, which protrudes a second distance from the surface in the retaining position, has a second width, with the first width being greater than the second width and the retaining surface extending between the first part and the second part. 
   
   
       7 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bracing plate which surrounds at least a part of the retaining element, a top surface of the retaining element being substantially level with the bracing plate when the retaining element is in the stowed position.   
   
   
       8 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is biased into the retaining position, and can be held in the stowed position by an engagement arrangement. 
   
   
       9 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a switch to release the engagement arrangement and allow the retaining element to move into the retaining position.   
   
   
       10 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 8  wherein, when the retaining element is in the retaining position, the retaining element may be pushed into the stowed position, thus causing the engagement arrangement to hold the retaining element in the stowed position. 
   
   
       11 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1  wherein, when the retaining element is in the retaining position, the retaining element may not be moved further from the surface. 
   
   
       12 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arrangement may be provided in an aperture in the surface, and in the stowed position the retaining arrangement substantially fills the aperture so that a generally planar surface is presented which is substantially level with the surface. 
   
   
       13 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein a part of the retaining element may be moved from an unlocked position to a locked position, to engage an object which is received in the retaining slot. 
   
   
       14 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein a pair of retaining surfaces are provided on opposite sides of the retaining element, and the sides of the retaining element may be driven apart from one another to move into the locked position. 
   
   
       15 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining element may move between the stowed configuration and the retaining configuration whilst remaining substantially in the same rotational orientation. 
   
   
       16 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining arrangement may rotate between the stowed configuration and the retaining configuration. 
   
   
       17 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein a cover is provided to cover the retaining element when the retaining element is in the stowed configuration. 
   
   
       18 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the cover may be received within the aperture in the surface when the retaining arrangement is in the retaining configuration thereof. 
   
   
       19 . A pivotable retaining arrangement according to  claim 17 , wherein the cover is pivotable, and may be oriented substantially parallel with the surface to cover the retaining element. 
   
   
       20 . A retaining arrangement according to  claim 19 , wherein the cover may be pivoted to an orientation in which it is substantially perpendicular with the surface when the retaining element is in the retaining configuration thereof. 
   
   
       21 . A carriage for mounting an object on a surface, the carriage comprising:
 a base plate rested on the surface, the base plate having a receiving aperture formed therein: and   a holding element located at or near an edge of the receiving aperture of the base plate, the holding element being moveable with respect to the base plate so that, when a retaining element is received in the receiving aperture, the retaining element having at least one retaining surface which faces in a direction having at least a component that extends towards the plane of the surface in the vicinity of the retaining member, the holding element may move so as to abut the retaining surface, thus holding the base plate in position with respect to the retaining element.   
   
   
       22 . A carriage according to  claim 21 , wherein the receiving aperture comprises a slot having an open end at one edge of the base plate. 
   
   
       23 . A carriage according to  claim 21 , wherein the holding element has a holding surface which is inclined with respect to the surface, and which may be advanced towards the receiving slot. 
   
   
       24 . A carriage according to  claim 21 , wherein the holding component may be moved in a direction substantially away from the surface. 
   
   
       25 . A carriage according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a seat mounted on said base plate.   
   
   
       26 . A method of attaching an object to a surface, comprising the steps of:
 providing a retaining arrangement according to  claim 1  in the surface;   mounting the object to a carriage said carriage for mounting an object on a surface, comprising a base plate rested on the surface, the base plate having a receiving aperture formed therein, and a holding element located at or near an edge of the receiving aperture of the base plate, the holding element being moveable with respect to the base plate so that, when a retaining element is received in the receiving aperture, the retaining element having at least one retaining surface which faces in a direction having at least a component that extends towards the plane of the surface in the vicinity of the retaining member, the holding element may move so as to abut the retaining surface, thus holding the base plate in position with respect to the retaining element;   arranging the carriage so that the retaining element is received in the receiving slot thereof; and   moving the holding element to fix the carriage in place with respect to the retaining element.   
   
   
       27 . A method of attaching an object to a surface, comprising the steps of:
 providing a retaining arrangement according to  claim 13  in the surface;   mounting the object to a carriage said carriage for mounting an object on a surface, comprising a base plate rested on the surface, the base plate having a receiving aperture formed therein, and a holding element located at or near an edge of the receiving aperture of the base plate, the holding element being moveable with respect to the base plate so that, when a retaining element is received in the receiving aperture, the retaining element having at least one retaining surface which faces in a direction having at least a component that extends towards the plane of the surface in the vicinity of the retaining member, the holding element may move so as to abut the retaining surface, thus holding the base plate in position with respect to the retaining element;   arranging the carriage so that the retaining element is received in the receiving slot thereof; and   moving the part of the retaining element to fix the carriage in place with respect to the retaining element.   
   
   
       28 . A vehicle having one or more retaining elements according to  claims 1  provided in a floor surface thereof for attaching seats removably to the vehicle floor. 
   
   
       29 . A vehicle according to  claim 28 , wherein a plurality of retaining elements are provided for a single seat, to allow the seat to be moved to any one of a variety of positions within the vehicle.