Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
340 words
In a truck bed compartment having a front wall and opposed side walls with the upper portion of the walls including a vertical downwardly extending ledge wall which terminates in a lip that extends toward said side walls, and a protective liner within the truck bed compartment including a front wall and opposed side walls engaging said ledge wall, the improvement comprising: a plurality of retainers for securing said opposed side walls of said protective liner to said vertical ledge wall, each said retainer including a face plate, a support plate affixed to said face plate, an insertable portion affixed at one end to said support plate, and an end plate affixed to the other end of said insertable portion, a rim portion being formed between the outer periphery of said face plate and the outer periphery of said support plate, said insertable portion being generally in the shape of a truncated cone with its smallest exterior dimension affixed to said support plate and its largest exterior dimension affixed to said end plate, and said insertable portion having a generally spiraled cross-section which is inserted through an opening in the liner side wall, and said rim portion engaging the liner side wall at the opening, said insertable portion being rotatable against said lip in a screw-like manner for pulling the rim portion tightly against the protective liner side wall and simultaneously wedging the insertable portion against said lip, said support plate supporting said retainer in the opening as said insertable portion wedges against said lip, and said insertable portion affixed to said support plate at a position offset from the center of said support plate, and said insertable portion further including a flat wall portion for permitting release of the insertable portion from engagement with the lip after the retainer has been rotated past approximately 180° to prevent over-tightening of said retainer, socket means provided in said face plate for receiving the end of a manually operable tool, and fastening means securing said face plate to said liner side wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
340 words
In a truck bed compartment having a front wall and opposed side walls with the upper portion of the walls including a vertical downwardly extending ledge wall which terminates in a lip that extends toward said side walls, and a protective liner within the truck bed compartment including a front wall and opposed side walls engaging said ledge wall, the improvement comprising: a plurality of retainers for securing said opposed side walls of said protective liner to said vertical ledge wall, each said retainer including a face plate, a support plate affixed to said face plate, an insertable portion affixed at one end to said support plate, and an end plate affixed to the other end of said insertable portion, a rim portion being formed between the outer periphery of said face plate and the outer periphery of said support plate, said insertable portion being generally in the shape of a truncated cone with its smallest exterior dimension affixed to said support plate and its largest exterior dimension affixed to said end plate, and said insertable portion having a generally spiraled cross-section which is inserted through an opening in the liner side wall, and said rim portion engaging the liner side wall at the opening, said insertable portion being rotatable against said lip in a screw-like manner for pulling the rim portion tightly against the protective liner side wall and simultaneously wedging the insertable portion against said lip, said support plate supporting said retainer in the opening as said insertable portion wedges against said lip, and said insertable portion affixed to said support plate at a position offset from the center of said support plate, and said insertable portion further including a flat wall portion for permitting release of the insertable portion from engagement with the lip after the retainer has been rotated past approximately 180° to prevent over-tightening of said retainer, socket means provided in said face plate for receiving the end of a manually operable tool, and fastening means securing said face plate to said liner side wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said retainer insertable portions includes stepped sides.