Transport vehicle accessory locking mechanisms
AssigneeThule Canada Inc.
InventorsWesley Justin Fleming, Matthew Stengler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transport vehicle including one or more accessory connectors for releasably locking one or more vehicle accessories to the transport vehicle. An accessory connector may releasably lock a first accessory within a first slot defined by the accessory connector and a second accessory within a second slot defined by the accessory connector. In some embodiments, the accessory connector may simultaneously releasably lock the first accessory and the second accessory within the first and second slots, respectively. The accessory connectors facilitate simple, quick, and easy attachment and detachment of vehicle accessories so that the transport vehicle may be easily converted between different modes of use.
Claims20
A child transport vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- an accessory connector attached to the vehicle frame, the accessory connector comprising:
- a first slot configured to receive a portion of a first accessory;
- a second slot configured to receive a portion of a second accessory;
- and
- a single actuator configured to releasably lock both the portion of the first accessory in the first slot and the portion of the second accessory in the second slot.
A child transport vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- and
- an accessory connector attached to the vehicle frame, the accessory connector comprising:
- a housing defining a first slot configured to receive a portion of a first accessory,
- a lever assembly pivotally connected to the housing and configured to releasably lock the portion of the first accessory in the first slot, the lever assembly comprising a lever and a locking cam,
- wherein the lever is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position,
- wherein the locking cam is configured to protrude into the first slot when the lever is in the first position so as to lock the portion of the first accessory in the first slot,
- wherein the locking cam is configured to force the portion of the first accessory against the housing when the lever is in the first position to thereby stabilize the first accessory,
- wherein the housing further defines a second slot configured to receive a portion of a second accessory, and
- wherein the lever assembly further comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the portion of a second accessory in the second slot.
A child transport vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame defining a cargo area having a child passenger seat;
- and
- an accessory connector attached to the vehicle frame, the accessory connector comprising:
- a housing defining a first slot having a side wall configured to receive a portion of a first accessory and a second slot configured to receive a portion of a second accessory;
- and
- a lever comprising a first lock configured to releasably lock the portion of the first accessory in the first slot and a second lock configured to releasably lock the portion of the second accessory in the second slot,
- wherein the lever is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, and
- wherein the first lock is configured to force the portion of the first accessory against the side wall of the first slot when the lever is in the first position to thereby stabilize the first accessory.
A child transport vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame;
- an accessory connector attached to the vehicle frame, the accessory connector comprising:
- a first slot configured to receive a portion of a first accessory;
- a second slot configured to receive a portion of a second accessory;
- and
- an actuator configured to simultaneously releasably lock the portion of the first accessory in the first slot and releasably lock the portion of the second accessory in the second slot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.