# US 12,759,674 B2 · Accessory system for connecting an accessory to a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,674 B2 - Document ID: US12759674B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/806,885 - Filed: 2024-08-16 - Published: 2024-12-05 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-10 - Assignees: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Applicants: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. - Inventors: Alexandre Morin-Savard; Mathieu Mercier; Bart Van Den Bogaard; Karl Dery St-Cyr; Pierre-Luc Robillard; Michel Bourassa; Samuel Simoneau; Remi Larrouy; Antoine Bilodeau; Marc-Andre L'Heureux; Abdelkarim Meskine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759674B2 ## CPC - B63B 25/28: for deck loads - F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus} - B63B 2025/285: {Means for securing deck containers against unwanted movements} - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A connecting base for connecting an accessory to a vehicle includes: an attachment portion configured to be connected to the vehicle; and at least one post-receiving portion connected to the attachment portion. Each of the at least one post-receiving portion defines an opening configured to receive a post connected to the accessory. The opening is defined in an upper surface of the connecting base. Each of the at least one post-receiving portion includes: an inner peripheral surface defining the opening, the inner peripheral surface being shaped to be at least partially mated with an outer peripheral surface of the post; and a rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface, the rib being configured to engage a groove defined by the outer peripheral surface of the post. An accessory connector and an accessory system including the connecting base and the accessory connector are also contemplated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connecting base for connecting an accessory to a vehicle, comprising: an attachment portion; and at least one post-receiving portion connected to the attachment portion, each of the at least one post-receiving portion having a top surface, each of the at least one post-receiving portion defining an opening configured to receive a post connected to the accessory, a closed perimeter of the opening being defined in the top surface, each of the at least one post-receiving portion comprising: an inner peripheral surface defining the opening, the inner peripheral surface being shaped to be at least partially mated with and surround an outer peripheral surface of the post; and a rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface, the rib being configured to engage a groove defined by the outer peripheral surface of the post. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connecting base of claim 1, wherein: the rib extends along a majority of a depth of the opening measured downward from the top surface; and the inner peripheral surface is configured to entirely surround the outer peripheral surface of the post at at least one point along a depth of the rib. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connecting base of claim 1, wherein: the rib is a first rib; the groove is a first groove, the outer peripheral surface of the post comprising a second groove; each of the at least one post-receiving portion further comprises a second rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface for engaging the second groove defined by the outer peripheral surface of the post; and the first and second ribs are disposed on opposite sides of the opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connecting base of claim 1, wherein: the opening extends from an upper surface of the connecting base to a lower surface of the connecting base; and the opening has a generally hexagonal shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connecting base of claim 1, wherein: the vehicle comprises a rail; and the attachment portion is configured to be clipped toollessly onto the rail, the attachment portion being sufficiently flexible to be elastically deformed when being clipped onto the rail. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An accessory system for a vehicle, comprising: the connecting base of claim 1; and an accessory connector configured to be connected to an accessory, the accessory connector comprising a post configured to be received in the opening of the at least one post-receiving portion of the connecting base, the post comprising an outer peripheral surface having a shape corresponding to the inner peripheral surface of the at least one post-receiving portion, the outer peripheral surface defining a groove configured to slidingly receive the rib of the post-receiving portion therein. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The accessory system of claim 6, wherein the accessory connector further comprises: a supporting portion configured to be connected to the accessory; and an overhanging portion extending from the supporting portion, the post extending downward from the overhanging portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The accessory system of claim 7, wherein: the accessory connector further comprises a movement limiter connected to the supporting portion; the movement limiter is movable between a first position and a second position; in the first position, the movement limiter is positioned to interact with the connecting base to limit sliding movement of the post within the opening; and in the second position, the movement limiter is positioned to allow sliding movement of the post within the opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The accessory system of claim 8, wherein the movement limiter is biased to be in the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The accessory system of claim 6, wherein: the accessory connector further comprises a lock movably connected to the post; the lock has a locked position for connecting the accessory connector to the connecting base; the lock has an unlocked position for permitting removal of the post from the opening of the at least one post-receiving portion of the connecting base and for permitting insertion of the post in the opening of the at least one post-receiving portion of the connecting base; the lock has a lever for moving the lock between the locked position and the unlocked position; the lock has at least one cam connected to and movable with the lever; and the post is disposed between the lever and the at least one cam. ### Claim 11 An accessory connector comprising: a supporting portion configured to be connected to the accessory; and a post connected to the supporting portion, the post being configured to be received in an opening of a connecting base, the post comprising an outer peripheral surface defining a groove configured to slidingly receive a rib protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the connecting base defining the opening, the post being shaped and arranged to pass through a closed perimeter of the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The accessory connector of claim 11, further comprising an overhanging portion extending from the supporting portion, the post extending downward from the overhanging portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The accessory connector of claim 11, wherein: the accessory connector further comprises a movement limiter connected to the supporting portion; the movement limiter is movable from a first position to a second position; in the first position, the movement limiter is positioned to interact with the connecting base to limit sliding movement of the post within the opening; and in the second position, the movement limiter is positioned to allow sliding movement of the post within the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The accessory connector of claim 13, wherein the movement limiter is biased to be in the first position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The accessory connector of claim 11, further comprising a lock movably connected to the post, the lock having a locked position for connecting the accessory connector to the connecting base, and the lock having an unlocked position for permitting removal of the post from the opening of the connecting base and for permitting insertion of the post in the opening of the connecting base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The accessory connector of claim 15, wherein the lock has a lever for moving the lock between the locked position and the unlocked position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The accessory connector of claim 16, wherein: the lock has at least one cam connected to and movable with the lever; and the post is disposed between the lever and the at least one cam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The accessory connector of claim 16, wherein the lock has: a shaft connected to and movable with the lever, the shaft being disposed at least in part in the post; and at least one cam connected to and movable with the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The accessory connector of claim 16, wherein the lock has: a shaft connected to and movable with the lever, the shaft being disposed completely outside of the post; and at least one cam connected to and movable with the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The accessory connector of claim 19, further comprising an overhanging portion extending from the supporting portion, the post extending downward from the overhanging portion; wherein: the post is offset from the supporting portion; a space is defined between the post and the supporting portion; and a longitudinal axis of the shaft is disposed on a same side of the space as the supporting portion.