Apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack
AssigneeYakima Products, Inc.
InventorsGregory A. Dean, Scott R. Allen, Joseph J. Settelmayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack. The apparatus includes at least one flexible strap associated with the rack. The strap is positionable around an article supported by the rack. A clamping buckle is adapted to receive and clamp onto the strap. A protective housing is adapted to receive and at least partially cover the buckle to protect the article and the vehicle from damage. In one embodiment, the strap may be attached to the housing to prevent the housing from being separated from the strap. In another embodiment, the housing may include one or more apertures to allow a user to operate the buckle when it is covered by the housing.
Claims12
A protective device for a buckle, where the buckle has a clamp actuated by a lever and is configured to releasably grip a strap, the device comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive and at least partially cover the buckle, the housing including a top surface and a side surface;
- and
- wherein the housing defines an access hole adjacent the lever to allow a user to operate the lever, the access hole extending through at least a portion of the top surface and at least a portion of the side surface.
An apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack, comprising:
- at least one flexible strap associated with the rack and positionable around an article supported by the rack;
- a clamping buckle adapted to receive and clamp onto the at least one strap;
- and
- a protective housing adapted to receive and at least partially cover the buckle;
- where the at least one strap is attached to the housing to prevent the housing from being separated from the strap.
An apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack, comprising:
- at least one flexible strap associated with the rack and positionable around an article supported by the rack;
- a clamping buckle adapted to receive and clamp onto the at least one strap;
- and
- a protective housing comprised of a cushioning material having top and bottom surfaces extending between forward and rear ends, where the housing is adapted to receive and cover the buckle to prevent damage to the article from the buckle;
- where at least one of the top or bottom surfaces includes a recessed region adjacent the forward end of the housing to expose a portion of the buckle when the buckle is covered by the housing.
An apparatus for securing articles to a vehicle-mounted rack, comprising:
- at least one flexible strap associated with the rack and positionable around an article supported by the rack;
- a clamping buckle adapted to receive and clamp onto the at least one strap;
- a protective housing having top and bottom surfaces extending between forward and rear ends, where the housing is adapted to receive and cover the buckle to prevent damage to the article from the buckle;
- and
- wherein the buckle includes a clamp actuated by a lever, the top surface of the housing having a recessed region permitting access to the lever.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.