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AssigneesNissan Technical Center North America, Inc., Nissan Design America, Inc.
InventorsMark D. Snyder, Darren A. Womack, William G. Bowes, Michael D. Anderson, Diane T. Allen, Stephen Ball
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A flexible cargo bed tie-down system that allows the user to easily change, adjust, customize, and adapt his or her vehicle to specific needs at any given moment, and that interfaces with the rest of the vehicle in an optimum manner from a functional, structural, and aesthetic standpoint. Tie-down track(s) are provided that are integral with the body of the vehicle such that the exterior contour of the track(s) do not extend appreciably beyond the contour of the adjacent portions of the body. This permits the track(s) to blend in with the body of the vehicle, which improves functionality because the track(s) do not obstruct the placement of items on the vehicle. The track(s) are provided with a predetermined region that provides for controlled deformation of the vehicle body in case of a collision.
A vehicle, comprising:
A vehicle having a cargo bed with at least one tie-down track arranged longitudinally in the cargo bed, wherein the tie-down track includes first and second portions separated by a deformation region thereby permitting the first and second portions to move relative to one another and provide for controlled deformation of the cargo bed in case of a collision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.