REMOVABLE CHOCK

AMORTISSEUR AMOVIBLE

English Abstract

A removable chock for securing coolers, storage bins, and tool boxes on boats,
and cargo
areas of vehicles and trailers and the like. The low-profile base mounts to
any flat
surface, and allows the chock to be installed and uninstalled from the base
without the
use of any tools. The chock can be removed from the base when not being used
and the
base remains installed. The low-profile design of the base greatly reduces the
potential
trip hazard, as well as offers an aesthetically pleasing appearance than a
permanently
installed chock.

Claims

CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A removable chock assembly comprising:
a base having an inward side defining a first inside corner and a channel
formed
through said inward side;
a chock having a pair of vertical walls connected together and defining a
second
inside corner;
said chock further having a flange extending from said pair of vertical walls
in a
direction opposite of said second inside corner; and
said chock removably connected to said base with said chock disposed within
said
first inside corner and said flange disposed within said channel.
2. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein:
said chock further comprising vertical ribs depending downwardly therefrom;
said base further comprising depressions formed through a top side of said
base;
and
wherein said vertical ribs are removably received by said depressions when
said
chock is removably connected to said base and prevent said flange from being
withdrawn
from said channel.
1

3. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein said chock further
comprising an
elongated downward facing hook attached to said pair of vertical walls on a
side opposite
of said second inside corner.
4. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein said base further
comprises drain
channels formed through a bottom side of said base.
5. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein said chock further
comprises a
web extending between said pair of vertical walls and across said second
inside corner.
6. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein said chock further
comprises
vertical columns extending adjacent to said pair of vertical walls, thereby
providing
rigidity to each vertical wall of said pair of vertical walls.
7. The removable chock assembly of claim 6, wherein:
said chock further comprising a vertical rib depending downwardly from each
vertical column;
said base further comprising depressions formed through a top side of said
base;
and
wherein said vertical ribs are removably received by said depressions when
said
chock is removably connected to said base and prevent said flange from being
withdrawn
from said channel.
2

8. The removable chock assembly of claim 1, wherein said base includes a
plurality of
holes extending therethrough for securing said base to a cargo surface using
mechanical
fasteners.
3

Description

REMOVABLE CHOCK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[001] Devices that are currently used to secure items, such as coolers,
tool boxes, and
storage containers, are typically in the form of permanently mounted chocks.
[002] These devices are typically installed using multiple screws to attach
the chocks to
the floor or cargo surface. They are generally in the form of a large "L"
shaped
chock, whereas, 4 of them are installed on a flat surface strategically
located at the
4 outside corners of the item to be secured. Once installed, they are
permanent
and cannot be removed without removing the attachment screws, thereby
exposing multiple holes in the surface they were attached too. The chocks can
create a trip hazard, as well as become aesthetically unpleasing whenever the
stored item is removed.
[003] A solution to the problem would be a chock that is easily removable,
when not
being used.
1
CA 2983959 2017-10-27

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[004] Embodiments of the present invention address this problem by
providing a two-
piece base and chock assembly, whereas the chock can be easily removed when
not being used to secure items. The base is L-shaped and has a very low
profile
and has provisions for the chock to be installed with interlocking features so
it
does not require the use of any tools. The base is first attached to the flat
surface
using multiple screws, but can also be installed by other means. The chock is
also
L-shaped. The chock is then installed to the base by simply sliding it into
the
channel provided in the base. The base and chock geometry is designed so that
the
two interlock and are held together without the use of any mechanical
fasteners.
Typically, a plurality of 4 embodiments are used at the location of the four
outer
corners of the item to be secured. When not in use, the chocks can be removed,
and the low-profile base is remaines attached to the flat surface, thereby
reducing
a potential trip hazard and is aesthetically pleasing.
2
CA 2983959 2017-10-27

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[005] The invention can be understood best by those with ordinary skill in
the art, with
reference to the following drawings, along with the detailed description:
[006] Figure 1 illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment shown
assembled;
[007] Figure 2 illustrates an exploded top perspective view of the
embodiment;
[008] Figure 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment
shown
exploded;
[009] Figure 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the embodiment
shown
assembled;
[010] Figure 5 illustrates a top perspective view of the embodiment
including the
sectional cut planes for figures 6 and 7;
[011] Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line 6 in
FIG. 5 with the
embodiment installed on a horizontal mounting surface;
[012] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line 7 in
FIG. 5 with the
embodiment installed on a horizontal mounting surface;
[013] Figure 8 illustrates the embodiments in one possible exemplary
configuration for
retaining a cooler; and
[014] Figure 9 illustrates the base embodiments with the chock embodiments
uninstalled.
3
CA 2983959 2017-10-27

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[015] Referring to the drawings, details of the embodiment will be
described herein.
[016] Referring to FIGS 1, 2 and 8, a plurality of the embodiment can be
installed to
help secure items, such as a cooler, tool box, or storage container 17 on a
horizontal surface 16, such as a boat deck, vehicle or trailer cargo bed. The
embodiment consists of a base 1 and a chock 2. First, the base 1 is installed
on a
horizontal surface 16 (specifics will be further explained later) then the
chock 2
can be inserted into the base 1 allowing a means of retaining items, such as a
cooler or storage container 17, in place on a horizontal surface 16.
[017] The base 1 has a low-profile surface 8 and a beveled edge surface 6
(see FIGS. 5,
6 and 7) and are intended to allow the base 1 from being an obstruction when
the
chock 2 is not installed (see FIG. 9) thereby reducing the risk of a potential
trip
hazard, as one example. The base is generally L-shaped and includes a top side
20, a bottom side 22, an outward side 24, an inward side 26, and interior
(inside)
corner 28, and an exterior corner 30.
[018] The base 1 has multiple mounting holes 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for
attaching to a
horizontal surface 16, such as a boat deck or cargo bed. Mechanical fasteners
15
can be inserted through the mounting holes 4 and into the desired mounting
surface 16 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) but other means of attachment are possible,
without changing the spirit of the invention.
[019] The chock 2, is designed to be inserted into the base 1 without the
use of any
tools. Chock 2 has an extended horizontal flange 9 which is inserted into an
opposing channel 7 in the base 1. The flange 9 and channel 7 are designed to
4
CA 2983959 2017-10-27

interlock and retain the chock 2 with the base 1 together when the chock is
installed (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6)
[020] To further retain the base 1 and chock 2 from disengaging, recessed
depressions
3 in the base 1 and vertical ribs 11 on the chock 2 lock together when the
chock 2
is inserted into the base 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Again, no tools are necessary
for
installing or uninstalling the chock 2 into the base 1.
[021] The chock 2 has two adjacent vertical surfaces (walls) 12 (see FIGS 2
and 8) that
are connected together and create an inside corner 32 for the purpose of
retaining
items in place. Column type shapes 13 are adjacent the ends of the chock 2
vertical wall surfaces 12 (see FIG. 2) which add rigidity to the vertical
surfaces,
but are not required for the spirit of the invention.
[022] The chock 2 also has a hook feature 14 (see FIGS 1, 6, and 8)
extending from the
intersection of the adjacent vertical wall surfaces 12, allowing an additional
means for securing the stored item by attaching a tie down, such as a bungee
cord
of rope and the like.
[023] The base 1 has longitudinal channels 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) located
underside
extending from the interior corner 28 to the exterior corner 30, thereby
allowing
water, or other liquids, to drain and not be trapped in the channel 7.
[024] The chock 2 also has a horizontal web surface 10, joining the bottom
of the
vertical wall surfaces 12 further adding further rigidity to the chock.
[025] The embodiments of the present invention have been described.
Nevertheless, it
will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
CA 2983959 2017-10-27

Representative Drawing