Patent ID: 8020911
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A sliding cargo carrier for use in a vehicle, the sliding cargo carrier comprises: a base frame; an upper frame; a deck; a slide assembly which slideably mounts the upper frame on the base frame; a lock assembly which locks the upper frame at selected positions on the base frame; an auxiliary storage assembly; and a frame securing assembly which releasably attaches the base frame to a vehicle; said base frame comprises first and second lower rails, and front and rear transverse members; each of said first and second lower rails includes a foot, a downward hook, and a sidewall; said front transverse member includes at least one holddown portion disposed on an outer end thereof; said upper frame comprises first and second upper rails, and fore and aft cross members and a transverse support bar; each of said first and second upper rails includes a guide wall, a base, and an upper supporting guide; said deck is mounted on the upper frame and is comprised of a plurality of interlocking panels, each panel having a top, a bottom, and first and second sides and first and second interlocking elements; each of said first interlocking elements is disposed on a first side of each of the panels and comprises a first curvature, a first groove, and an upward protuberance, wherein said first groove and said upward protuberance extend along a lower edge of the first side; each of said second interlocking elements is disposed on a second side of each of the panels and comprises a second curvature, a second groove, and a downward protuberance, wherein said second groove and said downward protuberance extend along a lower edge of the second side; wherein to engage said first and second interlocking elements of two adjacent panels, said second curvature of one panel is nested within said first curvature of an other panel, said upward protuberance of the other panel is received within said second groove of the one panel, and said downward protuberance of the one panel is received within said first groove of the other panel; said slide assembly comprises a plurality of rollers and two roller guides, wherein said plurality of rollers are disposed on the sidewalls of the first and second lower rails and each of said roller guides is disposed on a respective guide wall of the first and second upper rail; wherein said roller guides are slideably supported on the rollers, and said upper supporting guides on the first and second upper rails overlay the downward hooks of the first and second lower rails, respectively; said frame securing assembly includes at least one releasable clamp; said at least one releasable clamp comprises a vehicle attaching portion, a frame receiving portion, and a holddown screw threadedly engaged in the frame receiving portion; wherein when the slideable frame assembly is installed in a vehicle, said at least one holddown portion on the base frame is positioned within the frame receiving portion of the at least one releasable clamp, and said holddown screw engages the holddown portion; said lock assembly comprises a detent actuator mechanism, first and second detent devices, and a plurality of locking apertures in the sidewalls of the base frame; each of said first and second detent devices comprises a mounting plate, a locking pin, and a spring; each of said mounting plates includes a stop and a channel having a guide slot therein; each of said locking pins includes a shoulder, a wheel rotatably mounted on one end of the locking pin, and a guide projection; said detent actuator mechanism comprises a handle, an actuating plate, a primary actuating cable, and first and second detent cables; said actuating plate comprises first, second and primary anchor points and a pivotal attachment, wherein said first and second anchor points and said pivotal attachment are substantially collinear, and said primary anchor point is offset from a line extending through the first and second anchor points and the pivotal attachment; wherein said first detent device is mounted on one end of the transverse support bar; said second detent device is mounted on an opposite end of the transverse support bar; and said actuating plate is pivotally secured to the transverse support bar by the pivotal attachment; wherein on each of the first and second detent devices, the locking pin is supported within the channel and on the stop, said guide projection is slideably disposed within said slot, and said spring encircles the locking pin and is held in compression between the shoulder and the stop; the first detent cable is attached at one end to the locking pin of the first detent device and attached at an opposite end to the first anchor point on the actuating plate; the second detent cable is attached at one end to the locking pin of the second detent device and attached at an opposite end to the second anchor point on the actuating plate; said primary actuating cable is attached at one end to the handle and is attached at an opposite end to the primary anchor point on the actuating plate; said handle is slideably mounted on a front of the upper frame; said lock assembly having locked and unlocked modes; wherein in said locked mode, the locking pins of the first and second detent devices are engaged with locking apertures on the respective first and second lower rails, one of said locking pins is positioned within a respective locking aperture, and said upper frame is locked against sliding movement on the base frame; wherein in said unlocked mode, the locking pins of the first and second detent devices are disengaged from the locking apertures, the wheels can engage the respective sidewalls, and the upper frame is free to slide on the base frame; said sliding cargo carrier further comprising retracted and extended configurations; wherein in said retracted configuration the upper frame is generally centered vertically over the base frame; wherein in the extended configuration, at least a portion of the upper frame is offset vertically from the base frame.