Patent ID: 6347454
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for forming a bed assembly for a truck, comprising the steps of:providing a wide and continuous flat sheet of thin metal; roll forming said continuous flat metal sheet in the lengthwise extent thereof to define a plurality of generally parallel, sidewardly-spaced, downwardly-opening, channel-like stiffening ribs therein across substantially the entire width thereof and sidewardly spaced apart by upwardly-opening channel-like valleys having bottoms which define a base wall, with said stiffening ribs and valleys extending uniformly and longitudinally throughout the entire length of the formed metal sheet as said formed sheet is moved longitudinally through and discharged from a rolling mill; severing the continuous formed sheet into elongate bed members of predetermined longitudinal length having said stiffening ribs and valleys extending longitudinally throughout the length thereof so that the bed member has corrugated front and rear free edges thereon; reshaping longitudinally-extending rear portions of said ribs which extend forwardly a predetermined distance from said rear free edge so that said rear rib portions define tapered rib portions having top walls deformed downwardly so as to slope downwardly from rib top walls toward and merge into the base wall of the bed member as the tapered rib portions project longitudinally rearwardly toward said rear free edge so as to close off the ends of said ribs; the step of reshaping including forming a generally flat rear flange which is coplanar with the base wall of the bed member and which projects rearwardly from rearward ends of said tapered rib portions and terminates at said rear free edge; the step of reshaping also including confining and shaping sidewalls of the rib end portions to maintain the preformed valleys between the ribs during the reshaping of the rib end portions; and thereafter fixedly securing said bed member in supportive engagement over a plurality of spaced but generally parallel transverse rails associated with the bed of a truck.