Abstract:
The dump box system includes a dump box that rolls along the length of the pickup truck bed. The movement of the dump box is controlled by a hoist system attached to the truck bed. The hoist system has a pair of reels in spaced relation along a drive shaft. The drive shaft is turned by a crank-operated winch unit so that straps coiled on the reels are reeled in or paid out. The dump box can be moved from a position wherein it is completely encased within the truck bed to a position where it is tilted and hanging out through the rear opening of the truck bed. The design of the dump box system allows the user to quickly unload large quantities of debris and other materials from the truck without the need for resort to shovels or rakes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to cargo transportation apparatus for vehicles and, more specifically, to a Dump Box System for a Conventional Pickup Truck Bed. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Pickup trucks are possibly the most versatile personal vehicles on the road today. Of course, there are many professions to which the pickup is indispensable, such as the construction industry. Over the years, due to the superior flexibility and utility, however, to pickup trucks have become popular as a means of daily transportation. These vehicles are even produced in versions that would rival many luxury cars. 
         [0005]    What has always been missing from the pickup truck, however, is the ability to easily and quickly unload its contents, such as dirt and demolition material, when necessary. The problem with using a pickup truck for such applications is not related to its hauling capacity. On the contrary, the conventional pickup truck has the load capacity and size to be used in this type of service. The problem is one of convenience and ease, and therefore speed, of use. 
         [0006]    Since the conventional pickup truck has a fixed bed (i.e. one that does not tilt and dump), the user is relegated to shoveling, raking or sweeping out the bed of loads of granular material. While this does not necessarily defeat the pickup truck from being used in these applications, it certainly prevents them from being viable in any kind of regular role for this purpose. The problem is that, historically, converting a conventional pickup truck so that it has a dump-able bed volume has been prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, these aftermarket conversions generally include electromechanical and/or hydraulic systems that tend to have a much shorter service life (and/or require more maintenance and repair) than the rest of the pickup truck. What is needed, then, is a cost-effective after-market system that can be installed on a conventional pickup truck that will approximate the utility of a tilt-bed truck, without the associated installation or maintenance costs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and systems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Dump Box System for a Conventional Pickup Truck Bed. The dump box system should include a dump box that rolls along the length of the pickup truck bed. The movement of the dump box should be controlled by a hoist system attached to the truck bed. The hoist system may have a pair of reels in spaced relation along a drive shaft. The drive shaft might be turned by a crank-operated winch unit so that straps coiled on the reels are reeled in or paid out. The dump box should be moved from a position wherein it is completely encased within the truck bed to a position where it is tilted and hanging out through the rear opening of the truck bed. The design of the dump box system should allow the user to quickly unload large quantities of debris and other materials from the truck without the need for resort to shovels or rakes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a conventional pickup truck having a preferred embodiment of the dump box system of the present invention installed therein; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of the truck of  FIG. 1  with the dump box in the partially deployed position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial side view of the truck of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the dump box deployed until it is touching the ground; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the truck of  FIGS. 1-3  with the dump box secured for over-the-road transit; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the truck of  FIG. 4  with the box gate open; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the truck of  FIGS. 1-5  with the dump box partially deployed; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is another partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-8 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is yet another partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a view of the underside of the dump box from inside of the truck bed of the truck of  FIGS. 1-9 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of the wheel racks and forward end of the dump box of the truck of  FIGS. 1-10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Dump Box System for a Conventional Pickup Truck Bed. 
         [0021]    The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a partial side view of a conventional pickup truck  14  having a preferred embodiment of the dump box system  10  of the present invention installed therein. The Dump Box System  10  of the present invention is designed to be installed in the bed  12  of a conventional pickup truck  14 . In this version, the pickup truck  14  has a utility rack assembly  24  attached to the bed. As will be discussed later on in this writing, the rack assembly  24  can prove to be useful, but it is not necessary in order for the Dump Box System  10  to be usable with a pickup truck  14 . However, if a rack assembly  24  is already installed to the bed  12 , it will certainly not interfere with the installation of the Dump Box System  10 . 
         [0022]    The System  10  has two main components: the dump box  16  and the hoist system  22 . The dump box  16  is designed to roll in and out of the rear opening  18  of the bed  12 . From this view it can be seen that the box  16  has a gate  20  that can be opened and closed in replacement of the standard tailgate provided with the pickup truck  14  when it was originally acquired. Now turning to  FIG. 2  we can begin to see the progression of operational positions through which the Dump Box System  10  of the present invention moves. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of the truck of  FIG. 1  with the dump box  16  in the partially deployed position. In this position the dump box  16  has been lifted by the hoist system  22 , which attaches at the forward end  26  of the dump box  16 . As can be seen, the box  16  is cantilevering on the edge  30  of the truck bed  12 . The rear end  28  of the dump box is, as a result, becoming closer to the ground  32 . It is pointed out here that the box gate  20  is actually attached to an associated structure related to the Dump Box System  10 . In any event, the box gate  20  remains attached to the bed  12  rather than to the dump box  16 . As will become clearer in later drawing figures, the gate  20  serves to close the opening at the rear end  28  of the box  16 . If we now turn to  FIG. 3 , we can see the next phase in the motion of the system  10 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a partial side view of the truck  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the dump box  16  deployed until it is touching the ground  32 . As shown here, the hoist system  22  has been further actuated so that the straps  34 A and  34 B have been allowed to pay out a substantial amount. As a result, more than half of the length of the dump box  16  is protruding out from the bed rear opening  18 . In fact, in this step, the rear end of the box  28  has actually reached the ground  32 . It is noted that the straps  34 A and  34 B are attached to the forward bottom edge of the forward end  26  of the dump box  16 . In most cases, however, the user will place the box  16  in a position somewhere between that depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3  (i.e. not touching the ground) so that the contents of the box  16  will easily slide out through the open rear end  28 . If the user then drives the vehicle  14  forward and quickly stops, the box will rock forwards and then backwards (in a sort of a whipping motion) so that the remainder of the materials will slide out through the rear end  28  until the box  16  is empty. At this point the hoist system  22  can be cranked in so that the straps  34 A and  34 B pull the box  16  back into the bed  12  until it is in the position as depicted previous in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  provides an additional view of the system  10 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the truck  14  of  FIGS. 1-3 , with the dump box  16  secured for over-the-road transit. As shown here, the bed rear opening  18  is filled by the box  16 , which is in fact enclosed by the box gate  20 . In such a configuration, the user is free to drive the vehicle  14  and use it as if it were a normal pickup truck.  FIG. 5  shows the same vehicle wherein the box gate  20  is open. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the truck of  FIG. 4  with the box gate  20  open. In this view, it can be seen that the box gate  20  opens in such a way that it does not strike the bumper  38 . However, unlike the conventional tailgate, it folds completely out of the way in a vertical position. This allows the dump box  16  to be hoisted straight out through the back of the bed  12  without any interference from the conventional tailgate. The interior volume  36  of the box is only slightly smaller than the original interior volume of the bed  12 . However, as shown here, the sides of the box  16  are actually higher than the conventional bed  12 .  FIG. 6  shows yet another view. 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of the truck of  FIGS. 1-5  with the dump box partially deployed. In this view the box  16  has been partially hoisted and has begun its extension out of the back of the bed  12 . The first strap  34 A and second strap  34 B have been partially reeled in onto their associated reels  40 A and  40 B of the hoist system  22 . It is by reeling these straps  34 A and  34 B in that the box  16  is caused to move from the position one shown in  FIG. 1  and position two shown in  FIG. 2 . The straps  34 A and  34 B are paid out from the reels  40 A and  40 B. The result will be that the box rear end  28  will extend outwardly. At such time the load will begin to discharge its contents of its own weight. However, it should be understood that placing the box  16  in the position shown here may be sufficient to empty the box of the materials stored therein. Having fully discussed the overall functionality of the system of the present invention, we will now focus on the elements comprising the hoist system by turning to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-6 . The hoist system  22  comprises a first support post  46 A and a second support post  4613  extending upwardly from the left and right sides of the bed  12 . As shown here, the upper end of each support post  46 A and  46 B attaches to the upper rack rails  48 A and  48 B of the rack assembly  24 . As discussed previously, this is not a critical feature, however it is important that there be bracing to prevent the support posts  46 A and  46 B from moving frontwards or backwards while taking on a load created by the hoist system  22 . As such, the user may find that having the rack assembly  24  will be an important feature for his vehicle, although since many trucks do not have lumber racks installed on them. 
         [0029]    For the stability of the hoist system, there are two required support post connections for each post. Support posts are first connected to the truck bed as an integral part of the wheel rack system. The second connection is made with a bracket connecting the support post to the top edge of the side panel of the truck. 
         [0030]    The hoist system  22  further has a drive shaft  44  along which the first and second reels  40 A and  40 B are located. As shown, the straps  34 A and  34 B can be reeled or paid out from their respective reels  40 A and  408 . Similarly, at one end of the drive shaft  44 , a drive reel  45  is provided to generate the driving force to cause the drive shaft  44  to rotate and thereby reel in or pay out the straps  34 A and  34 B. The drive reel  45  is driven by drive strap  34 C, which is driven by a crank-operated winch unit  50 . The winch unit  50  is reversible and latchable so that it can be cranked in or paid out using the crank handle  52 . We mention here that  FIG. 7  depicts the box  16  in its stowed position. If we turn to  FIG. 8 , we can see the box in a partially paid out position. 
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is another partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-8 . As shown here, the box forward end  26  has been driven backward so that it no longer is next to the front of the bed  16 . The straps  34 A and  34 B have been reeled in around reels  40 A and  40 B such that they are essentially vertical. This has caused the box  16  to slide backwardly and begin to slightly tilt. As discussed previously, this position was achieved by operation of the crank handle  52  to drive the winch unit  50  such that the reels  40 A and  40 B reel in the straps  34 A and  34 B. If continued cranking is performed, the position shown in  FIG. 9  will be achieved. 
         [0032]      FIG. 9  is yet another partial side perspective view of the hoist system of the dump box system of  FIGS. 1-8 . In this position the straps  34 A and  34 B have continued to be reeled in until the box forward end  26  has actually been lifted off the bottom of the bed  12 . The first strap  34 A terminates at its distal end in a first clip  56 A. First clip  56 A releasably attaches to a first loop  34 A, which extends from the lower front end of the box  16 . Similarly, the second strap  3433  is provided with a second clip  56 B to releasably engage the second loop  54 B. The clips  56 A and  56 B are releasable so that the user at their discretion can unclip them and actually remove the box  16  from the bed  12 . Since we&#39;ve now reviewed the features of the box and the operation of the box and the feature of the hoist, it only remains to discuss the structure that resides below the box. 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  is a view of the underside of the dump box from inside of the truck bed of the truck of  FIGS. 1-9 . The system  10  is provided with first and second wheel racks  60 A and  60 B that are each attached in space relation to the bottom of the bed  12 . The first wheel rack  60 A is provided with a series of first wheels  62 A while the second wheel rack  60 B is provided with a series of second wheels  6213  along its length. The wheel rack  60 A and  60 B are attached to the bottom of the bed  58 . The dump box  16  is shown here in the tilted condition so that the first rail set  64 A and second rail set  64 B can be seen. These rails are configured to straddle the wheels  62 A and  62 B so that the dump box  16  will remain centered side to side within the truck bed  12 . The bottom of the dump box  16  will actually rest on top of the wheel  62 A and  62 B which is the reason why the dump box  16  easily rolls in and out of the truck bed  12 . It is also pointed out that at the open end of the truck bed  12  are a pair of wheels  62 A and  62 B which support the bottom of the dump box  16  while preventing the box  16  from rubbing against the edge of the truck bed  12  or the tailgate or the bumper (not shown).  FIG. 11  shows an additional view of the structure. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of the wheel racks and forward end of the dump box of the truck of  FIGS. 1-10 . As shown here, the first and second wheel racks  60 A and  60 B are part of a frame that is attached to the bed bottom  58 . It is a simple matter to orient and attach the racks  60 A and  60 B in order to provide the necessary alignment and support for the box  16 . The wheels  62 A and  62 B can be positioned differently than shown here depending on the particular vehicle within which the system  10  is being installed. 
         [0035]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.