Abstract:
An elongated unitary tie-down rail adapted to fit on the inside of a pickup box, delivery truck or trailer comprised of an elongated vertical flange and an elongated horizontal flange. The horizontal flange terminates in a rounded rub rail and contains a plurality of holes for the attachment of tie-down hooks and straps. The rounded rub rail may be hollow to allow for the connection of multiple cargo tie-down rails through use of a connecting device such as a roll pin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/220,453 filed Jul. 24, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a cargo tie-down rail for the inside lip of a pickup box sidewall.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,769 to James R. Matthews (Jul. 25, 1989) discloses a tie-down device with a movable car slidably carried on a stationary track. Such a device has several inherent disadvantages. The number of movable cars limits the number of tie-down points available for use in securing cargo. The movable cars must be relocated for every cargo to provide the proper location for tying down cargo. The stationary track is susceptible to damage that can prevent the proper location of the movable cars.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,382 to Harold G. Johnson (Mar. 17, 1987) describes a unitary tie-down rail with a plurality of longitudinal slots for tying down cargo that mounts on top of the sidewall of a pickup truck. This device is inferior for such a mounting is inherently weaker due to the torque applied to the top of the sidewall from loads. The longitudinal slots are also less secure for the mounting of cargo as the mounting hooks or straps may slide up and down the slot. This device also interferes with the use of truck topper or cap.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,211 to Gary J. Lund (Nov. 15, 1994) discloses a side rail anchor bar that can be mounted on the top or the outside of the sidewall of the pickup. This device utilizes tie-down fingers which extend beyond the normal exterior of the pickup truck. As such these fingers are susceptible to damage. This device also interferes with the use of a truck topper or cap.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,770 to Henry E. Millar, Jr (Sep. 27, 1988) discloses a side rail tiedown anchor comprising a clamp securable to the upper edge or side rail of a pickup truck box side wall or the like. A hook providing for the securing of a tie-down rope extends from the clamp. This device is not permanently attached, and the anchors need to be repositioned for use with different cargos.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,064 to Jim B. Davis (Apr. 12, 1994) discloses a cargo tie-down that is permanently attached to the bed of a pickup truck. This device actually uses up space in the box that could normally be used for cargo and interferes with the normal use of the pickup box. This device also provides relatively few anchor points and its use is limited to thin, flat or narrow articles.  
           [0010]    None of the above noted patents, taken singly or in combination, are seen to disclose the specific arrangements of concepts disclosed by the present invention.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, a unitary tie-down rail that mounts inside the pickup box, accepts removable cargo pads and guards, does not interfere with the use, mounting, or dismounting of a truck topper or cap and is expandable.  
         OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
         [0012]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:  
           [0013]    (a) to provide tie-down points that are readily available without requiring the repositioning of a movable car or anchor;  
           [0014]    (b) to provide a tie-down rail that can be used in conjunction with a truck topper or cap and does not interfere with the mounting or dismounting of a truck topper or cap;  
           [0015]    (c) to provide a tie-down rail that is resistant to impact damage and that protects the pickup box from damage that can result from shifting loads;  
           [0016]    (d) to provide a tie-down rail that supplies anchor points along the entire length of the truck box.  
           [0017]    Other objects and advantages are:  
           [0018]    (e) to provide a tie-down rail that mates with cargo pads and guards that provide additional protection to fragile and delicate cargos;  
           [0019]    (f) to provide an expandable tie-down rail that can fit a large variety of pickup trucks, delivery trucks and trailers.  
           [0020]    Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is a partial view of a pickup truck with cargo tie-down rails mounted on each box side. A box is strapped onto one of the cargo tie-down rails.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is an underneath view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is an inboard side view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially.  
         [0025]    FIGS.  5  to  7  are enlarged, partial overhead views of the cargo tie-down rails shown in FIGS.  2  to  4 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side view along the line  8 - 8  of FIG. 4 showing how a hook, illustrated in phantom, attaches to the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a rear view of a conventional pickup truck that is equipped with both cargo tie-down rails and a truck topper box cap.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is an overhead view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo guard mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is an underneath view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo guard mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12 is an inboard side view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo guard mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0031]    FIGS.  13  to  15  are enlarged, partial views of FIGS.  10  to  12 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 16 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side view taken along the line  16 - 16  of FIG. 12.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 17 is an overhead view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo pad mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 18 is an underneath view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo pad mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 19 is an inboard side view of a cargo tie-down rail mounted on the inside of a pickup box, shown partially, with a cargo pad mounted on the cargo tie-down rail.  
         [0036]    FIGS.  20  to  22  are enlarged, partial views of FIGS.  17  to  19 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 23 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side view taken along the line  23 - 23  of FIG. 18.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 24 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional side view taken along the line  24 - 24  of FIG. 25 and discloses a cargo tie-down rail with a hollow rub rail.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 25 is an enlarged, partial overhead view of a cargo tie-down rail with a hollow rub rail.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 26 is an enlarged, partial overhead view of a cargo tie-down rail with a hollow rub rail with a roll pin or similar attachment device inserted into the hollow rub rail.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 27 is an enlarged, partial overhead view of two cargo tie-down rails with hollow rub rails that are lined up for attachment.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 28 is an enlarged, partial overhead view of two cargo tie-down rails with hollow rub rails joined together through the use of a roll pin or attachment device (disclosed in phantom). 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWING  
       [0043]    [0043] 30  conventional pickup truck  
         [0044]    [0044] 31  cab  
         [0045]    [0045] 32  truck bed  
         [0046]    [0046] 33  storage Space  
         [0047]    [0047] 34  box side  
         [0048]    [0048] 35  box side  
         [0049]    [0049] 36  box top  
         [0050]    [0050] 37  cargo tie-down rail  
         [0051]    [0051] 38  cargo tie-down rail  
         [0052]    [0052] 39  rub rail  
         [0053]    [0053] 40  fastener holes  
         [0054]    [0054] 41  mounting holes  
         [0055]    [0055] 42  mounting bolts  
         [0056]    [0056] 43  mounting nuts  
         [0057]    [0057] 44  unitary rail  
         [0058]    [0058] 45  flange  
         [0059]    [0059] 46  tie-down strap  
         [0060]    [0060] 47  hook  
         [0061]    [0061] 48  truck topper or cap  
         [0062]    [0062] 49  cargo guard  
         [0063]    [0063] 50  cargo pad  
         [0064]    [0064] 51  cargo  
       DESCRIPTION  
       [0065]    FIGS.  1 - 23 —Preferred Embodiment  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 1 shows a conventional pickup truck  30 . It includes a cab  31  and a truck bed  32 . The bed  32  includes storage space  33  confined by the cab  31  and a pair of opposed box sides  34  and  35 . Each box side has a flat box top  36 .  
         [0067]    Mounted on the right box side  34  is a cargo tie-down rail  37  (FIGS. 1,3 and  4 ). Mounted on the left box side  35  is a cargo tie-down rail  38  (FIGS. 1 and 2). Both cargo tie-down rails  37  and  38  are made in accordance with this invention. Cargo tie-down rails  37  and  38  are identical in all respects and can be interchanged by swapping them end for end. This invention also includes variations in the cut and shape of the cargo tie-down rails  37  and  38  such that the two rails would not be identical and interchangeable.  
         [0068]    The cargo tie-down rail  37  consists of a unitary rail  44  (FIGS.  1  to  3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  8 ) made of a solid, one-piece material such as aluminum, steel, fiberglass or plastic; a rounded rub-rail  39  (FIGS.  1  to  8 ) that can be circular, elliptical, half-moon or other rounded shape; a flange  45  (FIGS. 3, 4, and  6  to  8 ) that projects at approximately a ninety degree angle from the rail  44  and that fits approximately flush with the box side  34 . Round fastener holes  40  span the length of the cargo tie-down rail  37  at two inch intervals, although any combination of shape, number and spacing of fastener holes can be used. Cargo tie-down rails  37  can be produced in any length. Mounting holes  41  (FIGS. 4 and 7) are distributed along the flange  45 . Mounting bolts  42  and mounting nuts  43  or other attachment devices such as screws, rivets or clips are inserted through the mounting holes  41  into the box side  34  for mounting the cargo tie-down rail  37  to the box side  34 .  
         [0069]    The round rub-rail  39  is designed to mate with a cargo guard  49  (FIGS.  10  to  16 ) and a cargo pad  50  (FIGS.  17  to  23 ). Cargo guards  49  are protective devices made from a relatively hard material such as plastic or hard rubber. They protect both the cargo tie-down rail  37  and the cargo  51  (FIG. 1) from scratching, marring or other damage. Cargo pads  50  are protective devices made from a relatively soft material such as foam or soft rubber. They provide extra protection for fragile cargos. Both cargo guards  49  and cargo pads  50  have longitudinal slits that allow them to snap over the rub-rail  39  in such a manner that they remain secured to the cargo tie-down rail through friction even at high rates of speed. Cargo guards  49  and cargo pads  50  are removable and can be mounted to and removed from the cargo tie-down rail  37  as needed or they may be permanently attached through the use of glue, clamps or straps. Cargo guards  49  and cargo pads  50  can be used and applied in short sections at a specific location on the cargo tie down rail  37  or they may extend the entire length of the cargo tie-down rail  37 .  
         [0070]    Cargo tie-down rails  37 , in their preferred usage, mount on the inside of the box side  34  so that the rail  44  is approximately flush with the box top  36  (FIGS. 1, 8 and  9 ). Cargo tie-down rails  37  do not interfere with the use of a truck topper or truck cap  48 .  
         [0071]    FIGS.  24 - 28 —Additional Embodiment  
         [0072]    An additional embodiment is shown in FIGS. 24 through 28; in this embodiment the rounded rub rail  39  contains a hollow space  52  that accepts a roll pin  53 , solid pin, threaded stud or other attachment device (FIG. 26). Two or more cargo tie-down rails  37  may be connected by pressing the cargo tie-down rails  37  together so that the roll pin  53  passes into the hollow space  52  of each cargo tie-down rail  37  (FIGS. 27 and 28).  
         [0073]    Advantages  
         [0074]    From the description above, a number of advantages of my cargo tie-down rail become evident:  
         [0075]    (a) the spacing of the fastener holes provide tie-down points that are readily available without requiring repositioning of a movable car;  
         [0076]    (b) the cargo tie-down rail mounts inside the pickup box and therefore can be used in conjunction with a truck topper or cap;  
         [0077]    (c) the round rub rail and unitary construction of the cargo tie-down rail make it resistant to impact damage that could result from shifting loads;  
         [0078]    (d) the number and spacing of fastener holes provide anchor points along the entire length of the pickup box;  
         [0079]    (e) the cargo tie-down rail mates with cargo pads and guards that provide extra protection to fragile and delicate cargoes;  
         [0080]    (f) the cargo tie-down rail is expandable, and multiple cargo tie-down rails can be combined together to form cargo tie-down rails of varying lengths which may be used for a large variety of pickup trucks, delivery trucks and trailers.  
         [0081]    Operation—FIGS.  1 ,  8 - 23   
         [0082]    When a load is placed in a truck it is secured to the cargo tie-down rail  37  through the use of a tie-down device such as a strap, hook, stretch cord, rope, twine, chain, cable, bolts or other means of attachment. The cargo tie-down rail  37  may also accept attachments bolted, pegged, pinned, clipped or otherwise secured through the fastener holes  40  or clamped to the rub-rail  39 . FIG. 1 discloses a tie-down strap  46  attached to cargo tie-down rail  37  securing a cargo  51 . A hook  47  attaches through a fastener hole  40  and secures snugly around the round rub rail  39 . FIG. 8 shows in more detail how the hook  47  wraps around the rub-rail  39 . The cargo  51  is then snugged down against the rub-rail  39  which may or may not have a cargo guard  49  or cargo pad  50  affixed to it. The rub-rail  39 , cargo guard  49  or cargo pad  50  provide protection both for the cargo  51  and for the box side  34 .  
         [0083]    FIGS.  10  to  16  show a cargo tie-down rail  37  with an affixed cargo guard  49 . FIGS.  17  to  23  show a cargo tie-down rail  37  with an affixed cargo pad.  
         [0084]    A cargo tie-down rail  37  is not limited to use on the box side  34  of a pickup truck, but can also be used on the entire perimeter of the pickup box (FIG. 1) as well as on large delivery trucks, trailers, walls, floors or any other flat surface of a cargo transportation vehicle where multiple tie-down points are required.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 9 shows cargo tie-down rails  37  and  38  mounted on a truck with a truck topper or box cap  48 . Because cargo tie-down rails mount inside the box side  34  they can be used in conjunction with a topper  48  without interfering with the utility of either the cargo tie-down rails  37  and  38  or the topper  48 .  
         [0086]    Conclusion, Ramifications and Scope  
         [0087]    Accordingly, the reader will see that the cargo tie-down rail of this invention provides tie-down points without requiring the repositioning of a movable car or tie-down anchor; can be used in conjunction with a truck topper or cap and does not require removal to allow for the mounting or dismounting of said topper or cap; is resistant to, and protects the pickup box from, impact damage that can result from shifting loads; provides tie-down points along the entire length of the truck box; mates with cargo guards and pads that provide additional protection to fragile and delicate cargos; the cargo tie-down rail is also expandable to fit pickup boxes of varying lengths, as well as larger transportation vehicles such as delivery trucks and trailers.  
         [0088]    While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, the unitary rail can be constructed from plastic, fiberglass or any of a variety of metals. The ends of the cargo tie-down rail can be cut to any angle. The cargo tie-down rail can also be anodized in a variety of colors.  
         [0089]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.