Multiple configuration cargo system for pickup trucks

A multiple configuration cargo system for a pickup truck as provided, having a front panel, a pair of side panels, a pair of side hinged roof panels and a pair of rear cargo panels. The cargo system is provided with a rear access insert that is a combination truck bed extension and ramp assembly, interfitting between the rear panels and closed roof panels. The ramp assembly is attached to the bed extension, for movement between a fully extended position angled from the ground to the bed of the truck and a partially extended support position wherein the ramp assemblies support the bed extending segment in a horizontal plane for weight bearing use. The roof panels meet along the longitudinal axis of the truck bed and pivotally move between (1) a closed position substantially parallel to the truck bed, (2) a vertically opened position in an upwards direction, and (3) an open position in a vertical and downwards direction into the cargo space defined by the side panels. Preferably, the side panels contain replaceable modular units modified for a plurality of dedicated uses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to a cargo system for the conventional load bed of a 
pickup truck, and more particularly to a multiple configuration cargo 
system for pickup trucks comprising a pair of side cargo panels in 
combination with a pair of roof panels which may be converted between 
closed and opened position over the cargo space. 
BACKGROUND 
It is often desirable to enclose the load bed of a pickup. The bed of a 
pickup can be enclosed either for utilization as a sheltered and secured 
space area for camping and other recreational uses, or for a utility, 
cargo, loads, payloads, cargo transport and storage area, as well as other 
uses. In addition to traditional "camper" shells, a number of enclosures 
exist for pickup load beds. One example of a utility enclosure for a 
pickup truck can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,364, Rafi-Zadeh. 
Rafi-Zadeh shows a pickup cover that has a top panel that can be lowered 
or raised over a set of utility drawers. This patent illustrates one of 
the basic problems in existing pickup enclosures, namely although the bed 
of the pickup is covered, it is still difficult to access the part of the 
load bed located at the greatest distance from the tailgate and sides of 
the pickup bed. In addition, this style of cover still limits the height 
of loads that can be accepted in the truck bed and prohibits operation for 
working on pickup bed to position loads. 
In an effort to improve access to the deeper recesses of the load bed, 
still other designs have been implemented. Another example is found in 
Swann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,717. Swann shows an articulated door that opens 
up the back panel and a portion of the roof section of the enclosure for 
the truck bed. Although Swann increases access into the deeper recesses of 
the load bed, the enclosure of Swann still limits the size of load that 
can be accommodated in the enclosed truck bed. 
Another solution to improving access to the pickup load bed can be found in 
Turnbull, U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,108. Turnbull shows a cap for a pickup that 
is split centrally and longitudinally along the roof. This allows the cap 
for the pickup to open up to the outside of the truck bed, giving access 
to the entire pickup load bed. The load bed enclosure of Turnbull is an 
improvement in terms of accessibility to the load bed of the pickup, but 
in its open position, any oversize cargo cannot be transported because of 
the unstable configuration of the split halves of the enclosure in their 
open position. 
A concomitant problem to the inaccessibility of the load bed of enclosed 
pickup beds is the difficulty of loading oversized carry-on loads such as 
furniture or appliances or wheeled vehicles, such as lawn and garden 
equipment, golf carts, all terrain vehicles, snow machines or motorcycles 
into the back of a pickup for transport. Gerulf, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,437, 
shows one solution to this difficulty. Gerulf shows a combination tailgate 
and ramp assembly in which a pair of ramps can be fastened together and 
hinged to form a conventional tailgate, or when unfastened, the ramps can 
be rotated down and out to form a loading ramp. 
With all of these designs, there still exists undesirable limitations, 
either that a person cannot stand upright in the truck bed when loading 
it, or in the case of Turnbull, if you can stand upright, the truck cannot 
be driven with the large load access capability. 
What is still needed is a multiple configuration cargo system that opens 
and closes in a fashion to accommodate oversize loads, but still allows 
enclosure. 
What is also needed is a cargo system that permits a number of options for 
enclosure of the cargo depending on the size and nature of the cargo to be 
placed in the truck bed. 
What is further needed is a cargo system that allows several options on 
ways to open the enclosure for the loading and transport of cargo. 
Additionally, what is still needed is an improved assembly for loading 
cargo and an improved option for a loading ramp for wheeled vehicles that 
need to be placed in the cargo bed. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
The invention is a multiple configuration cargo system for use with a 
vehicle having a truck bed such as a conventional pickup truck. The 
invention is comprised of a pair of side panels, a pair of rear cargo 
panels with each panel having a base and a top, and a pair of roof panels. 
The roof panels meet along the longitudinal axis of the truck bed and are 
pivotally attached to the pair of side panels. The roof panels are 
designed for movement between three fixed positions. The roof panels can 
be fixed in a closed position in which the roof panels are substantially 
parallel to the truck bed and define a horizontal plane, or secondly the 
panels can be fixed in an open position in which three panels extend in a 
substantially vertical orientation in a generally upwards position above 
the horizontal plane, or thirdly, the roof panels can be fixed in a second 
open position in which the pair of roof panels extend in a substantially 
vertical orientation in a generally downwards direction below the 
horizontal plane, and into a cargo space defined by the side panels. 
In the preferred embodiment, the cargo system also is comprised of a front 
panel, with the side panels, rear cargo panels and front panel all being 
of unitary construction. The cargo system also has the option of a rear 
access insert sized to interfit between the pair of rear panels and the 
closed roof panels. Ideally, the rear access insert further comprises a 
combination truck bed extension and a plurality of ramp assemblies. The 
ramp assembly is adapted for hinged attachment to the bed extending 
section for movement between a fully extended position wherein the ramp 
assemblies form an angled ramp from the ground to the bed of the truck in 
combination with the bed extension and a second partially extended support 
position wherein the ramp assemblies are in a substantially perpendicular 
orientation to the bed extension and support the bed extending segment in 
a horizontal plane for weight bearing use of the bed extension. 
The rear panels, side panels and optional front panel may all be windowed 
to allow greater light infiltration and visibility into and out of the 
cargo space, as well as to improve the aesthetics of the cargo system. The 
side panels can also be adapted for interfitting with custom specialized 
options in modular units, including but not limited to cooking stoves or 
tool drawers.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION 
There is shown a conventional pickup truck 10, with a conventional load bed 
and the multiple configuration cargo system enclosure 12 of the present 
invention. In the preferred embodiment, cargo system 12 has a pair of roof 
panels 14, a pair of substantially parallel side panels 16, a pair of rear 
panels 18, and a front panel 20, with all of the panels being of unitary 
construction. The two rear panels 18 define rear access, cargo opening 22 
to accommodate rear access insert 24 that is a combination load bed 
extension 26 and ramp assembly 28. Cargo system 12 has a unique pair of 
roof panels 14 that are pivotally attached to side panels 16. In the case 
of the preferred embodiment, roof panels 14 are pivotally attached by a 
conventional hinge system, here a continuous metal piano type hinge. Other 
materials can be used for the hinge system, such as synthetics including 
Polyhinge.TM.. Roof panels 14 are manufactured from any material with 
suitable characteristics of structural strength and lightweight. In the 
preferred embodiment, roof panels 14 are made of a metal-skinned, 
foam-filled sandwich. 
Roof panels 14 are designed for movement between the fully closed position 
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 and two different open positions. In the 
first open position roof panels 14 extend in a substantially vertical and 
upwards direction above the horizontal plane as illustrated in FIG. 4. In 
the second open position roof panels 14 extend in a vertical and downward 
direction below the horizontal plane and into cargo space 30, as shown in 
FIG. 3. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the height of side 
panels 16, front panels 20 and rear panels 18 is slightly above the top of 
the cab of the pickup truck, as seen in FIGS. 1-5. 
Importantly, each roof panel is hinged to a side panel, along edge 32. In 
the first open position, that is vertical and upwards, each roof panel 14 
can be secured in the open position by a releasable securing means 34, 
here by conventional door stays or lid supports as seen in FIG. 4. In the 
second open position, vertical and downward into cargo space 30, both roof 
panels 14 will remain in the downward open position by any appropriate 
latching device 36, here a rear operated slide latch. 
In the preferred embodiment, roof panels 14 meet in the closed position 
with a tongue and groove edge mating and are held closed by a 
centerline-location rear operating slide latch system 36 that can 
cooperate with the latch system used to secure roof panels 14 in the 
second, downward open position. When closed, roof panels 14 form a weather 
tight seal through the attachment of conventional weather stripping in the 
tongue and groove edge mating of roof panels 14. In the fully closed 
position, roof panels 14 are stabilized and rigidly secured by mounting 
removable streamline-shaped cross brace member 38 perpendicular to 
longitudinal axis of the bed of truck 10 and across the span of both roof 
panels 14 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. Preferably, cross brace 38 is of an 
airfoil design and is located adjacent to rear panels 18. Cross brace 38 
is mounted to roof panels 14 in any suitable manner, here by T-pins 40 and 
mating tubular receivers 42. 
Rear panels 18, side panels 16 and optional front panel 20 may be windowed 
to allow greater light infiltration and improved visibility into and out 
of cargo space 30 and to improve the aesthetics of cargo system 12. Rear 
panels 18, side panels 16 and front panel 20 can be manufactured from any 
suitable material, such as ABS plastic, aluminum or steel. Side panels 16 
have in the instance being described, been adapted for the interfitting of 
modular utility drawers and storage spaces, which can be accessed from 
either the interior or exterior of cargo system 12, as shown in FIG. 2. 
Side panels 16 can also be adapted for interfitting with other custom 
specialized modular units, including but not limited to trays, pet 
kennels, heating units, cooking stoves, sinks, basins, and coolers. 
In the preferred embodiment cargo system 12 can be completely enclosed by 
the pivotal attachment of rear access insert 24 between rear panels 18 and 
closed roof panels 14. Rear access insert can be windowed or a solid 
planar sheet hingeably attached adjacent to truck bed and secured using 
any conventional securing means, for example a vise action grip latch 44. 
Preferably, rear access insert 24 is a combination load bed extension 26 
and ramp assembly 28 as seen in FIGS. 2,3 and 5. In the instance being 
described, rear access insert 24 is fabricated from an open mesh non-slip 
metal sheeting, such as expanded metal diamond shaped deck span. Rear 
insert 24 is composed of planar bed-extending section 26 and a pair of 
ramp assemblies 28. Rear insert 24 is sized to interfit between rear 
panels 18 and closed roof panels 14. Ramp assemblies 28 are hingeably 
attached, here using a pivot-assembly carry-through bolt bushing, to bed 
extending section 26 in a manner that allows ramp assemblies 28 to be 
folded flushly against extending section 26 when rear access insert 24 is 
in the closed position, as seen in FIG. 5. 
Alternatively, ramp assemblies 28 may be partially extended and used to 
support bed extending section 26 in a horizontal position parallel and in 
the same plane as truck bed, as seen in FIG. 2. In the partially extended 
position, ramp assemblies 28 are substantially perpendicular to bed 
extension 26 and support bed extension for weight bearing use of same. In 
the closed position rear insert 24 is secured by a pair of vise action 
clamps. 
Additionally, in the preferred embodiment extended ramp assembly 24, 
including stub legs 50 are designed to be stowed in a substantially 
parallel position with the roof panels for flat storage of cargo system 12 
and to facilitate stacking for shipping purposes, see FIG. 6. 
In the fully extended position, as seen in FIG. 3, ramp assemblies 28 form 
an angled ramp 24 continuous from truck bed to ground in combination with 
bed extension 26. Preferably, ramp assemblies 28 include a vertical 
downward extending stub leg 50 to supplementally support heavy loads. 
Cargo system 12 can be jacked on to a truck using conventional "camper 
jacks" and can be bolted or clamped to secure cargo system 12 to pickup 
truck 10. Cargo system 12 can be used in a number of different 
applications. The following are representative of the possible uses for 
cargo system 12. Modular utility drawers of side panels 16 can be pulled 
out and replaced, for example, with modular cook stove unit into side 
panels, which can then be accessed from either inside cargo space 30 or 
outside of pickup truck 10. Side panels 16 can also optionally include a 
carry through tube 52 in the front of side panel adjacent to cab of pickup 
10. Carry through tube can be used to store longer sized items, such as 
shovels, plant trimmers, weed eaters, fishing rods, golf clubs or tripods. 
To access cargo system 12 from the rear of truck 10, truck tailgate must be 
removed. To open cargo system 12 in the preferred embodiment, both vise 
action latches 44 on rear access insert 24 are turned and opened. Bed 
extension 26 and ramp assembly 28 can then be lowered and extended with 
supplemental support stub legs 50 falling into place on the ground. Ramp 
assembly 24 can then be walked up to remove streamline cross brace 38 from 
roof panels 14. Roof panels 14 can then be opened to the outward open 
position and fixed with lid supports 34. Cargo space 30 is now ready for 
vehicle or equipment for load introduction into cargo space 30. In this 
configuration a person can walk in, without stooping, drive in, or 
push/pull any load into cargo space 30. After the load is in place, roof 
panels 14 can be returned to the closed position and closed with slide 
latches 36 and streamline cross brace 38 can be replaced. 
Alternatively, roof panels 14 can be opened to the downward position for 
oversize loads. For example, refrigerators, trees, or furniture such as 
dressers. The load can be installed into cargo space 30. Roof panels 14 
can be secured in the downward open position with slide latch mechanisms 
36. After the load is installed, ramp 24 and bed extension 26 assembly can 
be raised and secured with the vise action grips 44 and the load is ready 
to be hauled. Ramp 28 and bed extension 26 assembly can be returned to the 
closed position and secured with slide latch 36. 
Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is understood 
that the invention is not so limited, but rather is limited only by the 
breadth and scope of the following claims and as may be broadened by the 
doctrine of equivalents.