Tonneau cover cargo containment track rail system

A tonneau cover cargo containment track rail system including a cargo hold down and at least one tonneau cover rail. The cargo hold down has a base portion and a handle portion. The handle portion is operably attached to the base portion for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The tonneau cover rail has a first attachment mechanism attached thereto. The first attachment mechanism is adapted to receive a portion of the cargo hold down to retain the cargo hold down in engagement with the tonneau cover rail while permitting the cargo hold down to move with respect to the tonneau cover rail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to storage systems for vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a tonneau cover cargo containment track rail system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pickups are a quite popular type of vehicle because the pickups enable objects of various sizes to be placed in the bed of the pickup and then transported. The bed of the pickup generally has a floor surface that is bounded by a front wall, side walls and a back wall. At least one of the front wall, the side walls and the back wall may be movable to facilitate placing objects into the bed and removing objects from the bed.

While the front wall, the side walls and the back wall preclude objects from sliding out of the pickup bed, these walls do not retain the objects at specific locations within the pickup bed.

Even when the pickup bed is at least partially covered with a tonneau cover, there is need to place objects stored in the pickup bed in an enclosure to restrict the movement of such objects within the pickup bed. There are generally two types of tonneau covers—hard and soft. The hard tonneau covers have a relatively hard surface that extends over the open top. In some instances, the hard top is provided in more than one section.

The soft tonneau covers include a flexible material that extends across the open top of the pickup bed. When not in use, it is possible to roll up many types of soft tonneau covers for storage.

Either style of tonneau cover typically attaches to the sides of the pickup bed. The attachment of the tonneau cover to the pickup bed thereby restricts the ability to use toolboxes that extend over the sides of the pickup bed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a cargo containment rail system. The cargo containment rail system enables objects stored in the bed of a pickup to be secured to prevent movement in the pickup bed. The cargo containment rail system generally includes at least one rail and a cargo hold down. The invention may also include at least one clamping mechanism to mount the cargo containment rail system with respect to the pickup bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a cargo containment rail system, as illustrated at10in the figures. The cargo containment rail system10enables objects placed in a pickup bed16to be retained in a stationary position in the pickup bed16, as illustrated inFIG. 1. The cargo containment rail system10thereby prevents damage to the objects or the pickup bed16caused by movement of the objects within the pickup bed16. The cargo containment rail system10is suited for use with a soft tonneau cover that may substantially cover the pickup bed16. A tonneau cover18may be used in conjunction with the invention.

The cargo containment rail system10generally includes a rail20and at least one cargo hold down22that is attachable to the rail20, as illustrated inFIG. 2. The rail20may include features that are generally found in rails used in conjunction with soft tonneau covers. A variety of clamps24may be used for attaching the rails20to the pickup bed16.

In particular, the rail20includes a lower rail portion30and an upper rail portion32, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4. The lower rail portion30and the upper rail portion32may be oriented generally transverse to each other. The lower rail portion30may be utilized to attach the rail20to the side of the pickup bed.

A first surface40of the lower rail portion30that is positioned adjacent to the side of the pickup bed may be substantially flat. A second surface42of the lower rail portion30, which is generally opposite the first surface40, may have at least one ridge44extending therefrom. The at least one ridge44may be engaged by a clamp80that is used for attaching the rail20to the side of the pickup bed.

The upper rail portion32may be substantially flat to provide support for cross members (not shown) that extend under the soft tonneau cover (not shown). The rail20may also include an outwardly directed channel50intermediate the lower rail portion30and the upper rail portion32. The channel50may be oriented at an acute angle with respect to both the lower rail portion30and the upper rail portion32. The channel50is adapted to receive a releasably fastening device (not shown) that holds down the edges of the soft tonneau cover.

The rail20also includes an inwardly directed channel52. Sides of the channel52partially extend over the channel52to facilitate retaining the cargo hold down22in the channel52while permitting the cargo hold down22to laterally slide with respect to the channel52.

A plurality of cutout54are formed in the channel52. The cutouts54may have a width that is approximately the same as a width of a lower portion of the channel52. While the cutouts54are illustrated as having a generally circular configuration, the cutouts54may be formed in a variety of shapes utilizing the concepts of the invention.

The cutouts54may be oriented at a first spacing of about10inches. The cutouts54are adapted to receive a portion of the cargo hold down22to thereby retain the cargo hold down22in a stationary position with respect to the rail20.

At least one cutout56is oriented at a second spacing that is different from the first spacing. In one configuration, the second spacing is about one inch. The cargo hold down22may be placed into engagement with the rail20by positioning the cargo hold down22over the cutout56and the adjacent cutout54that are in the second spacing.

While the figures illustrate that the technique for attaching the cargo hold down22to the tonneau cover rail20is a channel52, it is possible to use alternative techniques for attaching the cargo hold down22to the tonneau cover rail20. An example of one such alternative technique is a single extension that extends from the tonneau cover rail20. In certain embodiments the extension may have a variety of shapes, examples of such shapes include T-shape and L-shape.

The cargo hold down22would have a recess formed therein that is adapted to receive a portion of the extension. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, this configuration could enable the cargo hold down22to slide with respect to the tonneau cover rail20.

While it is possible for frictional engagement between the handle portion and the base portion to retain the cargo hold down22in a stationary position with respect to the tonneau cover rail20, the extension may include a plurality of recesses that are adapted to receive a portion of the handle portion to facilitate retaining the cargo hold down22in a stationary position with respect to the tonneau cover rail20.

The cargo hold down22has a base portion60and a handle portion62, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6. The base portion60includes at least one tie down64that is in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to a base66such that an axis of the at least one tie down64is offset from an axis of the base66in at least two coordinate directions. The tie down64is adapted to receive an object that is used to restrain cargo from movement such as rope or bungee cords.

The base66has two sets of extensions70extending therefrom. The extensions70may at least partially conform to the surface of the cutouts54. The extensions70are oriented at the second spacing. This configuration enables the cargo hold down22to be placed in the channel52by positioning the extensions70over the cutout54and the cutout56, which are oriented in the second spacing.

The handle portion62may include a gripping section72that facilitates moving the handle portion62with respect to the base portion60. The handle portion62may be operably attached to the base portion60for movement between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The handle portion may be biased to the engaged position.

When the handle portion62is in the engaged position, a lower surface of the handle portion62at least partially extends into one of the cutouts54. The handle portion62thereby prevents the cargo hold down22from moving with respect to the rail20. Alternatively, when the handle portion62is in the disengaged position, the cargo hold down22is slidable with respect to the rail20.

The cargo containment rail system10may also include a clamping mechanism80to use for mounting the rail20with respect to the side of the pickup bed. One such clamping mechanism80is illustrated inFIG. 7.

The clamping mechanism80may include an inner clamp plate82, an outer clamp plate84and a fastener86. The inner clamp plate82may have a length that is greater than a length of the outer clamp plate84to enhance the ability to retain the clamping mechanism80in a stationary position with respect to the side of the pickup bed. The increased length of the inner clamp plate82also reinforces the side of the pickup bed from deformation caused by forces placed on the cargo hold down.

The inner clamp plate82includes an upper end90and a lower end92. The upper end90may include at least one ridge94formed in the surface thereof. The at least one ridge94enhances the ability of the clamping mechanism80to maintain a stationary relationship with respect to the side of the pickup bed.

The lower end92may include at least one receiving channel96. The at least one receiving channel96is adapted to receive a pivot pin98on the outer clamp plate84to facilitate pivoting of the outer clamp plate84with respect to the inner clamp plate82.

In addition to the pivot pin98, the inner clamp plate82may include at least one ridge100formed in an upper surface thereof. The at least one ridge100enhances the ability of the clamping mechanism80to grip the lower rail portion30.

The fastener86may include at least one bolt102that extends through an aperture104in the outer clamp plate84and into a threaded aperture106in the inner clamp plate82. Rotating the bolt102thereby enables a distance between the inner clamp plate82and the outer clamp plate84to be changed. Alternatively, it is possible to operably connect the inner clamp plate82and the outer clamp plate84with a mechanism that permits manual operation.

In another configuration of the cargo hold, which is illustrated inFIG. 8, the handle portion110includes a loop112. Grasping the loop112facilitates movement of the handle portion110from the engaged position to the disengaged position.

An alternative configuration of the rail120is illustrated inFIG. 9. In this configuration, the channel152utilized for attachment of the cargo hold down is positioned on a lower portion of the rail120and includes at least one cutout154. This configuration may be utilized for attaching the rail120to the side of the pickup bed with a plurality of bolts. The number and size of the bolts may be selected based upon the anticipated loads that will be placed on the cargo containment rail system110.

To enhance the strength of the cargo containment rail system110, at least one backer plate may be provided on a back side of the side of the pickup bed. The backer plate thereby reduces the potential of the side of the pickup bed from being deformed in response to forces being placed upon the cargo hold downs.

It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.