Ladder utility rack and mounting rail

The present invention is a ladder utility rack for pick-up truck cargo beds. It has two parallel horizontal base rails and at least two vertical stanchion units. Each base rail has horizontal and vertical running surfaces and each is adapted to nest atop and against sidewalls of a cargo bed. These base rails are not connected to one another except via the stanchion units. These units have vertical legs running from each of the base rails upwardly and inwardly and terminate at a commonly connected horizontal cross member. A second embodiment includes an additional set of rails, i.e. mounting rails, which run parallel to the base rails and, together with the base rails, form a horizontal platform for mounting items thereon to be transportable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to utility racks for pick-up truck cargo beds and 
particularly such utility racks for carrying ladders and other items of 
substantial length which may typically exceed the length of a cargo bed. 
The invention also relates to such utility racks as may include optional 
rails to create platforms for mounting items to be transported, e.g. tool 
boxes, storage bins, adapter plate mounted machinery, generators, 
compressors, and the like. 
2. Prior Art Statement 
With the development of cargo bed trucks came racks to support items for 
transportframes for carrying lumber, glass, ladders, etc. They were 
initially made of wood and took on a box-like open frame configuration. 
Subsequently, metal racks were developed to increase both strength and 
longevity. While the development of ladder utility racks and other racks 
did not stand still, most improvements pertained to "enhancing" the basic 
open box-like framing by adding to it rather than changing the framing 
configuration itself. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,134,823 describes a 1938 ladder rack which is side mounted 
and includes a complex clamping lever. U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,624 describes a 
ladder rack involving a plurality of bows which transverse the top of a 
closed truck, wherein one of the bows has clamps to clamp ladders. The 
bows are independently attached to the vehicle and are not connected in 
any fashion. Further, they appear not to be adaptable to cargo beds for 
carrying items having lengths greater than the cargo bed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,117 describes a ladder rack for vehicles involving 
parallel side members and transverse cross members. It is adapted for 
mounting on the roof of a vehicle and, again, would not be effective for a 
pick-up bed. Also, complex rack attachment and ladder attachment 
mechanisms are included. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,427 teaches an auxiliary structured element for pick-up 
cargo beds which includes a four sided frame and subsequent cross members 
for mounting a deck, e.g. a top with an access door. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,837 is directed to a load support assembly for pick-up 
trucks. This device has vertical mounting supports and a tiltable load 
support cross member. It is used for transporting items in the cargo bed 
tilted upwardly and forwardly; it is cab mounted and cannot carry lengthy 
items in a horizontal position. 
Most recently issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,324 describes a utility rack for 
pick-up cargo beds. The rack has two inverted "U" type stanchions attached 
to a continuous rail that encompasses both sidewalls and the forward wall 
of the cargo bed, itself forming a "U" type configuration in the 
horizontal plane. The rear stanchion is movable and removable. This is 
different from the present invention in the extra weight and material 
required for the forward wall section of the continuous rail, whereas the 
present invention relies upon parallel rails not connected directly to one 
another. It is also more difficult to install since this prior art device 
has exact fixed width of separation of the rail due to the direct 
connection. It is also subject to loosening and wearing of the rear 
stanchion mounting parts and even subject to the possibility of accidental 
disassemblage of the rear stanchion. Finally, because of the need for 
close tolerances of the rear stanchion and its mounts, the precise 
separation of the rail at its rear portion is essential to enable a user 
to subsequently mount the rear stanchion. None of those shortcomings exist 
with the present invention device. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a ladder utility rack for pick-up truck cargo 
beds. It has two parallel horizontal base rails and at least two vertical 
stanchion units. Each base rail has horizontal and vertical running 
surfaces and each is adapted to nest atop and against sidewalls of a cargo 
bed. These base rails are not connected to one another except via the 
stanchion units. These units have vertical legs running from each of the 
base rails upwardly and inwardly and terminate at a commonly connected 
horizontal cross member. A second embodiment includes an additional set of 
rails, i.e. mounting rails, which run parallel to the base rails and, 
together with the base rails, form a horizontal platform for mounting 
items thereon to be transportable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The utility rack of the present invention has as one of its objectives to 
provide a rack which is durable and yet less complex than conventional 
racks. It is also an objective to provide a utility rack which has an 
inwardly biased horizontal cross section for receiving ladders and the 
like away from the outer periphery of the vehicle. It is also an objective 
to provide an easily installable rack which may be adapted for acting as a 
platform for mounting other items for transport, such as tools, tool 
boxes, storage bins, generators, pumps, gas motors, etc. 
Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown a top perspective view of a utility 
rack 1 mounted on cargo bed 13 of pick-up truck 11. A pair of base rails 
have horizontal surfaces 3 and 5 and vertical surfaces 7 and 9, 
respectively. The horizontal surfaces 3 and 5 nest atop the sidewalls of 
cargo bed 13 and the vertical surfaces 7 and 9 seat against the sidewalls, 
as shown. They may be bolted down, welded, or affixed by any known means. 
Utility rack 1 includes stanchion units 17 and 19. Front stanchion unit 17 
is attached to horizontal base rail surfaces 3 and 5 at the lower portions 
35 and 37 of vertical legs 23 and 21, e.g. by welding, bolting, a 
combination of these, or other known means of attachment. The vertical 
legs 21 and 23 extend upwardly and inwardly and are mounted forwardly, as 
shown, and are connected by horizontal cross member 25. Lateral support 
blocks 27 and 29 are atop cross member 25 and, although optional, are 
preferred. These keep ladders, lumber, pipes, etc., from sliding or 
rolling off laterally at their inside surfaces 31 and 33. Also, due to the 
inward configuration of the vertical legs (e.g. 21 and 23) such items as 
ladders are transported away from the outer periphery of the pick-up 
truck. This becomes important when the truck is in motion and turning. The 
center of gravity is better maintained and there may be less tipping. This 
is safer and will cause less wear of shocks and springs. Also, note that 
the stanchions are not connected directly to one another but are connected 
by horizontal cross members, as shown. 
Rear stanchion unit 19 has vertical legs 41 and 43 and these are similarly 
attached to the base rails as are legs 21 and 23. Also, they generally 
have the same cross sections, angles, sizes, etc., as the forward 
stanchion unit, and, although an exact replication is not critical, it is 
preferred. 
FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of alternative utility rack 101. Here, 
base rail running horizontal surface 103 and base rail running horizontal 
surface 105 nest atop opposite sidewalls of a cargo bed (not shown) and 
their vertical surfaces 104 and 106 fit against the sidewalls. Rear 
stanchion unit 141 includes vertical legs 143 and 145, attached to the 
base rail horizontal surfaces 105 and 103, as shown. They terminate 
upwardly and inwardly at cross member 147 and this embodiment includes 
optional lateral support blocks 149 and 151 with inside surfaces 173 and 
175 to stop lateral shift of load off the rack. 
Forwardly attached stanchion unit 121 likewise includes vertical legs 123 
and 125, horizontal commonly connected cross member 127 and support blocks 
129 and 131 with inside stop surfaces 169 and 171. 
In this version, auxiliary sections are attached to provide for mounting 
platforms. Thus, mounting rails 107 and 109 are attached via spacers 111, 
113 and 115, 117, as shown. These mounting rails 107 and 109 include 
vertical surfaces 108 and 110, respectively. They have a cross section 
which includes horizontal and vertical surfaces and are attached with the 
horizontal surfaces directed away from the base rails to which they are 
attached, as shown. In preferred embodiments such as is shown in FIG. 2, 
they have a mirror image cross section to the base rails and may be 
sectioned or full length. Optional support plates 161, 163, 165 and 167 
have a triangle and base configuration and are inserted between vertical 
surfaces 104 and 108 and between 106 and 110, as shown, and are also 
attached to horizontal surfaces 103, 107 and 105, 109, as shown. Finally, 
they are connected to the vertical legs 143, 145, 123 and 125, as shown. 
FIG. 3 shows an end view of a partial cut looking into the left end of rack 
101. Bed wall 181 is shown with horizontal surface 103 on its top and 
vertical surface 104 on its side; these being connected by welding (or 
bolts, not shown), or other attachment means. Other parts identified with 
respect to FIG. 2 are like numbered. 
FIG. 4 shows an end view of an alternative shape for a present invention 
rack base rail. Here, the base rail 201 is arcuated to fit tightly upon a 
curved cargo bed wall 210, but includes horizontal surface 203 and 
vertical surface 205. 
FIG. 5 shows a side cut view of a stanchion unit cross member 301. It 
includes four sides, e.g. of metal plate, 303, 305, 307 and 309 to form a 
tubular structure. This could be welded, for example. Alternatively, two 
angle pieces, e.g. angle irons, could be attached, a "U" channel could be 
used alone, a plate and "U" channel could be attached, or a tubular 
extruded form could be used. This typifies the cross sections of the 
stanchion unit legs, as well. 
FIG. 6 shows an alternative configuration side cut view of a cross member 
401 having a generally oval shape and having wider sides 403 and 409 and 
narrower sides 405 and 407. The cross member here is formed of high impact 
tubular plastic. The cross sections could be square, hexagon, rectangular, 
round, oval or of any other sound, workable geometry without exceeding the 
scope of the invention. 
Referring back to FIG. 2 and now also to FIG. 7, there is shown in FIG. 7 a 
cut end view of base rail horizontal surfaces 103 and 107 with a mounting 
latch 501 attached thereto. Horizontal surfaces 104 and 108 are connected 
by spacer plate 113. As mentioned above, horizontal surfaces 103 and 107 
together form a mounting platform. Base plate 503 includes a hooked end 
505. Permanently attached thereto is an over-the center latch 515, also 
called an over-the-center clamp, with axle 513, attachment frame 511 and 
attachment strap 509, with hook 507 passing through an orifice in base 
plate 503 and attached to horizontal surface 107. Not shown on base plate 
503 would be any item desired to be transported and these could be 
temporarily or permanently attached to base plate 503. These could include 
but would not be limited to tool boxes, storage bins, holders for 
equipment, motors, generators, pumps, power tools, display advertising 
boards or any other item. Additionally, the latch 501 could itself be 
incased within a lockable tool box or other lockable container or even be 
itself lockable. The rails may be joined with a single, horizontal spacer 
so as to form a continuous mid-section. The present invention device may 
include other features on the rails and/or the stanchion units, such as 
reflectors, lights, mounting hooks or fasteners, etc. 
Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention 
are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood 
that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be 
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.