Shift stick device

A shift stick device including an outer pipe that has a first foot receiving end and a first axial foot hole. An adjustment mechanism is positioned over the outer pipe and has a movable arm. An inner pipe is received within the outer pipe when passed through the adjustment mechanism. The inner pipe has a plurality of axial holes and a second foot receiving end. A toothed rack is coupled to the inner pipe with a hitch pin. The rack has a pair of ears at one end that overlap the inner pipe and couple to the pipe. Included are a pair of foot pads with each positioned in the first and second foot receiving end of each pipe. Each foot pad is coupled within each pipe. Each foot pad is in contact with one of a pair of sidewalls of a pick-up truck bed. The adjustment mechanism has the rack positioned within and capable of moving the inner pipe in and out of the outer pipe. The adjustment mechanism is capable of adjusting the device between the sidewalls of the truck bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a shift stick device and more particularly 
pertains to securing cargo in the bed of light pick-up trucks and 
preventing the cargo from shifting and sliding in the bed when the truck 
is in motion. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of a cargo restraining device is known in the prior art. More 
specifically, cargo restraining devices heretofore devised and utilized 
for the purpose of restricting movement of cargo in the truck bed of a 
pick-up truck are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and 
obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs 
encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the 
fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,487 to Brosfske discloses a cargo 
stabilizer for pick-up trucks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,404 to Stewart and 
Butts discloses a vehicle cargo clamp. U.S. Pat. Des. No. 306,003 to 
Berkan, Jr. discloses a cargo restraint for pick-up truck. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,473,331 to Wisecarver discloses a cargo shoring brace extensible foot 
assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,578 to Barnes discloses a load brace 
stabilizing assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,515 to Twyman discloses a 
cartridge-loaded cargo batten. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,565 to Kersey 
an extensible telescoping cargo brace. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a shift stick 
device that allows cargo, when positioned in the truck bed of a light 
pick-up truck, to be braced therein when the device is mounted between the 
side walls of the truck and abuts the cargo. 
In this respect, the shift stick device according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of securing cargo in the bed of light pick-up trucks and 
preventing the cargo from shifting and sliding in the bed when the truck 
is in motion. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved shift stick device which can be used for securing cargo 
in the bed of light pick-up trucks and preventing the cargo from shifting 
and sliding in the bed when the truck is in motion. In this regard, the 
present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of cargo 
restraining devices now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved shift stick device. As such, the general purpose of 
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater 
detail, is to provide a new and improved shift stick device and method 
which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the 
disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an outer pipe 
that is rigid and has a first foot receiving end. The outer pipe has a 
length of about 42 inches and a diameter of about 2 inches. The outer pipe 
has a first axial foot hole therethrough and adjacent the first foot 
receiving end. An adjustment mechanism is positioned over the outer pipe 
and away from the first foot receiving end. The adjustment mechanism has a 
movable arm and a locking pin. An inner pipe is received within the outer 
pipe when passed through the adjustment mechanism. The inner pipe has a 
length equal to the length of the outer pipe. The inner pipe has a 
plurality of axial holes and a second foot receiving end. The plurality of 
axial holes form a second axial foot hole and at least five support holes. 
A first hole of the five support holes is 2 inches from the second foot 
receiving end and spaced from the foot hole. An elongated toothed rack is 
coupled to the inner pipe with a hitch pin. The rack is engaged by the arm 
of the adjustment mechanism when the inner pipe is positioned within the 
outer pipe. The rack has a pair of ears at one end that overlap the inner 
pipe. Each ear has an axial opening with the axial opening of each ear 
being in symmetrical alignment. The openings of the pair of ears can align 
with any of the support holes of the inner pipe. The rack is spaced from 
the second foot end of the inner pipe when coupled to the inner pipe. 
Included are a pair of T-shaped foot pads. Each foot pad is capable of 
being positioned in the first and second foot receiving end of each pipe. 
Each foot pad has a neck portion and a head. The neck of each foot pad has 
an axial hole therethrough. The axial hole of each foot pad is aligned 
with the axial foot hole of each pipe when the neck being positioned 
within the pipe. Each foot pad is releasably coupled within each pipe. 
Each foot pad is in contact with one of a pair of side walls of a pick-up 
truck bed, when the device being secured between the side walls. Lastly, 
the adjustment mechanism has the rack positioned therein. The adjustment 
mechanism can of move the inner pipe in and out of the outer pipe for 
decreasing and increasing the length of the device. The arm of the 
adjustment mechanism engages the teeth of the rack with a lever motion. 
Whereby, as the arm of the adjustment mechanism is rotated upwardly and 
downwardly, the toothed rack is pulled into and through the adjustment 
mechanism, and causes the inner pipe to move into the outer pipe. Pulling 
the inner pipe into the outer pipe will adjust the device between the side 
walls of the pick-up truck. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved shift stick device which has all of the advantages of the prior 
art cargo restraining devices and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
shift stick device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
shift stick device which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved shift stick device which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such shift stick device economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved shift stick device which provides in the apparatuses and methods 
of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a shift 
stick device for securing cargo in the bed of light pick-up trucks and 
preventing the cargo from shifting and sliding in the bed when the truck 
is in motion. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved shift stick device including an outer pipe that has a first foot 
receiving end and a first axial foot hole. An adjustment mechanism is 
positioned over the outer pipe and has a movable arm. An inner pipe is 
received within the outer pipe when passed through the adjustment 
mechanism. The inner pipe has a plurality of axial holes and a second foot 
receiving end. A toothed rack is coupled to the inner pipe with a hitch 
pin. The rack has a pair of ears at one end that overlap the inner pipe 
and couple to the pipe. Included are a pair of foot pads with each 
positioned in the first and second foot receiving end of each pipe. Each 
foot pad is coupled within each pipe. Each foot pad is in contact with one 
of a pair of sidewalls of a pick-up truck bed. The adjustment mechanism 
has the rack positioned within and capable of moving the inner pipe in and 
out of the outer pipe. The adjustment mechanism is capable of adjusting 
the device between the sidewalls of the truck bed. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various 
Figures. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 3 thereof, 
the preferred embodiment of the new and improved shift stick device 
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The present invention, the shift stick device 10 is comprised of a 
plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include 
an inner pipe, an outer pipe, a rack and a lever mechanism. Such 
components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each 
other so as to attain the desired objective. 
Specifically, the present invention includes an outer pipe 12 that is a 
rigid metal or metal alloy and is tubular in cross section as represented 
in FIGS. 3-5. The outer pipe has a first foot receiving end 14, as seen in 
FIG. 3. The outer pipe has a length of about 42 inches and a diameter of 
about 2 inches. The outer pipe has a first axial foot hole 16 that is 
adjacent the first foot receiving end. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, an adjustment mechanism 20 is positioned 
over the outer pipe 12 at an end opposite from the first foot receiving 
end 14. The adjustment mechanism has a straight movable arm 22 (as seen in 
FIGS. 3 and 4) and a locking pin 24. The arm has a winged projection 26 
extending from one side. The projection will engage a slot 28 of the 
locking pin, when the arm is in a down position, and parallel to the outer 
pipe. The locking pin is a spring-loaded locking pin. The spring is not 
shown. The spring allows slight movement of the locking pin to allow 
placement of projection within the slot. The arm is coupled to the 
adjustment mechanism by a pivot pin 32. The arm of the adjustment 
mechanism further includes a gear 33 formed on an inboard end thereof. The 
placement of the gear of the arm allows the rotation thereof from a 
disengaged parallel position above the inner pipe to an engaged locked 
parallel position above the outer pipe thus rotating a total of 180 
degrees. 
Also, an inner pipe 38 is positioned within the outer pipe 12 and passed 
through the adjustment mechanism 20. The inner pipe is tubular in cross 
section as represented in FIGS. 3-5 is a metal or metal alloy, and has a 
length equal to the length of the outer pipe. The inner pipe has a 
diameter slightly less than the diameter of the outer pipe. As shown in 
FIG. 4, the inner pipe has a plurality of axial holes and a second foot 
receiving end 42. The axial holes form a second axial foot hole 44 and at 
least five support holes 46. A first hole 48 of the five support holes is 
two inches from the second foot receiving end and spaced from the foot 
hole. 
Additionally, an elongated tooth rack 54 is coupled to the inner pipe 38 
with a hitch pin 56. The rack is a rigid metal, preferably steel, and is 
about 16 inches in length. The teeth 58 of the rack cover about 90 percent 
of the top surface. The rack's teeth are engaged by the arm of the 
adjustment mechanism when the inner pipe is positioned within the outer 
pipe, and the teeth of the rack are located completely outside of the 
inner pipe. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the rack having a pair of ears 62 at one 
end. The ears overlap the inner pipe. Each ear has an axial opening, not 
shown, with the axial opening of each ear in symmetrical alignment. The 
openings of the pair of ears are aligned with any of the support holes of 
the inner pipe to allow the hitch pin to pass through for coupling. The 
rack is spaced from the second foot end 42 of the inner pipe when coupled. 
It should be noted that the gear of the adjustment mechanism is further 
configured so as to start engagement of the rack teeth when the movable 
arm defines an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the 
horizontal above the inner tube. The adjustment mechanism thus only 
engages the rack teeth when the orientation thereof allows a user to apply 
optimal force thereto. 
A pair of T-shaped foot pads 66 are provided. Each foot pad is a metal and 
comes with a rubber cover 68. One of each foot pad is positionable in the 
first 14 and second 42 foot receiving end of each pipe, as seen in FIG. 3. 
Each foot pad has a neck portion 72 and a head 74. The neck of each foot 
pad has an axial hole 76 as shown in FIG. 5. The axial foot hole of each 
foot pad may be aligned with the axial foot of each pipe when the neck is 
positioned within one of the pipes. One of each foot pad is releasably 
coupled within each pipe with a nut 80 and bolt 82. Each foot pad comes in 
contact with one of a pair of side walls 84 of a pick-up truck bed 86, 
when the device 10 is secured between the side walls, as seen in FIGS. 1 
and 2. Cargo 88, abutting the device, is prevented from sliding about the 
truck bed when the foot pads engage the side walls. 
Lastly, the adjustment mechanism 20 is a geared lever mechanism. The rack 
is positioned through the adjustment mechanism and parallel to the outer 
pipe. The adjustment mechanism, when the arm is raised and lowered, causes 
movement of the inner pipe. The inner pipe goes in and out of the outer 
pipe for decreasing and increasing the length of the device. The device 10 
can span a distance of 461/1 inches to 83 inches, as needed, for securing 
the vice for securing to the side walls of the truck bed. The arm of the 
adjustment mechanism engages the teeth 58 of the rack with a lever motion. 
Whereby, as the arm of the adjustment mechanism is rotated upward and 
downward the toothed rack is pulled into and through the adjustment 
mechanism, and causes the inner pipe to move into the outer pipe to adjust 
the device between the side walls of the pick-up truck. To re-extend the 
inner pipe, remove the hitch pin securing the rack, and pull the inner 
pipe out the outer pipe. When the desired length is reached, replaced the 
hitch pin. 
Furthermore, an extension pipe 92 is included. The extension pipe has a 
third foot receiving end 94 and an extension end 96. The extension end may 
be positioned within the first foot receiving end 14 of the outer pipe, as 
shown in FIG. 5. The extension pipe is 24 inches in length and has a 
portion thereof with a length of 8 inches having diameter equivalent to 
that of the inner pipe and a portion thereof having a diameter equivalent 
to that of the outer pipe. The addition of the extension pipe will allow 
the device 10 to extend from the cab back 100 to the truck bed door 102. 
The extension end of the extension pipe is machined to have a necked down 
diameter equal to the diameter of the inner pipe. The extension end has an 
axial hole 104 that aligns with the first axial foot hole of the outer 
pipe. The extension pipe and outer pipe are coupled with a nut and bolt. 
The third foot receiving end has one of the foot pads coupled within at 
the neck of the foot pad. 
FIG. 6 is an illustration of the cover 108 of the device. The cover may be 
placed over the cargo 88, once the device secures it within the truck bed. 
The cover has a plurality of straps 112 proportionately spaced along two 
sides of the cover. When the cover is placed over the cargo and the 
device, the straps overlap the device and couple to the cover with 
pile-type fastener assemblies 110. 
The shift stick device of the present invention will secure cargo in light 
truck beds and prevent the cargo from sliding around within the truck bed 
when the truck is in motion. The device is an adjustable-length bar that 
is easily secured between any two walls of the truck bed to create a fixed 
barrier to hold cargo in place. The device includes two pipes having 
different diameters and identical lengths. The pipe with the smaller 
diameter is positioned within the pipe having the larger diameter for 
operation of the device. When the two pipes are fitted together, they can 
be adjusted to span a distance of 461/2 to 83 inches. Included with the 
device is an extension pipe that can be connected to the pipe, outer pipe, 
that has the larger diameter. The extension pipe allows the shift stick 
device to reach from front to rear of the long bed truck. 
The device includes a tooth rack and gear lever mechanism. The tooth rack 
is coupled to the inner pipe, that has the smaller diameter. The gear 
lever mechanism/adjustment mechanism is positioned over one end of the 
outer pipe. When the inner pipe is positioned within the outer pipe, the 
rack is parallel to the outer pipe. The gear lever mechanism has an arm 
which engages the teeth of the rack. The lever is used to produce a chosen 
increment of pressure outward from end to end so that the foot pads of the 
device rests aggressively grips the truck bed walls. It is to be that when 
the arm is rotated, to engage the teeth of the rack, it allows the inner 
pipe to adjust at an approximate length of 16 inches without having to 
unlock the rack from the inner pipe to increase the length. 
Also, a specially designed shift stick cover is included. The shift stick 
cover is used to cover the cargo that is being secured in the truck bed by 
the device. The cover has reinforced straps placed at intervals along each 
length-wise edge, for securing around the device via pile-type fasteners 
or snap-type fasteners. In the depiction of the present invention, 
pile-fasteners are the preferred method of securing the cargo the device. 
To prevent damage to the walls of the truck bed, the foot pads of the 
device are covered with a non-slip grip rubber pad. This pad will not mar 
paint jobs on unlined beds. The pads can be removed if desired, to expose 
a machined metal contact surface that will aggressively grip bed liners. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.