Load support assembly for pickup truck

A load support assembly (2) for a pickup truck (6) includes side support 8 mounted to the sides (10) of the cab (14) and elongate load support (16), having a flat top surface (18), pivotally mounted at its ends (26) to the side supports. When not in use the load support is oriented in a generally horizontal position to minimize wind drag. When in use, the load support is pivoted rearwardly so the top surface of the load support is aligned with the angle of the load. Stiff elastomeric support stops (32) are mounted to the bottom (20) of the load support to rest against the top (34) of the cab during use. Lateral movement of the load on the load support may be limited by load stops (42) extending upwardly from the top surface of the load support. The load stops are preferably pivotally mounted to the load support to pivot between a first, stowed position, lying adjacent the top surface of the load support, and a second, use position extending upwardly from the top surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Pickup trucks are widely used by people in the construction industry. Very 
often the length of the load is longer than the length of the cargo space 
in the pickup truck. In such cases, the front end of the load is often 
positioned over the cab for transport. To protect the top of the cab from 
the load and to secure the load in place, various types of racks or 
carriers have been developed. The carriers are typically mounted to the 
four corners of the sidewalls of the cargo area of the pickup truck. Four 
corner posts extend upwardly from the corners with horizontal brace 
members extending between the posts. The uppermost brace member connecting 
the two forward corner posts is often used to support loads extending up 
over the cab. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,170 entitled 
Demountable Carrier Rack Assembly for Pickup Truck, Issued to Ruben N. 
Raya on Sept. 20, 1983. 
Although conventional racks are quite useful and have found widespread 
acceptance, they are not without shortcomings. Many are complex in 
structure, thus increasing their cost. They often create multiple 
obstructions in and around the cargo area, which hinder other uses of the 
truck. Also, they are generally rather unsightly--not aesthetically 
pleasing in design. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a load support assembly mounted to the 
cab of a pickup truck which is simple in construction, easy to use, sleek 
in design and minimizes wind resistance when not in use. 
The load support assembly includes side supports mounted to the sides of 
the cab and an elongate load support. The load support has a generally 
flat top surface, a bottom and ends. The load support is typically 
pivotally mounted at its ends to the side supports for pivotal movement 
about a generally horizontal axis. When not in use the load support can be 
oriented in a generally horizontal position to minimize wind drag. When in 
use the load support may be pivoted rearwardly so the top surface of the 
load support is aligned with the angle of the load. Accordingly, the top 
surface of the load support is typically angled so that it is aligned 
generally with the top or bottom of the tailgate of the pickup truck. 
At least one support stop, preferably of a stiff elastomeric material, is 
mounted to the bottom of the load support. The support stops are sized and 
positioned so that when the load support is in its in-use, angular 
orientation, at least part of the vertical load on the load support is 
supported by the cab through the support stops. 
Lateral movement of the load on the load support may be limited by load 
stops extending upwardly from the top surface of the load support. The 
load stops are preferably pivotally mounted to the load support to the 
pivot between a first, stowed position, lying adjacent to the top surface 
of the load support, and a second, use position, extending upwardly from 
the top surface. Therefore, when the load stops are not needed, they can 
be pivoted out of the way to create little wind resistance and without 
interfering with the use of the load support assembly. 
One of the primary advantages of the invention is that it provides an 
aesthetically pleasing but very functional load support assembly for use 
of a pickup truck. The use of flat surfaces provides the needed strength 
while minimizing wind resistance. The flat top surface of the load support 
provides an extended support surface for the load to minimize denting of 
the load, which can occur when the load rests against a round surface or 
corner. Even the load stops can be made to blend smoothly with the 
aerodynamic shape of the assembly when not in use. Further, since nothing 
extends into the cargo area of the truck, use of the truck is not 
affected. This is especially important in the area immediately behind a 
cab where tool boxes, spanning the entire width of the cargo area, are 
often carried. 
The invention can be made from any different types of materials, including 
aluminum, steel and plastic. More than two load stops can be used to 
accommodate different width loads. Also, the load stops can be slidably 
mounted to the load support to allow the load stops to be moved to 
different positions along the load support. The load supports can be 
removably mounted to the load support as well. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the 
following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth 
in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The figures illustrate a load support assembly 2 mounted to the cab 4 of a 
pickup truck 6. Assembly 2 includes a pair of side supports 8 secured to 
the sides 10 of cab 4 through the use of nut and bolts assemblies 12. 
Spacers 14 are positioned between side supports 8 and side 10 so that side 
supports 8 are spaced apart from the side. 
Assembly 2 also includes a load support 16 having a top surface 18, a 
bottom 20, edges 22, 24 and ends 26. Ends 26 are bent downwardly so to lie 
adjacent the upper ends 28 of side supports 8. Ends 26 and upper ends 28 
are secured together at pivots 30. The pivotal connections between load 
support 16 and side supports 8 permit the user to pivot load support 16 
between a first, generally horizontal position, shown in FIG. 1 and a 
second, downwardly and rearwardly angled use position, shown in FIGS. 2 
and 3. 
The movement of load support 16 downwardly and rearwardly, that is in the 
direction of arrow 31 in FIG. 1, is halted by a pair of support stops 32 
mounted to bottom 20 of load support 16. Support stops 32 are preferably a 
dense, stiff block of elastomeric material, such as rubber, configured to 
rest against the top 34 of cab 4 adjacent the rear, upper edge 36 of the 
cab. Support stops 32 both limit the downward and rearward pivotal 
movement of load support 16 and transfer a substantial portion of the 
vertical load on load support 16 to cab 4. This helps to reduce the load 
exerted on sides 10 of cab 4 through nut and bolt assemblies 12. 
Top surface 18 of load support 16 includes a surface layer 38. Surface 
layer 38 is preferably a ribbed mat of rubber or rubber-like material to 
help keep the load from shifting on load support 16. Surface layer 38 
could also be made to provide a smooth, low friction padded surface for 
the load as well, depending upon the requirements and desires of the user. 
A pair of load stops 42 are pivotally mounted to load support 16. Load 
stops 42 are mounted by pivots 44 so to be pivotal between a first, stowed 
position, shown at the right side of FIG. 1, generally parallel to top 
surface 18, and a second, use position, shown at the left side of FIG. 1, 
extending upwardly from the top surface. Load stops 42 are configured so 
that when in the stowed position, the load stops are generally flush with 
top surface 18 and thus provide minimal drag or obstruction. Load stops 42 
include a pair of legs 46 which lie adjacent edges 22, 24 when in the 
stowed position. Legs 46 add additional strength to load stops 42. Two 
load stops 42 are used in the disclosed embodiment, one at each end 26 of 
load support 16. If desired, additional load stops could be mounted along 
load support 16. Also, load stops 42 could be movably positioned along 
load support 16 to better accommodate different widths of loads. 
Assembly 2 also includes a light 50 mounted to bottom 20 that is positioned 
between support stops 32. Light 50 may be hooked up as a tail light, a 
stop light, or both, depending upon the desires of the user. Other lights 
could, of course, also be used. 
Support stops 32 are preferably sized and configured so that the angular 
orientation of top surface 18 is parallel to the load so that the load 
rests on the entire top surface rather than on an edge of load support 16. 
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the angular orientation of support stops 32 are 
preferably parallel to a line 54 connecting the top 56 of the tail gate 58 
of truck 6 or is parallel to a line 60 connecting the bottom 62 of tail 
gate 58 with load support 16. In the preferred embodiment support stops 32 
provide for a single angular orientation for top surface 18 during use. 
Because of the resilient nature of support stops 32, minor adjustments to 
the basic angular orientation of load support 16 are automatically 
provided for. However, if desired, different basic angular orientations 
could be provided for, such as with use of shims positioned between 
support stops 32 and top 34 of cab 4. Also, support stops 32 could be 
removably mounted to bottom 20 so that different sized support stops could 
be used according to the angular inclination desired for top surface 18. 
Other methods for adjusting the final angular inclination of top surface 
could be used as well. 
In use, the user mounts side supports 8 to sides 10 of cab 4 using nut and 
bolt assemblies 12 and spacers 14. Load support 16, including light 50, 
support stops 32 and load stops 42, is mounted to the upper ends 28 of 
side support 8 at pivots 30. When not in use, load stops 42 are pivoted 
downwardly to lie flush against top surface 18 and load support 16 is 
positioned generally horizontally. This both reduces wind drag and 
provides a pleasing, aesthetic appearance. To prepare for use, load 
support 16 is pivoted in the direction of arrow 31 to its downwardly and 
rearwardly angled use position of FIGS. 2 and 3. To minimize lateral 
movement of the load, load stops 42 may be raised. The load to be carried 
within pickup truck 6 has its forward end rested against top surface 18 of 
load support 16. The load may be lashed in place, as is conventional. 
Modification and variation may be made to the disclosed embodiment without 
departing from the subject of the invention as defined by the following 
claims. For example, support stops 32 could be mounted to top 34 of cab 4 
if desired.