Abstract:
A combination bed liner and fluid retaining unit adapted for mounting within a truck bed in order to selectively ballast the bed. A top cover exhibits a substantially planar base from which extend a pair of sides and an interconnecting rear. A bottom cover exhibits a substantially planar base and a plurality Of upturned side portions overlapping side locations associated with the top. The top and bottom covers are secured together along opposing perimeter locations and in fluid-tight fashion to permit an open interior defined therebetween to be filled with a fluid ballasting medium.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application is a Non-Prov of Prov (35 USC 119(e)) application 60/892,273 filed on Mar. 1, 2007 entitled WATERBED BEDLINER FOR USE WITH A PICKUP-STYLE VEHICLE. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a pickup bedliner. More specifically, the present invention teaches a combination bedliner and water retaining/ballasting assembly, such as for weighting the truck bed during cold weather periods associated with snow and ice covered road surfaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The prior art is well documented with examples of truck bed ballasting systems which are intended to weight the bed of the truck. The varying objectives of the several prior art ballasting systems is the ability to apply weight to the rear of the truck and in order to compensate for cold weather, with which is normally attributed ice or snow covered road conditions. 
         [0004]    A first example of the prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,914, issued to Raynor, and which teaches a hollow compartment firmed in the bottom wall of a truck bed protective liner and defines a ballast chamber to permit inserting liquid ballast in the ballast chamber when it is desired to provide additional weight on the rear portion of the truck and also permitting removal of the liquid ballast from the ballast chamber when it is desired to reduce the weight on the rear portion of the truck. The hollow compartment is provided by spaced apart upper and lower bottom wall members extending the length and width of the protective liner and which is jointed along their front and side edges to the corresponding front and side walls of the liner. A rear wall is joined to the upper and lower bottom walls of the opposed side walls of the liner to completely enclose the ballast chamber. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,080.418, issued to Semple et al., discloses an insert arranged for complementary mounting within a pickup truck bed, the insert including a planar wall construction, with a ribbed top wall to enhance strength and traction of the top wall. The organization defines a central cavity coextensively directed throughout the insert, with a fill plug directed to the top wall and a drain plug directed through and removably mounted relative to the rear wall to permit fluid filling of the cavity to provide weight and enhanced stabilizing of the pickup bed during use of the pickup in reduced traction situations, such as in rain, snow and the like. A modified form of the invention includes apertured spherical shells contained coextensively throughout the cavity to provide fluid balding and minimizing sloshing of water within the pickup bed. 
         [0006]    Ryan, III et al., U.S. Patent 2004/0227338 disclose a ballast system for use in a cargo bed of a vehicle for providing generally even weight distribution over rear or powered wheels of the vehicle. The ballast system may be rolled tip into a compact roll during non-use for storage. The ballast system includes a plurality of weighted cross-members laminated, attached, or bonded between two generally pliable mats. The cross members are, preferably, equally spaced apart from each other along width,s of the mats and transverse to a longitudinal direction of the cargo bed of the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention teaches a two piece and weldable bedliner construction for use in ballasting such as a pickup-style vehicle. The present invention is an improvement over prior art ballast assemblies in that it provides a generally three-dimensional and boxlike assembly which is capable of being installed in a truck bed as a conventional liner, and which also provides the feature of improved and increased fill-ability of a fluid, evenly distributed in baffled fashion through the liner interior and as viewed throughout a welded cross sectional surface area of upper and lower portions of the bedliner. 
         [0008]    Additional features include upper located drainage holes to provide overfill protection, combined with conveniently located fill and drainage plugs associated with the top and bottom cover portions, respectively. A top cover exhibits a substantially planar base from which extend a pair of sides and an interconnecting rear. A bottom cover exhibits a substantially planar base and a plurality of upturned side portions overlapping side locations associated with the top. The top and bottom covers are secured together along opposing perimeter locations and in fluid-tight fashion to permit an open interior defined therebetween to be filled with a fluid ballasting medium. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Reference will now be made to the attached drawings when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the waterbed bedliner according to the present inventions: 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the top and bottom cover portions associated with the bedliner according of the pickup truck bedliner associated with the present inventions; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged cutaway view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  and illustrating the profile of the lengthwise extending channels associated with the top cover portion; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3B  is a front plan view of the assembled waterbed liner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  is a side plan view of the assembled waterbed liner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a rotated perspective view of the bottom cover portion also illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is an underside plan view o,the bottom cover portion; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is an enlarged partial top view oft a lower drainage associated with location of the bottom cover portion; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4D  is a rotated front view of the enlarged partial view of the drain s;own in  FIG. 4C  associated with a lower location of the bottom cover portion; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a further perspective illustration of the bedliner similar that shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view of a selected bedliner fill plug also shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged and partial exploded view of the top and bottom cover portions of the scale referenced in  FIG. 6 , and in particular illustrating the mating arrangement established between the side and bottom fluid fill areas; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an end cutaway view of top and bottom covers in engaged fashion; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an end view cross-sectional cutaway illustration of the waterbed bedliner mounted within a truck bed in a semi-filled configuration; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an overhead assembled illustration of the waterbed liner in partial cutaway and filled with a ballasting fluid. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an elevational view is shown at  10  of the waterbed bedliner according to the present invention. As will be discussed with subsequent reference to the several included illustrations, the present invention teaches a two piece and weldable bedliner construction for use in ballasting such as a pickup-style vehicle which is an improvement over prior art ballast assemblies in that it provides a generally three-dimensional and boxlike assembly. 
         [0026]    In particular, and referring again to  FIG. 1 , the assembled bedliner includes a bottom surface  12 , first and second sides  14  and  16 , a rear extending and interconnecting side  18  and an open forward edge for arriving proximate the tailgate opening of the pickup style vehicle (not shown). The individual sections which comprise the bedliner can be constructed of any suitable material and which can include such as a durable and waterproof polymer construction, as well as a lightweight and durable metal or composite material, such materials exhibiting suitable length, width and thickness dimensions appropriate for sizing and installing in most generally known truck bed configurations. 
         [0027]    The extending sides  14  and  16  each include wheel well configurations, see at  20  and  22 , respectively and, as will be described in additional detail, side disposed fill sections with fill locations (see as best shown in  FIG. 2  at  24  &amp;  26  for side  14  and at  28  &amp;  30  for side  16 ). The fill locations are further referenced by fill caps (as shown at  34  and  36 ) associated with each of the fill locations  24  &amp;  26  and  28  &amp;  30 . 
         [0028]    The fill sections communicate with intercommunicating and lengthwise extending baffled channels (at  32  in  FIG. 1  and which each define a substantially “U” shaped as viewed in end view cutaway fashion) and which are capable of being installed in a truck bed (generally referenced at  8  in the cutaway view of  FIG. 9 ) as a conventional liner in order to provide the features of improved and increased fill-ability of a fluid, evenly distributed in baffled fashion through the liner interior (i.e. both bottom and sides) and as viewed throughout a welded cross-sectional surface area (see also  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of upper and lower portions of the bedliner. It is also envisioned that the baffle channels can be alternatively configured in cross sectional profile and to adopt other desired shapes. 
         [0029]    Additional features include upper located fluid fill locations, see again at  34  and  36  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  for fill cap locations  24  and  26 , to provide overfill protection, combined with conveniently located fill plugs and drainage plugs (see also at  37  and  52  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), respectively. The inner end interconnecting side  18 , as well as the solid wall portions of the sides  14  and  16  not associated with the fill locations  24 / 26  and  28 / 30 , are also typically of a solid wall construction and are not designed to hold additional volumes of fluid, although this can be achieved through additional design configuration. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view is shown of top  38  and bottom  40  cover portions associated with the bedliner according of the pickup truck bedliner. The features of the top portion  38  are substantially repeated from what is described in  FIG. 1 . The bottom cover portion  40  is further illustrated in exploded fashion and exhibits a substantially planar shaped bottom (with inwardly recessed sides  41  and  43  associated with seating locations of the vehicle wheel wells corresponding to the upper configurations  20  and  22 ) and with support ridges  42  defined thereupon, these extending lengthwise in cooperation with the mating baffle channels  32  in the illustrated embodiment (it also being understood that crosswise extending ridges and mating channels can be designed) and as again also illustrated in the end cutaway illustration of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0031]    Additional elements of the bottom  40  cover include upturned side portions, see in FIGS. I and  3  at  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  49  which correspond to recess fill cap side locations  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  associated with the top portion  38 . Rear angled side edges are shown at  45  and  47  associated with rear-most located and upturned side portions  44  and  46 , upon which are supported the bottom drains  37  and  52 . 
         [0032]    As again are additionally described in reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , the pluralities of support ridges  42  are provided and are associated with an inner face of the bottom cover  40  and are laid out in lengthwise and spaced apart patterns so as to provide crosswise extending, fill channels, and upon being weldingly engaged lo the top cover  38  with the lengthwise extending baffles  32  contacting linearly aligning ridges  42 . The top and bottom covers  318  and  40  are further welded about their respective outer perimeters in a fluid retaining and seal-tight fashion. Alternatively, and in the instance of plasticized liner construction vibration welding or other suitable techniques can be employed for fluidly sealing the top and bottom portions, 
         [0033]    As is also now described in reference to the various illustrations of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the top and bottom bedliner portions  38  and  40  may again be constructed of a durable and fluid-tight material, including both a lightweight and durable metal as well as potentially a plasticized composition. In the case of metal, aluminum, stainless or otherwise non-corrosive materials is employed and which is welded by conventional means about mating perimeter edges of the top and bottom cover portions. In the further instance of plastic components, sonic welding techniques can be employed for sealing the mating edges of the cover portions. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3 ,  3 B and  3 C present a series of two-dimensional and cutaway illustrations associated with the top cover portion  38  of the pickup truck bedliner also previously described in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Of note, the corrugated shape of the lengthwise extending baffled channels  32  in combination with the support ridges  42  is better illustrated, these being fluidly interconnected in spaced apart banks or sections (as will be further described with reference to the cutaway illustration of  FIG. 10  and which are intercommunicated by the crosswise extending fill channels). It is also envisioned that lengthwise baffle channels may also be interconnected in end-to-end communicating fashion, this however increasing the time for filling the unit with the desired volume of water or other fluid (e.g. perhaps a glycol based solution which will not freeze in extreme cold). 
         [0035]    The configuration of the side disposed fill sections with fill cap locations (see again at  24  &amp;  26  for side  14  and at  28  &amp;  30  for side  16 ) is also referenced and which are inwardly recessed relative to the associated sides  14  and  16  to provide for mating engagement of the overlapping and upturned side portions (see again by example at  44 ,  46 ,  48 ) associated with the bottom cover  40 . These are again further illustrated in the series of illustrations set forth in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 A,  4 B and  5 , and which show a series of perspective, two-dimensional and cutaway illustrations associated with the bottom cover portion  40 . Illustrated in additional detail is the spaced apart and linearly extending arrangement of the support ridges  42  for overlapping the baffled channels  32  and in order to define the appropriate fluid fill configuration (see also again  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0036]    Referencing further  FIGS. 6 and 7  in cooperation, enlarged perspective and exploded views are shown of the bedliner and which provides multiple fill plug locations, Specifically, and as best shown in  FIG. 6 , selected side fill location  34  is illustrated and which includes an associated fill cap  50 . Also illustrated is a drain location, see again at  37 , positioned at a lowermost rear facing location of the side till panel  24  (as is a corresponding drain location  52  for the opposing panel  28  associated with side  16 ) and which is accessible typically through opening the truck tailgate. A drain plug, see at  54  in  FIG. 6 , is further provided in cooperation with each of the rear fill locations  24  and  28  on opposite sides of the truck bed and in order to provide quicker emptying of the fluid ballasting contents. 
         [0037]    Additional features shown include the enlarged partial edge view of the top cover in  FIG. 7  and by which the configuration of the baffle channels  32  are illustrated from another perspective.  FIGS. 6 and 7  again shows a further partial illustration of a plurality of support ridges  42  associated with an inner face of the bottom cover  40  again arranged in opposing fashion relative to a welded top cover  38  which displays the lengthwise extending baffle channels  32  (also illustrated in end cutaway of  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0038]    The lengthwise engagement of the baffle channels  32  with the segmented and likewise length extending ridge supports  42  define therebetween the lengthwise and interconnecting widthwise channels (referencing again the overhead illustrations of  FIG. 10 ) for facilitating tilting of the ballasting bedliner  10  in the fashion previously described. The mating and inter-communicating nature of the baffle channel to support ridge architecture is complementary illustrated in  FIGS. 8-10  by rows of branching channels  58  and  60  intercommunicated by common and crosswise extending fill trunk or channel  62 . As further most clearly shown in  FIG. 10 , multiple crosswise fill channels and branching/perpendicular channels are referenced by additional fill channel  62 ′ and opposite extending branching channels  58 ′ and  60 ′. 
         [0039]    Referring finally to the illustration of  FIG. 9 , a side cutaway tilling configuration is shown in cross section for the waterbed bedliner according to the present inventions. As is also shown in the overhead view of  FIG. 10 , a threaded fill nozzle  34  is illustrated (this corresponding to the fill location generally shown at  34  in  FIG. 1  and corresponding to the three-dimensional fill panel location  24 ). Although not clearly shown, it is understood that an appropriate cover cap or, alternatively, and on/off valve built into the nozzle  34  can also be provided and to prevent inadvertent leaking of fluid during use of the vehicle. 
         [0040]    Further, and in particular referencing the illustration of  FIG. 9 , additional drain holes are shown  56 , these preventing overfilling of water, thereby also allowing room for expansion of the fluid (e.g. typically water and/or a glycol based solution). The configuration of the drain holes  56  may also be substituted by other drainage features which are contemplated, the provision of which is intended to prevent overfilling, and thereby damage to the unit, resulting from the expansion of thermally affected/freezing fluid. 
         [0041]    The configuration and sizing of the unit are susceptible to change within the scope of the invention, however potential variants contemplate storage capabilities, in an example of 13.76 gallons, which at 8.33 lbs/gallon weight equals 114 lbs. A further and larger example contemplates an 18 fluid gallon capacity of water, this equating to 150 lbs of distributed and ballasting support across the truck bed. Typical truck bed liners average 5′×6′×1″ in unit size (again based upon the design particulars of the specific vehicle for which the unit is sized) and which in the example cited above would equate an interior fluid holding volume of approximately 4320 cubic inches. 
         [0042]    Having described my invention other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.