Abstract:
Devices and systems for providing customizable and adjustable storage compartments in the cargo box of pickup trucks. One device includes a separation member having a first region for securing to a truck compartment side via an attachment panel and a second region. Preferably, the second region is secured to the wheel well with a fastener. The separation member further includes an intermediate region between the first and second regions which can include curved and/or sharply bent regions to traverse the wheel well width distance of the storage compartment. Threaded fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive materials and the like can be used to secure the separation member to the wheel well and the attachment panel and the attachment panel to the cargo box inside side wall. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to cargo organizers for pickup trucks; more specifically, cargo organizers that are secured to a portion of a pickup truck cargo box or truck bed to provide a compartment for organizing cargo in the bed of the pickup truck. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Pickup trucks are becoming ever more popular as a vehicle of choice in the United States and elsewhere. They have been used for many years as work vehicles for carrying required equipment, transporting materials and/or traversing rugged terrain, often primarily when this has been a part of the users daily routine. 
         [0003]    As time has passed, however, and more and more people participate in a broader variety of activities in their time away from work, some of which require them to transport equipment and/or materials that are most easily transported in a truck bed or cargo box of a pickup truck, pickup truck sales and use have increased. This has led, in part, to the even greater popularity of pickup trucks as the vehicle of choice in many families, both rural and urban. This has been especially so as more families have found a need to have more than one vehicle, which allows them to select vehicles having a range of capabilities. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides improvements which address limitations associated with the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to a truck bed cargo organizer for a pickup truck cargo compartment, wherein the truck compartment includes two opposing side walls, a front wall, a tailgate, each of the side walls being adjacent to a wheel well. The preferred cargo organizer comprises a separation member having a first region, a second region and an intermediate region connecting the first and second regions. The preferred cargo organizer additionally includes an attachment panel that can operatively secure the first region to one of the truck compartment side walls. The second region extends generally perpendicular to the first region towards the front wall when the first region is attached to the attachment panel and the attachment panel is secured to one of the truck compartment side walls. The present invention is preferably adjustable in that the attachment panel can be connected to different points on the first region to adjust the distance between the second region and the respective side wall. Preferably, the attachment panel further includes at least one slot through which the first region and the attachment panel can be connected with a nut and bolt fastener, the slot permitting the first region and the attachment panel to be adjustably connected with the nut and bolt fastener. The second region can also be attached to the cargo compartment with a fastener. In preferred embodiments, the second region is fastened to the wheel well adjacent to the respective side wall to which the attachment panel is connected. 
         [0006]    The present invention further includes methods of dividing a pickup truck cargo boxes with at least one cargo organizer of the present invention. One preferred method comprises the steps of providing a cargo organizer including a separation member having a first region, a second region and an intermediate region connecting the first and second regions and an attachment panel, the cargo organizer further includes a first fastener connecting the first region to the attachment panel. Preferably, the attachment panel and the first member are adjustably connected by, for example, sliding at least one bolt through respective slots in the attachment panel and the first member and securing corresponding nuts on the bolts. Then, the attachment panel can be operatively secured to one cargo box side wall with a second fastener and then the first fastener can be adjusted until the second region is positioned at a desired distance from the respective side wall. In preferred embodiments, a third fastener will be provided and the second region will be attached to the cargo box, preferably, the wheel well adjacent to the respective side wall. 
         [0007]    These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description, made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views. And, although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, the physical embodiments disclosed herein merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from either the spirit or the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the broad general terms recited in the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    In the drawings, in which corresponding reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding parts of the various embodiments throughout the several views, and in which the various embodiments generally differ only in the manner described and/or shown, but otherwise include corresponding parts; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary, perspective view of a pickup truck cargo box  20  having an embodiment of a cargo box divider or truck bed cargo organizer  40  according to the present invention installed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is another fragmentary, perspective of the pickup truck cargo box  20  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the cargo box divider or truck bed cargo organizer  40  having an intermediate region  46  including slots  62  therethrough, allowing for size adjustment for various wheel well widths; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the pickup truck cargo box  20  of  FIG. 1 , having two truck bed cargo organizers  40  installed therein, with a first 4 by 8′ sheet of plywood or drywall  74  carried in the pickup truck cargo box  20  and a second sheet  76  about to be slid into the pickup truck cargo box  20  between the two guiding truck bed cargo organizers  40 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an end, rear view of the pickup truck cargo box  20  of  FIG. 3 , having the sheets of plywood or sheetrock  74 ,  76  disposed between the two cargo box dividers or truck bed cargo organizers  40 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, top view of the cargo box divider  40  of  FIG. 1 , also illustrating alternate embodiments having a round or, alternatively, chamfered intermediate region  46 , and/or having an extending first region  43  for securing a rear portion  85  of the divider  40  to the pickup truck cargo box rear inside wall (not shown); and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top, fragmentary view of another embodiment of divider  40  having the intermediate region  46  formed of overlapping pieces, having either a smoothly curved or a sharply bent intermediate region  46 , and hook and loop fastener  106 ,  108  and  112 ,  115  for securing the flat region  104  and flat portion  110  to each other and for securing the forward, second region to the wheel well  28 , respectively. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a pickup truck cargo box  20  having a side wall  22 , an inside side wall  26 , a front wall  32 , a floor  34 , and a tailgate  24 .  FIG. 1  also illustrates a wheel well  28  having a wheel well width  36  and an inside wall  30 . A cargo box divider or organizer  40  is also illustrated, having a first region  43 , a second region  44  and an intermediate region  46 . The divider  40  is arranged and configured to form at least one compartment  42  between the divider  40  and inside wall  26 , preferably having a width  36  generally equal to the wheel well width  36 . The preferred divider  40  is further customizable in that it can be adjustable to fit a variety of wheel well widths. 
         [0016]    In alternative embodiments, the second region  44  can be configured to extend past the wheel well  28  and towards the front wall  32  in order to create a second compartment (not shown). In this embodiment, the second region  44  can connect to the front wall  32  or the side wall  26  with fasteners as described below and is adjustable as described above. The second region  44  can also be secured to the wheel well  28  to reinforce the strength of the divider  40 . 
         [0017]    Now also referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  is a further perspective view illustrating a different portion of the pickup truck cargo box  20 , showing the divider  40  in an exploded view. In this embodiment, the wheel well inside wall  30  has an aperture  63  for receiving a threaded fastener  54  extending through an aperture  52  in a first flat portion  44  of the divider  40 . The first flat portion  44  is located generally in the second region  44  of the divider  40 . In this embodiment, the intermediate region  46  includes a curve  58  which extends to the first region  43  having the aperture  56  for receiving a threaded fastener  57 , such as a bolt or a screw. A second piece  60  has slots  62  extending generally horizontal along its width. The second piece  60  further includes a first portion  68  substantially parallel to the rear or tailgate  24  and a second portion  70  separated by a sharp bend  72  from the rear facing surface  68 . The threaded fastener  57  extends through the aperture  56  and the slot  62  to be received by a washer  64  and a threaded nut  66 . Additionally, in preferred embodiments, another threaded fastener  59  can be used for securing the second piece  60  to the inside wall  26 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the slots  62  allow first region  43  to variably position the flat portion  44  from the inside wall  26 . In alternate embodiments, the intermediate region  46  can be formed of two distinct overlapping pieces (not shown). In further alternate embodiments, the first, second and intermediate regions  43 ,  44  and  46  can be abutting (not shown). 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the pickup truck cargo box  20  of  FIG. 1 . The divider  40  is shown having several items  87  within compartment  42  behind the wheel well  28 . As shown, two opposing cargo box dividers  40  are preferably configured and arranged to leave a substantially large portion of the cargo box  20  available for the receipt of 48 inch wide or less pieces of sheetrock, plywood, or the like. Sheetrock piece  74  has been loaded into the cargo box, while sheetrock piece  76  is yet to be slid into the cargo box over the previously loaded sheetrock piece  74 . The rounded intermediate region  46  provides a gentler guide region for inserting sheetrock pieces  74  and  76  when inserted slightly off center. The rounded intermediate portion  46  guides the sheetrock pieces  74 ,  76  into the center of pickup truck cargo box  20 . 
         [0019]    Referring, in addition, now to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  illustrates the pickup truck cargo box  20 , from the tailgate  24  end, having sheet rock pieces  74  and  76  slid forward towards the front inside wall  32 . In this embodiment, the dividers  40  are positioned such that standard 48 inch wide pieces of plywood, sheetrock and the like fit within the cargo box  20  and will be generally prevented from lateral movement while being transported in the cargo box  20 . 
         [0020]    Now also referring to  FIG. 5 , which illustrates a top view of the divider  40 . In this embodiment of the divider  40 , which extends from the front wall  32  to the rear or tailgate  24 , the divider  40  includes a second region  44  extending generally in a first direction  84  and having a threaded fastener  54  extending through an aperture  52 . The second region  44  extends rearwardly and the intermediate region  46  has a curved region  58  (as shown in solid lines), which then extends to the first region  43  having at least one aperture  56  arranged and configured to receive a bolt  57 . The bolt  57  extends through another aperture (not shown) in a separate overlapping piece  53  and can be received within threaded nut  66 . In this embodiment, the first region  43  has a sharp bend  72  to receive a threaded fastener or screw  59  through an aperture of the second, rear, flat portion  85 . The flat portion  85  can be seen to extend forwardly, as indicated by directional arrow  82 . It is noted that, preferably, directions  82  and  84  are substantially the same direction, generally parallel with each other. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  also illustrates an alternate second, rear flat region  45 , which can also be used with a threaded fastener  59  that is secured to the inside side wall  26  of the pickup truck cargo box  20  (see also,  FIG. 1 ). Rotating the threaded fastener  59  into the side wall can be more easily accomplished by securing the flat regions  85 ,  45  before the first region  43  of the divider  40  is connected to the overlapping piece  53 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  also shows that the intermediate region  46  between the second region  44  and first region  43 , can alternatively be configured as a chamfered or sharply bent angled region  55  (shown in dashed lines), which can be fashioned by forming two sharp angles as indicated at  93  and  95 . Intermediate regions that are curved or multiple angled are preferred over a right angled shape as the intermediate region can serve as a guide to direct articles, such as plywood sheets, into the truck cargo compartment. A rounded intermediate region is preferred also because manufacturing only requires making one bend rather than two. 
         [0023]    Now also referring now to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates yet another embodiment of the divider  40  for securing to the inside wheel well wall  30  of a pickup truck cargo box  20 . This alternate embodiment of the divider  40  includes hook or loop fasteners  112  secured to the inner surface of wheel well  28 . An angled fastener  101  can also be used to receive a threaded fastener  59  through the angled fastener  101  and into the inner side wall  26  (see also  FIG. 1 ). The angled fastener  101  includes sharp bend  102  perpendicular to the inner side wall  26  and a flat region  104  that includes either hook or loop fastener  106  applied thereon. Another region of corresponding hook or loop fastening material  108  extends along the inside surface of a flat portion  110  and can be adjustably secured to the hook and loop fastener  106 . In one embodiment, the intermediate region  46  includes a smooth curve  58 , as discussed above. The intermediate region  46  also can contain sharp, discontinuous bends  93  and  95  as of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , forming an angle inner surface  55  instead of a smooth curve  58 . The divider  40  extends forward to a second, forward flat region  114 . In this embodiment, hook or loop fastener  112  is used for securing the second, forward flat region  114  to the hook or loop fastener  115  on the inside of the wheel well  26  such that the divider  40  is removeably secured to the wheel well  26 . It will be appreciated that if the hook or loop fasteners  112 ,  106  are hooks then the hook and loop fasteners  115 ,  108  should be loops, and vice versa. 
         [0024]    As can be seen from inspection of the figures, the divider can be formed as a single continuous piece or as two or more distinct pieces secured together. Separate pieces can provide the advantage of allowing the second portion to be secured securely to the truck cargo box inside wall, followed by joining the second portion to the first region. This can allow for more variability in wheel well width by adjusting the amount of overlap between the first portion and the attachment panel. 
         [0025]    The intermediate region can be formed using either smooth bends or sharp bends/angles such that it has a shape such as curved, multiple angle, right angled, generally linear, U-shaped and the like. Securing the first and second regions to the wheel well inside portion or truck inside walls can be accomplished using hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, threaded fasteners, or any other suitable fastening mechanism, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. 
         [0026]    The divider can be made using many different materials and methods and combinations of these. The divider generally can be made of metal, plastic, composite, fiberglass and the like. In some embodiments, the divider is generally formed of stainless steel or other alloy steel, which can be painted or coated. In alternate embodiments, the divider generally can be formed of open material, such as expanded metal or a plastic wall included numerous large apertures through the wall. Alternate dividers can additionally have wider bottoms than tops, while other embodiments can be symmetrical, such that the same part can be flipped over and used on the opposite side of the cargo box. 
         [0027]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.