Abstract:
A pickup truck modification wherein the truck bed is effectively extended laterally by providing opposing, hingedly attached sidewalls. The sidewalls may be selectively positioned vertically or horizontally, and, when positioned horizontally, allow for positioning relatively wide loads. The truck bed is effectively widened as the sidewalls are laterally positioned in weight bearing relation by abutment members which depend from the sidewalls. Loads wider than the truck bed, but not substantially exceeding the additional width created by the laterally extended sidewalls, may be placed on the truck bed with the excess portion of the load supported by the sidewalls. When used in combination with an extendable ramp assembly, loading and unloading of bulky loads is greatly facilitated.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/226,166, filed on Aug. 23, 2002. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to modifications for truck beds. More specifically, it relates to a folding sidewall assembly which facilitates loading and storage of wide loads.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     With the recent popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), there has been a corresponding increase in interest in light trucks of all kinds, including pickup trucks. Indeed, most major car and truck manufacturers are now offering SUVs which can be converted to pickup trucks by removing and storing a few body panels. Pickup truck modifications of all types have been available for years, which modifications would include campers and ramp assemblies.  
         [0006]     As the interest in off road vehicles has increased, so has the interest in other recreational vehicles such as jet skis, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) etc., which are generally single occupant vehicles adapted for a specific use. Typically, it is desired to first drive the recreational vehicle to an area specifically suited to allow the user to take advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the vehicle. This is usually accomplished by loading the vehicle into an open bed truck, and driving the truck to the desired location. A problem often encountered with this arrangement is that it is difficult, if not impossible, to load two such recreational vehicles onto a single truck bed due to space constraints. More often than not it is the width of the truck bed, as defined and limited by the sidewalls, which presents the biggest obstacle to loading multiple recreational vehicles onto a single truck. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a pickup truck which is modified to accommodate two or more recreational vehicles. While pickup trucks having modified or adjustable sidewall assemblies are known, the prior art does not disclose a sidewall assembly useful for effectively extending the width of the truck bed of a pickup truck.  
         [0007]     The following known prior art has been directed to providing a summary of the devices of the prior art. As will be seen, the simplicity and effectiveness of my invention is not rivaled in the prior art.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,603 issued to Schambre, et al., discloses a drop down gate assembly for a pick up truck. The gate assembly is disposed in the sidewall of the pickup truck to allow side access to the truck bed.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,988 issued to Patterson discloses a bed for a pickup truck having side gates in the sidewalls thereof and a tailgate in the rear wall thereof having exterior contours identical to the exterior contours of the wall within which the gates are located, to provide increased accessibility to the interior of the bed and an aesthetically appealing design.  
         [0010]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Briefly, the invention comprises a truck bed modification wherein the truck bed is effectively extended laterally by providing opposing, hingedly attached sidewalls. The sidewalls may be selectively positioned vertically or horizontally, and, when positioned horizontally, allow for positioning relatively wide loads. The truck bed is effectively widened as the sidewalls are laterally positioned in weight bearing relation by abutment members which depend from the sidewalls. Loads wider than the truck bed, but not substantially exceeding the additional width created by the laterally extended sidewalls, may be placed on the truck bed with the excess portion of the load supported by the sidewalls. When used in combination with an extendable ramp assembly, loading and unloading of bulky loads is greatly facilitated.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved truck bed which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art in a simple but effective manner.  
         [0013]     It is a major object of this invention to provide a pickup truck modification which increases the effective width of a truck bed.  
         [0014]     It is another object to provide a truck bed modification which can be used in combination with an extendable ramp assembly.  
         [0015]     It is another object to provide a truck bed modification where the truck bed sidewall can be folded down in weight bearing relation to the truck bed to laterally extend the weight bearing surface area of the truck bed.  
         [0016]     Finally, it is a general goal of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
         [0017]     Thus it can be seen that the potential fields of use for this invention are myriad and the particular preferred embodiment described herein is in no way meant to limit the use of the invention to the particular field chosen for exposition of the details of the invention.  
         [0018]     A comprehensive listing of all the possible fields to which this invention may be applied is limited only by the imagination and is therefore not provided herein. Some of the more obvious applications are mentioned herein in the interest of providing a full and complete disclosure of the unique properties of this previously unknown general purpose article of manufacture. It is to be understood from the outset that the scope of this invention is not limited to these fields or to the specific examples of potential uses presented hereinafter.  
         [0019]     These and other objects of the present invention, will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
         [0020]     The present invention meets or exceeds all the above objects and goals. Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a truck having a truck bed assembly incorporating the folding sidewall assembly of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the truck, partly in section, illustrating one of the sidewalls in the lateral position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the truck bed assembly with both sidewalls and the tail gate folded down into the lateral position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the truck with the tail gate folded into the lateral position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a plan view of the locking hinge plate of the invention in the folded position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the locking hinge plate in the folded position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a plan view of the locking hinge plate of the invention in the upright position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the locking hinge plate of the invention in the folded position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the locking hinge plate of the invention in the folded position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  shows a rear perspective view of a truck bed assembly incorporating the folding sidewall assembly of the present invention and including an extendable ramp assembly.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , the bed assembly of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral  10 , is shown. With particular reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the bed  10  is illustrated mounted on a light duty pickup truck chassis  12 , the chassis including parallel mounting bars (not shown) upon which a conventional truck bed may be mounted as is well known in the art. It should be noted that the bed assembly  10  of the present invention may be used with any cargo carrying vehicle but is particularly useful with a light duty truck such as a pickup truck  11  as discussed above. The bed of the present invention  10 , which is bolted, welded or otherwise securely attached to the parallel mounting bars, extends from a position just behind the cab  14  of the vehicle  16  to a rearward position extending beyond the rear wheels  18  of the vehicle  16 . The pickup truck bed  10  main body is a load bearing platform  19  including a floor  20  from which a front wall panel  22  may optionally extend upwardly. An extendable ramp assembly  21  is positioned within sleeve  23  beneath the floor  20  to facilitate loading of cargo. A ramp assembly such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,125, issued to the present inventor Charles D. Walkden, and herein incorporated by reference, may be used for this purpose. Sidewalls  24  and  26  extend rearwardly from said front wall  22  to rear tailgate  30  which is hingedly attached to vertical end wall  32 , which is securely attached, e.g., by welding, to end portion  34  of the platform  19 . The sidewalls  24 ,  26  are hingedly attached to the sides  29 ,  31  of the platform  19  to allow for movement from an upright position to a horizontal load bearing position which effectively provides a lateral extension for the floor  20  of the platform  19  as will be explained in more detail later. It should be noted that there is a legal limit to the width allowed for vehicles using public roads, and in accordance with one aspect of the invention the lateral extension provided by folding sidewalls  24 ,  26  is equal to, but does not exceed the legal limit. It can be seen that the sides  29 ,  31  of the platform  19  have arcuate indentations or wheel wells  38  formed therein to accommodate vertical displacement of the platform  19  relative to the wheels  18 .  
         [0033]     Attached to and extending upwardly from the front end of platform  19  is a mounting bracket  37 , commonly known as a headache rack, which serves to facilitate connecting various accessories to the vehicle  16  such as spotlights, spare tires, etc. The bracket  37  includes opposing upstanding members  38 ,  40  connected at their top ends by horizontal member  42 . Additional horizontal frame members may extend between upstanding members  38 ,  40  as is well known in the art, the additional frame members serving to accommodate the attachment of additional accessories. Flanges  44  depending from the exterior of upstanding members  38 ,  40  have at least one aperture  45  sized to receive a bolt  46 , the apertures  45  axially alignable with bores  48  formed in sidewalls  24 ,  26  to allow insertion of bolt  46  into and through the aperture and into the bore to effect locking of the sidewall  24 ,  26  in the upright position. A series of regularly spaced apertures  49  are formed in mounting bracket  37  to facilitate the use of cables to tie down large loads.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , details of the sidewall  24 ,  26  construction are shown. Each sidewall  24 ,  26  has at least a pair of longitudinally spaced hinges  50  connected thereto by way of bolts  52 ,  54  which protrude through an elongated main outer body member  56  having a U-shaped cross section. An inner main body member  60 , also having a U-shaped cross section and co-extensive with outer body member  56  provides a weight bearing surface upon which cargo may be positioned. It can be seen that the U-shaped member  60  is inverted relative to member  56 , and may be connected thereto by welding. A flange  62 , co-extensive with members  56 ,  60 , is positioned between the outer surface of wall  64  of inner main body member  60  and the inner surface of wall  66  of outer main body member  56  and is securely fastened thereto. A series of regularly spaced apertures  68  formed in flange  62  facilitate the use of ropes or cables to tie down cargo. The flange  62  also provides a vertical abutment surface when the sidewalls  24 ,  26  are in the horizontal position.  
         [0035]     Tailgate  30  is attached to end surface  32  by hinges  70  which are identical in form and function to hinges  50 . Downwardly depending abutment surface  72  of endwall  32  is coplanar with endwall  74  of platform  19  to allow tailgate  30  to pivot between a horizontal loading position and an upright closed position. Flange  76 , which is identical to flange  62 , is disposed across and securely fastened to the top end of tailgate  30 , and includes cable apertures  77 . Opposing apertured tabs  75  extending from floor  20  are aligned with slots  79  in the tailgate  30  for protrusion therethrough when the tailgate  30  is in the upright, closed position, the horizontally disposed apertures in the tabs sized to receive eye bolts  81 . Insertion of eye bolts through locking tabs  75  effectively locks the tailgate  30  in the upright position. Hinges  70  are configured to allow substantial loading upon tailgate  30  as will be discussed in reference to  FIGS. 5-9 .  
         [0036]     With particular reference to  FIGS. 5-9 , the hinge assembly  50  is shown. Each hinge  50  is pivotable between an open position wherein sidewalls  24 ,  26  are substantially upright and a right angle position wherein sidewalls  24 ,  26  are horizontal, and includes a hinge plate  80  which is flush mounted to the sides  29 ,  31  of platform  19 , e.g., by bolts  82  or other secure fastening means. U-shaped locking tab  84  extends perpendicularly from hinge plate  80  and includes an aperture  86  positioned centrally of end portion  88 . Knuckle  90  of hinge  50  is relatively robust and allows for pivoting motion of opposing hinge plate  92  in a manner well known in the art. The opposing hinge plate  92  is fixedly mounted to main outer body member  56 . Pivoting of the sidewalls  24 ,  26  is limited to an approximate 90 degree arc, the upper limit of the pivot bounded by the edge  94  of the platform floor  20  which forms an elongated recess  95  within which lower interior edge  97  of sidewall  24 ,  26  is positioned when the sidewalls  24 ,  26  are in the upright position. The lower limit of the pivot is bounded by abutment edge  96  of stop member  100  as it comes to rest against hinge plate  80 . Thus, in the upright position sidewalls  24 ,  26  rest against the edge  94  of the platform floor  20 , while in the horizontal position abutment edge  96  rests against hinge plate  80  in weight bearing relation thereto.  
         [0037]     Stop member  100 , which has a substantially right triangular profile, extends perpendicularly from hinge plate  92  with abutment edge  96  forming a right angle therewith. A pair of apertures, storage aperture  102 , and locking aperture  104  positioned proximate abutment edge  96  are sized to receive locking pin  106 , the diameter of the pin  106  chosen to provide a marginal frictional fit within apertures  102 ,  104 . Aperture  104  is axially aligned with aperture  88  when sidewall  24 ,  26  is in the horizontal position. Locking pin  106  includes a U-shaped wire retention member  107  which limits axial displacement of the pin  106  whether in storage aperture  102  or locking aperture  104 .  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the pickup truck  11  is shown with ramp  110  of the extendable ramp assembly  21  in the extended position. It can be seen that in this position, with sidewalls  24 ,  26  folded into the horizontal position and the tailgate  30  open, a continuous loading and positioning surface is provided comprising the ramp  110 , the hinge plate or tailgate bridge  112 , sidewalls  24 ,  26 , and floor  20 . This continuous loading and positioning surface greatly facilitates loading and positioning of large loads, especially small wheeled vehicles such as certain types of Rvs, of which multiple ones may be loaded onto a single pickup truck. For boxes, furniture, and other objects, the continuous surface allows for sliding the object from the ground to a suitable position within the truck bed  10 , with folding sidewalls  24 ,  26  in the horizontal position, objects may be more easily handled by users not within the truck bed  10 , as they do not have to reach up and over the sidewalls  24 ,  26 .  
         [0039]     In operation, when lateral extension of floor  20  is needed to accommodate wide loads, one or both of sidewalls  24 ,  26  may be folded down into the horizontal position. With the tailgate  30  open, the ramp assembly may be extended. When in the horizontal position, abutment edge  96  of stop member  100  is flush against hinge plate  80  distributing the weight of sidewall  24 ,  26  along stop member  100  which functions essentially as a truss. The sidewalls  24 ,  26  can be locked into position by pushing end  105  of locking pin  106  into and through axially aligned apertures  104  and  88 . Loads may be secured by threading, or otherwise attaching, cables (not shown) through apertures  68  and  77  as has been previously mentioned. In the upright position, locking pin  106  is stored in storage aperture  102 . The use of storage aperture  102  to store locking pin  106 , in lieu of locking aperture  104  obviates the need to remove the locking pin before folding down the sidewall  24 ,  26 . It can be appreciated that if locking pin  106  were stored in aperture  104 , the pin would become lodged against the end portion  88  of locking tab  84  before horizontal positioning of the sidewall is completed, and thus the pin  106  would have to be removed from aperture  104  before repositioning sidewalls  24 ,  26  from the upright to the horizontal position. Hinge  70  of the tailgate  30  functions in exactly the same manner as hinge  50 , so that tailgate  30  may be locked in the horizontal position.  
         [0040]     It is to be understood that the provided illustrative examples are by no means ex-haustive of the many possible uses for my invention.  
         [0041]     From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. For example, a mechanical linkage may be operatively connected to a source of motive power to effect powered movement of sidewalls  24 ,  26  between the horizontal and upright positions.  
         [0042]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims: