Abstract:
A cargo bed with multiple access points. The cargo bed comprises a front member, a back member, a cargo floor, and a pair of side members that move to allow access to the cargo floor from nearly all sides so as to allow a member access to the cargo floor from the sides of the cargo bed. The side members may rotate about an axis horizontal to the cargo floor, roll on a set of rails with an axis vertical to the cargo floor, open about an axis vertical to the cargo floor, or be removable. The cargo bed may further comprise receiving beams for receiving the side members and holding them in a closed position, or the receiving beams may be integrally built into the front, back, or side members.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. The Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to cargo beds for trucks, and the like. More particularly this invention relates to a truck bed with multiple access points, including on the sides. 
   2. The Relevant Art 
   Utility vehicles, such as pickup trucks and cargo vans, are characterized by a load carrying portion, referred to as a cargo bed, defined by a generally planar cargo floor, side members that run perpendicular to the floor, a back member, and a front member that folds down for access to the cargo floor. The dimensions of the cargo bed vary in length from several feet to more than eight feet. These types of vehicles are multifunctional, since they satisfy both transportation and load carrying capacity needs. 
   Although cargo beds include the front member folding feature for easier access to the cargo floor, often times the front member is not utilized, or often times the objects being loaded into the cargo bed may not enter through the front member when the front member is open. As a result, objects are thrown over one of the side members into the cargo bed. Likewise, rather than lowering the front member to remove the objects, people reach over the side members to grab the objects. As the people reach over the side members, the painted areas of the cargo bed become scratched, and the side members dent and wear disproportionate to the rest of the vehicle. The cargo bed begins to look overly abused. Similarly, because it is more difficult to place and remove objects into the cargo bed from the side members, the objects are more likely to become damaged. 
   Thus, it can be clearly recognized that there is a need for a cargo bed that facilitates placement and removal of various objects from multiple areas of the cargo bed. Specifically, there is a need for a cargo bed that allows the side members, in addition to the front member, to fold down, tilt, rotate, or open so that people can place and access objects positioned on the cargo floor. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The various elements of the present invention have been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available cargo beds. Accordingly, the present invention provides a cargo bed with side members that move to allow access to the cargo floor from nearly all sides. 
   More particularly, the present invention provides a cargo bed with a cargo floor, two side members, a back member, and a front member, wherein the side members are configured to move so as to allow a user access to the cargo floor from the sides of the cargo bed. The side members may rotate about an axis horizontal to the cargo floor, roll on a set of rails vertical to the cargo floor, open about an axis vertical to the cargo floor, or be entirely removable. The cargo bed may further comprise receiving beams that extend substantially perpendicular to the cargo floor, or the receiving beams may be integrally built into the front, back, or side members. The receiving beams are configured to hold the side members in a closed position. 
   Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of a vehicle with a typical cargo bed according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear exploratory view of a vehicle with a cargo bed according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of a vehicle with a cargo bed having side members folded into open positions according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a vehicle with a cargo bed having side members and front member folded into an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cut-away section of a cargo bed showing one embodiment of a hinge for folding a side member according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a close-up view of a hinge for connecting a side member to a cargo bed floor according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of a cargo bed with a side member folded into an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of a cargo bed with a side member rolled into an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a rear view of a cargo bed with a side member moved into an open position according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of a cargo bed with removable members according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
   Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate rear views of a vehicle with a cargo bed  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The cargo bed  10  comprises a front member, or tailgate,  12 , a cargo floor  14 , and a pair of side members, or bed sides,  16 . The front member  12  and side members  16  attach perpendicular to the cargo floor  14 . The front member  12  is configured to open about a pivot point (not shown) near the cargo floor  14 . With the front member  12  in an open position, a user can insert objects into the cargo bed  10 . In contrast, with the front member  12  closed, the cargo bed  10  is configured to hold an object within an area confined by the cargo bed  10 . The side members  16  are configured to open in the direction of arrow  17 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, the side members  16  comprise support arms  18  embedded within the side members  16  for providing support and maintaining structural integrity to the side members  16 . Additionally, the support arms  18  include pivot points  20  which connect the side members  16  to a roll pan, or hinge support,  22  of the cargo bed  10 . In one embodiment, the pivot points  20  are hinges, which may be any length, and the side members  16  may comprise a plurality of hinges to connect the side members  16  to the roll pan  22 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of a cargo bed  10  with the side members  16  folded into the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the side members  16  connect to the roll pan  22  at the pivot points  20  and may be supported by a support member  24  to prevent the side members  16  from contacting the ground. Additionally, the support members  24  may be configured to maintain a top edge  26  of the side members  16  level with the cargo floor  14 . In one embodiment, the support members  24  are cables. In other embodiments, the support members  24  may be metal hinges that fold or slide, metal rods, straps, springs, pneumatics, etc. to allow the side members  16  the ability to move into the open and closed positions. 
   In one embodiment, the support members  24  are rigid metal liners hingably connected to the top inner edge  26  of the side member  16 . Specifically, the inner metal liner may be hingedly attached to the top inner edge  26  of the side members  16  and include a hook (not shown) at a lower edge of the metal liner that attaches to the cargo floor  14 . In operation, as the side members  16  move into the open position, the hook of the metal liner couples a receiving hole (not shown) on an outer edge of the cargo floor  14 . As the side members  16  move into a closed position, the hook of the metal liner regresses from within the receiving hole on the cargo floor  14 . The inner metal liner provides the added benefit of additional surface area for resting objects that are to be placed into the cargo bed  10 . Well known opening/closing mechanisms may be used to disengage/engage the side members  16  to move the side members  16  into open and closed positions. 
   The support members  24  may be connected to any point on the side member  16  and any point on the cargo bed  10 . For example, the support member  24  may be attached to a side edge  25  of the cargo floor  14  and to an inner side  27  of the side member  16 . Similarly, the support member  24  may attach on one end to the roll pan  22  and the other end to the inner side  27  of the side member  16  or along the top inner edge  26 . One skilled in the art will recognize that there are innumerable ways for connecting the support members  24  to the side members  16 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a cargo bed  10  having the side members  16  and the front member  12  folded into the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. The side members  16  comprise an inner side  28  and an outer side  30 , which pivotally connect at a top edge  29  of the side member  16  at a hinge  32  or other similar pivot point. Additionally, the inner side  28  pivotally connects to the cargo floor  14  at a hinge  34 . The hinge  34  allows the side members  16  to fold into the open position. 
   In one embodiment, the outer sides  30  of the side members  16  are configured to rotate away from the inner sides  28  to prevent the outer sides  30  from contacting components of the vehicle as the side members  16  fold into the open position. A connecting member  36 , such as a rod, cable, strap, link, etc., may be used to restrain the outer portion  30  from contacting the ground and becoming damaged. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many methods and devices for preventing the outer side  30  from becoming damaged when the side member  16  is in the open position. 
   As the side members  16  fold into the closed position, the outer side  30  rotates toward the inner side  28 . The outer side  30  may secure to the inner side  28  via a clamp, clasp, latch, plug, plunger, etc. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are many methods and devices for attaching the outer side  30  to the inner side  28 . 
   In the closed position, the side member  16  engages a receiving beam  38  that extends perpendicular from the cargo floor  14 . The receiving beam  38  comprises a side member receiving section  40  configured to receive and retain the side member  16  in the closed position, and a front member receiving section  42  configured to receive and retain the front member  12  in the closed position. In one embodiment, the receiving beam  38  is fully integrated into the side members  16 , the front member  12 , or the back member  39 . In another embodiment, the cargo bed  10  may comprise additional receiving beams  38  at a back member  39  of the cargo bed  10 , or the side member  16  may attach directly to the back member  39 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate cut-away sections of the cargo bed  10  showing a hinge  44  for folding a side member  16  into the open and closed positions according to one embodiment of the present invention. The inner side  28  connects to a hinge member  46 , which connects to the hinge  44 . The hinge  44  enables the side member  16  to open and close. In the closed position, the hinge member  46  folds into the side member receiving section  40  and a latch  48  engages a latch hole  50  on the side member receiving section  40  of the receiving beam  38  to retain the side member  16 . The latch  48  may disengage from the latch hole  50  via a handle (not shown) or a button (not shown) configured into the side member  16 . One skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous types of latches and fastening devices for engaging and disengaging the side members  16  and the front member  12  (See  FIG. 4 ) to each other. 
   In one embodiment, a bottom edge  52  of the inner side  28  of the side member  16  maintains the inner side  28  of the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14  by contacting an outer edge  54  of the front member receiving section  42 . In another embodiment, the hinge  44  is configured to rotate approximately 90 degrees to maintain the inner side  28  of the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14 . In yet another embodiment, a cable, or strap (not shown) maintains the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14 . One skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous methods and devices for maintaining the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14 . It is noted that maintaining the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14  is advantageous for providing additional surfaces for loading objects into the cargo bed, however, maintaining the side member  16  parallel to the cargo floor  14  is not necessary. Rather, the hinge  44  may be configured to allow the side member  16  to rotate more than 90 degrees from the closed position. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the cargo bed  10  with the side member  16  folded into the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. The outer side  30  pivotally attaches to an upper edge  56  of a pivot arm  58 . The outer side  30  is configured to rotate away from the pivot arm  58  as the side member  16  rotates to the open position to prevent the outer side  30  from contacting components underneath the cargo bed  10 , such as a connecting hinge  60 . The latch  48  removably couples the pivot arm  58  to the front member  12  (See  FIG. 4 ) and the back plate  39 . 
   A plunger  62  and plunger receiver  64  may be used to couple the outer side  30  to the pivot arm  58 . Specifically, when the side member  16  is in the closed position, the plunger  62  enters the plunger receiver  64  to prevent the outer side  30  from moving. However, as discussed above, there are numerous methods and devices that may be used to couple the outer side  30  to the pivot arm  58 , including rods, straps, rope, clamps, clasps, etc. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate top perspective and rear views respectively of the cargo bed  10  with the side member  16  slid into the open position according to one embodiment of the present invention. The side members  16  are configured to move perpendicular to the cargo floor  14 . The side members  16  comprise a pivot member  66  rotatably connected on one end to the back member  39  and the front member  12  or the receiving beams  38  (See  FIG. 4 ). An opposite end of the pivot member  66  attaches to the side member  16 . 
   In operation, the pivot member  66  rotates to allow the side member  16  to move into the open and closed positions. The latch  48  attaches the side member  16  to the back member  39  and front member  12  or receiving beams  38 . In one embodiment, the side members  16  move into the open and closed position using a mechanism similar to a sliding door on a vehicle, except the bed slide  16  moves vertically. One skilled in the art will recognize that there are numerous ways for moving the side member  16  into the open and closed positions. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of a cargo bed  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The side members  16  are configured to be removable from the cargo bed  10 . Specifically, the side members  16  comprise posts  68  that protrude perpendicular to the side members  16 . The posts  68  enter receiving holes  70  of the cargo floor  14 . The posts  68  and receiving holes  70  may include a pin (not shown) and pin hole (not shown) to lock the posts  68  to the cargo floor  14 . Other configurations of posts  68  and receiving holes  70  are envisioned. Specifically, the posts  68  and holes  70  may align perpendicular to the cargo floor  14 . The receiving beams  38  may also be removable, as well as the front member  12 . 
   It is understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
   For example, although the description describes the folding, movement, or rotation of the side members  16 , it is envisioned that portions of the side members  16 , such as a two foot section of the side member  16 , may be foldable, moveable, or rotatable, rather than the entire side member  16 . Additionally, although the description describes the use of a pivoting means connecting the side members  16  to the cargo floor  14  or another member of the cargo bed  10 , it is envisioned that the pivoting means may connect any part of the side member  16  to any part of the cargo bed  10 , such that the side member  16  folds, moves, or rotates sufficiently to allow access to the cargo floor  14  from the sides of the cargo bed  10 . 
   In addition, although the illustrations show a typical truck bed, it is envisioned that any type of cargo bed  10  may be used. Specifically, any type of cargo bed  10  that has sides that make movement of heavy awkward products difficult. The cargo bed  10  may be entirely flat like a flat bed trailer, or it may have wheel wells as illustrated. 
   It is further envisioned that the side members  16  may be configured with handles and latches similar to the handles and latches found on a typical front member. 
   Finally, it is envisioned that the principles taught herein may be applied to cargo beds  10  even after the cargo bed  10  has been attached to a vehicle. In particular, it is envisioned that the side members  16  of a typical cargo bed  10  may be cut and configured to be movable. For instance, a person may cut the side members  16 , or portions thereof, from an existing cargo bed  10  without movable side members  16 , attach hinges and/or pivot arms or pivot members to the cargo floor  14  and to the inner and outer sides  28 ,  30  of the side members  16 , connect the side member  16  back onto the cargo floor  14 , and perform common body repair, paint, and trim. In other embodiments, the receiving beams  38  may also be attached to the cargo floor  14 . 
   Thus, while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.