Abstract:
A cargo management system for use in a bed of a pickup truck. The cargo management system includes a pair of frame assemblies that are supported from siderails secured to the inside walls of the pickup truck bed. Each of the frame assemblies is capable of receiving two removable cargo bins that can be used to hold various smaller cargo items. The frame assemblies each have a pair of horizontally disposed tracks for supporting a slidably moveable support platform. The support platform can be positioned in either a lower pair of the tracks or an upper pair of the tracks as needed. Each of the frame assemblies can be quickly removed from the pickup truck bed if needed to maximize the available area within the bed for large cargo items.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from U.S. provisional 60/689,665 filed Jun. 10, 2005, the disclosure of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD  
       [0002]     The present disclosure relates to cargo management systems, and more particularly to a cargo management system adapted for use in a pickup truck bed for securing cargo and various types of articles against movement while the vehicle is in use.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Cargo management systems used with motor vehicles, and particularly with pickup trucks, are becoming more and more desirable, as pickup trucks gain in popularity.  
         [0004]     While various forms of cargo management systems have been employed, there still remains a need for a cargo management system that provides a means for containing articles such as groceries and other lightweight items, and which still can be placed in a storage mode to make the great majority of the pickup bed available for use for carrying larger items, without complicated or burdensome disassembly operations, and without requiring removal of all or part of the apparatus from the pickup bed. There also remains a need for such a cargo management system that can be moved and adjustably positioned within the bed of a pickup truck to act as a bulkhead to effectively partition the bed to assist in restraining larger items.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present disclosure relates to a cargo management system especially well adapted for use in a bed of a pickup truck. In one exemplary embodiment a cargo management system is shown that enables a plurality of storage containers to be supported adjacent the sidewalls of a pickup truck bed. The containers are supported with a pair of frame assemblies that are each associated with a respective sidewall of the bed. The frame assemblies are positioned on siderails so that they extend along each of the pickup bed sidewalls and do not interfere with the major area of the bed. The containers are easily removed from the frame assemblies, and can also be locked to their respective frame assembly. The frame assemblies also provide two pairs of support tracks that can be used to support a planar support panel above the floor of the bed. The support panel can be supported at a first elevated level or at a second (i.e., lower) level above the floor of the bed. An alternative embodiment is presented in which the frame assemblies can be used as supports for a plurality of cross bars to form a surface elevated above the truck bed sidewalls on which articles can be supported, thus freeing up significant space within the truck bed for other cargo items.  
         [0006]     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating various embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the cargo management system of the present disclosure;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cargo management system of  FIG. 8  removed from the bed of a pickup truck to more clearly illustrate the various components thereof;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a first frame assembly of the system of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4A  is an end view of one of the rails used with the frame assemblies;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a front view of the rail shown in  FIG. 4A  taken along directional arrow  4 B;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the components comprising the first frame assembly, as well as representative portions of the siderails which are mounted to the walls of the truck bed, and a portion of a slidably supported load platform;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the center attaching portion of the frame assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the end attaching portion of the frame assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the center attaching portion of the frame assembly of  FIG. 5  illustrating the locking knobs used to retain the frame assembly to the siderail;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the components comprising the end portion of the frame assembly;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 10   a - 10   d  are various views of the locking pivot cap used with the frame assembly;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   e  are various views of the locking element used with the component of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12   a - 12   d  are various views of the center slider used with the frame assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 13   a - 13   d  illustrate various views of the central frame element used with the frame assembly of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 14   a - 14   d  are various views of the end frame element; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  is a rear view of a pickup truck with an alternative preferred implementation of the present invention in which the frame assemblies are rotated up to a point above the sidewalls of the truck bed and secured rigidly with a cross member, to thus form an elevated platform on which articles may be supported. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     The following description of the various embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or uses.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an alternative preferred cargo management system  1000  of the present invention disposed within a pickup truck bed  1002  of a pickup truck  1003 . Cargo management system  1000  incorporates a plurality of siderails  1004 ,  1006  and  1008  that are secured to bed sidewalls  1010 ,  1012  and  1014  respectively.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cargo management assembly  1000  includes a first frame assembly  1016  and a second frame assembly  1018 . A support platform in the form of a planar element  1020  is slidably supported from the frame assemblies  1016  and  1018 . The frame assembly  1016  is releasably secured to siderail  1004 , while second frame assembly  1018  is releasably secured to siderail  1008 . The planar support panel  1020  can be slidably supported at either of two levels by the frame assemblies  1016 ,  1018 , as will be further explained in the following paragraphs, and may be constructed from high strength plastic, aluminum, steel or any other material having suitable strength and rigidity.  
         [0027]     With further reference to  FIG. 1 , each one of the frame assemblies  1016  and  1018  releasably support a pair of cargo bins  1021  in an upright orientation. Each of cargo bins  1021  includes a main body  1021   a  and cover  1021   b . Cover  1021   b  is pivotally secured to the main body  1021   a . Each cargo bin  1021  preferably includes a locking structure  1021   c  to permit each to be locked via a key or combination lock structure. Once opened, separate engaging structure (not shown) associated with the cargo bin  1021  and the frame assembly ( 1016  or  1018 ) can be implemented to enable the cargo bin to be released from its associated frame assembly so that the cargo bin can be entirely removed from its frame assembly. Thus, removal of the cargo bins  1021  can only be accomplished from accessing the inside of the cargo bin. Cargo bins  1021  are preferably formed from high strength plastic or another suitably strong, lightweight, weather resistant material. While the cargo bins  1021  are all illustrated as being the same size and shape, it will be appreciated that the frame assemblies  1016 ,  1018  could be modified to provide two compartments that are of different dimensions, to thus allow cargo bins of different sizes to be used on each frame assembly  1016 ,  1018 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , frame assembly  1016  will be described. Since frame assembly  1016  is identical in construction to frame assembly  1018 , no additional description of the construction of frame assembly  1018  is required. Frame assembly  1016  includes a plurality of frame elements  1022 ,  1024  and  1026 . The frame elements  1022 - 1026  are coupled together via an upper rail  1028  and a lower rail  1030 . Each of the upper and lower rails  1028  and  1030  form a C-shaped track when viewed from one end, and thus each form a channel  1028   a  and  1030   a , respectively ( FIG. 5 ). The rails  1028  and  1030  are further identical in construction. Rails  1028  and  1030  can be used to support the planar support platform  1020  in either one of two positions above the floor of the truck bed  1002 , those elevational positions being defined by channels  1028   a  and  1030   a . The rails  1028  and  1030  are preferably extruded from aluminum but could be formed in any suitable manner and from other suitably strong materials. The frame elements  1016 ,  1018  may be formed from suitably high strength plastics, or even from aluminum or steel.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , each frame element  1022 ,  1024  and  1026  includes a semi-circular opening  1032  in which the rails  1028  and  1030  are slidably received and fixedly secured to so that the rails  1028  and  1030  cannot rotate or move linearly relative to the frame elements  1022 - 1026 .  FIGS. 13   a - 13   d  illustrate frame element  1024  in greater detail.  FIGS. 14   a - 14   d  illustrate the frame element  1022  in greater detail. Frame element  1022  is identical in construction to frame element  1026 .  
         [0030]     Referring further to  FIGS. 5-7 , each of the frame elements  1022 ,  1024  and  1026  are releasably supported by a support element  1034 ,  1036  and  1038 , respectively. Support element  1034  is illustrated in enlarged fashion in  FIG. 7  and includes T-lug portions  1040  which slide in the channel of the siderail  1004 . A tap plate  1042  and threaded fastener  1044  are used to secure the support element  1034  at a desired position along the siderail  1004 . Frame element  1022  is secured to the support element  1034  by a threaded fastener  1046  that extends through an end cap  1048 . End cap  1048  is secured over a cup shaped recess  1033  ( FIG. 14   a ) to the frame element  1022  by a threaded fastener  1050 . A manually engageable release element  1052 , also shown in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   e , receives the fastener  1046  through a bore  1053 . Release element  1052 , as best seen in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   e , includes a protruding shoulder  1054  which, in a first position, prevents removal of the frame element  1022  from the support element  1034 , but in a second position rotated 90° from the first position, enables the frame element  1022  to be lifted off of the support element  1034  and thus completely detached from the support element  1034 . Support elements  1034 ,  1036  and  1038  are preferably formed from high strength plastic, aluminum or any other suitably strong material.  
         [0031]     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the first frame assembly  1016  can be secured to the sidewall  1010  by a suitable tie down strap  1056  or any other suitable component to prevent bouncing of rattling while the vehicle  1003  is moving. Preferably, whatever type of tie down mechanism is used is one that enables the user to quickly and easily disengage or detach the tie down mechanism to allow removal of the first frame assembly  1016  from the pickup truck bed  1002 . Frame assembly  1018  is preferably held down in the same manner.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , frame element  1024  and its support element  1036  can be seen in greater detail. Support element  1036  similarly includes a plurality of T-lug portions  1058  which engage within the siderail  1004 . Tap plates  1060  are secured by fastening elements  1044  and used to tighten the support element  1036  at a desired position along the siderail  1004 .  
         [0033]     Frame element  1024  includes a pair of end caps  1064  which are identical in construction, and which are each secured to the frame element  1024  by fasteners  1066   a  and  1066   b . Faster  1066   a  may have a threaded shaft and fastener  1066   b  may have a threaded bore, which receives fastener  1066   a . The end caps  1064  each fit within a circular opening  1068  at an end of the frame element  1024 . One release element  1052  and one fastener  1046  are also used with each end cap  1064 , as shown with  FIG. 7 , to retain the frame element  1024  to the support element  1036 , or alternatively to enable it to be completely removed from the support element  1036 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates the frame element  1024  from a bottom perspective showing the release elements  1052  in a locked position to prevent removal of the frame element  1024  from its support element  1036 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 9 and 10   a - 10   d  illustrate the end cap  1064  in greater detail. In  FIGS. 10   a - 10   d , it can be seen that the end cap  1064  includes a blind threaded hole  1070  for receiving the fastener  1046  used to hold the release element  1052  to the neck portion  1072 , while allowing the release element  1052  to be rotated. Neck portion  1072  provides a degree of clearance to enable one to grasp the release element  1052  and turn it 90° to thus lock and unlock the frame element  1024  from its associated support element  1036 . Hole  1073  enables fastener  1066  to extend therethrough and to be secured to the other fastener  1066 , to thus sandwich the frame element  1024  between the end caps  1064 . It will be appreciated that the release elements  1052  associated with end caps  1048  are each secured to their respective end cap  1048  in an identical fashion. Thus, each of the frame elements  1022 ,  1024  and  1026  are able to rotate, relative to their respective support elements  1034 ,  1036  and  1038 , and are also able to be detached when the need arises.  
         [0036]     With brief reference to  FIGS. 12   a - 12   d , the support element  1036  is shown in greater detail. Support element  1036  includes openings  1074  for receiving fasteners  1046  ( FIG. 6 ) therethrough. Openings  1076  enable threaded fasteners  1044  ( FIG. 6 ) to extend through a wall portion of the support element  1036  and to engage the threaded openings in tap plates  1060  ( FIG. 6 ). The support element  1036  also includes a pair of semi-circular wall portions  1078  for supporting the end caps  1064  and enabling rotational movement of the end caps  1064 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , an alternative preferred form of the cargo management system is illustrated. This embodiment makes use of the frame assemblies  1016  and  1018  when the two assemblies are positioned 90° upwardly from the position shown in  FIG. 2 . One or more cross members  1092  may be secured to each of the frame assemblies  1016  and  1018  to form an elevated platform on which articles may be supported above the upped edges of the siderails  1010 ,  1012 ,  1014  of the pickup truck bed  1002 . It will be appreciated that minor modifications will need to be made to the ends of each of the frame assemblies  1016  and  1018  where they are secured to their respective support elements  1034 ,  1036  and  1038 , to permit the 90° rotational movement of the assemblies  1016 ,  1018 .  
         [0038]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.