Abstract:
This invention relates generally to an easy to install and remove, elevated, lockable, retractable cargo tray for pickup trucks, vans, Sport Utility Vehicles and other service type vehicles that leaves the floor of the storage area clear for large or heavy tools while providing an accessible storage tray for tools or other often used supplies.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to an elevated, lockable, retractable cargo tray for pickup trucks, vans, Sport Utility Vehicles and other service type vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     Vehicles that are used for used for transporting tools and materials for certain tasks have a significant drawback, particularly when they are enclosed, as with a pickup truck topper. Articles loaded to the front of the vehicle become almost inaccessible when large items are loaded behind them. There are a number of bed slides or sliders on the market that address this problem by allowing a movable floor to retract out of the bed of the vehicle, allowing access to the front portion of the bed slide. A significant problem that this slider bed type solution does not address is that, often the full floor of the bed is needed to haul materials such studs or 4×8 sheeting. The driver then must resort to the inconvenient and perhaps unsafe practice of packing his other tools and equipment in the cab of his vehicle or unloading them, loading the large flat-surface materials and then reloading his portable tools on top of them, and reversing this cumbersome process at the job site.  
         [0003]     Prior Art  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,525 to Carpenter et al. discloses a bottom frame to attach to the floor of a vehicle storage area and a top portion slidably connected to the frame.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,088 to Chudik 1991 shows a similar slider bed but includes a fold down table leg for support of the top frame when fully extended over an opened tailgate.  
         [0006]     One of the other significant problems with the typical slider beds, particularly when the slider portion is heavily loaded is the need for a very solid locking system to prevent the mass from sliding forward in a collision or sliding out the back when parking on a steep incline. U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,524 to Carlson 2003 addresses this problem with a series of equally spaced latch mechanisms mounted on the bottom frame with a downwardly angled latch mounted to the moving frame which can be rotated upward to release the bed for movement.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     An object of the present invention is to provide a slider bed type cargo area that allows easy access to the front of a storage area without having to unload the floor area of the bed or physically climb up into the bed of the vehicle every time you need a tool or part from the front of the storage area.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a slider bed type cargo area that is elevated above the floor of the vehicle, mounted to the sides of the storage area, thus giving full floor access for studs, sheets or the like while providing a movable, lockable storage area for tools in the elevated tray.  
         [0009]     A further object is to provide a slider bed type cargo area that is easy to install and remove.  
         [0010]     A further object is to provide a slider bed type cargo area that is lightweight, yet durable with a smooth sliding action.  
         [0011]     A further object is to provide a slider bed type cargo area that is position lockable to prevent unintended motion during sudden stops or when parked on severe inclines and secured from bouncing off the slider rail when driving over rough terrain.  
         [0012]     A further object is to provide a slider bed type cargo area tray with a top that is water tight and lockable for protecting and securing valuable tools on a job site.  
         [0013]     The present invention, in its several embodiments, meets the above mentioned objectives.  
         [0014]     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof. A specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice this invention, and be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a partial cut away side view of BED MAX installed in a pickup truck.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut away side view of BED MAX installed in a pickup truck with the tailgate down and the cargo tray rearmost extended.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2A  is an enlarged partial view of the cargo tray extended.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a frame assembly.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a back view of frame assembly.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a top view showing a cargo tray slidably disposed in a frame assembly in the foremost position.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a similar view showing the cargo tray in a mid-position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4C  is a similar view showing a cargo tray in its rearmost position without cantilevering the tailgate.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial top view of the right rear corner of cargo tray and the locator pin entered into side rail locating hole.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  is an end view of the partial view shown in  FIG. 5  showing top and bottom slider mechanism locations.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged top view of latch bars and release mechanism.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6A  is an inside view of latch bars and release mechanism.  
         [0028]      FIG. 6B  is an end view of latch release mechanism.  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a broken top view of the cargo tray showing the cargo tray reinforcement ribs on the under side of the tray running between the bottom slider mechanism brackets.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7A  is s section view through one of the cargo tray reinforcement ribs.  
         [0031]      FIG. 7B  is a rear view of the cargo tray showing the top and bottom slider mechanism locations. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0032]     The same reference numbers are used to refer to the same or similar parts in the various views.  
                                       10   BED MAX       12   left side rail       13   right side rail       14   cross brace       16   support legs       18   mounting plate       20   vertical support post on truck bed wall       22   middle support bracket       24   top slider mechanism       26   bottom slider mechanism       28   cargo tray       30   cargo tray reinforcement ribs       32   cargo tray location latch pin       34   latch bars       36   latch release       38   cargo tray cover       40   cargo tray cover lock       42   floor of storage area       44   cargo tray stop plate       46   side wall of storage area       48   top of fender well       50   side rail first end       52   side rail second end       54   side rail bottom side       56   second end mounting holes       58   locator holes       60   side rail vertical wall       62   side rail horizontal wall       64   side rail horizontal wall upper surface       66   bottom surface of bottom plate of cargo tray       68   angle bracket top surface       70   angle brackets       72   side rail stop                  
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0033]     BED MAX  10  will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIGS. 1 through 7 B illustrate a preferred embodiment of BED MAX  10  wherein a front-to-rear-position slideable, lockable, and elevated cargo tray that is easy to install and remove is disclosed.  
         [0034]     Turning to  FIG. 1 , therein is shown a cut away side view of BED MAX  10  mounted in a typical internal fender pickup truck bed that is shown in phantom lines and not a part of this invention.  FIG. 2  shows a reduced view similar to  FIG. 1  except the tailgate of the pickup truck is down and cargo tray  28  is shown in its rearmost position, cantilevered out of the bed approximately 12 inches.  FIG. 2A  is an enlarged partial view of cargo tray  28  in its cantilevered position.  
         [0035]     An elevated stationary frame assembly is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3 A, comprised of L-shaped opposing left and right side rails  12  and  13  respectively that have first ends  50 , second ends  52 , vertical walls  60 , horizontal walls  62  that have upper surfaces  64 , and bottom sides  54 . Opposing side rails  12  and  13  are open to the top and middle of the assembly and are spaced apart by cross brace  14  at their first ends  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cross brace  14  is preferably made from 1¼ inch diameter aluminum pipe.  FIG. 3A  shows opposing rails  12  and  13  each supported by two legs  16  that are approximately 10 inches long and preferably made from 1¼ inch diameter, aluminum tubing. Legs  16  are suspended from bottom side  54  of side rails  12  and  13  and are attached at the bottom to mounting plates  18 , preferably made from approximately 2 inch by 3¾ inch plates with mounting holes to secure mounting plates  18  to floor of storage area  42 . The centerline of legs  16  are approximately 2 inches back from first ends  50  and approximately 15 3/16 inches forward from second ends  52 . Opposing side rails  12  and  13  are preferably made from 3 inch×3 inch×¼ inch aluminum angle stock in varying lengths to fit the intended vehicle. Opposing side rails  12  and  13  are supported directly above top of fender well  48  by middle support brackets  22  which are preferably simple L-shaped brackets attached to side rail bottom side  54  and fastened to side wall of storage area  46  with conventional fasteners. Side rail second ends  52  are attached to vertical support posts  20  on side wall of storage area  46  using conventional fasteners through clearance holes  56  in side rails  12  and  13 .  
         [0036]     A plurality of cargo tray locator holes  58  are positioned in vertical walls  60  of opposing side rails  12  and  13  such that cargo tray  28  can be locked in the foremost position, locked in its rearmost position, overhanging side rail second ends  52  by approximately 12 inches and at multiple points in between.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4A  shows a top view of elevated cargo tray assembly slideably mounted in-between opposing side rails  12  and  13  in its foremost position.  FIG. 4B  shows the cargo tray assembly at a mid-point and highlights areas  5  and  6  which will show as enlarged views on sheet  5 .  FIG. 4C  shows it at the rearmost position without cantilevering off second ends  52  of opposing side rails  12  and  13 . It is comprised of cargo tray  28  that is preferably formed of an approximately 60 inch×42 inch× 3/16 inch thick aluminum plate bottom with approximately 3½ inch high side walls of diamond plate aluminum sheeting. A plurality of cargo tray bottom reinforcing ribs  30  are equally spaced and welded to bottom surface of the bottom plate  66  and to the backs of angle brackets  70  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7 A and are preferably fabricated from ⅜ inch×⅜ inch× 3/16 inch thick aluminum angle bars.  
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the rear right hand corner of cargo tray  28  disposed on side rail upper surface  64 , showing latch bars  34  connected to cargo tray locater pins  32 .  FIG. 5A  partial end view through right side rail  13  showing top slider mechanisms  24  attached to bottom surface of the bottom plate  66  of cargo tray  28 , directly over side rail horizontal wall upper surfaces  64 .  FIG. 5  also shows bottom slider mechanisms  26  mounted on the top surface  68  of angle brackets  70 . These angle brackets are preferably made from ¾ inch×¾ inch aluminum angle, suspended from bottom surface of bottom plate  66  running from front to back of cargo tray  28  such that they clear the inside edge of opposing side rails  12  and  13 . Cargo tray stop plate  72  is a metal plate fastened under angle brackets  70 , approximately 14 inches from side rail first ends  50 , extending outward a sufficient distance as to impinge on side rail stop  44  which is attached to side rail bottom sides  54  at a point that stops cargo tray  28  from extending more than the predicted amount past second ends  52  of opposing side rails  12  and  13 . Bottom slider mechanisms  26  prevent cargo tray  28  from disengaging from side rails  12  and  13  during abrupt stops or when traversing rough terrain.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 6, 6A  and  6 B disclose a preferred position latch system for cargo tray  28 . A plurality of cargo tray position locator holes  58  are placed in the vertical walls of opposing side rails  12  and  13 . Cargo tray location latch pins  32  are mounted in the rear of the sidewalls of cargo tray  28  and are biased into the position locator holes by spring loaded latch bars  34  that run from the back of both location latch pins  32  to latch release  36 . When latch release  36  is activated it retracts latch pins  32  from locator holes  58 , allowing cargo tray  28  to be relocated and latched in its new position.  
         [0040]      FIG. 6B  also shows cargo tray cover  38  with its cargo tray cover lock  40 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a top view of cargo tray  28  showing in dashed lines the cargo tray reinforcement ribs  30 . Depending on the materials selected for cargo tray  28  more or less ribs will be utilized.  FIG. 7A  is a partial section through one of cargo tray reinforcing ribs  30  and shows it to be an aluminum angle welded to bottom surface  66  running between and welded to the inside wall of angle brackets  70 .  FIG. 7B  is a broken end view of cargo tray assembly disposed on stationary elevated frame assembly.  
         [0042]     The preferred embodiment herein described is illustrative of a BED MAX embodiment for relatively light weight applications, thus accounting for the material of preference selection of aluminum. For other applications, various components would preferably be selected from cold rolled steel, stainless steel, wood or high strength engineering grade plastics based on the anticipated mass and shape of work loads. While this invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, it will be understood that this description is not limiting as to size, scale or construction materials. Rather, the scope of this invention is covered by the following claims.