Abstract:
A variable load support system for enhancing the load carrying capabilities of a bed of any one of a variety of variously sized pickup trucks, the support system comprising a first pair of elongated, longitudinally-extendable pickup truck sidewall engageable side rails, a forwardly arranged first and a rearwardly arranged second, elongated, longitudinally-extendable pickup-truck-bed-traversing transverse rails, and a roller member housingly arranged about the rearwardly arranged pickup truck bed traversing transverse rail so as to permit the widthwise adaptability of the second transverse rail to a pickup truck side wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to pickup trucks and more particularly to adjustable frame arrangements for supporting a variety of different loads in the pickup truck bed. 
         [0003]    2. Prior Art 
         [0004]    Almost one in four of every vehicles on the road in the United States today is a pickup truck. These vehicles are utilized often, as both a family vehicle and a utilitarian vehicle. It is the nature of these truck owners to make them as functional as possible for a wide variety of capacities. These pickup trucks are offered in a wide range of cab sizes, bed widths and bed lengths. A basic frame arrangement for assisting in pickup truck load carrying capacity and capability is needed which can easily accommodate the various width and length sizes a pickup truck enthusiast is likely to encounter and buy/lease. 
         [0005]    One such a bed arrangement for improving pickup truck functionality is shown in Morse et al U.S. patent application 2002/016718 6A1. That bed arrangement shows an extendable rack for a pickup truck. However, that bed arrangement lacks certain “rollability” convenience features as well as a combined adaptability towards different width truck bodies. 
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
         [0007]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptable pickup truck rack arrangement which has the necessary strength for appropriate support of various loads. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptable pickup truck rack arrangement which has the necessary size adaptability for different size pickup truck beds to which such rack arrangement may be applied. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptable pickup truck rack arrangement with certain aspects thereof which will combine size adaptability, ease of cargo receivability, safety and sport design. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention comprises an adaptable load support arrangement for pickup trucks. The adaptable load support arrangement comprises a pair of parallel, length-adjustable side rail assemblies which are respectively secured to the upper shelves or shoulders of a pickup truck sidewall by a plurality of spaced-apart sidewall side rail stanchions which fixedly mate with openings in the upper shelve on each respective side of the pickup truck bed. 
         [0011]    Each side rail assembly has a vertical front rail attached thereto, in an “L” shaped configuration, as part of a front assembly. Each front rail is joined to a widthwise adjustable upper transverse front rail and then adjustable lower transverse front rail. 
         [0012]    Each side rail assembly has a rear portion in which an adjustable rear support bar is adjustably arranged. The adjustable rear sports bar includes a similarly shaped rear roller rotatably arranged around the rear support bar. The rear support bar is transversely extendable within the rear roller. Each side rail assembly has a relatively often enter meeting telescope be extendable side rail members there with them. The rearmost of the narrowest telescoping member mates with the rear support bar, to permit it to extend over the rear end of the bed of the truck and over and beyond a horizontally disposed tailgate thereof. 
         [0013]    The rear distalmost end of the narrowest telescoping member of the side rail assembly is arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to its longitudinal axis. The adjustable rear support bar is of U-shaped configuration having leg portions which made with an opening within that obtusely angled distalmost portion of the innermost side rail. 
         [0014]    A second load support arrangement, to enable a second level support array, is comprised of a plurality of transverse, telescopingly adjustable connecting members attached to spaced-apart locations between the adjustable side rail assemblies. Each of the spaced-part transverse connecting members provides the basis for a separate load bearing support member base from that of the lower bed of the pickup truck. 
         [0015]    A third load support arrangement, to enable a third level support array to be maintained on the pickup truck, is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending telescopingly and the adjustable side rails, and arranged between the upper transverse front rail and the shoulder portions of the adjustable rear support bar. The third load support arrangement permits yet a further separate and distinct platform for separating cargo loads and for providing control and reinforcement for the adjustable rear support bar extending beyond the rear bed of the pickup truck. 
         [0016]    A yet another load support platform in a further embodiment of the present invention comprises an articulable roof rack arranged on the front assembly of the pickup truck adaptable load assembly, which also functions as a window guard, when in its rearward orientation. The roof rack comprises a plurality of “L” shaped platform members which are attached to a horizontally disposed pivot bar for swingable movement about a pair of inwardly extending side axes which axes extend inwardly from a pair of spaced apart “U” shaped reinforcing frames of that front assembly. The L-shaped platform members are attached at their distalmost end to a transversely disposed “lower-to-front” platform bar. The platform members are movable from a vertical configuration immediately behind the cab of a pickup truck in a 270° rotation about its pivot axis, to a horizontal configuration immediately above the cab of the pickup truck. The roof rack may be stabilized by legs extending onto the roof of the cab. The pivot bar may be transversely adjustable to accommodate different sized pickup trucks in a manner similar to the transverse and longitudinal size accommodations of the other support members of this invention. 
         [0017]    The invention thus comprises a variable load support system for enhancing the load carrying capabilities of a bed of any one of a variety of variously sized pickup trucks, the support system comprising: a first pair of elongated, longitudinally-extendable pickup truck sidewall engageable side rails; a forwardly arranged first and a rearwardly arranged second, elongated, longitudinally-extendable pickup-truck-bed-traversing transverse rails; and a roller member housingly arranged about the rearwardly arranged pickup truck bed traversing transverse rail so as to permit the widthwise adaptability of the second transverse rail to a pickup truck side wall. The first transverse rail comprises an internal, telescoping-permitting expanding inner rail supportively enclosed by a pair of outer rails, to permit the forward portion of the support system to adapt to the width of the front of any of a wide variety of pickup truck beds. The side rails have a plurality of spaced apart pickup truck side wall engaging stanchions, to provide structural support of the side rails to the sidewalls of a pickup truck. The system includes a second pair of elongated side rails, arranged at an acute angle with respect to the first pair of side rails. The second pair of side rails are attached between the forwardly arranged transverse rail and the rearwardly arranged transverse rail. The first pair of side rails and the second pair of side rails are correspondingly longitudinally extendable. The forward transverse rail has an articulable truck window protection grate pivotably attached thereto. The articulable truck window protection grate comprises a roof rack in a forwardly pivoted orientation. The roof rack is of “L” shape in lontgitudinal cross-section. The rearwardly arranged transverse rail is arranged at an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal extending axis of movement of the siderails. The first pair of side rails have a plurality of transversely arranged longitudinally extensible connecting members supportively extending therebetween. The roof rack comprises a plurality of “L” shaped platform members which are connected between a pivot axis and a lower front platform bar on a front assembly. The roof rack of the front assembly rests upon an arrangement of feet when the roof rack is pivoted forwardly over a pickup truck cab. The second pair of side rails comprises a second load supporting frame. 
         [0018]    The invention also comprises a method of enhancing the cargo carrying capacity of any one of a wide variety of different sized pickup trucks comprising: arranging a side rail assembly consisting of first pair of elongated, telescopingly adjustable, side wall engageable side rails and a front assembly, onto side walls of a pickup truck, wherein the front assembly comprises a forwardly arranged elongated, telescopingly adjustable transversely extending transverse rail between a forward end of the first pair of side rails; arranging a rearwardly, second, elongated, longitudinally-extendable pickup-truck-bed-traversing transverse rail; enclosing a roller member housingly about the rearwardly arranged pickup truck bed traversing transverse rail so as to permit the widthwise adaptability of the second transverse rail to a pickup truck side wall; pivotably attaching a roof rack onto the front assembly to permit the roof rack to be pivoted from a rearward vertical orientation to a forwardly oriented rack over a cab of a pickup truck utilizing the side rail assembly; and pivotably the roof rack of the front assembly to permit the roof rack to be pivoted to a rearward cab window protecting vertical orientation from a forwardly oriented rack over a cab of a pickup truck utilizing the side rail assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck showing an adaptable support arrangement disposed over the bed of that pickup truck; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the intermating relationship of side rail members and a rear support bar; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of the rear support bar represented in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the side rail members in an extended orientation; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a pickup truck showing a second support arrangement of transverse adjustable bars arranged in combination with the side rail members; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , showing the intermating relationship of the transverse bar members; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the side rails extended and the transverse bar members therewith; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the side rail members along with a third side rail support assembly, angled with respect to the side rail assemblies and in supportive connection with the adjustable rear support bar; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , showing the intermating relationship of the third side rail support assembly and the side rails; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of the adjustable rear support bar; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the rear portion of the side rails and the side of the rear support bar; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a detail view of the connection arrangement of the transverse bar to a side rail; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is a side elevational view of the upper transverse front rail; 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12 , showing the adjustability of the transverse rail; 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an articulable roof rack as part of the front assembly; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14A  shows a side view of the roof rack of  FIG. 14 , showing stages of rotation about its axis of rotation; 
           [0036]      FIG. 14B  shows the roof rack in its forwardmost configuration; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 14C  shows a perspective view of the pickup truck with its side rails extended beyond the tail gate thereof, and the roof rack in its stored behind-the-cab configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, and to  FIG. 1  in particular, there is shown the present invention which comprises an adaptable load support arrangement  20  for pickup trucks  22 . The adaptable load support arrangement  20  comprises a pair of parallel, length-adjustable side rail assemblies  24  which are respectively secured to the upper shelves  26  of a pickup truck sidewall  28  by a plurality of spaced-apart sidewall side rail stanchions  30  which fixedly mate with openings  32  in the upper shelf  26  on each respective side  28  of the bed of the pickup truck  22 , as shown in FIGS.  1 , 2  and  3 . 
         [0039]    Each side rail assembly  24  has a vertical front rail  34  attached thereto, in an “L” shaped configuration, as part of a front assembly  36 . Each front rail  34  is joined to a widthwise adjustable upper transverse split, hollow, front rail  38 , with an enclosed, rigid, widthwise, telescoping expansion permitting internal rail  38 ′, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and more particularly in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0040]    Each side rail assembly  24  has a rear portion  42  in which a split-wise (width) adjustable rear support bar  44  is adjustably arranged to accommodate differing widths of a pickup truck  22 . The adjustable rear support bar  44  includes a similarly shaped outer rear roller  46  rotatably arranged around the extendable rear support bar  44 , keeping it in alignment and securely (rotatably) supported. The split rear support bar  44  is transversely extendable within the rear roller  46 . Each rear portion  42  of each side rail assembly  24  has an inner, narrower, mating first tubular member  48  telescopingly extendable therethrough, a forward portion being shown in dashed lines, the telescoping relationship being best represented in  FIG. 3 . The rearmost portion of the narrowest first telescoping member  48  mates with the rear support bar  44 , as represented in  FIG. 2A , to permit it to extend over the rear end of the bed of the truck  22  and over and beyond a horizontally disposed tailgate  50  thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  3  and  6 . 
         [0041]    The rear distalmost end of the narrowest telescoping member  48  of the side rail assembly  24  is arranged at an obtuse angle “A” with respect to its longitudinal axis “L”, as may be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 10 .  FIG. 10  also shows a further of second telescoping member  56  whose angled rearmost end  57  is shown receiving the legs  52  of the support bar  44 . 
         [0042]    The adjustable rear support bar  44  is of U-shaped configuration, as may be seen in  FIGS. 9 and 9A , having leg portions  52  which made with an open tubular portion  54 , within that obtusely angled distalmost rear portion  57  of the second tubular member  56  extending here, from the innermost side rail  48 . The innermost side rail  48 , in a further aspect of the present invention, may be of other cross-sectional shapes, such as for example, of “I” shape, or of rectilinear shape, or solid, with correspondingly shaped receiving members, (not shown for clarity of viewing), in which the rail  48  slidingly mates.  FIG. 10  shows that second inner tubular member  56 , telescopingly engaged to the distal end of the inner first tubular member  48 , the telescoping relationship indicated by arrows “B” therein. 
         [0043]    A second load support assembly  60 , is shown in  FIG. 4 , to enable a second level load “M” support array, shown in  FIG. 4 , is comprised of a plurality of transverse, telescopingly adjustable connecting members  62  attached to spaced-apart locations between the adjustable side rail assemblies  24 , attached thereto by an attachment ring  68 . The connecting members  62  are kept in longitudinal alignment by being enclosed by a tubular, closely rotatively supportive cargo bar  66 , shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Each of the spaced-part transverse connecting members  62  provides the basis for a separate load bearing support member base from that of the lower bed of the pickup truck  22 . 
         [0044]    A third load support and rear bar support arrangement  70 , shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  enable the third level support array  70  to carry a further load “K” to be maintained on the pickup truck, is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally extending telescope and the angled adjustable side rails  71  and  73 , and angularly arranged (i.e., non horizontally and non parallel with respect to the side rails  24 ) between the upper transverse front rail  38  and the shoulder portions of the adjustable rear support bar  44 , as represented in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , for supporting a load “K” at a slight angle (non horizontal) yet spaced apart from a lower load within the truck bed. That is, the third load support and rear bar support arrangement  70  permits yet a completely separate and distinct platform for separately supporting cargo loads “K” from other cargo loads, for example, load “M”, and also or alternatively, for providing control and further reinforcement for the adjustable rear support bar  44  extending beyond the rear bed of the pickup truck  22 . 
         [0045]    A yet further fourth load support platform  90  in a further embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  14 A,  14 B and  14 C, comprises an articulable roof rack  92  arranged on the front assembly of the pickup truck  22  adaptable load assembly  20 . The roof rack  92  comprises a plurality of “L” shaped platform members  94  which are attached to a horizontally disposed pivot bar  96  for swingable movement about a pair of inwardly extending side axes  98  which extends from a pair of spaced part “U” shaped reinforcing frames  100  of that front assembly. The L-shaped platform members  94  are attached at their distalmost end to a transversely disposed “lower-to-front” platform bar  102 . The platform members  94  are movable from a vertical, cab-window-protecting configuration immediately behind the cab window “W” of a pickup truck  22 , shown best in  FIG. 14C , and as shown in  FIGS. 14 , in a 270° rotation about its pivot axis  96  as shown in  FIG. 14A , to a horizontal configuration cantilevered immediately above the cab “C” of the pickup truck  22 , as shown in  FIG. 14B , resting partially supportively on the front rail  38 . The roof rack  92  may be also be stabilized by legs  106  extending onto the roof of the cab “C”, as shown in  FIG. 14B . The pivot bar rack  92  may be transversely adjustable to accommodate different sized pickup trucks in a manner similar to the transverse and longitudinal size accommodations of the other support members of this invention.