Abstract:
A cargo restraining system for use within a bed of a pickup truck. The system includes a first pair of rails disposed on sidewalls of the bed. A second pair of support rails are secured to the forward wall of the bed and to an interior surface of the rear liftgate of the bed. First and second independent cross bar assemblies have end supports that are coupled to the support walls so that the assemblies extend perpendicularly from one another. The cross bar assemblies can be adjustably positioned along their associated pair of support rails to engage cargo of widely varying sizes and shapes that is being carried within the bed of the vehicle. The end supports can be simultaneously locked and unlocked from one end of each cross bar assembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/624,065, filed on Nov. 1, 2004. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to article carrier systems, and more particularly to an article restraining system adapted particularly for use in a bed of a pickup truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Article carrier assemblies are used in a wide variety of applications with motor vehicles to carry or restrain articles on a vehicle. Many such vehicle article carriers are adapted to be used on a roof of a motor vehicle for supporting articles above the roof of the vehicle. 
     One particular style of vehicle that is especially useful for transporting cargo is a pickup truck. Present day pickup trucks have a bed behind a cab portion. The bed is typically of sufficient size to carry a wide variety of cargo items of varying sizes and shapes. However, when carrying cargo or articles of various sizes, often the articles must be restrained in the bed so as to prevent the articles from tipping over, sliding or otherwise moving around in the bed while the vehicle is being driven. There have been previous attempts to provide cargo restraining systems for use with a pickup truck bed, with varying degrees of success. Nevertheless, it would still be highly desirable to provide a cargo restraining system that is specifically adapted for use with a bed of a pickup truck, and that can be easily positioned by a single individual to restrain a wide variety of articles of different sizes and shapes from movement within the bed. It would further be highly desirable to provide such a cargo restraining system that does not otherwise interfere with operation of the liftgate at a rear portion of the bed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a cargo restraining system especially well adapted for use with a bed of a vehicle, for example, a pickup truck. However, it will be appreciated that the cargo restraining system of the present invention can be used essentially within any box-like area of a vehicle in which it is desired to restrain articles or cargo against movement while the vehicle is being operated. 
     In one preferred form the cargo restraining system includes a first pair of support rails that are supported from opposing side walls of a bed of a pickup truck. A first cross bar is provided having end supports at each of its opposing ends. The end supports are adapted to be coupled to the first pair of support rails to allow adjustable movement of the first cross bar towards and away from a cab of the vehicle, and locking of the first cross bar assembly at a desired longitudinal position within the bed. At least one of the end supports is constructed so that a cross bar member of the cross bar assembly can be separated from the one end support, and the cross bar member moved away from the one end support to allow quick and easy removal of the article being restrained within the bed. The end supports can be adjustably positioned and locked at different longitudinal positions along the first pair of support rails. 
     In another embodiment a pair of second support rails are included. One of the second pair of support rails is mounted to a forward wall of the bed while a second one of the second pair of support rails is mounted to a liftgate associated with the bed. A second cross bar assembly having end supports at its opposite ends is coupled to the second pair of support rails and adjustable such that it can be positioned laterally within the bed, and locked at a desired lateral position within the bed. The first cross bar assembly and the second cross bar assembly thus form an intersecting pair of restraining elements that can be adjustably positioned to engage and restrain articles of widely varying shapes and sizes that are being transported within the bed. The two cross bar assemblies also enable the bed to be partitioned into a plurality of distinct compartments, and quickly and easily reconfigured as needed depending upon the type of cargo or articles being transported. 
     In still another preferred form of the present invention the second cross bar assembly includes a telescoping cross bar component. The telescoping cross bar component allows the liftgate of the vehicle to be lowered and raised without requiring one end or the other of the second cross bar assembly to be uncoupled from its associated support rail. 
     In still another preferred embodiment each of the cross bar assemblies is constructed to allow both of its end supports to be simultaneously locked and unlocked from one end of the cross bar assembly. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pickup truck having a bed, in which the bed includes a cargo restraining system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the cargo restraining system with one of the cross bar members unsecured from its associated end support, and the other of the cross bar assemblies extended when the liftgate of the vehicle is lowered; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one of the cross bar assemblies shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a cross-sectional end view of first and second cross bars assembled together, in accordance with section line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one end of the cross bar assembly shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the end support shown in  FIG. 4  fully assembled; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the end support of  FIG. 4  further illustrating the camming slot used to retract the locking pin into an unlocked position relative to its associated support rail; 
         FIG. 7  is an assembled view of the upper right most end support shown in  FIG. 3  with the cross bar component locked to the end support; 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the end support of  FIG. 7  but illustrating the camming slot used to retract the locking pin of the end support; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the end support of  FIG. 7  illustrating the end support engaged with its associated support rail; and 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the end support of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cargo restraining system  10  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The cargo restraining system  10  is adapted for use within a bed  12  of a vehicle  14  such as a pickup truck. It will be appreciated, however, that the cargo restraining system  10  could be used with any vehicle or structure where it is desirable to restrain cargo or articles, and where a degree of adjustability is needed to restrain articles and/or cargo of widely varying shapes and sizes. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1 , when the system  10  is used with a vehicle  14  such as a pickup truck, the vehicle will include opposing sidewalls  16  and  18 , a forward wall  20  and a liftgate  22 . The liftgate  22  is shown in its lowered position, but it will be appreciated that the liftgate is hingedly supported from a floor  24  of the bed  12  and can be raised and lowered as needed. The system  10  further includes a first cross bar assembly  26  and a second cross bar assembly  28 . The first cross bar assembly  26  includes a cross bar member  30  having end supports  32  and  34 . End support  32  is coupled to one of a first pair of support rails  36  mounted near an upper edge of the sidewall  16 , on an inside surface of the sidewall  16 . End support  34  is similarly coupled to a second one of the first pair of support rails  36  mounted to the opposite sidewall  18  along an inside surface thereof near an upper edge of the sidewall  18 . The second cross bar assembly  28  includes a telescoping component  37 , and end supports  38  and  40  which are coupled to respective ones of a second pair of support rails  42 . One of the support rails  42  is secured to an inside surface of the forward wall  20  of the bed  12  while the other support rail  42  is secured to an inside surface of the liftgate  22  along an upper edge of the liftgate. Each of the end supports  32 ,  34 ,  38  and  40  can be adjustably secured to its respective support rail,  36  or  42 , so that the system  10  can be adjusted to precisely fit an article or cargo item(s) being transported in the bed  12 . In this regard it will be appreciated that the vertical position of one pair of support rails  36  or  42  will be just slightly above or below the other pair. 
     The system  10  also provides the advantage of partitioning the bed  12  into several distinct compartments as a result of the perpendicularly arranged cross bar assemblies  26  and  28 . As will be explained further, the telescoping cross bar component  37  allows the liftgate  22  to be raised or lowered without the need to uncouple either of the end supports  38  or  40  from their respective support rails  42 . Thus, both cross bar assemblies  26  and  28  are fully functional, and remain fully functional, regardless of whether the liftgate  22  is in its raised or lowered position. 
     Referring briefly to  FIG. 2 , as will be explained further, the cross bar member  30  of the first cross bar assembly  26  can be detached from its associated end support  34  at one end thereof. The opposite end of the cross bar member  30  is pivotally supported adjacent end support  32 , which allows the cross bar member  30  to be quickly released and pivoted upwardly. This allows larger cargo items such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2  to be slid out of the bed  12  without the need to physically uncouple the end support  34  from its associated support rail  36 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  7  and  10 , the second cross bar assembly  28  is shown in greater detail. The second cross bar assembly  28  includes a first tube  46  that fits telescopically within a second tube  48 . Tubes  46  and  48  form the cross bar component  37 . With brief reference to  FIG. 3A , first tube  46  includes a spline  46   a  that rides with a groove  48   a  in the second tube  48  when the two tubes are assembled. This allows rotation imparted to second rube  48  to cause a corresponding rotation of the first tube  46 , the purpose for which will be described momentarily. Collars  47   a  and  47   b  are preferably formed from high strength plastic and help to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the two tubes  46  and  48 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , a hook member  50  is coupled to one end of the first tube  46 . The hook member  50  includes a jaw  52  which engages with a pin  54  of end support  40  when the cross bar assembly  28  is in a locked orientation. The pin  54  is supported within a neck  56  of a camming component  57 . A body portion  58  includes flanges  58   a  having a plurality of wheels  60  supported for movement. A section of body portion  58  fits within support rail  42 . The support rail  42  has a generally U-shape when viewed from one end and serves to capture the wheels  60 , as well as a section of the body portion  58 , within a channel formed by the support rail  42 . Thus, the end support  40  is attached to the support rail  42  but can still move slidably along the support rail  42  without binding. The camming component  57  is secured via a threaded bolt  61  and associated nut  61   a  to the body portion  58 . The camming component  57  includes a circumferential camming slot  57   a.    
     Each end support  40  and  38  further includes an L-shaped locking element (e.g., pin)  62 , at the end of which is a biasing spring  64  and a pad  66 . Locking pin  62  can be partially retracted within the body portion  58 , as will be described momentarily. When in its retracted position, each end support  38  and  40  can be moved slidably along their respective support rails  36  or  42 . When in the extended position, however, the pad  66  engages within one of a plurality of openings  68  spaced apart along its associated support rail  36  or  42 , to thus lock the end support  40  or  38  at a desired position along its associated support rail  36  or  42 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 10 , the body portion  58  further includes a cutout  59 . When the hook member  50  is in the position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the hook member cannot be lifted away from the body portion  58 . When the hook member  50  is rotated 180° together with the camming component  57 , the hook member can be lifted through the cutout  59  and the telescoping components  46  and  48  lifted away from the end support  40 . 
     With further reference to  FIG. 4 , end support  38  can be seen in greater detail. End support  38  includes a pivot portion  70  which is secured within an end portion  72  of the second tube  48 . The pivot portion  70  is pivotally coupled to a camming member  74  via a pivot pin  76 . This allows pivot portion  70  to move pivotally relative to camming member  74 . Camming member  74  is similar to camming member  57  and is secured within a cut-out  78  in body portion  58 . Camming member  74  includes a circumferential camming slot  80  and a recess  82 . Recess  82  receives a biasing member  84  and a release button  86 . Camming member  74  is assembled to the body portion  58  by inserting a first end  88  into the recess  78  while depressing release button  86 . Release button  86  is received within an opening  90  in the body portion  58  when the member  74  is fully inserted into the recess  78 . During this process an end portion  92  of the locking pin  62  is received within the camming slot  80  ( FIGS. 6 and 8 ). This is achieved via an opening  94  in the body portion  58  through which the end  92  extends during the assembly process. Threaded member  61  and nut  61   a  couple the member  74  to the body portion  58 . End support  32  is substantially similar in construction to end support  38 , while end support  34  is substantially similar in construction to end support  40 . However, end supports  34  and  40  do not make use of the release button  86 . 
     Unlocking the end supports  38  and  40  from their respective support rails  42  is accomplished by first depressing button  86  on end support  38  while grasping camming member  74 , and then rotating member  74  ( FIG. 9 ). This causes the end portion  92  of locking pin  62  to ride within the camming slot  80 , which causes the locking pin  62  to be retracted outwardly from one of the openings  68 . Simultaneously, this rotational movement is transmitted through the tubes  46 ,  48  to the camming member  57  ( FIGS. 3 ,  7  and  10 ). This causes a corresponding, simultaneous retraction of the locking pin  62  of end support  40  as the head portion  92  rides within camming slot  57   a . Thus, both of the locking pins  62  are simultaneously withdrawn from the openings  68  in which they were just engaged. The locking pins  62  are fully withdrawn (i.e., unlocked) when the camming member  74  is rotated 180° from the position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Rotating the camming member  74  in the opposite direction urges the locking pin  62  towards one of the openings  68 , and the button  86  engages within the opening  90  when the pivot member  74  is returned to its original (i.e., locked) position. Spring  64  at each end support  38  and  40  assists in biasing its respective locking pin  62  back into a locked position. The locking and unlocking action of end supports  32  and  34  are identical in operation to that described for end supports  38  and  40 , respectively. 
     A further advantage is that the hook member  50  is automatically rotated into locking engagement with the body portion  58  ( FIGS. 3 and 10 ) when the camming member  74  is rotated into its locked position. It is only when the camming member  74  is rotated to its unlocked orientation that the hook member  50  is presented in a rotational position where it can be lifted away from the camming member  57 . 
     Thus, the end supports  32  and  38  can be quickly and easily unlocked from its associated support rail  36  or  42  by simply turning the camming member  74  of the end support. This enables simultaneous locking and unlocking of the cross bar assemblies  26  and  28  from one end of each assembly. The pivoting coupling between components  70  and  74  shown in  FIG. 4  allows a wide range of pivoting movement to be achieved at end supports  38  and  32 . Thus, end support  38  allows the liftgate  22  to be raised and lowered, while the telescoping coupling between first and second tubular members  46  and  48  allows the cross bar member  44  to be extended or retracted as needed. End support  32  thus allows the cross bar member  26  to be pivoted through a wide arc, and also to allow the crossbar member  26  to be stood vertically if needed. 
     The system  10  is adapted for use in a wide variety of applications, although it is particularly well suited for use in the bed of a pickup truck. The system  10  is lightweight and the cross bar assemblies  26  and  28  can be moved into positions to substantially open the entire area of the bed  12  if desired. Thus, the cross bar assemblies  26  and  28  do not need to be removed if the apparatus  10  is not needed. 
     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.