Patent Publication Number: US-2017355319-A1

Title: Integrated ladder rack for a truck

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a ladder rack that may be integrated into the truck body so as to be deployable when desired to support a ladder or other elongated object over the load bed and cab of the truck. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Ladder racks have long been provided on flat bed and pickup trucks to allow long objects such as ladders to be carried on the ladder rack above the load bed and cab of the truck. 
     Semi-permanent ladder racks may be secured to the body or frame of the truck for this purpose. However, the cross members of such a ladder rack may interfere with carrying certain cargo items including, particularly, items that are taller than the clearance space provided between the rear cross member of the ladder rack and the upper surface of the load bed of the truck. In such a situation, one must detach the cross member in order to carry the item. This is an inconvenient and sometimes time-consuming task wasting valuable time that might be spent on other matters. Thus, the attaching and detaching of a semi-permanent ladder rack is a drain on productivity. 
     This document relates to a new and improved integrated ladder rack that is integrated with the body of the truck and may be quickly and easily stowed or deployed as necessary for properly and effectively managing substantially any cargo application. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an integrated ladder rack is provided for a truck such as a pickup truck. That ladder rack comprises a first side frame, a second side frame, a first cross member and a second cross member. The first side frame and the second side frame are translated from a stowed position within the opposing load bed side walls of the truck to a deployed position where they are raised above those side walls. Further, the first cross member and the second cross member are displaced to span between the first side frame and the second side frame so as to form the ladder rack. 
     The first side frame may include a first top member while the second side frame may include a second top member. A first hinge may be provided to pivotally connect the first cross member to the first top member. A second hinge may be provided to pivotally connect the second cross member to the second top member. 
     The first top member may include a first channel and the first cross member may be received and held in that first channel when the first cross member is in a home position. Similarly, the second top member may include a second channel and the second cross member may be received and held in that second channel when the second cross member is in a home position. 
     A first lock may be provided for holding the first cross member in the first channel. Similarly, a second lock may be provided for holding the second cross member in the second channel. 
     A first compartment may be provided in a first side wall of the truck. That first compartment functions to receive and hold the first side frame when the first side frame is in the stowed position. Similarly, a second compartment may be provided in a second side wall of the truck. The second compartment receives and holds the second side frame when the second side frame is in the stowed position. 
     A first lift mechanism may be provided for biasing the first side frame toward the deployed position. Similarly, a second lift mechanism may be provided for biasing the second side frame toward the deployed position. 
     Still further, the integrated ladder rack may include a first latch mechanism for securing the first side frame in either the stowed position or the deployed position. In addition, the integrated ladder rack may include a second latch mechanism for securing the second side frame in either the stowed position or the deployed position. 
     The first latch mechanism may include a first latch bolt that is received in a first cooperating latch receiver provided in the first side frame when the first side frame is locked in the stowed position or the deployed position. That first latch mechanism may include a first rotary actuator connected to the first latch bolt. 
     The integrated ladder rack may also include a second latch mechanism including a second latch bolt that is received in the second cooperating latch receiver provided in the second side frame when the second side frame is locked in either the stowed position or the deployed position. The second latch mechanism may also include a secondary rotary actuator connected to the second latch bolt. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect, a pickup truck is provided incorporating the integrated ladder rack described herein. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect, a method is provided for deploying a ladder rack on a truck. That method may be described as comprising the steps of: (a) translating a first side frame from a stowed position within a first load bed side wall into a deployed position, (b) translating a second side frame from a stowed position within a second load bed side wall into a deployed position and (c) spanning the deployed first side frame and the deployed second side frame with a first cross member and a second cross member. 
     More specifically, the method may include the steps of pivoting the first cross member from a home position in a first channel in the first side frame into a spanning position between the first side frame and the second side frame. Further, the method may include the step of pivoting the second cross member from a home position in a second channel in the second side frame into a spanning position between the first side frame and the second side frame. 
     Still further, the method may include the steps of securing a first distal end of the first cross member to the second side frame and securing a second distal end of the second cross member to the first side frame. 
     In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the integrated ladder rack and the associated method for deploying a ladder rack on a truck. As it should be realized, the integrated ladder rack and associated method are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the ladder rack and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the integrated ladder rack and the associated method and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pickup truck incorporating the integrated ladder rack and illustrating that integrated ladder rack in the stowed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the pickup truck illustrated in  FIG. 1  and showing the integrated ladder rack in the fully deployed position. 
         FIGS. 3 a -3 e    are schematic illustrations of the integrated ladder rack and when considered together illustrate the method of deploying the integrated ladder rack on the truck. 
         FIG. 4 a    is a detailed end view illustrating how a cross member of the ladder rack is held in a channel of the associated side frame when in a home position. 
         FIG. 4 b    is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in  FIG. 4   a.    
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the integrated ladder rack, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1-4   b  illustrating a pickup truck  10  equipped with the integrated ladder rack  12 .  FIG. 1  shows the pickup truck with the integrated ladder rack  12  in the fully stowed position. Note how the load bed  14  of the pickup truck  10  is completely unencumbered and free to receive cargo. In contrast, when one desires, the integrated ladder rack  12  may be simply and easily deployed to hold longer cargo such as a ladder L above the load bed  14  and the cab  16  of the pickup truck  10 . 
     As should be appreciated from reviewing  FIGS. 2-4   b,  the integrated ladder rack  12  includes a first side frame  18  and a second side frame  20 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the first side frame  18  includes two vertical posts  22  and a first top member  24  supported at the ends of the posts. Similarly, the second side frame  20  includes two vertical posts  26  and a second top member  28  supported at the ends of the posts. 
     When in the stowed position, the first side frame  18  is received and held in a first interior compartment  30  within the first load bed side wall  32  of the pickup truck  10 . Similarly, when the second side frame  20  is in the stowed position, the second side frame is received within a second compartment  34  within a second load bed side wall  36  of the truck  10 . 
     As should be appreciated from reviewing  FIGS. 1, 2, 4   a  and  4   b , each of the first and second top members  24 ,  28  includes an upper fascia  38  that forms the top wall of the associated truck bed side wall  32 ,  36  when the side frame  18 ,  20  is in the stowed position. Underneath the fascia  38  and opening inboard with respect to the pickup truck  10  is a C-shaped channel  40 . Thus, it should be appreciated that the first top member  24  includes a first channel  40  and the second top member  28  includes a second channel  42 . 
     A first hinge  44  pivotally connects the first cross member  46  at a proximal end thereof to the first top member  24 . Similarly, a second hinge  48  pivotally connects the second cross member  50  at a proximal end thereof to the second top member  28 . When the first cross member  46  is in its home position, the first cross member is received and held in the first channel  40  of the first top member  24 . A lock  52 , schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4 a   , functions to hold the proximal end of the first cross member in the first channel  40 . That lock  52  may comprise any appropriate structure from, for example, a locking feature on the first hinge  44  to a cooperating pin and clip (not shown). 
     Similarly, when the second cross member  50  is in its home position, the second cross member is received and held in the second channel  42  of the second top member  28 . See  FIG. 4 b   . A second lock  54  functions to hold the distal end of the second cross member  50  in the channel  42 . 
     When the integrated ladder rack  12  is in the fully stowed position illustrate in  FIG. 1 , the first cross member  46  is in its home position within the first channel  40  of the first top member  24  and the first side frame  18  is lowered fully down into the first compartment  30  in the first load bed side wall  32 . Similarly, the second cross member  50  is held in its home position within the second channel  42  of the second top member  28  and the second side frame  20  is fully retracted or lowered into the second compartment  34  of the second load bed side wall  36 . A first latch mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral  56 , secures the first side frame  18  in the stowed position. That first latch mechanism includes a first latch bolt  58  that is received in a first cooperating latch receiver or aperture  60  provided in the two vertical posts  22  of the first side frame  18 . A first rotary actuator  62  is connected to the two sections of the latch bolt  58 . When the first rotary actuator  62  is rotated into a first, locked position, the two sections of the latch bolt  58  are forced outwardly (note action arrows A in  FIG. 3 a   ) so that the distal ends of the two latch bolt sections are received in the two cooperating latch receivers  60 : one such latch receiver provided in each post  22 . 
     The integrated ladder rack  12  also includes a second latch mechanism, identical to the first latch mechanism  56 , that secures the second side frame  20  in the stowed position. For brevity and simplicity, only the first latch mechanism  56  is described and illustrated in detail. 
     When one wishes to raise the first side frame  18  from the stowed position illustrated in  FIG. 1  to the deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one first rotates the rotary actuator  62  to draw the latch bolt sections  58  inward and release the latch bolt  58  from the latch receiver  60 . See  FIG. 3 b    and note action arrows B and C. A first lift mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral  64 , then functions to bias the first side frame  18  toward the deployed position (note action arrow D in  FIG. 3 c   ). In the illustrated embodiment, the first lift mechanism  64  comprises first and second struts having a cylinder end  66  anchored to the truck body at the bottom of the first compartment  30  and a piston end  68  connected to the vertical post  22 . For clarity of presentation of other structures, the lift mechanism  64  is illustrated only in  FIG. 3   c.    
     In one possible embodiment, the first lift mechanism  64  functions to counter-balance the weight of the first side frame  18  making it easy for an individual to pull (i.e. translate in a vertical direction) the first side frame upward into the fully deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 2 . At that point the latch bolt  58  is aligned with a second latch receiver  70  in the opposed vertical posts  22  and a spring  72  on the rotary actuator  62  functions to force the latch bolt sections  58  outward into engagement with the latch receiver  70  thereby locking the first side frame  18  in the fully deployed position. Again, see  FIG. 3 c    and note action arrows E and F. 
     The second side frame  20  is raised and locked in exactly the same manner as the first side frame  18  just as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 a -3 c    and as descried above. 
     Once the two side frames  18 ,  20  are locked in the fully deployed position, the first cross member  46  is pivoted (note action arrows G) about the first hinge  44  from the home position within the first channel  40  into a spanning position between the first side frame  18  and the second side frame  20 . See  FIG. 3 d   . Next, the second cross-member  50  is pivoted (note action arrows H) about the second hinge  48  from the home position within the second channel  40  to a spanning position between the first and second side frames  18 ,  20 . See  FIG. 3 e   . The first distal end  74  of the first cross member  46  is then secured to the second side frame  20  by means a locking pin or other appropriate device (not shown). In addition, the distal end  7   b  of the second cross member  50  is secured to the first side frame  18  by means of a locking pin or other appropriate device (not shown). 
     Once the first side frame  18  and second side frame  20  are secured in the fully deployed position by the latch mechanisms  56  and the cross members  46  and  50  are secured in the spanning position by the locking pins, the integrated ladder rack  12  is fully assembled and erected. A ladder L or other elongated object may then be secured to the cross members  46 ,  50  of the ladder rack  12  by rope, bungee cord or other means R. 
     The integrated ladder rack  12  may be easily returned to the fully stowed position illustrated in  FIG. 1  by first removing the locking pins and then pivoting the two cross members  46  and  50  about the respected hinges  44  and  48  until the distal ends  74 ,  78  of the respective cross members are held and locked in the respective first and second channels  40 ,  42  of the respective first and second top members  24 ,  28 . The rotary actuators  62  of the respective latch members  56  are then manipulated to release the latch bolts  58  from the latch receivers  70  and the two side frames  18 ,  20  are pushed down (i.e. translated in a vertical direction) into the respective first and second compartments  30 ,  34  until the spring-loaded latch mechanisms  56  engage the latch bolt in the latch receivers  60 , thereby locking the first and second side frames  18 ,  20  in the fully retracted position. 
     As should be appreciated from the above description, the integrated ladder rack  12  may be quickly and easily erected or stowed depending upon the needs of the vehicle operator. As such the integrated ladder rack  12  described in this document represents a significant improvement in the field of ladder racks for motor vehicles. 
     The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.