Patent Publication Number: US-2010109367-A1

Title: Payload divider support armature

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to subdividing open payload spaces or vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to providing support for a partition in the payload space of a flatbed truck or trailer. 
     BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     The utility of the payload space of vehicles has been evident with the popularity of flatbed trucks and trailers. In particular the payload space of flatbeds and trailers has allowed for a wide array of payloads of various shapes and sizes to be able to be carried. Because of the open nature of the payload space of flatbed trucks and trailers, restraining devices such as ropes, chains, and winches have been employed to secure payloads and maximize the utility of the payload space. 
     Although the prior means have been effective for loads that are able to be secured by ropes, chains, winches and the like, loads that cannot be secured by these means, such as mulch, stone and topsoil have not been able to be effectively carried by flatbed trucks and trailers without being placed in a prior container. Moreover, it may be necessary to carry a multiplicity of items which requires specific payload spaces. Lastly the payload space has further utility if small items may be restrained in a controlled space. 
     It would therefore maximize the utility of the payload space of flatbed trucks and trailer if the payload space could be partitioned to divide separate loads and allow for the containing of particulate loads such as mulch and stone. Additionally utility would be maximized if the ability to partition the payload space was highly customizable and easily put together and taken apart. 
     Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide structural support to partitions of a payload space that are highly customizable and easy to put together and take apart. 
     Previous attempts to increase the utility of payload spaces of vehicles have principally focused on pick-up trucks. The particular shortcomings of many of these devices is that they do not allow for the variable customization and ease of use that that would maximize the utility of the payload areas. 
     Bronstein, U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,562 issued Jul. 18, 1972 relates to a pick-up load holding device which contains vertical stakes designed for reception into stake pockets and a cross beam for traversing the load area to which the loads may also be secured. The cross beam may either be permanently affixed to stakes or may be collapsible by connecting to the stake through the use of a collar. Additional height may be obtained by the stakes if they are provided with telescopic extensions. 
     Tuerk, U.S. Pat No. 4,231,606 issued Nov. 4, 1980 relates to a pickup truck stake arrangement wherein a delta shaped stake is inserted into the side wall pockets of a pickup truck bed. The stakes contain a dovetail groove which accepts the dovetail ridge of a partition panel receiving bracket. At the bottom of the delta shaped stakes is a plastic plug with a rounded projection used to plug a drain hole that is commonly found in the bottom of pickup truck side wall pockets. 
     Cloutier, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,748 issued Dec. 2, 1980 relates to a stake for a truck bed, trailer or truck structure. The stakes are of a triangular shape that contain L and U shaped channels integrated unto the stake to accept panels. The stakes insert into pockets along the perimeter of the flatbed. The top of the stakes contain a thickened facing to form a circle that may receive a bowed circular rod. 
     Porter, U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,007 issued Jun. 20, 2000 relates to a pick-up truck bed organizer and method. The invention consists of a plurality of telescoping tubular supports that join with a pickup truck&#39;s bed to form a frame for supporting payloads within the bed. The tubular supports attach vertically to the truck bed floor and horizontally between the vertical supports. 
     Wayne, U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,356 issued Nov. 12, 2002 relates to a cargo area structure that divides a truck bed into compartments. The invention consists of a truck bed liner having slots built into the walls of the liner to hold dividers and divide the cargo area. 
     Kelter, U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,997 issued Mar. 28, 2006 relates to a truck with bed partition wherein the partition panels can be kept in a depression in the bed floor and then pivoted into a vertical position and locked into the truck&#39;s sidewall. 
     The deficiency with the prior art is that all these devices do not allow for easy implementation because they either require previous existing structure on the vehicle or are permanently fixed such that they lack versatility. The object of the present invention is to allow for an easy means of constructing a partition in a payload space that is highly versatile and does not require undue modification to the vehicle itself. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The trailer bracket that is the present invention allows for the structural support of a partition across the payload space of a vehicle. A U shaped channel is provided to receive and restrain a partition which may be placed in the channel and held in an upright position. The trailer bracket may be fixed to which the vehicle either by fitting into a preexisting side wall pocket or being mechanically fastened to the vehicle&#39;s frame. Flatbed truck and trailer payload space commonly has such side wall pockets to implement the present invention. If the vehicle does not have pockets, the trailer bracket can be attached by drilling into the frame of the vehicle to allow for the bracket to be attached with a fastener which is a common means of implementation for other truck and trailer after-market parts. 
     The trailer bracket is constructed from a light weight rigid durable material such as aluminum or steel. The bracket is constructed as a singular unit such that it is affordable to create a partitioning system with a plurality of brackets and a partition which could be made of any material such as wood or plywood. The bracket may be embodied such that multiple channels can be affixed to the mounting member of the bracket to allow support of partitions in the transverse and parallel directions of the payload space. Additionally, the channels may contain a notch along the bottom edge so that they may fit over a side wall fence of a trailer or flatbed payload space. 
     An additional advantage of the trailer bracket is that it allows for a vertical member to be received and restrained in the top portion of the device. This can allow for an additional bracket to be placed and restrained above the first bracket to allow additional vertical support members such as a 2″×4″ to be restrained and more support given to vertical dividers or partitions. This also increases the ability to carry greater loads such as mulch, rock and soil. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the invention, in its principal embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric perspective view of the invention in its principal embodiment being implemented. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention viewed from mounting member end to the receiving member end. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a second isometric view of the alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The principal embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 . The device is given structural support through a primary support member  10 . Affixed to the primary support member are a mounting member  20 , a channel  30 , and a receiving member  40 . 
     The mounting member  20  has a length  21  and a width  22  such that it will fit within a side wall pocket of a flatbed or trailer  55 . The mounting member  20  may be welded at  23  thereby affixing the mounting member  20  to the primary support member  10 . Additionally, mounting member  20  may be affixed from the open side or eliminated entirely and primary support member  10  be utilized alone. Should side wall pockets  55  not be available or additional support required, the mounting member  20  may contain circular openings  24  to allow for mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, nails and the like to fix the mounting member  20  to the vehicle frame. 
     The channel  30  contains two sidewalls  31  which serve to receive and restrain partition  37  preferably in a sliding engagement. The side walls  31  may either be formed of a single sheet of metal formed into a U shape or they maybe be welded at  38  as separate components to the primary support member  10 . The side walls  31  are situated a distance  32  apart such that the distance  32  is greater than the partition&#39;s width  39 . A payload space  50  may be enclosed by a trailer wall fence  36  or may contain another kind of obstruction. In order that side walls  31  provide support to partition  37  below the height of an obstruction such as the trailer wall fence  36  a notch  33  is required. The notch is of a width  34  that is greater than the width  51  of the trailer wall fence  31 . The side walls  31  may contain circular openings  35  to allow for mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets, nails and the like to fix the partition  37  to the channel  30 . 
     The receiving member  40  forms a pocket  45  having a length  41  and a width  42 . The receiving member  40  is welded at  44  to the primary support member  10 . The receiving pocket  45  may receive any vertical member such as 2″×4″ plank that may fit inside of the pocket. The length of the receiving pocket  41  and width  42  are of such size that they are at least greater than the mounting member&#39;s length  21  and width  22  such that the mounting member  20  may fit inside of the receiving member  40 . The receiving member  40  may also receive a vertical support member  43 . 
       FIG. 4 and 5  illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. The invention is seated in the side wall pocket  55 . The embodiment is made of a singular construction and contains a primary support member  10 ′, a mounting member (not shown), a plurality of channels  30 ′, and a receiving member  40 ′, all of which are integrated into a single unit. A partition  37  which is in the transverse position and a partition  37 ′ in the parallel position are supported by the channels  30 ′. The receiving member  40 ′ contains a pocket  45 ′ which can receive a vertical member, such as a vertical support member  43 .