Patent Publication Number: US-2018037274-A1

Title: Cargo Slide for a Pickup Truck

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the field of labor saving pickup truck accessories. More specifically, the invention comprises a cargo slide for sliding cargo items from the front of a bed of an pickup truck toward the rear of the bed where they can be easily reached by the user. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A pickup truck, for example, is often used to transport cargo. As most will understand, the cargo typically ends up at the front wall of the pickup, near the cab. Even if the cargo is placed near the tailgate, the cargo typically ends up in this position under normal driving conditions. As such, it is not uncommon for a user to have a situation where the cargo lies near the front wall, well out of reach. The user is then faced with climbing into the bed of the pickup truck in order to retrieve the cargo or otherwise reach into the bed and move the cargo to a desired position for unloading. In either case, this may be undesirable and, in some circumstances, perhaps not possible. For older or physically challenged users, it simply may not be possible. Thus, it would be useful to have some means to bring the cargo from the position back toward the tail gate. 
     In addition, bed covers are another increasingly popular accessory. These cover the open top of the pickup truck bed and shelter the bed from the weather. The user can still store cargo in the bed by opening the tailgate and accessing the bed from the rear. When cargo winds up in the forward portion of the bed, however, the presence of a bed cover presents a substantial impediment to unloading that cargo. Although most covers can be opened in some fashion. The step is often time-consuming and laborious. 
     Furthermore, bed slides are not a new commercial enterprise. Bed slides have been around for sometime but have only recently begun to establish a substantial market. A quick Internet search will reveal many manufactures and many different bed slide products. However, these products are typically designed using industrial strength metals and roller bearing systems. In effect, these systems can be overly complex, expensive to manufacture, and difficult to install. With respect to installation, it is not uncommon that when these types of systems are installed, the installation is permanent or otherwise very difficult to remove. In other words, in most cases a user would need a professional to install the slide and remove the slide when it is no longer needed. This approach is not practical for those that only wish to use a bed slide for short period of time or may want to frequently switch the bed slide for use between different vehicles. In other words, there are market segments where these types of overly-engineered, expensive, heavy, and difficult to install slides may not be practical or needed. 
     As such, there is a need for a bed slide that is simple to manufacture, cost effective, and easy to assembly and install. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides a user with a commercially practical bed slide that facilitates the loading and unloading of cargo with a bed cover in place as well. 
     SUMMARY 
     The example embodiments presented herein meet the above-identified needs by providing an improved cargo slide for moving cargo within a bed of a pickup truck bounded by a front wall and a tail gate. 
     In one embodiment, the cargo slide includes a first and second female guide rails, first and second male guide rails, and a platform. The first and second female guide rails are attachable to the bed of the pickup truck. The first and second male guide rails are attachable to the platform and slideable mateable with the first and second female guide rails. The first and second female guide rails have a female track formed therein, wherein the female track is tubular and extends a length of the female guide rail. The first and second male guide rails also include a male track formed thereon; wherein the male track is tubular and extends a length of the male guide rail. The tubular male track can be inserted into the tubular female track and the female track will mostly encompass the male track. Once the platform is attached to the male guide rail, after the male and female guide rail are interfaced, the platform can easily slide in a rearward and forward position. 
     In another embodiment, the cargo slide includes a first and second female guide rails, first and second male guide rails, and a platform. The first and second female guide rails are attachable to the bed of the pickup truck. The first and second male guide rails are attachable to the platform and slideable mateable with the first and second female guide rails. The first and second female guide rails have a female track formed therein, wherein the female track includes a base bottom section and a sidewall section that is beveled, effectively forming a semi-v shape. The first and second male guide rails also include a male track formed thereon; wherein the female track includes a base bottom section and a sidewall section that is beveled, effectively forming a semi-v shape. The first and second female guide rails further include a support member that is formed with the guide rails and that continues the top surface of each guide rail and surrounds their respective male guide rail when the male and female guide are interfaced. After the male and female guide rail are interfaced and once the platform is attached to the male guide rail, the bed slide can easily slide in a rearward and forward position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cargo slide for an automobile that includes guide rails and a platform slideable along the guide rails according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front view of a male guide rail having a male guide track formed thereon and a female guide rail having a female guide track formed therein with each guide track have a tubular shape. 
         FIG. 2B  is a front view of a male guide rail having and male guide track formed thereon and a female guide rail having a female guide track formed therein with each guide track having a v-shape. 
         FIG. 2C  is a front view of a male guide rail having a male guide track formed thereon and a female guide rail having a female guide track formed therein with each guide track having a u-shape. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the guide rail system in an extended position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cargo slide for a pickup truck for the purpose of moving cargo in and out of the bed of the pickup truck is illustrated and denoted generally as  10 . The cargo slide  10  as illustrated is positioned in the bed of a pickup truck  12  with one end facing the tailgate  14  and the other end the cab. The cargo slide  10  includes first and second female guide rails  16 , 18  with female tracks  20 , 22 , formed therein and a first and second male guide rail  24 , 26  with male tracks  28 , 30 , formed thereon, and a platform  32 . The first and second female guide rails  16 , 18  can be physically attached to the bed of the truck  12 , e.g. using self tapping screws, at positions  38 - 48 . Although, it should be understood the positions for securing the male and female tracks could be placed at any locations along the female guide rail. The male guide rails  24 , 26  can be physically attached to the platform  32  along positions  52 - 62  of male guide rail  24  and  64 - 74  of the platform  32 . It should be understood these positions represent bored out holes that allow a user to fasten the components together. 
     The female guide rails  16 , 18  when mated with the male guide rails  24 , 26  enable the user to easily move the platform  32  rearward toward the tailgate  14  and forward toward the cab of the pickup truck. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second female guide rails  16 , 18 , the first and second male guide rails  24 , 26 , and the platform  32  may be made of high density plastic, e.g. high density polyethylene. This material being suitable for manufacturing a cargo moving apparatus that is simple to manufacture, requires minimal machined parts, simple to install, cost efficient, and easy for a user to slide cargo into and out of the automobile. Although, it should be understood the guide rails may be made of wood or metal, such as aluminum. In any case, the guide rails are easy to install and easy to remove. 
     Additionally, cargo slide  10  may include a platform rail  76  that encompasses part of the platform  32 . The platform rail  76  can be attached to or formed with the platform  32  and extends adjacent with the sides of the pickup truck and the area near the cab of the pickup truck. The platform rail  76  is useful in that it can prevents smaller items from getting trapped under the bed slide or otherwise falling off the bed slide. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A-2C , the illustrations include a front view of the female guide rail  16 , 18  and male guide rails  24 , 26  and various embodiments in which the male and female tracks may be formed therein and thereon. Each illustration is an embodiment of the guide rails that have guide tracks that are formed to a certain shape that will facilitate the movement of cargo rearwards and forwards. The shapes formed within the guide rails are similar, which not only helps facilitate sliding by providing a stable surface but also makes manufacture of the rails easier and less expensive. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2C  and  FIG. 1 , the female and male guide rails each extend horizontally with the length of the pickup truck and the female and male tracks formed therein and thereon are formed vertically with the horizontal of the respective guide rail and each track extends horizontally with the length of the pickup truck. 
     In  FIG. 2A , illustrated is a female guide rail  102  and male guide rail  104  wherein the tracks formed therein are of a tubular shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The female guide rail  102  is shaped so as to form a female track that includes a base portion  106  and sidewall portion  108  that continues the base portion  106 . It should be understood that the base and sidewall portion  106 , 108  are a continuous integrated piece. In this embodiment, the shape of the track is of a tubular shape. The male guide rail  104  is also shaped so as to form a male track that includes a base portion  110  and sidewall portion  112  that continues the base portion  110 . In this embodiment, the shape of the track is of a tubular shape. It should be understood that the base portions  106 , 110  and sidewall portions  108 , 112  are continuous integrated pieces. The slide  32 , of  FIG. 1 , couples to the base  114  of male guide rail along positions  64 - 74 . In this configuration, the male member can be inserted with the male member and the male member can slide forward and rearward. 
     In  FIG. 2B , illustrated is an alternative female guide rail  116  and male guide rail  118  of  FIGS. 1 and 2A  wherein the tracks formed therein and thereon are of a semi-squared shape. The female guide rail  116  is shaped so as to form a female track that includes a base portion  120  and a sidewall portion  122 . In this embodiment, the shape of the track is of a semi-square shape. The male guide rail  118  is also shaped so as to form a male track that includes a base portion  124  and sidewall portion  126 . In this embodiment, the semi-square shape is further defined as having the horizontal base portions  120 , 124  and beveled sidewall portions  122 ,  126 . However, it should be understood the sidewall portions  120 , 124  may not be beveled. In such case, the shapes formed would be square. Optionally, the male guide rail  118  may further include a track concentrator  128  to assist in guiding the male track along the female track. It should be understood that the base portions  120 , 124  and sidewall portions  122 , 126  are continuous integrated pieces. The slide  32 , of  FIG. 1 , couples to the top base of male guide rail  118  along positions  64 - 74 . 
     In  FIG. 2C , illustrated is an alternative female guide rail  130  and male guide rail  132  of  FIGS. 1A and 2  wherein the tracks formed therein and thereon are of a u-shape. The female guide rail  130  is shaped so as to form a female track that includes a base portion  134  and sidewall portion  136 . In this embodiment, the shape of the track is of a u shape. The male guide rail  132  is also shaped so as to form a male track that includes a base portion  138  and a sidewall portion  140 . In this embodiment, the u-shaped configuration formed by the female and male rails  130 , 132  includes a support member  142  that continues the female guide rail  130  and surrounds a portion of the male member as illustrated in  FIG. 2C . In addition, the male track  132  includes a support base  144  that mates with the slide  32  in  FIG. 1 . In this configuration, the male member can be inserted with the male member and the male member can slide forward and rearward. It should also be understood that the support member  142  described can also be applied to the female guide rail  116  of  FIG. 2B . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is the cargo slide  10  for a pickup truck in an extended position and denoted generally as  200 . Cargo slide  200  includes female guide rails  16 , 18  and male guide rails  24 , 26 . The slide  32  is physically attached with the male guide rails  24 , 26  along positions  64 - 74  of its top base. The platform  32  can be moved forward and rearward using handle  202 . The platform  32  when moved forward and rearward causes the male tracks  28 , 30  of male guide rail  24 , 26  glide along the female tracks  20 , 22 . The female tracks  22 , 22  encompass a significant portion of the male guide rails  24 , 26 , providing the platform  32  with the support necessary as it is glided forward and rearward. Additional support may be provided in the form of leg stands  204 , 206 . 
     Although the cargo slide illustrated in  FIG. 3  is depicted using the tubular male and female guide rails as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2A , the bed slide  32  could also use the male and female guide rails illustrated in FIGS.  2 B and  2 C. 
     Thus, While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be under stood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps Which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same Way to achieve the same results are Within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale but that they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.