Abstract:
A material supporting system for a pick-up truck includes a platform with side members oriented parallel to one another; and cross-members interposed between the slide members. The system also includes support legs, first tracks, second tracks and roller assemblies. One of the roller assemblies is attached to a first end of one of the slide members. One of the support legs is attached to a second end, opposite the first end, of said slide member; and one of the roller assemblies is attached to said support leg.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to racks that provide support above a bed of a pick-up truck, and more particularly, to racks which can be readily placed or removed from a position above the bed of the pick-up truck. 
     A typical pick-up truck may be used to carry various types of materials. Some materials may fit entirely within a bed of the truck while other materials, e.g., lumber or ladders, may have lengths greater than the inside dimensions of the bed. When a truck is used to routinely carry such long-length loads, the truck may be modified by installation of a permanent over-the-bed rack. 
     While installation of a permanent over-the-bed rack may provide load carrying advantages for long-length loads, such a rack may diminish overall load carrying flexibility of the truck. For example, a permanently installed rack may preclude use of the truck to carry tall items such as a refrigerator or piece of furniture because such items may not fit under the permanently installed rack. 
     In some prior art instances, temporary rack systems have been designed to provide long-load carrying capability. Such temporary rack systems often require assembly or repositioning of various components prior to each use of the rack system. The components may need to be stored either on a truck or is some remote location when they are not in use. Deployment of such prior-art rack systems may be difficult if the components are stored on an exterior of the truck and subject to weather-induced deterioration. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a system that may provide a pick-up truck with carrying capability for long-length material. More particularly, there is a need for such a system that will not diminish flexibility of cargo carrying capability of the pick-up truck. Still further, there is a need for such a system which may not be adversely effected by weather-induced deterioration and may be easily deployed when needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an extendable rack system for a vehicle comprises: a rack assembly having a first supporting roller and a second supporting roller; a first track configured to be mounted on a roof of the vehicle; and a second track configured to be mounted on a side wall of a bed of the vehicle, wherein the first supporting roller is positioned for engagement with the first track after the first track is mounted on the roof, and wherein the second supporting roller is positioned for engagement with the second track after the second track is mounted on the side wall. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a material supporting system for a pick-up truck comprises; a platform which includes; side members oriented parallel to one another; and cross-members interposed between the slide members; first roller assemblies attached to first ends of the side members; support legs attached to second ends, opposite the first ends, of the side members; second roller assemblies attached to the support legs; first tracks for mounting on a roof of the pick-up truck and for supporting the first roller assemblies; and second tracks for mounting on side walls of a bed of the pick-up truck and for supporting the second roller assemblies. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, apparatus for locking a slidable pick-up truck rack in a desired position comprises: a track with locking holes spaced equidistantly along its length; a roller assembly having a roller bracket with locking holes, corresponding in shape and spacing to any pair of adjacent ones of the locking holes of the track; and a locking device having two legs, wherein the legs are shaped and spaced apart from one another to fit through the locking holes of the roller bracket and into any two adjacent ones of the locking holes of the track. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a material support system for a vehicle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the system of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  2 - 2  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a roller assembly of the system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the system of  FIG. 1  accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the system of  FIG. 1  accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     The present invention generally provides a telescoping, over-the-bed, rack system for a pick-up truck which may be extended over the bed when needed and retracted from the bed when not in use. The rack system may be easily deployed when needed. 
     Turning now to the description and with reference first to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle such as a pick-up truck  102  may be equipped with an exemplary embodiment of a material support system  100 . In general, the material support system  100  may include a slidable rack assembly  104  connected with the one or more support elements. 
     More specifically, the material support system  100  may be considered to be an extendable rack system  100 . In an exemplary embodiment of the system  100 , the slidable rack assembly  104  may be supported at its front end  106  on tracks  108  positioned on a roof  116  of the truck  102 . The rack assembly  104  may be supported at its rear end  110  on support legs  112 . The support legs  112  may be supported on tracks  118  positioned on side walls  120  of a bed of the truck  102 . 
     A platform  103  of the slidable rack assembly  104  may be positionable above a roof  116  of the truck  102  or above an un-roofed portion of the truck  102  while remaining connected with the tracks  108 . The platform  103  may include two side members  105  and two or more cross members  156 . The side members  105  may be oriented substantially parallel to the roof  116  of the truck  102  and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis  114  of the truck. The cross members  156  may be oriented substantially orthogonally to the side member  105 . The tracks  108  may be aligned with the longitudinal axis  114  of the truck  102  and may be attached to the roof  116  of the truck  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , detailed views of the system  100  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of elements that may be employed to support the front end  106  of the rack assembly  104 . A roller assembly  122  may be employed to provide support and to also provide for ease of movement of the front end  106  of the rack assembly  104  on the tracks  108 . The roller assembly  122  may include one or more vertical supporting rollers  124  having axes  126  oriented horizontally relative to the roof  116  of the truck  102 . The roller assembly  122  may also include at least one horizontal positioning roller  128  having an axis  130  oriented vertically relative to the roof  116  of the truck  102 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the track  108  may be incorporated in a hollow housing  131  with a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape. The track  108  may be partially enclosed within the housing  131 . The track  108  may include a bottom segment  134  that may be oriented substantially parallel to the roof  116  of the truck  102 . A guide segment  136  of the track  108  may extend vertically from the bottom segment  134  and may be oriented substantially orthogonally to the roof  116  of the truck  102 . A cover segment  138  of the track  108  may extend horizontally from vertical guide segment  136  and may provide a protective covering over the roller assembly  122 . 
     One of the roller assemblies  122  may be attached to each side of the front end  106  of the rack assembly  104 . In operation, the rollers  124  may rest on an inner surface of the bottom segment  134 . The horizontal positioning roller may bear against an inner surface of the guide segment  136 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , detailed views of portions of the system  100  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of elements that may be employed to support the rear end  110  of the rack assembly  104 . Roller assemblies  122  may be employed to provide support and to also provide for ease of movement of the support legs  112  on the tracks  118  (See  FIG. 1 ). 
     In an exemplary embodiment the track  118  may include a bottom segment  140  that may be attached to the bed rail  120  of the truck  102 . The track  118  may be oriented substantially parallel to the bed wall  120  of the truck  102 . A guide segment  142  may extend vertically from the bottom segment  140  and may be oriented substantially orthogonally to the bed wall  120  of the truck  102 . A cover segment  144  may extend horizontally from the guide segment  142  and may provide a protective covering over the roller assembly  122 . 
     The support leg  112  may include an attachment segment  146  at its lower end. The attachment segment  146  may be configured to fit around the bracket  123  of the roller assembly  122 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a locking system for securing the rack assembly  104  in a desired position relative to the axis  114  of the truck  102 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cover segment  144  and bottom segment  140  of the support track  118  may include a plurality of equally spaced slots or locking holes  150 . The holes  150  may have a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of legs  152  of a locking device  154  corresponds to spacing between the legs  152 . The legs  152  may shaped and spaced apart from one another to fit through the locking holes  150  of the roller bracket  123  and into any pair of adjacent ones of the locking holes  150  of the track  118 . 
     The brackets  123  of the roller assemblies  122  and the attachment segments  146  of the support legs  112  may each be provided with a pair of the holes  150 . Thus the legs  152  of the locking device  154  may be inserted through one of the brackets  123 , through one of the attachments segments  146  and into any pair of two adjacent ones of the holes  150  in the top segment  144  and the bottom segment  140  of the track  118 . When the locking device  154  is so inserted, the rack assembly  104  may be constrained from moving longitudinally with respect to the axis  114  of the truck  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , it may be seen that the front end  106  of the rack assembly  104  may be locked into a desired longitudinal position. In that case the locking devices  154  may engage with holes  150  in the top segment  138  and bottom segments  134  of the track  108 . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 2 , it may be seen that in an exemplary embodiment, there may be clearance space  158  between the cover segment  138  of the support channel  108  and the bracket  123  of the roller assembly  122 . It may also be seen that the cross member  156  may be attached to the bracket  123 . Consequently, the cross member  156  may be free to move longitudinally as the rack assembly  104  is moved longitudinally. This feature allows for permanent attachment of the cross member to the rack assembly  104 . Thus there is no need to remove and store the cross member  156  when the rack assembly  104  is in a fully retracted position over the roof  116  of the truck  102 . Moreover, the cross member  156  may be utilized as an intermediate support for roof-top loads when the rack assembly  104  may be in a partially retracted position such as the position illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.