Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a set of interchangeable truck rails for providing an enclosure on the back of a flat bed truck including a first rail, a second, a set of attaching devices, and a set of traction devices to allow a person to enclose the back of a flat bed truck, as well as providing a set of ramps for moving large items onto the back of the flat bed truck. One of the novel features of the present invention is the enhanced surface traction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a set of interchangeable truck rails according to the invention including a first rail and a second rail. 
           [0003]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of the interchangeable truck rails being used as truck ramps including a first rail, a second rail, and traction devices (see insert). 
           [0004]      FIG. 3  is a side cross section view of the ramps of  FIG. 2  as attached to the side of flat bed truck. 
           [0005]      FIG. 4  is an end cross section view of the ramps of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0006]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , interchangeable truck rails  100  comprise first rail  110  and second rail  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first rail  110  comprises first side  112 , second side  114 , third side  116 , first attachment member  118   a,  second attachment member  118   b,  and traction devices  140 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second rail  120  comprises first side  122 , second side  124 , and traction devices  150 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first rail  110  is attached to the left side of flat bed  162  by encasing first attachment member  118   a  in receiving aperture  132   a  and encasing second attachment member  118   b  in receiving aperture  132   b.  In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second rail  120  is attached to the right side of flat bed  162  by encasing third attachment member  222   a  in receiving aperture  242   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second rail  120  is attached to the right side of flat bed  162  by encasing fourth attachment member  222   b  in receiving aperture  242   b  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0007]    The ramp of the present invention is unique in that it provides for enhanced traction. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , traction devices  140  and traction devices  150  comprise a first aperture surrounded by a series of six circular protrusions (see  FIG. 2 ). In some embodiments, the protrusions are positioned symmetrically around the central aperture. During snowy weather, snow can fall through first aperture  212   a  to rid the snow between the tire and the ramp, while series of six circular protrusions  212   b  provide a greater traction for items that are moved up the ramps due to the placement of the series of six circular protrusions  212   b  on the ramps. 
         [0008]    In certain embodiments, first rail  110  and second rail  120  can attach to the side of flat bed truck  160  to be used as ramps by inserting first truck attachment member  232  and second truck attachment member  234  into first slot  1   72   a  and second slot  172   b,  respectively (see  FIG. 2 ). In certain embodiments, interchangeable truck rails  100  are used on pickups, trailers, and the like. 
         [0009]    In certain embodiments, first rail  110  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first rail  110  comprises a length between about 6 feet and about 12 feet. In certain embodiments, first rail  110  comprises a width between about 10 inches and about 18 inches. In certain embodiments, first rail  110  comprises a height between about 3 inches and about 6 inches. In certain embodiments, first attachment member  118   a  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, first attachment member  118   a  comprises an elongated member with a rectangular cross section. In certain embodiments, second attachment member  118   b  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second attachment member  118   b  comprises an elongated member with a rectangular cross section. In certain embodiments, second rail  120  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second rail  120  comprises a length between about 6 feet and about 12 feet. In certain embodiments, second rail  120  comprises a width between about 10 inches and about 18 inches. In certain embodiments, second rail  120  comprises a height between about 3 inches and about 6 inches. In certain embodiments, first rail  110  and second rail  120  comprise an expanded metal mesh design with downward-curved outer edges for strength and rigidity. 
         [0010]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , interchangeable truck rails  100  comprise first rail  110  and second rail  120 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first rail  110  comprises second side  114 , third side  116 , first attachment member  118   a,  second attachment member  118   b,  traction devices  140 , and first truck attachment member  232 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second rail  120  comprises first side  122 , second side  124 , third attachment member  222   a,  fourth attachment member  222   b,  second truck attachment member  234 , and traction devices  150 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 1 , first rail  110  is removed from the left side of flat bed  162 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , first rail  110  is attached to flat bed truck  160  by attaching first rail  110  to third slot  252   a  by inserting first truck attachment member  232  into slot  252   a.  In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second rail  120  is attached to the flat bed truck  160  by attaching second rail  120  to fourth slot  252   b  by inserting second truck attachment member  234  into slot  252   b.  In certain embodiments, first rail  110  and second rail  120  are inserted into first slot  172   a  and second slot  172   b,  respectively. 
         [0011]    In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second rail  120  is attached to the right side of flat bed  162  by encasing third attachment member  222   a  in receiving aperture  242   a.  In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , second rail  120  is attached to the right side of flat bed  162  by encasing fourth attachment member  222   b  in receiving aperture  242   b.  In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , traction devices  140  and traction devices  150  comprise a first aperture  212   a  surrounded by a series of six circular protrusions  212   b.  A person can use first rail  110  and second rail  120  as ramps. The ramps provide greater traction due to the traction devices  140  and traction devices  150 . During snowy weather, snow can fall through first aperture  212   a,  while series of six circular protrusions  212   b  provide a greater traction for items that are moved up the ramps due to the placement of the series of six circular protrusions  212   b  on the ramps. In some embodiments, the protrusions are about ⅛ to about ¼ inch high from base  300  to peak  302 . In some embodiments, the protrusion is circular from the top view and has a radius of about 1/16 to about ¼ inch. In some embodiments, the outer edge of the base of each protrusion is about ¼ to about ½ inch from the edge  400  of the aperture. In some embodiments, the aperture is circular from the top view, and has a radius of about ¼ to about ¾ inch. 
         [0012]    In certain embodiments, third attachment member  222   a  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, third attachment member  222   a  comprises an elongated member with a rectangular cross section. In certain embodiments, fourth attachment member  222   b  comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, or combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, fourth attachment member  222   b  comprises an elongated member with a rectangular cross section. 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side cross section view of first rail  110  is shown attached to flat bed truck  160 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , first truck attachment member  234  is inserted into third slot  252   b  to secure first rail  110  to the side of flat bed truck  160 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , traction devices  140  comprise a first aperture  212   a  surrounded by a series of six circular protrusions  212   b.    
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an end view of first rail  110  is shown comprising first side  112 , second side  114 , third side  116 , and traction devices  140 . In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4 , traction devices  140  are molded into second side  114  to form a more enhanced traction system for vehicles that are moved up first rail  110  and second rail  120 . 
         [0015]    Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0016]    Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims.

Technology Category: 7