Vehicle cargo securing system

Abstract

A vehicle cargo securing system includes a plurality of stabilizers each having a bracket and a base. The bracket is pivotally coupled to the base. The bracket is pivotable back and forth between a stowed position in which the bracket is disposed within a recess of a cargo bed floor and a cargo support position in which the bracket pivots to a position in which the bracket protrudes outwardly from the recess and away from the cargo bed floor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a securing system for securing cargo, such as, for example, bicycles and motorcycles. Background Art

[0002] Vehicles can include many areas for transporting cargo. For example, a pickup truck includes a cargo bed. Systems can be utilized to secure cargo within the cargo bed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing system comprising a plurality of stabilizers, each having a bracket and a base, the bracket pivotally coupled to the base, the bracket pivotable back and forth between a stowed position in which the bracket is disposed within a recess in a cargo floor and a cargo support position in which the bracket pivots to a position in which the bracket protrudes outward from the recess and away from the cargo floor.

[0004] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing system wherein the bracket and the cargo floor are disposed along planes that are aligned with each other when the bracket is in the stowed position, wherein the bracket and the cargo floor are disposed along planes that are angled relative to each other when the bracket is in the cargo supporting position.

[0005] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system wherein each of the stabilizers within the plurality of stabilizers includes a hinge pivotably coupling the bracket to the base.

[0006] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system wherein the bracket is lockable in the cargo supporting position.

[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system in which the base is secured to the cargo floor using at least one mechanical fastener.

[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system wherein each of the stabilizers within the plurality of stabilizers includes at least one magnet that retains the bracket in the stowed position.

[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing system, wherein the plurality of stabilizers includes a first stabilizer and a second stabilizer, the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer configured to support a wheel of a vehicle between the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer when the bracket of the first stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position and the bracket of the second stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position.

[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing system, further comprising a strap coupled to the bracket of the first stabilizer and the bracket of the second stabilizer when the bracket of the first stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position and the bracket of the second stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position, the strap extending between a plurality of spokes of the wheel of the vehicle.

[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system, wherein the vehicle is a bicycle and the wheel is a front wheel of the bicycle.

[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system wherein the plurality of stabilizers is a plurality of floor-mounted stabilizers secured to the cargo bed floor adjacent to a cargo bed wall, and the vehicle cargo securement system further comprises at least one wall-mounted stabilizer secured to an upper region of the cargo bed wall, the plurality of floor-mounted stabilizers being configured to interface with lower portions of the wheels, the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer being configured to interface with lower portions of the wheels.

[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing system, wherein the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer includes a mounting bracket and a stabilizing bracket pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer further comprising a strap anchored to the mounting bracket and configured to extend through a plurality of spokes of the wheel of the vehicle.

[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securement system wherein the cargo bed wall is a front wall of the cargo bed.

[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method for securing cargo in a vehicle, the method comprising: pivoting a first bracket of a first stabilizer from a stowed position to a cargo supporting position, wherein the first bracket is received in a first groove of a cargo compartment floor when the first bracket is in the stowed position, and the first bracket in the cargo supporting position is pivoted to protrude outward from the first groove and away from the cargo compartment floor; pivoting a second bracket of a second stabilizer from a stowed position to a cargo supporting position, wherein the second bracket is received in a second groove of the cargo compartment floor when the second bracket is in the stowed position, and the second bracket in the cargo supporting position is pivoted to protrude outward from the second groove and away from the cargo compartment floor; and supporting a wheel of a vehicle between the first bracket of the first stabilizer in the cargo supporting position and the second bracket of the second stabilizer in the cargo supporting position.

[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of securing cargo on a vehicle, wherein the wheel is a front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle.

[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of securing cargo on a vehicle, wherein the wheel is a front wheel of a bicycle.

[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing method that also includes supporting the wheel with a strap connected to the first bracket and the second bracket and extending through a plurality of spokes of the wheel.

[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing method that also includes securing a first base of the first stabilizer to the cargo floor adjacent to a cargo bed wall and securing a second base of the second stabilizer to the cargo floor adjacent to the cargo bed wall.

[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing method that also includes supporting upper portions of the wheels using at least one wall-mounted stabilizer secured to an upper region of the cargo bed wall.

[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a vehicle cargo securing method that also includes supporting the upper region using straps of the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer, the straps extending through spokes of the wheels of the vehicle.

[0022] The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or corresponding individual features, may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in conjunction with one embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless such features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] According to the detailed description, various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The drawings accompanying the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a vehicle having a cargo bed and carrying cargo secured using a cargo securing system according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A perspective view of a cargo securing system is shown with the stabilizer brackets in a stowed position.

[0026] Figure 3 Shown Figure 2 3, showing the bracket in the stowed position and the cargo supporting position of the bracket shown in phantom.

[0027] Figure 4 Shown Figure 2 A perspective view of a cargo securing system having brackets of stabilizers in a cargo supporting position.

[0028] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 A perspective view of a cargo securing system having brackets of stabilizers in a cargo supporting position and with cargo.

[0029] Figure 6 Shown Figure 5 A close-up perspective view of the cargo securing system.

[0030] Figure 7 Shows the Figure 5 A top view of the location of the cargo securing system and other stabilizers and cargo. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] This disclosure details exemplary embodiments of vehicle cargo securing systems. One embodiment utilizes the system to secure bicycles. In other embodiments, the system secures other types of cargo.

[0032] refer to Figures 1 to 6, the vehicle 10 includes a cargo bed 14 behind a passenger compartment 18. The cargo bed 14 includes a front wall 22, opposing side walls 26, and a tailgate 30. The cargo bed 14 includes a cargo bed floor 34 having a plurality of grooves 38 or corrugations. The grooves 38 can enhance the structural integrity of the floor 34 and the entire cargo bed 14.

[0033] The vehicle cargo securement system 50 is used to secure cargo within the cargo bed 14. The cargo securement system 50 may provide tie-down locations for securing cargo.

[0034] In this exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle cargo securement system 50 includes a plurality of stabilizers 54 mounted to the cargo floor 34. In this particular embodiment, the securement system 50 utilizes two stabilizers 54.

[0035] Each of the stabilizers 54 includes a base 58 pivotally connected to a bracket 62. The base 58 and bracket 62 may be a rigid polymer-based material.

[0036] The stabilizer 54 further includes a hinge 66 that pivotally connects the base 58 and the bracket 62. The bracket 62 of each of the stabilizers 54 can be pivotally connected relative to the corresponding base 58. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The stowed position shown in Figure 1 and Figures 4 to 6 Pivots back and forth between the cargo support positions shown in .

[0037] In the stowed position, the brackets 62 are each disposed within one of the recesses 38 of the cargo floor 34. In the stowed position, the example brackets 62 are fully received within the recesses 38 along with the remainder of the stabilizer 54. That is, the example stabilizer 54 does not protrude above the cargo floor 34 when the brackets 62 are in the stowed position.

[0038] When the bracket 62 is in the stowed position, the bracket 62 is disposed along a plane P1 that is aligned with a plane P2 of the cargo bed 34. Because the bracket 62 is disposed within the recess 38 when in the stowed position, the bracket 62 does not interfere with the cargo when the stabilizer 54 is not needed to secure the cargo. In other words, a user can load and unload sheets of drywall or plywood from the cargo bed 14 without the bracket 62 preventing the sheets from sliding along the cargo bed 34.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment, the bracket 62 includes a magnet 70 that helps retain the bracket 62 in the stowed position due to magnetic attraction to the cargo floor 34. The magnet 70 may be encapsulated to inhibit corrosion.

[0040] In some examples, a bumper is positioned between the bracket 62 and the cargo floor 34 to cushion the movement of the bracket 62 back to the stowed position.

[0041] To secure cargo using the securing system 50, the bracket 62 is pivoted from the stowed position to the cargo support position shown. The hinge 66 of the stabilizer 54 may be a lockable hinge or a controlled torque hinge so that the bracket 62 can maintain itself in the cargo support position.

[0042] When in the cargo support position, plane P1 is angled relative to plane P2 of the cargo floor 34. When the stabilizers 54 are in the cargo support position, the brackets 62 project outwardly from the corresponding recesses 38 away from the cargo floor 34. Wheels 74 of cargo 78 can be positioned between the brackets 62 of the stabilizers 54 to secure the cargo 78. The wheels 74 are stabilized by the stabilizers 54.

[0043] In some examples, a strap 82 can be connected to the bracket 62 of each of the stabilizers 54. The strap 82 can extend through the spokes 86 of the front wheel 74. In this example, the cargo 78 is a two-wheeled vehicle, such as a bicycle. The front wheel 74 of the cargo 78 has a plurality of bicycle spokes.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the stabilizer 54 is anchored to the cargo floor 34 using a plurality of mechanical fasteners 90 that extend through the base 58 to engage the cargo floor 34. When the stabilizer 54 is anchored to the cargo floor 34, the stabilizer 54 can be considered a floor-mounted stabilizer. The stabilizer 54 can be repositioned at various areas of the cargo floor 34 as needed.

[0045] In addition to the stabilizers 54, the exemplary securing system 50 also includes at least one wall-mounted stabilizer 94. In the exemplary embodiment, the wall-mounted stabilizer 94 includes a mounting bracket 98 and a stabilizing bracket 102 pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket 98. The wall-mounted stabilizer 94 can additionally include a strap 106 that can be looped through the spokes 86 of the wheels 74 of the cargo 78.

[0046] Wall-mounted stabilizers 94 are configured to interface with upper portions of front wheels 74, while stabilizers 54 are configured to interface with lower portions of wheels 74. For purposes of this disclosure, upper and lower refer to locations on the ground when vehicle 10 is in a general orientation during operation to carry cargo 78.

[0047] The mounting bracket 98 of the wall-mounted stabilizer 94 may be pivotally coupled to the stabilizing bracket 102. This enables the stabilizing bracket 102 to be adjusted to accommodate different sizes and positions of the wheels 74.

[0048] The wall-mounted stabilizer 94 is coupled directly to the front wall 22 of the cargo bed 14 and, specifically, to an upper region (here, an upper edge) of the front wall 22. The stabilizer 54 is secured to the cargo bed floor 34 at a location adjacent the bottom of the front wall 22.

[0049] Although described in conjunction with the front wall 22 , the securing system 50 of the present disclosure may be used in conjunction with other cargo bed walls, such as the side walls 26 or even the tailgate 30 .

[0050] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown, a plurality of cargo securing systems 50 may be used to secure respective cargo at various vehicle transverse locations within the cargo bed 14 .

[0051] The foregoing description is illustrative rather than restrictive in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and such variations and modifications do not necessarily depart from the essence of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection afforded to the present disclosure should be determined solely by studying the appended claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle cargo securing system comprising: A plurality of stabilizers each having a bracket and a base, the bracket being pivotally coupled to the base, the bracket being capable of pivoting back and forth between a stowed position in which the bracket is disposed within a recess in the cargo floor and a cargo support position in which the bracket is pivoted to a position in which the bracket protrudes outwardly from the recess and away from the cargo floor.

2. The vehicle cargo securing system of claim 1 , wherein the bracket and the cargo floor are disposed along planes aligned with each other when the bracket is in the stowed position, and wherein the bracket and the cargo floor are disposed along planes that are angled relative to each other when the bracket is in the cargo supporting position.

3. The vehicle cargo securement system of claim 1 , wherein each of the stabilizers within the plurality of stabilizers includes a hinge pivotably coupling the bracket to the base, and optionally wherein the bracket is lockable in the cargo supporting position.

4. The vehicle cargo securement system of claim 1 , wherein the base is secured to the cargo floor using at least one mechanical fastener. 5 . The vehicle cargo securement system of claim 1 , wherein each of the stabilizers within the plurality of stabilizers includes at least one magnet that retains the bracket in the stowed position.

6. The vehicle cargo securing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stabilizers includes a first stabilizer and a second stabilizer, the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer being configured to support a wheel of a vehicle between the first stabilizer and the second stabilizer when the bracket of the first stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position and the bracket of the second stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position.

7. The vehicle cargo securing system of claim 6 , further comprising a strap coupled to the bracket of the first stabilizer and the bracket of the second stabilizer when the bracket of the first stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position and the bracket of the second stabilizer is in the cargo supporting position, the strap extending between a plurality of spokes of the wheel of the vehicle, and optionally wherein the vehicle is a bicycle and the wheel is the front wheel of the bicycle.

8. The vehicle cargo securing system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of stabilizers is a plurality of floor-mounted stabilizers secured to the cargo bed floor adjacent a cargo bed wall, and the vehicle cargo securing system further comprises at least one wall-mounted stabilizer secured to an upper region of the cargo bed wall, the plurality of floor-mounted stabilizers being configured to interface with lower portions of the wheels, the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer being configured to interface with lower portions of the wheels, and optionally, wherein the cargo bed wall is a front wall of the cargo bed.

9. The vehicle cargo securing system of claim 8, wherein the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer comprises a mounting bracket and a stabilizing bracket pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, the at least one wall-mounted stabilizer further comprising a strap anchored to the mounting bracket and configured to extend through a plurality of spokes of the wheel of the vehicle.

10. A method for securing cargo on a vehicle, comprising: pivoting a first bracket of the first stabilizer from a stowed position to a cargo supporting position, wherein when the first bracket is in the stowed position, the first bracket is received in a first recess in the cargo floor, and in the cargo supporting position, the first bracket is pivoted to protrude outwardly from the first recess and away from the cargo floor; pivoting the second bracket of the second stabilizer from a stowed position to a cargo supporting position, wherein when the second bracket is in the stowed position, the second bracket is received in a second recess in the cargo floor, and in the cargo supporting position, the second bracket is pivoted to protrude outwardly from the second recess and away from the cargo floor; as well as A wheel of a vehicle is supported between the first bracket of the first stabilizer in the cargo supporting position and the second bracket of the second stabilizer in the cargo supporting position.

11. The vehicle cargo securing method according to claim 10, wherein the wheel is a front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle.

12. The vehicle cargo securing method of claim 10, wherein the wheel is a front wheel of a bicycle.

13. The vehicle cargo securing method of claim 10, further comprising supporting the wheel using a strap connected to the first bracket and the second bracket and extending through a plurality of spokes of the wheel.

14. The vehicle cargo securing method of claim 10, further comprising securing a first base of the first stabilizer to the cargo floor adjacent to a cargo bed wall, and securing a second base of the second stabilizer to the cargo floor adjacent to the cargo bed wall.

15. The vehicle cargo securing method of claim 14 further comprising supporting an upper portion of the wheel using at least one wall mounted stabilizer secured to an upper region of the cargo bed wall, and optionally further comprising supporting the upper region using straps of the at least one wall mounted stabilizer, the straps extending through spokes of the wheel of the vehicle.

Images