Vehicle cargo system with utility rail

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a cargo system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a cargo bed. The cargo bed includes a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. A utility rail is connected to the first side wall via a pivot at a first end. The pivot is configured to rotate a second end of the utility rail horizontally across the cargo bed.

Description

VEHICLE CARGO SYSTEM WITH UTILITY RAILTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle cargo systems, in particular mounting mechanisms for vehicle cargo systems.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional cargo vehicles, such as pickup trucks, have a cargo bed used for storage. Cargo must be secured to the cargo bed in order to protect the vehicle, the cargo, the vehicle occupants, and the vehicle surroundings. Some cargo beds include mounting points like rings and hooks, but they offer limits options for securing cargo. Accessory racks may be installed in the cargo bed to increase securing options; however, when not in use, these accessories reduce cargo space and must be stored.SUMMARY

[0003] According to one aspect of the invention, a cargo system for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a cargo bed. The cargo bed includes a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. A utility rail is connected to the first side wall via a pivot at a first end. The pivot is configured to rotate a second end of the utility rail horizontally across the cargo bed.

[0004] The aspects above achieve improved mounting options reducing cargo space or requiring additional accessories. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 A is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle cargo bed with a pivoting utility rail in a closed position.

[0006] FIG. IB is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle cargo bed with a pivoting utility rail in an open position.

[0007] FIG. 2A is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle cargo bed with a second pivoting utility rail in a closed position.

[0008] FIG. 2B is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle cargo bed with a second pivoting utility rail in an open position.

[0009] FIG. 3A is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of front and back sides of utility rails.

[0010] FIG. 3B is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a cross-section profile of a utility rail.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Figures 1 A and IB illustrate a vehicle 100, such as a pickup truck, with a cargo bed 110. The perimeter of the cargo bed 110 is formed by a first side wall 111 positioned on a side of the vehicle 100, a second side wall 112 positioned on another side of the vehicle 100, a front wall 113 positioned towards the front of the vehicle 100, and a rear wall 114 positioned towards the rear of the vehicle 100. Front wall 113 may include a midgate which is opened or removed to provide access between a vehicle cabin and cargo bed 110. Rear wall 114 may include a tailgate which is opened or removed to provide access to the cargo bed 110 from the rear of the vehicle.

[0012] Cargo bed 110 includes a utility rail 120 which can be used as a mounting mechanism to secure items in the cargo bed. Conventionally, in pickup trucks equipped with a utility rail, the rail is permanently affixed to a wall of the cargo bed. In an embodiment of this invention, utility rail 120 includes a pivot 121 on a first end of the utility rail connecting to first side wall 111. Pivot 121 enables a second end of utility rail 120 to rotate horizontally from a closed position against first side wall 111, as shown in Fig. 1A, to an open position against second side wall 112 on the opposite side of the cargo bed, as shown in Fig. IB. Pivot 121 may be a hinge or shaft and may include bushings or bearings. Utility rail 120 has connector 122 on the second end of the utility rail 120. Connector 122 removably couples the second end of the utility rail 120 to the first side wall 111 in the closed position and to the second side wall 112 in the open position. A corresponding potion of connector 122 may be connected to first and / or second wall 111 / 112. Connector 122 may be a clamp or latch. Providing a second position for utility rail 120 provides a lateral mounting mechanism in the cargo bed without requiring additional accessory hardware.

[0013] In an embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1A-1B illustrates pivot 121 located on the front side of first side wall 111 such that when utility rail 120 is rotated to the open position, utility rail 120 connects to the front side of second side wall 112 and is substantially parallelwith front wall 113. Fig. 2A illustrate a second utility rail 220 in a closed position connected to second wall 112 by pivot 221. Pivot 221 is located on the rear side of second side wall 112 such that when second utility rail 220 is rotated to the open position, utility rail connects to the rear side of first side wall 111 is substantially parallel with rear wall 114. Second utility rail 220 includes a second connector 222 similar to that of utility rail 120, which connects near the front of the cargo bed 110. In some embodiments, cargo bed 110 includes both utility rails 120 and 220. In other embodiments, cargo bed 110 may include only one of utility rails 120 and 220. In other embodiments, only one of utility rails 120 and 220 include a pivot and is configured to be rotatable.

[0014] Figs. 1 A-1B and 2A-2B illustrate an embodiment where first side wall 111 is on a left side of cargo bed 110 and second side wall 112 is on a right side of cargo bed 110. In alternative embodiments first side wall 111 is on the right side and second side wall 112 is on the left side.

[0015] In some embodiments, utility rail 120 resides inside of a recess 115 in first side wall 111 when in a closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 A-1B. Likewise, second utility rail 220 resides inside a recess 116 in second side wall 112 in the closed position, as show in in Figs. 2A-2B. Recesses 115 and / or 116 allow for utility rails 120 and / or 220 to be substantially flush with first side wall 111 and second side wall 112 respectively. The flushed surface prevents cargo from catching on a utility rail when being moved.

[0016] Figs. 3A-3B illustrate a utility rail 300 made from extruded aluminum. In other embodiments utility rail 300 may made of polymer, composite materials, other metals, such as steel. In some embodiments utility rail 300 may be made by milling, stamping, casting, molding, or additive manufacturing. Utility rail 300 has a first side 301 and a second side 302. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 A-1B, in the closed position first side 301 faces outward toward the interior of cargo bed 110 and in the open position second side 301 faces outward toward the interior of cargo bed 110. In the illustrated embodiment, first side 301 has a recessed channel and second side 302 has a protruding channel. In other embodiments, both sides may have recessed channels or both sides may have protruding channels. In some embodiment a side may have more than one channel. When first side 301 has a recessed channel, accessory attachments may be inserted into the channel, such as a hook, nut, or bracket. When a second side 302 has a protruding channel, accessory attachments may attach around the channel, such as a clip or slot. In the open position, accessory attachments may wrap around utility rail 300, such as cords or ropes.

[0017] In some embodiments, a center section 310 of utility rail 300 may rotate along the longitudinal axis relative to first end 311 and / or second end 312. Center section 310 may freely rotate when between the open and closed positions and be locked in place by connector 122. In other embodiments, center section 310 may rotate in fixed increments. 180° axial rotation of center section 310 allows for either first side 301 or second side 302 to face outward toward the interior of the cargo bed 110. In other embodiments, center section 310 may be fixed at multiple angles, e.g. 45°, 90°, 135°, to enable more accessory attachment options.

[0018] In the closed position, utility rail 300 can be used to attach straps and bungie cord for securing items to the cargo bed walls. The straps may be attached across the bed to the second utility rail to secure items down to the floor of the cargo bed. Utility rail 300 may further be used as an attachment point for a bed cover, tarp, tent, or solar panel. In the open position, utility rail 300 can be used to secure recreational vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, kayaks, canoes, and surfboards. The floor of cargo bed 110 may include features that assist in the securing of the recreational vehicles, such as grooves. Utility rail 300 can further be used to secure outdoor equipment such as light bars, seats, cooking equipment, and coolers. Utility rail 300 can further be used to secure utility equipment such as toolboxes, tools, ladders, and construction materials. When utility rail 300 is configured in the rear of the vehicle, utility rail 300 may be used in the open position across the cargo bed when the tailgate is open to secure long items above or below the utility rail 300. When utility rail 300 is configured in the front of the vehicle, utility rail 300 may be used in the open position across the cargo bed when a midgate is open or removed to secure items located in both the cabin space and cargo bed space.

[0019] The included descriptions and figures depict specific implementations to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode. For teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these implementations that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the features described above can be combined in various ways to form multiple implementations. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations described above, but only by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A cargo system for a vehicle, the cargo system comprising: a cargo bed comprising: a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall; and a utility rail connected to the first side wall via a pivot at a first end of the utility rail, wherein the pivot is configured to rotate a second end of the utility rail horizontally across the cargo bed.

2. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the utility rail is configured such that in a closed position the second end of the utility rail is connected to the first side wall and that in an open position the second end is connected to the second side wall.

3. The cargo system of claim 2, wherein the utility rail further comprises a connector configured to removeable connect the second end to first side wall in the closed position and removably connect the second end to the second side wall in the open position.

4. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the pivot is located near the front wall, such that in an open position the utility rail is substantially parallel with the front wall.

5. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the pivot is located near the rear wall, such that in an open position the utility rail is substantially parallel with the rear wall.

6. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the utility rail has a first surface comprising a recessed channel.

7. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the utility rail has a second surface comprising a protruding channel.

8. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the utility rail further comprises a center section, the center section configured to rotate axially relative to a first section on a first side of the utility rail.

9. The cargo system of claim 1, wherein the first side wall comprises a recessed portion, and wherein the pivot is connected to the first side wall within the recessed portion such that that utility rail is recessed within the first side wall in a closed position.

10. The cargo system of claim 1, comprising: a second utility rail connected to the second side wall via a second pivot at a first end of the second utility rail, wherein the second pivot is configured to rotate a second end of the second utility rail horizontally across the cargo bed.

11. The cargo system of claim 10, wherein the pivot is located near the front wall, such that in an open position the utility rail is substantially parallel with the front wall, and the second pivot is located near the rear wall, such that in the open position the second utility rail is substantially parallel with the rear wall.

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