963 results about "Pickup truck" patented technology

A carrier (10A and 10B) made of a flexible, rigid insulating material consisting of a longitudinal flap (16) with integral lobe (18) to enable the carrier to be secured onto the bed (30) of a pickup truck by trapping said lobe within the gap (34) between the pickup truck bed and truck tailgate (28). The top panel (42) and bottom panel (44) each consisting of zipper pulls (22A, 22B, 22C, 22D) and said panel attachment onto common back panel (12) to permit opening and closing and serving further purpose as to permit complete collapsing and folding of the carrier. The carrier actually consisting of two identical mirror image configured carriers for maximum consumption of space generated by the width and height of said truck bed, and distance between said pickup truck tailgate and truck tubular-bed-extender (36).

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a pickup truck having a framework. The framework having a cross bow member for supporting a cover and being positionable generally over the cargo box of the pickup truck. The tonneau system further includes a latch assembly pivotally coupled to the cross bow member. The latch assembly is positionable in a latched position engagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, an unlatched position disengagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, and a nested position substantially retracted from the unlatched position and received within the cross bow member. The tonneau system may further include a biasing member that is substantially received within a portion of the latch assembly to improve consistent spring rates across the actuation range.

A tailgate or side-gate for a vehicle, including a pickup truck, is disclosed that, when lowered, forms at least one step that is lower than the bed or floor of the vehicle. A more preferred embodiment forms at least two steps at different levels so that one may easily walk into the box with both arms full. When raised the exterior of the tailgate can have an appearance like the exterior of an original equipment tailgate. A mechanism for automatically lowering and raising the tailgate or side-gate is also disclosed along with several other functional options.

A system and method for classification of passenger vehicles and measuring their properties, and more particularly to a stochastic multi-class vehicle classification system, which classifies a vehicle (given its direct rear-side view) into one of four classes Sedan, Pickup truck, SUV / Minivan, and unknown, and wherein a feature pool of tail light and vehicle dimensions is extracted which feeds a feature selection algorithm to define a low-dimensional feature vector, and the feature vector is then processed by a Hybrid Dynamic Bayesian Network (HDBN) to classify each vehicle.

A mobile work station assembly for a vehicle. The work station incorporates a docking station, toolbox, file organizer, power inverter, storage container and a mobile phone assembly on a sliding load floor that can extend outwardly from the interior of the vehicle. The work station is removably attached to the load floor. The work station is adapted for mounting in a vehicle interior or within a pickup truck bed.

A pivotable grab handle device is movable between a stowed position, which is positioned against the main tailgate structure, and a deployed position that projects upwardly above the top surface of a lowered main tailgate structure. The grab handle device is mounted on a retainer bracket that is affixed to the top surface of the lowered main tailgate structure. The grab handle incorporates a spring-loaded latch mechanism that is cooperable with the pivot bracket when in the stowed position and cooperable with a striker plate mounted below the top surface of the main tailgate structure to fix the grab handle in the deployed position. A release lever projecting outwardly of the grab handle permits a retraction of the latch member to release the grab handle from either the pivot bracket or the striker plate to allow pivotal movement of the grab handle into the desired position.

A sliding window assembly for use with a motor vehicle such for example as the rear window of the cab of a pickup type truck. A guide structure mounts a sliding pane for longitudinal sliding movement generally parallel to the plane of the pane between an open position and a closed position, and a lateral thrust mechanism is provided which is operative in response to arrival of the pane in its closed position to thereafter move the pane laterally relative to the plane of the pane into a position wherein the exposed face of the pane is flush with a surrounding vehicle surface such for example as the surface defined by fixed panes in the rear window of a pickup truck. The lateral movement of the pane is accomplished by a guide pin on the glass received in a compound guide slot defined by a fixed guide structure, a slider slidably mounted in a fixed guide structure for movement parallel to the plane of the pane, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the pane and the slider and operative with the pin positioned in a first portion of the compound slot to move the glass along the fixed guide structure in a direction generally parallel to the plane of a pane and operative with the pin positioned in a second angled portion of the compound slot to move the glass pane laterally relative to the plane of the pane.

A pull-out step assembly for a cargo box vehicle is disclosed. The assembly provides one or two steps to access the cargo box of a pickup truck or similar vehicle. The pull-out step assembly can be deployed with the tail gate of the cargo box in a closed or open condition. The pull-out step assembly attaches to the vehicle frame and stores beneath the cargo box when not in use. Also disclosed is a protective box member that covers the step assembly when stored beneath the cargo box.

A truck bed mounted surfboard storage rack is provided which aids in the storage and transportation of surfboards via pickup trucks and vans. Two fold up arms have three slots in each one, with each slot being padded with a weatherproof foam material. When extended in the up position, the slots allow up to three surfboards to be stored in a horizontal position on their long edge. When in the lowered position, the invention folds flat against the floor of the truck or van, to provide the maximum storage space for other items. When secured to the frame of the pickup truck or van with mechanical hardware such as stainless steel nuts and bolts, the carrier can also be used for snow boards or other similarly shaped objects.

An auxiliary molded floor mat is produced to fit the carpeted floor compartment area of a van, pickup truck, sport utility vehicle or other vehicle having a floor which is substantially flat and even with a door sill. The floor mat is a one piece composite of a tufted carpet layer, a thermoplastic mid-layer and a non-slip substrate bottom layer. The floor mat has a flat base with raised walls near each of its outside edges which form a tray-like central area. At least one of the raised walls is double walled with a substantially horizontally extending floor engaging peripheral lip. Molding of the composite imparts a desired contoured shape which neatly fits the vehicle's floor compartment area without substantial folds or wrinkles. The tray-like central area of the floor mat catches debris. It is readily cleaned simply by removing the full mat from the vehicle.

A hard folding cover system for securely covering the bed of a pickup truck that can be opened or closed without the need to manually lift and fold individual panels sequentially in order to access the bed of the truck. The cover includes a plurality of hard folding panels that pivotably interconnected by alternatingly attached up-acting hinges and down-acting hinges whereby the panels are configured to sequentially fold and retract lengthwise while riding along side tracks. The cover is configured to operate between a flat position and at least one retracted position; in the retracted position, at least one of the folding panels is in a substantially vertical position. As the cover is retracted, the panels sequentially fold vertically toward one another. The retracted position, the panels do not block a rear window or brake light of the vehicle on which the cover is installed.

The headache rack for pickup trucks that supports and secures loads being transported while protecting the rear window from damage and the passengers seated in the cab from harm. The headache rack is adjustable in height in order to accommodate pickup trucks having varying cab heights. Further, the headache rack is provided with internal wiring pathways to safely run wiring from any lights mounted on the uppermost surface of the rack to the pickup truck's electrical system.

A toolbox system for pickup trucks that provides toolboxes or storage units are equipped with a guide track receiving a plurality of rollers to allow them to be extended out of the tailgate of the truck bed for easy access. The invention can be used with or without a bed cap. The guide track and rollers, similar in appearance and design to a heavy duty drawer slide system, is mounted on each side of the bed near the top edge of the bed area. The toolbox or storage system with drawers, conventional in design, then moves along the gide track. The toolbox or storage system may then be moved from its stowage position behind the cab area, by releasing a locking mechanism and sliding the toolbox to the rear of the bed. There, tools and other items can easily be removed without climbing into the bed area.

A compact ramp and tailgate system for a vehicle tailgate includes a tailgate having an interior hollow cavity for collapsible storage therein of a pair of ramps that are also telescopically extendable therefrom for loading and unloading heavy equipment into and off the bed of the vehicle such as a pickup truck with each ramp mounted to a locking hinge that allows the ramps to pivot up to ninety degrees and each ramp composed of at least three ramp members of decreasing size starting from the largest ramp members that are pivotally interconnected to the locking hinges. The ramps are independently pivotable and slidably adjustable left and right relative to the tailgate and the longitudinal extension of the vehicle for properly aligning the ramps with respect to the wheels, rollers, casters, etc., of the equipment to be on loaded and off loaded.

A toolbox with carriage assemblies that have roller casters that are engaged with drop rails mounted on opposite sidewalls of a pickup truck cargo area such that the toolbox can be slid along the length of the cargo area to access its contents is provided.

A truck bed partitioning and extension device for use on a bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. The truck bed partitioning and extension device includes a transverse panel having a pair of ends and a pair of side panels. At least one of the side panels is attached to the ends of the transverse panel through a double hinge. The double hinge allows folding along a pair of generally parallel axes that allow the pivoting of the side panel along a first axis that allows the side panel to pivot to a position next to the transverse panel and pivoting of the side panel about a second axis that positions the side panel at a distance from the transverse panel.

A pickup truck tailgate assembly is provided that includes a primary tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a pickup cargo box and has an opening formed in the central portion thereof. The assembly also includes a secondary tailgate pivotally attached to the primary tailgate in the central opening. The assembly further includes a pivoting connection connecting the secondary tailgate to the primary tailgate so that a secondary tailgate may pivot downward relative to the primary tailgate. The secondary tailgate may further be deployed to form a step for access to the cargo box and may provide a gate for retaining items within the cargo box.

A safety light system is incorporated into the tailgate of a pickup truck. The safety light is incorporated into the tailgate and is illuminated when the tailgate is in a lowered or horizontal position and when either the ignition switch is in the on position, the parking lights are turned on, or both. The safety light can be positioned either on the top edge-rail of the tailgate, as a slide-out unit placed in a pocket with the top edge-rail of the tailgate, or as a rotating assembly incorporated into the outer sheet metal of the tailgate. Additional safety lights can be incorporated into the sides of the tailgate assembly. An optional feature includes the ability to pull the safety light out from the tailgate and secure the safety light to an object that extends beyond the length of the pickup bed. Alternatively, the safety lights can be installed in or on a bed extension apparatus. The safety light can additionally include the features of a standard taillight, comprising brake lights and or turn signal indicators. Alternates include reflective tape and a pullout feature from other locations. A pullout section can also provide a step for accessing the bed.

Presented is a retractable substantially full passenger cab height cover for vehicle rear portions that renders the vehicle's rear portion open to transport cargo when the full cab height cover is retracted and covered at a full, or nearly so, passenger cab height when the full cab height cover is extended. It has application to all manner of vehicles such as pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles (SUV's) and may be designed in and sold as original factory equipment or sold as an aftermarket product. It is possible, by use of a fold down first tailgate disposed between the passenger cab and the rear portion of the vehicle and fold down rear passenger seat elements to have a very lengthy distance, from a second tailgate at the rear of the vehicle to just behind the driver's seat, for extra passenger seating, storage of cargo, carrying of small boats, or the like. A further refinement includes a multi-system sealing system disposed between elements of the retractable cargo bed cover.

Collapsible or foldable tool / utility box that can be folded into a compact configuration when not in use or unfolded to form a container for tools or other objects. The box is particularly suitable for use as a storage container mounted to a pickup truck bed.

A load carrier has a pair of rails each being affixed to one of the two side walls of the open bed of a pickup truck. Each rail has a longitudinally extending slot along which a bar slides. A bracket is connected to each bar. The two ends of a stringer are connected to the two brackets so that stringer extends transversely across the open bed for supporting a load. Instead of bars, clamps are used to connect the brackets to the rails.

A pickup bed support structure that includes longitudinally extending frame rails to which transversely extending beams used to support the truck bed box are assembled. The beams are received below a top surface of the frame rails by forming notches or holes in the frame rails into which the beams are inserted. Alternatively, notches or holes may be provided in the transversely extending beams that receive the longitudinal extending frame rails. One method of manufacturing a pickup truck bed support structure is disclosed in which holes are provided in the longitudinally extending frame rail that receive the transversely extending beam that support the pickup truck bed. An alternative method is also disclosed in which notches are formed in the frame rails that receive the beams that are welded to the frame rails prior to assembling the pickup truck bed to the beams.

A liftgate / tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a chassis and a cargo area, such cargo area comprising a bed and one or more vertical sidewalls mounted to the vehicle chassis, such liftgate / tailgate assembly comprising a tailgate which, when rotated into an open tailgate position, forms a liftgate / tailgate platform to support a load to be lifted, and one or more linkage assemblies pivotably mounted to the tailgate which permit the liftgate / tailgate platform to be translated both vertically and horizontally relative to the cargo area of the vehicle, while permitting rear impact protection to be mounted on the vehicle and method for lifting a load into a vehicle cargo area.

A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, an end plate engagement member attached to the support frame, preferably one on each side of the support frame, and a locking member movably attached to the end plate. The end plate is preferably attached to an end of the flexible cover and is configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to the end plate engagement member or members into and out of a fixed stretching position wherein the flexible cover can be correspondingly be tensed and relaxed. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by the locking member, in alternate embodiments, a plurality of locking members are provided, preferably locking members that slide within a channel in the end plate. In preferred embodiments the locking member or members are spring biased toward a locking position where the locking member engages a flange of the support frame to prevent the end plate from moving out of the fixed stretching position.

An electric utility cart to assist in transportation and hauling various items is disclosed. The utility cart includes a handle with a throttle to control the speed of the cart during use. A single 360° rotatable front wheel in combination with a pair of wide rear wheels which are joined to a differential allows the cart to turn in tight circles. A directional switch proximate the handle allows the user to drive the cart in either a forward or rearward direction. An auxiliary rack can be mounted on the cart as needed for carrying surf boards or other large items. A hitch rod allows the cart to be suspended and transported by a conventional vehicle such as a car, SUV or pickup truck having a typical tubular hitch.

A tonneau system for a cargo box of a pickup truck having a framework. The framework having a cross bow member for supporting a cover and being positionable generally over the cargo box of the pickup truck. The tonneau system further includes a latch assembly pivotally coupled to the cross bow member. The latch assembly is positionable in a latched position engagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, an unlatched position disengagable with the cargo box of the pickup truck, and a nested position substantially retracted from the unlatched position and received within the cross bow member. The tonneau system may further include a biasing member that is substantially received within a portion of the latch assembly to improve consistent spring rates across the actuation range.

A tonneau cover system for a pickup truck cargo bed incorporates hinge assemblies to allow individual panels to open, close or fold over on top of each other. To provide individual compartments within a cargo bed, the main hinge assembly of a foldable tonneau cover system provides for a secondary hinge assembly for the addition of a pivoting lock in place isolation wall.