Truck Utility Rack With Flush Joints and Adjustable Bed Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing utility racks for trucks are not customizable, extensible, or reconfigurable, limiting their ability to efficiently carry a variety of items such as ladders, canoes, kayaks, roof top tents, bicycles, cargo boxes, tools, gas tanks, and overland equipment.
Innovation Solution
A utility rack system for trucks comprising a multi-component side frame with flush joints, clamps for attachment to the cargo bed, and a crossbar, allowing for customizable configurations and adjustable height and width to accommodate different cargo types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing utility racks are used, then they can carry items, but they are not customizable or reconfigurable, limiting their ability to efficiently carry various items
Solution Approach 1:
The utility rack is divided into multiple independent components including side frames, cross members, support members, and fasteners. Each side frame consists of separate rails and posts that can be independently positioned and connected, allowing the rack to be customized for different cargo configurations without requiring a completely different rack structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack employs adjustable and reconfigurable elements where support members can be positioned at different locations along the cross members, and cross members can be repositioned along the side frames. This dynamic reconfigurability allows the same rack structure to adapt to various cargo types and sizes while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional utility rack is used, then it provides basic cargo carrying capability, but it obstructs access to the cargo bed and creates poor aerodynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The rack design utilizes vertical positioning of cross members and support members to clear the cargo bed opening, allowing unobstructed access to items in the cargo bed. By elevating the cargo-carrying surfaces above the cargo bed perimeter, the rack maintains aerodynamic efficiency while providing full access to the cargo area below.
3Ease of manufacture
If the rack components are connected with visible fasteners, then assembly is straightforward, but the appearance is less aesthetic
Solution Approach 1:
Cosmetic covers are introduced as intermediary elements that conceal the fasteners and connection points between rack components. These covers maintain the structural integrity and assembly simplicity of the rack while providing a clean, aesthetic appearance by hiding the mechanical connection details from view.
Data Source
AI summary
A utility rack for a truck may be removably attached to the side walls of the bed of the truck. The disclosed utility rack discloses internal cavities for attachment bolts or other fasteners. The internal cavities allow the fasteners to be hidden under an access cover during use of the utility rack while also providing strong and secure butt joints between the ends of some of the components. The ends of the components of the utility rack may be provided with protrusions and sockets that interlock to improve the stability of flush butt joints between components. The utility rack may include closed-loop outer-boundary side frames configure to clamp on opposing side walls of a truck cargo bed, with a crossbar spanning the truck cargo bed between top rails of the side frames. The closed-loop outer-boundary side frames do not require internal vertically oriented support posts inside the outer-boundary frame.