Cargo rack for pickup trucks

• US 5,303,858 A
• Filed: 02/10/1993
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Price, Brent A.
• Original Assignee: Price, Brent A.
• Inventors: Price, Brent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US08/016,101
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 296/3, 296/37.6, 296/37.7, 211/183, 211/182, 211/195, 224/42.44, 224/42.42, 224/42.43, 224/282, 224/317, 224/320, 224/321, 224/309, 224/325, 224/319, 224/43.03 B, 224/42.45 R
• US Class Current: 224/405
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/073 Vehicle retainers specially adapted for fixing semi-trailers on railway vehicles B61D45/004
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1008 on the vehicle roof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/924 Vehicle attached carrier for bicycle or motorcycle

Abstract

A mounting rack for pickup trucks that have a cargo bed with upstanding lateral side walls where the rack includes a pair of base forming rails adapted to be surmounted on the top fenders of the truck cargo bed, a pair of rigid frames attached centrally to the respective rails in a position upstanding from the side walls or top fenders of the truck cargo bed and at least one cross beam interconnecting the uppermost portions of the said rigid frames. The rack further includes cargo support cradles shaped like "U" shaped bail members carried by each of the rails and projecting laterally from the cargo bed of the truck to support bikes or other additional cargo.

Claims

1. A mounting rack for pickup trucks having a cargo bed with upstanding lateral side walls, comprising in combination,

first and second base forming rails adapted to be surmounted on the top fenders of the truck cargo bed;

first frame means attached centrally to the first base forming rail in a position upstanding from the side wall of the truck cargo bed;

second frame means attached centrally to the second base forming rail in a position upstanding from the side wall of the truck cargo bed;

at least one cross beam interconnecting the uppermost portions of the said first and second frame means;

first cargo support means carried by said first base forming rail and projecting laterally from the cargo bed of the truck, said first cargo support means having a first cradle thereon to support cargo; and

second cargo support means carried by said second base forming rail and projecting laterally from the cargo bed of the truck, said second cargo support means having a second cradle thereon to support cargo.

2. The rack of claim 1 wherein said first frame means comprises a single first strut member attached to said first rail and a first bracing member interconnecting the first strut and the first rail to which the firs strut is attached to form a structural triangle, and

said second frame means comprises a single second strut member attached to said second rail and a second bracing member interconnecting the second strut and the second rail to which the second strut is attached to form a structural triangle.

3. The rack of claim 2 and further comprising first pivotal connection means between said first strut member and the first rail and between said first bracing member and said first rail, and a second pivotal connection means between said second strut member and the second rail and between said second bracing member and said second rail.

4. A mounting rack for pickup trucks having a cargo bed with upstanding lateral side walls, comprising in combination,

first and second base forming rails adapted to be surmounted on the top fenders of the truck cargo bed;

first frame means attached centrally to the first base forming rail in a position upstanding from the side wall of the truck cargo bed;

second frame means attached centrally to the second base forming rail in a position upstanding from the side wall of the truck cargo bed,

at least one cross beam interconnecting the uppermost portions of the said first and second frame means,

first cargo support means carried by said first base forming rail and projecting laterally from the cargo bed of the truck, said first cargo support means having a first cradle thereon to support cargo,

second cargo support means carried by said second base forming rail and projecting laterally from the cargo bed of the truck, said second cargo support means having a second cradle thereon to support cargo,

a single strut member attached to said first rail and a first bracing member interconnecting the first strut and the first rail to which the first strut is attached to form a structural triangle,

a single second strut member attached to said second rail and a second bracing member interconnecting the second strut and the second rail to which the second strut is attached to form a structural triangle,

first pivotal connection means between said first strut member and the first rail and between said first bracing member and said first rail,

a second pivotal connection means between said second strut member and the second rail and between said second bracing member and said second rail,

said first cradle comprises a generally "U" shaped first bail member having an outer extremity which is parallel to said first rail and having parallel legs which are perpendicular to the first rail and to the outer extremity of the first bail member, and said second cradle comprises a generally "U" shaped second bail member having an outer extremity which is parallel to said second rail and having parallel legs which are perpendicular to the second rail and to the outer extremity of the second bail member.

5. The rack of claim 4 wherein said first cradle further comprises a first movable pressure bar carried by the legs of the first bail member;

first spring means biasing the first pressure bar toward the outer extremity of the first bail member to which the first pressure bar is attached, and

said second cradle further comprises a second movable pressure bar carried by the legs of the second bail member and second spring means biasing the second pressure bar toward the outer extremity of the second bail member to which the second pressure bar is attached.