Truck carrier

• US 6,913,175 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Martin
• Original Assignee: Donald Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/267,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 224/403, 224/405, 224/510, 224/548, 224/550, 224/551, 224/554, 224/558, 224/325, 224/281, 296/3, 296/36, 296/37.6, 296/98, 296/100.01, 296/100.16, 296/100.17, 296/100.18, 410/150
• US Class Current: 224/403
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A load carrier for a pickup truck having an open bed defined by a tail gate and a pair of spaced walls which extend from said tail gate to a cab, each said side wall having an upper margin having oppositely facing upper and lower surface, said pickup truck having a tonneau cover for said open bed, said tonneau cover having an outer edge, said load carrier comprising:

a pair of rails each adapted to rest on the upper margin of a separate said side wall, a pair of brackets each having a lower wall and a horizontal wall disposed above each said rail;

a pair of clamps each having jaws adapted to engage said lower wall and said lower surface for connecting said brackets to said upper margins and when so engaged each said horizontal wall bears downwardly on each said rail and thereby prevents said rail from moving relative to said side walls;

a stringer which is connected to said brackets and which is adapted to extend transversely across said open bed;

a track which extends the length of said rail; and

a slider movable along said track, said slider having means for connection to said tonneau cover such that said outer edge is spaced inwardly of said brackets.

2. The load carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stringer includes a sleeve;

a rod slidingly received in said sleeve; and

a handle pivotally connected to said sleeve and having an end which moves into and out of contact with said rod as said handle pivots such that said rod is selectively immovable and movable relative to said sleeve as said handle pivots.

3. The load carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail has upper and lower flanges and a web which extends therebetween, said slot being defined by said flanges and said web, said bracket having a wall which rests on said upper flange.

4. The load carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length of said stringer is adjustable.

5. The load carrier as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stringer includes a sleeve;

a rod slidingly received in said sleeve; and

a handle pivotally connected to said sleeve and having an end which moves into and out of contact with said rod as said handle pivots such that said rod is selectively immovable and movable relative to said sleeve as said handle pivots.