Vehicle side article transporter device

• US 7,562,925 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magna International Incorporated
• Inventors: Henderson, Jack Vernon, MacLean, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US12/229,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.6, 296/37.1, 224/326, 224/400
• US Class Current: 296/37.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/00 Compartments within vehicle body primarily intended or sufficiently spacious for trunks, suit-cases, or the like primarily intended for stowing loads in load-transporting vehicles B60P; arrangements for stowing spare wheels B62D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a container for a light-duty automobile such as a light-duty pickup truck or sport-utility vehicle having at least one opening, operably associated with the quarter panel of an automobile, an inner wall operably associated with the container, and a cover having a closed position and an open position operably associated with the opening. The cover includes a door inner, and a door outer. The invention also includes a first rail positioned between the container and the quarter panel. The container is integrally formed with the first rail, and is located between the first rail and the inner wall. The first rail supports the container, and the cover can be moved from the open position to the closed position, allowing access to the container.

Claims

1. A vehicle side article transport device comprising:

an inner upper rail;

an outer rail;

a container having at least one opening, said container being integrally formed with and supported by said outer rail and said inner upper rail;

an inner wall operably associated with said container, said inner wall providing support for said inner upper rail;

a cover having a door inner, a door outer, and a door appliqué

;

a seal operably associated with said container and said cover;

a structural bed assembly having at least one corner support, said at least one corner support providing support for said outer rail, and being connected to and supporting said inner wall;

a prop rod located in a prop rod sheath, said prop rod operably associated with said cover;

a lamp located inside said container for providing light in low-lighting conditions; and

wherein said cover can be placed in an open position or a closed position, said prop rod holds said cover in an open position, and said seal will provide an air-tight enclosure between said cover and said opening of said container.

2. The vehicle side article transport device according to claim 1, wherein said quarter panel is further comprised of one of the group comprising at least one side panel, a half-panel, a door, a drawer, or combination thereof.

3. The vehicle side article transport device according to claim 1, wherein said cover is further comprised of a flat cover, and said flat cover allowing access to said container.