Cargo rack for pickup truck

• US 7,568,748 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Tarquinio
• Original Assignee: Peter Tarquinio
• Inventors: Tarquinio, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US12/074,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 296/3, 296/26.04, 296/26.06, 211/195, 211/175
• US Class Current: 296/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

A pickup truck cargo rack is designed for easy mounting to and removal from a truck bed. The cargo rack is adjustable such that cargo support members may be raised to carry large items such as boats, kayaks, lumber, pipe, etc. The cargo support members may also be lowered such that they are spaced only a small distance above the outer side edges of the truck bed enclosure. The lower position of the cargo support members may be used when only small items are to be carried or when it is desired to have the bars essentially out of the field of view of a driver looking at the rearview mirror.

Claims

1. A cargo rack for a vehicle such as a conventional pickup truck having a conventional pickup bed, comprising:

a frame having a generally horizontal bar portion and a pair of frame support members extending generally downward away from the horizontal bar portion for mounting the frame to the pickup truck;

a first cargo support member having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame, the first cargo support member including a generally horizontal cargo support bar and a curved intermediate section that extends generally vertically away from the cargo support bar and further including a second end that extends essentially to the rear end of the pickup truck bed;

a second cargo support member having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame, the second cargo support member including a generally horizontal cargo support bar and a curved intermediate section that extends generally vertically away from the cargo support bar and further including a second end that extends essentially to the rear end of the pickup truck bed;

a first support strut connected to the first cargo support bar near the second end thereof for mounting the second end of the first cargo support bar to the pickup truck;

a second support strut connected to the second cargo support bar near the second end thereof for mounting the second end of the second cargo support bar to the pickup truck; and

wherein the first and second cargo support members are pivotal relative to the frame between a raised position where the first and second intermediate sections extend upward from the pickup truck bed to hold the first and second cargo support bars spaced a first selected distance above the pickup truck bed and lower position where the first and second intermediate sections extend downward toward the pickup truck bed to hold the first and second.

2. The cargo support rack of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizer arm formed as an enlogate bar connected between the first and second cargo support bars.

3. The cargo support rack of claim 2 wherein the stabilizer arm has a first end that is pivotally mounted to the first cargo support bar, the stabilizer arm being rotatable between a stored position where it is essentially parallel to the first cargo support bar and a deployed position wherein the stabilizer arm has a second end that is connected to the second cargo support bar.

4. The cargo support rack of claim 3 wherein the first cargo support bar has an elongate recess therein where the stabilizer arm may be placed when the stabilizer arm is in the stored position.

5. The cargo support rack of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stabilizer arms formed as elongate bars connected between the first and second cargo support bars.