Vehicle side article transporter device

• US 7,931,324 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• 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:
  US12/229,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 296/37.6, 296/37.1, 224/326, 224/400
• US Class Current: 296/37.1
• 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 device for storing objects while being transported in a vehicle, comprising:

a container having an opening, said container integrally formed with an inner upper rail and an outer rail, and connected to the quarter panel of a vehicle;

an inner wall for supporting said inner upper rail;

a seal surrounding said opening;

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

, said cover connected to said container by at least one hinge;

a structural bed assembly having at least one corner support, said at least one corner support for supporting said outer rail;

a drain plug operably associated with said container; and

wherein debris and moisture are prevented from entering said container with said seal and said cover when said cover is in a closed position, and access is allowed to said container for storing items when said cover is moved to an open position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein fluid can be drained out of said container with said drain plug.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one corner support is comprised of:

a center post;

a first side bracket connected to said center post for supporting said inner upper rail;

a second side bracket connected to said center post;

a third side bracket connected to said center post for supporting at least one shock;

an outer bracket connected to said center post on the opposite side of said first side bracket, said second side bracket, and said third side bracket; and

wherein said outer rail is supported by said outer bracket, and said shock is used to raise and lower a tailgate of said vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one corner support is further comprised of:

a first box section having an angled section for supporting said quarter panel, and a panel for supporting said inner upper rail;

a second box section having a lower panel for supporting at least one shock; and

wherein said first box section is welded to said second box section to form said corner support.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a series of ledges disposed within said container;

at least one horizontal divider; and

wherein said at least one horizontal divider is supported by said series of ledges.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one cross-car divider having a protrusion;

a hole in said container for receiving said protrusion; and

wherein said container is divided into sections with said cross-car divider.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a squared-edge on said at least one cross-car divider;

at least one pocket-inside wall disposed within said container; and

wherein said squared edge of said at least one cross-car divider is inserted into said at least one pocket-inside wall for holding said at least one cross-car divider in place.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

an angular recess disposed on said at least one cross-car divider;

at least one first angular pocket disposed in said container;

at least one second angular pocket positioned on said inner wall and aligned with said at least one first angular pocket; and

wherein said angular recess of said cross-car divider surrounds said at least one first angular pocket of said container to hold said cross-car divider in place.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one side panel operably associated with said quarter panel; and

wherein said container is accessed by opening said at least one side panel.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one side panel disposed on said quarter panel;

half-panel; and

wherein the inside of said container is accessed with said at least one side panel and said half-panel.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one drawer operably associated with said quarter panel; and

wherein said cover comprises a flat cover, and said container can be accessed through said flat cover and said at least one drawer.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an inside cover for allowing access to said container;

a door for allowing access to said container; and

wherein said container can be accessed through either said inside cover or said door.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said cover further comprises a drop-down extendable workboard.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage module having a lid and a bin; and

wherein said storage module is used for storing items, said storage module disposed within said container.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

a mounting plate connected to said cover; and

wherein said mounting plate is selectably connected to said lid of said storage module for storing said storage module in said container.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising:

an attaching screw for connecting said lid of said bin to said cover; and

wherein storage module can be accessed by opening said lid.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one divider for dividing said bin into sections.