Cargo restraint assembly for a vehicle cargo bed

Details Cargo restraint assembly for a vehicle cargo bed Cargo restraint assembly for a vehicle cargo bed

2000-03-27

2001-01-23

Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)

Freight accommodation on freight carrier

Load bearer accommodation

Load bearer abutment

C410S090000, C410S121000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176657

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to cargo restraints and more particularly relates to an improved cargo restraint assembly for vehicle cargo beds.
2. Prior Art
Various types of cargo restraints have been proposed for use in the cargo bays of vehicles. One such restraint employs releasable cord ties which hook to the cargo bay and tie down the cargo. Such restraints are often difficult to install and use. Another cargo restraint system is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,947 to John Bott. That system employs slotted side strips which are aligned with each other and are applied to opposite sides of the inner surfaces of the upraised vertical side panels defining the rear cargo space in a truck. The system also includes an elongated removeable board which spans the width of the cargo bay of the truck and slides into a slot in each of the side strips. This system has limited utility, blocking off the entire truck bed area forward of the board. Moreover, the side strips are difficult to align and apply to the side panels.
Accordingly, there is a need for a simple, inexpensive, durable, easily installed and easy to operate cargo restrain assembly which can be used in the cargo bays of various types of vehicles such as panel trucks, open bed trucks, station wagons, sports utility vehicles and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The improved cargo restraint assembly for a vehicle cargo bed satisfies all the foregoing needs. The assembly is simple, durable, inexpensive, easy to use and provides a maximum of flexibility in positioning the restraint component of the assembly adjacent to cargo without blocking off the remainder of the cargo bed from use and view.
The assembly comprises, in combination, a vehicle cargo bed liner, a cargo stop block and a releasable stop block securing means to releasably affix the block in a desired location to the liner.
The cargo bed liner has two opposite ends, which are referred to hereinafter as the rear and the front end, and which can extend from the rear of the cargo bed toward the front of the cargo bed or can extend transversely of the cargo bed from one side of the bed to the opposite side thereof. The cargo bed has a plurality of parallel, spaced upstanding ribs separated by parallel downwardly extending grooves, the ribs and grooves running from one end of the liner to the opposite end. The liner can be fabricated of metal, plastic or a combination thereof, or of any other suitable durable material and is adapted to be seated directly on the bottom of the cargo bed.
The cargo stop block has two opposite ends, referred to hereinafter for convenience in describing the block, as the rear and front ends of the block. The block also has a top, an opposite bottom and two opposite sides interconnected thereto. The bottom of the block defines a plurality of spaced parallel grooves extending from one end of the block to the opposite end. The grooves are separated by spaced, parallel depending ribs having opposite sides. The number, size and location of the block ribs and grooves are such that the block can be seated on the bed liner with the block ribs in the bed liner grooves and the block grooves receiving the bed liner ribs. The spacing of the block ribs in the bed liner grooves is such that the block ribs can be moved laterally in the grooves a relatively short distance.
A stop block lock is provided in the present assembly for releasably securing the block in a desired location to the bed liner. In one embodiment the lock comprises a body which has a depending rib fitting into a groove in the bed liner. The lock is positioned adjacent to one side of the stop block and has a draw bolt or screw running into the stop block. By turning the screw or bolt the stop block can be drawn laterally towards the lock until one side of each rib depending from the stop block tightly abuts a rib of the bed liner, thus holding the stop block in place until the draw screw or bolt is backed off to release the stop block.
In another embodiment, the lock body bears one half of a clamp and the stop block carries the other half of the clamp, the space between being bridged by a draw screw or the like. In a third embodiment, the stop block is split into two parts with the clamp bridging the two parts of the stop block. The clamp pulls the two parts of the stop block together to tighten one or more of the block ribs against one or more of the bed liner ribs.
The stop block and lock can be made of any suitable durable sturdy materials such as metal, hard plastic and the like. The stop block can be of any suitable size and preferably spans only a portion of the bed liner, preserving the rest of the cargo bed for other uses. A plurality of the stop blocks can be employed in various locations on the bed liner, as desired. Moreover, for convenience sake, one or a plurality of the same or different types of the described locks can be use with a stop block. The stop block can be of any desired height. As additional securing means, the sides of the block ribs can bear teeth or the like. Alternatively, the sides of the block ribs can bear flexible resilient strips.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3508764 (1970-04-01), Dobson et al.
patent: 4887947 (1989-12-01), Bott
patent: 5549428 (1996-08-01), Yeatts
patent: 5655863 (1997-08-01), Mundt
patent: 5839863 (1998-11-01), Johansson
patent: 6012885 (2000-01-01), Taylor et al.

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