Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Load bracing means – Panel or frame – wall-to-wall
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-04
2001-03-27
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Load bracing means
Panel or frame, wall-to-wall
C410S121000, C410S129000, C410S142000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices intended to aid in the transportation of goods, and more specifically to a cargo space divider for use in trucks, vans and the like that adjustably divides cargo space, creating compartments in which to store items, keeping them separated and preventing them from damage caused as a result of sliding and rolling about the cargo space.
2. Description of the Related Art
At one time, the pick-up truck was the working man's vehicle seen mainly on farms and construction sites. Today, however, the pick-up truck has gained a more popular status, finding its way into the driveways of a wide variety of owners ranging from accountants to doctors and lawyers. The utility of owning a vehicle that is equipped with many of the luxury features found on most passenger cars while providing the ability to haul large items is the main attraction for owning such a vehicle. There are, however, drawbacks to owning such a vehicle. One such drawback has to do with hauling smaller items that would typically be transported in an automobile trunk or in the passenger compartment. In a pick-up truck, these items tend to roll about the bed of the truck, possibly becoming damaged. For example, when groceries are placed in a truck bed, they tend to become spread about the bed as the truck is driven. Furthermore, larger objects that may tend to slide or roll about, such as lawnmowers must be constantly be tied or strapped down in order to prevent such movement. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which a pick-up truck bed can be sectioned off in order to provide a more confined storage space for transporting objects that is adjustable so as to allow for the secure transportation of a variety of objects. The development of the present invention fulfills this need.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, several references including cargo space dividers of varying configurations were discovered. These devices neither anticipate nor disclose any embodiment that would preclude the novelty and the utilitarian functionality of the features of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,993, issued in the name of Wayne, discloses a truck bed divider system wherein a series of dividing walls are frictionally fit inside a truck bed in both the longitudinal and lateral directions in order to divide the space for transporting objects. The size of the compartments is adjustable in both directions, however doing so requires dividing walls of varying lengths.
Several patents disclose cargo area dividers for trucks and the like that incorporate the use of dividing walls to divide the space:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,850, issued in the name of Johnson;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,972, issued in the name of Frazier et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,429, issued in the name of Giger;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,899, issued in the name of Keys;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,677, issued in the name of Downard, Jr.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,325, issued in the name of Joice-Cavanagh; and
U.S. Pat. No. 2,565,997, issued in the name of Stone.
While many of these devices incorporate the use of dividing walls capable of being variably spaced within the cargo bed, none of these patents disclose dividing walls that are adjustable in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,314, issued in the name of Tkachuk, discloses a basket-like insertion that fits inside a truck bed.
While several features exhibited within these references may be incorporated into this invention, alone and in combination with other elements, the present invention is sufficiently different so as to make it distinguishable over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists of a cargo space divider wherein a system of dividing walls allows a cargo space, preferably a pick-up truck bed, to be sectioned off into smaller, variably sized sections in order to prevent objects transported therein from rolling or sliding about the bed. The device consists of a pair of support rails that are installed along and clamped to the sidewalls of the truck bed above the wheel wells. The rails themselves are adjustable so as to accommodate truck beds of varying sizes. The rails include a series of peg receiving apertures, spaced evenly along its length, that retain pegs that are used to support lateral sectioning walls spanning across the bed. The lateral sectioning walls are telescopically adjustable so as to fit truck beds of varying widths. Longitudinal sectioning walls attach to the lateral sectioning walls and can be adjusted to a variety of positions along the length of the lateral sectioning walls. The longitudinal sectioning walls are telescopically adjustable, allowing them to be secured to lateral sectioning walls spaced apart in varying degrees. Thus, the present invention allows for variably sized cargo space division in both the longitudinal and lateral dimensions, allowing the user to transport cargo of varying sizes without spillage or the need to tie it down.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider that allows a pick-up truck bed or the like to be sectioned-off into smaller confined spaces for transporting smaller items in a safe and secure manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider that incorporates the use of dividing walls that section the cargo area in both the longitudinal and lateral dimensions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider having lateral dividing walls that are capable of being positioned variably along the length of the cargo area, spanning its width.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider having lateral dividing walls that adjust telescopically so as to allow for installation in cargo areas of varying widths.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider having longitudinal dividing walls that connect to a pair of adjacent lateral dividing walls, spanning there between.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider having longitudinal dividing walls that adjust telescopically so as to allow for connection between a pair of adjacent lateral dividing walls being of varying relative spacing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider that is easy to install and is adjustable so as to fit cargo spaces of varying size.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cargo space divider that is sturdy in both construction and installation, providing a stable load support for items carried therein.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2565997 (1951-08-01), Stone
patent: 4236854 (1980-12-01), Rogers
patent: 4396325 (1983-08-01), Joice-Cavanagh
patent: 4733899 (1988-03-01), Keys
patent: 4917429 (1990-04-01), Giger
patent: 4961677 (1990-10-01), Downard
patent: 5259712 (1993-11-01), Wayne
patent: 5265993 (1993-11-01), Wayne
patent: 5427487 (1995-06-01), Brosfske
patent: 5443586 (1995-08-01), Cargill
patent: 5520314 (1996-05-01), Tkachuk
patent: 5526972 (1996-06-01), Frazier et al.
patent: 5586850 (1996-12-01), Johnson
patent: 5697742 (1997-12-01), House
patent: 5709512 (1998-01-01), Smith
patent: 2229982A (1990-10-01), None
Gordon Stephen T.
Wood Herron & Evans L.L.P.
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