Vehicle rack

Details Vehicle rack Vehicle rack

2001-03-13

2002-11-19

Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)

Package and article carriers

Vehicle attached

Carrier attached to special purpose vehicle

C224S403000, C224S543000, C224S547000, C224S556000, C296S037600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06481604

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a multi-purpose rack for a bed of a pickup truck.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pickup trucks have limited passenger compartment space and no trunk space. Accordingly, it is necessary to place items to be transported in the bed of the pickup truck where the items are exposed to wind, dust, rain and snow. Furthermore, the bed of a pickup truck is a wide open unsecured area where the items to be transported are apt to roll about the bed of the pickup truck.
A prior art device which addresses the storage and transport issues of pickup trucks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,521 issued to Hathaway et. al. The '521 patent describes a vehicle modular rail system which includes first and second rail assemblies which overlay the top surfaces of the first and second truck bed side walls. Each rail includes a channel for receiving a mating portion of an accessory or an attachment for an accessory. The modular rail system of the prior art must be permanently affixed to the vehicle via bolts or other fasteners. Furthermore, the modular rail system does not include a means for locking the components to the rails.
Consequently, a need has developed for a vehicle rack which may be easily mounted and removed from the bed of a pickup truck yet securely fastens a variety of components to the bed of a pickup truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rack which may be easily mounted and removed from the bed of a pickup truck yet may used to create a variety of different storage compartments in a pickup truck bed and to secure different components to the vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rack which may be implemented without requiring any modifications to the bed of a pickup truck.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rack which is compact in size.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lightweight vehicle rack.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rack which supports different accessory having mounting pegs on a pickup truck bed. The vehicle rack includes a plurality of retaining arms, a panel, and a locking member. The panel is integral with each of the plurality of retaining arms, and the panel may extend along a side wall of the pickup truck. The panel operates as the surface upon which accessories are mounted. The panel defines a plurality of apertures for receiving the mounting pegs of the at least one accessory.
When installed in a vehicle, each of the retaining arms of the vehicle rack is received within a corresponding stake pocket of the pickup truck bed. The rack may be further supported by the wheel housing at the bottom end of the rack.
The locking member of the vehicle rack is moveably affixed to the panel and slides within a recess defined by the panel. The locking member further includes a plurality of obstructions which partially close the openings of the plurality of apertures in the panel when the locking member is slid into a locked position thereby securing the mounting pegs.
As those skilled in the art will recognize, the embodiments of this invention may vary depending upon the specific requirements of a vehicle. Accordingly, the particular size and shape of the panel, locking member, retaining arms and accessories may vary, depending on the particular application.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are more readily understood from a review of the attached drawings and accompanying specification and claims.


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