Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Load cover
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-08
2001-05-01
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Load cover
C296S100030, C296S037600, C224S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224138
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicles with cargo beds, and, more particularly, to a novel structure which provides an easily accessible enclosed space within a vehicle bed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle bed covers are commonly used to cover cargo areas that are substantially exposed. Such covers are meant to protect cargo in the vehicle bed from the elements. Vehicle bed covers are also often used to provide a measure of security against theft of cargo stored in the vehicle bed. Prior art vehicle bed covers have typically been made of canvas, plastic, or similar materials, and are attached to the vehicle bed by snaps, hooks, ropes or the like.
Though they typically provide reasonable protection from the elements, prior vehicle bed covers provide little security, are difficult to attach and remove, and are difficult to store when not in use. Some vehicle bed covers, especially those which attempt to enhance the security of the vehicle bed, also hinder the operator's access to any cargo stored in the vehicle bed. In order to retrieve such cargo, the operator must remove the cover which is often a laborious and time consuming process.
A number of vehicle bed covers have been proposed in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,252,362 (Campbell) teaches manually operating a reel to feed a truck body cover along tracks. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,950 (Bernardo), a pickup cover is formed by slats as opposite sides of the cover slide in guide tracks. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,099 (Mount) as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,206 (Adams), a motor is further employed to position a truck bed cover. These patents, however, have various complications and disadvantages, such as difficulty in assembling and disassembling the devices, the space taken up by storage of the devices when not in use, and the limited durability of the devices, and therefore have restricted usage.
Other structures have attempted to provide additional access to the vehicle bed. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,096 (Hastings), discloses a vertically hinged passenger door in the side panel of a vehicle, and a port for filling the fuel tank which is accessible by opening the hinged door. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,898 (Williams), as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,773 (Kalis, Jr. et al.), hinged doors provide access to individual compartments formed within a truck bed. These patents, however, have various complications and disadvantages, such as a lack of structural stability, and difficulty of use.
It would be desirable to provide a vehicle bed with means for temporarily covering or enclosing a portion or all of the cargo located within the vehicle bed. Additionally it would be desirable to make the enclosed area of the vehicle bed easily accessible to the operator while maintaining the enhanced security which covering the vehicle bed provides. Further it would be desirable to make a portion of the vehicle bed dustproof as well as waterproof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A novel vehicle bed for an automotive vehicle bounded by a flatbed and two side walls is provided. The flatbed is generally horizontal and is bounded by a pair of opposed side walls on transversely opposite sides of the flatbed. The vehicle bed also includes a bed cover for covering at least a portion of the vehicle bed. The vehicle bed further includes a trunk panel. The trunk panel is able to move between a flat position parallel to the bed cover, and a generally vertical upright position. When the trunk panel is in the upright position, it cooperates with the bed cover, two side walls, and a front wall of the vehicle bed to form an enclosed trunk portion in the vehicle bed. The trunk portion is not only waterproof but also dustproof, and provides security for its cargo. The vehicle bed additionally includes at least one trunk door in one of the side walls which opens to allow access to the enclosed trunk portion.
An advantage of the present invention is that the available cargo space of the vehicle bed or a portion thereof is able to be enclosed.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the assembly of the vehicle bed cover is simple.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it allows the operator of the vehicle to access the enclosed cargo space of the vehicle bed easily.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that the security of the cargo located in the vehicle bed is enhanced.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that a portion of the vehicle bed can be made to be dustproof, while the entire vehicle bed can be made to be waterproof.
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Adsit Daniel Mark
Wong Milton D
Yaroch Michael D.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Morrow Jason
LandOfFree
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