U.S. patent application number 11/739262 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-06 for divider apparatus and method for use with a bed of a motor vehicle.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey M. Aftanas, Donald L. Munoz, Bill M. Silamianos.
Application Number | 20070207004 11/739262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34572903 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070207004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Silamianos; Bill M. ; et
al. |
September 6, 2007 |
DIVIDER APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE WITH A BED OF A MOTOR
VEHICLE
Abstract
A truck bed divider apparatus for use with a bed of a pickup
truck or other cargo carrying bed of a motor vehicle. The apparatus
includes one or more divider assemblies that may be lowered into an
operative position to restrain the movement of smaller cargo items
being carried in the bed. The divider assembly may also be moved
into a raised position thereby allowing the full volume of the
cargo area to be used if needed. A plurality of movable screens are
incorporated in the divider assembly that allow long cargo items to
be accommodated even while the divider assembly is in its lowered
position. The pivot assemblies can also be moved and positioned as
needed along a pair of support rails disposed on opposing sidewalls
of the cargo bed to better restrain articles of various shapes and
sizes.
Inventors: |
Silamianos; Bill M.;
(Sterling Heights, MI) ; Aftanas; Jeffrey M.;
(Ortonville, MI) ; Munoz; Donald L.; (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Family ID: |
34572903 |
Appl. No.: |
11/739262 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10979872 |
Nov 2, 2004 |
|
|
|
11739262 |
Apr 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
60516932 |
Nov 3, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
410/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/130 |
International
Class: |
B61D 45/00 20060101
B61D045/00 |
Claims
1. A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in
restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has
facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side
walls, the divider apparatus comprising: first and second support
rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls so as to
be in facing relationship with one another; a divider assembly
having first and second end portions; a first mechanism for
supporting said first end portion of said divider assembly from
said first support rail; a second mechanism for supporting said
second end portion of said divider assembly from said second
support rail; and said divider assembly including at least one
panel supported for movement when said divider assembly is in said
first position, to enable said divider assembly to form a partial
barrier or a complete barrier within said bed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second
mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be secured in a first
position, wherein said divider assembly is perpendicular to said
bottom wall of said bed, and released from said first position such
that said divider assembly can move to a second position wherein
said divider assembly is positioned non-perpendicular to said
bottom wall.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first and second
mechanisms permit pivoting movement of said divider assembly from
said first position to said second position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second
mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be moved along support
rails and secured at a desired position.
5. A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in
restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has
facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side
walls, the divider apparatus comprising: first and second support
rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls so as to
be in facing relationship with one another; a divider assembly
having first and second end portions; a first mechanism supported
from said first end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to
said first support rail; a second mechanism supported from said
second end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to said
second support rail; said first and second mechanisms enabling said
divider assembly to be moved from a first position, wherein said
divider assembly is perpendicular to said bottom wall of said bed,
to a second position wherein said divider assembly is positioned
non-perpendicular to said bottom wall; and said divider assembly
including at least one panel supported for sliding movement when
said divider assembly is in said first position, to enable said
divider assembly to form at least a partial barrier within said
bed.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said divider assembly
comprises an additional panel disposed adjacent said one panel,
each of said one panel and said additional panel being moveable to
enable said divider assembly to form a complete barrier or a
partial barrier within said bed.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one panel and said
additional panel are disposed relative to each other such that one
may be positioned in front of the other without being removed from
said divider assembly.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said divider assembly includes
a second pair of panels disposed elevationally above said one panel
and said additional panel.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of said second
pair of panels is moveable to enable said second pair of panels to
form a partial barrier or a complete barrier.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein both ones of said second pair
of panels are moveable.
11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one panel has a
plurality of openings formed therein.
12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second
mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be locked in said first
position.
13. A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in
restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has
facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side
walls, the divider apparatus comprising: first and second support
rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls; a divider
assembly having first and second end portions; a first mechanism
supported from said first end portion of said divider assembly and
coupled to said first support rail; a second mechanism supported
from said second end portion of said divider assembly and coupled
to said second support rail; said first and second mechanisms
enabling said divider assembly to be locked in a first position,
wherein said divider assembly is perpendicular to said bottom wall
of said bed, and released such that said divider assembly is able
to be positioned non-perpendicular to said bottom wall; and said
divider assembly including at least one panel supported for sliding
movement when said divider assembly is in said first position, to
enable said divider assembly to form at least a partial barrier
within said bed.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said divider assembly
includes an additional panel positioned adjacent to said one
panel.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said one panel and said
additional panel are both moveable.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said divider assembly
includes a second pair of panels positioned elevationally adjacent
said one panel and said additional panel.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each one of said second pair
of panels is movable.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of said one panel and
said additional panel is slidably moveable.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each one of said second pair
of panels is slidably moveable.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said panels may be
positioned such that one substantially overlaps the other, to thus
form said partial barrier.
Description
PRIORITY INFORMATION
[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Ser. No.
10/979,872, filed Nov. 2, 2004 which claims priority from U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/516,932, filed Nov. 3, 2003,
the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to an apparatus for dividing the
space of a bed of a motor vehicle into a plurality of compartments
and, more particularly, to a divider apparatus which is able to be
adjustably positioned with a bed of a motor vehicle, such as a
pickup truck, to divide the bed into a plurality of useful storage
areas.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Present day motor vehicles such as pickup trucks include a
bed for carrying cargo of widely ranging sizes and shapes. For
smaller items of cargo, however, it is desirable to restrain such
items from movement within the bed so that the articles do not move
or slide around within the bed during use of the vehicle. Previous
mechanisms for this purpose have met with varying degrees of
success. However, what is needed is a bed divider that can be
positioned within the truck bed and move easily between a plurality
of positions within the bed to fit cargo or articles of varying
shapes and sizes. Even more particularly, what is needed is a
divider that can be adjustably positioned at an infinite number of
positions within the truck bed, and that also can be quickly and
easily moved out of the way to allow very large items, such as
lumber, plumbing tubing, etc., to be easily loaded and carried
within the truck bed without interference from the bed divider.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present disclosure is directed to a divider apparatus
for use with a bed of a motor vehicle. In one form the divider
apparatus is especially well suited for use within a bed of a
pickup truck. The divider apparatus includes a divider assembly
having first and second opposing ends. The first and second
opposing ends are each secured to an associated pivot assembly.
Each pivot assembly is secured to an associated support rail. The
support rails are secured within the sidewalls of the bed of the
vehicle in facing relationship to thus form support rails. The
pivot assemblies can be fixedly secured at an infinite number of
positions along the support rails so that the divider apparatus can
be used to restrain cargo of varying shapes and sizes.
[0005] The pivot assemblies further allow the divider assembly to
be pivoted from a first position wherein the divider assembly is
positioned generally perpendicular relative to a bottom wall of the
bed, to a second position wherein the divider assembly is
positioned above and generally parallel to the bottom wall. In the
first position the divider assembly functions as a cargo
restraining apparatus. In the second position the divider assembly
is positioned above the bottom wall to allow elongated items to be
easily carried within the bed without interference from the divider
apparatus.
[0006] In one embodiment the divider assembly includes at least a
pair of independent screens. The screens are supported on a pair of
parallel tracks that allow the screens to be moved slidably
relative to one another. The screens allow the bed of the vehicle
to be further subdivided such that the divider assembly can be
secured in its first position and still allow very long items to be
loaded into the bed without interference from the divider assembly,
while forming a restraining wall for only a portion of the bed.
Thus, both large, elongated items and smaller cargo can be carried
in the bed with the smaller cargo items being independently
restrained by the divider assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present disclosure will become more fully understood
from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a divider apparatus in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention disposed
within a bed of a pickup truck;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the
divider apparatus;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one corner of the
divider apparatus showing the divider assembly in its raised
position;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a view of the divider apparatus of FIG. 3 but with
the divider assembly in the lowered position;
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an upper corner of
the divider assembly of FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
divider apparatus of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the divider
apparatus of FIG. 6; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one corner of the divider
apparatus of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The following description of various embodiments is merely
exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present
disclosure, its application, or uses.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a divider apparatus 10
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The
divider apparatus 10 is disposed within a truck bed 12 of a motor
vehicle 14, such as pickup truck. However, it will be appreciated
that the divider apparatus 10 could be used with any motor vehicle
employing a cargo area in which a variety of articles of different
sizes and shapes are to be stored during transportation. Thus, the
divider apparatus 10 is just not limited to use with pickup trucks,
but can be used with virtually any form of vehicle where it would
be useful to restrain articles of various sizes and shapes within a
cargo area.
[0018] The divider apparatus 10 includes a pair of support rails 16
and 18 which are fixedly secured, such as by threaded fasteners
(not shown), to a pair of sidewalls 20 and 22 of the vehicle. The
support rails 16 and 18 are further disposed such that they are in
facing relationship. Each of the support rails 16 and 18
essentially forms a U-shaped channel. The support rails 16 and 18
are further disposed near upper edges of the sidewalls 20 and 22
and above a bottom wall 24 of the truck bed 12.
[0019] Between the support rails 16 and 18 is a first divider
assembly 26 and a second divider assembly 28. The first divider
assembly 26 is supported for pivotal movement, as well as movement
along the support rails 16 and 18, by a first pivot mechanism 30
and a second pivot mechanism 32. Similarly, the second divider
assembly 28 is supported by first pivot mechanism 34 and second
pivot mechanism 36 for pivotal movement as well as sliding movement
along the support rails 16 and 18. It will be appreciated
immediately, however, that while two divider assemblies 26 and 28
are shown in FIG. 1, a lesser or greater plurality of divider
assemblies could be employed.
[0020] Each of the divider assemblies 26 and 28 are movable between
the two positions shown in FIG. 1. If a relatively large number of
small items are to be carried in the bed 12, then it would
advantageous to place both of the dividers 26 and 28 in the
position in which divider assembly 28 is shown, that being its
lowered position. However, if longer cargo items such as lumber are
to be carried in the bed 12, then it would advantageous to place
both of the divider assemblies 26 and 28 in the raised position in
which divider assembly 26 is shown.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the construction of divider
assembly 28 and its associated pivot assemblies 34 and 36 will be
described in greater detail. It will be appreciated that divider
assembly 26 and pivot assemblies 30 and 32 are identical in
construction to divider assembly 28 and pivot assemblies 34 and 36,
and thus only divider assembly 28 and the pivot mechanisms 34 and
36 will be described in detail. It will also be appreciated that
pivot mechanisms 30-36 are all identical in construction.
[0022] The divider assembly 28 is comprised of tracks 38, 40 and
42. Between tracks 38 and 40 are disposed a pair of panels in the
form of upper screens 44 and 46. Between tracks 40 and 42 are
disposed a pair of panels in the form of lower screens 48 and 50.
Each of tracks 38, 40 and 42 include two pairs of laterally
adjacent channels 52 and 54, with one pair being disposed above the
other, as best seen in FIG. 5. Upper screens 44 and 46 each have
T-shaped edges 56 (FIG. 5) that enable each of the upper screens 44
and 46 to be captured within the channels 52 and 54 in side-by-side
fashion. Since channels 52 and 54 are positioned next to one
another, the upper screens 44 and 46 are able to slide in the
tracks 52 and 54 independently of each other. This enables openings
to be formed in the divider assembly 28 even when the divider
assembly is in its lowered position as shown in FIG. 1. Lower
screens 48 and 50 are constructed identically to upper screens 44
and 46 and thus include T-shaped edges 58 that are also captured
within the channels 52 and 54 of tracks 40 and 42. Accordingly,
lower screens 48 and 50 can be moved slidably to extend
substantially the full width of the truck bed 12 or positioned one
in front of the other to allow an opening to be formed in the lower
half of the divider assembly 28 for longer cargo items.
[0023] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, each of the tracks
38, 40 and 42 includes a central channel 60 that receives a neck 62
of a frame component 64. Conventional threaded fasteners 66 or any
other suitable fastening means may be used to secure the tracks 38,
40 and 42 to their respective necks 62 to hold the divider assembly
28 in the fully formed position shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] With further reference to FIGS. 2-4, each of the frame
components 64 include a manually engageable locking wheel 68 and
manually engageable securing wheel 70. Each of the wheels 68 and 70
are disposed within respective slots 72 and 74 formed in the frame
component 64. Frame component 64 further has a curving area 76 to
allow it to clear a wheel well (not shown) in the truck bed 12, as
is common with the construction of pickup truck beds.
[0025] Each of wheels 68 and 70 are secured to a pivot mechanism
78. The pivot mechanism 78 includes a plurality of spaced apart
T-lugs 80 that ride within the channel of the support rails 16.
Thus, the pivot mechanism 68 is slideably supported on the support
rail 16.
[0026] With further reference to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the locking
wheel 68 includes a threaded shaft 81 that extends through an
opening 82 (best seen in FIG. 5) in the frame component 64 and
engages a threaded tap plate 84 (FIG. 2) disposed within the
support rail 16. Securing wheel 70 also includes a threaded shaft
85 that projects through an opening 86 (FIG. 2) in the frame
component 64 to engage a threaded nut 88 disposed within a lower
arm 90 of pivot mechanism 78. Thus, when it is desired to leave the
pivot assembly 28 in its lower position as shown in FIG. 1, then
wheel 70 is threadably engaged with the nut 88, which restrains the
pivot assembly 28 in a vertical orientation within the truck bed
12. Actuating wheel 68 can be tightened to thus lock the divider
assembly 28 in any desired position along support rail 16.
Alternatively, it may be loosened to permit the divider assembly 28
to be moved slidably along the rail 16 and re-secured at a
different position.
[0027] In the event that it is desired to rotate the divider
assembly 28 to the position of divider assembly 26 in FIG. 1 (i.e.,
to a horizontal position above the bottom wall 24 of the truck bed
12), then securing wheel 70 is manually rotated to unthread it from
nut 88. The entire divider assembly 28 is then pivoted up to the.
position of divider 26 in FIG. 1. The securing wheel 70 is then
re-secured to a second tap plate 92 disposed at an upper arm 94 of
the pivot mechanism 78. It will be appreciated that nut 88 shown in
FIG. 2 may be secured within a recess (not shown) in the lower arm
90 of the pivot mechanism 78 or by any other suitable means.
Alternatively, it will be appreciated that a biasing spring could
readily be incorporated with the wheel 70 so that simply pulling
the wheel out slightly away from lower arm 90 will allow the
divider assembly 28 to be pivoted.
[0028] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a divider assembly 100 and
a pair of pivot mechanisms 102 are illustrated in accordance with
another embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment is
similar to the divider assembly 28 of FIG. 1 with the principal
exception of the construction of pivot mechanism 102. With specific
reference to FIG. 7, the divider assembly 100 is formed with tracks
104, 106, and 108 which are identical to tracks 38, 40, and 42
shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, upper screens 110 and 112 are disposed
between the tracks 104 and 106 and a pair of lower screens 114 and
116 are disposed between the tracks 106 and 108. Frame members 110
have neck portions 112 that are coupled to the tracks 104, 106, and
108.
[0029] With further reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the pivot
mechanisms 102 include an upper portion 118, a side portion 120 and
an arcuate connecting track 122. Track 122 is shown in detail in
FIG. 8. An upper wheel 124 has a threaded shaft 126 that projects
through a threaded opening of a conventional tap plate 128 that is
disposed within support rail 16 of FIG. 1. Wheel 130 also includes
a threaded shaft 132 which engages with a lock nut 134 to clamp the
entire pivot assembly 100 in its lowered position or in its raised
position. The locking nut 134 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 8.
The locking nut 134 includes a body portion 136 that extends
through a slot 138 in the track 122 to thus prevent it from
rotating as the wheel 130 is loosened or tightened rotationally
[0030] With further reference to FIG. 8, the upper portion 118 of
the pivot mechanism 102 has conventional T-lugs 140 that allow it
to be supported from the channel of support rail 16. Tightening the
wheel 126 causes the pivot mechanism 102 to be clamped at a desired
position along the support rail 16. Loosening the wheel 124 allows
the entire pivot mechanism 102 to be moved slideably along the
support rails 16 and repositioned as needed.
[0031] The various embodiments of the present disclosure thus
provide a means to restrain a wide variety of cargo items having
various shapes and sizes within a cargo bed of a vehicle. Although
the apparatus and method of the present disclosure is particularly
well adapted for use with pickup trucks, it will be appreciated
that the apparatus and method could just as readily be implemented
within a cargo area of a support utility vehicle or any other type
of motor vehicle having a cargo area capable of accommodating
articles of various sizes and shapes. Advantageously, the divider
assemblies 26 and 100 described herein allow elongated items to be
readily accommodated in the bed 12 while the divider assembly is in
its lowered position, and thus also able to simultaneously restrain
movement of other smaller articles that are also positioned
adjacent to the longer cargo items. The apparatus and method of the
present disclosure thus provides a large degree of functionality in
restraining articles of various sizes and shapes in a bed. A
particular advantage of the apparatus and method is that divider
assemblies 26 and 28, as well as divider assembly 100, can be
readily raised into a position that places each substantially at
the upper edge of the sidewalls 20 and 22 of the truck bed 12 to
thus allow the entire volume of the truck bed to be used if
needed.
[0032] The foregoing description is merely exemplary in nature and,
thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the apparatus
and method are intended to be within the scope of the present
disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *