U.S. patent application number 12/202899 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for attachment bracket for a truck box.
Invention is credited to Peter Klein.
Application Number | 20090058127 12/202899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38469013 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090058127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klein; Peter |
March 5, 2009 |
ATTACHMENT BRACKET FOR A TRUCK BOX
Abstract
A tonneau cover is arranged to mount on the truck box of a
conventional pick up truck for enclosing the box. The cover
comprises a pair of panels which are pivotally mounted on
respective sides of the box. The panels extend laterally inward
such that free ends of the panels engage each other in a closed
position. The panels may be pivoted upward and secured in an upward
orientation by a pair of rails connected between the free ends of
the respective panels in an extended position of the panels. The
panels form a pair of side walls in the extended position for
supporting large cargo in the box. The rails form a rack in the
extended position for supporting additional cargo thereon. A
locking device secures the panels in the closed position while a
plurality of struts provides additional support to the panels when
pivoting the panels between the closed and extended positions.
Inventors: |
Klein; Peter; (Winnipeg,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ADE & COMPANY INC.
2157 Henderson Highway
WINNIPEG
MB
R2G1P9
CA
|
Family ID: |
38469013 |
Appl. No.: |
12/202899 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11442652 |
May 30, 2006 |
7419207 |
|
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12202899 |
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60780067 |
Mar 8, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/100.07 ;
248/205.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 7/1621
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/100.07 ;
248/205.1 |
International
Class: |
B60J 7/16 20060101
B60J007/16; B60P 7/02 20060101 B60P007/02 |
Claims
1. A bracket for mounting a component on a truck box at a front
wall of the truck box, the front wall of the truck box having an
upstanding inner wall, a horizontal top wall and an outer depending
flange comprising: a first member having a body with a top surface
with slot extending downwardly from the top surface for engagement
of the slot upwardly onto the depending flange such that the top
surface engages an underside of the top wall; and a second plate
member; the second plate member having a top plate arranged to
extend over the top wall for the top plate to be bolted onto the
first member; the second plate member having a second depending
plate attached to the first plate and depending therefrom along the
inner wall of the truck box, the depending plate having attached
thereto a connector for connecting to the component.
2. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the first member has a
bottom wall of the body extending from a bottom of the depending
flange to the inner wall of the truck box.
3. The bracket according to claim 2 wherein the body has a wall
portion extending along an inner side of the slot and the body is
hollow between the bottom wall and the wall portion.
4. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the first member has a
flange extending from the depending flange away from the inner wall
and a bolt receptacle in the flange for receiving a bolt extending
downwardly from the top plate of the second plate member
5. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the slot is inclined
downwardly and outwardly away from the inner wall.
6. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein the connector comprises
a pin extending outwardly at right angles from the second plate
into the truck box.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. 110 from Provisional Application No. 60/780,067 filed Mar.
8, 2006.
[0002] This application is a divisional Application of application
Ser. No. 11/442,652 filed May 30, 2006 and now issued as Patent
INSERT.
[0003] This invention relates to an attachment for use with
conventional pick up trucks having a truck box.
[0004] It is one object of the present invention to provide an
improved attachment bracket for mounting on the front wall of a
truck box.
[0005] According to the invention there is provided a bracket for
mounting a component on a truck box at a front wall of the truck
box, the front wall of the truck box having an upstanding inner
wall, a horizontal top wall and an outer depending flange
comprising:
[0006] a first member having a body with a top surface with slot
extending downwardly from the top surface for engagement of the
slot upwardly onto the depending flange such that the top surface
engages an underside of the top wall;
[0007] and a second plate member;
[0008] the second plate member having a top plate arranged to
extend over the top wall for the top plate to be bolted onto the
first member;
[0009] the second plate member having a second depending plate
attached to the first plate and depending therefrom along the inner
wall of the truck box, the depending plate having attached thereto
a connector for connecting to the component.
[0010] Preferably the first member has a bottom wall of the body
extending from a bottom of the depending flange to the inner wall
of the truck box.
[0011] Preferably the body has a wall portion extending along an
inner side of the slot and the body is hollow between the bottom
wall and the wall portion.
[0012] Preferably the first member has a flange extending from the
depending flange away from the inner wall and a bolt receptacle in
the flange for receiving a bolt extending downwardly from the top
plate of the second plate member
[0013] Preferably the slot is inclined downwardly and outwardly
away from the inner wall.
[0014] Preferably the connector comprises a pin extending outwardly
at right angles from the second plate into the truck box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the two panels and the side
rails for mounting the panels on the truck box according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view similar to that of FIG. 1
showing the panel on the driver's side that is the left hand side
of the truck box on an enlarged scale.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view similar to that of FIG. 1
showing only the panel on the passenger side which is the right
hand side of the truck box.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the lines 4-4 of FIG.
2.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along the lines 5-5 of FIG.
2 showing the rail in the extended position.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along the lines 6-6 of FIG.
2.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along the lines 7-7 of FIG.
2.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view along the lines 8-8 of FIG.
2.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view along the lines 9-9 of FIG.
2.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view along the lines 10-10 of
FIG. 2.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view along the lines 11-11 of
FIG. 2.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view along the lines 12-12 of
FIG. 2.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view along the lines 13-13 of
FIG. 2.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of a first arrangement for
locking the end of the rail to the panel when in the retracted
position.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view at the same location as
that of FIG. 14 showing an alternative arrangement for locking the
end of the rail.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view through the front end wall
of the truck box showing a bracket for attachment of the lower end
of the gas spring for assisting lifting of the panel relative to
the truck box.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the bracket of FIG.
16.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4
showing an alternative arrangement of the mounting side rail
13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] In FIG. 1 is shown a tonneau cover generally indicated at 10
which includes a first panel 11 and a second panel 12 which can be
placed over a truck box so that the panel 12 is on the drivers side
and forms the left hand panel when viewed from the rear and the
panel 11 is on the passenger side and forms the right hand panel
when viewed from the rear. The view as shown in FIG. 1 has the
panels inverted to show the underside.
[0035] The truck box is of course not shown since this is well
known to any person skilled in this art so that the truck box
includes a front wall and two side walls together with a rear tail
gate which is hinged at the bottom so that it can be folded
downwardly to allow access into the truck box. The side walls of
the truck box have a horizontal top surface which separates an
inner wall of the truck box from the outer wall of the vehicle.
Similarly the truck box has a front wall with a top surface with a
front depending flange so that the top surface connects to the
inside wall of the truck box at the front.
[0036] The panels are of a general arrangement which is known from
the above prior art and each panel includes a side rail 13 which
attaches to the top surface of the side wall of the truck box. The
side rail is connected to the respective panel by a hinge 14. Each
panel has a rail 15 which is pivotally mounted at one end 16 to the
respective panel. Thus the rail 15 of the drivers side panel 11 is
attached at its end 16 adjacent the rear of the panel. Thus the
rail 15 of the passenger side panel 12 is attached at its end 16
adjacent the forward end of the panel. Each rail has its opposite
end, in a retracted position of the rail, latched as indicated at
17 to the underside of the panel. Each panel can be moved from a
closed position lying across the top of the truck box where the
inner side edges 18 of the panels are slightly overlapping. In the
raised position of the panels obtained by pivoting the panels about
the hinge 14, the panels stand generally upwardly from the
respective side wall of the truck box and the rails 15 are moved to
an extended position pivotal about the end 16 so that the end 17 is
moved into engagement with the opposite panel at a receptacle 19.
Thus in the raised position of the panels each rail extends across
between the panels with the rail of the passenger side panel 12 at
the front and the rail of the driver side panel 11 at the rear.
Each of the panels includes a bracket 20 for receiving one end of
an air cylinder (not shown) which extends from the bracket 20 to a
corresponding bracket attached to the front wall of the truck box
as described hereinafter.
[0037] The panel 11 also includes a locking system generally
indicated at 21 in the form of a handle 22 which operates a rod 23
for actuating locking elements 24 at spaced positions along the
panel. Locking elements engage with cooperating members on the
opposite panel.
[0038] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown in more detail the
arrangement of the outside portion of the panel 12 including the
rail 13 and the hinge 14. The panels 11 and 12 as shown in the
cross section of FIG. 4 are formed from a top or outer sheet 25 and
an inner or bottom sheet 26. Each of these sheets is moulded or
vacuum formed from an ABS plastics material. The sheets are shaped
to a required arrangement and then adhesively fastened together to
provide the necessary structural strength. At the outer edge of the
panel at the hinge 14, the inner sheet 26 is bent downwardly to
form a depending channel portion 27 with a bottom wall 28 and an
upstanding outermost wall or lip 29. In order to cooperate with
this, the outer sheet 25 has a depending lip 30. An outer surface
of the lip 29 is adhesively attached to an inner surface of the lip
30 at a junction line 31. The height of the two lips is such that
the lip 29 is contained underneath the bottom surface of the outer
sheet 25. The bottom edge 32 of the lip 30 terminates at a position
coterminous with the bottom wall 28. The lip 30 thus forms a wall
surface with an outer surface 33 which is generally at right angles
to the horizontal top surface 34 of the outer sheet 25.
[0039] The rail 13 is also formed from an outer sheet 35 and an
inner sheet 36. The outer sheet 35 is shaped to form an outer
depending wall 37 which extends downwardly and outwardly to form a
flange covering an outer flange 38 of the truck box indicated at
39. At an inner edge, the rail 13 includes a depending wall 40. The
spacing between the walls 37 and 40 is such that the top portion 41
of the rail covers a top surface 42 of the side wall of the truck
box with the depending inside wall 40 along the inside surface 42
of the side wall and the flange 38 being covered by the outside
wall portion 37.
[0040] At spaced positions along the length of the rail, the outer
sheet is shaped to form a circular depression 44 to receive a bolt
head 45 of a fastening bolt 46. As shown in FIG. 1 there is a
limited number of such depressions 44 and in the embodiment shown
there are four such depressions at spaced positions along the
length of the rail 13.
[0041] The inner sheet 36 is shaped so that a center portion 36A
contacts the underside of the sheet 35 and two side portions 36B
and 36C depend downwardly to form channels with a bottom surface
arranged to sit on the top surface 43 of the truck box side wall.
These two channels of the inner sheet 36 thus support the center
portion 41 of the outer sheet at a position spaced upwardly from
the surface 43 of the side wall.
[0042] Within the channel 36C is provided a series of holes 36D at
spaced positions along the length thereof each having a captive
bolt 36E contained therein for engaging through a hole in the top
surface 43.
[0043] Thus there is provided a row of the bolts 36E which are
arranged adjacent the inside surface 42 of the side wall of the
truck box. Thus there is a second row of bolts 46 adjacent the
outer flange 38. The arrangement of the bolts 46 and the captive
bolts 36E is such that they match the design of the truck box of a
particular manufacturer. The bolt fasteners 46 are arranged to
co-operate with four stake holes of the truck box. The bolts 36E
are arranged in a row at spacing to co-operate with a row of
attachment holes for the truck box side walls.
[0044] These fastening arrangements are designed for example with a
truck such as a Ford F150 to match the fastening holes already in
place in the truck box side wall where those fastening holes are
conventionally used to fasten a top rail over the truck box side
wall supplied by the manufacturer Ford. When it is intended
therefore to apply the tonneau cover of the present arrangement,
therefore, the side rail which is already in place is removed
exposing the holes in the top rail of the side wall which are then
used without additional drilling or any other modification to
fasten the rail 13 to the side wall.
[0045] The fastening is effected by utilizing the bolt fasteners 46
which are of the butterfly-type and include spreading wings 46A
which pass through the hole in the side wall and then are spread by
further tightening of the bolt 46 by actuation on the head 45 so as
to pull the wings 46A back up underneath the opening in the side
wall to pull the head 45 down onto the side walls to clamp the rail
in place. The head 45 includes a washer 45A and an enclosing cap
45B which engages around the head and includes a cover 45C. It will
be appreciated that the head 45 is accessible from the exterior of
the truck box so that the first fastening can be effected by
actuation of the bolt 46 to hold the bolts in place. The bolts 36E
simply pass through holes in the truck box side wall so that the
end of the bolt is accessible from the inside of the truck box. The
heads 36F of the bolts 36E are contained between the outer sheet 35
and the inner sheet 36 so as to be inaccessible from the exterior
of the truck box. The installer can then apply a nut 36G onto the
bolt 36E from the inside of the truck box.
[0046] When installed, therefore, it will be appreciated that the
bolts 36E are inaccessible from the exterior of the truck box so
they cannot be removed from the exterior. When the cover is
therefore closed and locked, the bolts are completely inaccessible
thus preventing an unauthorized person from unbolting the cover and
removing it from the truck box.
[0047] The two rows of fasteners provide a stable attachment of the
rail to the truck box side wall since one wall is adjacent the
inside and the other row is adjacent the outside thus preventing
tilting of the rail on the side wall when forces are applied from
the pivotal movement of the panel at the hinge 14.
[0048] The butterfly fasteners can be replaced by clips which are
attached to the panel and simply pop into the hole in the side wall
without the necessity for screw fastening, bearing in mind that the
main fastening is effected by the bolts 36E. This allows the
installation to be simplified by pop fastening the rail onto the
side wall so that it is held in place by the pop or snap fasteners
and then can be fastened more vigorously by the bolts 36E. The use
of the pop fasteners also overcomes the difficulty that the area
where these fasteners are located is inaccessible from the exterior
or interior of the truck box.
[0049] The hinge 14 comprises an inner piece 14A which is attached
to the surface 33 of the lip 30 and an outer piece 14B which is
attached to the depending wall 40 of the rail 13. The hinge 14 is
generally symmetrical and includes the inner piece 14A and the
outer piece outer piece 14B together with a flexible
interconnecting bridging member 14C. The inner piece, the outer
piece and the bridging piece are all continuous along the full
length of the hinge and the hinge is continuous along the full
length of the rail and the panel. The inner and outer piece each
include a top lip portion 14D and a depending flange portion 14E
which are adhesively attached to the respective end lip.
[0050] The bridging piece 14C is molded from a different plastics
material so that it provides flexibility whereas the inner and
outer pieces are formed of a material which is more rigid to
provide effective attachment of those inner and outer pieces to the
respective lip. The bridging piece 14C is sufficiently flexible so
that it can bend through 90.degree. allowing the panel to move from
the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4 to a raised vertical
position (not shown) standing vertically upwardly at right angles
to the position as shown.
[0051] The hinge thus provides a continuous closure between the
panel and the rail so that there is no possibility for the
penetration of the moisture therebetween. There is continuous
attachment of each of the inner and outer pieces of the hinge to
the respective portion of the rail and the panel and the bridging
piece 14C is continuous.
[0052] The facing surfaces of the inner piece 14A and the outer
piece 14B include co-operating flange members 14F. Thus the outer
surface of the inner piece 14A has a pair of flanges projecting
outwardly and the inner surface of the outer piece 14B includes a
pair of flanges projecting inwardly. The flanges on the piece 14A
are spaced slightly further apart than the flanges on the piece 14B
so that when the panel is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 4
the flanges prevent upward and downward flexing movement of the
hinge which would allow the outer edge of the panel to move
upwardly and downwardly relative the rail. Thus if the panel moves
upwardly, the flanges at the bottom abut and if the panel moves
downwardly the panels at the top abut.
[0053] Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown more detail of the end
16 of the rail 15. Thus a portion of the panel is indicated at 12
and includes the outer sheet 25 and the inner sheet 26. The rail 15
carries a sleeve 15A at the end 16 which attaches to a bracket 15B
by a bearing 15C. The bracket 15B includes a pair of legs 15D and
15E which are welded to a best plate 15F. The base plate 15F is
mounted between the two sheets 25 and 26 so that it is received in
a slightly recessed portion 26A of the sheet 26 leaving the outside
surface of the outer sheet 25 smooth. This provides therefore an
effective technique for rigidly mounting the bracket 15B and the
bearing 15C to the panel on the underside of the panel. The rail 15
is shown in FIG. 5 in the extended position projecting outwardly
from the pane 12. It will be noted however that the rail 15 is not
at right angles to the panel 12 but instead the panel 12 is
inclined upwardly and slightly inwardly when the rail 15 is
horizontal as shown. In this way it will be appreciated that the
panels in their erected position when the rails are erected are
inclined upwardly and inwardly from the hinge 14 to the top edge
which is spaced therefore slightly inwardly from the side wall of
the truck box.
[0054] Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown the receptacle 19 on
the opposite panel 11 for attachment to the opposite end 17 of the
rail 15 of FIG. 5. At the end 17 is mounted a pin 17A and this is
arranged for co-operation with a gate latch 19A on the opposite
panel 11. The opposite panel 11 is also formed from the outer sheet
25 and the inner sheet 26. These are shaped similarly to the
corresponding sheets of the panel 12 but it will be appreciated
that there are slight differences in view of the position and
location of the rail and the latch 19A.
[0055] In FIG. 7 it will be noted that sheet 25 is also smooth and
extends continuous out to the edge 18 of the panel. At the edge 18
of the panel 11 is provided a lip 18A which extends generally at
right angles to the main body of the panel as defined by the outer
surface 25. The inner sheet 26 includes portions 26B which are
attached directly to the inside surface of the outer sheet 25 and
recessed portions 26C which form ribs 26D which are spaced from the
inside surface of the outer sheet 25 and thus provide structural
ribs providing increased strength. Between the two ribs 26D is
provided the receptacle 19 for the latch 19A. Embedded between the
sheets 25 and 26 is provided a base plate 19B which is fastened to
the inside surface of the outer sheet 25 and provides a support for
the gate latch 19A. It will be noted again that with the gate latch
19A arranged at right angles to the length of the rail 15 for
engagement onto the pin 17A, there is an angle between the gate
latch 19A and the panel which is symmetrical to the angle between
the end 16 of the rail and the panel 12 so that symmetrically the
panels 11 and 12 are inclined upwardly and inwardly with the rail
15 horizontal.
[0056] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 8, the structure of each of the
panels is shown in more detail. Thus each of the panels includes
the outer layer 25 and the inner sheet 26. As shown in FIG. 8 the
outer sheet 25 has a smooth outer surface 50 and the inner sheet 26
is bonded to an inner surface 51 of the outer sheet at portions 52.
In between those two bonded sections recessed portions 53 which
define a series of ribs 54 across the width of the panel. As shown
in FIG. 1 the ribs 54 extend from a position closely adjacent the
hinge 14 at the outer edge inwardly through to the inner edge 18.
There is in addition a transverse rib 56 at a position spaced just
outwardly of the rails 15. Also at the rails the ribs 54 are
recessed as indicated at 57 to define a recessed surface 58 against
which the rails 15 rest in their retracted or stored position. In
this position the rails are retracted below the rib 56. The rib 56
acts as a stiffening member in the longitudinal direction of the
panel.
[0057] As best shown in FIG. 6 at the edges 18 of the panels, the
panel 11 includes the down-turned lip 18A which terminates at an
edge 18B. The inner sheet 26 is bonded to the inner surface of the
sheet 25 at the inner surface 51 and also into the inner surface of
the lip 18A. Thus the lip is defined by the thickness of both the
inner and outer sheets to provide strengthening effect to that
lip.
[0058] The panel 12 is similarly formed from the outer sheet 25 and
the inner sheet 26 and these sheets are molded to form a channel 60
into which the lip 18A project. The channel 60 thus includes a
depending wall 61, a horizontal bottom wall 62 and an upstanding
wall 63. The upstanding wall 63 together with the bottom wall 62
and the depending wall 61 are all formed both from the inner and
outer sheets to provide structural strength for the channel 60. The
outer sheet at the top of the outer wall 63 extends beyond the
inner sheet to form a depending leg 64 and a smooth curved upper
surface 65 which provides an attractive appearance to the edge of
the channel 60. In the closed position shown in FIG. 6 the lip 18A
projects over the smooth upper surface 65 along side the depending
leg 64. The underside of the sheet 26 sits on the smooth surface 65
to provide a closure between the panels. The lip 18A projects
downwardly into the channel so as to provide in effect a labyrinth
seal to prevent moisture from penetrating between the panels. Any
moisture entering the channel 60 collects within the channel and is
preventing from engaging over the upstanding wall 63 of the channel
into the area between the panels. The channel has a discharge at
the rear end over the tailgate so that any moisture collecting
therein can run along the vehicle to the tailgate for discharge
over the tailgate to prevent it entering into the truck box between
the panels.
[0059] The panels are locked together by a plurality of toggle
locks 24 as previously described. The toggle locks 24 comprise a
body 24A and a toggle locking member 24B which moves into
engagement with a plate 24C on the underside of the bottom wall 62
of the channel. The toggle locking member 24B moves in a direction
controlled by a slot 24D so that slides forwardly and moves
downwardly underneath the plate 24C. Movement of the toggle locking
member 24B is effected by rotation of the hexagonal shaft 23 which
rotates a drive member in the body 24A. Toggle locking members of
this type are readily available and the details of operation of the
movement of the toggle locking member are thus known to a person
skilled in the art. The body 24A is mounted on a plate 24E clamped
between the sheets 25 and 26 immediately adjacent the lip 18A.
[0060] Turning now to FIG. 13 there is shown the mounting of the
handle 22 between the outer sheet 25 and the inner sheet 26 in an
area between two lips 66 and 67 of those sheets. Thus the handle 22
is presented on the outside of a depending outside lip 66 of the
panel 11. The handle 22 attaches to a support and bearing 67 which
allows the handle to rotate in the panel. At the end of the support
67 is provided a coupling 68 which attaches to the shaft 23. The
shaft 23 emerges through a hole 69 in a sheet 26 so that it extends
underneath the panel to the toggle locking member 24.
[0061] Turning now to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, there is shown the
co-operation of the sheets 25 and 26 at the position adjacent the
front and rear sides of the panel. Thus it will be noted in each
case the outer sheet 25 at each position where the cross sections
are taken includes a depending lip 70. This co-operates with a
portion of the sheet 26 which is spaced from the underside 51 of
the sheet 25 but includes an upstanding lip 71 which is bonded to
the lip 70 and extends upwardly toward the underside 51 of the
sheet 25. This arrangement in effect provides a box section along
the front edge and along the rear edge of each of the panels to
provide structural strength therefore. By comparing the cross
sections 11 and 12 at the rear of the panel, it will be noted that
the sheet 26 in FIG. 12 which is closer to the side wall of the
truck provides a distance D1 between the top surface 72 of the
sheet 25 and the bottom surface 73 of the sheet 26 at the lip 71
where the distance D1 is smaller than the distance D2 of FIG. 11.
In this way it will be appreciated that the surface 73 of the inner
sheet 26 sits on the top edge of the tailgate so that the surface
72 of the outer or top sheet of the panel increases in height
relative to the top surface of the tailgate from the outside wall
of the truck box towards the center of the truck box. This provides
a slight pitch to the panels acting to assist in shedding water to
the sides of the truck box. Similarly at the front of the truck box
where the cross sections of FIGS. 9 and 10 are taken, the distance
D3 is smaller than the distance D4 so that again the panels are
supported at a slight pitch angle relative to the front wall of the
truck box. Also it will be note din FIG. 10 that the surface 73 of
the inner or lower sheet 26 has step 74 which is arranged at a
position immediately adjacent the inside surface of the front wall
of the truck box to define a further channel portion 75 which
extends slightly into the truck box to assist in locating the
panels and to increase structural strength adjacent the front edge
of the panels.
[0062] While the cross sections of the panel are taken in relation
to the panel 11 in FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that the shape of
the panel 12 of FIG. 3 is symmetrical in respect to these
particular elements and in relation to the shaping of the inner and
outer sheets, the only differences being in relation to the locking
arrangement and the connection along the center line and in other
respects the panels are substantially symmetrical.
[0063] Also shown in FIG. 9 is the bracket 20 which attaches one
end of the air assist cylinder (not shown). The bracket 20 includes
a pin 20A which attaches to a suitable coupling at the end of the
cylinder. The pin 20A is mounted on a flange 20B of the bracket 20.
The flange 20B is attached to a plate 20C which is screw fastened
to the surface 73 of the sheet 26 adjacent the lip 71. The plate
20C is thus flat against the surface 23 and the flange 20B projects
outwardly at right angles thereto so as to lie along the inside
surface of the front wall of the truck box and supporting the pin
20A so that it projects from the front wall of the truck box
longitudinally of the truck box at a position spaced inwardly from
the side wall. The pin 20A thus supports the end of the cylinder
which is attached to the panel so that the cylinder can apply force
to the panel as it opens and closes.
[0064] Turning now to FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a bracket 80
for supporting a pin 81 from the wall of the truck box for
receiving the other end of the cylinder attached to the pin 28A.
The bracket 80 includes a first bracket portion 82 which is
attached on the outside of the front wall 83 of the truck box. The
bracket further includes a plate portion 84 which clamps to the
first portion 82 and supports the pin 81 inside the truck box at a
position below the top edge of the truck box at the front wall of
the truck box.
[0065] Thus the truck box includes the upstanding front wall 83
together with an outwardly or forwardly extending top flange 85 and
a deep ending flange 86 from the front of the top portion 85. The
first bracket portion 82 is shaped to define a slot 87 which
matches the flange 86 so that the slot can slide onto the flange 86
so that the leg 88 defining a rear side of the slot slides upwardly
until it butt underneath the top plate 85 of the front wall of the
truck box. A further leg 89 extends rearwardly from the slot into
engagement with a front surface of the wall 83 of the truck box.
This leg 89 together with the slot locate the first bracket portion
82 on the outside of the truck box wall at the front and present a
receptacle 90 in front of the flange 86 for clamping to the plate
portion 84.
[0066] The plate portion 84 includes a vertical plate 91 and a
horizontal plate 92 which connect together at a corner which
engages over the top edge of the wall 83 onto the top plate 85 of
the truck box. The horizontal plate 92 is clamped to the receptacle
90 by a threaded fastener 94. This arrangement provides a simple
mounting of the bracket to the front wall of the truck box without
the necessity for drilling the truck box or forming other shapes or
changes in the truck box itself. (It simply can be clamped onto the
front wall of the truck box by sliding the slot portion or first
portion underneath the flange 86 and then by screwing the plate 92
down onto the receptacle 90 to hang the plate 91 downwardly on the
inside of the truck box to present the pin 81 rearwardly of the
truck box for engaging the end of the air cylinder.
[0067] The arrangement thus provides a bracket for mounting a
component on a truck box at the front wall 83 of the truck box, the
front wall of the truck box having the horizontal top wall 85 and
the outer depending flange 86.
[0068] The first member 82 has the bottom wall 89 of the body
extending from a bottom of the depending flange 86 to the inner
wall 83 of the truck box at a vertical portion thereof adjacent the
top wall 85.
[0069] The body of the first member has the leg or wall portion 88
extending along an inner side of the slot and the body is hollow
between the bottom wall 89 and the wall portion 88.
[0070] The first member has the flange 95 extending from the
depending flange 88 away from the inner wall 83 and a bolt
receptacle in the flange for receiving a bolt 89 extending
downwardly from the top plate of the second plate member.
[0071] The slot 87 is inclined downwardly and outwardly away from
the inner wall.
[0072] The connector comprises a pin 81 extending outwardly at
right angles from the second plate into the truck box, but other
connectors can also be used.
[0073] Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15 there are shown two different
techniques for mounting the end of the rail 15 at the receptacle
for the end 17 on the underside of the panel. In the arrangement
shown in FIG. 14, the attachment of the end 17 to the panel 11 is
provided by way of a spring pin 96 which projects into a hole 97 in
the end of the rail 15. The spring pin 96 includes a handle 98 and
an operating button 99 which allows the spring pin 96 to slide
through a bracket 100 attached to the panel 11. The bracket 100
includes a base plate 101 clamped between the outer wall 25 and the
inner wall 26. Depression of the button 99 releases the pin 96 by
retracting locking elements 102 allowing the pin to be withdrawn
from the end of the hole in the rail 15. This arrangement of a pin
which extends longitudinally along the rail can accommodate
significant changes in temperature which occur in certain climates
which can differentially expand the panel itself relative to the
metal rail thus changing the distance between the bracket 100 and
the end of the rail. Such changes in distance are accommodated by a
change in the location of the pin 96 within the hole 97 in the end
of the rail.
[0074] In FIG. 15 is shown an alternative arrangement for use where
temperature changes are less dramatic which uses a simple gate
latch 105 which receives and traps the pin 17A shown in FIG. 5. The
arrangement in FIG. 15 is therefore preferred as a simple latching
of the end of the rail 15 when it is moved to the retracted
position since it can be simply held in place by engagement into
the gate latch and can be readily released when required by the
operator pressing on the gate latch. The gate latches can be
operated by a suitable linkage pulled from one end.
[0075] As best shown in FIG. 2 there are two toggle latches which
are operated by the handle 22 and which engage under plates on the
panel 12. This number can be increased to provide a more aggressive
locking action. In addition the toggle latches can be located
closer to the ends so as to hold the ends more effectively attached
to the ends of the truck box. In some cases this locking action may
be insufficient to provide maximum security since it may still be
possible for a user to apply a crowbar between the top edge of the
truck box and the underside of the panels. In this case an
additional locking element may be provided directly between the
panel 11 and a loop fastened to the tailgate. This may be provided
by a pin which moves longitudinally of the panel into the loop
providing a hole at right angles to the tailgate so that the pin
when engaged in the loop prevents the panel from being lifted away
from the tailgate.
[0076] In FIG. 18 is shown an alternative arrangement of the side
rail 13 in which the mounting is simplified by use of a row of
spring clip fasteners 46B which snap fasten into holes 39A in the
truck rail 39. Thus the rail can be snap fastened in place by the
row of spring clips 46B and then clamped down by the second row of
fasteners 36 E as previously described. The spring clips are thus
attached to the rail from the underside in a slot 46C using a
captive head 46D. This avoids forming a hole in the wall of the
rail to the top surface, as in the embodiment of FIG. 4, to provide
a more attractive appearance and to avoid the fasteners 46 of FIG.
4 being exposed for possible tampering.
[0077] Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
herein above described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *