U.S. patent application number 13/252184 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-19 for adjustable truck trailer removable rack.
Invention is credited to Randy Hines.
Application Number | 20120091087 13/252184 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45933203 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120091087 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hines; Randy |
April 19, 2012 |
ADJUSTABLE TRUCK TRAILER REMOVABLE RACK
Abstract
An adjustable rack having a first member that slidably engages
with a second member; both members having an extension 28 and a
cut-out 26 that removably engages with an E-track.
Inventors: |
Hines; Randy; (Granger,
IN) |
Family ID: |
45933203 |
Appl. No.: |
13/252184 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11939531 |
Nov 13, 2007 |
8028845 |
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13252184 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/86.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 7/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/86.01 |
International
Class: |
A47B 45/00 20060101
A47B045/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable rack (10), comprising: a first member (20); a
second member (25) slidably disposed on said first member (20);
said first member (20) having an edge bracket plate (196); said
edge bracket plate (196) having an extension (28) extending
upwardly, said edge bracket (196) having a cut-out (26) on said
edge bracket (196) bottom side so that the cut-out (26) can rest on
an edge of an E-track; whereby said extension (28) and said cut-out
(26) are capable of being removably secured to an E-track.
2. The rack of claim 1, further comprising a center bracket plate
(197) disposed between an edge bracket plates (196) on each
side.
3. The rack of claim 1, further comprising a link (198) disposed on
at least one of either said first member (20) or said second member
(25) to prevent said first member (20) from disengaging from said
second member (25).
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation in part patent application, which
claims priority on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/939,531,
filed on Nov. 13, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a rack that may be attached to an
E-track, particularly vertically oriented E-tracks. This rack may
be adjustable in length.
[0003] Enclosed trailers use E-tracks with E-track straps to secure
items therebetween, and adjacent to the sidewalls of the trailer.
Before the present invention, E-track straps were used. These are
straps made of fabric or cloth that can be secured or tied to the
E-tracks. They are often not adjusted to the correct length, thus
this looseness does not properly secure beams or cargo. Also, it
may be difficult to tighten a strap that is above ones
shoulders.
[0004] As can be seen, there is a need for a rigid rack that
attaches to E-tracks to hold items in trailers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An aspect of the present invention is a rack (10),
comprising: a member (20); said member (20) having a clip portion
(70); said clip portion (70) having a wall (74), said wall (74)
having a bottom indent (80) and a top indent (90); whereby said top
indent (90) and said bottom indent (80) are capable of being
removably secured to an E-track.
[0006] Another aspect is a rack (10) for an E-track, comprising: a
member (20);
[0007] said member (20) having a clip portion (70); said clip
portion (70) having a wall (74), said wall (74) having a bottom
indent (80) and a top indent (90); whereby said top indent (90) and
said bottom indent (80) are capable of being removably secured to
an E-track.
[0008] Yet another aspect is a method of using a rack (10) with and
E-track, comprising the steps of: installing of upper rack (200),
positioning cargo (300), installing a lower rack (400).
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of an exemplary embodiment of a
clip portion of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of an exemplary embodiment of a
top view of the clip portion;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention of the clip in a closed position along the
line A-A of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a second cross sectional view of an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention of the clip in an open position
along the line A-A of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a method of using the
present invention.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0016] 10 rack
[0017] 20 first member
[0018] 25 second member
[0019] 26 cut-out
[0020] 28 extension
[0021] 30 first side
[0022] 40 second side
[0023] 50 angle between the first side and the member
[0024] 60 aperture
[0025] 70 clip portion
[0026] 71 clip portion proximal side
[0027] 72 clip portion distal side
[0028] 74 wall
[0029] 76 wall spring receiving member
[0030] 80 bottom indent
[0031] 90 top indent
[0032] 100 clip
[0033] 102 clip spring receiving member
[0034] 104 shoulder
[0035] 106 neck
[0036] 110 slot
[0037] 120 pivot
[0038] 130 spring
[0039] 140 reinforced portion
[0040] 150 distance between top indent 90 and bottom indent 80
[0041] 160 height of member 20
[0042] 170 depth of top indent 90
[0043] 180 recess of bottom indent 80
[0044] 190 width of top indent 90
[0045] 195 width of bottom indent 80
[0046] 196 edge bracket plate
[0047] 197 center bracket plate
[0048] 198 link
[0049] 200 installing of upper rack
[0050] 300 positioning cargo
[0051] 400 installing of lower rack
[0052] 500 removing of lower rack
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0053] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,
since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended
claims.
[0054] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, referred to as a rack 10. The rack 10 is comprised of a
member 20 having two opposed clip portions 70. The member 20 may
have a first side 30 and a second side 40. In one exemplary
embodiment, the first side 30 and second side 40 may be
substantially parallel with respect to the other. In one exemplary
embodiment, the member 20 may be substantially perpendicular with
at least one of the first side 30 or the second side 40, in which
case the angle between the member 20 and at least one of either the
first side 30 or second side 40 may be 90.degree.. This angle is
represented in FIG. 1 as .alpha.. In other embodiments this angle
may be something other than 90.degree.. An aperture 60 may be
disposed in the member 20, or the aperture 60 may be disposed in at
least one of the first side 30 or second side 40.
[0055] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a clip portion
70.
[0056] The clip portion 70 may have a bottom indent 80, a top
indent 90, and a clip 100. The clip 100 pivots about a pivot 120.
The clip portion 70 may have a slot 110. The clip portion 70 may
have a clip portion proximal side 71, and a clip portion distal
side 72, which may be further from the member 20 than the clip
portion proximal side 71. The clip portion 70 may have a wall 74
that extends from clip portion proximal side 71 to the clip portion
distal side 72.
[0057] As best seen in FIG. 3, the distance between the wall 74 may
be greater near the clip portion distal side 72 than the clip
portion proximal side 71. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary
embodiment of a clip portion 70 of the present invention. The clip
portion 70 may contain a clip 100 therein.
[0058] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one exemplary embodiment of how the
clip 100 may be pivotally secured to the clip portion 70 by a pivot
120. This pivot 120 may be a rivet, or other member. A spring 130
may be secured at one end to a wall spring receiving member 76. The
wall spring receiving member 76 may be a cylindrical shaped
extension. The spring 130 may be able to fit over the wall spring
receiving member 76 at one end; and at an opposed end the spring
130 may be received by a clip spring receiving member 102. The clip
spring receiving member 102 may be an extension extending from the
clip 100 to the direction of the wall spring receiving member 76,
so that the spring 130 may be biasly disposed on both the wall
spring receiving member 76 and the clip spring receiving member 102
to bias the clip 100 towards the clip portion distal side 72.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the clip 100 may have a shoulder
104 that may contact the clip portion distal side 72 when the clip
100 is positioned in what is referred to herein as a "closed"
position. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a neck 106 may extend upwardly
from the shoulder 104. The neck 106 may be pulled to place the clip
100 or shoulder 104 in an "open" position.
[0060] A slot 110 may be disposed near the clip portion (70) or in
the clip portion (70).
[0061] In one exemplary embodiment, the member may have a
reinforced portion 140 to increase the strength of the member 20.
The reinforced portion 140 may be a curved radii that expands the
length of the present invention rack 10.
[0062] In one exemplary embodiment, the first side 30 or second
side 40 may have an aperture 60. The aperture may be used to hang
things from.
[0063] FIG. 6 illustrates one method of use of the present
invention 10.
[0064] The clip 100 can be "opened" by pulling the neck 106 toward
the clip portion proximal side 71, then the rack 10 may be
installed on a slot of an E-track by positioning the top indent
portion 90 around the respective portion, or top of the slot, of
the E-track, then the bottom indent 80 may rest on the bottom of
the E-track slot. This step may be called the installing of upper
rack 200. The next step may be positioning cargo 300. FIG. 6
illustrates the use of two racks 10 to secure bars, such as deck
bars. Then deck bars or cargo may be positioned 300 between the
rack 10 and the trailer wall. The third step may be installing a
lower rack 400. Then, to access cargo, one can execute the step of
removing the lower rack 500.
[0065] The dimensions of the rack 10 may vary. For example the beam
10 may be a variety of lengths to accommodate for different
positions of E-track placement. In one embodiment, the clip
portions 70 are disposed at a distance of 24 inches. This
embodiment may be used with vertically oriented E-tracks being
disposed about 24 inches apart. In another embodiment, the clip
portions 70 are disposed at a distance of 32 inches. This
embodiment may be used with vertically oriented E-tracks being
disposed about 32 inches apart.
[0066] In one exemplary embodiment, the first side 30, and the
second side 40 are about 5 5/16 inches in length. In another
embodiment, hinges could be positioned between the member 20 and at
least one of either the first side 30 and the second side 40, so
that it would be easier to place the clips in the E-tracks.
Alternatively, a hinge or pivot mechanism may be disposed between
the clip portion 70 and at least one of the first side 30 and/or
second side 40, which would allow the clip portion 70 to hinge or
pivot with respect to the first side 30 or second side 40.
[0067] The rack 10 can be comprised of a variety of cross sectional
shapes and configurations.
[0068] In one exemplary embodiment, the shortest distance 150
between the top indent 90 and the bottom indent 80 is about 21/8
inches. In one exemplary embodiment, the height 160 of the member
is about 2 9/16 inches.
[0069] In one exemplary embodiment the depth 170 of the top indent
90 is about 3/8 of an inch. In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom
indent 80 is recessed 180 about 3/16 of an inch. In one exemplary
embodiment the distance across 190 the top indent 90 is about 3/8
of an inch. In one embodiment the distance across 195 the bottom
indent 80 is about 1/4 of an inch.
[0070] This rack 10 may have additional applications beyond use in
trailer E-tracks.
[0071] In one exemplary embodiment the rack 10 may be comprised of
metal or a metal allow. However other materials that can form a
rigid structure can also be used, such as steel, composites,
plastics, aluminum, or wood.
[0072] A rack 10 of the present invention may be formed with a
variety of processes, such as the extrusion process. further, the
rack 10 may be formed by a press bending process or a stretch
forming process. Other methods may also be used to make the present
inventions rack 10.
[0073] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an adjustable rack 10 of
the present invention. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the
adjustable rack 10 may have a first member 20 slidably disposed to
a second member 25. Two links 198 may be secured to the first
member 20, and the second member 25 to prevent the first member 20
from sliding out of the second member 25. FIG. 12 illustrates a
link 198, which may be a c-shaped member.
[0074] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the adjustable rack 10.
[0075] FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of the first member
20.
[0076] FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of an edge bracket 196
that engages with the E-tracks of the truck. Between both edge
bracket plates 196 may be a center bracket plate 197.
[0077] Both the edge bracket plate 196 and the center bracket plate
197 may have a cut-out 20 which may be similar as the bottom indent
80.
[0078] The extension 28 or clip 100 can be installed on a slot of
an E-track by positioning the top indent portion 90 around the
respective portion, or top of the slot, of the E-track, then the
bottom indent 80 or cut out 26 may rest on the bottom of the
E-track slot. This step may be called the installing of upper rack
200. The next step may be positioning cargo 300. FIG. 6 illustrates
the use of two racks 10 to secure bars, such as deck bars. Then
deck bars or cargo may be positioned 300 between the rack 10 and
the trailer wall. The third step may be installing a lower rack
400. Then, to access cargo, one can execute the step of removing
the lower rack 500.
[0079] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *