U.S. patent application number 14/420145 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-23 for load carrying assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jack Finestone. Invention is credited to Jack Finestone.
Application Number | 20150203050 14/420145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50067482 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150203050 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Finestone; Jack |
July 23, 2015 |
LOAD CARRYING ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A load carrying assembly 10 for use with a pick-up truck 2
having a load carrying bed 3, includes a first load bearing
structure 12 and a second load bearing structure 14 which are both
mounted to the truck 2 above the bed 3. The structure 12 includes a
cross member 24 and a pair of spaced apart upright support members
26. The structure 14 includes a cross member 32 and a pair of
spaced apart upright support members 34. The assembly 10 further
includes an interlocking system 22 comprising connecting formations
in the form of bolt holes 30 defined through the members 24, 26,
32, 34 and nuts and bolts for releasably bolting the structures 12,
14 to one another in an arrangement wherein the members 24, 32 abut
one another and the members 26, 34 abut one another, thereby to
form a unitary combined load bearing structure 42 in an arrangement
wherein the structures 12, 14 structurally support one another,
thereby to provide for enhanced stable support of the load by the
structure 42.
Inventors: |
Finestone; Jack;
(Durbanville, ZA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Finestone; Jack |
Durbanville |
|
ZA |
|
|
Family ID: |
50067482 |
Appl. No.: |
14/420145 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
August 6, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2013/056433 |
371 Date: |
February 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 3/40 20130101; B60R
9/06 20130101; B60Y 2200/14 20130101; B62D 33/0207 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 9/06 20060101
B60R009/06; B62D 33/02 20060101 B62D033/02; B60P 3/40 20060101
B60P003/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 7, 2012 |
ZA |
2012/05958 |
Claims
1. A load carrying assembly for use with a vehicle having a load
carrying bed for carrying a load, the load carrying assembly
including: a first load bearing structure which is mountable to the
vehicle above the load carrying bed of the vehicle, the first load
bearing structure including a cross member and a pair of spaced
apart upright support members near opposite ends of the cross
member, which are mounted to the vehicle, in use; a second load
bearing structure which is mountable to the vehicle above the load
carrying bed of the vehicle, the second load bearing structure
including a cross member and a pair of spaced apart upright support
members near opposite ends of the cross member, which are mounted
to the vehicle, in use; and interlocking means configured for
releasably interlocking the first load bearing structure and the
second load bearing structure to one another in an arrangement
wherein at least the upright support members of the load bearing
structures abut one another, thereby to form a unitary combined
load bearing structure in a structural supporting arrangement
wherein the first and second load bearing structures structurally
support one another, thereby to provide for enhanced stable support
of the load by the unitary combined load bearing structure.
2. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
interlocking means is operable to releasably interlock the first
load bearing structure and the second load bearing structure to one
another in an arrangement wherein the upright support members and
the cross members of the load bearing structures abut one
another.
3. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
interlocking means is in the form of a pair of collar formations,
each collar formation being configured to at least partially fit
around a different pair of adjacent abutting upright support
members of the load bearing structures when the upright support
members abut one another, and to releasably clamp the upright
support members to one another.
4. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
interlocking means includes at least one connecting formation
associated with each of the upright support members of the first
and second load bearing structures for releasably interlocking the
upright support members of the first and second load bearing
structures to one another.
5. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
interlocking means include at least one connecting formation
associated with each of the cross members of the load bearing
structures for releasably interlocking the cross members of the
load bearing structures to one another.
6. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
first load bearing structure and the second load bearing structure
each have profiled faces which are complementary to one another and
which abut one another when the load bearing structures are
releasably interlocked to one another.
7. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load
carrying assembly includes releasable mounting means which are
mounted to the vehicle and which are configured to permit the
releasable mounting of at least one of the load bearing structures
to the vehicle in an arrangement wherein the load bearing
structures are interchangeable between a first condition wherein
the load bearing structures are mounted to the vehicle adjacent to
one another and releasably interlocked to one another; and a second
condition wherein the load bearing structures are mounted to the
vehicle in a spaced apart arrangement.
8. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
releasable mounting means is in the form of a first pair of
mounting structures which are mounted to the vehicle for releasably
mounting the first load bearing structure to the vehicle, when the
load bearing structures are in their first condition; and a second
pair of mounting structures which are mounted to the vehicle in
spaced apart relation to the first pair of mounting structures for
releasably mounting the first load bearing structure to the
vehicle, when the load bearing structures are in their second
condition.
9. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
first load bearing structure includes a complementary releasable
mounting formation disposed near a lower end of each upright
support member, the complementary releasable mounting formations
being configured to permit releasable mounting of the first load
bearing structure to one of the first pair of mounting structures
and the second pair of mounting structures, when the load bearing
structures are interchanged between their first and second
conditions.
10. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
second load bearing structure has a base support structure defined
at operative lower ends of the upright support members, which are
mounted to the vehicle, in use.
11. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
first pair of mounting structures extend from an end region of the
base support structures of the second load bearing structure.
12. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the
first pair of mounting structures and the base support structures
of the second load bearing structure are integrally formed with one
another.
13. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
load carrying assembly is configured for use with a vehicle in the
form of a pick-up truck having a cab and a load box disposed
rearwardly of the cab, the load box including the load carrying bed
and walls which surround the load carrying bed, the walls of the
load box including a cab wall, a tail gate disposed opposite to the
cab wall and a pair of opposite side walls extending between the
cab wall and the tail gate; and wherein the mounting structures of
the releasable mounting means of the load carrying assembly are
configured to be mounted to upper ends of the side walls of the
load box.
14. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
load carrying assembly includes slidable mounting means for
slidably mounting the first load bearing structure to the vehicle
in an arrangement permitting sliding displacement of the first load
bearing structure relative to the second load bearing
structure.
15. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
slidable mounting means comprises a pair of track formations which
are mountable to the vehicle on opposite sides of the load bed; and
track engaging formations which are defined on operative lower
regions of the upright support members of the first load bearing
structure, which are configured to permit sliding displacement of
the first load bearing structure along the pair of track
formations, for displacing the first load bearing structure
relative to the second load bearing structure, in use.
16. A vehicle having a load carrying bed for carrying a load and a
load carrying assembly, as claimed in claim 1, mounted to the
vehicle.
17. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
releasable mounting means are configured to permit releasable
mounting of both the load bearing structures to the to the
vehicle.
18. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
first load bearing structure and the second load bearing structure
each have profiled faces which are complementary to one another and
which abut one another when the load bearing structures are
releasably interlocked to one another.
19. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
first load bearing structure and the second load bearing structure
each have profiled faces which are complementary to one another and
which abut one another when the load bearing structures are
releasably interlocked to one another.
20. A load carrying assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
first load bearing structure and the second load bearing structure
each have profiled faces which are complementary to one another and
which abut one another when the load bearing structures are
releasably interlocked to one another.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a load carrying assembly for use
with a vehicle having a load carrying bed for carrying a load.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0002] According to the invention there is provided a load carrying
assembly for use with a vehicle having a load carrying bed for
carrying a load, the load carrying assembly including: [0003] a
first load bearing structure which is mountable to the vehicle
above the load carrying bed of the vehicle, the first load bearing
structure including a cross member and a pair of spaced apart
upright support members near opposite ends of the cross member,
which are mounted to the vehicle, in use; [0004] a second load
bearing structure which is mountable to the vehicle above the load
carrying bed of the vehicle, the second load bearing structure
including a cross member and a pair of spaced apart upright support
members near opposite ends of the cross member, which are mounted
to the vehicle, in use; and [0005] interlocking means configured
for releasably interlocking the first load bearing structure and
the second load bearing structure to one another in an arrangement
wherein at least the upright support members of the load bearing
structures abut one another, thereby to form a unitary combined
load bearing structure in a structural supporting arrangement
wherein the first and second load bearing structures structurally
support one another, thereby to provide for enhanced stable support
of the load by the unitary combined load bearing structure.
[0006] The interlocking means may be operable to releasably
interlock the first load bearing structure and the second load
bearing structure to one another in an arrangement wherein the
upright support members and the cross members of the load bearing
structures abut one another.
[0007] The interlocking means may be in the form of a pair of
collar formations, each collar formation being configured to at
least partially fit around a different pair of adjacent abutting
upright support members of the load bearing structures when the
upright support members abut one another, and to releasably clamp
the upright support members to one another.
[0008] In a particular embodiment, the interlocking means may
include at least one connecting formation associated with each of
the upright support members of the first and second load bearing
structures for releasably interlocking the upright support members
of the first and second load bearing structures to one another. The
interlocking means may include at least one connecting formation
associated with each of the cross members of the load bearing
structures for releasably interlocking the cross members of the
load bearing structures to one another. As such, the first load
bearing structure and the second load bearing structure may each
have profiled faces which are complementary to one another and
which abut one another when the load bearing structures are
releasably interlocked to one another.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the load carrying assembly may
include releasable mounting means which are mounted to the vehicle
and which are configured to permit the releasable mounting of at
least one of the load bearing structures to the vehicle in an
arrangement wherein the load bearing structures are interchangeable
between a first condition wherein the load bearing structures are
mounted to the vehicle adjacent to one another and releasably
interlocked to one another; and a second condition wherein the load
bearing structures are mounted to the vehicle in a spaced apart
arrangement. The releasable mounting means may be in the form of a
first pair of mounting structures which are mounted to the vehicle
for releasably mounting the first load bearing structure to the
vehicle, when the load bearing structures are in their first
condition; and a second pair of mounting structures which are
mounted to the vehicle in spaced apart relation to the first pair
of mounting structures for releasably mounting the first load
bearing structure to the vehicle, when the load bearing structures
are in their second condition. The first load bearing structure may
include a complementary releasable mounting formation disposed near
a lower end of each upright support member, the complementary
releasable mounting formations being configured to permit
releasable mounting of the first load bearing structure to one of
the first pair of mounting structures and the second pair of
mounting structures, when the load bearing structures are
interchanged between their first and second conditions. The second
load bearing structure may have a base support structure defined at
operative lower ends of the upright support members, which are
mounted to the vehicle, in use. More particularly, the first pair
of mounting structures may extend from an end region of the base
support structures of the second load bearing structure. More
specifically, the first pair of mounting structures and the base
support structures of the second load bearing structure may be
integrally formed with one another.
[0010] In a particular embodiment, the load carrying assembly may
be configured for use with a vehicle in the form of a pick-up truck
having a cab and a load box disposed rearwardly of the cab, the
load box including the load carrying bed and walls which surround
the load carrying bed, the walls of the load box including a cab
wall, a tail gate disposed opposite to the cab wall and a pair of
opposite side walls extending between the cab wall and the tail
gate; and wherein the mounting structures of the releasable
mounting means of the load carrying assembly are configured to be
mounted to upper ends of the side walls of the load box.
[0011] The load carrying assembly may include slidable mounting
means for slidably mounting the first load bearing structure to the
vehicle in an arrangement permitting sliding displacement of the
first load bearing structure relative to the second load bearing
structure. The slidable mounting means may comprise a pair of track
formations which are mountable to the vehicle on opposite sides of
the load bed; and track engaging formations which are defined on
operative lower regions of the upright support members of the first
load bearing structure, which are configured to permit sliding
displacement of the first load bearing structure along the pair of
track formations, for displacing the first load bearing structure
relative to the second load bearing structure, in use.
[0012] The invention extends to a vehicle having a load carrying
bed for carrying a load and a load carrying assembly, as described
and defined hereinabove, mounted to the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Further features of the invention are described hereinafter
by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference
to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In
the drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a load carrying assembly,
in accordance with the invention, mounted to a vehicle and shown in
a first condition thereof;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the load carrying
assembly of FIG. 1, shown interchanged into a second condition
thereof;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view of the load carrying
assembly of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4a shows a sectional view of the load carrying assembly
of FIG. 3, sectioned along section lines 4a-4a of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 4b shows a sectional view of the load carrying assembly
of FIG. 3, sectioned along section lines 4b-4b of FIG. 3;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a
load carrying assembly in accordance with the invention, mounted to
another vehicle and shown in a first condition thereof; and
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the load carrying
assembly of FIG. 5, shown interchanged into a second condition
thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a load
carrying assembly in accordance with the invention, is designated
generally by the reference numeral 10. The load carrying assembly
10 is configured for use with a vehicle in the form of a pick-up
truck 2 having a cab 4 and a load box 5 disposed rearwardly of the
cab 4, the load box 5 including a load carrying bed 3 and walls
which surround the load carrying bed 3 and which include a cab wall
6, a tailgate 7 disposed opposite to the cab wall and a pair of
opposite side walls 8.1, 8.2 extending between the cab wall 6 and
the tailgate 7.
[0022] The load carrying assembly 10 comprises broadly a first load
bearing structure 12; a second load bearing structure 14;
releasable mounting means in the form of mounting structures 18;
slidable mounting means in the form of a slidable mounting system
20 and interlocking means in the form of an interlocking system
22.
[0023] The first load bearing structure 12 is releasably mountable
to the pick-up truck 2 above the load carrying bed 3 of the pick-up
truck 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The first
load bearing structure 12 includes a cross member 24; a pair of
spaced apart upright support members 26 extending from opposite
ends of the cross member 24; and complementary releasable mounting
formations in the form of base plates 28 disposed at lower ends of
the upright support members 26 and integrally formed therewith, the
purposes of which will be explained in more detail hereinbelow.
[0024] The base plates 28 each have an inverted U-shaped
configuration when viewed in sectional view, as illustrated in FIG.
4b of the drawings, the purpose of which will be explained
hereinbelow.
[0025] The second load bearing structure 14 is releasably mountable
to the pick-up truck 2 above the load carrying bed 3 of the pick-up
truck. The second load bearing structure 14 includes a cross member
32; a pair of spaced apart upright support members 34 extending
from opposite ends of the cross member 32; and base support
structures 36 disposed at opposite lower ends of the upright
support members 34 and integrally formed therewith, the purposes of
which will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. The base
support structures 36 have bolt holes 39 extending therethrough and
have flat planar bases defined on undersides thereof, which are
configured to be bolted onto upper ends of the side walls 8.1, 8.2
of the pick-up truck 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
drawings. More particularly, the base support structures 36 are
bolted to the upper ends of the side walls by means of bolts (not
shown) received through bolt holes 39. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of
the drawings, the second load bearing structure 14 is secured to
the pick-up truck 2 at a position adjacent to the cab wall 6.
[0026] The load bearing structures 12, 14 have profiled faces which
are complementary to one another, as shown in FIG. 4A of the
drawings, for reasons which will be explained hereinbelow.
[0027] The mounting structures 18 are configured to be mounted to
upper ends of the side walls 8.1,8.2 of the load box 5 of the
pick-up truck 2 and are configured to permit releasable mounting of
the base plates 28 of the first load bearing structure 12 for
releasably mounting the first load bearing structure 12 to the
pick-up truck 2.
[0028] The mounting structures 18 include a first pair of mounting
plates 18.1 and a second pair of mounting plates 18.2. The first
pair of mounting plates 18.1 are defined on upper ends of the base
support structures 36 and are integrally formed therewith, as is
best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The first pair of mounting
plates 18.1 have bolt holes 37 defined therethrough. The second
pair of mounting plates 18.2 each have bolt holes 23 permitting the
plates 18.2 to be bolted to upper ends of the side walls 8.1, 8.2
of the load box 5 of the pick-up truck 2, at positions adjacent to
the tailgate 7, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
The second pair of mounting plates 18.2 also have bolt holes 25
defined therethrough, the purpose of which will be explained in
more detail hereinbelow.
[0029] The slidable mounting system 20 is configured to permit the
slidable mounting of the first load bearing structure 12, relative
to the second load bearing structure 14. The slidable mounting
system 20 comprises a pair of track formations 38 and a pair of
complementary track engaging formations 40 defined by the U-shaped
configuration of the base plates 28 of the first load bearing
structure 12. The pair of track formations 38 are mounted to upper
ends of the pair of side walls 8.1, 8.2 and extend across the first
pair of mounting plates 18.1 and the second pair of mounting plates
18.2, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The track
engaging formations 40 are each configured for slidably receiving a
different one of the track formations 38 therein. The track
engaging formations 40 and the track formations 38 are configured,
shaped and dimensioned to permit sliding displacement of the first
load bearing structure 12 along the pair of track formations 38,
for displacing the first load bearing structure 12 relative to the
second load bearing structure 12, for reasons which will be
explained in more detail hereinbelow.
[0030] The interlocking system 22 is configured for releasably
interlocking the first load bearing structure 12 and the second
load bearing structure 14 to one another in an interlocked
configuration when the cross members 24, 32 and the upright support
members 26, 34 of the load bearing structures 12, 14 abut one
another, thereby to form a unitary combined load bearing structure
42 in a structural supporting arrangement wherein the load bearing
structures 12, 14 structurally support one another, as shown in
FIG. 1 of the drawings, thereby to provide for enhanced stable
support of the load by the unitary combined load bearing structure
42. The interlocking system 22 comprises connecting formations in
the form of bolt holes 30 defined through the cross members 24, 32
and the upright support members 26, 34 of the load bearing
structures 12, 14; and nuts and bolts (not shown), for firmly and
releasably interlocking the load bearing structures 12, 14 to one
another. The complementary profiled faces of the load bearing
structures 12, 14 permit the faces to be brought into close contact
with and abut one another, when the load bearing structures 12, 14
are in their interlocked configuration.
[0031] In use, the first load bearing structure 12 and the second
load bearing structure 14 are interchangeable between a first
condition (shown in FIG. 1) wherein the load bearing structures 12,
14 are mounted to the pick-up truck 2 adjacent to one another in
their interlocked configuration, thereby to provide the unitary
combined load bearing structure 42 for stable support of a load by
the unitary combined load bearing structure 42; and a second
condition (shown in FIG. 2) wherein the load bearing structures 12,
14 are mounted to the pick-up truck 2 in a spaced apart
arrangement.
[0032] More particularly, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, when
the load bearing structures 12, 14 are in their first condition,
the base plates 28 of the first load bearing structure 12 are
releasably mounted to the first pair of mounting plates 18.1 by
bolts (not shown) which are received through bolt holes 29 of the
base plates 28 and through bolt holes 37 of the first pair of
mounting plates 18.1. The load bearing structures 12, 14 are then
releasably locked to one another in the manner described
hereinabove so as to form the unitary combined load bearing
structure 42. When the load bearing structures 12, 14 are in their
second condition, the base plates 28 of the first load bearing
structure 12 are releasably mounted to the second pair of mounting
plates 18.2, as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. More
particularly, bolts (not shown) are received through bolt holes 25
of the second pair of mounting plates 18.2 and through bolt holes
29 of the base plates 28 for releasably bolting the base plates 28
and the second pair of mounting plates 18.2 to one another.
[0033] The applicant envisages that the unitary combined load
bearing structure 42 will have enhanced strength and load bearing
capacity. More particularly, the load bearing capacity of the
unitary combined load bearing structure 42 will be greater than the
load bearing capacity of the first load bearing structure 12 and
the second load bearing structure 14, when the load bearing
structures are in their second condition. As such, the unitary
combined load bearing structure 42 thus permits particularly heavy
loads such as, for example, timber or a motorbike to be tethered to
the unitary combined load bearing structure 42. The applicant thus
envisages that the unitary combined load bearing structure 42 is
particularly beneficial for carrying loads which are too heavy to
be supported by the first load bearing structure 12 and the second
load bearing structure 14, when the load bearing structures 12, 14
are in their second condition.
[0034] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, another
embodiment of a load carrying assembly, in accordance with the
invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral
100.
[0035] The load carrying assembly 100 is configured for use with a
vehicle in the form of a flat bed truck 102 having a flat bed
trailer defining a load carrying bed 3 for carrying a load.
[0036] The load carrying assembly 100 of FIGS. 5 and 6 of the
drawings is similar to the load carrying assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 to
4 of the drawings. As such, features of the load carrying assembly
100 which are the same and/or similar to features of the load
carrying assembly 10, are designated by the same and/or similar
reference numerals in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. What is stated
above in relation to the load carrying assembly 10 applies
generally to the load carrying assembly 100.
[0037] The load carrying assembly 100 comprises broadly a first
load bearing structure 112; a second load bearing structure 114;
releasable mounting means in the form of mounting structures 118
and interlocking means in the form of an interlocking system
122.
[0038] The first and second load bearing structures 112, 114 of the
load carrying assembly 100 are similar to the first and second load
bearing structures 12, 14, respectively, of the load carrying
assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings. However, the load
bearing structures 112, 114 differ from the load bearing structures
12, 14 in that the load bearing structures 112, 114 each have a
pair of spaced apart upright support members 126, 134,
respectively, which have lengths which are relatively longer than
the lengths of the upright support members 26, 34 of the load
carrying assembly 10.
[0039] The interlocking system 122 of the load carrying assembly
100 differs from the interlocking system 22 of the load carrying
assembly 10. More particularly, the interlocking system 122 of the
load carrying assembly 100 comprises a pair of interlocking collars
123 and 125 which are configured to partially surround the first
and second load bearing structures 112, 114 for releasably
interlocking the first and second load bearing structures 112, 114
to one another, when the load bearing structures 112, 114 are in
their first condition. More particularly, the collars 123, 125 will
be fixedly bolted to one another for clamping the first and second
load bearing structures 112,114 to one another.
[0040] The applicant envisages that the load carrying assembly 100
may be fitted to any type of a vehicle having a load bed, even, for
example, the pick-up truck 2, if desired.
[0041] It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the
load carrying assembly 10, 100 of the invention may be greatly
variable whilst still incorporating the essential features of the
invention. The invention clearly extends also to such variations
which still incorporate the essential features of the invention as
described and defined hereinabove.
[0042] The invention extends to a vehicle having a load carrying
bed for carrying a load and the load carrying assembly 10, 100
mounted thereto.
* * * * *