U.S. patent number RE32,198 [Application Number 06/597,973] was granted by the patent office on 1986-07-08 for truck bed liner.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Durakon, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Wayne.
United States Patent |
RE32,198 |
Wayne |
July 8, 1986 |
Truck bed liner
Abstract
A one-piece truck bed liner is disclosed having its side walls
formed in longitudinally extending stepped panels with riser and
tread portions thereby defining substantially continuous
horizontally disposed side rails for resisting bending stresses,
cargo impact and frictional forces. The liner bottom and front
walls are in ribbed form, connected by a transverse bend portion
free of ribs, in a manner to avoid cargo impact to the bend area.
The ribs in the liner front wall and the liner bottom wall adjacent
the bend portion are formed shallower than in the main portion of
the bottom wall section. The liner bottom wall ribs define passages
having larger open cross-sectional areas than the front wall ribs
for optimum venting air flow and strength to resist cargo bending
stresses. The liner has border portions structured to conform with
the truck bed tail gate access opening to avoid the entrance of
foreign matter between the liner and truck bed while providing a
custom appearance.
Inventors: |
Wayne; Michael (Bloomfield
Hills, MI) |
Assignee: |
Durakon, Inc. (Lapeer,
MI)
|
Family
ID: |
27510676 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/597,973 |
Filed: |
April 9, 1984 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
143075 |
Apr 24, 1980 |
04341412 |
Jul 27, 1982 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/39.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
13/01 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
13/01 (20060101); B62D 033/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/39R ;220/72,410
;224/42,42R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Love; John J.
Assistant Examiner: Weaver; Ross
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cullen, Sloman, Cantor, Grauer,
Scott & Rutherford
Claims
I claim:
1. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck side walls and floor
forming a rearward access opening, said liner comprising:
a molded plastic one-piece liner member adapted to be inserted in
the truck bed, said liner member having a bottom wall, a front
wall, and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall being in simulated shingle form including
a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially continuous
stepped panels,
each panel including an upwardly and inwardly inclined riser
portion and an angularly disposed tread portion extending outwardly
from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion, the
juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining a
longitudinally extending substantially continuous side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the stepped panels
providing strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while
the longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative to
absorb cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner side walls and bottom wall defining a rearward
substantially rectangular opening providing access for receiving
material to be transported;
said liner bottom wall being in ribbed form, including a plurality
of longitudinally extending adjacent inverted U-shaped ribs, said
ribs extending rearwardly to a bottom wall border portion free of
said ribs;
said stepped panels extending rearwardly to side wall border
portions free of said stepped panels;
each side wall lowermost riser portion having its lower terminus
integral with its associated longitudinally extending bend
portion;
said longitudinally extending bend portions having a predetermined
radius of curvature;
said liner side wall border portions joined to said bottom wall
border portion by fillet portions having a predetermined radius of
curvature substantially less than said bend portions radius of
curvature, whereby said border fillet portions closely conform with
their associated truck bed access opening corners obviating the
entrance of foreign matter between the liner and the truck bed.
2. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck side walls and floor
forming a rearward access opening, said liner comprising:
a molded plastic one-piece liner member adapted to be inserted in
the truck bed, said liner member having a bottom wall, a front
wall, and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall being in simulated shingle form including
a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially continuous
stepped panels,
each panel including an upwardly and inwardly inclined riser
portion and an angularly disposed tread portion extending outwardly
from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion, the
juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining a
longitudinally extending substantially continuous side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the stepped panels
providing strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while
the longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative to
absorb cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner bottom wall and front wall integrally joined by a
transverse bend portion;
said liner bottom wall, and front wall being in ribbed form
including a plurality of closely adjacent inverted U-shaped
ribs;
each said rib located in a given longitudinally extending vertical
plane defining a first bottom wall rib segment, a second bottom
wall step-down tangent rib segment and a third front wall rib
segment;
said liner second and third rib segments stopping short of said
transverse bend portion;
said second and third rib segments defining passages having
predetermined equal open cross-sectional areas;
the arrangement characterized in each said first bottom wall rib
segment passage cross-sectional area substantially greater than
each said second and third rib segment cross-sectional areas
providing optimum venting air and fluid flow between the liner
bottom wall and the truck bed floor.
3. The protective liner as set forth in claim 2, with the truck bed
front wall upper end having a ledge formed with a return bend
flange extending rearwardly from the truck bed front wall,
wherein:
said liner front wall upper end terminating in a series of
rearwardly and upwardly extending steps formed for receiving
various return bend flange shapes enabling the liner to conform in
a universal manner to a plurality of cargo bed front wall
designs.
4. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed side walls and
floor forming a rearward cargo access opening, said liner
comprising:
a molded plastic one-piece liner member adapted to be inserted in
the truck bed, said liner member having a bottom wall, a front
wall, and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall, said liner bottom wall and
front wall integrally joined by a transverse bend portion;
each said liner side wall being in simulated shingle form including
a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially continuous
stepped panels, such that each panel defines a longitudinally
extending substantially continuous side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that said side wall stepped
panels provide strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses
while the longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative
to absorb cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner bottom wall and front wall being in ribbed form,
including a plurality of longitudinally extending adjacent inverted
U-shaped ribs;
each said inverted U-shaped rib located in a given longitudinally
extending vertical plane defining a first bottom wall rib segment,
a second bottom wall tangent rib segment, and a third front wall
rib segment;
each said liner bottom wall first rib segment having a height
greater than each said second and third rib segments;
each said second and third rib segments extending to said
transverse bend portion free of rib segments, whereby cargo
supported on said bottom wall first rib segments and contacting
said third front wall rib segments having the corners of each cargo
maintained in spaced, non-contacting relation to said transverse
bend portion.
5. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed side walls and
floor forming a rearward access opening, said liner comprising:
a molded plastic one-piece liner member adapted to be inserted in
the truck bed, said liner member having a bottom wall, a front
wall, and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall being in simulated shingle form including
a plurality of longitudinally extending continuous stepped panels
such that each panel defines a longitudinally extending continuous
side rail;
said liner characterized in that said side wall stepped panels
provide strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while the
longitudinally extending continuous panel side rails being
operative to absorb cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner side walls and bottom wall including rearward end border
portions defining an opening providing an access for receiving
material to be transported;
the stepped panels extending to said side wall border portions free
of the stepped panels;
the lowermost riser portion of each liner side wall having its
lower terminus integral with its associated longitudinally
extending bend portion;
said longitudinally extending bend portions having a predetermined
radius of curvature; and
said liner side wall and bottom wall border portions joined by
border fillet portions having a predetermined radius of curvature
substantially less than said bend portions radius of curvature,
whereby said border fillet portions closely conform with their
associated truck bed access opening corners obviating the entrance
of foreign matter between the liner and the truck bed.
6. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, opposed side walls, wheel wells on each truck bed
sidewall and top ledges at the upper edge of each bed side wall,
the truck bed side walls and floor forming a rearward access
opening, said liner comprising:
a molded plastic one-piece liner member adapted to be inserted in
the truck bed, said liner member having a bottom wall, a front
wall, and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall being in simulated shingle form including
a plurality of longitudinally extending continuous stepped
panels,
each stepped panel defining a longitudinally extending continuous
side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the stepped panels
providing strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while
the longitudinally extending continuous panel said rails being
operative to absorb cargo impact and frictional forces;
each said stepped panel including an upwardly and inwardly inclined
riser portion and an angularly disposed tread portion extending
outwardly from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion,
the juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining its
longitudinally extending continuous side rail;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each liner side
wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall having a well for receiving the
associated truck bed wheel well;
each said liner side wall having its uppermost stepped panel formed
with its tread portion in substantial coincidence with the top of
its associated well;
a flange portion extending outwardly from the upper terminus of
each said liner side wall overlying its associated truck bed top
ledge;
each liner side wall tread portion defining a flexing juncture
permitting limited bending of the side wall compensating for
differential spacing between a truck bed top ledge and floor.
7. The protective liner as set forth in claim 6, with the truck bed
front wall having a top ledge formed with a return bend flange
extending rearwardly from the truck bed front wall, wherein:
said liner front wall upper end terminating in a series of
rearwardly and upwardly extending steps formed for receiving the
return bend flange shapes. .Iadd.
8. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed side walls and
floor forming a rearward access opening, said liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall, a front wall, and opposed side
walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall including a plurality of vertically
spaced panels;
each panel including a longitudinally extending side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the panels providing
strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while the
longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative to absorb
cargo impact and frictional forces;
each said panel including a riser portion and a tread portion
extending from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion,
the juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining its
longitudinally extending side rail; and
each liner side wall tread portion defining a flexing juncture
permitting limited bending of the side wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
9. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a
front wall, opposed side walls, wheel wells on each truck bed side
wall and top ledges at the upper edge of each bed side wall, the
truck bed side walls and floor forming a rearward access opening,
said liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall, a front wall, and opposed side
walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall including a plurality of vertically
spaced panels;
each panel including a longitudinally extending side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the panels providing
strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while the
longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative to absorb
cargo impact and frictional forces;
each said panel including a riser portion and a tread portion
extending from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion,
the juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining its
longitudinally extending side rail;
each said liner side wall having a well for receiving the
associated truck bed wheel well;
a flange portion extending outwardly from the upper terminus of
each said liner side wall overlying its associated truck bed top
ledge; and
each liner side wall tread portion defining a flexing juncture
permitting limited bending of the side wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A
protective liner for a truck bed structure having a floor, a front
wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed side walls and floor
forming a rearward cargo access opening, said liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall and a front wall;
said liner bottom wall and front wall integrally joined by a
transverse bend portion;
said liner bottom wall including a plurality of longitudinally
extending first rib-like segments and said front wall including a
plurality of second rib-like segments; and
said transverse bend portion being free of any rib segments whereby
cargo supported on said bottom wall first rib-like segments and in
juxtaposed relation to said second front wall rib-like segments
being maintained in spaced, non-contacting relation to said
transverse bend portion for preventing the corners of such cargo
from gouging or damaging the transverse bend portion. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.11. A protective liner for a truck bed structure having a
floor, a front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed side
walls and floor forming a rearward cargo access opening, said liner
comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall, a front wall, and opposed side
walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall, said liner bottom wall and
front wall integrally joined by a transverse bend portion;
each said liner side wall including a plurality of panels, such
that each panel defines a longitudinally extending side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that said side wall panels
provide strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while the
longitudinally extending panel side rails being operative to absorb
cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner bottom wall including a plurality of longitudinally
extending first rib-like segments and said front wall including a
plurality of second rib-like segments; and
said transverse bend portion being free of rib segments whereby
cargo supported on said bottom wall first rib-like segments and in
juxtaposed relation to said second front wall rib-like segments
being maintained in spaced, non-contacting relation to said
transverse bend portion for preventing the corners of such cargo
from gouging or damaging the
transverse bend portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A protective liner for
a truck bed structure having a floor, a front wall, and opposed
side walls, the truck bed side walls and floor forming a rearward
access opening, said liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall and a front wall;
said liner bottom wall and front wall integrally joined by a
transverse curved bend portion;
said liner bottom wall and front wall being in ribbed form
including a plurality of adjacent ribs;
each said rib located in a given longitudinally extending vertical
plane defining a first bottom wall rib segment and a second front
wall rib segment;
said liner first and second rib segments stopping short of said
transverse bend portion, and said first bottom wall rib segment
connected to said transverse bond portion by a step-down portion.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A protective liner for a truck bed structure
having a floor, a front wall, and opposed side walls, the truck bed
side walls and floor forming a rearward access opening, said liner
comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall and bottom wall including a plurality of
rib-like segments;
said liner side walls and bottom wall including rearward end border
portions which are free of rib-like segments, and the rib-like
segments extending to said border portions;
said longitudinally extending bend portions having a predetermined
radius of curvature; and
said liner side wall and bottom wall border portions joined by
border fillet portions having a predetermined radius of curvature
whereby said border fillet portions closely conform with their
associated truck bed access opening corners obviating the entrance
of foreign matter between
the liner and the truck bed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A protective liner
for a truck bed structure having a floor, a front wall, and opposed
side walls, the truck bed side walls and floor forming a rearward
access opening, said liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall including a plurality of panels such that
each panel defines a longitudinally extending side rail;
said liner side walls and bottom wall including rearward end planar
border portions;
said longitudinally extending bend portions having a predetermined
radius of curvature; and
said liner side wall and bottom wall border portions joined by
border fillet portions having a predetermined radius of curvature
less than said bend portions radius of curvature whereby said
border fillet portions closely conform with their associated truck
bed access opening corners obviating the entrance of foreign matter
between the liner and the truck
bed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A protective liner for a truck bed
structure having a floor, a front wall, and opposed side walls, the
truck side walls and floor forming a rearward access opening, said
liner comprising:
a liner member adapted to be inserted in the truck bed, said liner
member having a bottom wall and opposed side walls;
longitudinally extending bend portions connecting each said liner
side wall with said liner bottom wall;
each said liner side wall including a plurality of panels;
each panel including a riser portion and a tread portion extending
from the upper terminus of its associated riser portion, the
juncture of each panel riser and tread portion defining a
longitudinally extending side rail;
said liner side walls characterized in that the panels providing
strength to resist longitudinal bending stresses while the
longitudinally extending panel side walls being operative to absorb
cargo impact and frictional forces;
said liner side walls and bottom wall defining a rearward
substantially rectangular opening providing access for receiving
material to be transported;
said liner bottom wall including a plurality of longitudinally
extending ribs, said ribs extending rearwardly to a bottom wall
border portion free of said ribs;
said panels extending rearwardly to side wall border portions free
of said panels;
each side wall lowermost riser portion having its lower terminus
integral with its associated longitudinally extending bend
portion;
said longitudinally extending bend portions having a predetermined
radius of curvature;
said liner side wall border portions joined to said bottom wall
border portion by fillet portions having a predetermined radius of
curvature whereby said border fillet portions closely conform with
their associated truck bed access opening corners obviating the
entrance of foreign matter between the liner and the truck bed.
.Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to molded plastic liners for truck cargo
beds and more particularly to a one-piece protective liner for a
pick-up truck or the like.
Various truck bed liners have been disclosed in prior art patents.
Examples of such liners are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,749 to
Lambitz, et al., issued Sept. 13, 1977 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,481
to Nix, et al., issued Sept. 5, 1978. One problem with prior art
truck liners concerns preventing moisture retention between the
liner and the truck bed to reduce rusting and corrosion. Truck beds
are particularly damaged by crevice corrosion which develops in
localized areas because of small volumes of stagnant water trapped
in surface depessions or corrugation troughs such as by clumps of
mud. The condition is worsened where portions of the metal are
covered such as by a truck bed liner.
A frequent trouble spot with prior art truck liners molded in
one-piece is their lack of strength in critical bend and sidewall
areas where impacting cargo may shorten the liner service life.
Another problem encountered in prior art molded truck bed liners is
their inability to maintain proper conformance of the liner with
the truck bed when heated since the plastic material has a tendency
to distort causing the liner walls to develop bows or waves.
A further concern is providing a close fit between the truck bed
and liner, such as the access opening corner areas, to prevent the
entrance of water and dirt and to provide an aesthetically pleasing
appearance.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a unitary
molded truck liner having high strength for rugged durability while
reducing moisture retention between the liner and the truck bed to
minimize corrosion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
one-piece truck bed liner having a ribbed construction that
strengthens critical cargo impact areas while providing resistance
to temperature induced distortion forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The protective liner of the present invention includes a molded
one-piece construction having a generally box-shaped configuration
adapted to be nested in a truck cargo bed. The liner side walls are
molded in simulated shingle-like form to provide a plurality of
substantially continuous longitudinally extending stepped panels.
Each of the panels includes an upwardly inclined riser portion
terminating in a tread portion extending laterally from the upper
terminus of its riser portion. The juncture of the panel riser and
treat portions define a longitudinally extending substantially
continuous side rail to resist longitudinal bending stresses which
may occur when the liner is exposed to high temperatures. In
addition, the side rails serve to absorb impact and frictional
forces during the loading and transporting of cargo.
The liner bottom wall and front wall, integrally connected by a
transverse bend portion, are in ribbed form of inverted U-shaped
rib segments extending substantially throughout the length of the
liner bottom wall, and the height of the liner front wall. The bend
portion is free of rib segments and is separated from the bottom
wall ribbed section by a transition step-down tangent rib section.
This feature enables cargo to be supported on the liner bottom wall
ribs and in contact with the front wall ribs while being maintained
in spaced non-contacting relation to the transverse bend portion.
The reduced or shallower bottom wall ribs adjacent the transverse
bend portion thus prevent the corners of cargo from gauging or
damaging the bend portion because the corners of such cargo cannot
engage the bend portion due to the unique rib design.
It is another feature of the present invention to have the side
wall stepped panels stop short of the rearward access opening of
the liner to define vertical and horizontally extending border
portions having corner fillets which closely conform with the truck
bed corners. A customized liner is thus provided that minimizes the
collection of moisture and dirt between the liner and the truck
bed.
A further feature of the present invention resides in a stepped
construction formed at the uppermost part of the liner front wall.
This stepped construction permits the liner to match each top rail
formation of the various truck manufacturers so that the liner
closely fits any conventional truck cargo bed.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent, upon reading the following description of which the
attached drawings form a part.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up truck showing the truck
bed liner of the present invention mounted within the bed of the
truck.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line
2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the left-hand side wall portion of the truck
bed liner;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the
transverse bend portion of the liner and the associated truck bed
bottom and side walls;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially
on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line
5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line
6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the left-hand portion of
the truck bed liner disclosed in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line
8--8 of FIG. 2 showing details of the liner bottom wall and side
wall; and
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, taken on line
9--9 of FIG. 2, of the corner juncture at the left-hand side wall
and bottom wall of the liner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a conventional
pick-up truck 10, including a cab 11 and a truck bed or cargo
compartment 12. Cargo bed 12 includes a bottom wall or floor 13
comprising elongated inverted channels 14 and troughs 15 as seen in
FIG. 4. The truck bed further includes a front wall 16, a left-hand
side wall 17 and a right hand side wall 18, with the front and side
walls 16, 17 and 18 having top rail or ledge portions 19, 20 and
21, respectively. A tail gate 22, pivotally mounted for swinging
movement about a horizontal axis, is shown in its open position,
supported by toggle link bar assemblies 23.
As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, a truck bed liner is indicated
generally at 24 and comprises a unitary or one-piece molded body
liner 26, inserted or nested in the truck bed, and a unitary molded
tail gate liner 28. The tail gate liner is secured in a suitable
manner on the inner wall of the tail gate 22.
The truck body liner 26 is shown comprising a bottom wall 30, a
front wall 31 and opposed left-hand side wall 32 and right-hand
side wall 33. The plastic box-like liner 26 is preferably formed of
a continuous plastic sheet having a thermoformed average wall
thickness of the order of five millimeters of a polyethylene
plastic material.
FIG. 2 shows the body liner 26 including a transverse bend portion
34 connecting the liner front wall 31 with the liner bottom wall
30. Longitudinally extending bend portions are formed at 35 and at
36, connecting the left-hand and right-hand side walls 32 and 33
respectively, with the bottom wall 30. As seen in FIG. 1, the liner
side walls 32 and 33 terminate in outwardly extending top flange
portions 37 and 38 respectively, while the front wall 31 terminates
in a forwardly extending top flange portion 39. As best seen in
FIG. 8 for flange 37, the side and front wall top flange portions
are of an extent to completely cover and protect the upper ledge or
rail portions of the truck bed side and front walls.
Side wall 32 has a universal well 40 enclosing a wheel well on the
left-hand side of the pick-up truck. An identical well is provided
on the liner right-hand side wall for the truck right-hand wheel
well which is not shown in the drawings.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the liner front wall 31 is formed at its
uppermost portion with a first stepped angle portion 41 and a
second stepped angle portion 42 of substantially uniform section
with the stepped angle portion 42 integrally joined by a third
angle portion 43 to the front wall top flange portion 39. The
stepped angle portions 41, 42, and 43 at the top of the liner front
wall 31 permits the liner to match each top rail formation of the
various truck manufacturers such that the liner 26 closely fits any
conventional truck cargo box or bed. Thus, the largest angle
portion 43 accommodates a maximum return flange portion 46 of the
front rail while the angle portions 42 and 41 are arranged to
receive optional flange shapes.
As the liner 26 is substantially symmetrical about its longitudinal
median plane the liner side walls are formed in opposed mirror
image relation. Accordingly, only the left-hand side wall 32 is
detailed in the drawings.
FIG. 8 shows the side wall 32 having a unique steplike or simulated
shingle form comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending
substantially continuous wedge-shaped stepped panels. In the
disclosed embodiment each stepped panel, such as the lowermost
panel "A", includes an upwardly and inwardly inclined riser portion
50, integral with bend portion 36, and an angularly disposed tread
portion 52. The tread portion 52 preferably extends outwardly at
substantially a right angle from the upper terminus of its
associated riser portion 50 with the juncture of the riser and
tread portions defining a longitudinally extending substantially
continuous side rail 53 of "rope-rib" shape.
In a similar manner, the next adjacent or upper panel "B" comprises
an upwardly and inwardly inclined riser portion 54, integral with
tread portion 52, and an angularly disposed tread portion 56
extending outwardly from the upper terminus of its associated riser
portion 54. The panels "A" and "B" are substantially identical with
the exception that panel "B" riser portion 54 has a height h1 of
about 14 centimeters while the panel "A" riser portion has a height
h2 of about 10 centimeters.
The juncture of the riser portion 54 and the tread portion 56
define an upper side rail 57 which, as seen in FIG. 1, extends
substantially continuously in a horizontal manner throughout the
longitudinal extent of left-hand side wall 32. While in the
disclosed embodiment of the present invention only stepped panels
"A" and "B" are disclosed it is understood that additional panels
could be provided on the side walls. The side wall 32 terminates in
an upper planar wall portion 58 which extends in a substantially
vertical manner from the "B" panel tread portion 56 to the upper
flange portion .[.38.]. .Iadd.37 .Iaddend.overlapping the truck top
rail 21.
In the construction described above, the stepped panels "A" and "B"
provide the liner side wall 32 with strength to resist longitudinal
bending stresses tending to warp or deform the side wall about a
vertical axis. The stepped panels, including their side rails 53
and 57, also provide strength to resist shearing or impact stresses
preventing high temperature induced forces from bowing the side
walls in a wave-like manner.
The stepped wall panel design of the present invention permits
limited bending of the side wall 32 about a longitudinal axis from
its top flange to its lower bend portion 35. The design permits the
side wall to flex and absorb cargo impact forces. Further the
design accommodates for small variations in the vertical height
between the truck top rail 21 and the bottom wall 13 of the carbo
box enabling flush lapped contact of flange 37 with the top ledge
21. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the side rail 57 having its tread portion 56
substantially coextensive with the top portion 59 of the left-hand
well 40. The co-planar relationship of the panel tread portion 56
and the well top 59 contribute to the lateral flexibility of the
liner side wall 32 to absorb the cargo impact forces. The juncture
of riser 56 and the planar wall portion 58 provide uninterrupted
hinge-like flexure of the planar wall portion 58. Thus, the side
wall flange 37 is free to flex in lapped conformity with the top
truck rail 21 providing flush contact therebetween for maximum
protection of the top rail surface together with a finished
appearance of the liner.
A feature of the liner resides in side rails 53 and 57 acting as
protective fender-like portions reducing liner wear. The truck bed
side rails 53 and 57, of rope-rib shape, provide line contact
engagement with cargo being loaded and transported minimizing
frictional wear on the liner side walls. The angled side rails 53
and 57 also serve as integral structural gussets or spars to resist
liner distortion.
FIGS. 3 and 4 include ribbed section 60, terminating at the liner
forward end in reduced colinear ribbed tangent section 64 (FIG. 5)
defining a stepdown transition between the ribbed section 60 and
the bend portion (FIG. 6). The ribbed sections 60, 64 and 67 define
a plurality of rib segments 61, 65 and 68 respectively, located in
a given longitudinally extending vertical plane. The given plane
thus defines a first bottom wall rib segment 61, a second bottom
wall step-down tangent rib segment 65 and a third front wall
vertical rib segment 68. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3 each of the
tangent and vertical rib segments 65 and 68 respectively, extend to
the transverse bend portion 34 free of rib segments.
FIG. 4 shows the bottom wall rib section 60 including a plurality
of adjacent inverted U-shaped ribs 61 separated by furrows 62
extending in a continuous manner substantially throughout the
length of the liner bottom wall 30. The inverted U-shaped ribs 61
define longitudinally extending passages 63 each having an open
cross-sectional area wherein the passage height "H" and the width
"W" are of substantially equal dimension. In the disclosed form,
"H" and "W" are both of the order of 12 millimeters to define
substantially square cross sectioned ribs. This arrangement
together with the liner thickness, about 5 millimeters in the form
shown, provides strength enabling the bottom wall to resist cargo
bending stresses.
As seen in FIG. 4, each of the truck bed liner troughs 15 is in
open communication with at least one rib passage 63 insuring
optimum venting air flow between the truck floor 13 and the liner
bottom wall 30 to obviate moisture accumulation in the truck bed.
The rib section 60 is designed with hat-shaped ribs having an
overall width dimension "X" substantially equal to the dimension
"Y" between adjacent ribs 61. The dimensions "X" and "Y" are each a
predetermined distance less than the width "Z" of an inverted floor
channel 14 to provide the above-mentioned open communication
between liner bottom wall passages 63 and troughs 15. In the form
shown, the dimension "Z" for most truck bed inverted channels 14 is
typically about 40 millimeters while the substantially equal
dimensions "X" and "Y" are of about 30 millimeters, i.e., "X" and
"Y" are about three-quarters of the distance "Z".
With reference to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the lower bottom
wall or step-down tangent rib section 64 has inverted U-shaped or
hat-shaped rib segments 65 equal in their width dimension "W" with
rib segments or ribs 61. The ribs 65 define passages 66 with a
height "H" of the order of 6 millimeters or approximately one-half
the height "H" of the passages 63 formed by the ribs 61 in the
liner bottom wall 30. FIG. 6 shows the liner front wall 31 rib
section 67 identical to the tangent rib section 64 with the
vertically extending inverted U-shaped ribs 68 defining venting air
and water flow passages 69 aligned with passages 66 and 63.
FIG. 3 shows the rib section 60 stopping short of the transverse
bend portion 34, defining therebetween the liner bottom wall
step-down tangent rib section 64 providing a transition between the
rib section 60 and the transverse bend portion 34 resulting in a
clearance space between cargo, indicated by phantom lines at "C",
and the transverse bend portion 34. Cargo supported on the bottom
wall rib segments 61 and in juxtaposed relation to the front wall
rib segments 68 will be maintained in spaced non-impacting relation
to the bend portion 34. This construction, namely the reduced or
shallower bottom wall rib segments 65 adjacent bend portion 34,
prevents the corners of cargo from .[.gauging.]. .Iadd.gouging
.Iaddend.or damaging the bend portion because the corners of such
cargo cannot engage the bend portion due to the unique rib
design.
Turning now to FIG. 9, another feature of the present invention
involves the arrangement wherein the stepped panels "A" and "B" of
the side walls stop short of the rear edges 70 and 71 of the side
walls 32 and 33 respectively, and the edge 72 of the liner bottom
wall 30. FIG. 9 shows the bend portion 35 formed with a first
radius "R" of a predetermined dimension sufficient to allow the
side and bottom walls to adjust to variations in height of the
truck bed side walls 17 and 18.
FIGS. 1 and 9 show the rearward access opening of the liner being
defined by vertically extending left hand border portion 74 for the
liner side walls 32 and a horizontal transversely extending border
portion 76 of the liner bottom wall. The border portion 74 defines
a liner left-hand fillet 77 having a predetermined radius of
curvature "R-1" which is substantially less than the bend portion
radius of curvature "R" permitting the fillet 77 to closely conform
with the truck bed corner. The importance of this corner
construction not only provides a custom appearance to the
protective liner, but substantially reduces the amount of foreign
material and moisture that may enter between the liner and the
truck bed bottom and side walls.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing
disclosure is explanatory in nature rather than limiting, the
invention being limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *