WO1997033769A1

WO1997033769A1 - Support frame

Info

Publication number: WO1997033769A1
Application number: PCT/IL1997/000089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avraham Amgar
Original assignee: Magen Rechev Ltd.
Priority date: 1996-03-11
Filing date: 1997-03-10
Publication date: 1997-09-18
Also published as: AU2228697A; IL117442A0

Abstract

For use in a truck having a cargo bed (12), a support frame (10) slidingly attached to the cargo bed (12). The support frame (10) is deployable to cover at least a portion of the cargo bed (12) and is retractable to substantially uncover the cargo bed (12). The support frame (10) preferably includes a pair of rails (18) fixedly attached to the cargo bed (12), and a plurality of support ribs (16) arranged for generally horizontal sliding motion along the pair of rails (18). The support ribs (16) may be selectively positioned adjacent each other and spaced from each other along the pair of rails (18).

Description

SUPPORT FRAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to support frames for cargo beds of trucks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many trucks with open cargo beds, such as pickup trucks, may be provided with support frames, which are generally ribbed structures fixedly attached to the bed of the truck. Support frames are particularly useful for protecting and containing tall cargo, for example, furniture or large appliances, such as refrigerators. Support frames may be covered with a suitable covering, such as canvas, for protecting the cargo from rain and wind during transit.

In general, once the support frame is fixedly attached to the truck bed, the truck is always used together with the frame. It is inconvenient and time-consuming to dismantle the support frame in order to convert the truck bed back to a completely open cargo bed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved, retractable support frame for a truck with an open cargo bed. The support frame of the present invention includes a plurality of support ribs which may be connected by linkage elements which are hinged like scissors. The support ribs may be bunched together or spread apart by sliding them generally horizontally along a channel fixedly attached to the truck bed. The support ribs may be open at an upper portion thereof, or they may be provided with a covering. In addition, the present invention provides a device for quickly and easily attaching and tightening the covering on the support frame, as well as for releasing the covering therefrom.

Thus, the present invention allows a truck to be used with or without a support frame, without the time-consuming burden of attaching/dismantling the entire support frame to/from the truck bed.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for use in a truck having a cargo bed, a support frame slidingly attached to the cargo bed, wherein the support frame is deployable to cover at least a portion of the cargo bed and is retractable to substantially uncover the cargo bed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame includes a pair of rails fixedly attached to the cargo bed, and a plurality of support ribs arranged for generally horizontal sliding motion along the pair of rails, wherein the support ribs may be selectively positioned adjacent each other and spaced from each other along the pair of rails.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one linkage element is connected between two of the support ribs.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one linkage element is configured to maintain a substantially equal distance between each of the support ribs.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one pair of linkage elements is connected between two of the support ribs, the at least one pair of the linkage elements being pivotally crossed with each other in a scissors-like manner.

Preferably a fastener is provided for fixing the plurality of support ribs at a desired position along the pair of rails.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a covering is provided which covers at least a portion of the support frame.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided for attaching and tightening the covering on the support frame. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an endcap is removably attached to at least one of said rails.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a truck including a chassis, drive apparatus, a cargo bed, and a support frame slidingly attached to the cargo bed, wherein the support frame is deployable to cover at least a portion of the cargo bed and is retractable to substantially uncover the cargo bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a support frame, installed on a cargo bed of a truck, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame including support ribs which are positioned adjacent each other; Fig. 2 is a simplified, partially cutaway, side view illustration of a portion of the support frame of Fig. 1, with the support ribs spaced from each other;

Fig. 3 is a simplified, partially sectional, rear view illustration of the support frame of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the support frame of Fig. 1, with the support ribs spaced from each other along the length of the cargo bed;

Fig. 5 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a support frame with a covering, installed on a cargo bed of a truck, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support frame including support ribs which are positioned adjacent each other; Fig. 6 is a simplified side view illustration of a portion of the support frame of

Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the support frame of Fig. 5, with the support ribs spaced from each other along the cargo bed and the covering spread out;

Figs. 8A and 8B are simplified pictorial illustrations of a device for attaching and tightening the covering on the support frame of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 9A and 9B are simplified sectional illustrations of the device of Figs. 8A and 8B, before and after tightening the covering on the support frame of Fig. 5, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a support frame 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment, installed on a cargo bed 12 of a truck 14.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, support frame 10 includes a plurality of support ribs 16, which are arranged for generally horizontal sliding motion along a pair of rails 18 which are fixedly attached to the sides of cargo bed 12. Support ribs 16 are preferably constructed of a sturdy material, such as steel or aluminum, and may have a generally inverted U-shape or any other shape suitable for protecting cargo (not shown). In Fig. 1, support ribs 16 are positioned adjacent each other.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which is a simplified, partially cutaway, side view illustration of a portion of support frame 10. Each support rib 16 is preferably provided with a roller 20 which rolls and/or slides in one of rails 18. Preferably, a pair of linkage elements 22 are connected between two support ribs 16, each pair of linkage elements 22 being pivotally crossed with each other at a central pivot 23 in a scissors-like manner.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which is a simplified, partially sectional, rear view illustration of support frame 10. Preferably each support rib 16 includes an upper transverse portion 24 and a pair of legs 26. Each leg 26 preferably includes an outer 28 and an inner 30 hollow leg sections, fastened together by fasteners, such as an upper 32 and a lower

34 rivets. Roller 20 is preferably rotatably attached to inner leg section 30.

Each pair of linkage elements 22 is preferably interposed between the hollow leg sections 28 and 30, pivotally attached to lower rivet 34, and pivotally attached to a runner 36 by means of a rivet 38. Runner 36 slides in the hollow leg sections 28 and 30.

As support ribs 16 slide generally horizontally along rails 18, linkage elements 22 open or close like scissors, and each runner 36 slides generally vertically inside leg sections 28 and 30. Preferably linkage elements 22 are configured to maintain a substantially equal distance between each of support ribs 16.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a simplified pictorial illustration of support frame 10. It is seen that support ribs 16 are spaced substantially equidistant from each other along the length of cargo bed 12. A pin 40 inserted in a hole 42 formed in one or both of rails 18, or other suitable hardware, may be used to fasten support ribs 16 at a desired position along rails 18. Preferably more than one hole 42 is formed along the length of rails 18, as seen in Fig. 2, such as corresponding to the fully expanded position shown in Fig. 4 and the fully contracted position shown in Fig. 1. It is appreciated that other holes 42 may be provided, thereby allowing fixing of support ribs 16 at a plurality of positions along rails 18. Instead of pin 40, a lock (not shown) may be placed in hole 42 for locking support frame 10 to cargo bed 12.

Referring again to Fig. 1, it is seen that when support ribs 16 are brought adjacent each another, pin 40 may be inserted through one of holes 42 for fixing support ribs 16 in a contracted position. A strap 44 may be tied around support ribs 16 for further holding them in place.

Referring again particularly to Fig. 2, it is seen that an endcap 47 may be located at a rear end of each of the rails 18. Endcap 47 substantially prevents support ribs 16 from sliding beyond and out of rails 18. Endcap 47 may be removed, thereby permitting easy sliding removal of support ribs 16 from rails 18.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5 which is a simplified pictorial illustration of a support frame 50, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Support frame 50 is preferably provided with a covering 52, typically made of canvas, which is shown folded and contracted in the orientation of Fig. 5. Reference is now made to Fig. 6 which is a simplified side view illustration of a portion of support frame 50, covering 52 being omitted for clarity. Support frame 50 preferably includes a plurality of support ribs 54. A lower end 56 of each support rib 54 preferably slides in a rail 58 by means of a lower roller 60. An upper end 62 of each support rib 54 preferably slides along a roof portion 64 by means of an upper roller 66. Preferably, two pairs of lower 68 and upper 70 linkage elements are connected between each two consecutive support ribs 54, each pair of linkage elements 68 and 70 being pivotally crossed with each other at a pair of central pivots 72 and 74, respectively, in a scissors-like manner. The construction and operation of linkage elements 68 and 70 is preferably as described hereinabove for linkage elements 22 with reference to Fig. 3. Reference is now made to Fig. 7 which is a simplified pictorial illustration of support frame 50, with support ribs 54 spaced from each other along a cargo bed 76 of a truck 78 and with covering 52 spread out. As described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 and 4, any suitable hardware, such as a pin or lock (not shown) may be used to fasten support ribs 54 at a desired position along rails 58. It is appreciated that covering 52 may also be used with support frame 10 illustrated and described with reference to Figs. 1 - 4. However, support frame 50 is preferable because of the support provided by roof portion 64.

Reference is now made to Figs. 8A and 8B, which illustrate a device 80 for attaching and tightening covering 52 on either of support frames 10 and 50.

Device 80 preferably includes a knob 82 and handle 84. A counterbored hole 86 is preferably formed in knob 82, and a generally circular recess 88 is preferably formed on a face 90 of device 80 opposite to handle 84.

Reference is now made to Figs. 9A and 9B which illustrate device 80 being used to tighten covering 52 on support frame 10. It is appreciated that the technique of tightening covering 52 on support frame 50 is substantially the same as for support frame 10.

In Fig. 9 A, it is seen that device 80 is preferably pivotally attached to leg 26 by means of lower rivet 34 passing through counterbored hole 86. Preferably a spring 92 is located under a head 94 of lower rivet 34 to tension device 80 against leg 26. Covering 52 is preferably provided with one or more holes 96, through which, in the prior art, a rope is usually passed for tying covering 52 to the truck bed. In the present invention, covering 52 is positioned on leg 26 so that device 80 protrudes through hole 96, as seen in Fig. 9A.

In Fig. 9B, it is seen that by turning handle 84 in the direction of an arrow 98, recess 88 is preferably brought into tight contact with a generally spherical protrusion 100, which protrudes from outer leg portion 28 of leg 26. In this manner, covering 52 is pulled tightly against and fixedly attached to leg 26.

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is hat has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope vention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims

C L A I M S We claim:

1. For use in a truck having a cargo bed, a support frame slidingly attached to said cargo bed, wherein said support frame is deployable to cover at least a portion of said cargo bed and is retractable to substantially uncover said cargo bed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support frame comprises: a pair of rails fixedly attached to said cargo bed; and a plurality of support ribs arranged for generally horizontal sliding motion along said pair of rails, wherein said support ribs may be selectively positioned adjacent each other and spaced from each other along said pair of rails.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and comprising at least one linkage element connected between two of said support ribs.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 and wherein said at least one linkage element is configured to maintain a substantially equal distance between each of said support ribs.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein at least one pair of linkage elements is connected between two of said support ribs, said at least one pair of said linkage elements being pivotally crossed with each other in a scissors-like manner.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 - 5 and comprising a fastener for fixing said plurality of support ribs at a desired position along said pair of rails.

7. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 - 5 and comprising a covering which covers at least a portion of said support frame.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 and comprising a device for attaching and tightening said covering on said support frame.

9. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 - 5 and comprising an endcap removably attached to at least one of said rails.

10. A truck comprising : a chassis; drive apparatus; a cargo bed; and a support frame slidingly attached to said cargo bed, wherein said support frame is deployable to cover at least a portion of said cargo bed and is retractable to substantially uncover said cargo bed.