Patent Application
20210101647
The present invention relates to storage areas provided in a vehicle and, more particularly, to storage compartments incorporated into a vehicle and structured for storing and transporting elongated items.
Users of vehicles, in particular pickup trucks, frequently desire to load, secure, and transport elongated items such as fishing poles and skis. However, it may be difficult to secure such items for transport in a pickup cargo bed. In addition, such items may be easily seen when positioned in an uncovered cargo bed, thereby subjecting the items to possible theft from an unattended vehicle. Unprotected items residing in the cargo bed may also be subject to weather damage. These items also occupy cargo bed space that may otherwise be usable for transporting other items.
In one aspect of the embodiments described herein, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a cargo bed having a sidewall. The sidewall has a first wall portion facing into the cargo bed a second wall portion residing opposite and spaced apart from the first wall portion in a direction away from the cargo bed. A cavity is formed between the first and second wall portions. An insert is positioned within the cavity. The insert defines at least one elongated compartment extending along the cavity in a direction leading from a rear end of the vehicle toward a front end of the vehicle.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments described herein and together with the description serve to explain principles of embodiments described herein.
Embodiments described herein relate to elongated storage compartments incorporated into walls of a vehicle. In a particular embodiment, the elongated compartments are incorporated into one or more sidewalls of a pickup truck. The elongated compartments may be provided in molded inserts structured to be positioned inside the sidewalls, between an interiorly-facing (i.e., facing toward the vehicle interior) wall portion of the sidewall and another portion of the sidewall facing toward an exterior of the vehicle and positioned opposite the interiorly-facing wall portion. The elongated compartments may be used to store, transport, and secure relatively long items such as skis and fishing poles. The elongated compartments may be accessible from a rear portion of the sidewall, when the tailgate is open. The elongated compartments may be closed and concealed from view by closing the tailgate. The compartments may also be secured or locked by locking the closed tailgate using the tailgate lock already incorporated into the tailgate.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. Unless otherwise noted, similar reference characters are used to describe similar features on separate elements and/or embodiments.
Referring to
The sidewall 24 may have a cavity 24c formed between the first and second wall portions 24a, 24b. An insert 26 may be positioned within the cavity 24c. The insert 26 may define at least one elongated compartment 28 extending along the sidewall cavity 24c in a direction leading from a rear end 20r of the pickup truck toward a front end 20f of the pickup truck 20. As used herein, the term “elongated compartment” refers to a compartment having a length dimension L1 of the compartment greater than a width or diameter D1 of the compartment. The compartment may be a distinct, continuous volume of space in which one or more items may be positioned for storage, transport, and/or other purposes.
In one or more arrangements, depending on the desired length(s) of the elongated compartment(s) 28, the insert 26 may be formed from one or more individually formed insert elements positioned end-to-end within the cavity 24c to form elongated compartment(s) having the desired length(s). Each insert element may include one or more compartment portions or segments which, when placed in coaxial alignment within the sidewall 24, combine to form a single elongated compartment 28. Insert 26 and/or any constituent insert elements may be molded or otherwise fabricated using any suitable methods and materials.
A forward end of an elongated compartment 28 (i.e., an end of the elongated compartment residing closer to the front of the vehicle than to the rear of the vehicle) may have a wall positioned therein, to prevent items or parts of items stored in the compartment from falling out of the forward end of the elongated compartment during motion of the vehicle. In addition, elongated compartments having different lengths and/or diameters may be formed in the inserts and insert elements described herein.
In one or more arrangements, the sidewall cavity 24c may extend an entire distance from a rear end 24r of the sidewall 24 to a cab 20c of the pickup truck. Alternatively, the sidewall cavity 24c may be shorter than the length of the sidewall 24.
As shown in the drawings, the insert 26 may be structured to reside above an associated rear wheel well of the truck when positioned in the sidewall cavity 24c. In one or more arrangements, the insert 26 may extend an entire length of the sidewall cavity 24c. For example, the insert 26 may extend the distance from the rear end 24r of the sidewall to a location within a few inches of the cab 20c. Alternatively, the insert 26 may extend along only a portion of the length of the cavity 24c.
In one or more arrangements, and as shown in
Referring again to
The insert(s) and compartment(s) in the other sidewall 124 may be structured in the same manner as the insert(s) and compartment(s) in sidewall 24, or the insert(s) and compartment(s) in the other sidewall 124 may be structured differently. For example, compartment(s) in the first sidewall insert 26 described may have different sizes and/or shapes that the compartment(s) formed in the second sidewall insert 126. This may increase a user's flexibility of use.
In one or more arrangements, the compartments 28, 128 may have cylindrical shapes. In other arrangements, compartments may have any of a variety of other shapes, depending on such factors as the shape(s) of items to be stored therein.
As seen in
Use of the elongated storage compartments described herein offers the advantages of concealment, securement, and protection of the items positioned in the compartments. Use of such storage compartments also frees cargo bed space for other items.
In other aspects, a vehicle is disclosed herein which includes a sidewall having a first wall portion facing into an interior portion of the vehicle, and a second wall portion residing opposite and spaced apart from the first wall portion and facing in a direction away from the interior of the vehicle. A sidewall may be defined as a wall extending along a side of the vehicle (i.e., a left or right side of the vehicle, from the perspective of a user seated in the vehicle and facing toward a front of the vehicle). The interior portion of the vehicle may be a portion of the vehicle (for example, a cargo bed) located between opposite (i.e., left and right) sidewalls of the vehicle. A cavity is formed between the first and second wall portions. An insert is positioned within the cavity, the insert defining at least one elongated compartment extending along the cavity.
In the above detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof. In the figures, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, figures, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e. open language). The phrase “at least one of . . . and . . . ” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g. AB, AC, BC or ABC).
Aspects herein can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.
