The present invention relates to transformable truck bed where the sides that enclose the truck bed can be inserted, removed, or altered in order to accommodate transporting various objects.
In recent years, the demand for trucks having the ability to tow and haul large loads has increased greatly. As a result, many manufacturers have begun to produce vehicles which have increased amount of towing capacity. Although commercial semi-trucks typically have the highest towing capacity available, these types of trucks are often uncomfortable to ride in. One way to achieve this high towing capacity, while still having increased level of comfort is through a commercial semi-truck that has been converted to have the comfort features of a conventional light-duty pickup truck. Combining the comfort features of a light-duty pickup truck with the robustness and towing capacity of a typical commercial semi-truck has substantially achieved the goal of having a truck which is capable of towing extremely high loads. An example of this is the CXT model truck, made by International Truck and Engine Corporation.
These types of trucks are capable of towing different types of trailers. In addition, these trucks can tow trailers by using various types of trailer hitches. For example, the truck can tow a trailer using a conventional trailer hitch located at the rear end of the vehicle, or a “gooseneck” type of trailer hitch which is typically attached to the bed of the pickup truck. However, it can be inconvenient for a user to purchase a truck which has the capability to accommodate a gooseneck hitch because these types of trucks often have a pickup bed with a reduced height which cannot transport cargo very easily. Typically, the truck designed for a gooseneck trailer hitch has a bed which does not have side walls, or will be equipped with short side walls which provide minimal enclosure of the pickup bed, limiting the type of cargo that can be transported.
By contrast, a truck that is not equipped for use with a gooseneck trailer hitch usually has side walls of considerable height substantially enclosing the bed, which increases the ability of the user to transport cargo in the bed. In order to tow a trailer having a gooseneck hitch, such as a fifth wheel trailer, one must have a truck where there are no obstructions surrounding the connection point between the gooseneck hitch and the truck so that the trailer can rotate freely with respect to the truck when performing various driving operations, such as maneuvering a turn. When used with a gooseneck trailer hitch, the truck cannot have obstructions blocking the movement of the gooseneck hitch, such as side walls to a pickup bed. Thus, the user of these vehicles is forced to decide what type of towing mechanism and side walls to use at the time of purchase. Essentially, the user must decide whether they are going to purchase a truck that has higher side walls for transporting cargo in the bed, or a truck that is designed differently to accommodate a gooseneck mechanism. Thus, if a user wishes to tow trailers using a gooseneck mechanism as well as transport various cargo, then the user must purchase two different trucks having these capabilities.
It would therefore be desirable to create a bed where the user could have the capability of attaching a trailer having a gooseneck trailer hitch, but also have sidewalls enclosing the bed when the trailer having the gooseneck trailer hitch is not in use.
The present invention is a transformable truck bed having at least one base side wall, a bed connected to the base side wall, and at least one insert side wall operably associated with the base side wall.
The insert side wall is selectively engageable with the base side wall where the insert side wall will increase the overall height of the base side wall relative to the bed.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a perspective view of a transformable truck bed in a first position, according to the present invention;
b is a side view of a transformable truck bed in a first position with the base tailgate folded down, according to the present invention;
c is a rear view of a transformable truck bed in a first position, according to the present invention;
a is a perspective view of a cap having a series of holes, used with a transformable truck bed, according to the present invention;
b is a side view of a cap used with a transformable truck bed, according to the present invention;
a is a first side view of a pin shaft assembly along with a cap having a rod for securing the cap in place, used in a transformable truck bed assembly, according to the present invention;
b is a second side view of a pin shaft assembly for securing a cap to a base side wall used in a transformable truck bed assembly, according to the present invention;
a is a perspective view of a transformable truck bed in a second position, according to the present invention;
b is a side view of a transformable truck bed in a second position, according to the present invention;
c is a rear view of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention;
a is a side view of a second alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a first position, according to the present invention;
b is a side view of a second alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention;
c is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a first position, according to the present invention;
d is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention;
a is side view of a fourth alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a first position, according to the present invention;
b is a perspective fourth view of a third alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a first position, according to the present invention;
c is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly changing from a first position to a second position, according to the present invention;
d is a side view of a fourth alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention;
e is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention;
a is a side view of a fifth alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a first position, according to the present invention; and
b is an enlarged side view of a fifth alternate embodiment of a transformable truck bed assembly in a second position, according to the present invention.
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to FIGS 1a-1c, a truck 10 having a transformable truck bed 12 is shown in its stowed position, or first position. The truck 10 incorporating the present invention is larger in size than a conventional, light-duty pickup truck, and is used for towing extremely large loads. This type of truck 10 is typically a commercial semi-truck which incorporates various features of light-duty trucks to have the comfort level of a light-duty truck, as well as the robustness and towing capacity of a commercial semi-truck.
When the transformable truck bed 12 is in the first position, it has a bed 14, base side walls 16, a base front wall 18, and a base tailgate 20. It is preferred that the base side walls 16 and the base tailgate 20 only extend a couple of inches above the bed 14 so that they do not extend to high and obstruct objects such as a trailer (not shown) being towed by a gooseneck trailer hitch (not shown) when the truck 10 is being used to tow a trailer. The base tailgate 20 connects to the base side walls 16 by a primary hinge (not shown) that is located at each end of the base tailgate 20, connecting the tailgate 20 to the bed 14. Therefore, the base tailgate 20 can pivot about the primary hinges, allowing the base tailgate 20 to either be in an upright position, as shown in
As shown generally in
An alternate embodiment for attaching the cap 28 to the base side walls 16 would be to attach the cap 28 to the base side wall 16 with a typical hinge (not shown). Thus, the cap 28 could rotate about the hinge and rest against the inside of the base side wall 16, exposing the receiving holes 24 when access to the receiving holes becomes necessary. Another embodiment of the cap 28 is shown in
Another embodiment for connecting the cap 28 to the base side walls 16 is shown in
Referring to
Like the caps 28, the insert side walls 44 can have any number of applications, either for aesthetic purposes, functional purposes, or a combination of aesthetic and functional purposes. For example, the interior side of the insert side walls 44 could have cargo net 46 such that the cargo net 46 could be used to form a single storage space, or multiple storage spaces, along the base side walls 16 and the insert side walls 44. Another application includes placing lighting units inside the insert side walls 44, which could be connected to the vehicle's power supply, in order to provide lighting to the bed 12, illuminating cargo, or for purely aesthetic purposes. Yet another embodiment, shown in
Moreover, when the insert side walls 44 are being used the base tailgate 20 is removed and replaced with an insert tailgate 48. Like the base tailgate 20, the insert tailgate 48 pivots about a set of primary hinges and is placed flush with the tail end 22. It is preferred that the top surface of the insert tailgate 48 is the same height as the insert side walls 44 in relation to the bed 14 so that the insert tailgate 48 and the insert side walls 44 are even.
a-9d show an alternate embodiment of the transformable truck bed 12. In this embodiment, there is a top side wall 50 which has an angled surface 52, and a bottom side wall 54 which also has an angled surface 56. The top side wall 50 is connected to the bottom side wall 54 through the use of a hinge connection 58. When the transformable truck bed 12 is in the stowed position, or first position, shown in
Referring to
Another embodiment, shown in
Another alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in
It is preferred that in any of the embodiments described above, where the insert side walls 44 are to be stowed in the transformable truck bed 12 when the transformable truck bed 12 is in the first position, a locking mechanism (not shown) is used to secure the insert side walls 44 in the stowed position. For example, a locking pin can extend through the pivot arm 62 and into either the insert side wall 44 or the base side wall 16 in order to prevent the pivot arm 62 from rotating about the connection points 66, 68 and at an undesirable time.
It should be noted that all of the exterior components, i.e., the bed 14, the base side walls 16, the base tailgate 22, the insert side walls 44, and the insert tailgate 48, can have a class “A” finish for providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In addition, any of the parts described above can be made of either steel or composite materials. The type of material selected can be based on the type of loading requirements.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/726,262, filed Oct. 13, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60726262 | Oct 2005 | US |