Patent Application
20070176447
Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to a truck sport rack, and more particularly, to a customizable truck rack having uniquely configured vertical support members whereon decorative inserts may be interchangeably mounted.
Various types of truck racks have been developed for the general purposes of either protecting goods carried in a cargo bed of the truck or for providing structural strength in the event of a vehicle rollover. In most cases, the truck rack includes a frame member that is attached to the cargo bed of the truck and extends upwardly around a cabin of the truck, generally following the aerodynamic contours of the cabin. In this regard, a first general configuration of the truck rack usually includes mounting the frame member toward the middle of the truck. In another configuration, the rack may include another frame member mounted at the rear of the truck with side bar members interposed between the frame members, resulting in a rack that spans the entire length of the cargo bed. Various modifications to these two configurations have been developed. Typically however, the frame members are composed of hollow, cylindrical metal tubing that is bent and formed in a generally u-shape.
One of the drawbacks associated with the various configurations of current truck racks is the owner's inability to alter or modify the truck rack after installation. Although a sturdy, reliable truck rack is desirable, truck racks that are permanently mounted to the cargo bed of a truck, or that require some type of physical alteration to the truck bed such as cutting or welding, both require the truck owner to make a long term decision regarding the truck rack. In this sense, the truck owner must be completely satisfied with the design of the truck rack, or be required to cope with any resultant damage to the cargo bed should the owner wish to uninstall or modify the truck rack.
In fact, it appears that truck owners may be quite interested in a truck rack that provides them with greater flexibility to alter the design or look of the truck rack as desired. Truck owners may be especially interested if such alterations do not require the owner to make significant changes, such as removing an old rack to install a new rack, modifying the cargo bed, or altering the rack to accommodate new accessories.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a truck rack that may be easily modified to take on a new look and design, as desired by the owner. There is a need in the art for a truck rack that is structurally sound and provides the owner with a variety of options as to accessories and other components that may be utilized in conjunction with the truck rack. Finally, there is a need in the art for an innovative truck rack that may be easily mounted to a truck cargo bed without causing significant alteration to the truck and that may be modified periodically according to the tastes and preferences of the owner without requiring the significant changes to the truck rack itself.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a decorative insert for a customizable truck rack is provided. The rack may be used on any variety of vehicles, especially trucks, which include a cargo bed with opposing side walls. The rack includes opposing vertical support members and a horizontal crossbar member. The vertical support members define bottom and top ends, with the bottom ends being attachable to opposing side walls of a cargo bed of a vehicle, and the horizontal crossbar member being attachable to the top ends of the vertical support members. Thus, the rack may be modular; however, it may also be of unitary construction.
The vertical support members used in embodiments of the present invention each include a body which defines the bottom and top ends, as mentioned above. Further, the vertical support members also each include an insert bay that is disposed in the body of the vertical support member.
The insert is preferably formed from a sheet and defines a peripheral edge and a decorative face. In this regard, the insert bay is sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the decorative insert for cooperatively securing the insert thereto. Thus, the insert is positionable on the insert bay with the decorative face being exposed.
In certain implementations of the present invention, the insert bay may be sized and configured to receive the entire decorative insert secured therein. Further, the insert bay may include an aperture which defines an interior perimeter edge. The insert bay may also define inner and outer surfaces. In this regard, the insert bay may be configured to secure the decorative insert adjacent the inner surface with a decorative face of the insert being exposed through the aperture.
In addition, the vertical support member may also include a gasket element that is disposable about the interior perimeter edge of the aperture of the insert bay. The gasket element may provide for various structural and mechanical advantages, such as eliminating rattling between the insert and the insert bay, as well as providing unique aesthetic properties.
In addition, the insert bay may further include at least one bay fastener hole. The bay fastener hole may be sized and configured to receive a fastener therethrough. In this regard, the insert may also includes at least one insert fastener hole corresponding to a respective bay fastener hole. The insert fastener hole may also be sized and configured to receive a fastener therethrough for securing at least a portion of the insert to the insert bay.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insert may be substantially planar. Further, the decorative face of the insert may include a structural pattern. The pattern may include any variety of designs. For example, the pattern may be centrally disposed on the decorative face of the insert and may be a cut-out from the insert.
Indeed, one of the unique advantages of embodiments of the present invention is that the insert may be replaceably mounted to the insert bay of the vertical support as desired. Further, the entire rack may be of modular construction, which allows the rack to be easily shipped and installed. These advantages, among others, will be presented in further detail below.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
a is a side view of an exemplary insert incorporating a structural pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention;
a is a side view of another exemplary insert incorporating a structural pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention;
a is a side view of another exemplary insert incorporating a structural pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention;
a is a side view of yet another exemplary insert incorporating a structural pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are made for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, and not for purposes of limiting the same,
The rack 10 includes opposing vertical support members 18 and a horizontal crossbar member 20. The vertical support members 18 define bottom and top ends 22, 24. The bottom ends 22 are attachable to the opposing side walls 12 of the cargo bed 14 of the vehicle 16. The vertical support members 18 are preferably fabricated from metal, as detailed below; however, any material with appropriate strength characteristics may be used.
The horizontal crossbar member 20 is attachable to the top ends 24 of the vertical support members 18. The horizontal crossbar member 20, similarly to the vertical support members 18, is also preferably fabricated from metal, as also detailed below; however, any material with appropriate strength characteristics may be used. In addition, as shown in
As illustrated in
Referring now to
In an embodiment shown in
The insert bay 38 may define inner and outer surfaces 40, 42, which are respectively shown in
As mentioned above, the insert bay 38 may be formed unitarily with the vertical support member 18. Thus,
Further, as shown in
For example, the vertical support member 18 may include a single or multiple bars of various cross sections that may be attachable to the horizontal crossbar member 20 and to the opposing side walls 12. Of particular importance, the vertical support members 18 should be able to include the insert bay 38 in order to properly secure the decorative inserts 30 to the vertical support members 18. As described above, the insert bay 38 may be unitarily formed into the vertical support member 18 or formed separately and attached thereto. Thus, the insert bay 38 in such an implementation may be attached to the vertical support member 18 by use of straps, clamps, or other fasteners.
The insert bay 38 may also be retrofittable onto existing truck racks 10. Furthermore, the opposing vertical support members 18 (as well as the insert bays 38) and the horizontal crossbar member 20 may be either modular or unitarily formed. Thus, although it may be preferable to have a modular rack, which offers the benefit of easier shipping and installation, the vertical support members 18 and the horizontal crossbar member 20 may be fabricated from at least one substantially continuous piece of material that simultaneously attaches to both of the opposing side walls 12 of the cargo bed 14.
According to another exemplary embodiment, shown in
Referring again to
Other advantages of using the gasket element 56 may be purely aesthetic. For example, the gasket element 56 may be a particular color or incorporate a certain texture that is desirable to the owner. The owner may thus customize his or her rack 10 with a gasket element 56 that matches the color of the vehicle, be it black, white, pink, silver, or otherwise. The gasket element 56 may therefore serve to provide yet another customizable feature to the rack 10 according to an implementation of the present invention.
As illustrated in
Although the insert bay 38 preferably utilizes discrete fasteners 62 such as those mentioned above, it is also contemplated that clamps, adhesives, magnetic elements, pressure fit elements and designs, or other such fasteners 62 may be utilized to secure the insert 30 to the vertical support member 18 as discussed herein. Preferably, the use of such fasteners 62 allows the insert 30 to be removably mountable to the insert bay 38. Thus, welding, and other semi-permanent joining techniques and fasteners are preferably avoided; however, such semi-permanent and permanent joining techniques may be useful in reference to the actual assembly of the rack 10 other than securing the insert 30 thereto. Additionally, such fasteners 62 should not only be durable and able to withstand the rigors of abuse, but should preferably be easily unfastened or removed.
As illustrated in
Furthermore, the decorative face 36 may also be colored or include a textured surface. In addition, the pattern 64 may be centrally disposed on the decorative face 36 on the insert 30. However, the pattern 64 may also be positioned at any location on the decorative face 36 of the insert 30. Finally, the pattern 64 may also be a cutout 66 from the insert 30, as shown in
Although it is contemplated that the decorative insert 30 be made of a metal, the decorative insert 30 may also be made of other materials such as plastic. For example, the decorative insert 30 may be made of a clear plastic material and incorporate other unique designs thereon. Additionally, by manipulating the material used for the decorative insert 30, other aesthetic properties may be achieved, such as having a wider variety of colors, finishes, textures, and patterns.
Referring now to
It is also contemplated that modification of the shape of the peripheral edge 34 with respect to the interior perimeter edge 54, may accomplish other designs and functions for the insert 30 and/or insert bay 38. For example, the insert 30 may be shaped to bulge outwardly through the aperture 52 in order to form an air intake duct. In other uses, it is contemplated that the insert 30 may advantageously use passing air to create whistling noises and the like. Further, the configuration of the insert 30 and/or the insert bay 38 may be modified to enhance the air flow through the cargo bed 14. Other problems and considerations may arise wherein the interaction of the passing air with the insert 30 and/or the insert bay 38 may be optimized to provide for beneficial results. Thus, various other functional designs may be made by altering the shape and configuration of the insert 30.
Finally, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the exemplary embodiments presented herein provide only a sampling of the various modifications which may be made to embodiments of the present invention. In effect, the customizable nature of the insert 30 and the truck rack 10, in general, permits the owner to modify the appearance of their vehicle 16 in a very convenient and easy manner. The inserts 30 of embodiments of the present invention should preferably not require significant time or equipment to be removed or installed. Thus, the owner may easily be enabled to not only install the truck rack 10, as described in the above-mentioned patent applications, but to also easily mount and interchange the inserts 30 according to his or her own will and pleasure.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of manufacturing, using, designing, or installing the rack 10, vertical support members 18, and/or inserts 30. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
The present application claims priority to: U.S. application Ser. No. 11/203,737 filed on Aug. 15, 2005; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/770,214 filed on Feb. 2, 2004; and to U.S. Design Pat. No. D493,414, filed on May 8, 2003.
