Cargo bed dividing member support structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10106207-B2
Application number	US-201615349296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A support structure for a vehicle cargo bed dividing member includes a base, a first projection extending from the base, and a second projection extending from the base opposite the first projection so as to define a first cavity therebetween. The first projection defines a cavity first wall portion, and the second projection defines a cavity second wall portion positioned opposite the cavity first wall portion. The first projection also defines a cavity third wall portion extending opposite the cavity second wall portion from an end of the cavity first wall portion and in a direction away from the cavity second wall portion. The cavity third wall portion and the cavity second wall portion are structured to maintain a cargo bed dividing member in a pre-support position prior to positioning of the dividing member between the cavity second wall portion and the cavity first wall portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support structure for a vehicle cargo bed dividing member, the support structure comprising:
a base;
a first projection extending from the base; and
a second projection extending from the base opposite the first projection so as to define a first cavity therebetween,
the first projection defining a first cavity first wall portion,
the second projection defining a first cavity second wall portion positioned opposite the first cavity first wall portion, the first projection also defining a first cavity third wall portion extending opposite the first cavity second wall portion from an end of the first cavity first wall portion and in a direction away from the first cavity second wall portion, the first cavity third wall portion and the first cavity second wall portion being structured to maintain a cargo bed dividing member in a pre-support position within the first cavity prior to positioning of the cargo bed dividing member between the first cavity second wall portion and the first cavity first wall portion.

2. The support structure of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first cavity second wall portion extends parallel to the first cavity first wall portion.

3. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the base has a planar base surface, and wherein the first and second projections extend out of a plane of the base surface.

4. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the first projection is separate from the second projection.

5. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the base is a sidewall of a vehicle cargo bed.

6. A bed-liner including a support structure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bed-liner is structured to be positionable in a vehicle cargo bed.

7. A module including a support structure in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the module is structured to be positionable along and securable to either one of a first location along a sidewall of a vehicle cargo bed, and a second location along the sidewall of the vehicle cargo bed different from the first location.

8. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the first projection further defines a surface extending from an end of the first cavity third wall portion in a direction away from the first cavity second wall portion.

9. The support structure of claim 8 wherein the surface extending from the end of the first cavity third wall portion is structured to extend horizontally when the first projection is positioned a cargo bed of a vehicle.

10. The support structure of claim 1 wherein the first cavity second wall portion includes a curved surface formed therealong.

11. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the support structure is structured to enable rotation about the first projection of a portion of a cargo bed dividing member in contact with the first cavity second wall portion curved surface, and wherein the rotation is in a direction toward the first cavity first wall portion.

12. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the first cavity third wall portion is structured to guide a portion of a cargo bed dividing member into contact with the curved surface.

13. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the first cavity second wall portion is partially defined by a straight surface, and wherein the curved surface extends from the straight surface in a direction toward the first cavity first wall portion.

14. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the first cavity second wall portion is partially defined by a straight surface, and wherein the straight surface extends from the curved surface in a direction toward the first cavity first wall portion.

15. The support structure of claim 10 wherein the first cavity second wall portion includes a first support surface positioned at a first end of the first cavity, the first support surface being structured to contact a portion of a cargo bed dividing member when the cargo bed dividing member is in a supported position in a cargo bed; and
a second support surface positioned at a second end of the first cavity opposite the first end, the second support surface being structured to contact a portion of the cargo bed dividing member when the cargo bed dividing member is in a supported position in the cargo bed, wherein the first and second support surfaces are coplanar.

16. The support structure of claim 15 wherein the first cavity first wall portion forms a third support surface structured to contact a portion of the cargo bed dividing member when the cargo bed dividing member is in the supported position in the cargo bed.

17. A vehicle cargo bed dividing member support module comprising:
a base;
a first projection extending from the base; and
a second projection extending from the base opposite the first projection so as to form a cargo bed dividing member-receiving cavity between the first and second projections, wherein the support module is structured to be positionable and securable to either one of a first location along a sidewall of a vehicle cargo bed, and a second location along the sidewall of the vehicle cargo bed different from the first location.

18. The support module of claim 17 wherein the first projection defines a cavity first wall portion, the second projection defines a cavity second wall portion positioned opposite the cavity first wall portion to form a first cavity therebetween, and wherein the first projection also defines a first cavity third wall portion extending opposite the first cavity first wall portion from an end of the first cavity second wall portion, in a direction away from the first cavity second wall portion.

19. The support module of claim 18 further comprising a third projection extending from the base opposite the second projection so as to form a cargo bed dividing member-receiving second cavity between the second and third projections.

20. A support structure for a vehicle cargo bed dividing member, the support structure comprising:
a base;
a first projection extending from the base; and
a second projection extending from the base opposite the first projection so as to define a first cavity therebetween,
the first projection defining a first cavity first wall portion, the second projection defining a first cavity second wall portion positioned opposite the first cavity first wall portion, the first projection also defining a first cavity third wall portion extending opposite the first cavity second wall portion from an end of the first cavity first wall portion and in a direction away from the first cavity second wall portion,
the first cavity second wall portion having a curved surface and a straight surface extending from the curved surface, wherein the first cavity third wall portion is structured to guide a cargo bed dividing member into contact with one of the curved surface and the straight surface, and wherein the first cavity second wall portion curved surface and straight surface are structured such that a cargo bed dividing member in contact with the second projection is directed, under a force of its own weight, into a supported position within the first cavity.

21. A support structure for a vehicle cargo bed dividing member, the support structure comprising a first module and a second module, each of the first module and the second module including:
a base;
a first projection extending from the base; and
a second projection extending from the base opposite the first projection so as to define a first cavity therebetween,
the first projection defining a first cavity first

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Fassezke Ethan D
• Harris Ryan C

Classifications

• B60P7/14 Primary

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bulkhead · CPC title

• B60Y2200/14

  Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses · CPC title

• B62D33/023 Primary

  Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} · CPC title

• B60R13/01

  Liners for load platforms or load compartments · CPC title

• B60R5/04

  arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} · CPC title