Load box rail trim with integrated structural features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10471908-B2
Application number	US-201815872817-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2018
Priority date	Feb 27, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

Load box rail trims used or placed on a top of box rail of a truck including an elongated body formed by walls and having an opening along a length of the body, at least one structural feature integrated on the body, where the body and structural feature are formed in an injection molding process. In some examples, the walls of the body include a top wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an opening where the opening opposite to the top wall, and where a plurality ribs disposed in a space of the hollow body may include a central rib substantially perpendicular to the top wall along a length direction of the body and inside the body. The central rib is disposed between the first and second sidewalls substantially along the length of the hollow body or partially along the length of the hollow body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A load box rail trim disposed on a top of box rail of a truck, comprising:
an elongated body formed by a top wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall and having an opening along a length of the body and opposite the top wall; and
at least one structural feature integrated on the body, wherein at least one structural feature includes a central rib disposed in a space of the body along a length direction of the body and configured to provide connection with fastening member to attach the load box rail trim with the truck, wherein the central rib is connected to the top wall, substantially perpendicular to the top wall, and extends down toward the opening; and
wherein the elongated body and the central rib are integrally formed in an injection molding.

2. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein the central rib is disposed between the first and second sidewalls substantially along the length of the mew body.

3. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein the central rib is disposed between the first and second sidewalls partially along the length of the body.

4. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural feature further includes a plurality of lateral ribs substantially parallel to the top wall and disposed on the central rib along a predetermined length.

5. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein the central rib is disposed in the opening of the body along the length of the body and extends over a lowest surface of the body, and wherein the central rib includes an aperture to receive a fastening member.

6. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein the central rib has an end extending over a lowest surface of the body, and wherein the end of the central rib is configured to have a shape to be fitted into a receiving part of a connector.

7. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , further includes a facia coupled on the body.

8. The load box rail trim of claim 7 , wherein edge portions of the first and second sidewalls of the body include dovetail features and edge portions of the facia includes corresponding dovetail features and wherein the facia is snap fit with the body via the dovetail features.

9. The load box rail trim of claim 7 , wherein the facia is disposed adjacent and along a length of the body, and at least portion of the facia is configured to have a shape conforming with a shape of the body.

10. The load box rail trim of claim 7 , wherein the facia includes a top wall, sidewalls and an opening opposite to the top wall, and wherein the body includes an elongated plate and is snap fit along an edge of the sidewalls of the facia.

11. A load box rail trim disposed on a top of a box rail of a truck, comprising:
an elongated body formed by at least one wall, wherein the body includes a central rib, a plurality of ribs and a plurality of opening on one of the ribs to provide a connection with a load box of the truck and wherein the central rib extends down toward the box rail, and configurations of the ribs are different along a length of the body; and
a facia disposed along a length of body and connected to the body, wherein the facia includes a side wall and a top facia wall and a facia opening opposite the top facia wall; and
wherein the body and the facia are separate pieces formed in an injection molding.

12. The load box rail trim of claim 11 , wherein the facia is connected to the body via snap fitting and via a fastener.

13. A load box rail trim assembly, comprising:
a rail trim including an elongated body defined by a top wall, an outside sidewall and an inner sidewall and a plurality of structural features, wherein a side of the body opposite to the top wall is open, wherein the body and the structural features are integrally formed in an injection molding; and
a connector coupled with the at least one of the plurality structural features,
wherein the plurality of structural features include a central rib disposed inside the outside and inner sidewalls and a first aperture on the central rib, wherein the central rib extends along a length of the rail trim and have an end extending down over a lower end of the outside sidewall in a direction of the opening, and wherein the first aperture is configured to receive a fastening member.

14. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an inner trim cover having a lower end and an upper end and connected to the inner sidewall, wherein the plurality of structural features include a groove at an edge portion of the inner sidewall of the rail trim, wherein the central rib further includes a second aperture, and wherein the inner trim cover is made from flexible material and is connected to the rail trim by inserting the upper end to the groove and flex the lower end into the second aperture of the central rib.

15. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an inner trim cover having a lower end and an upper end and connected to the inner sidewall, wherein the plurality of structural features includes a groove at an edge portion of the inner sidewall of the rail trim, and wherein the inner trim cover is connected to the rail trim by inserting the upper end of inner trim cover to the groove and then connecting the lower end to the first aperture of the central rib via a fastener.

16. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 13 , wherein the connector includes a plate having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the plate is configured to have the first portion to contact an end of the central rib and the second portion to contact a sheet metal of a load box such that the plate is retained by interference and wherein the second portion is fixed to the sheet metal by a fastener.

17. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 16 , wherein one of the first portion and second portion has a curved shape to impart flexibility to the plate.

18. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a facia disposed on the body, and wherein the body and the facia are formed separately in an injection molding.

19. The load box rail trim of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the central rib is no greater than a half of a thickness of the top wall.

20. The load box rail trim assembly of claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the central rib is no greater than a half of a thickness of the top wall.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Luciew Simon

Classifications

• B60R13/04 Primary

  External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12) · CPC title

• B60R13/00 Primary

  Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes · CPC title

• B60R13/01 Primary

  Liners for load platforms or load compartments · CPC title

• B60R2011/0084

  with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title