Truck bed utility bar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11292383-B2
Application number	US-202016801766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2020
Priority date	Feb 26, 2020
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A utility bar configured to be secured to a pair of stake pockets formed in opposing sidewalls of a bed of a vehicle. Each of the stake pockets includes an opening formed in an upper wall of the sidewall, a first aperture that is not accessible from the bed, and a second aperture that is accessible from the bed. The utility bar includes a tubular member, a pair of end fittings attached to the tubular member, and a pair of lock assemblies positioned in the stake pockets that mate with the end fittings, wherein the lock assemblies each include a locking mechanism configured to secure the lock assembly and the end fitting to the first aperture that is not accessible from the bed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A utility bar configured to be secured to a pair of stake pockets formed in opposing sidewalls of a bed of a vehicle, each of the stake pockets including an opening formed in an upper wall of the sidewall, a first aperture that is not accessible from the bed, and a second aperture that is accessible from the bed, the utility bar comprising:
a tubular member;
a pair of end fittings attached to opposing ends of the tubular member, each of the end fittings including a tube receiving end configured for receipt of one of the opposing ends of the tubular member and a lock receiving end configured for insertion into the second aperture that is accessible from the bed; and
a pair of lock assemblies, each of the lock assemblies being configured for receipt within a respective opening of one of the stake pockets, and each of the lock assemblies configured to mate with the lock receiving end of a respective end fitting within the stake pockets at a location positioned inboard from the second aperture that is accessible from the bed,
wherein each of the lock assemblies includes a locking mechanism configured to secure the lock assembly and the end fitting to the first aperture that is not accessible from the bed.

2. The utility bar according to claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly includes a casing that houses a movable locking lever, the movable locking lever being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and in the locked position the movable locking lever is configured to engage the first aperture that is not accessible from the bed.

3. The utility bar according to claim 2 , wherein the movable locking lever is moved by rotation of a locking cylinder located within the casing.

4. The utility bar according to claim 3 , wherein the locking cylinder includes a pair of prongs that are engaged with the movable locking lever, and rotation of the prongs moves the movable locking lever between the locked and unlocked positions.

5. The utility bar according to claim 2 , wherein the movable locking lever is moved by rotation of a rod that is fixed to a depressible and rotatable button that is attached to the casing.

6. The utility bar according to claim 1 , wherein the lock receiving end of the end fitting includes a boss and a pair of spaced-apart retaining flanges, each retaining flange including a proximal portion that extends away from the boss, and a distal portion that extends orthogonally outward from the proximal portion such that a slot is formed between the boss and the distal portion.

7. The utility bar according to claim 6 , wherein the lock assembly includes a casing having an elongated slot formed therein, and opposing edges of the elongated slot are configured to mate with the slots formed between the boss and the distal portions of the spaced-apart retaining flanges.

8. The utility bar according to claim 1 , further comprising a cleat or anchor device that is attached to the tubular member.

9. The utility bar according to claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes a first section telescopically received within a second section.

10. A utility bar configured to be secured to a pair of stake pockets formed in opposing sidewalls of a bed of a vehicle, each of the stake pockets including an opening formed in an upper wall of the sidewall, a first aperture that is not accessible from the bed, and a second aperture that is accessible from the bed, the utility bar comprising:
a tubular member;
a pair of end fittings attached to opposing ends of the tubular member, each of the end fittings including a first end configured for receipt of one of the opposing ends of the tubular member and an opposite second end configured for insertion into the second aperture that is accessible from the bed; and
a pair of retainers configured to be received within the openings of the stake pockets, each of the retainers including a movable locking lever that is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and in the locked position the movable locking lever is configured to engage the first aperture that is not accessible from the bed,
wherein each of the retainers is configured to mate with a respective second end of a respective end fitting within the stake pockets at a location positioned inboard from the second aperture.

11. The utility bar according to claim 10 , wherein each of the retainers includes a casing that houses a locking cylinder coupled to a movable locking lever, and the movable locking lever is moved by rotation of the locking cylinder.

12. The utility bar according to claim 11 , wherein the locking cylinder includes a pair of prongs that are engaged with the movable locking lever, and rotation of the prongs moves the movable locking lever between the locked and unlocked positions.

13. The utility bar according to claim 10 , wherein each of the retainers includes a casing that houses a depressible and rotatable button that is coupled to the movable locking lever by a rod, and the movable locking lever is moved by rotation of the button and the rod.

14. The utility bar according to claim 13 , wherein the casing includes a socket that supports the button and a shoulder that is exposable upon depression of the button to enable the retainers to be removed from the stake pockets.

15. The utility bar according to claim 10 , wherein the second end of the end fitting includes a boss and a pair of spaced-apart retaining flanges, each of the retaining flanges including a proximal portion that extends away from the boss, and a distal portion that extends orthogonally outward from the proximal portion such that a slot is formed between the boss and the distal portion.

16. The utility bar according to claim 15 , wherein the retainer includes a casing having an elongated slot formed therein, and opposing edges of the elongated slot are configured to mate with the slots formed between the boss and the distal portions of the spaced-apart retaining flanges.

17. The utility bar according to claim 10 , further comprising a cleat or anchor device that is attached to the tubular member.

18. The utility bar according to claim 10 , wherein the tubular member includes a first section telescopically received within a second section.

Assignees

• Bender Frederick F
• Macek Bryan J
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Bender Frederick F
• Macek Bryan J

Classifications

• B60R9/10

  for cycles · CPC title

• B60R9/06 Primary

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title

• B62D33/0207

  Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms · CPC title

• B60P7/0815 Primary

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title

• B60P7/15

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bar · CPC title