Modules for cargo area of pickup truck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11447075-B2
Application number	US-202017001758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 25, 2020
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

This disclosure relates to various modules for use relative to a cargo area of a pickup truck. The modules are configured to provide the cargo area with additional functionality, such as providing a storage compartment or a support for one or more electronic components. The cargo area can be customized by mounting specific modules at one of a number of predetermined locations within the cargo area.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pickup truck, comprising:
a cargo area including a bed, a first side wall extending along a first side of the bed, and a second side wall extending along a second side of the bed opposite the first side, wherein an inner surface of the first side wall facing the bed includes a first opening configured to receive a first module, and wherein an inner surface of the second side wall facing the bed includes a second opening configured to receive a second module, wherein the second opening is sized and shaped substantially the same as the first opening;
a first module configured to be mounted relative to the first opening, wherein the first module includes:
a bin including an upper wall, a back wall, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall is spaced-apart below a bottom of an opening of the bin,
a door selectively moveable between an open position in which the bin is accessible and a closed position in which the door closes the bin; and
an intermediate wall selectively removable from the bin and configured such that, when present in the bin, the intermediate wall is spaced-apart from the bottom wall and is configured to support objects above the bottom wall, wherein the intermediate wall is configured to fit into the bin by insertion in one direction only; and

a second module configured to be mounted relative to the second opening and providing different functionality than the first module.

2. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first module includes a first main portion arranged at least partially within the first opening and a first flange projecting from the first main portion and abutting the inner surface of the first side wall, and
the second module includes a second main portion arranged at least partially within the second opening and a second flange projecting from the second main portion abutting the inner surface of the second side wall.

3. The pickup truck as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
the first module is mounted relative to the first opening via fasteners engaged with the first flange and the inner surface of the first side wall, and
the second module is mounted relative to the second opening via fasteners engaged with the second flange and the inner surface of the second side wall.

4. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second side walls of the bin include channels configured to receive respective first and second side walls of the intermediate wall,
the channels in the first and second side walls of the bin are tapered in height moving toward the back wall, and
the first and second side walls of the intermediate wall are tapered in height moving toward a rear edge of the intermediate wall.

5. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein the intermediate wall includes a front edge having at least one notch.

6. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bin includes at least one drainage opening oriented along an axis non-perpendicular to a ground surface when the door is in both the open position and the closed position.

7. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first module includes a knob selectively moveable to hold the door in the closed position.

8. The pickup truck as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second module includes:
a mounting panel, and
at least one electronic component supported on the mounting panel.

9. The pickup truck as recited in claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one electronic component is spaced-apart from the inner surface of the second side wall in a direction opposite the bed.

10. The pickup truck as recited in claim 9 , wherein:
the mounting panel includes a first wall and a second wall inclined relative to one another,
a first electronic component is supported on the first wall, and
a second electronic component is supported on the second wall.

11. The pickup truck as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first and second electronic components are spaced-apart from the inner surface of the second side wall in the direction opposite the bed.

12. The pickup truck as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first electronic component is a light and the second electronic component is an electrical outlet.

13. A storage compartment configured to be mounted relative to an opening in an inner surface of a side wall of a cargo area of a pickup truck, comprising:
a bin including an upper wall, a back wall, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall is spaced-apart below a bottom of an opening of the bin;
a door selectively moveable between an open position in which the bin is accessible and a closed position in which the door closes the bin;
an intermediate wall selectively removable from the bin and configured such that, when present in the bin, the intermediate wall is spaced-apart from the bottom wall and is configured to support objects above the bottom wall;
at least one drainage opening oriented along an axis non-perpendicular to a plane containing a bed of the cargo area; and
a knob selectively moveable to hold the door in the closed position.

14. A panel configured to support at least one electronic component and configured to be mounted relative to an opening in an inner surface of a side wall of a cargo area of a pickup truck, comprising:
a first wall;
a second wall inclined relative to the first wall;
a light supported on the first wall;
an electrical outlet supported on the second wall; and
wherein the light and the electrical outlet are spaced-apart from the inner surface of the side wall in a direction opposite a bed of the cargo area.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kistler William J
• Bonilla Véliz Santiago
• Vijayakumar Srinath
• Wilson Ed
• Daugherty Keith
• Piechocki Dawn

Classifications

• B62D33/0273

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R9/065 Primary

  Enclosure-type carriers, e.g. trunks · CPC title

• B60R9/02

  at the sides, e.g. on running-board · CPC title

• B62D33/03

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title