Flatbed vehicle accessory assembly and flatbed vehicle cargo management method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12221071-B2
Application number	US-202217716071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2022
Priority date	Oct 11, 2021
Publication date	Feb 11, 2025
Grant date	Feb 11, 2025

Abstract

A modular cargo management system for a flatbed vehicle includes a flatbed of a vehicle, at least one accessory assembly, and an attachment system that secures the at least one accessory assembly to the flatbed. The attachment system has feet that are each received within an aperture when the accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular cargo management system for a flatbed vehicle, comprising:
a flatbed of a vehicle extending rearward from an aft wall of a passenger compartment;
at least one accessory assembly;
an attachment system that secures the at least one accessory assembly to the flatbed, the attachment system having a plurality of feet that are each received within one of a plurality of apertures when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed, and wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in groups, with each group comprising a center aperture defining an axis and a sub-set of apertures circumferentially distributed about the axis, and wherein the center aperture has a first orientation relative to the aft wall, and apertures in the sub-set of apertures have a second orientation relative to the aft wall that is different than the first orientation; and
wherein each foot is insertable into a respective aperture in a first direction and is slidable relative to the flatbed in one of multiple different second directions that are transverse to the first direction to secure the at least one accessory assembly to the flatbed.

2. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly provides a cargo bed sidewall when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed.

3. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly includes a hinged lid.

4. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly includes a slidable tray.

5. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly is electrically coupled to the vehicle when the at least one accessory assembly is engaged with the flatbed.

6. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the flatbed includes no sidewalls.

7. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly includes a wheel well.

8. The modular cargo management system of claim 1 , further comprising a floor of the flatbed, wherein, when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the floor, the plurality of feet extend from a first side of the floor, through one of the plurality of apertures, and past an opposite, second side of the floor.

9. A modular cargo management system for a flatbed vehicle, comprising:
a flatbed of a vehicle extending rearward from an aft wall of a passenger compartment;
at least one accessory assembly;
an attachment system that secures the at least one accessory assembly to the flatbed, the attachment system having a plurality of feet that are each received within one of a plurality of apertures when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed;
a floor of the flatbed, wherein, when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the floor, the plurality of feet extend from a first side of the floor, through one of the plurality of apertures, and past an opposite, second side of the floor;
wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in groups, with each group comprising a center aperture defining an axis and a sub-set of apertures circumferentially distributed about the axis, and wherein the center aperture has a first orientation relative to the aft wall, and apertures in the sub-set of apertures have a second orientation relative to the aft wall that is different than the first orientation; and
wherein, when the at least one accessory assembly is engaged with the floor, enlarged collars of the plurality of feet capture respective portions of the floor to block withdrawal of the plurality of feet from the plurality of apertures.

10. A modular cargo management system for a flatbed vehicle, comprising:
a flatbed of a vehicle;
at least one accessory assembly;
an attachment system that secures the at least one accessory assembly to the flatbed, the attachment system having a plurality of feet that are each received within one of a plurality of apertures when the at least one accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed, wherein the at least one accessory assembly is configured to engage the flatbed when the at least one accessory assembly is in a first position, and when the at least one accessory assembly is in a second position that is rotated relative to the first position, and wherein, in each of the first position and the second position, the plurality of feet are insertable through the plurality of apertures in a first direction and slidable within the plurality of apertures in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and
wherein, after insertion into a respective aperture, each foot is slidable relative to the flatbed in one of multiple different directions, and wherein sliding the plurality of feet within the plurality of apertures in the second direction further comprises selecting the second direction from the one of multiple different directions.

11. The modular cargo management system of claim 10 , wherein a rotation of the at least one accessory assembly from the first position to the second position is rotation about an axis which extends perpendicular to an upper surface of the flatbed.

12. The modular cargo management system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one accessory assembly is configured to engage the flatbed in a third position that is different than the first position and the second position, and further configured to engage the flatbed in a fourth position that is different than the first position, the second position, and the third position.

13. A modular cargo management method for a flatbed vehicle, comprising:
receiving a plurality of feet of an accessory assembly within a plurality of apertures to secure the accessory assembly to a flatbed of a vehicle, the accessory assembly providing at least a portion of a cargo bed sidewall when the accessory assembly is secured to the flatbed, and wherein receiving the plurality of feet within the plurality of apertures comprises
inserting the plurality of feet through the plurality of apertures in a first direction, wherein, after insertion into a respective aperture, each foot is slidable relative to the flatbed in one of multiple different directions, and
sliding the plurality of feet within the plurality of apertures in a second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein sliding the plurality of feet within the plurality of apertures in the second direction further comprises selecting the second direction from the one of multiple different directions.

14. The modular cargo management method of claim 13 , further comprising providing electrical power to the accessory assembly from the vehicle.

15. The modular cargo management method of claim 13 , wherein the accessory assembly includes a wheel well.

16. The modular cargo management method of claim 13 , wherein the accessory assembly includes a hinged lid.

17. The modular cargo management method of claim 13 , wherein the accessory assembly includes a slidable tray.

18. The modular cargo management method of claim 13 , wherein the accessory assembly is configured to engage the plurality of apertures in a floor of the flatbed when the accessory assembly is in a first position, the accessory assembly further configured to engage the plurality of apertures in the floor when the accessory assembly is in a different, second position where the accessory assembly is rotated relative to the first position, wherein rotation of the accessory assembly from the first position to the second position is a ro

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Levine Eric S
• Rutman Matthew B
• Chimento Vincent Anthony
• Marchlewski Jack

Classifications

• B60P7/0807

  Attachment points · CPC title

• B60P7/10

  the load being plates, cases, or boxes · CPC title

• B60R9/065 Primary

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

• B60R2011/0036

  Luggage compartment · CPC title

• B60R11/06 Primary

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title