Adjustable base plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12258075-B2
Application number	US-202217886663-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2022
Priority date	Aug 12, 2022
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

An adjustable base plate system includes a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area and a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area. At least one base plate has a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supported by the first track structure and the second edge is supported by the second track structure. The first track structure and the second track structure each comprise at least a first tier track and a second tier track such that a distance between a bottom surface of the at least one base plate and a support surface of the vehicle cargo area can be adjusted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable base plate system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area that comprises a pick-up truck bed enclosed at one end by a tailgate;
a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area;
at least one base plate comprising an attachment system with a plurality of mounting apertures that interact one or more feet to support accessories within the vehicle cargo area, the at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supported by the first track structure and the second edge is supported by the second track structure;
one or more of the accessories being attachable to the at least one base plate via insertion of the one or more feet through the plurality of mounting apertures, wherein each mounting aperture extends through thickness of the at least one base plate such that the one or more feet extend from a first side of the at least one base plate, through one of the mounting apertures, and past an opposite, second side of the at least one base plate; and
wherein the first track structure and the second track structure each comprise at least a first tier track and a second tier track such that a distance between a bottom surface of the at least one base plate and a support surface of the vehicle cargo area can be adjusted.

2. The adjustable base plate system of claim 1 , wherein the second tier tracks are spaced apart from respective first tier tracks in a vertical direction relative to the support surface of the vehicle cargo area.

3. The adjustable base plate system of claim 2 , including at least an additional third tier track on each of the first track structure and the second track structure that is spaced apart from the first and second tier tracks in the vertical direction.

4. The adjustable base plate system of claim 3 , wherein, when the at least one base plate is installed on the third tier track, a cover is provided to enclose the vehicle cargo area.

5. The adjustable base plate system of claim 2 , wherein the second tier track is vertically higher than the first tier track such that when the at least one base plate is installed on the second tier track the vehicle cargo area is increased between the bottom surface of the at least one base plate and the support surface of the vehicle cargo area.

6. The adjustable base plate system of claim 2 , wherein the support surface of the vehicle cargo area is free from any base plate support structures between the first track structure and the second track structure.

7. The adjustable base plate system of claim 1 , including a first set of rollers on the first edge of the at least one base plate and a second set of rollers on the second edge of the at least one base plate.

8. The adjustable base plate system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one base plate has a width extending in a lateral direction across a width of a vehicle and a length extending in a longitudinal direction along a length of the vehicle, and wherein rollers of the first and second sets of rollers are respectively spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction along the first and second edges of the at least one base plate.

9. The adjustable base plate system of claim 8 , wherein rollers of the first and second sets of rollers extend outwardly of the first and second edges of the at least one base plate in the lateral direction.

10. The adjustable base plate system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second edges of the at least one base plate have edge surfaces that are perpendicular to a cargo support surface of the at least one base plate.

11. The adjustable base plate system of claim 7 , wherein the first and second sets of rollers are either positioned on the first tier track or the second tier track to install the at least one base plate in the vehicle cargo area.

12. The adjustable base plate system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one base plate is moved at least partially outwardly of the vehicle cargo area via the first and second sets of rollers along one of the first and second tier tracks to install the at least one base plate on the other of the first and second tier tracks.

13. The adjustable base plate system of claim 1 , including a locking mechanism to lock the at least one base plate to at least one of the first track structure and the second track structure in one of a plurality of lock positions.

14. The adjustable base plate system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of lock positions include at least a fully installed position where the at least one base plate does not extend beyond the vehicle cargo area and an extended position where the at least one base plate extends outwardly of the vehicle cargo area to provide an extended support surface.

15. The adjustable base plate system of claim 1 , including a stop supported by a vehicle structure, wherein the stop prevents the at least one base plate from detaching from a vehicle while switching the at least one base plate between the first and second tier tracks.

16. An adjustable base plate system, comprising:
a first track structure configured to extend along one side of a vehicle cargo area;
a second track structure configured to extend along an opposite side of a vehicle cargo area;
at least one base plate having a first edge and a second edge opposite of the first edge, wherein the first edge is supported by the first track structure and the second edge is supported by the second track structure, and wherein the first track structure and the second track structure each comprise at least a first tier track and a second tier track such that a distance between a bottom surface of the at least one base plate and a support surface of the vehicle cargo area can be adjusted;
a stop supported by a vehicle structure, and wherein the stop prevents the at least one base plate from detaching from a vehicle while switching the at least one base plate between the first and second tier tracks, and wherein the vehicle cargo area comprises a pick-up truck bed, and wherein the vehicle structure that supports the stop comprises a tailgate.

17. A method comprising:
providing at least one base plate comprising an attachment system with a plurality of mounting apertures that interact one or more feet to support accessories within a vehicle cargo area;
adjusting a position of at least one base plate within the vehicle cargo area by moving opposing edges of the at least one base plate along a track structure that includes at least an upper tier track and a lower tier track;
forming the track structure to include at least a first mounting flange, a first plate associated with the first mounting flange and extending in a lateral direction to a second plate that extends in a vertical direction, and a second mounting flange associated with the second plate;
forming the upper tier track and the lower tier track in the second plate; and
selectively changing a distance between a bottom surface of the at least one base plate and a support surface of the vehicle cargo area by switching the at least one base plate between the upper and lower tier tracks.

18. The method of claim 17 , including:
providing a first set of rollers along one of the opposing edges of the at least one base plate and a second set of rollers along the other of the opposing edges;
rolling the first and second sets of rollers along either the upper tier track or lower tier track to adjust a position of the at leas

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Rutman Matthew B
• Levine Eric Scott
• Azzouz Michael M
• Salter Stuart C
• Sturges Jeffrey R
• Wurz William
• Glickman David Brian

Classifications

• B60P1/025

  with a loading platform inside the wheels of a same axle and being lowerable below the axle · CPC title

• B60P7/0815

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title

• B60R5/04 Primary

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

• B62D33/0207

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

• B62D33/0273

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