Multi-purpose vehicle bed liner and deck topper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975501-B1
Application number	US-201715611185-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2017
Priority date	Jun 1, 2017
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A multi-purpose bed liner and deck topper includes a shell that may be connected to a vehicle cargo bed. The shell is movable between a bed liner position and an inverted deck topper position. The shell includes a shell base and shell sidewalls extending from the shell base. A first shell endwall is detachably connected to a rear end of the shell and a second shell endwall is pivotably connected to a front end of the shell. The multi-purpose bed liner employs slide rails attached to the shell sidewalls and that are connectable to vehicle bed sidewalls to facilitate moving the shell between the bed liner position and the deck topper position. A pivot connector attached to the shell and pivotally connecting the shell to the slide rails enables the shell to be inverted when moving the shell between the bed liner position and the deck topper position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-purpose vehicle bed liner comprising:
a shell connectable to a vehicle bed and selectively movable between a bed liner position and an inverted deck topper position, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell sidewall extending from the shell base, the shell base located vertically between a vehicle bed deck and an upper edge of a vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the shell base being located vertically above the upper edge of the vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position;
a slide rail attached to the shell sidewall, the slide rail moveable axially along its longitudinal axis relative to the shell and fixedly connectable to the vehicle bed sidewall; and
a pivot connector fixedly attached to the shell and pivotally connecting the shell to the slide rail, the pivot connector movable axially along a longitudinal axis of the slide rail wherein the shell sidewall comprises a first shell sidewall and a second shell sidewall located opposite the first shell sidewall, and further comprising a first shell endwall removably connected to the first shell sidewall, the second shell sidewall and the shell base, wherein the first shell endwall is located adjacent a cab of the vehicle and opposite a rear opening in the vehicle bed when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position and is located adjacent the rear opening in the vehicle bed and opposite the cab when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position.

2. The multi-purpose vehicle bed liner of claim 1 further comprising a second shell endwall pivotably connected to the shell base and extending between and engaging the first shell sidewall and the second shell sidewall, the second shell endwall located adjacent the rear opening in the vehicle bed and opposite the cab when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position and is located adjacent the cab and opposite the rear opening in the vehicle bed when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position.

3. The multipurpose vehicle bed liner of claim 2 , wherein the second shell endwall is selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position, the second shell endwall connected to the first shell sidewall and the second shell sidewall when the second shell endwall is arranged in the closed position, and the second shell endwall displaced from the first shell sidewall and the second shell sidewall when the second shell endwall is arranged in the open position.

4. The multi-purpose vehicle bed liner of claim 2 , wherein the slide rail is moveable along its longitudinal axis relative to the shell between a first slide rail position, in which a first end of the slide rail is located adjacent the second shell endwall and an opposite second end of the slide rail is displaced a distance from the second shell endwall, and a second slide rail position, in which the second end of the slide rail is located adjacent the second shell endwall and the first end of the slide rail is displaced a distance from the second shell endwall, the pivot connector being located adjacent the first end of the slide rail when the slide rail is in the first slide rail position and is located adjacent the second end of the slide rail when the slide rail is in the second slide rail position.

5. A multi-purpose vehicle bed liner comprising:
a shell connectable to a vehicle bed and selectively movable between a bed liner position and an inverted deck topper position, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell sidewall extending from the shell base, the shell base located vertically between a vehicle bed deck and an upper edge of a vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the shell base being located vertically above the upper edge of the vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position;
a slide rail attached to the shell sidewall, the slide rail moveable axially along its longitudinal axis relative to the shell and fixedly connectable to the vehicle bed sidewall; and
a pivot connector fixedly attached to the shell and pivotally connecting the shell to the slide rail, the pivot connector movable axially along a longitudinal axis of the slide rail, wherein the shell sidewall comprises a wheel well recess protruding inward toward an interior region of the shell for providing clearance between the shell and a vehicle wheel well when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the slide rail moveably attached to a region of the shell sidewall between the wheel well recess and an edge of the shell sidewall opposite the shell base.

6. The multi-purpose vehicle bed liner of claim 5 , wherein the wheel well recess extends from a forward end of the shell to an intermediate location between the forward end of the shell and a rear end of the shell when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position.

7. The multi-purpose vehicle bed liner comprising:
a shell connectable to a vehicle bed and selectively movable between a bed liner position and an inverted deck topper position, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell sidewall extending from the shell base, the shell base located vertically between a vehicle bed deck and an upper edge of a vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the shell base being located vertically above the upper edge of the vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position;
a slide rail attached to the shell sidewall, the slide rail moveable axially along its longitudinal axis relative to the shell and fixedly connectable to the vehicle bed sidewall; and
a pivot connector fixedly attached to the shell and pivotally connecting the shell to the slide rail, the pivot connector movable axially along a longitudinal axis of the slide rail, wherein the pivot connector comprises a latch moveable between a latched position, in which the latch engages the slide rail to restrict axial movement of the slide rail relative to the shell, and an unlatched position, in which the latch is disengaged from the slide rail to allow axial movement of the slide rail relative to the shell.

8. A multi-purpose vehicle bed liner comprising:
a shell connectable to a vehicle bed and selectively movable between a bed liner position and an inverted deck topper position, the shell comprising a shell base and a shell sidewall extending from the shell base, the shell base located vertically between a vehicle bed deck and an upper edge of a vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the shell base being located vertically above the upper edge of the vehicle bed sidewall when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the deck topper position, the shell sidewall comprising a wheel well recess protruding inward toward an interior region of the shell for providing clearance between the shell and a vehicle wheel well when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position, the wheel well recess extending from a forward end of the shell to an intermediate location between the forward end of the shell and a rear end of the shell when the shell is attached to the vehicle in the bed liner position; and
a slide rail attached to a region of the shell sidewall between the wheel well recess and an edge of the shell sidewall opposite the shell base, the slide rail moveable axially along its longitudinal axis relative to the shell and fixedly connectable to the vehicle bed sidewall.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Frederick Scott L
• Robison Scott P
• Holmstrom Adam D

Classifications

• B60R2013/016

  integrating other functions or accessories · CPC title

• B60R13/01 Primary

  Liners for load platforms or load compartments · CPC title

• B62D33/03

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

• B62D33/0273

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

• B60J7/1607

  for covering load areas, e.g. rigid panels for pick-up truck beds · CPC title