Abstract: A vehicle tailgate structure of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle tailgate structure includes a tailgate located at the rear of the vehicle; a garnish covering a top surface of the tailgate and configured to deform when an external load applies on the garnish, the garnish including a plurality of rib structures along an interior surface of the garnish and a screw portion including the garnish around a screw of the screw portion; and a touch sensor extending along the top surface of the tailgate and covered by the garnish, the touch sensor configured to detect deformation of the garnish, the touch sensor including touch sensor wires connecting to a control system of the vehicle.

Abstract: Load box rail trims used or placed on a top of box rail of a truck including an elongated body formed by walls and having an opening along a length of the body, at least one structural feature integrated on the body, where the body and structural feature are formed in an injection molding process. In some examples, the walls of the body include a top wall, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an opening where the opening opposite to the top wall, and where a plurality ribs disposed in a space of the hollow body may include a central rib substantially perpendicular to the top wall along a length direction of the body and inside the body. The central rib is disposed between the first and second sidewalls substantially along the length of the hollow body or partially along the length of the hollow body.

Abstract: Multi-piece vehicle bed rail covers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle bed rail cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has at least one end that includes a raised feature, and the second portion has at least one end that is free from raised features. The first and the second portions are illustratively joined together in such a manner that a seam is concealed at least in part by the raised feature. The vehicle bed rail cover can also include additional raised features that may be perpendicular or angled with respect to a length of the bed rail cover. Furthermore, the vehicle bed rail cover may include one or more locking mechanisms to join the different portions together, and the vehicle bed rail cover may be made in part by utilizing injection molding.

Abstract: A rail cap assembly comprises a rail cap having a first and second opposed ends separated by a length, wherein the rail cap has a top and first and second sidewalls that together form an inner surface extending from the first end to the second end. Openings are spaced along the length of the rail cap. A lighting system is at least partially disposed within the inner surface and comprising a plurality of lighting elements. Each lighting element is secured within a respective opening. The lighting elements are electrically interconnected through connective wiring. The rail cap assembly may be installed one at least one bedrail of a pickup truck.

Abstract: A skip for the transport, storage and handling of granular materials (such as sand, gravel and earth) including a base and lateral walls. At least part of the base is a sheet of metal that has been imprinted with one or more relief patterns on one face thereof, with the sheet being disposed such that the pattern is in contact with the granular material during the transport or unloading of the granular material.

Abstract: A vehicle cargo bed includes a cargo bed floor, a wall structure and an attachment member. The cargo bed floor has an approximately horizontal cargo bed surface. The wall structure at least partially surrounds the cargo bed surface. At least a portion of the wall structure has an upper end. The attachment member is secured to the upper end of the portion of the wall structure defining an approximately horizontal first surface disposed above the cargo bed surface. The first surface has a linearly extending scalar demarcations formed thereon.

Abstract: A resin molding includes an elongate body and a bent end that is continuous with the elongate body and is formed by a pressing operation. A back side of an intersecting portion of the elongate body and the bent end has reinforcing ribs formed by resin melted during the pressing operation. The resin molding is formed by extruding a melted resin, cutting the extruded resin into a predetermined length to form an intermediate product, heating and pressing an end of the intermediate product to bend the end, and introducing a melted resin onto the intermediate product during the pressing to form at least one reinforcing rib thereon to support the bent end.

Abstract: A truck rail for the side walls of a pickup truck cargo bed includes a welded chain having individual links structurally interconnected to form a rigid assembly of a center section spaced above the side walls and inclined end section attached to the sidewalls by mechanical fasteners or telescopic insertion into sidewall stake pockets.

Abstract: An adjustable system and an associated method for handling cargo in a cargo carrier are provided. The system includes a plurality of strips of low friction material for supporting the cargo during unloading or loading and during transit. Each strip has a relatively lower coefficient of friction than a floor of the cargo carrier and can be adjusted between an operative position and a non-operative position. In the operative position, the strips extend from the floor of the cargo carrier so that the cargo can be slid upon and supported by the strips. In the non-operative position, the strips are adjusted relative to the floor so that cargo in the carrier is at least partially supported by the floor.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently removing rain water and the like from a rear window (backlite) of a vehicle. A rear spoiler or air deflector is provided for redirecting air toward the backlite and causing the speed of air flow to increase. A hydrophobic coating is provided on the major exterior surface of the backlite. Air directed by the air deflector over and/or across the surface of the backlite functions to remove the rain water and the like from the backlite. In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic coating may include diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposited on the substrate in a manner to increase its hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A combination apparatus comprises a truck bed sidewall providing a horizontally oriented top bed wall portion and an integral downwardly extending inner, outer end portions, and a sidewall cover providing a horizontally oriented top cover portion and integral therewith and extending downwardly therefrom, an inner, outer and end cover portions dimensionally sized to fit over the truck sidewall with the corresponding top, side and end portions in surface to surface contact. The sidewall cover comprises plural sections arranged in linear mutually abutting sequence defining at least one section interface between sections. The interface comprises a pair of complementary mutually interengagable U-shaped edges wherein a first one of the U-shaped edges provides an extending lip and a second one of the U-shaped edges provides a recessed lip, the recessed lip receiving the extending lip in overlapping abutment.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently removing rain water and the like from a rear window (backlite) of a vehicle. A rear spoiler or air deflector is provided for redirecting air toward the backlite and causing the speed of air flow to increase. A hydrophobic coating is provided on the major exterior surface of the backlite. Air directed by the air deflector over and/or across the surface of the backlite functions to remove the rain water and the like from the backlite. In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic coating may include diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposited on the substrate in a manner to increase its hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A wear protection system is disclosed for protecting a parent member of an earthworking machine, such as a bed of an off-highway truck for instance. The protection system includes a replaceable wear member, which is detachably mounted to a mounting base by a retainer. The wear member is provided with a skeletal frame with a large window-like opening and outstretched legs to reduce the weight of the wear member. The pockets formed by the window opening and in the spaces between adjoining wear members fill with material so as to insulate the parent member of the truck bed from frictional wear due to material sliding over the bed when dumping material therefrom.

Abstract: A rail mounting member that is to be positioned on the sidewall of a pickup truck or other vehicle having a cargo bed with a sidewall. The mounting rail has a hook member which hooks around the bottom flange of the sidewall and an upper surface which is adhesively attached to the upper surface of the sidewall of the truck. A securing surface is attached to the rail mounting member so as to extend inward into the bed of the vehicle and a plurality of mounting points are positioned on the securing surface. Preferably, the securing surface extends substantially the entire length of the rail mounting member so as to allow securing of cargo to the mounting member along its entire length. The rail mounting member has ribs and indentations formed on the top side which will receive a mounting plate having matching indentations formed on a bottom side.

Abstract: A bed rail cover for mounting to and protecting a vehicle bed rail. The bed rail cover is comprised of an integrally formed elongated rail cover having a top wall and two opposing side walls that are shaped to substantially conform to the exterior of the bed rail, and a fastening means for securing the rail cover to the bed rail about a stake hole pocket in the bed rail. In a preferred embodiment, a fastening clip having opposing wings is inserted through the rail cover and into a stake hole pocket, the wings being yieldably biased against the stake hole pocket to secure the rail cover in place. The fastening clip allows the rail cover to expand and contract in a longitudinal direction to prevent cracking and bulging of the rail cover.

Abstract: An anti-skid vehicle cargo bed insert for use in the cargo bed of a vehicle is disclosed. The cargo beds and/or liners used in the cargo bed typically have ridges and valleys. The anti-skid vehicle cargo bed insert has a base portion with a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least one leg extends from the bottom surface of the base portion. The leg is formed so as to fit within a valley of the cargo bed.

Abstract: A bedliner for a vehicle cargo bed is formed of a non-grip polymeric material substantially covering the floor of the cargo bed. The material has a coefficient of friction suitable for allowing sliding movement of cargo placed on the bedliner. The bedliner is molded into longitudinally extending ribs and valleys to facilitate water drainage. Selectively positioned grip zones are formed on the bedliner by releasably engageable friction strips having a coefficient of friction higher than the coefficient of friction of the polymeric material to restrain undesired sliding movement of the cargo on the bedliner. The grip zones are preferably located in an area adjacent to the corners of the bedliner floor to allow cargo to be easily moved onto the bedliner and then shifted to the grip zones. Once the cargo is positioned on the grip zones, the friction strips restrain sliding movement of the cargo when the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A protective cap for covering the sidewalls of a pickup truck bed is provided. The caps have a contour matching the contour of the sidewalls so as to provide a close fit, without the use of spacers or shims. The cap includes an elongated body with opposite forward and rearward ends and opposite inside and outside edges. Inside and outside lips are formed by bending portions of the respective inside and outside edges of the body downwardly. A notch is provided adjacent the rearward end of the body, to permit a rearward lip to be formed by bending a portion of the rearward end downwardly. The formation of the outside and rear lips closes the gap. The outside lip and rear lip are joined by a weld which fills the closed notch so as provide a continuous curved surface at the rearward corner of the body. The weld is polished to be visually indistinguishable from the outside and rear lips.

Abstract: A contoured-part arrangement (10) at a wheel cut-out of a car, which extends along at least one third, preferably at least two thirds, of an edge (5) of the car body defining the wheel cut-out, protrudes outwardly, with an outer region (14) extending beyond the edge defining the wheel cut-out. The contoured-part arrangement is composed of strip-shaped sections (11, 12, 13) made from deformable material which are arranged with their adjacent ends overlapping one another and which have, in a direction of their longitudinal extension, a pre-formed curvature, a curvature center line being essentially parallel to a rotational axis of the associated wheel (1).

Abstract: A pickup truck side rail apparatus includes paired front and rear rail members which are pivotally mountable to opposed sidewalls along a truck bed. The rail members are stored in lowered positions in which they extend longitudinally above and parallel to the sidewalls. They are vertically spaced from the sidewalls to form longitudinal side rails above and along the sidewalls. The rail members are pivotal to upright positions. In their upright positions, the rail members extend vertically from the front and rear ends of the opposed sidewalls. A pair of overhead cross-bars can be mounted between the transversely aligned rail members when in their upright positions. The overhead cross-bars extend transversely above the pickup truck bed to form an overhead rack for carrying lengthy objects above the truck bed and cab.

Abstract: Adhesive molding strips for protection of a vehicle body particularly the side wheel wells and the interior bed of a pickup truck. The molding strips include an adhesive layer which facilitates permanent application of the strips to the vehicle body for protection against dents and other damage. In a pickup truck, the strips are applied to the longitudinal ribs formed in the bed floor, side walls and tailgate thereby protecting against damage while facilitating evaporation of accumulated water. As molding for wheel wells and the like the strips are readily deformable to follow the curvature of the wheel well. The strips are formed of a resilient material which assumes its original configuration upon indentation.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the upper portions of the side walls of a vehicle cargo bed is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongate body having a medial section, a first end, and a second end, both ends extending downwardly from the medial section. The first end includes a magnet system which enables its attachment to a vehicle bed wall without mechanical fasteners. The second end includes a hook member adapted to engage the ledge portion normally found in most vehicle cargo beds. The entire apparatus is preferably of one-piece construction, and manufactured of rubber. It also includes a flexible joint between the first end and medial section to facilitate use of the apparatus with walls of different thickness. Finally, the top of the medial section includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs designed as shock absorbers for any cargo or objects positioned thereon.

Abstract: A first embodiment of the pickup bed protector according to the present invention is constructed in the form of an elongated channel strip having a top wall portion with two integrally formed side walls. In use, the top wall portion is disposed over the side edge of a pickup bed, with the side walls extending along the inner and outer side walls of the pickup bed. A series of spaced apertures disposed along the inner side wall receive threaded fasteners to secure the protector to the pickup bed. In a second embodiment of the present invention, an elongated rectangular housing is formed on the top wall of the pickup bed protector and is provided with a secondary tail light and side light. A plurality of spring roll retracted straps are spaced along the rectangular housing, and in use, serve to secure loads within the pickup bed.

Abstract: A side rail assembly (10) for attachment to the upper wall (43) of a pick-up truck (20), the assembly (10) comprising a tread plate (12) adapted to fit over the upper wall (43); a tubular, open-ended side rail (21) having a portion (22) disposed parallel to and spaced above the tread plate (12) with end portions (23) engaging the tread plate (12), the bottom wall (29) of the rail (21) split longitudinally to form a slot (30) and having an angular seat formed by shoulders (32) in the bottom wall (29); a plurality of angular and tubular spacers (33) adapted to fit in a nested manner into the shoulder seat at any location therealong and to engage the tread plate (12); and carriage bolt fasteners (34) slidingly engaged with the rail (21) by the slot (30) and insertable through the spacers (33), the tread plate (12) and the side panel wall (43 ) to fasten the assembly (10) to the side panel (11), the fasteners (34) being hidden from view.

Abstract: A decorative trim strip assembly for vehicles is provided, having a laterally curved portion formed therein. The assembly comprises a metallic backing plate and a polymeric resinous strip element (usually polyvinyl chloride) bonded to it. At least one longitudinal slit is formed in the polymeric resinous material so as to form longitudinal strip portions therein, in the area of the curved portion, and each of the longitudinal strip portions is stressed to an extent less than that which would cause undesirable deformation. In forming the decorative strip, the slit polymeric material is placed into a jig, with the ends of the slit portions thereof extending to varying amounts beyond the curve, the jigged element is then bonded to the backing plate (usually by heat bonding), and any excess amount of polymeric material extending beyond the curved portion which is not required is then trimmed off.

Abstract: A corner construction providing for planar deflection of a molding strip along its longitudinal axis. A V-shaped segment is removed along one side edge of the strip while a continuous band remains along the other edge. Portions are removed between the V-shaped segment and the continuous band whereby the strip can be deflected to permit a change in direction upon application to a mounting surface. The dimensions of the V-shaped segment and intermediate portions are selected to provide the strip with an uninterrupted corner of pleasing appearance having the desired angle of deflection.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of making a trim strip comprising the extrusion of a vinyl material to form a body which is so shaped that it can be confined in a peripheral slot in a roll, thereby to permit substantial pressure to be applied on the extruded body and a decorative strip by a mating roll. The top portion of the extruded body has side extensions which are supported by the edges of the recessed roll; thus, substantial pressure can be applied on the entire top of the decorative surface strip and the body to produce an adhesive bond or a bond by heat sealing. After the body is cooled, it is advanced through a number of aligned milling cutters to machine aligned recesses in the sides of the body to produce a retention cutout. After being machined to depth, the trim strip is advanced through a pair of grinding wheels to accurately form and space the recesses. During the extruding operation, a coated wire may be embedded within the body in the conventional manner.