Rack For Elongated Article Patents (Class 224/405)
  • Patent number: 5829812
    Abstract: A truck-mounted work station includes a frame forming an open rack for tools and supplies, and pivot arms extending from the frame to support a work table or the like. The work table is movable with the pivot arms between an elevated storage position within the width limit of the truck, and a lowered working position outside and alongside the truck. A torsion spring facilitates raising and lowering the work table. Spring torsion is adjustable to suit its load. Up and down travel of the pivot arms is limited by stops. The work table is secured in its elevated position for safe travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Mark S. Gionta
  • Patent number: 5823597
    Abstract: A truck bed extender includes a receiver mounted at the forward end of the truck bed with a pair of trusses removably connected to the receiver and extending rearwardly beyond the length of the bed so as to cantilever rearwardly beyond the truck bed. Each truss has an upper member which slopes forwardly and downwardly from a rearward end, and a shim plate on the bottom surface of a length less than the length of the truck bed, to support the trusses on the truck bed. A cross-member is connected between the trusses to maintain them in spaced apart parallel relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: T. Thomas Anderson
  • Patent number: 5752636
    Abstract: A truck bed extender mounts to a vehicle to support loads which are longer than the load bed of the vehicle. The truck bed extender includes a main beam adapted to engage a conventional box receiver on the vehicle. A load support is mounted to the main beam and includes a load support bar which extends transversely to the main beam when the truck bed extender is in use. A storage mount is provided to allow mounting of the load support to the main beam in a storage position when the load support is not being used. The truck bed extender can be mounted to the box receiver in a storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventor: Christopher D. Manley
  • Patent number: 5725137
    Abstract: A carrier rack and rack retainer for use with a pickup truck includes a rack having an assemblable set of at least two rack segments each having a transverse bridge and two columnar bridge support struts, each strut having offset, i.e. parallel but non-collinear, upper end and lower end portions. The upper end portion of each strut mates with a discrete end of the bridge of a discrete rack segment in at least two discrete rotated positions of the strut about the longitudinal axis of the upper end portion of the strut, thereby providing a rack segment with selectable spacing between the lower end portions of the struts. The rack retainer provides at least two pairs of columnar pillars mountable adjacent side walls of the pickup truck cargo area. The spacing between the lower end portions of the struts of each assembled rack segment may be selected to be approximately equal to the spacing between the pillars of a discrete pair of mounted pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Brian Macdonald
  • Patent number: 5699945
    Abstract: A rack is provided for pickup trucks to mount a bicycle on top of the vertical side rails of the cargo bed. The rack includes a "C" shaped brace that attaches to and reinforces the front rail and side rail of the cargo bed. A diagonal support is attached between the two outer legs of the brace and a vertical support extends upward from the center of the diagonal support. A hollow shaft passes through the upper end of the vertical support and is reinforced with a concentric square tube. A bicycle wheel quick release is attached through the hollow shaft to enable a bicycle front fork to be attached. A channel with a "U" shaped cross section is attached to the top of the side rail at a position to receive the bicycle rear wheel which is secured with a strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: William H. Micklish
  • Patent number: 5678743
    Abstract: A truck bed extender mountable in a receivable trailer hitch has an elongated support bar and a rack. The rack has a horizontal cross bar that is vertically adjustable on the support bar at the end opposite that where the support bar is secured to the receiver trailer hitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Brian K. Johnson, Jerry R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5662254
    Abstract: A vehicle rack for ladders or other elongated cargo includes a carrying surface and a structure which permits the carrying surface to be adjusted between two fixed positions, both of which can be used for transporting ladders or other elongated cargo. The rack consists of a pair of frames, and each frame includes assemblies generally formed from elongated members. The frame's post assembly has a foot portion which can be releasably secured to the vehicle and an upper portion to which an arm assembly is rotatably connected at one of the arm assembly ends, thereby forming an inverted L-shape. A brace has one end connected to a mid-point of the post assembly and another end connected to a mid-point in the arm assembly. The brace can be attached to one or the other of two attachment areas to position the arm assembly in either of the two fixed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Kar-Rite International
    Inventors: Scott W. Lemajeur, Don Kuball
  • Patent number: 5651484
    Abstract: A ladder support accessory is disclosed for pivotally supporting a ladder on a truck rack. The ladder support accessory includes, in one embodiment, a pair of joints mounted to a side rail of the truck rack and a pair of ladder support members pivotably connected to the joints. The ladder support members extend inboard of and substantially transverse to the side rail and are pivotable in a substantially vertical plane between substantially horizontal and vertical positions. A ladder is secured to the ladder support members and is at least partially supported by front and rear rails of the truck rack when the ladder support members are in the horizontal position. The ladder is supported solely by the ladder support members when the ladder support members are pivoted to the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Inventor: Lowell S. Fugman
  • Patent number: 5649656
    Abstract: A receiver hitch boat and canoe rack comprised of a right angle extension adapted for adjustable coupling with a receiver hitch on a vehicle. A hollow vertical post telescopically receives the right angle extension for adjustable securement thereto by a nut and bolt. A hollow horizontal post is integral with the hollow vertical post in an orthogonal relationship. The hollow horizontal post has open end portions. A pair of cross bars are telescopically received within the open end portions of the hollow horizontal post for adjustable securement thereto by a nut and bolt. The pair of cross bars have an eye bolt secured thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Inventor: Charles E. Davy
  • Patent number: 5634681
    Abstract: A truck-mounted work station includes a frame forming an open rack for tools and supplies, and pivot arms extending from the frame to support a work table or the like. The work table is movable with the pivot arms between an elevated storage position within the width limit of the truck, and a lowered working position outside and alongside the truck. A torsion spring facilitates raising and lowering the work table. Spring torsion is adjustable to suit its load. Up and down travel of the pivot arms is limited by stops. The work table is secured in its elevated position for safe travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventor: Mark S. Gionta
  • Patent number: 5615813
    Abstract: A vehicle long load stabilizing apparatus which is attachable to a vehicle's standard tube type trailer hitch via a clevis pin. The apparatus consists of a horizontal member, a vertically angled member, and a horizontal stabilizing member. The apparatus allows longer loads to be carried, in a more convenient and safe manner, and, dissembles for convenient transport and storage within the vehicle when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: Philip G. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 5611472
    Abstract: A bicycle rack is provided for use with trucks having a cargo box particularly of the type for use with a pick-up truck. The bicycle rack can carry a number of bicycles in an upright position in the cargo box of a truck, secures the bicycle without having to part the wheel from the bicycle or use clamps or straps to restrain the bicycle, can carry bicycles of different sizes, and can be adjusted to fit different makes and sizes of trucks. The bicycle rack comprises a cross member, having stakes at each end for fixing it to the side walls of the truck box, and forks for holding one or more bicycles in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Frank Miller
  • Patent number: 5599053
    Abstract: An improved sport and utility rack bracket particularly for use with pickup trucks. The bracket is a cantilevered assembly mounted on a side rail defining a portion of the cargo area of a pickup truck. The bracket has a rack attached thereto. The free end of the bracket, i.e., the cantilevered portion of the bracket, is parallel to or at some angle to the horizontal plane of the truck bed, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: John T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5560666
    Abstract: A removable rack system provides the ability to carry elongated loads and is easily and simply installed and removed without the use of special tools or other equipment. The rack system includes a rear rack having a hitch tongue which is releasably connected to a conventional hitch receiver of the truck. A center post extends upward from the hitch tongue and supports a cross member at its upper end. The cross member may be of such a height that it can be used in conjunction with a removable front rack located near the cab of the truck. The front rack can support elongated loads that extend above the cab of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Inventors: Glenn R. Vieira, Arnold Schnetzler
  • Patent number: 5553762
    Abstract: A vehicle carrier and ramp assembly includes two, spaced-apart platforms maintained at an elevated position above the top edges of the side walls of a pickup truck body so as to preserve significant cargo space upon the truck bed. The platforms are supported at each of their respective ends by braces carried by the pickup truck side walls. Two elongated and collapsible ramps may be selectively engaged with the rear end of the platforms for loading and unloading a small land vehicle such as an ATV. A hinge, joining the ramp segments or spans together, has a stop feature for maintaining the spans at an obtuse angle relative to one another while extended during loading and unloading operations. When the pickup truck is moved from place to place, the ramps may be folded and secured above the side walls of the truck and above the elevated platforms, offering a peripheral and protective barrier to an ATV or other carried vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Charles Brown
  • Patent number: 5544798
    Abstract: A elongated article carrier is provided for releasably affixing on the bed of a pickup truck. The elongated article carrier includes a longitudinal member supported by vertical posts and two parallel transverse bars allow two or more canoes to be securely and releasably attached during transportation. The elongated article carrier is lightweight and can be lifted and installed by a single adult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Inventors: Douglas S. Shumate, Samuel D. Crumpton
  • Patent number: 5520314
    Abstract: A truck bed divider having a unitary, one-piece structure which may be eay positioned in and instantly removed from a truck bed includes a dividing portion having a plurality of bars for preventing articles in the truck bed from moving or sliding in the truck bed. The divider further includes top and bottom frame portions which are joined to the divider portion and which support the divider portion in the truck bed. Retaining or bracing portions brace the truck bed divider against the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Peter R. Tkachuk
  • Patent number: 5516020
    Abstract: An elegantly simple bicycle storage rack that can be mounted or demounted quickly and easily from the cargo area of pick-up trucks. The rack is comprised of a lower tubular base and an upper tubular member joined by a plurality of upright posts spaced by slots for bicycle wheels. The lower tubular base fits comfortably in the foremost corner of the cargo area of the pick-up truck. The upper tubular member is secured to the sides of the pick-up truck with straps, cords or wires. A bicycle is held securely in the rack by a c-shaped hook or clamp that fits around the steering neck, frame of bicycle frame mounting and is secured with a specially designed locknut. No additional, straps, nuts, locks or other devices are needed to securely hold the bicycle in the rack. The bicycle storage rack is also constructed to be easily mounted on a surface platform when not in use in the back of a pick-up truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Inventors: Russ Lawler, John Moffat
  • Patent number: 5494327
    Abstract: A sliding connection especially suited for releasably and adjustably attaching an overhead rack or the like to side walls of a pickup truck includes a track mountable on the side wall of the pickup truck, and a sliding lock assembly releasably attachable to the rail member. The track includes an elongate tubular body having a bottom surface engagable with the side wall of the pickup truck and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, and a plurality of rail members integrally formed with the tubular body and extendable along the length of the body. The sliding lock assembly includes, in one embodiment, a sliding lock member slidably mounted on the rail member of the track and movable along the length of the rail member, and a thumb turn for locking the sliding lock member at a desired position along the length of the rail member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: TracRac, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Derecktor
  • Patent number: 5480205
    Abstract: A loading device for open tenders comprises a front bow including two fixed side bars the ends of which are inserted into a hollow rotatable bar which extends parallel to and substantially the width of the driver's cabin, which rotatable bar bears a frame sub-divided by wires. Stops in the form of box-like pans are mounted on each fixed bar, to stop the movement of the rotatable bar. The rotatable bar comprises in pan of its circumference a slot the length of which corresponds to the desired range of angular movement of the rotatable bar. The stops are located in alignment with the slot flush with the rotatable bar or higher. The fixed and rotatable bars, the frame, and the stops (or box-like pans) are connected with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Inventor: Eli Tayar
  • Patent number: 5476301
    Abstract: A cargo securing system includes a forward cab protector rack and a rear tailgate rack interconnected by side beams. The forward rack includes upper and lower corner supports each having sections with an extension member telescopically secured within and pinned to one another whereby the rack extends above the truck cab. The upper front section can be removed and stored in a horizontal position. The rear rack includes corner supports each having upper and lower sections movable relative to one another to provide a rack at a height equal to the height of the sides of the truck bed or a rack extending above the truck bed sides, respectively. Cross beams extend laterally between the upright corner supports and side rails extend between the front and rear corner supports at adjusted elevations. The cross beams, side rails and extended upright supports may be stored by pinned connections with the supports for the rack secured to the sides of the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: Ron S. Berkich
  • Patent number: 5476200
    Abstract: A rack positionable within a bed of a pick-up truck for supporting a plurality of bicycles in a parallel, spaced relationship. The rack includes a pair of transverse members positionable against opposed front and rear sides of wheel wells within the truck bed. A plurality of bicycle wheel receiving channels extend orthogonally over the transverse members to support a bicycle within each one of the channels. Each channel is provided with a vertically extending upright member which attaches to the bicycle to support the same in a vertical orientation. Because the transverse members engage front and rear sides of the wheel wells, no additional mounting means is needed to preclude movement of the rack within the truck bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Inventor: Gene L. Wong
  • Patent number: 5470120
    Abstract: The present invention is a ladder utility rack for pick-up cargo beds. It has two parallel horizontal base rails and at least two vertical stanchion units and has at least two suspension rods, one from each stanchion, and has at least one inner support beam connected to the suspension rods. Each base rail has at least one horizontal and one vertical running wall and each is adapted to nest atop and against sidewalls of a cargo bed. These base rails are not connected to one another except via the stanchion units. These stanchion units have vertical legs running from each of the base rails upwardly and inwardly and terminate at a commonly connected horizontal cross member. A preferred embodiment includes four suspension rods, two from each stanchion, and two inner support beams, each beam connected to a forward and a rearward suspension rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: David Christensen
  • Patent number: 5465883
    Abstract: A carrier rack device for delivering replacement windshields for automotive vehicles, panels of flat glass, or other types of panels outside of and to the rear of an automotive vehicle, such as a conventional pickup truck, is constructed to be cantilevered from attachment to the rear of the vehicle. In one form of the invention, the device attaches to the usual trailer hitch of the vehicle. In another form, the device attaches directly to the tailgate of a truck, usually a conventional pickup truck. In both forms, a pair of laterally spaced, elongate carrier parts extend from securement to the rear of the vehicle so as to extend longitudinally rearwardly for receiving therebetween the panels to be carried in-conventional receiving pockets. One form is more versatile than the other in its provision of separate carrier parts, each having mounting structure components that telescope in selectively different ways into attachment with other mounting structure to serve different purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Jerry A. Woodward
  • Patent number: 5451088
    Abstract: The present invention makes beneficial use of a vehicle's single point box receiver hitch by transferring an underlying frame mount of the box receiver both outward and adjustably upward simultaneously for load transfer at to a load-supporting cross beam in order to provide a two-axis, cantilevered extension for a pickup truck. The extension apparatus when viewed from above is T-shaped and includes two pieces constructed from box iron. One piece is a longitudinal-running box beam welded at an upward cantilever angle to a short stub section. The second piece is T-shaped when viewed from above and it includes a single adjustment telescoping transition beam which serves as the transition from the longitudinal box beam to the load-supporting cross beam that is transversely oriented relative to the longitudinal beam. A second stub is rigidly connected to the cross beam and it is adjustable by being telescoped over the first angled stub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Robert L. Broad
  • Patent number: 5443190
    Abstract: A vehicle article carrier apparatus adapted for use with a cargo bed of a vehicle such as a pick-up truck. The apparatus generally comprises a pair of cross rails each having a length sufficient to span the width of the cargo bed and to be supported on upper surfaces of the sidewalls of the cargo bed. A securing mechanism includes a threaded bolt and a threaded nut which clampingly secures a bracket to an inner lip portion of the sidewall and an undersurface of the cross rail to thus secure the cross rail to the sidewalls of the cargo bed. When an optional lock member is locked in place via a key, a threaded nut housed therein cannot be loosened when the lock member is in a locked position, and therefore the cross rail cannot be moved from the cargo bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: JAC Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Cucheran, Jeffrey M. Aftanas
  • Patent number: 5439152
    Abstract: An extendable carrier rack comprising a pair of L-shaped base legs, each base leg having a horizontal outer side rail coupled to an upwardly extended outer support rail thus creating an upper free end, a lower free end, and a corner therebetween; a pair L-shaped extension legs, each extension leg having a horizontal inner side rail coupled to an upwardly extended outer support rail thus creating an upper free end, a lower free end, and a corner therebetween with the lower free ends of the extension legs each coupled with a separate free end of a base leg; a pair of L-shaped bottom rails with one bottom rail coupled to the corners of separate base legs and the other bottom rail coupled to the corners of separate extension legs, whereby the base legs, extension legs, and bottom rails define a pedestal having a base section and an upwardly extended legged section adapted to be placed in and secured to a vehicle; and a pair of u-shaped holding legs with each holding leg having a top rail and a pair of inner exten
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Samuel Campbell
  • Patent number: 5431472
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Technic Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald G. Coffland