# US 11,305,823 B2 · Sidepack storage compartment and methods of making and using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,823 B2 - Document ID: US11305823B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/396,098 - Filed: 2019-04-26 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-13 - Assignees: Altec Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Altec Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Ryan J. McKinney; Austin Graham; Kyle E. Hoffmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305823B2 ## CPC - B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)} - B60P 1/00: Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading (vehicles for carrying harvested crops with means for self-loading or self-unloading A01D90/00; peculiar to refuse collecting-vehicles B65F; loading or unloading vehicles by means not incorporated therein B65G) - B60P 3/34: the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement ({B60P3/38} takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06) - B60R 9/02: at the sides, e.g. on running-board - B60R 9/06: at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} - B60R 11/06: for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) - B60R 13/01: Liners for load platforms or load compartments - B62D 25/2054: {Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles} - B62D 29/04: predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)} - B62D 35/00: Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining - B60R 9/00: Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like - B62D 29/00: Superstructures, {understructures, or sub-units thereof,} characterised by the material thereof {(B62D33/044, B62D33/048 take precedence)} - B62D 29/041: {Understructures} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An assembly for utility truck bodies having metal and/or composite reinforcement(s) and/or foam reinforcements and/or honeycomb reinforcements and/or wood reinforcements encapsulated within a thermoformed thermoplastic, or thermoset or fiber-reinforced thermoset walking surface floor structure of the truck bed assembly or other composite floor structure with attachable components and junctions, e.g., sidepack(s), and methods of making the same are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sidepack storage compartment comprising: at least two sheets of thermoplastic including a first sheet of thermoplastic and a second sheet of thermoplastic; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is watertight; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is integral with a sidepack; wherein the sidepack includes a floor, a top, and at least two sides that are integrally formed; wherein one of the at least two sides serves as a sidewall of a truck bed; and wherein the floor, the top, and the at least two sides are formed from thermoplastic. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and the second sheet of thermoplastic are twin sheets of thermoformed thermoplastic formed using twin sheet thermoforming. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and/or the second sheet of thermoplastic are fiber reinforced thermoplastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and/or the second sheet of thermoplastic are filled thermoplastics. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and/or the second sheet of thermoplastic are formed using injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoplastic, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the at least two thermoplastic panels are joined during manufacture of at least one of the thermoplastic panels via injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoplastic, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is molded into the sidepack during manufacture of the sidepack storage compartment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is removably or irremovably joined with the sidepack via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, infusion, lamination, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and the second sheet of thermoplastic are joined at periodic kiss-off locations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, further comprising a gap between the first sheet of thermoplastic and the second sheet of thermoplastic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the first sheet of thermoplastic and the second sheet of thermoplastic are joined via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, infusion, lamination, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, further comprising a core including a honeycomb core, an aramid honeycomb core, a thermoplastic honeycomb core, a metal honeycomb core, a wood core, a balsa core, a glass fabric core including a 3D woven sandwich glass fabric core, a fiberglass core, a fabric core including laminate bulkers, a carbon core, a thermoplastic foam core, a polyurethane foam core, a syntactic foam core, a polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam core, a Polyethylene Teraphalate (PET) foam core, a cross linked polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core, a linear PVC foam core, and/or a polyester foam core. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, further comprising a shell and a plurality of modular storage compartments, wherein the plurality of modular storage compartments is configurable within the shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 1, wherein the sidepack is integral with a truck bed floor forming a unitary assembly. ### Claim 15 A sidepack storage compartment comprising: at least two thermoset panels including a first thermoset panel and a second thermoset panel; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is integral with a sidepack; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is watertight; wherein the sidepack includes a floor, a top, and at least two sides that are integrally formed; wherein one of the at least two sides serves as a sidewall of a truck bed; and wherein the floor, the top, and the at least two sides are formed from thermoplastic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the at least two thermoset panels are manufactured via injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using sheet molding compound, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoset, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the at least two thermoset panels are joined during manufacture of at least one of the thermoset panels via injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using sheet molding compound, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoset, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, infusion, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the first thermoset panel and/or the second thermoset panel are fiber reinforced thermoset panels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the first thermoset panel and/or the second thermoset panel are filled thermoset panels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, further comprising at least one thermoplastic material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 20, wherein the at least one thermoplastic material includes fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 20, wherein the at least one thermoplastic material includes a filled thermoplastic. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is molded into the sidepack during manufacture of the sidepack storage compartment. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is removably or irremovably joined with the sidepack via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, infusion, lamination, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, further comprising a honeycomb core, an aramid honeycomb core, a thermoplastic honeycomb core, a metal honeycomb core, a wood core, a balsa core, a glass fabric core including a 3D woven sandwich glass fabric core, a fiberglass core, a fabric core including laminate bulkers, a carbon core, a thermoplastic foam core, a polyurethane foam core, a syntactic foam core, a polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam core, a Polyethylene Teraphalate (PET) foam core, a cross linked polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core, a linear PVC foam core, and/or a polyester foam core. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the at least two thermoset panels are joined via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, further comprising a shell and a plurality of modular storage compartments, wherein the plurality of modular storage compartments is configurable within the shell. ### Claim 28 (depends on 15) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 15, wherein the sidepack is integral with a truck bed floor forming a unitary assembly. ### Claim 29 A sidepack storage compartment comprising: at least one thermoset panel; and at least one thermoplastic panel; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is watertight; wherein the sidepack storage compartment is integral with a sidepack; wherein the sidepack includes a floor, a top, and at least two sides that are integrally formed; wherein one of the at least two sides serves as a sidewall of a truck bed; and wherein the floor, the top, and the at least two sides are formed from thermoplastic. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoplastic panel includes a fiber reinforced thermoplastic panel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoset panel includes a fiber reinforced thermoset panel. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoplastic panel is filled. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoset panel is filled. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoset panel is formed via injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using sheet molding compound, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoset, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoplastic panel is formed using injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoplastic, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoset panel and the at least one thermoplastic panel are joined during manufacture of the at least one thermoset panel and/or the at least one thermoplastic panel via injection molding, rotational molding, compression molding, compression molding using sheet molding compound, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoset, compression molding using fiber reinforced thermoplastic, compression molding using bulk molding compound, compression molding using thick molding, compression molding using wet molding, gravity fed casting, low pressure casting, high pressure casting, resin transfer molding, light resin transfer molding, 3D printing, extrusion, Digital Light Synthesis (DLS), Continuous Light Interface Production (CLIP), vacuum forming, infusion, vacuum infusion, hand layup, flex molding, lamination, squish molding, chop spray, and/or pultrusion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is molded into the sidepack during manufacture of the sidepack storage compartment. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the sidepack storage compartment is removably or irremovably joined with the sidepack via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, infusion, lamination, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the at least one thermoset panel and the at least one thermoplastic panel are joined via physical bonding, chemical bonding, mechanical attachment, mechanical interlocking, magnetism, reversible adhesive, irreversible adhesive, welding including plastic welding, and/or vacuum attachment. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, further comprising a honeycomb core, an aramid honeycomb core, a thermoplastic honeycomb core, a metal honeycomb core, a wood core, a balsa core, a glass fabric core including a 3D woven sandwich glass fabric core, a fiberglass core, a fabric core including laminate bulkers, a carbon core, a thermoplastic foam core, a polyurethane foam core, a syntactic foam core, a polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam core, a Polyethylene Teraphalate (PET) foam core, a cross linked polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam core, a linear PVC foam core, and/or a polyester foam core. ### Claim 41 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, further comprising a shell and a plurality of modular storage compartments, wherein the plurality of modular storage compartments is configurable within the shell. ### Claim 42 (depends on 29) The sidepack storage compartment of claim 29, wherein the sidepack is integral with a truck bed floor forming a unitary assembly.