Bed mounted tire carrier with compliance
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsRyan C. Harris, James Chung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to a mounting system for a vehicle. The mounting system may be compliant such that it accommodates movement of the vehicle during off road driving or other activities involving vehicle articulation. The movement of the mounting system may be provided by joint structures including ball joints and sliding joints that allow limited movement of the mounting system during off road use without allowing movement during on road use to effectively secure cargo.
Claims19
A mounting system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a base structure configured to be mounted rigidly to the vehicle, the base structure comprising a first rail and a second rail;
- a first slider joint disposed on the first rail;
- a second slider joint disposed on the second rail;
- a first ball joint disposed on the first slider joint;
- a second ball joint disposed on the second slider joint;
- a third rail extending between and in contact with both the first ball joint and the second ball joint;
- and
- a mounting structure disposed on the third rail, the mounting structure configured to carry cargo.
A cargo mounting device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a first support rail with a first end and a second end configured to be mounted to a bed of the vehicle;
- a second support rail with a first end and a second end configured to be mounted to the bed of the vehicle;
- a third support rail extending between the first support rail and the second support rail;
- a fourth support rail extending between the first support rail and the second support rail;
- a first joint structure disposed on a proximal end of the third support rail and connected to the first support rail;
- a second joint structure disposed on a distal end of the third support rail and connected to the second support rail;
- a third joint structure disposed on a proximal end of the fourth support rail and connected to the first support rail;
- a fourth joint structure disposed on a distal end of the fourth support rail and connected to the second support rail;
- and
- and a mounting structure configured to carry cargo, the mounting structure extending between the third support rail and the fourth support rail,
- wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth joint structures comprises a sliding joint connected to a ball joint.
A method of installing a mounting structure on a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a base structure comprising a first rail and a second rail;
- providing a first slider joint and a second slider joint disposed on the first rail;
- providing a first ball joint disposed on the first slider joint and a second ball joint disposed on the second slider joint;
- providing a third rail extending between and in contact with both the first ball joint and the second ball joint;
- providing a mounting structure disposed on the third rail;
- rigidly mounting the base structure to a vehicle bed;
- and
- mounting cargo on the mounting structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.