# US 4,394,100 A · Pickup truck cargo box cover assembly

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- Number: US 4,394,100 A
- Document ID: US4394100A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/307,709
- Filed: 1981-10-02
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-10-02
- Assignees: Chrysler Corporation
- Inventors: Harold K. Sperlich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394100A

## CPC

- B60P 7/02: Covering of load
- 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)

## Abstract

A removable cover for a pickup truck cargo box employing a standard 4.times.8 foot sheet of plywood to provide a second load level and a subjacent covered security area. A horizontally disposed channel is provided in the box front wall and stepped support surfaces are formed on the wheel housings. The tailgate has a horizontally disposed channel in its inner panel located in opposed relation with the front wall channel. The channels and wheel housing surfaces are sized to receive a standard rectangular building panel positioned with its forward edge in the front wall channel supported on the wheel housing surfaces in a horizontal plane. The panel's length results in its rearward edge being received and held in the tailgate channel upon the tailgate being pivoted to its upright closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In combination with a pickup truck having an open cargo box formed of an upstanding front wall, upstanding sidewalls, a floor and a pivotally mounted rear tailgate defining a cargo area with a rearward access opening, said sidewalls including an opposed pair of wheel housings projecting upwardly from the floor and projecting inwardly into the cargo area, said tailgate hinged for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a substantially upright locked position closing at least a portion of the access opening and a lowered position; the improvement comprising:
first horizontally disposed channel means on said front wall extending a predetermined distance thereacross;
second horizontally disposed channel means on said tailgate in opposed relation with said first channel means whereby said channels define a horizontally extending plane spaced a predetermined distance above said cargo area floor;
each said wheel housing having an upper substantially planar surface located substantially in said horizontally extending plane;
rectangular panel means dimensioned such that its one forward marginal transverse edge is adapted to be snugly received in said first channel means, and
said panel means having a predetermined longitudinal dimension such that with said forward edge snugly received in said front wall channel means its other rearward transverse edge is adapted to be snugly received in said tailgate channel means with said tailgate in its upright closed position whereby said panel means is retained by said tailgate channel means providing a covered load space on the cargo area floor subjacent an upper level cargo area on said panel means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cargo box as defined in claim 1 wherein, each said wheel housing upper surface is formed as a mirror image defining a stepped surface having horizontally disposed tread portions and vertically disposed laterally opposed riser portions, spaced a transverse dimension such that the panel means longitudinal edges are adapted to be in juxtaposed relation with its associated wheel housing riser portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cargo box as defined in claim 1 wherein, said floor comprises a central floor load space portion intermediate said wheel housings and step-like marginal side portions located at a higher level defining longitudinally extending restraining shoulders adapted for contact with cargo stored on said central floor portion to maintain cargo within the confines of said central floor load space.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cargo box as defined in claim 1 wherein, with said tailgate raised in its upright closed and locked position cargo stored on said central floor portion subjacent said panels means will be substantially secure against unauthorized removal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The cargo box as defined in claim 2 wherein, said panel means is a standard 4.times.8 foot building panel having a predetermined thickness substantially equal to the height of said riser portions such that the panel upper surface is substantially coplanar with the upper thread surface of said wheel housings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cargo box as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel means rearward transverse edge extends a predetermined distance beyond the terminus of the cargo area sidewalls such that said panel means transverse edge is received in a tailgate channel formed integral with the tailgate inner face panel.