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US 6,659,524 B1Granted
Retractable cargo bed
OwnerRonald Frederick Carlsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable cargo bed includes a stationary frame adapted for mounting onto a deck of a truck and a travelling frame movable relative to the stationary frame between a retracted position and an extended position. A locking mechanism is provided which includes stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame at spaced intervals. A locking lever is carried by the travelling frame which is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the travelling frame between a downwardly angled locking position and a substantially horizontal release position. The locking lever is biased into the locking position. A release lever is provided for manually moving the locking lever to the release position.
Claims16
A retractable cargo bed, comprising:
- a stationary frame adapted for mounting onto a deck of a truck, the stationary frame having a first end, a second end, a bottom, opposed sides having guide channels, a centrally positioned longitudinal structural member extending between the opposed sides between the first end and the second end;
- a travelling frame having a first end, a second end and opposed sides, the travelling frame being received within the stationary frame with the opposed sides of the travelling frame engaging the guide channels on the opposed sides of the stationary frame, the travelling frame being movable relative to the stationary frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a locking mechanism for controlling travel of the travelling frame along the stationary frame, the locking mechanism including:
- stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame at spaced intervals along the centrally positioned longitudinal structural member;
- a locking lever carried by the travelling frame, the locking lever being pivotally mounted for movement about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the travelling frame between a downwardly angled locking position and a substantially horizontal release position;
- means for biasing the locking lever into the locking position whereby the locking lever engages one of the stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame;
- and
- a release lever for manually moving the locking lever to the release position.
5 more elements
A retractable cargo bed, comprising:
- a stationary frame adapted for mounting onto a deck of a truck, the stationary frame having a first end, a second end, a bottom and opposed sides having guide channels;
- a travelling frame having a first end, a second end and opposed sides, the travelling frame being received within the stationary frame with the opposed sides of the travelling frame engaging the guide channels on the opposed sides of the stationary frame, a plurality of transverse structural members extending between the opposed sides of the travelling frame, the travelling frame being movable relative to the stationary frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a locking mechanism for controlling travel of the travelling frame along the stationary frame, the locking mechanism including:
- stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame at spaced intervals from the first end to the second end of the stationary frame;
- an activation rod extending from the first end to the second end of the travelling frame, the activation rod extending through and being rigidly supported by the transverse structural members of the travelling frame, the activation rod having a first end positioned adjacent to the first end of the travelling frame and a second end positioned adjacent to the second end of the travelling frame, the activation rod having a longitudinal axis and being mounted to the travelling frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis;
- a locking lever secured to the second end of the activation rod, upon rotation of the activation rod the locking lever being moved between a downwardly angled locking position and a substantially horizontal release position;
- a spring acting upon the activation rod to bias the locking lever into the locking position whereby the locking lever engages one of the stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame;
- and
- a release lever secured to the first end of the activation rod for manually rotating the activation rod to move the locking lever to the release position.
6 more elements
A retractable cargo bed, comprising:
- a stationary frame adapted for mounting onto a deck of a truck, the stationary frame having a first end, a second end, a bottom and opposed sides having guide channels;
- a travelling frame having a first end, a second end and opposed sides, the travelling frame being received within the stationary frame with the opposed sides of the travelling frame engaging the guide channels on the opposed sides of the stationary frame, a plurality of transverse structural members extending between the opposed sides of the travelling frame, the travelling frame being movable relative to the stationary frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a locking mechanism for controlling travel of the travelling frame along the stationary frame, the locking mechanism including:
- stop members secured to a centrally positioned longitudinal structural member along the bottom of the stationary frame at spaced intervals from the first end to the second end of the stationary frame, the stop members being in the form of metal plates that are horizontally mounted in an angular orientation;
- an activation rod extending from the first end to the second end of the travelling frame, the activation rod extending through and being rigidly supported by the transverse structural members of the travelling frame, the activation rod having a first end positioned adjacent to the first end of the travelling frame and a second end positioned adjacent to the second end of the travelling frame, the activation rod having a longitudinal axis and being mounted to the travelling frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis;
- a locking lever secured to the second end of the activation rod, upon rotation of the activation rod the locking lever being moved between a downwardly angled locking position and a substantially horizontal release position, the angular orientation of the metal plates which serve as stop members guiding the locking lever in against the centrally positioned longitudinal structural member of the stationary frame;
- a spring acting upon the activation rod to bias the locking lever into the locking position whereby the locking lever engages one of the stop members secured to the bottom of the stationary frame;
- and
- a release lever secured to the first end of the activation rod for manually rotating the activation rod to move the locking lever to the release position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.