Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~;~33~
IAUr:~ B~:D LIIIER
ACKGROUND OF THl~ INVENTION
Th;s invention r elates to molded plastic liners for truck cargo beds
and9 more particularly, to a one-piece protective liner for pick-up truck or the
like.
Various $ruck bed liners hove been disclosed in prior art patents
such a5 shown in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,D47,749, 4,111,4~1 and 4,341,~12. These
prior art liners have as principal purpose the protection of the entire floor, side
will and front wall ureas of a truck bed cargo compartment. Liners OI this type
are formed as one-piece structure with a shQpe that is generally box-like to
complement the shape of the cargo compartment into which they are inserted.
These liners are, therefore, relatively large thereby requiring large areas or
storage and substantial expenses in shipment.
A further concern with any truck bed liner is whether the
constr~action prevents moisture retention between the liner Pnd truck bed. Truck
beds can become damaged by rusting end corrnsion which develop because of
small volumes of stagnant water trapped in surface depressions on the truck bed
floor. This condition can worsen if portions of the truck bed floor are covered by
a liner.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
one-piece molded truck bed liner which may be made into a compact
configuration for easy haIldling~ storage and shipment. lt is another object of the
intention to provide a one-piece truck bed liner construction having higll strength
Qt criticQl cargo impact areas end construction that prevents moisture
retention betwoen the liner and truck bed to minimize corrosion.
~L233~9
SUMMARY O F THE I NVENT I ON
-
Thus the present invention provides a protective liner
for a truck bed structure which has a front wall and a floor
having longitudinal.ly extending raised inverted channels
alternating with longitudinally extending troughs, said liner
comprising:
a one-piece flexible body having a first face engageable
with said truck bed structure and a second face on the side
opposite said first face, said body being rollable into a
10 generally cylindxical mass for easy handling, storage and
shipping, said flexible body having a first section engageable
with the floor of the truck bed structure and a second section
engageable with the front wall of the truck bed structure,
said first and second sections being joined by an integral
hinged portion which permits said second section to readily
pivot and bend from a position coplanar with said first section
to a position perpendicular to said first section,
said flexible body further including a plurality of spaced
apart, generally parallel, ribs on said second face and a
20 plurality of laterally spaced protrusions on said first face,
said protrusions comprising a plurality of downwardly converging
cones and the axes of said cones located between the axes
of said ribs, said protrusions contacti.ng the raised inverted
channels of said truck bed structure to support the non-protruding
portions of said first face in spaced relation therefrom,
said protrusions being oriented relative to said inverted
channels and trough so that all spaces between adjacent pro-
trusions of said flexible body can communicate with a plurality
of troughs of said truck Ted structure thereby precluding
30 any dead air space between any port.ion of said fl.exible body
and said truck bed structure; and
said rib and protrusions extending only along said f:irst
and second sections such that said hinged portion is free
of any rib or protrusions,
--2--
~3~
In certain embodiments thy protective liner of
the present invention includes a molded one-p~.ece construc-
tion that may be rolled into a generally cylirldrical mass for
eQ~ hanging, stGrage Ed shipment. Thelinerincludes~p'lur~lity of ~C~O~
connected together by one or more hinge portions permitting complete piVQt
movement between the sections. Thus, one ox the ~dvant~ges provided by the
liner of the presenl invention is that it my be lsid out completely flat Ed then
rolled into relatively compact cylindric~Ily shaped roll for con-Jeni~nt handling
or shipping.
The liner is made of rubber or a similar flexible material formed
into B unitary or one-piece body construction for insertion into the truek Fargo
~omp~rtmerlt. The one-piece liner includes girst section which my be
positioned to lie long the horizsnt~lly extending floor ox the truck bed And a
second section which is adopted to be positioned for extending partially E~long the
vertical front wall of the truck bed. The liner sections are connected for
relative pivotal movement by a hinge portion which acts as a "livir~" hinge to
permit cornplete flexing and pivotal movement between the ~ect;ons.
NormAlly, the end user receives ye liner in a rolled ~ylin~rical
- mass which is then unrolled and positioned within the cargo compartment or
20 e~g~gement with the i'loor Ed front wall of the truck bed. It is also within ye
scope ox the present invention to provide foldable side wall sectjons which would
operate in a manner similar to the floor end front wall sections disclosed herein
The floor and front will sectiQn~ of the liner include plurality of
spiced Qpart, generally parallel ribs on the top side of a continuous base or body
portion end Q plurality of spaced apart protrusions, Hdimples", or ribs on the
bottom wide ox the base portion. The top ribs on the floor section extencl flrom
-2a
~23;3
1407.016 the front of the csrgo compQrtment to its rear to provide support for cargo or
materials Nat are placed on top of the floor section of ye liner and protection
to the underlying Moor of the truck bed. The top ribs Oll the front wall section of
the liner extend upwardly to protect the flont wall o the cargo compartment
from damage due to cargo impact. Further, the top ribs permit easy cleaning of
the cargo compartment since whey channel water and debris to the rear of the
cargo eompartment.
The "dimples" or ribs on the underside of the liner bridle between
the existing inverted ehannels in the truck bed floor to provide strength to theliner and to prevent sagging of the liner into the troughs of the truck bed floor.
This bridging effect also permits air to circulste along the troughs in the bed
floor snd across the tops of the inverted channels to prevent moisture retentionbetween the liner and bed floor thereby reducing the possibility of rusting and
corrosion.
Significantly, the ends OI the top ribs on the floor section ore
spaced from and, therefore, not continuous with the top ribs on the front wall
liner section. This discontinuity in the top ribs permits the base or body portion,
which connects the floor and front wall sections and which is free of any ribs, to
act as a hinge permitting complete pivotal movement between the floor and
front wall sections of the liner for engagement with the truck bed floor and front
wall. Further, as described, the unique construction for ye liner permits the
liner to be laid out horizontally with its sections being coplanar and then the
liner may be rolled into a cylindrical mass. Thus, the liner is constructed for
ease in handling, storage or shipmer.t while providing protection to the floor and
front wall of the cargo compartment as well as other advantages described
herein.
Other adYalatflges shad meritorious features of the truck bed liner
of the present inverltion will be more fully understood from the following
descriplion of the invention, the appended claims end the dra~,vings, a brief
description of whieh follows.
3-
~33~
1407.016 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up truck showirg the
truck bed liner oE the present invention mounted within the bed OI the buck.
Figure 2 is a Yiew taken substantially long line a in Figure 1
showing a side elevational view of the liner mounted within the bed of the truck.
Figure 3 is a top view of the liner taken alor~ 3ine 3-3 in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the liner taken long line 4-4 in
E igure 2.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the liner taken from the rear of
the cargo compartment.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevationPl view of the liner
mounted within the bed of the truck.
Figure 7 is a crosssectional view taken long line 7-7 in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a perspectiYe view of the preferred embodiment of the
truck bed liner ox the present invention.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary view taken along line 10-10 in
Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in
Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a frQgmentaPy side elevational view of the preferred
liner construction mounted within the bed OI the truck.
Figure 13 is cross-section~l view token along line 13-13 in
Figure 12.
~33~
l407.016 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OP THE INVENTION
Referring now to ye drawings, Pigure 1 illustrates a convention01
pick-up truek 10 including a ~b 12 and a truck bed or cargo compartment 14.
Csrgo compartrnent 14 includes a bottom wall or floor 16 comprising e}vngated
inverted channels 18 and troughs 20 us shown in Figure 5. The cargo
compartment further includes a front wall 22, a lefthand side wall 24 and a
righthand side wall 26 with the front and side walls having a top rail or ledge
portion 28. A Wlg~te 30, pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a
horizontal axis, LS shown in its open position supported by toggle link bar
assemblies 32.
The present invention relates to a truck bed liner 4U which is
made of rubber or a similar flexible material and formed into a unitary or one-
piece body construction or insertion into cargo compartment 14. Figures 1-8
illustrate one embodiment of the track bed liner 40 while Figures ~-13 illustrate
the preferred embodiment of the liner. One-piece liner 40 includes a first
section 42 which is positioned to lie along horizontally extending floor 16 and a
second section 44 which is adapted to be positioned for extending partially long
vertical front wall 22. Liner sections 42 and 44 are connected xor relative
pivotal movernent by a hinge portion 46 (Figures 2, 6~ 9 and 12~. Since liner 4û is
formed in a unitary or one-piece construction, portion 46 actuslly acts as a
"living" hinge to permit complete flexing and pivotal movement between sections
42 and 44 for engagement with floor lB and front wall 22.
One of the advantages provided by liner 40 is thet it may be laid
out completely flat outside cargo compartment 14 and it may be rolled into a
relatively compact, cylindrically shaped roll for convenient handling or shipping.
Norrnally, the end user receives liner 40 in a rolleà cylindrical mass which is then
unrolled nnd positioned within cargo compartment 14 as shown in Figure 1.
~33~
1407.016 Liner 40 includes a continuous base or body portion ~7 (Figures 7,
8, and 13~ end each section 42 and 44 of liner 40 inollJdes a plurality of spaced
apart, generally parallel ribs 48 on the top side of base portion 47. Liner 40 also
includes a plurality o spaced part, generally parallel t:r~nsversely extending ribs
5D on ye bottom side of base portion 47, as shown in the embodiment OI Figures
1-8, or a plurality ox spaced apart onto protrusions or "dimples" 52 as shown inthe preferred embodiment of Figures 9-13.
The ribs 48 on liner section 42 extend from ye front of cargo
compartment 14 to its rear to provide support for cargo or materials that are
placed on top of the floor section 42 of liner 40 end protection to the underlying
floor 16 of cargo compartment 14. When liner 40 is plaoed in its operative
position as shown in Figures 1, 2, 6, 9 and 12, the ribs 48 on liner section 44
extend upwardly to protect the front wall 22 of cargo compartment 14 prom
damage due to cargo impact. Further, ribs 48 permit easy cleaning of the cargo
compartment since they channel water and debris to the rear of cargo
compartment 14.
The transversely disposed ribs 50 or dimples 52 on the underside of
liner 40 bridge between the inverted channels 18 ~e.g., Figure 13) to provide
strength to liner 40 and to prevent substantial saggislg oi the liner into troughs
20. The bridging effect provided by ribs 5û and dimples 52 also permits air to
circulate along troughs 20 and across the tops of channels 18 to prevent moisturretention between liner 40 and bed floor 16 thereby reducing the possibility of
rusting and corrosion.
Significantly, lo ends of the ribs 48 on liner section 42 ore spaced
from end, therefore, not continuous with the ribs 48 on liner seat:ion 4~1. Thisdiscontinuity in ribs 48 permits portion 46 of base 47, which is free of any ribs, to
aot no a hinge permitting oomplete pivotal rnovement between sectiorls 4'2 end 44
~33~
1407.~16 Ior engagement with flosr 16 and front wall 22. Further, as described, the
unique constrlletion for liner 40 permits the liner to be lflid out horizontally with
liner sections d~2 and 44 being coplanar Dr liner 40 may be rolled into a cylindrical
mass. Thus, liner 40 is constructed for ease in handling, storage, or shipment
while providing protection to ye floor 16 Hnd front wall 22 ox Fargo
~ompar$ment 14 and other aclvantages as described hereinO
It will be apparent to Jose skilled in the art that the foregoing
disclosure is exemplary in nature ra$her than limiting, the invention being limited
only by the appended claims.
7-
