PLATFORM FOR PICK-UP TRUCK

PLATE-FORME POUR FOURGONNETTE

English Abstract

A storage device for a pick-up truck having an open pick-up bed, the storage device comprising a frame sized to fit within the pick-up bed, an upper platform supported by the frame, at least one ramp, a storage compartment located below said upper platform for storing the ramp, and a tray below the storage compartment, the tray being slidably moveable between a storage position and an open position. The arrangement permits the truck to carry a recreational vehicle on the upper platform while providing for storage of tools and other requirements on the sliding tray.

French Abstract

Il s'agit d'un dispositif d'entreposage pour camionnette pourvue d'un châssis ouvert, le dispositif d'entreposage comprenant les éléments qui suivent. Un cadre dimensionné pour entrer dans le châssis de la camionnette; une plate-forme supérieure supportée par le châssis; au moins une rampe; un compartiment d'entreposage situé en dessous de ladite plate-forme supérieure pour ranger la rampe; et un plateau en dessous du compartiment d'entreposage, le plateau étant déplaçable par glissement entre une position de rangement et une position de sortie. Le montage permet à la camionnette de transporter un véhicule de plaisance sur la plate-forme supérieure, tout en assurant l'entreposage des outils et autres objets sur le plateau coulissant.

Claims

The embodiments of an invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is

claimed is defined as follows:

1. A storage device for a pick-up truck having an open pick-up bed, said
storage
device comprising:

a frame sized to fit within said pick-up bed;

an upper platform supported by said frame, said upper platform having an
upper platform rear end situated proximate a rear end of said pick-up truck,
and a back
wall hingedly connected to said upper platform rear end;

at least one ramp;

a storage compartment below said upper platform for storing said at least one
ramp;

first and second sets of cables, said first set of cables being arranged to
retain
said back wall in a first position and a second set of cables being adapted to
retain said
back wall in a downwardly and outwardly extending position; and

a tray below said storage compartment, said tray being slidably moveable
between a storage position and an open position.

2. The storage device of Claim 1 further including a front wall located at a
front
end of said upper storage platform.

3. The storage device of Claim 2 further including an aperture formed in said
front wall to permit viewing therethrough.

4. The storage device of Claim 1 further including side rails located on said
upper
platform at opposed sides thereof.

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5. The storage device of Claim 1 further including a track extending along a
bottom portion of said frame on each side thereof, said tracks having wheels
mounted
thereon, said slidable tray being moveable along said wheels.

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Description

CA 02542164 2006-04-06
PLATFORM FOR PICK-UP TRUCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to vehicle accessories and more particularly,
relates to a
platform and storage area for use with pick-up trucks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pick-up truck storage boxes have been in use for many years in various shapes,
sizes
and materials. In general, such storage boxes allow the user to access the
contents of the
box from the top by standing at the side of the vehicle or climbing onto the
bed of the
vehicle.
Frequently, pick-up trucks are employed to transport various types of
recreational
vehicles from one location to another. In such instances, the recreational
vehicle is usually
driven onto the truck bed. In so doing, there is no storage space remaining.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage device for a
pick-up truck
and which device is designed to receive a recreational vehicle while providing
storage space.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage
device
for a pick-up truck having an open pick-up bed, the storage device comprising
a frame sized
to fit within the pick-up bed, an upper platform supported by the frame, at
least one ramp, a
storage compartment below the upper platform for storing the at least one ramp
and a tray
below the storage compartment, the tray being slidably moveable between a
storage position
and an open position.
The device of the present invention, as above mentioned, will include a frame
which
is designed to sit within the box of the pick-up truck. The frame will include
suitable
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CA 02542164 2006-04-06
horizontal and vertical members and will provide an upper platform upon which
a
recreational vehicle may be placed and a lower portion which is designed to
receive at least
one sliding tray.
The upper platform preferably has, on a bottom surface thereof, a compartment
which
is designed to retain one or more ramps. The ramps are utilized for permitting
the
recreational vehicle to embark/disembark from the upper platform. Naturally, a
single wider
ramp may be utilized if so desired.
In a preferred embodiment, the upper platform has a rear wall which is
hingedly
connected to a rear edge of the platform. In a normal storage position, the
rear wall is held
in an upright vertical position while for purposes of embarking/disembarking,
the back wall
is lowered to an angle and retained thereat by retaining members. The ramps
may then be
hooked onto the back wall.
The sliding tray may take many different forms depending upon the ultimate
usage of
the same. Thus, it may be divided into various compartments for receiving
tools and the
like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pick-up truck having one embodiment of a
storage
device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figure 3;
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CA 02542164 2006-04-06
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a storage device
according
to the present invention; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an accessory ready to embark/disembark
a
recreational vehicle thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto, there
is illustrated a pick-up truck which is shown in dotted lines and generally
designated by
reference numeral 10. Pick-up truck 10 includes a cab portion 12 and a truck
rear
compartment 14 which is enclosed by first and second side walls 16, 18
respectively, a front
wall 19 and a tailgate 21.
The device of the present invention includes a plurality of first side wall
frame
members 20 and a similar plurality of second side wall frame members 22.
Extending along
the bottom of first side wall frame members 20 and secured thereto is a first
L-shaped track
member 24. A second L-shaped track member 26 extends along and is secured to
second
side wall frame members 22.
A slidable tray generally designated by reference numeral 28 includes a bottom
wall 30 along with first side wall 32 which has an outwardly extending flange
34. Similarly,
a second side wall 36 includes an outwardly extending flange 38.
Mounted on first L-shaped track 24 are a plurality of first side wheels 40
which
support tray 28 and wherein flange 34 rides thereon. Similarly, on the other
side, there are
provided second side wheels 42 to support flange 38 extending from second side
wall 36.
Tray 28 also includes a front end wall 44 and a rear end wall 46. One or more
divider
walls 48 may be provided to separate the tray into various compartments for
receiving tools
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CA 02542164 2006-04-06
and/or other accessories.
Mounted on the top of first side wall frame members 20 and second side wall
frame
members 22 is an upper platform generally designated by reference numeral 50.
Upper
platform 50 includes a floor portion 52 along with side rails 54 and 56. A
front rail 58 also
extends along the front portion of floor 52.
Located below floor 52 is a storage compartment 60 which is designed to
receive
ramps 62 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.
Turning to the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, similar reference numerals are
employed for similar components.
In this embodiment, upper platform 50 has, instead of a rail, a platform front
wall 64
extending therefrom. An aperture 66 is provided therein to permit visibility
through the rear
window of the cab.
At the rear of upper platform 50, there is provided a hinged rear panel 68
which, in
the position shown in Figure 5, is suitable for retaining a recreational
vehicle on the
platform S0. However, when it is decided to embark/disembark as shown in
Figure 6, rear
panel 68 is lowered and retaining members 72 support the rear panel 68. Ramps
62 may
then be placed in position for embarking/disembarking the vehicle.
In a further embodiment, the floor 52 and/or side rails 54, 56 may be provided
with
apertures or the like or other places that jacks may be utilized to support
and lift the device.
Thus, one could provide the arrangement wherein rails 54 have a portion which
extend
outboard of the side walls 16 and 18 of the pick-up truck to permit lifting of
the device at
least to a height sufficient to allow the truck to drive out from underneath
the same. A
similar arrangement may be utilized for loading the device onto the pick-up
truck.
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CA 02542164 2006-04-06
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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Representative Drawing