US-12617477-B2 - Configurable truck rack system

US12617477B2US 12617477 B2US12617477 B2US 12617477B2US-12617477-B2

Abstract

This is a configurable truck rack system designed with a rack platform, a number of posts, and a number of corresponding base plates, which can be installed on a truck bed. The rack platform comprises a sliding rail, a fixed rail, and a plurality of crossmembers, wherein the sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail through a number mounting brackets secured by a plurality of tension release knobs and locking nuts. The truck rack platform is configured such that a slide layer is placed between the sliding rail and the fixed rail. The truck rack platform and the posts can be removed from the truck and converted into a workbench, through the addition of a work surface attachment. The truck rack platform is designed such that the sliding rail can move bi-directionally and extend over the rack platform in order to accommodate larger items.

Inventors

John Walter O'Rourke

Assignees

John Walter O'Rourke

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240119

Claims (20)

1 . A configurable truck rack system, comprising: at least one sliding rail connected to a front crossmember on one distal end, a rear crossmember on one other distal end, and a plurality of inner crossmembers located between the front crossmember and the rear crossmember, a fixed rail comprising a number of mounting holes, a plurality of posts inserted into the plurality of mounting holes, and a plurality of base plates, wherein the plurality of posts is removably attached to the base plates, wherein the at least one sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail through a number of mounting brackets secured by a plurality of tension release knobs and locking nuts, and a slide layer is placed between the sliding rail and the fixed rail, such that the at least one sliding rail can move bi-directionally in parallel to the fixed rail.
2 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , wherein the sliding rail comprises a front sliding rail and a rear sliding rail, wherein the front sliding rail moves forwardly and the rear sliding rail moves backwardly, such that the front sliding rail and the ear sliding rail has a combined length equal to that of the fixed rail.
3 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , wherein the front crossmember is attached to the at least one sliding rail with a corner bracket on each distal end.
4 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , wherein the rear crossmember comprises a pair of sub rear crossmembers, wherein each of the pair of sub rear crossmembers is attached to the at least one sliding rail with a hinge, such that the pair of sub rear crossmembers open outwardly.
5 . The truck rack system of claim 4 , wherein the pair of sub rear crossmembers are attached to the at least one sliding rail with a plurality of locking pins.
6 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of posts is attached to the plurality of base plates with a lynch pin.
7 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , further comprising a surface component that is removably attached to the rack platform.
8 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , further comprising a number of external brackets and a number of internal brackets, wherein the sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail with the external brackets on their external distal end and the internal brackets on their internal distal end.
9 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , further comprising cover attachment means, wherein a cover is attached to the sliding rails and the fixed rails with the cover attachment means, such that area surrounding the truck rack system is enclosed by the cover.
10 . The truck rack system of claim 1 , wherein the posts are adjustable in length, such that the fixed rails and the extended rails can be raised further above ground.
11 . A configurable truck rack system, comprising: a rack platform, comprising a sliding rail that is configured to move bi-directionally, a fixed rail, and a plurality of crossmembers, wherein the sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail through a number mounting brackets secured by a plurality of tension release knobs and locking nuts, wherein a slide layer is placed between the sliding rail and the fixed rail, wherein the crossmembers are removably fixed onto the sliding rail and the fixed rail, a plurality of posts, wherein the fixed rail comprises a corresponding number of mounting holes, such that the plurality of posts inserts into the plurality of mounting holes, and a plurality of base plates on a truck bed, wherein the plurality of posts is removably attached to the base plates.
12 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , wherein the sliding rail comprises a front sliding rail and a rear sliding rail, wherein the front sliding rail moves forwardly and the rear sliding rail moves backwardly, such that the front sliding rail and the ear sliding rail has a combined length equal to that of the fixed rail.
13 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , wherein the front crossmember is attached to the at least one sliding rail with a corner bracket on each distal end.
14 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , wherein the rear crossmember comprises a pair of sub rear crossmembers, wherein each of the pair of sub rear crossmembers is attached to the at least one sliding rail with a hinge, such that the pair of sub rear crossmembers open outwardly.
15 . The truck rack system of claim 14 , wherein the pair of sub rear crossmembers are attached to the at least one sliding rail with a plurality of locking pins.
16 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of posts are attached to the plurality of base plates with a lynch pin.
17 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , further comprising a surface component that is removably attached to the rack platform.
18 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , further comprising a number of external brackets and a number of internal brackets, wherein the sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail with the external brackets on their external distal end and the internal brackets on their internal distal end.
19 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , further comprising cover attachment means, wherein a cover is attached to the sliding rails and the fixed rails with the cover attachment means, such that area surrounding the truck rack system is enclosed by the cover.
20 . The truck rack system of claim 11 , wherein the posts are adjustable in length, such that the fixed rails and the extended rails can be raised further above ground.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/440,700 entitled “CONFIGURABLE TRUCK RACK SYSTEM” filed Jan. 24, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND The US Department of Transportation estimates 20% of the vehicles in operation today are pickup trucks. 17% of all new vehicle registrations are for pickup trucks. Sales figures for pickup trucks have increased each year, from 2 million in 2018 to 3 million in 2020. Registration data for pickup trucks in 2018 was 47.1 million and in 2019 registrations rose to 48 million. While there is no regulatory data exists regarding the number of pickup trucks that have racks installed over the bed of the vehicle exists, an informal survey conducted by the Applicant indicated appx. 35 out of 100 pickups trucks had some type of rack system affixed to the truck. These racks have varying designs, are made of various types of materials, and constructed using various methodologies. At the retail level the cost for a rack system ranges from $300 to over $2,500. Current manufactures do not offer a full scope multi-dimensional rail system. Most systems are designed for either the commercial or recreational market and lack “crossover” capabilities. Current market offers racks in a fixed or predetermined configuration with most rack systems being welded and made from round pipe or singular tube design. Most existing systems have a fixed crossbeam near the tailgate area, which prevents loading of oversized items such as refrigerators, mattress, box springs, tall furniture or other larger oversized items. SUMMARY The following summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. This is truck rack system designed with a rack platform, a number of posts, and a number of corresponding base plates, which can be installed on a truck bed. The rack platform comprises a sliding rail, a fixed rail, and a plurality of crossmembers, wherein the sliding rail is attached to the fixed rail through a number of mounting brackets secured by a plurality of tension release knobs and locking nuts. The truck rack platform is configured such that a slide layer is placed between the sliding rail and the fixed rail. The crossmembers are removably fixed onto the sliding rail and the fixed rail, a plurality of posts, wherein the fixed rail comprises a corresponding number of mounting holes, such that the plurality of posts inserts into the plurality of mounting holes, and a plurality of base plates, wherein the plurality of posts are removably attached to the base plates. The truck rack platform and the posts can be removed from the truck and converted into a workbench, through the addition of a work surface attachment. The truck rack platform is designed such that the sliding rail can move bi-directionally and extend over the rack platform in order to accommodate larger items. The sliding rail can be formed by two half sliding rails that meet the length of the fixed rail, and each half sliding rail can move bi-directionally and independently. These and other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the appended drawings. It is to be understood that the foregoing summary, the following detailed description and the appended drawings are explanatory only and are not restrictive of various aspects as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system in an open configuration. FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system. FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with a crossmember and base plates. FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system. FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with the rack platform. FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with sliders. FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with brackets. FIG. 9 is a side view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with tension release knobs and locking nuts. FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of the configurable truck rack system with example dimensions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present examples can be constructed or utilized. The description sets f