초록 ▼

A cargo stabilizer is provided for utility vehicles, such as vans, pickup trucks, and the like, which have a cargo carrying bed. The stabilizer prevents the cargo from shifting either fore-to-aft or laterally in the vehicle bed. The stabilizer comprises two guide rails attached lengthwise along the

A cargo stabilizer is provided for utility vehicles, such as vans, pickup trucks, and the like, which have a cargo carrying bed. The stabilizer prevents the cargo from shifting either fore-to-aft or laterally in the vehicle bed. The stabilizer comprises two guide rails attached lengthwise along the opposite sidewalls of the vehicle bed in a generally mutually parallel relationship. A crossbar is slidingly supported on the guide rails, and includes latches at the opposite ends of the crossbar to adjustably and positively connect the crossbar to the guide rails at a selected location. The crossbar is longitudinally adjustable between locked and unlocked positions, and includes abutment surfaces at its opposite ends which directly abut the sidewalls of the vehicle bed when the crossbar is in the locked position. Hence, substantially all laterally directed stabilizing forces that develop in retaining the cargo in its selected position are transferred directly to the sidewalls of the vehicle\s bed, and do not on the guide rails themselves, thereby providing very secure stabilizing support, without requiring a heavy-duty stabilizer construction.

대표청구항 ▼

A cargo stabilizer for utility vehicles, such as pickup trucks, vans, and the like, of the type having a cargo carrying bed defined by a floor and opposite sidewalls; said cargo stabilizer comprising: first and second elongated guide rails shaped to extend lengthwise along the opposite sidewalls of

A cargo stabilizer for utility vehicles, such as pickup trucks, vans, and the like, of the type having a cargo carrying bed defined by a floor and opposite sidewalls; said cargo stabilizer comprising: first and second elongated guide rails shaped to extend lengthwise along the opposite sidewalls of the vehicle bed in a generally mutually parallel relationship; means for rigidly connecting said guide rails to the sidewalls of the vehicle bed; a crossbar extending laterally between said guide rails and including end fittings connected with opposite ends of said crossbar which abut said guide rails and slidingly support said crossbar thereon for fore-to-aft translation along the length of said guide rails; means on said crossbar for engaging cargo disposed within the bed of the vehicle to retain the cargo in a selected position therein; means for adjusting the length of said crossbar between an extended, locked position and a retracted, unlocked position; means for releasably retaining said crossbar in the locked position; means on said end fittings for adjustably and positively connecting the opposite ends of said crossbar with said guide rails when said crossbar is in the locked position to positively prevent fore-to-aft movement of said crossbar from the selected position; said connecting means shifting between the locked and unlocked positions in response to extension and retraction of said crossbar; first and second abutment surfaces positioned on the end fittings of said crossbar, and shaped to abut the adjacent sidewalls of the vehicle bed when said crossbar is in the locked position, whereby substantially all laterally directed stabilizing forces which act on said cargo engaging means in reaction to retaining the cargo in its selected position within the bed of the vehicle are transferred directly to the sidewalls of the vehicle bed, and do not act on said guide rails, thereby providing very secure stabilizing support without requiring heavy-duty stabilizer construction.