Vehicle bed assembly and a method for making a vehicle bed assembly

US6742832B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Peter Miskech · Troy, US
• David Dahlstrom · Beverly Hills, US
• Keith Alan Kuzmich · Wixom, US
• Earl Ray Dover · St. Clair Shores, US
• Karen Diane Wallag · Dearborn, US
• James Matthew Posa · Grosse Ile Township, US
• Joseph Paul Tekelly · Troy, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 30, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 1, 2004
• Expiry date: Aug 30, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D33/02
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle bed assembly 10 has a floor pan 18, a front wall 20, and substantially identical side walls 14, 16. The front wall 20 and the side walls 14, 16 are coupled to the floor pan 18. The vehicle bed assembly 10 further includes a rear wall 22 which is deployed upon a tailgate 21 which is selectively coupled to the floor pan 18, and a pair of substantially identical top rail members 100 which overlay and receive a unique one of the side walls 14, 16 and a bracket 210 which overlays and receives the front wall 20 and which is coupled to the top rail member 100 by a pair of end cap members 122. Particularly, the end cap members 122 and the top rail members 100 cooperatively provide a direct load path from any location on each of the side walls 14, 16 to the bracket 210 which may be coupled to a portion of the vehicle 12, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the sidewalls 14, 16 and the front wall 20. The assembly 10 may further include reception members 38, 40, 42, 44 which allow a raised platform to be constructed or placed within the vehicle bed assembly 10, and stake pockets 26, 28, 30 and 32.