AU2012101634A4 - Alignment apparatus for an extendable cargo tray - Google Patents

Abstract

An alignment apparatus for an extendable cargo tray including a subframe attached to a vehicle; a pair of opposed telescopic rails slidable between an extended and a retracted position; a rotating axle located perpendicularly between the rails to maintain the rails in alignment; a pair of guide lines wound round the axle adapted to wind and unwind in unison as the tray is extended and retracted wherein the alignment of the rails is continually maintained and any displacement of the rails to the subframe is prevented.

Description

INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR AN EXTENDABLE CARGO TRAY FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to load carrying accessories for vehicles in particular but not exclusively to an alignment apparatus for an extendable cargo tray. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The difficulty in loading and unloading goods from the rear of a vehicle with sides is a common 10 problem. Prior art extendable floors or trays which can position the goods past the end of the vehicle are known. These are in the main relatively permanent fixtures which are bolted to the floor or load bed of the vehicle. An example of which is disclosed in Australian Innovation Patent No 2012101236. 15 A problem with such trays which increases with wear and tear and is related to the size and load carried is the lateral movement and angular displacement of the tray with respect to its subframe mounting. This is usually caused by sideways pressure or force applied to the front of the tray wherein a bearing of one telescope rail of the tray moves independently of its opposite member resulting in skewing the tray sideways. As a result, the bearings can be damaged and 20 the lateral movement can impart an impression of flimsiness or poor construction. There is therefore a need for a novel and inventive alignment apparatus for extendable cargo trays which seeks to ameliorate the above problem or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. 25 STATEMENT OF INVENTION In one aspect therefore the invention resides in an alignment apparatus for an extendable cargo tray including in combination: a subframe adapted to be attached to a vehicle; - 1 at least a pair of opposed telescopic rails associated with the subframe; the rails supporting the tray slidable between an extended and a retracted position; a rotating axle located between the rails and adapted to maintain the rails in paired alignment; a pair of spaced guide lines extending from one end of the subframe to the other end of the 5 subframe; each guide line in frictional contact with and partially wound round the axle; the guide lines adapted to wind and unwind on the axle in unison as the tray is extended and retracted wherein the alignment of the rails is continuously maintained and any displacement of the rails with respect to the subframe is prevented. 10 Preferably the axle is supported by roller bearings in bearing housings affixed to the opposite rails. Preferably there are spools fixed to the axle around which the guide lines or wires are wound. 15 Preferably the guide lines are fixed to the spools by a pinch bolt or equivalent fastener. Preferably the guide lines are steel wire or rope. Preferably there is a tension adjuster to adjust the tension of the guide lines such that the 20 friction induced between the guide lines and the axel and/or spool permits the axle to rotate only if the guide lines are wound and unwound at the same rate thereby positively linking the rails with the subframe wherein any independent movement of the rails is prevented. In a preferred arrangement, the guide lines can be attached to the rear of the subframe by a 25 pinch bolt and to front of the subframe by the tension adjuster. Preferably there is releasable locking means to lock the axle when the tray is in the extended and retracted positions or any position there between. 30 In a preferred example, the releasable locking means can be a spring loaded tongue which is biased to engage a slot or groove in the axle and which can be released from the front of the tray. -2- In the alternative, the releasable locking means can be any positive braking device adapted to stop the rotation of the axle. 5 In a powered version, there can be motorised, hydraulic or pneumatic means to locate and lock the tray in any position between and including the fully extended and fully retracted positions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be better understood reference will now be made to the 10 accompanying drawings, wherein; Figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a preferred cargo tray of the invention. Figure 2 shows detail of the one side of the alignment apparatus. 15 Figure 3 shows a preferred releasable locking means. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a perspective representation of a preferred extendable cargo tray 10 of the invention. The payload area of the tray 12 preferably comprises a slatted floor 14 supported in a frame 16 which is fixed to opposite telescopic rail members 18, 20 which are in turn fixed to the subframe 22. 25 Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown detail of a side of the alignment apparatus. The guide line 24, preferably marine grade steel rope, is attached to the back of the subframe by pinch bolt 26 and to the front of the subframe by the tension adjuster 28 comprising a bracket housing a turn buckle or equivalent line tensioning means. The guide line 24 is wound round the spool 30 several times such that the frictional contact between the line and the spool is 30 optimised to prevent slippage. The frictional component can also be adjusted by varying the line tension via the tension adjuster 28. In addition, the guide lines can be positively fixed to the spools by a pinch bolt or other equivalent fastener. -3- Figure 3 shows a preferred releasable locking means 32 according to the invention. In this example, the releasable locking means is a spring loaded tongue 34 biased to engage a slot 36 in the axle 38 and which is released by a cord 40 from the front of the tray. The locking assembly is housed in a clam shell housing 42,44 which is designed to facilitate easy maintenance and 5 replacement of the spring and tongue components. VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative 10 example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a 15 broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains". 20 25 30 -4-

Claims (5)

1. An alignment apparatus for an extendable cargo tray including in combination: a subframe adapted to be attached to a vehicle; at least a pair of opposed telescopic rails associated with the subframe; the rails supporting the tray slidable between an extended and a retracted position; a rotating axle located between the rails and adapted to maintain the rails in paired alignment; a pair of spaced guide lines extending from one end of the subframe to the other end of the subframe; each guide line in frictional contact with and partially wound round the axle; the guide lines adapted to wind and unwind on the axle in unison as the tray is extended and retracted wherein the alignment of the rails is continuously maintained and any displacement of the rails with respect to the subframe is prevented.

2. The alignment apparatus of Claim 1. wherein the axle is supported by roller bearings in bearing housings affixed to the opposite rails.

3. The alignment apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2. wherein there are spools fixed to the axle around which the guide lines are wound.

4. The alignment apparatus of any of the above claims wherein there is a tension adjuster to adjust the tension of the guide lines such that the friction induced between the guide lines and the axel and/or spool permits the axle to rotate only if the guide lines are wound and unwound at the same rate thereby positively linking the rails with the subframe wherein any independent movement of the rails is prevented.

5. The alignment apparatus of any of the above claims wherein there is releasable locking means to lock the axle when the tray is in the extended and retracted positions or any position there between.