CA1219619A

CA1219619A - Pick-up truck insert

Info

Publication number: CA1219619A
Application number: CA000453308A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Aftab Ibrahim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-05-01
Filing date: 1984-05-01
Publication date: 1987-03-24

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention provides a seat bearing insert for fitting in and converting the bed of a pick-up truck to a seating region. The insert is of a size to substantially fill the truck bed for eliminating horizontal shifting of the insert and includes a clamping arrangement for clamping the insert against vertical shifting within the truck bed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

1. The present invention relates to an insert for fitting in the bed of a pick-up truck or the like. The insert includes at least one and preferably a number of seats for converting the bed of the truck to a seating area.

5. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional pick-up trucks there is generally only seating room for three persons in the cab of the truck and the rear truck bed is used strictly for loading and hauling purposes. Therefore, when the 10. truck bed is not being filled it is essentially unused space with very limited seating capacity in the truck.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a seat bearing insert for fitting in the bed of a pick-up truck or 15. the like. The insert is of a size to substantially Jill the truck bed to essentially eliminate horizontal movement and includes securing means for attaching to the truck to secure the insert against vertical movement when in the truck bed. The insert itself is 20. provided with at least one seat for readily converting the truck bed to a sitting area when inserted into position.

The truck bed insert of the present invention is one which is easily fitted in position to 25. substantially increase the passenger capacity of the truck and can just as easily be removed from the truck bed for loading and hauling purposes.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other advantages and -Features 30. of the present invention will be described in greater detail according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention in which:

I

1. Figure 1 is a perspective view looking down on a conventional truck with a truck bed insert according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention to be fitted into the bed of the truck.

5. Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the securing of the truck bed insert to the side wall of the truck bed.

Figure 3 is a side view of the truck bed with the insert fitted therein.

10. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines I of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ACCORDING TO TIE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

15. Figure 1 shows a pick-up truck generally indicated at T and having a truck bed TUB. In accordance with the present invention, a truck bed insert, generally indicated at 1 is adapted to fit within the truck bed of the pick-up truck.

20. More particularly, truck bed insert 1 comprises a forward sitting region 3 and a rearward sitting region 5. The forward sitting region includes a seat portion PA and a backrest portion 3B while the rearward sitting region includes a sitarist portion PA
25. and a backrest portion 5B. As will be clearly seen in Figure 3, insert 1 when fitted into -the truck bed quickly and easily converts the truck bed to an area of increased seating capacity outside of the cab of the truck.

30. From both a convenience and a safety standpoint, truck bed insert 1, which is preferably formed of a molded plastic with the seats themselves being formed during the molding operation, is of a size to substantially fill the truck bed. This allows the 35. insert, which can very easily be handled by two persons, to simply be dropped into the truck bed where the ~L96:~

1. forward wall 7 of the insert abuts to the back of the cab of the truck while the rearward portion 8 of the insert is located at the back of the truck bed. As will be seen in Figure 4, the insert is molded with a 5. recessed region 13 to each side for accommodating the wheel well WOW in the truck bed. Therefore, once the insert is simply dropped into the bed< of the truck, the shape and size of the insert essentially eliminates all horizontal shifting within the truck 10. bed. It is to be appreciated that most pickup trucks are of a conventional size and shape, allowing the insert to be made in mass production to fit for many different types and styles of trucks.

15~ The insert is further provided with a plurality of clamp arrangements 9 which, after the insert has been dropped into position, simply lock onto the rail R running around the upper edge of the truck bed.
These clamps effectively lock the insert against any 20. vertical shifting or movement once properly locked in position.

The seating regions in the insert can, as be appreciated, be provided with padded surfaces for making the just as comfortable as those Found within 25. the cab of the truck; furthermore, it is to be well understood that the insertion and removal of the insert is almost effortless and effectively converts the pick-up truck from a seating capacity of, for example, two to three persons to a seating capacity 30. of, for example, six to nine persons; furthermore, when using the insert of the present invention the truck bed does not need to be swept out for cleaning purposes as any dirt or sediment sitting in the truck bed cannot pass up through the insert into the 35. increased seating area.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without 40. departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A seat bearing insert for fitting in the bed of a pickup truck, said insert being of a size to substantially fill the truck bed to essentially eliminate horizontal movement and including securing means for attaching to the truck to secure said insert against vertical movement when in the truck bed, said insert being provided with forward and rearward sitting regions each having a seat for readily converting the entire truck bed to a sitting area when inserted therein, each seat comprising a seat portion and a back rest portion extending widthwise across said insert at generally right angles to one another with said back rest portion being located rearwardly of said seat portion such that each seat faces in a forward direction when said insert is fitted in the truck bed.

2. A seat bearing insert, as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a plastic molded frame having outwardly projecting ledge regions and wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of clamps located at said ledge regions for clamping onto a sidewall of the truck.

3. A seat bearing insert, as claimed in Claim 1, with recessed regions molded therein to either side for accommodating wheel wells within the truck bed.

4. A seat bearing insert, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the seat portion slopes downwardly rearwardly into the back rest portion of each seat in said forward and rearward sitting regions.