GB2558894A

GB2558894A - A rack system

Info

Publication number: GB2558894A
Application number: GB1700775.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boon Simon; Kilham Toby; Butcher Oliver
Original assignee: Ots Truck Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Ots Truck Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-17
Filing date: 2017-01-17
Publication date: 2018-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-17
Also published as: GB201700775D0; GB2558894B

Abstract

The present invention provides a rack system 1 for a truck comprising two base rails 2, 3 arranged to be mounted on or towards top edges of respective side panels of an open truck bed a rack 6, 7 extending upwardly from the base rails, and a roll up cover 5 extending between the base rails to extend over a load space of the truck, wherein each base rail is extruded and has a first channel (12, Fig.3) extending along an upper edge of the base rail and a second channel (17) extending along a side of the base rails. Vertical rack components can be secured in multiple locations along the first channels, and the cover extends into opposed second channels of the respective base rails and may slide along said second channels from a rolled up, open, position to an extended, closed, position. Additional channels 22, 23 may be present so as to allow seals to be incorporated. The system could also include transverse slats (21), and the cover could be motorised or spring loaded.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

OTS Truck Systems Ltd

French Farm, French Drove, Thorney, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE6 0PQ, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Simon Boon

Toby Kilham Oliver Butcher (56) Documents Cited:

WO 2017/070786 A1 US 7497493 B1 (58) Field of Search:

CA 002698193 A1

INT CL B60J, B60P, B60R, B62D Other: WPI, EPODOC (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Dolleymores

Rickmansworth Road, WATFORD, Herts, WD18 OJU, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: A rack system Abstract Title: A rack system for a truck (57) The present invention provides a rack system 1 for a truck comprising two base rails 2, 3 arranged to be mounted on or towards top edges of respective side panels of an open truck bed a rack 6, 7 extending upwardly from the base rails, and a roll up cover 5 extending between the base rails to extend over a load space of the truck, wherein each base rail is extruded and has a first channel (12, Fig.3) extending along an upper edge of the base rail and a second channel (17) extending along a side of the base rails. Vertical rack components can be secured in multiple locations along the first channels, and the cover extends into opposed second channels of the respective base rails and may slide along said second channels from a rolled up, open, position to an extended, closed, position. Additional channels 22, 23 may be present so as to allow seals to be incorporated. The system could also include transverse slats (21), and the cover could be motorised or spring loaded.

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Figure 8

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Figure 9

A Rack System

The present invention relates to a rack system for a truck, such as a pickup truck, having an open load space.

Rack systems for trucks are known and these may be custom built for a specific truck, or may comprise a number of standard components including two base rails to be mounted to the upper edges of side panels of a truck. Standard upright components or frames may then be mounted at an appropriate location on the base rails, once the base rails have been secured to the truck.

According to the present invention there is provided a rack system for a truck, the rack system comprising: two base rails arranged to be mounted on or towards top edges of respective side panels of an open truck bed; a rack extending is upwardly from the base rails and a roll up cover extending between the base rails to in use extend over a load space of the truck, wherein each base rail is extruded and has a first channel extending along an upper edge of the base rail and a second channel extending along a side of the base rail; the rack comprising components to be attached to the base rails by the first channels to permit components of the rack to be secured at any one of multiple locations along the base rails, wherein the roll up cover extends into opposed second channels 17 of the respective base rails and may slide along said second channels from a rolled up open position, to an extended closed position.

By employing the present invention base rails may be extruded which have a first channel extruded along an upper edge for supporting a rack in a known manner, but which additionally have a second channel extruded in the side supporting a roll up cover. An advantage of this is that once the base rails have been fitted to support the rack, they may additionally support a cover with little additional work required to install the cover, for all the components of the cover may either be integral with or supported from the base rails used for supporting the rack.

Having extruded base rails to support a rack also permits additional features to be built into the base rails and preferably each base rail further comprises a third channel and an outer sealing strip located in the third channel arranged in use to form a seal between the base rail and a side panel of a truck. In this manner the profile of the base rail may be arranged to provide a mounting along the length of the base rail for the weatherproof strip between the truck and the base rail, which strip may also be extruded.

Similarly, each base rail may further comprise a fourth channel and an inner sealing strip located in the fourth channel, arranged in use to form a seal between the base rail and the cover when the cover is in a substantially unrolled closed position. Thus, in this manner the profile of the base rail may be such as to also provide a mounting for a seal between the base rail and the cover.

is Preferably the cover comprises a plurality of extruded slats, adjacent ones of which interlock with each other along their long edges, each slat having end pieces inserted into its otherwise open ends, the second channels each having a wider main portion and a narrower neck portion, with the end pieces each having an engagement portion extending out of a respective end of a respective slat, which engagement portions have a depth both greater than the depth of the slats and greater than the width of the neck of the second channels, so that the slats of the cover and thus the assembled cover, comprising multiple slats, can only be slid into the channels of the base rails from the ends of the respective second channels.

An advantage of the above arrangement is not only can the engagement portions be used to extend the slats, possibly so that the rack system may be used with truck beds of different widths without the requirement to change components other than possibly the end pieces, but if the end pieces are secured in the respective ends of respective slats, such that they cannot be easily pulled out of the respective slats, then these may be used to increase security. This is because they will help retain the slats in the base rails, even if the cover should be depressed in its central region, which may otherwise tend to pull the slats out of the second channels in the base rails.

In an alternative embodiment the cover may comprise a plurality of extruded slats, adjacent ones of which interlock with each other along their long sides and have retaining members extending through them towards their ends, the second channels each having a wider main portion and a narrower neck portion, with the retaining members having a depth both greater than the depth of the slats and greater than the width of the neck of the second channels, so that the assembled cover, comprising multiple slats, can only be slid into the channels of the base rails from the ends of the respective second channels. In this manner the retaining members may function to retain the cover within the second channels of the base rails, in the same manner as the engagement portions retain the cover in the second channels of the base rails in the above described embodiment.

Preferably each base rail has a plurality of clamps arranged to engage with it along its length and to engage with the underside of an upper edge of a side panel of a truck, wherein each clamp comprises a ball and socket angle adjustable foot for engaging with an under surface of a top edge of a side panel. The ball and socket angle adjustable foot may enable the base rails to be conveniently clamped to the side panels of a load space of a truck, even where an inner under side of those side panels is not horizontal.

Preferably each second channel is at least 60mm deep, for such a relatively deep channel will permit a standard cover and base rail to be used with trucks having a range of different widths of load bed.

Preferably the cover has a proximal end secured to a spring loaded, or motorised, roller for retracting the cover to an open position and a distal end arranged to slide between the respective side rails to, in a closed position, cover a load space of a truck, wherein the cover comprises two latches at or towards opposed corners of the distal end of the cover and wherein the rack system comprises two engagement members attached to ends of respective base rails, which two engagement members are arranged to be engaged by the latches to retain the cover in a closed position, the cover further comprising a central release actuator located below the cover towards the centre of a distal edge of the cover, which central release actuator is connected to the latches and is arranged to be manually activated to release the latches to permit the cover to be opened.

An arrangement as described above may prevent the cover being opened until the rear door of a truck, to which it is fitted, has been lowered, whereupon the cover may then simply be released by operating the central actuator. The advantage of this is that there are no visible points to indicate where the cover may possibly be attacked to forcefully open it. Additionally the load space is then secured by the relatively secure (and expensive) locking mechanism normally associated with a truck rear door. Furthermore, where the rear door of a truck is is unlocked by the truck’s remote control, this provides the advantage that the cover may in effect also be unlocked by remote control, by the action of first unlocking the truck rear door to permit the cover to then be released, without the requirement for either a key or separate remote locking system.

The rack system of the invention may comprise a rear frame and a front frame identical to the rear frame. The front frame may additionally comprise an over cab extension portion. Preferably each frame comprises two identical lower castings arranged to be secured to respective ones of the first channels, a pair of identical upper castings, an extruded cross-bar having a channel to which each upper casting may be secured at one of multiple positions and a pair of uprights, each extending between a respective pair of upper and lower castings. In this manner the number of component types may be minimised, simplifying both production and assembly, with the over cab extension portion being attachable to the identical upper castings of either the front or rear racks.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures of which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack system in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rack system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the rack system of Figure 1; io

Figure 5 shows to an enlarged scale the inset A of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows to an enlarged scale the inset B of Figure 4;

is Figure 7 is a section along the line VII-VII of Figure 4;

Figure 8 shows to an enlarged scale the inset C of Figure 4; and

Figure 9 shows to an enlarged scale the inset D of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, a rack system, indicated generally as 1, for a truck (not shown) comprises a first base rail 2 and a second base rail 3 supporting a housing 4 for a roll up cover 5. Attached to the rear of respective base rails 2 and 3 is a rear rack, indicated generally as 6 and attached to the front of the base rails

3 and 4 is an identical front rack, indicated generally as 7. An over cab extension portion, indicated generally as 8, is also provided comprising first and second over cab side rails 9 and 10 attached to the front rack 7 and an over cab cross-bar 11.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rack system 1 of Figure 2 and Figure 3, a sectional view along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2. This cross sectional view of Figure 3 shows in detail the cross-section profile of the second base rail 3. From Figure 3 it can be seen that the second base rail 3, identical to the first base rail 2, comprises an upper channel 12 extending along the length of an upper surface of the second base rail 3, in which channel 12 a nut 13 is slideably captive. Two such nuts 13 are engaged by respective bolts 14, extending through a lower casting 16 of the rack 6, so that tightening the bolts 14 in the nuts 13 may retain the lower casting 16 in a desired position. All four lower castings 16, illustrated in Figure 1, are the same and thus may be used to lock the front and rear racks 6 and 7 in desired positions on the base rails 2 and 3.

Referring again to Figure 3, the base rail 3 also has a channel 17 for io receiving a side edge of the cover 5. The channel 17 has a narrower neck portion and a wider (vertically) main portion 19. The wider main portion 19 accommodates inserts 20 inserted and bonded into the ends of interlocking extruded slats 21 which make up the cover 5. These inserts 20 are held captive by the neck portion 18, such that the inserts (and thus the cover 5) have to be slid into is and along the channels 17, from the open end of the opposed channels 17 in the base rails 2, 3. Thus the cover 5 is retained in the channels 17 by the inserts 20. The main portion 19 of the channel 17 also acts as a drainage channel, which is described later with reference to Figure 7.

Also from Figure 3 it can be seen that the extrusion of the second base rail 3 also forms additional channels 22 and 23. Channel 22 retains in place an extruded seal 24, for sealing between a body of truck and the second base rail 3, whilst channel 23 retains in place a similar extruded seal 25, for sealing between the top of the cover 5 and the second base rail 3.

Figure 3 also shows in section one of three clamps 26, 27 and 28 used to secure the base rail 3 to the upper edge of a side wall of a truck, not shown. The clamp, indicated generally as 27 in Figure 3, comprises a bracket 29 which engages with an angled edge 30 in the lower surface of second base rail 3 and is retained in place by a retaining bolt 31 extending through a downwardly protruding flange 32 of the second base rail 3. The bracket 33 supports a ball and socket clamp head 33, which engages with the underside of a truck side wall (not shown), even if this should be angled.

Referring now to Figure 4, this is a rear elevation of the rack system 1 of

Figure 1. This shows the housing 4 for the cover 5 and that the rear rack 6 comprises two lower castings 15, as described with reference to Figure 3 joined by respective uprights 16 to respective upper castings 34. These in turn are attached to a cross-member 35, described in greater detail below with reference to Figures 6 and 8.

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Figure 4 also shows a manually operated actuator 36 located on the underside of cover 5, which actuator 36 is used to release the cover 5. The actuator 36 is connected by cables 37 and 38 to respective latches 39 and 40.

is Figure 5 shows to an enlarged scale the latch 39 and how this engages with a striker 41 which is fixed to the base rail 2. The actuator 36 permits the cover 5 to be released manually, but only once the rear door of the truck has been opened in order to gain access to the actuator 36. This normally requires the rear door to be the first unlocked, either by use of a key or by activating the remote locking system of a truck to which the rack system 1 is fitted.

Referring now to Figure 6, this shows to an enlarged scale the upper casting 34 of Figure 4 and how a cross-member 35 is mounted to the casting 34 by means of bolts 42 engaging with captive nuts 43, held within the extruded profile of the cross-member 35. This can be further appreciated from Figures 7 and 8 where Figure 7 is a cross-section through the line VII-VII of Figure 4 and shows in crosssection the front cross-member 44, shown to enlarged scale in Figure 8. The cross-member 44 of Figure 8 is identical to the cross-member 35 of Figure 6 and thus Figure 8 not only illustrates how the cross-member 34 is attached to one of the identical upper castings 34, but it also shows how the load retaining plates 45, illustrated in various other figures, including Figure 1, (or other such ancillary components as may be required) may be secured to respective cross-members 11, 35 and 44 in a known manner.

The upper castings 34 of the front rack 7 of Figure 1, also support the first 5 and second over cab side rails 9 and 10, which are bolted by means of bolts 46, (see Figure 2 for example), to the upper castings 34.

Referring again to Figure 7, this also shows the roller cover 5 fully extended in a closed position, unwound from spring roller 47, which rewinds the roller cover 5 io back into the housing 4 when the roller cover 5 is released. Each of the first and second base rails 2 and 3 is cut away in the region 48 of Figure 7, such that any water accumulating in the main portions 19 of the channels 17, (illustrated in Figure

3), may drain into the housing 4 to which drain pipes may be attached to drain holes normally provided within the load bed of a truck.

Figure 9 shows to an enlarged scale the inset D of Figure 7. The slats 21, making up the roller cover 5, are extruded and have a ball type profile 48 on one long edge and a socket type profile 49 on the opposite long edge, such that they may slide together to engage each other, but still permit the cover 5 to be rolled up on the spring roller 47 of Figure 7.

One embodiment of the present invention has been described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be appreciated that many variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person which fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A rack system for a truck, the rack system comprising: two base rails arranged to be mounted on or towards top edges of respective side panels of an

5 open truck bed; a rack extending upwardly from the base rails and a roll up cover extending between the base rails to, in use, extend over a load space of the truck bed, wherein each base rail is extruded and has a first channel extending along an upper edge of the base rail and a second channel extending along a side of the base rail; the rack comprising components to be attached to the base rails by the io first channels to permit components of the rack to be secured at any one of multiple locations along the base rails, wherein the roll up cover extends into opposed second channels 17 of the respective base rails and may slide along said second channels from a rolled up, open, position to an extended, closed, position.

is

2. A rack system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each base rail further comprises a third channel and an outer sealing strip located in the third channel arranged to in use form a seal between the base rail and a side panel of the truck.

3. A rack system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each base rail further

20 comprises a fourth channel and an inner sealing strip located in the fourth channel arranged in use to form a seal between the base rail and the cover, when the cover is in a substantially unrolled closed position.

4. A rack system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover

25 comprises a plurality of extruded slats, adjacent ones of which interlock with each other along their long edges, each slat having end pieces inserted into its otherwise open ends, the second channels each having a wider main portion and a narrower neck portion, with the end pieces each having an engagement portion extending out of a respective end of a respective slat, which engagement portions

30 have a depth both greater than the depth of the slats and greater than the width of the neck of the second channels, so that the slats of the cover and thus the assembled cover, comprising multiple slats, can only be slid into the channels of the base rails from ends of the respective second channels.

5. A rack system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the end pieces are each

5 secured in a respective end of a respective slat.

6. A rack system as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the cover comprises a plurality of extruded slats, adjacent ones of which interlock with each other along their long sides and have retaining members extending through them towards their io ends, the second channels each having a wider main portion and a narrower neck portion, with the retaining members having a depth both greater than the depth of the slats and greater than the width of the neck of the second channels, so that the assembled cover, comprising multiple slats, can only be slid into the channels of the base rails from the ends of the respective second channels.

7. A rack system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each base rail has a plurality of clamps arranged to engage with it along its length and to engage with the underside of an upper edge of a side panel of a truck, wherein each clamp comprises a ball and socket angle adjustable foot for engaging with an under

20 surface of a top edge of a side panel.

8. A rack system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each second channel is at least 60mm deep.

25

9. A rack system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover has a proximal end secured to a spring loaded, or motorised, roller for retracting the cover to an open position and a distal end arranged to slide between the respective side rails to, in a closed position, cover a load space of a truck, wherein the cover comprises two latches at or towards opposed corners of the distal end of the cover

30 and wherein the rack system comprises two engagement members attached to ends of respective base rails, which two engagement members are arranged to be engaged by the latches to retain the cover in a closed position, the cover further comprising a central release actuator located below the cover towards the centre of a distal edge of the cover, which central release actuator is connected to the latches and is arranged to be manually activated to release the latches to permit the cover to be opened.

10. A rack system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rack comprises a rear frame and a front frame identical to the rear frame, except in that the front frame comprises an over cab extension portion.

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11. A rack system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the front frame and rear frame each comprises two identical lower castings arranged to be secured to respective ones of the first channels, a pair of identical upper castings, an extruded cross-bar having a channel to which each upper castings may be secured at any one of multiple positions and a pair of uprights each extending between a respective pair is of upper and lower castings.

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Intellectual

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Office

Application No: GB1700775.8 Examiner: Mr Samuel Taylor