US 11,932,311 B2
Extendable rail assembly for cargo bed of a vehicle
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); David Brian Glickman, Southfield, MI (US); Paul Kenneth Dellock, Northville, MI (US); Annette Lynn Huebner, Highland, MI (US); Pietro Buttolo, Dearborn Heights, MI (US); Robert Walsh, Novi, MI (US); Jacob Michael Haspiel, Ann Arbor, MI (US); and Joseph Ian Halaszynski, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/504,674.
Prior Publication US 2023/0118953 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 33/0207 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle assembly, comprising:
a cargo bed having a first and a second sidewall;
a rail assembly disposed on the first sidewall, the rail assembly movable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the first sidewall;
an actuator system that raises and lowers the rail assembly to move the rail assembly between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the actuator system is configured to lower the rail assembly to secure cargo;
at least one bushing that aligns the first rail assembly when the first rail assembly moves between the extended position and the retracted position, the at least one bushing an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene bushing; and
a polymer-based bracket over-molded about the at least one bushing.