US 12,337,746 B1
Rack system for securing cargo in pick-up truck beds
Brent M. Phillips, Carefree, AZ (US)
Filed by Brent M. Phillips, Carefree, AZ (US)
Filed on Jan. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/584,473.
Int. Cl. B60P 7/08 (2006.01); B62D 33/02 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 7/0807 (2013.01) [B62D 33/0207 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rack system for a bed of a pick-up truck, comprising:
a panel having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface and defining a plurality of bore holes through the panel thickness, said panel having a left side edge, a right side edge, a front edge and a rear edge;
a first locking wedge having a first end and an opposite end, and defining a first locking wedge axis between the first end and the opposite end, said first locking wedge having an internally threaded bore with an opening at the first end and extending along a portion of the first axis, said first locking wedge defining a channel at its opposite end, said channel configured to receive a portion of a first ring fixture extending from the pick-up truck bed, and said first locking wedge defining a first locking wedge bore hole near the opposite end and with a bore axis that is perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the first locking wedge axis;
a first externally threaded fastener having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is threadably joined with the internally threaded bore of the first locking wedge and wherein the second end contacts either the left side edge or the right side edge of the panel;
a first locking pin removably insertable into the first locking wedge bore hole and through the first ring fixture extending from the pick-up truck bed;
a second locking wedge having a first end and an opposite end, and defining a second locking wedge first axis between the first end and the opposite end, said second locking wedge having an internally threaded bore with an opening at the second locking wedge first end and extending along a portion of the second locking wedge first axis, said second locking wedge defining a second locking wedge channel at its opposite end, said second locking wedge channel configured to receive a portion of a second ring fixture extending from the pick-up truck bed, and said second locking wedge defining a second locking wedge bore hole near the opposite end and with a second locking wedge bore axis that is perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the second locking wedge first axis;
a second externally threaded fastener having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is threadably joined with the internally threaded bore of the second locking wedge and wherein the second end contacts a respective other one of the left side edge or the right side edge of the panel; and
a second locking pin removably insertable into the second locking wedge bore hole and through the second ring fixture extending from the pick-up truck bed;
wherein a portion of the length of the first externally threaded fastener that extends out of the first locking wedge may be varied by rotation of the first externally threaded fastener, and wherein a portion of the length of the second externally threaded fastener that extends out of the second locking wedge may be varied by rotation of the second externally threaded fastener so as to removably brace the panel to the pick-up truck bed between the first locking wedge and the second locking wedge.