GB2578736A

GB2578736A - Storage and access system

Info

Publication number: GB2578736A
Application number: GB1818047.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Moberley Nicholas; Tawn Jennifer
Original assignee: Gearmate Ltd
Current assignee: Gearmate Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-05
Filing date: 2018-11-05
Publication date: 2020-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-05
Also published as: GB201818047D0; GB2578736B

Abstract

The light commercial vehicle having a load bed comprising a deck (fig. 1, 16), a bulkhead (fig. 1, 18), a tail gate (fig. 1, 20) and opposed sides (fig. 1, 22). The storage and access system having a unit 11; a frame (fig. 3, 120) comprising a rear piece (fig. 2, 122) and two sides pieces (fig.2, 124, 126), a bulkhead bracket 130; and a pair of side brackets 140, wherein the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets are adapted to be secured to the load bed, wherein the frame connects to the bulkhead bracket and the respective side brackets, and wherein the side pieces of the frame provide a pair of tracks (fig. 2, 128) for the unit. A light commercial vehicle having a storage and access system. A method for installing a storage and access system.

Description

STORAGE AND ACCESS SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a storage and access system. Particularly, but not exclusively, the disclosure relates to a storage and access system for a light commercial vehicle having a load bed. Aspects of the invention relate to a storage and access system, to a light commercial vehicle having a storage and access system, and to a method of installing a storage and access system

BACKGROUND

Light commercial vehicles, such as utility vehicles and vans, have a load bed located at the rear of the vehicle separated from the vehicle cab. Light utility vehicles are commonly limited to maximum loaded tonnage of 3.5 tonnes.

For example, utility vehicles, also known as pickup trucks or simply pickups have a load bed which comprises a flat deck, which runs between a bulkhead separating the load bed from the vehicle cab, and a tailgate, which commonly hinges down to provide access to the deck, (see Figure 1). Other light commercial vehicles such as vans also have a load bed which may be accessed via rear and side doors.

Such light commercial vehicles are used throughout the world both commercially and domestically. Light commercial vehicles have a variety of end users all with specific and differing storage and access need. For example, these light commercial vehicles may be used by engineers and builders, owing to the storage space the load bed affords for transporting building materials and building tools. The load bed may be fitted with drawer units in order to securely transport building materials and building tools and maximise the useable space of the load bed.

However, these light commercial vehicles are often leased to the end users, or their employers by a third party leasing company, for a limited period of time -commonly three years. This limits the ability of the end users, or their employers to modify the load bed, in order to fit a drawer unit for example.

Furthermore, depending upon the task in hand, it may be preferable for the drawer unit to be removed quickly and simply so as to enable the load bed to transport larger or more cumbersome building materials and building tools. Equally, the needs of the end user may change depending upon the time of year or whether the light commercial vehicle is being used in a commercial or leisure pursuit.

Yet furthermore, such utility vehicles are often provided with a canopy over the load bed, or a tonneau cover, restricting access to the load bed for operators attempting to install a drawer unit.

The present invention aims to address one or more of the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a storage and access system, a light commercial vehicle having a storage and access system, and a method of installing a storage and access system as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage and access system for a light commercial vehicle having a load bed comprising a deck, a bulkhead, a doorleaf and opposed sides, the storage and access system comprising a unit; a frame comprising a rear piece and two side pieces; a bulkhead bracket; and a pair of side brackets, wherein the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets are adapted to be secured to the load bed, wherein the frame connects to the bulkhead bracket and the respective side brackets, and wherein the side pieces of the frame provide a pair of tracks for the unit.

By installing a frame prior to the unit, access to the load bed is improved when securing the frame to the load bed. That is, the unit does not provide an obstacle, as for example in drawer units of the prior art, which are fitted directly to the load bed. Furthermore, utility vehicles having a canopy or a tonneau cover over the load bed may also be fitted with the storage and access system, without having to remove or work around the canopy or tonneau cover. Furthermore, by providing a pair of tracks for the unit, the unit may be easily slid into and positioned within the load bed by two operators.

The bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets may be adapted to be secured to the load bed via the light commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturer tie down points. This arrangement precludes the need to drill additional holes for fasteners to secure the unit.

Page 2 Advantageously this reduces the number of manufacturing steps required to install the storage and access system. Additionally, in the case of light commercial vehicles that have been leased, those light commercial vehicles may be returned at the end of the lease term without nullifying a warranty or specific terms of the lease.

The storage and access system may further comprise a clamp to secure the unit to the frame. The storage and access system may further comprise two clamps to secure the unit to the frame, wherein the two clamps connect to lugs provided on the side pieces.

The lugs may be provided adjacent the doorleaf. In the case of a utility vehicle, the doorleaf is a tailgate. Positioning the lugs adjacent the doorleaf further simplifies the installation process as the operator may simply lean into the open doorleaf to engage the clamp with the lug. Similarly, positioning the lugs adjacent the tailgate further simplifies the installation process as the operator may simply lean over the open tailgate to engage the clamp with the lug.

Furthermore, this region of the load bed commonly provides greater lateral clearance either side of the frame given the wheel arches of the load bed are typically found closer to the bulkhead.

At least one clamp may be lockable This provides a level of theft protection and prevents inadvertent disengagement of the clamp.

The storage and access system may comprise a locating pin and a corresponding boss. This arrangement helps locate the unit in the desired position within the load bed. The locating pin may be machined.

The locating pin may protrude from the rear piece and the boss may be provided on the unit. This arrangement allows the operator to self-centre the unit as the unit is slid towards the bulkhead on the tracks. Furthermore, this arrangement precludes the need for an operator to access the bulkhead when locating the unit.

The storage and access system may comprise two locating pins and two corresponding bosses. The two locating pins may protrude from the rear piece adjacent the opposed side pieces. This arrangement prevents movement of the unit within the light commercial vehicle, when the light commercial vehicle is being driven. Coupled with the two lugs provided on the side pieces, adjacent the doorleaf, a four point locking system is provided to ensure the drawer system does not move relative to the light commercial vehicle when the vehicle is in motion, even over bumpy or "off-road" terrain.

Page 3 The frame may have a stiffening bar, extending between the side pieces. The frame may have a plurality of stiffening bars, extending between the side pieces and distributed between the bulkhead and the doorleaf. The stiffening bar maintains the width of the frame and allows for an overall lighter frame.

The side piece may be provided with an anti-friction coating. A region of the underside of the unit may be provided with an anti-friction coating. This arrangement facilitates installation and removal of the unit, which is slid along the tracks.

The unit may be a drawer unit, a slide or a combination thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention. there is provided a light commercial vehicle having a storage and access system as hereinbefore described.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of installing a storage and access system on a light commercial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a storage and access system to be installed to a light commercial vehicle having a load bed comprising a deck, a bulkhead, a doorleaf and opposed sides, wherein the storage and access system comprises a unit; a frame comprising a rear piece and two side pieces; a bulkhead bracket; and a pair of side brackets, securing the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets to the load bed, sliding the frame into the load bed, connecting the frame to the bulkhead bracket, connecting the frame to the respective side brackets, wherein the side pieces of the frame provide a pair of tracks for the unit, sliding the unit into the load bed on the pair of tracks.

The method may further comprise the step of locating the unit in the load bed using at least one locating pin and a corresponding at least one boss.

The method may further comprise the step of securing the unit in the load bed using at least one clamp.

The bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets may be secured to the load bed via the light commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturer fie down points.

Page 4

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a utility vehicle; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the storage and access system prior to installation; Figure 3 is another schematic view of the storage and access system with a drawer unit clamped to the frame; Figure 4 is a rear view of a load bed with the storage and access system partially installed; Figure 5 is another rear view of a load bed with storage and access system partially installed; Figure 6 is another rear view of a load bed with the storage and access system installed; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the storage and access system installed; Figure 8 is a close-up view of the locating pin; Figure 9 is a close-up view of the clamp; and Figure 10 is a flow chart of the method steps for installing a storage and access system on a utility vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A utility vehicle 10 is divided into a vehicle cab 12 located at the front of the vehicle 10, and a load bed 14 located at the rear of the vehicle. The load bed 14 comprises a flat deck 16, which runs between a bulkhead 18 separating the load bed 14 from the vehicle cab 12, and a tailgate 20, which commonly hinges down to provide access to the deck 16. Opposed tub sills 22 run along either side of the load bed 14. Wheel arches 24 protrude into the load bed 14, adjacent the tub sills 22 and bulkhead 18.

Page 5 Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a storage and access system, in this case a drawer system 100 comprises a drawer unit 110, a frame 120, a bulkhead bracket 130, and a pair of side brackets 140, 150.

The drawer unit 110 is a closed rectangular box with left hand and right hand drawers 112, 114 which are slidingly received within the drawer unit 110. It will be appreciated that alternate combinations and configurations of drawers 112, 114 are possible.

The frame 120 comprises a rear piece 122 and a pair of side pieces 124, 126. The side pieces 124, 126 are left-right mirror images of one another. The rear piece 122 and pair of side pieces 124, 126 are elongate right-angle bars, each with a base region and an upwardly extending flange. The base region of the side pieces 124, 126 provide a pair of tracks 128 for the drawer unit 110. The upper surface of the base region of the side pieces 124, 126 are provided with an anti-friction coating. Likewise, a track abutment region of the underside of the drawer unit 110 is provided with an anti-friction coating.

The lower surface of the rear piece 122 and a pair of side pieces 124, 126 may be provided with rubber feet (not shown) Three stiffening bars 192, 194, 196, extend between the side pieces 124, 126. The stiffening bars 192, 194, 196, are distributed between the bulkhead 18 and the tailgate 20.

The bulkhead bracket 130 includes four attachment regions. The first attachment region 132 is provided at a left hand end of the bulkhead bracket 130, the second attachment region 134 is provided at a right hand end of the bulkhead bracket 130, the third attachment region 136 and the fourth attachment region 138 are provided at the base of the bulkhead bracket 130, as will be explained in more detail below.

The bulkhead bracket 130 may be specific to the make and model of the utility vehicle 10.

The bulkhead bracket 130 may be comprised of two or more brackets.

The side bracket 140 includes two attachment regions. The first attachment region 142 is provided at an upper end of the side bracket 140, the second attachment region 144 is provided at a lower end of the side bracket 140.

The side bracket 150 is a left-right mirror image of the side bracket 140.

Page 6 The side brackets 140, 150 may be specific to the make and model of the utility vehicle 10.

Two locating pins 160 (see figure 8) protrude from the upwardly extending flange of the rear piece 122. The locating pins 160 protrude from the upwardly extending flange of the rear piece 122 adjacent the side pieces 124, 126. The locating pins are tapered such that the diameter of the protruding end is less than the diameter of the end secured to the rear piece 122. The locating pins 160 are machined. The locating pins 160 may pass through an aperture provided in an end wall of the side pieces 124, 126. Alternatively the locating pins 160 may be provided on the end walls.

A pair of bosses (not shown) are provided in a rear side of the drawer unit 110. The bosses are aligned with the locating pins 160 when the drawer unit 110 is slid along the pair of tracks 128 as will be explained in more detail below. In an alternate embodiment, only a single boss and locating pin 160 is provided. The single boss and locating pin 160 may be centrally aligned within the load bed 14.

A pair of clamps 170 (see Figure 9) are provided on left and right sides of the drawer unit 110, towards a tailgate end of the drawer unit 110. The clamps 170 engage with respective lugs 180 provided on the side pieces 124, 126 of the frame 120. At least one of the pair of clamps 170 is lockable.

Referring to Figures 4 to 7 the drawer system 100 is installed on a utility vehicle 10 having a load bed 14 as follows: The bulkhead bracket 130 and pair of side brackets 140, 150 are secured to the load bed 14 (step 200). The utility vehicle 10 original equipment manufacturer fie down points are used. Intermediate blocks (not shown) are connected via U-bolts to the four tie down points. The bulkhead bracket 130 is bolted to the bulkhead 18 via two intermediate blocks at the first attachment region 132 and the second attachment region 134. Similarly, the pair of side brackets 140, 150 are each bolted to the respective opposed tub sills 22 via an intermediate block at the respective first attachment region 142, 152. Thus the bulkhead bracket 130 and pair of side brackets 140, 150 are adapted to be secured to the load bed 14. No drilling of the load bed 14 is required. Instead, the bulkhead bracket 130 and pair of side brackets 140, 150 are secured to the load bed 14 via the utility vehicle 10 original equipment manufacturer tie down points. Since the location of the tie down points may vary according to vehicle make and model, alternate configurations of the bulkhead bracket 130 and pair of side brackets 140, 150 may be used.

Page 7 The frame 120, comprising the rear piece 122, pair of side pieces 124, 126 and three stiffening bars 192, 194, 196 is slid into the load bed 14 (step 202).

The rear piece 122 is connected to the bulkhead bracket 130 (step 204). The rear piece 122 is bolted to the third attachment region 136 and the fourth attachment region 138 of the bulkhead bracket 130 The side pieces 124, 126 are connected to the respective side brackets (step 206). The side pieces 124, 126 are bolted to the respective second attachment regions 144. 154 of the side brackets 140, 150.

At this point the alignment of the frame 120 within the load bed 14 may be checked, and any adjustment of the bolted connections may take place to ensure the frame 120 is centred within the load bed 14.

The base region of the side pieces 124, 126 provide a pair of tracks 128 for the drawer unit 110. The drawer unit 110 is slid into the load bed 14 on the pair of tracks (step 208). As the drawer unit 110 is supported by the tracks, the drawer unit may be easily slid into and positioned within the load bed by two operators.

The drawer unit 110 is located in the load bed 14 as the locating pins 160 align and engage with the pair of bosses in the rear side of the drawer unit 110 (step 210). As locating pins 160 are tapered, any slight tolerance mis-match is accounted for as the drawer unit 110 is pushed back against the bulkhead 18.

The drawer unit 110 is secured in the load bed using the two clamps 170, which connect to lugs 180 provided on the side pieces 124, 126 (step 212). As the clamps 170 are provided adjacent the tailgate 20, the operator may easily access the clamps 170 by leaning over either the open tailgate 20 or the side of the utility vehicle 10.

The drawer unit 110 may be locked in place using a key, to lock the clamps (step 214).

Removal of the drawer unit 110 is simply a reversal of steps 214 to 208. No tools are necessary contributing to a simple and quick process. The load bed 14 may then be used to carry larger or more cumbersome loads. The frame 120 has a low profile on the flat deck 16 and is sufficiently robust to support those loads together with the flat deck 16.

Page 8 In an alternate embodiment the drawer unit 110 engages with the bulkhead bracket 130 using a male-female connection. The male-female connection may be a snap fit connection.

In an alternate embodiment, the storage and access system comprises a slide. In yet a further embodiment, the storage and access system comprises a combination of a drawer unit and a slide.

Page 9

Claims

CLAIMS1. A storage and access system for a light commercial vehicle having a load bed comprising a deck, a bulkhead, a doofleaf and opposed sides, the storage and access system comprising a unit; a frame comprising a rear piece and two side pieces; a bulkhead bracket; and a pair of side brackets, wherein the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets are adapted to be secured to the load bed, wherein the frame connects to the bulkhead bracket and the respective side brackets, and wherein the side pieces of the frame provide a pair of tracks for the unit.
2. The storage and access system of claim 1, wherein the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets are adapted to be secured to the load bed via the light commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturer tie down points.
3. The storage and access system of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a clamp to secure the unit to the frame.
4. The storage and access system of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising two clamps to secure the unit to the frame, wherein the two clamps connect to lugs provided on the side pieces.
5. The storage and access system of claim 4, wherein the lugs are provided adjacent the doorleaf.
6. The storage and access system of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein at least one clamp is lockable.
7. The storage and access system of any preceding claim, comprising a locating pin and a corresponding boss.
8. The storage and access system of claim 7, wherein the locating pin protrudes from the rear piece and the boss is provided on the unit.
Page 10 9. The storage and access system of any of claims 1 to 6, comprising two locating pins and two corresponding bosses.
10. The storage and access system of claim 9, wherein the two locating pins protrude from the rear piece adjacent the opposed side pieces.
11. The storage and access system of any preceding claim, wherein the frame has a stiffening bar, extending between the side pieces.
12. The storage and access system of claim 11, wherein the frame has a plurality of stiffening bars, extending between the side pieces and distributed between the bulkhead and the doorleaf.
13. The storage and access system of any preceding claim, wherein the side piece is provided with an anti-friction coating.
14. The storage and access system of any preceding claim, wherein a region of the underside of the unit is provided with an anti-friction coating.
15. The storage and access system of any preceding claim, wherein the unit is a drawer unit, a slide or a combination thereof.
15. A light commercial vehicle having a storage and access system as defined in any of claims 1 to 14. 25 16. A method of installing a storage and access system on a light commercial vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a storage and access system to be installed to a light commercial vehicle having a load bed comprising a deck, a bulkhead, a doorleaf and opposed sides, wherein the storage and access system comprises a unit; a frame comprising a rear piece and two side pieces; a bulkhead bracket; and a pair of side brackets, securing the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets to the load bed, sliding the frame into the load bed, connecting the frame to the bulkhead bracket, connecting the frame to the respective side brackets, wherein the side pieces provide a pair of tracks for the unit, sliding the unit into the load bed on the pair of tracks.
Page 11 17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of locating the unit in the load bed using at least one locating pin and a corresponding at least one boss.
18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17, further comprising the step of securing the unit in the load bed using at least one clamp.
19. A method according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the bulkhead bracket and pair of side brackets are secured to the load bed via the light commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturer tie down points.Page 12