Putco, Inc.

Dennis L Elwell

James P Elwell

Dennis S Elwell

Robert L Sills

A vehicle side rail is formed in cross section into a base portion which attaches to the upper edge of the vehicle side wall and a curled portion which extends upwardly and forms a curved surface above the base portion. Tie-down openings are provided through the curled portion so that tie-down cords may be attached to objects being carried in the carrying compartment.

Vehicle side rail having curled cross section

A protective cap for covering the sidewalls of a pickup truck bed is provided. The caps have a contour matching the contour of the sidewalls so as to provide a close fit, without the use of spacers or shims. The cap includes an elongated body with opposite forward and rearward ends and opposite inside and outside edges. Inside and outside lips are formed by bending portions of the respective inside and outside edges of the body downwardly. A notch is provided adjacent the rearward end of the body, to permit a rearward lip to be formed by bending a portion of the rearward end downwardly. The formation of the outside and rear lips closes the gap. The outside lip and rear lip are joined by a weld which fills the closed notch so as provide a continuous curved surface at the rearward corner of the body. The weld is polished to be visually indistinguishable from the outside and rear lips. When the cap is mounted upon a sidewall of the truck, the outside and rear lips overlapingly mate with the curved rearward end of the sidewall.

Growing community of inventors

Ankeny, IA, United States of America

Dennis L Elwell