U-haul International, Inc.

Amerco, Inc.

John C Abromavage

Howard M Sage

Henry S Shattles

A truck body deck formed of transverse slats is attached to the truck chassis by longitudinal angle members which are connected to both the slats and the longitudinal frame members of the chassis. Each angle member has its upright portion secured to the outer face of its respective frame member and its horizontal portion extending outwardly away from its frame member. Mechanical fasteners pass through the transverse slats into the horizontal portions of the angle members to affix the slats on the angle members.

Truck body deck mount

A car top carrier assembly which is characterized by a light weight carrier container with an overall rectangular solid configuration, having its edges and corners radiused between all intersections of planar surfaces. The container has no internal frame, but rather the frame itself is comprised of a horizontal deck member, vertical corner support members, and horizontal edge supports, with the planar top and side portions being simple rectangular pieces of sheet material which are flangedly connected onto the corner and edge supports to define the overall container. The car top carrier is mounted upon a car top through a pair of contracting support tubes, which exert a contractive force proximate the edges of a car top, while inherently locating the superposed container in a fixed position as a consequence of the engaging step. The present invention thereby defines a particularly strong and light weight car top carrier, one which is significantly characterized by a container which requires no separate internal framing members, since the load-bearing frame is comprised of aluminum extrusions which themselves define the radiused corners and edges of the container.

Car top carrier assembly

An adjustable car top carrier support which is operable for use on a gutterless car top including ledges at its opposite sides. In one embodiment, the carrier support is significantly characterized by having a clutch upon a crankshaft, for limiting the amount of the contractive force which may be applied by the carrier upon the car top. The adjustable car top carrier is further characterized by car top engaging combination which includes a pivotable foot pad, together with a ledge hook for ensuring that the contractive forces of the carrier are inserted into the vicinity of the opposite ledges of a car top. The present invention is particularly useful on a gutterless car top, though may be employed upon any form of a vehicle roof member that conventionally includes a ledge on opposite sides thereof.

Adjustable car top carrier support

The universal curved towbar comprises a pair of curved arm assemblies which are pivoted upon a coupler assembly, and diverge to include bumper mounting assemblies on their distal ends. The curved arm assemblies lie in a lateral plane, with their convex surfaces facing each other, thereby allowing significantly improved clearance between the bumper of the towing vehicle and the arm assemblies themselves. At the distal ends of the curved arm assemblies are three distinct bumper engagement means, including a lower bumper clamping chain which is tensioned against an upper bumper clamp, together with a redundant tensioning through a safety chain attached to the frame of the towed vehicle. At the distal ends of the curved arm assemblies there is further provided a spreader bar assembly, which both adjustably maintains the bumper mounting assemblies in position, and adds significantly increased overall rigidity to the entire towbar assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Tempe, AZ, United States of America

John C Abromavage