Restraining bar for pickup trucks

Abstract

A restraining bar for use on pickup trucks and the like for clamping between the two sidewalls of the truck bed to restrain articles which otherwise would tend to drift around and/or fall over if not adequately retained. The restraining bar is comprised of first and second telescoping members, each having a friction pad at the distal end thereof for being forced against and frictionally retained by respective sidewalls of a pickup truck bed. Connected to the inner end of the smaller member of the telescoping pair is a spring member operable by an operating lever which, when in an upper or spring uncompressed position, is free to slide within the larger of the two telescoping members, though when pushed downward toward a spring compressed position will first engage and lock against interior opposing walls of the larger of the two telescopic members, and thereafter compress the spring, ultimately reaching an over center position to be self retaining. Accurately telescoping members, together with the simple engaging lever, allows the convenient use of the restraining bar on trucks ranging from the mini pickup trucks to full size pickup trucks without requiring any hardware changes.