The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1997
Ronald L Yoder, Topeka, IN (US);
Indiana Custom Trucks, Inc., LaGrange, IN (US);
Abstract
A rail mounting system for mounting accessory items to truck bed sidewall includes a rail having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion adapted to respectively engage horizontal and vertical sidewalls of a truck bed. The rail further includes an angled extension extending nonorthogonally from the vertical portion and defining at least one opening therethrough. The rail further includes a bearing surface extending from the angled extension at a substantially orthogonal angle. A clamp is provided to hold the rail in position and includes on one end a clamping surface and on the other end a bearing surface engageable with the rail bearing surface. A fastener passes through the opening in the rail and attaches to the clamp. Upon tightening the fastener, the clamp slides along the rail bearing surface towards the angled extension. The nonorthogonal angle of the angled extension allows the clamp to exert either a vertical force, a horizontal force, or both on the truck bed sidewall. The direction of the clamping force depends on the orientation or configuration of the clamping surface.