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:
Jun. 01, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2002
Peter Miskech, Dearborn, MI (US);
David Gary Dahlstrom, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (US);
Keith Alan Kuzmich, Commerce Township, MI (US);
Earl Ray Dover, St. Clair Shoes, MI (US);
Karen Diane Wallag, Dearborn, MI (US);
James Matthew Posa, Grosse Ile, MI (US);
Joseph Paul Tekelly, Troy, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle bed assembly has a floor pan , a front wall , and substantially identical side walls . The front wall and the side walls are coupled to the floor pan . The vehicle bed assembly further includes a rear wall which is deployed upon a tailgate which is selectively coupled to the floor pan , and a pair of substantially identical top rail members which overlay and receive a unique one of the side walls and a bracket which overlays and receives the front wall and which is coupled to the top rail member by a pair of end cap members . Particularly, the end cap members and the top rail members cooperatively provide a direct load path from any location on each of the side walls to the bracket which may be coupled to a portion of the vehicle , thereby reducing the likelihood of damage to the sidewalls and the front wall . The assembly may further include reception members which allow a raised platform to be constructed or placed within the vehicle bed assembly , and stake pockets and