Bed rail system

Abstract

An assembly includes a first side rail attached to a first vehicle portion, a second side rail attached to a second vehicle portion, and a first cross rail extending between a first cross rail end and a second cross rail end. The assembly also includes a first retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the first cross rail end and a second retaining portion selectively in contact with the second side rail and the second cross rail end. The first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to the first retaining portion about a first axis. The first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to a portion of the first retaining portion about a second axis. The first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.

1 . An assembly comprising: 
 a first side rail attached to a first vehicle portion;    a second side rail attached to a second vehicle portion;    a first cross rail selectively extending between a first cross rail end and a second cross rail end in a deployed configuration, having a a first retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the first cross rail end;    a second retaining portion selectively in contact with the second side rail and the second cross rail end; and    wherein the first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to the first retaining portion about a first axis, the first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to a portion of the first retaining portion about a second axis, and wherein the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross rail is moveable between the deployed configuration and a stowed configuration such that the first cross rail is selectively generally perpendicular to the first side rail in the deployed configuration and the first cross rail is generally parallel to the first side rail in the stowed configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross rail extends generally parallel to the first side rail in a stowed configuration, and the separation between the first cross rail and the second side rail in the stowed configuration is defined by a first distance, the first distance being the closest points between the second side rail and the first cross rail when the first cross rail is in the stowed configuration, and wherein the first cross rail may be rotated generally about an axis to an intermediate configuration where a second distance between the first cross rail and the second side rail is less than the first distance.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a third retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the second cross rail end.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first retaining portion includes a wrist portion pivotally attached to a stanchion, the stanchion is selectively secured to the first side rail, and the wrist portion, at least in part, defines the first axis and the second axis.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the wrist portion rotates relative to the stanchion generally about the second axis.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the wrist portion rotates relative to the first cross rail generally about the first axis.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a tonneau cover attachment portion attached to at least one of the first side rail and the second side rail.  
   
   
       9 . An article carrier assembly for attachment to a vehicle, comprising: 
 a first cross rail extending between a first cross rail end and a second cross rail end, having a a first retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the first cross rail end, wherein the first retaining portion is selectively secured to a vehicle portion;    a second retaining portion selectively in contact with the second side rail and the second cross rail end, wherein the second retaining portion is selectively secured to a vehicle portion; and    a third retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the second cross rail end, wherein the first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to the first retaining portion about a first axis, the first retaining portion selectively retains the first cross rail so as to permit rotation of the first cross rail relative to a portion of the first retaining portion about a second axis, and wherein the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.    
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first retaining portion includes a wrist portion pivotally attached to a stanchion, the stanchion is selectively secured to the first side rail, and the wrist portion, at least in part, defines the first axis and the second axis.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wrist portion rotates relative to the stanchion generally about the second axis.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the wrist portion rotates relative to the first cross rail generally about the first axis.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a third retaining portion selectively in contact with the first side rail and the second cross rail end.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first cross rail is moveable between the deployed configuration and a stowed configuration such that the first cross rail is selectively generally perpendicular to the first side rail in the deployed configuration and the first cross rail is generally parallel to the first side rail in the stowed configuration.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first cross rail extends generally parallel to the first side rail in a stowed configuration, and the separation between the first cross rail and the second side rail in the stowed configuration is defined by a first distance, the first distance being the closest points between the second side rail and the first cross rail when the first cross rail is in the stowed configuration, and wherein the first cross rail may be rotated generally about an axis to an intermediate configuration where a second distance between the first cross rail and the second side rail is less than the first distance.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a second cross rail selectively moveable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a tonneau cover attachment portion attached to at least one of the first side rail and the second side rail.