Divider apparatus and method for use with a bed of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A truck bed divider apparatus for use with a bed of a pickup truck or other cargo carrying bed of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes one or more divider assemblies that may be lowered into an operative position to restrain the movement of smaller cargo items being carried in the bed. The divider assembly may also be moved into a raised position thereby allowing the full volume of the cargo area to be used if needed. A plurality of movable screens are incorporated in the divider assembly that allow long cargo items to be accommodated even while the divider assembly is in its lowered position. The pivot assemblies can also be moved and positioned as needed along a pair of support rails disposed on opposing sidewalls of the cargo bed to better restrain articles of various shapes and sizes.

1 . A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side walls, the divider apparatus comprising: 
 first and second support rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls so as to be in facing relationship with one another;    a divider assembly having first and second end portions;    a first mechanism for supporting said first end portion of said divider assembly from said first support rail;    a second mechanism for supporting said second end portion of said divider assembly from said second support rail; and    said divider assembly including at least one panel supported for movement when said divider assembly is in said first position, to enable said divider assembly to form a partial barrier or a complete barrier within said bed.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be secured in a first position, wherein said divider assembly is perpendicular to said bottom wall of said bed, and released from said first position such that said divider assembly can move to a second position wherein said divider assembly is positioned non-perpendicular to said bottom wall.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second mechanisms permit pivoting movement of said divider assembly from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be moved along support rails and secured at a desired position.  
     
     
         5 . A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side walls, the divider apparatus comprising: 
 first and second support rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls so as to be in facing relationship with one another;    a divider assembly having first and second end portions;    a first mechanism supported from said first end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to said first support rail;    a second mechanism supported from said second end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to said second support rail;    said first and second mechanisms enabling said divider assembly to be moved from a first position, wherein said divider assembly is perpendicular to said bottom wall of said bed, to a second position wherein said divider assembly is positioned non-perpendicular to said bottom wall; and    said divider assembly including at least one panel supported for sliding movement when said divider assembly is in said first position, to enable said divider assembly to form at least a partial barrier within said bed.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said divider assembly comprises an additional panel disposed adjacent said one panel, each of said one panel and said additional panel being moveable to enable said divider assembly to form a complete barrier or a partial barrier within said bed.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said one panel and said additional panel are disposed relative to each other such that one may be positioned in front of the other without being removed from said divider assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said divider assembly includes a second pair of panels disposed elevationally above said one panel and said additional panel.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said second pair of panels is moveable to enable said second pair of panels to form a partial barrier or a complete barrier.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein both ones of said second pair of panels are moveable.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said one panel has a plurality of openings formed therein.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second mechanisms enable said divider assembly to be locked in said first position.  
     
     
         13 . A divider apparatus for the bed of a motor vehicle for use in restraining articles being carried in the bed, wherein the bed has facing, opposing side walls and a bottom wall in between the side walls, the divider apparatus comprising: 
 first and second support rails adapted to be fixedly secured to the bed sidewalls;    a divider assembly having first and second end portions;    a first mechanism supported from said first end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to said first support rail;    a second mechanism supported from said second end portion of said divider assembly and coupled to said second support rail;    said first and second mechanisms enabling said divider assembly to be locked in a first position, wherein said divider assembly is perpendicular to said bottom wall of said bed, and released such that said divider assembly is able to be positioned non-perpendicular to said bottom wall; and    said divider assembly including at least one panel supported for sliding movement when said divider assembly is in said first position, to enable said divider assembly to form at least a partial barrier within said bed.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said divider assembly includes an additional panel positioned adjacent to said one panel.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said one panel and said additional panel are both moveable.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said divider assembly includes a second pair of panels positioned elevationally adjacent said one panel and said additional panel.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each one of said second pair of panels is movable.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each of said one panel and said additional panel is slidably moveable.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein each one of said second pair of panels is slidably moveable.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said panels may be positioned such that one substantially overlaps the other, to thus form said partial barrier.