Device for and method of securing items in a cargo bed

Abstract

An assembly of a number of perforated sheets with fasteners and braces to temporarily and adjustably provide variable partitions and means for securing items within the cargo bed of a truck or trailer, uses a set of flat rectangular sheets that are perforated by an array of regularly spaced holes to accept connectors and bolts to secure braces or fixtures to the sheets in a variety of configurations including at least a base sheet sized to fit horizontally on the cargo bed and/or vertical partition sheets with sockets along the long edges, spaced the same as the sheet holes and secured to the base sheet by pegs and braces and fixtures such as rings, adjustable length bars or hooks are usefully attachable to the sheets by bolts or by pegs inserted into the holes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for providing means to secure items within a cargo bed, the assembly comprising a perforated base sheet sized to fit within the cargo bed, the perforations formed in a regularly spaced array of rows and columns. 
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the base sheet is flat and rectangular and further comprises means to tie the base sheet to the cargo bed. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2  further comprising at least one perforated rectangular vertical sheet having a plurality of pegs extending from an edge in the same plane as the sheet, the pegs being sized about equal in diameter to the base sheet perforations and spaced to be insertable into a row or column of perforations in the base sheet said sheet or sheets being attached by engagement of the pegs in the base sheet holes at a right angle to the base sheet. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of vertical sheets, two of which are nearly the same length as the base sheet and one of which is installed at each long side edge of the base sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4  wherein at least one vertical sheet is nearly the same width as the base sheet and is fastened at a right angle to the base sheet and to and between the two base sheet length vertical sheets. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5  further comprising at least one brace secured to the base sheet and to a vertical sheet at the junction thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  further comprising at least one brace secured to two adjacent vertical sheets at the junction thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  further comprising at least one brace secured to the base sheet and to two adjacent vertical sheets at the junction thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein each vertical sheet has a long side top edge without pegs and having a groove formed along and adjacent to said top edge, on each flat surface of the sheet and further comprising at least one brace secured to the top edges of two or more adjoining vertical sheets at the junction thereof, the brace a flat top section the same width as the vertical sheet top edge and comprising two downward projecting parallel sides with inward projecting ridges spaced from the brace top section the same distance as the separation of the vertical sheet grooves from the vertical sheet top edge. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  further comprising at least one pole member with a peg at each end and means to reduce the length of the pole member to slightly less than the width of the base member, and spring means to bias the pole member ends apart. 
     
     
         11 . A method of securing items within a cargo bed, the method comprising the installation of a flat, rectangular base sheet with perforations formed in a regularly spaced array of rows and columns and sized to fit within the cargo bed on the floor thereof, tying the base sheet to the cargo bed, and securing items to the base sheet by means of anchors secured through the base sheet perforations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising assembling at least one perforated rectangular vertical sheet having a plurality of pegs extending from an edge in the same plane as the sheet, the pegs being sized about equal in diameter to the base sheet perforations and spaced to be insertable into a row or column of perforations in the base sheet and attaching said sheet or sheets to the base sheet by engagement of the pegs in the base sheet holes at a right angle to the base sheet. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising installing one of two of said vertical sheets of about the same length as the base sheet at each long side edge of the base sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein at least one vertical sheet is formed to be about the same width as the base sheet and further comprises fastening said sheet at a right angle to the base sheet and to and between the two base sheet length vertical sheets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising securing at least one brace to the base sheet and to at least one vertical sheet at the junction thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising securing at least one ring or hook to the base sheet and using said ring or hook to secure cargo items in the cargo bed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising securing at least one ring or hook to a vertical sheet and using said ring or hook to secure cargo items in the cargo bed. 
     
     
         18 . A method of securing items within a cargo bed having side walls, the method comprising the installation of at least two flat, rectangular vertical sheets with perforations formed in a regularly spaced array of rows and columns and sized to fit within the cargo bed, vertically along the sidewalls thereof, inserting between the vertical sheets at least one pole member with a peg at each end and means to reduce the length of the pole member to slightly less than the separation of the vertical sheets and spring means to bias the pole member ends apart.