Automotive cargo carrying systems

Abstract

Cargo carrying systems for mounting onto a cargo bed of a vehicle, including a first cross support extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end across the cargo bed, the first cross support being comprised of component members adjustably connected together to define a first cross support profile that substantially conforms to a vehicle profile, a first bracket securing the first lateral end of the first cross support to the cargo bed, a second bracket securing the second lateral end of the first cross support to the cargo bed, a second cross support longitudinally spaced from the first cross support and extending across the cargo bed, the first cross support and the second cross support defining a cargo compartment between them, and a cargo container supported by the first cross support and the second cross support in the cargo compartment.

1 . A cargo carrying system for mounting onto a cargo bed of a vehicle having a vehicle profile, the cargo bed having a first lateral boundary and a second lateral boundary opposite the first lateral boundary, the cargo carrying system comprising:
 a first cross support extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end across the cargo bed between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary, respectively, the first cross support being comprised of component members adjustably connected together to define a first cross support profile that substantially conforms to the vehicle profile;   a first bracket securing the first lateral end of the first cross support to the first lateral boundary of the cargo bed;   a second bracket securing the second lateral end of the first cross support to the second lateral boundary of the cargo bed;   a second cross support longitudinally spaced from the first cross support and extending across the cargo bed between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary, the first cross support and the second cross support defining a cargo compartment between them; and   a cargo container supported by the first cross support and the second cross support in the cargo compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting rod extending between the first cross support and the second cross support. 
     
     
         3 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 2 , wherein the cargo container is suspended from the connecting rod. 
     
     
         4 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo container defines a bag. 
     
     
         5 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 4 , wherein the bag includes a multitude of access openings. 
     
     
         6 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 5 , wherein the access openings include a flap for selectively opening and closing the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo container is a cargo net. 
     
     
         8 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo container is a water bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo container is rigid. 
     
     
         10 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 9 , wherein the composition of the cargo container includes polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         11 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the component members are configured to adjustably connect together to selectively adjust the length that the first cross support spans between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary to accommodate different distances between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary in different vehicles. 
     
     
         12 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the component member are adjustably connected together to selectively adjust the height that the first cross support member extends above the cargo bed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket includes one or more first bracket openings and the first cross support defines one or more mounting openings proximate the first lateral end, where the one or more first bracket openings and the one or more mounting openings align in a variety or positions to adjust the relative position of the first cross support to the first bracket and further comprising a fastener configured to pass through one of the one or more first bracket openings and one of the one or more mounting openings to secure the first cross support to the first bracket in with the first cross support in a desired position relative to the first bracket. 
     
     
         14 . A cargo carrying system for mounting onto a cargo bed of a vehicle having a vehicle profile, the cargo bed having a first lateral boundary and a second lateral boundary opposite the first lateral boundary, the cargo carrying system comprising:
 a first cross support:
 extending from a first lateral end to a second lateral end across the cargo bed between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary, respectively; 
 being operatively connected to the first lateral boundary proximate the first lateral end and operatively connected to the second lateral boundary proximate the second lateral end; and 
 comprised of component members adjustably connected together to define a first cross support profile that substantially conforms to the vehicle profile; 
 a second cross support longitudinally spaced from the first cross support and extending across the cargo bed between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary; and 
 a cargo container supported between the first cross support and the second cross support. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 14 , wherein a removable, flexible cover is secured to and spans between the first cross support and the second cross support to define an enclosed space above the cargo bed. 
     
     
         16 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 14 , further comprising a vehicle including a cargo bed, the cargo bed defining a conventional pick-up truck bed, the pick-up truck bed supporting the first cross support and the second cross support. 
     
     
         17 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 14 , further comprising a fastener, wherein:
 the component members include:
 a first component member defining a first set of fastener holes; and 
 a second component member defining a second set of fastener holes; 
   the fastener extends through a fastener hole in the first set of fastener holes and a fastener hole in the second set of fastener holes aligned with the fastener hole in the first set of fastener holes to secure the first component member to the second component member.   
     
     
         18 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 17 , wherein the first cross support profile is adjusted by aligning a fastener hole in the first set of fastener holes with different fastener holes in the second set of fastener holes. 
     
     
         19 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 14 , wherein the component members are configured to adjustably connect together to selectively adjust the length that the first cross support spans between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary to accommodate different distances between the first lateral boundary and the second lateral boundary in different vehicles. 
     
     
         20 . The cargo carrying system of  claim 14 , further comprising a bracket to connect the first lateral end of the first cross support to the first lateral boundary of the cargo bed.