Truck Bed Spacer

Abstract

A crush-tube assembly for securing a truck bed to a frame of a vehicle. The crush-tube assembly includes a first hole defined by the truck bed, a crush-tube defining an inner diameter, a cross-member defining a second hole, and a frame defining a third hole. A bolt extends through the first hole, the crush-tube, the second hole, and third hole. The inner diameter is smaller than the second hole and maintains pressure around a periphery of the second hole. The pressure applied by the bolt around the hole in the cross-member prevents abrasion of the e-coat previously applied to the cross-member and thereby reduces the potential for corrosion of the cross-member.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a truck bed defining a first hole; a crush-tube defining an inner diameter; a cross-member defining a second hole; a frame defining a third hole; and a bolt extending through the first hole, the crush-tube, the second hole and third hole, wherein the inner diameter is smaller than the second hole to maintain contact around a periphery of the second hole.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the third hole is less than a diameter of the second hole to maintain contact between the cross-member and the frame.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the third hole is equal to the inner diameter of the crush-tube to maintain contact between the cross-member and the frame.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the second hole is larger than the inner diameter and a diameter of the third hole.

5. A truck bed assembly comprising: a truck bed defining a first plurality of mounting holes; a plurality of crush-tubes that each define an inner opening having a first diameter; a cross-member defining a second plurality of mounting holes, wherein the second plurality of mounting holes have a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; a frame defining a third plurality of mounting holes; a plurality of bolts each inserted through one of the first plurality of mounting holes, the inner openings, the second plurality of mounting holes, and the third plurality of mounting holes; and a plurality of nuts each received by one of the bolts, wherein the nuts engage the frame to secure the truck bed to the frame.

6. The truck bed assembly of claim 5 wherein a third diameter of the third plurality of mounting holes is less than the second diameter of the second plurality of mounting holes to maintain contact between the cross-member and the frame.

7. The truck bed assembly of claim 6 wherein the third diameter of the third plurality of mounting holes is equal to the first diameter to maintain contact between the cross-member and the frame.

8. The truck bed assembly of claim 6 wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter and the third diameter.

9. A vehicle comprising: an aluminum truck bed attached to a steel frame; a crush-tube and a cross-member inserted between the truck bed and frame, wherein the crush-tube defines an inner opening having a first diameter and the cross-member defines a mounting hole having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and wherein the crush-tube engages and over hangs a periphery of the mounting hole; and a bolt securing the truck bed to the frame with a nut wherein the bolt extends through the inner opening and the mounting hole defined by the cross-member to clamp the crush-tube against the cross-member.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the frame defines a frame mounting hole having a diameter less than the diameter of the mounting hole defined by the cross-member, and wherein the bolt clamps the cross-member to the frame.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the diameter of the frame mounting hole is equal to the first diameter of the inner opening defined by the crush-tube.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the second diameter of the mounting hole in the cross-member is larger than the first diameter of the inner opening and the frame mounting hole.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view partially in cross-section of a prior art truck bed crush-tube assembly.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the prior art truck bed crush-tube assembly shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view partially in cross-section of a truck bed crush-tube assembly made according to one embodiment of this disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the truck bed crush-tube assembly shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a truck bed crush-tube assembly 38 is illustrated that is made according to one embodiment of this disclosure. The truck bed crush-tube assembly 38 is shown attached to a pick-up truck bed 40. A plurality of bolts 42 are used to secure the pick-up truck bed 40 to a frame 44. Mounting holes 46 are provided in the truck bed 40 through which the bolts 42 are inserted. A cross-member 48 extends transversely across the truck bed to reinforce the pick-up truck bed 40.

[0019] A crush-tube 50 is assembled between the truck bed 40 and the cross-member 48 that reinforces the truck bed 40 and prevents distortion of the surface of the truck bed 40. An extruded aluminum spacer 54 may be part of or assembled to the crush-tube 50 and assembled within the cross-member 48. The frame 44 defines a mounting hole 62 through which the bolt 12 is inserted through the frame 44. Mounting hole 58 is provided in the cross-member 48. A recess 64 is defined between the crush-tube 50, the mounting hole 58 in the cross-member 48, and the frame mounting hole 62 provided in the frame 44.

[0020] In the disclosed embodiment, the crush-tube 50 has a smaller inner diameter than the diameter of the mounting hole 58 in the cross-member 48. When the bolt 42 and attaching nut 49 are tightened, the crush-tube 50 bears upon the cross-member 48 around the mounting hole 58. Pressure applied around the periphery of the mounting hole 58 reduces movement of the cross-member 48 and reduces abrasion of the anti-corrosion E-coat previously applied to the cross-member 48. Applying pressure around the periphery of the mounting hole 58 in the cross-member 48 reduces galvanic corrosion initiating at the edge of the pick-up box mounting holes 58 in the cross-member 48.

[0021] As best shown in FIG. 4, the mounting hole 62 defined by the frame 44 has a smaller diameter than the mounting hole 58 defined by the cross-member 48. The recess 64 is part of the mounting hole 58 defined by the cross-member 48. The recess 64 is located between the crush-tube 50 and the frame 44. The mounting hole 62 in the frame 44 is smaller than the mounting hole 58 in the cross-member 48 to exert a compressive force against the cross-member to reduce abrasion on the lower side of the cross-member 48 and the possibility of corrosion developing.

[0022] The embodiments described above are specific examples that do not describe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of the illustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims is broader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includes modifications of the illustrated embodiments.