DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a load body of the vehicle, more particularly, the embodiments relate to a slidable overhead bar assembly for the load body of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

In vehicles having high deck load bodies, overhead bar assemblies are provided on top of the load bodies. The function of a typical overhead bar assembly is to support various types of goods carried by the load body with covers, such as tarpaulins, and to prevent goods from various environment factors, such as sun, rain water, dust and the like.

Conventional type of overhead bar assembly is known as fixed type overhead bar. The overhead bars are joined to the load bodies through a joining process such as welding and fastening. After joining the overhead bars will become the integral part of the load body, and hence cannot be removed from the same. Thus, with the conventional overhead bar assembly, users face a variety of problems while placing the goods on the load body since the overhead bar is in fixed position. Further, the goods placement from top of the load body is not possible as the overhead bars are fixed and thus restricting material to get loaded from the top. In such cases, the goods are either forced to put inside the load body through rear end, or the overhead bar assembly has to be taken out from top.
Further, vehicle with longer wheel base of load body often see sagging on the floor panel due to placement of load and since the load has to travel full length to reach to the other end. In addition, the conventional overhead bodies are more prone to failure, since the overhead bars are joined to the load bodies and failure is observed in the overhead bar during twisting, as the fixed type act as a rigid bar. Thus, the cracks start to propagate through the weld zone.

In light of foregoing discussion, it is necessary to provide a slidable overhead bar assembly for the load body of the vehicle to overcome the limitations stated above.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of assembly as claimed in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle. The assembly comprises at least one bar of predetermined shape mounted above each side wall of the load body, wherein said bars are configured as guide rails. One or more sliding members slidably disposed in the at least one bars. The assembly further includes one or more overhead bars connectable to at least one of the one or more sliding member disposed in at least one bar, wherein each of the one or more overhead bars are configured to be slided forward and backward in the bars.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one bar comprises one or more provisions at predetermined locations, and each of the provisions are configured to threadingly receive at least one fastener for holing the sliding members. Further, each of the provision comprises at least one nut for threadingly receiving the fastener, and each of the one or more sliding members comprises a through hole for receiving the at least one fastener.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the one or more overhead bar is connected to the one or more sliding members through a member selected from at least one of pin, and fastener.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, shape of the at least one bar is selected from at least one of “C” shape, “U” shape, “V” shape, semi-circular shape. Further, shape of the one or more sliding members confirms the shape of the at least one bar.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one bars mounted above each side wall are joined to a plurality of vertical bars provided around each side wall of the load body. Further, the at least one bar mounted above each side wall are joined to the plurality of vertical bars by a joining method selected from at least one of welding, fastening, and brazing.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCLOSURE

One object of the present disclosure is to provide the slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle which is simple, reliable, cost effective, and easy to manufacture and assemble.

Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle which allows user/machine to place the load from top and even longitudinally.

Yet another objective of the present disclosure is to provide the overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle in which the user/machine can place the load from one end to other end as there are no constraints available to restrict the goods to move.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a load body of the vehicle having an overhead bar assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of bar with a vertical bars mounted around side wall of a vehicle load body.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a sliding member which is connected to an overhead bar, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic side view of the bar which is connected with sliding member and the overhead bar.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

To overcome the drawbacks mentioned in the background, the present disclosure provides a slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of the vehicle is disclosed. The overhead bar assembly is slidably disposed on the vehicle body, such that the overhead bars can be slided to either of forward and backward side of the load body, thereby facilitates the space for loading the goods from the top side. Further, the load can be placed to any far end as there are no constraints available to restrict the goods to move. The slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle which is simple, reliable, cost effective, and easy to manufacture and assemble.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates a schematic perspective view of a load body (B) of the vehicle having the slidable overhead bar assembly (100). The slidable overhead bar assembly (100) comprises, at least one bar (101a and 101b) of predetermined shape mounted above each side wall (102 and 103) of the load body (B). The bars (101) are also referred as guide rails are mounted on side walls (102 and 103) i.e. one on the right side wall and other on the left side wall of the load body such that the bars (101a and 101b) are configured as guide rails of the assembly (100). In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 1 only one bar on either side walls (102 and 103) is shown, however in alternative embodiment more than one bar can be provided on each side wall (102 and 103). The bars (101a and101b) are configured in shape selected from a group comprising but not limited to “C” shape, “U” shape, “V” shape, semi-circular shape. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of vertical bars (108) are mounted around the side walls (102 and 103) of the load body, and the at least one bars (101a and 101b) are joined to the plurality of vertical bars (108). The bars (101a and 101b) are joined to the plurality of vertical bars (108) by a joining method selected from a group comprising but not limiting to welding, fastening, and brazing. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vertical bars (108) can be configured as slidable telescopic bars, to facilitate the adjustable height of said vertical bars (108). This facilitates the use of varying the height of overhead bar assembly (100) on the load body (B) of the vehicle.

Further, one or more sliding members (104) of predefined shape are slidably disposed in the guide rails (101a and 101b) mounted above each of the side walls (102 and 103). The sliding members (104) are also referred to as a “box section” are configured in the shape which confirms the shape of the guide rails (101a and 101b), such that the sliding members (104) can slide to and fro inside the guide rails (101a and 101b). Further, each of the sliding members (104) are connected to an overhead bars (105), such that the sliding members are provided at each overhead bar (105) at an end thereof. Therefore, each of the overhead bars (105) is connected to the vertical bars (108) of the vehicle load body (B) through the sliding members (104). The overhead bars (105) are configured to be slided forward and backward in the guide rails (101a and 101b). Hence, the overhead bars (105) can be slided either to the front side or to the rear side of the load body (B) (through the length of the load body) for loading the goods into the load body (B). In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 1 only there are six such overhead bars (105) are provided on the load body. One or more overhead bars (105) may, as the requirement may be, stationary, and may be permanently connected to the vertical pillars (108) of the vehicle load body (B) by any joining method such as but not limiting to welding and fastening, and without the sliding members.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates schematic side view of the bar (101a and 101b) with a vertical bars (108) mounted around side walls (102 and 103) of a vehicle load body (B). In one embodiment, the bar/guide rail (101a and 101b) is joined to the vertical bars (108) by any joining method such as by not limiting to welding and fastening. As an exemplary embodiment FIG. 2 shows the guide rails (101a and 101b) having a “C” shaped configuration, such that the opening of the “C” shaped configuration is towards the load body’s (B) load receiving area. In the alternative embodiment of the present disclosure the guide rails can be configured in any other shape such as box shaped configuration, U” shape, “V” shape, semi-circular shape. Further, the guide rails (101a and 101b) include one or more provisions at predetermined locations. The provisions are configured to threadingly receive at least one fastener (107) for locking the sliding members (104) in the guide rails during use of the overhead bars (105). The locking of the sliding members (104) to the guide rails (101a and 101b) ensures that the overhead bars (105) are held in place with a predetermined distance, so that external protection sheets like tarpaulin can be tied, and also helps to hold the good securely inside the load body (B). In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the provisions provided in the guide rails (101a and 101b) comprises at least one nut (106a) for threadingly receiving the fastener (107), and each of the sliding members comprises a through hole for receiving the at least one fastener (107).

FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure which illustrates a schematic perspective view of a sliding member (104) which is connected to an overhead bar (105). The sliding members (104) are connected to either ends of overhead bars (105) through at least one joining member such as but not limiting to a pin and the fastener (109). In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a holding bracket is provided in the overhead bar (105) for holding the joining member. In the present disclosure, the sliding members are provided at each overhead bar at an end thereof. Therefore, each of the overhead bars (105), such as the overhead bar (105), is connected to the vertical pillars (108) of the vehicle load body (B) through the sliding members (104).

Referring now to FIG. 4, the sliding members (104) are adapted to be received in the guide rails (101a and 101b). The profile of the sliding members (104) is in accordance with the profile of the guide rails (101a and 101b) such that the sliding members (104) can slide to and fro inside the guide rails (101a and 101b). The sliding members (104) are adapted to be received in the guide rails (101a and 101b) such that the pin (109) passes through the opening of the “C” shaped guide rails (101a and 101b). The sliding members (104) are adapted to slide within the guide rails (101a and 101b) thereby moving the overhead bars (105), longitudinally with respect to the load body (B). By sliding the overhead bars (105), the overhead bars (105) can be arranged on the vertical bars (108) provided around the side walls of a vehicle load body (B), with predetermined distance from one another, for e.g. at a pitch/distance of 1000 mm. The guide rails (101a and 101b) comprise plurality of provision/vertical holes to receive a fastener (107) for locking the movement of sliding member (104). As shown in FIG 4, a bolt (107) may be used to lock the movement of the sliding member (104) with respect to the guide rails (101a and 101b). For maintenance, or any other purposes, the over hard bars (105) may be completely removed from the load body (B), by sliding the over hard bars (105) towards the rear.
Advantages:
The present disclosure provides the slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle which is simple in construction, reliable, cost effective, and easy to manufacture and assemble.

The present disclosure provides the slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle which allows user/machine to place the load from top and even longitudinally.

The present disclosure provides the slidable overhead bar assembly for load body of a vehicle in which the load can be placed load to any far end as there are no constraints available to restrict the goods to move.

Equivalents

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:

Reference Number Description
100 Slidable overhead bar assembly
101a and 101b Bars/guide rails
102 and 103 Side walls of the load body
104 Sliding members
105 Overhead bars
106 Provision
106a Nut
107 Fastener
108 Vertical bar
109 Pin/fastener
B Load body

,CLAIMS:
We claim:

1. An overhead bar assembly (100) for a load body (B) of a vehicle, said assembly (100) comprising:
at least one bar (101a and 101b) of predetermined shape mounted above each side wall (102 and 103) of the load body (B), wherein said bars (101) are configured as guide rails;
one or more sliding members (104) slidably disposed in the at least one bars (101a and 101b); and
one or more overhead bars (105) connectable to at least one of the one or more sliding member (104) disposed in the at least one bar (101a and 101b), such that each of the one or more overhead bars (105) are configured to slided forward and backward on the load body (B).

2. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bar (101a and 101b) comprises one or more provisions (106) at predetermined locations, and each of the provisions (106) are configured to threadingly receive at least one fastener (107) for holing the sliding members (104).

3. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the provision (106) comprises at least one nut (106a) for threadingly receiving the fastener (107).

4. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the one or more sliding members (104) comprises a through hole for receiving the at least one fastener (107).

5. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more overhead bar (105) is connected to the one or more sliding members (104) through a member selected from at least one of pin, and fastener.

6. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein shape of the at least one bar (101a and 101b) is selected from at least one of “C” shape, “U” shape, “V” shape, semi-circular shape.

7. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein shape of the one or more sliding members (104) confirms the shape of the at least one bar (101a and 10b).

8. The assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one bars (101a and 101b) mounted above each side wall (102 and 103) are joined to a plurality of vertical bars (108) provided around each side wall (102 and 103) of the load body (B).

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one bar (101a and 101b) mounted above each side wall (102 and 103) are joined to the plurality of vertical bars (108) by a joining method selected from at least one of welding, fastening, and brazing.

10. A vehicle comprising slidable overhead bar assembly (100) for load body (B) as claimed in claim 1.

Dated this 8th Day of October, 2013 GOPINATH A.S.
IN/PA 1852
OF K&S PARTNERS
AGENT FOR THE APPLICANT