Side mounted truck tie-down rail

Abstract

This invention relates to the art of securing cargo in the bed of a pickup truck. A slotted bar is secured to the upper inside wall in the bed of a truck where the structural flange is formed around the bed. When the rail is mounted on a vehicle it provides a plurality of tie down locations and increases the structural strength of the side walls. The tie down does not interfere with a bed cover. The tie down is fabricated from one or multiple pieces that are linkable to extend the length of the tie down and allow for configuration changes based upon the dimensions of the truck bed.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A side mounted truck tie-down rail system comprising: 
 at least one elongated rail section configured from essentially rectangular cross sectional material having a height and a width where the height is greater the width, a top side, a bottom side, a first end and a second end;    each elongated rail has at least one tie-down hole or elongated tie-down slot oriented through said width of said elongated rail;    each elongated rail has at least one mounting hole located near each of the first end and the second end of each said elongated rail oriented through said height for mounting said bottom side of the elongated rail on an inner flange within a truck bed, wherein,    said first end of a first elongated rail is configured for engagement with said second end of a second elongated rail using said mounting holes to connect said first and said second elongated rails to create an elongated rail assembly.    
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 11  wherein the at least one mounting hole is counter bored into the elongated rail sections such that said counter bored hole allows a head of a fastener installed in said counter bored hole to seat below the top side of the elongated rail section.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . (canceled)  
   
   
       18 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 11  wherein the elongated rail section is mountable on a side, front or tailgate of said truck bed.  
   
   
       19 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 11  wherein when said elongated rail section is the installed on said inner flange within said truck bed said elongated rail section exists below a horizontal top surface of said truck bed such that said elongated rail section does not interfere with installation of a tonneau cover, bed cover or tarp placed on top of said truck bed.  
   
   
       20 . The side mounted truck tie-own rail system from  claim 11  wherein attachment of one or more said elongated rail pieces increases bending strength of said truck.  
   
   
       21 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 12  wherein the first end has a recess on said bottom side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a recess on said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       22 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 12  wherein a first end has a recess on said bottom side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a taper from said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       23 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 12  wherein the first end has a recess on said top side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a taper from said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       24 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 16  wherein the first end has a recess on said bottom side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a recess on said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       25 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 16  wherein the first end has a recess on said bottom side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a taper from said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       26 . The side mounted truck tie-own rail system from  claim 16  wherein the first end has a recess on said top side of said elongated rail, and the second end has a taper from said top side of said elongated rail.  
   
   
       27 . The side mounted truck tie-down rail system from  claim 11  wherein the at least one tie-down hole or elongated tie-down slot is at least partially open to said top side of said elongated rail.