IP Verse

Side Pack With Channels

Patent No. US12043218 (titled "Side Pack With Channels") was filed by Stellar Industries Inc on Apr 10, 2023.

What is this patent about?

’218 is related to the field of utility vehicle accessories, specifically side packs used for storage and equipment mounting. Traditional side packs often require drilling holes for mounting equipment, which is inflexible and can compromise the integrity of the storage compartment. The patent addresses the need for a more adaptable and robust mounting system for equipment on utility vehicle side packs.

The underlying idea behind ’218 is to integrate parallel tracks into the top panel of a side pack, allowing for the adjustable and secure attachment of equipment. These tracks, featuring lipped edges, provide a standardized interface for specialized fasteners. This eliminates the need for drilling and offers flexibility in positioning equipment along the length of the side pack.

The claims of ’218 focus on a side pack featuring a top panel with at least two parallel tracks. Each track has a C-shaped cross-section with lipped edges designed to engage specialized securing members. The claims also cover a method of connecting an option to a side pack by inserting connectors into the tracks and then using those connectors to secure the option to the top panel.

In practice, the tracks are embedded within channels formed in the top panel of the side pack. These tracks accommodate specialized fasteners, each comprising a threaded member and an elongated nut. The nut is designed to be inserted into the track when oriented in one direction, and then rotated to lock against the lipped edges of the track. This mechanism allows for easy repositioning of equipment by simply loosening the fasteners, sliding the equipment to the desired location, and then re-tightening the fasteners.

This design differentiates itself from prior art by providing a reconfigurable mounting system without requiring permanent modifications to the side pack. Furthermore, the channels housing the tracks can also be used to route wiring or hoses, providing a clean and protected pathway for power and fluid lines to the mounted equipment. The channels can also include a drainage system to remove any water that gets inside.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2010s when ’218 was filed, utility vehicles commonly relied on side packs for storage and cargo management, at a time when integrating modular attachment systems directly into the side pack structure was not yet a standard practice. At that time, routing wiring and lines within the side pack structure to power equipment was not a typical design consideration.

Novelty and Inventive Step

Claims were rejected for nonstatutory double patenting. The claims were provisionally rejected as being unpatentable over a copending application. The prosecution record does not describe the technical reasoning or specific claim changes that led to allowance.

Claims

This patent contains 15 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 7, 11, and 15. The independent claims generally focus on a side pack for a vehicle, comprising a top panel and parallel tracks for securing members, and a method of connecting an option to the side pack using these tracks. The dependent claims generally add further detail and limitations to the features described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
First securing members
(Claim 1, Claim 7)		“In example embodiments, tracks may be provided in the channels to allow for objects, such as mechanical equipment, to be attached thereto.”Components that engage with the first track to secure an object to the side pack.
First track
(Claim 1, Claim 7, Claim 11, Claim 15)		“In example embodiments, tracks may be provided in the channels to allow for objects, such as mechanical equipment, to be attached thereto.”A track attached to the top panel of the side pack, used for connecting or securing objects.
Second securing members
(Claim 1, Claim 7)		“In example embodiments, tracks may be provided in the channels to allow for objects, such as mechanical equipment, to be attached thereto.”Components that engage with the second track to secure an object to the side pack.
Second track
(Claim 1, Claim 7, Claim 11, Claim 15)		“In example embodiments, tracks may be provided in the channels to allow for objects, such as mechanical equipment, to be attached thereto.”A track attached to the top panel of the side pack, parallel to the first track, and used for connecting or securing objects.
Substantially C-shaped cross-section
(Claim 1)		“Example embodiments disclose a side pack with channels. In example embodiments, tracks may be provided in the channels to allow for objects, such as mechanical equipment, to be attached thereto.”A shape of the track that resembles the letter 'C' when viewed in cross-section.

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US12043218

STELLAR INDUSTRIES INC
Application Number
US18298366
Filing Date
Apr 10, 2023
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
May 24, 2033
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents