Cargo Management System

Jeremy Connell
Blacksburg, VA

Standard truck beds lack the ability to secure loose items easily. The Cargo Management System design employs various methods in order to increase functionality while maintaining normal truck bed usage. The platform has a maximum height of 2", allowing for an ultra-low profile while the rails are not in use. Four lateral adjustments mate with the sidewalls of the truck bed. This feature allows for application in trucks with different bed sizes. The rail gutters are slightly raised off the platform surface to mimic the standard truck bed and simultaneously limit lateral motions of items placed within the rails.

Cargo Management System invented by Jeremy Connell

To reduce rubbing between the unprotected truck bed and the platform, six wheels are placed on the bottom of the platform and serve two purposes. The main function is to limit the points of contact between the truck surface and the platform, and the second is to ease in the placement and removal of the platform into and out of the truck bed.

The storage container rolls along the two outermost rails with the implementation of two wheels on both sides and four locking pins. The grips located on both sides of the container house the mechanism, which operates the locking pins. As for the container itself, it is split in a 60/40 configuration, with the smaller of the two potentially being insulated. The voids in the bottom of the container allow for the interior platform rails to be used in conjunction with the box. This feature allows the option to divide the contents within the containers.

The rails and container can be used together in order to secure items against either the cab or the tailgate. The box can be removed completely for use of the entire width of the truck bed. The grips on the rails create a non-slip surface when objects are placed on top of the arms, and also work when the rails are up. Tie-down cleats are integrated into the rails for using bungee cords with the system. Materials include extruded aluminum, elastomers, and HDPE.

For more information, contact the inventor at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Honorable Mentions


Self-Locking Ball Bearings

Tad Staniszewski
Asymmetric Fasteners
Hackettstown, NJ
Self-Locking Ball Bearings invented by Tad Staniszewski

The Self-Locking Ball Bearing (SLB) rigidly mounts to shafts, offers infinite axial adjustments, and instant locking capability. The bearing’s inner ring is made wider than its outer ring to accommodate one nut on each side and features patented asymmetric threads. Both sides are also slotted to allow the nuts to compress the threaded ends. When the bearing is inserted onto the shaft and the nuts are tightened, the continuous incline created by the asymmetric thread produces a large radial clamping force, clamping the slotted sections of the inner ring to the shaft. To unlock the bearing, remove one nut and attach a spanner wrench in the threaded slot to free the opposite nut.

For more information, visit www.asymmetricfasteners.com , or contact the inventor at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


Inline Peristaltic Pump

Daniel Brunermer
The Ex One Company
Leechburg, PA
Inline Peristaltic Pump invented by Daniel Brunermer

With the Inline Peristaltic Pump, the inlet and outlet port are designed for one fluid in and out, but six tubes inside the housing provide the peristaltic action. The fittings, manifold, and shaft bearing mount are printed as a single piece, with the manifold tubes embedded in the shell. The ends could, however, have provided distribution of a single fluid to many points, or fluids from many points to a single point; any shape or distribution scheme is possible. If the motor is reversible, the installation configurations double. The fittings depicted are all barbs, but any fitting that can be rendered in CAD could be used. The design depicts six tubes for the pump, but this could be expanded or contracted as required. Multiple sizes of tubing could also be designed inside the same pump for applications requiring ratio-metric flow.

Medical Category Winner, "Create the Future" 2007 Design Contest