Pick-up box extension

• US 20020000732A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hans W. Sanders
• Original Assignee: Hans W. Sanders
• Inventors: Sanders, Hans W.
• Application Number:
  US09/812,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000732A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/26.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/041 extensible externally of the vehicle body, e.g. to create an open luggage compartment of increased capacity devices for anchoring the boot lid while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042

Abstract

A device consisting of three panels, a rear panel and two side panels, hinged to the tailgate of a pick-up truck and to each other in such a manner that when unfolded and secured with the tailgate in a lowered position, it results in an increased and enclosed area of the pick-up box to permit carrying oversized objects by pick-up trucks with six foot or eight foot nominal length boxes. The device can be hinged downward when the tailgate is in a lowered, horizontal position thereby not obstructing the loading or unloading process. The device folds for storage against the closed tailgate by means of adjustable hinges, taking a minimum of space when not in use without unduly obstructing the pick-up box loading area. The dimensions of the panels vary in height, length and width in relation to the dimensions of pick-up truck boxes of various manufacturers and models.

Materials chosen may be of any kind such as, but not limited to, steel, plastic or wood and painted to suit requirements with suitable lights and/or reflectors installed. The device provides an enclosed, increased loading area for pick-up trucks beyond the extreme end of the open tailgate and enhances road safety and can be installed as an aftermarket items or incorporated into the original manufactured vehicles.

Claims

1. A pick-up box extension for use on vehicles having a loading area defined by a floor section, two opposing vertical longitudinal sidewalls, a cross wall vertical to the floor section and connecting the sidewalls at right angles at the most forward station of the sidewalls and a conventional tailgate hinged to the floor section permitting movement of the tailgate about the hinge axis from a position vertical to the floor section and at right angles to the sidewalls to a position horizontal with the floor section and restrained in this position by supports attached to opposing ends of the tailgate and to the sidewalls.

2. A pick-up box extension having a rectangular rear panel and two shorter rectangular side panels hingedly attached to said rear panel at opposing ends permitting movement of the hinged side panels about the hinge axis from a position parallel with the rear panel to a position of more or less ninety degrees with the rear panel.

3. A pick-up box extension attached to the tailgate by means of sliding asymmetric hinges permitting rotation of said pick-up box extension about the asymmetric hinge axis from a position parallel to the horizontal open tailgate to a position vertically up or down from the horizontal tailgate.

4. A pick-up box extension that positions the rectangular rear panel by means of the sliding asymmetric hinges substantially beyond the extreme end of the open tailgate thereby peripherally enclosing a much larger loading area than other devices.

5. A pick-up box extension that folds flat and parallel against the inside surface of the tailgate thereby requiring a minimal amount of storage space.

6. A pick-up box extension that does not reduce the usefulness of the original loading surface when retracted to its self-storing position.

7. A pick-up box extension that swings out of the way for loading and offloading purposes when the tailgate is in a lowered horizontal position.

8. A pick-up box extension having two rectangular side panels hingedly attached to the opposite ends of the rectangular rear panel enabling said side panels to be rotated about said hinges from a position parallel with the rear panel to a position vertical to the rear panel and attaching the ends opposite to the hinged side to existing attachment points at the existing sidewalls of the existing vehicle by means of latching mechanisms adapted to the configuration of the existing vehicle.

9. A pick-up box extension that is attached to the tailgate by means of two or more asymmetric sliding hinges and hinge retaining brackets which permit said extension to move fore and aft along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle providing an enlarged loading area when said extension is in its fully deployed position and permits said extension to be stored flush against and parallel to the closed tailgate, without unduly reducing the original vehicle loading area.

10. A pick-up box extension that can be painted and provided with lights and/or reflectors to suit requirements.

11. A pick-up box extension that can be manufactured as an aftermarket item or that can be incorporated in the tailgates of the original manufacturer'"'"'s vehicles at the point of production.

12. A pick-up box extension that can easily be removed and re-installed from the vehicle by removal or reinstallation of the stop fasteners.

13. A pick-up box extension that can be fabricated from sheet metal or any other suitable material in accordance with good engineering practices.