Vehicle cargo bed extender

• US 20030146637A1
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 89908 Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst, Weisel, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 6,805,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/26.11
• 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: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/037 Latching means therefor

Abstract

An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount and a second mount. The connecting wall extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and cooperates with the first side wall and second side wall to form a generally U-shape frame. The first mount is secured to the first side wall and includes a first interlocking member. The second mount is secured to the second side wall and comprises a second interlocking member. The first interlocking member and the first mounting station on the vehicle and the second interlocking member and the second mounting station on the vehicle cooperate to secure the truck bed extender to the vehicle so that the extender is rotatable about an axis between a first and a second position. In the first position, the connecting wall is in an upright position over the tailgate beyond the rear end of the bed. In the second position, the connecting wall is in an upright position spaced forward from the rear end of the bed and the tailgate.

Claims

1. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed having an inner side, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed having an inner side and a tailgate, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel defining a first station surface, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel defining a second station surface, said extender comprising:

a first side wall;

a second side wall;

a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said connecting wall cooperating to form a generally U-shaped frame having a first open side and a second open side;

a first mount on said first side wall comprising a first interlocking member defining a first mount surface; and

a second mount on said second side wall comprising a second interlocking member defining a second mount surface, said first station surface and said first mount surface, and said second station surface and said first mount surface cooperating to secure said extender to said vehicle so that said extender is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed with said first open side facing away from said tailgate and said second open side facing toward said tailgate, and wherein one of said first station surface and said first mount surface defines a first opening through which the other of said first station surface and said first mount surface can be manually withdrawn from said inner side of said first panel to disengage said extender from said first panel and one of said second station surface and said second mount surface defines a second opening through which the other of said second station surface and said second mount surface can be manually withdrawn from said inner side of said second panel to disengage said extender from said second panel.

2. The extender of claim 1, wherein said extender is rotatable about an axis between a first position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed and said first mount cooperates with said first station and said second mount cooperates with said second station to secure said extender against movement radial to said axis, and a second position wherein said connecting wall is in a nonvertical position and said first mount cooperates with said first station and said second mount cooperates with said second station to permit said extender to be movable radially with respect to said axis.

3. The extender of claim 2, wherein said extender includes an interlock portion which is releasably securable to said vehicle.

4. A method for an individual to mount a vehicle bed extender on a vehicle without tools, comprising:

aligning a first mount fixed with respect to said extender with a first space defined by said first station and aligning a second mount fixed with respect to said extender through with a second space defined by said second station;

moving said bed extender such that said first mount moves radially through said first space with respect to an axis defined by said first station and said second station, and said second mount moves radially with respect to said axis through said second space;

pivoting said extender about said axis so that said first mount cooperates with said first station and said second mount cooperates with said second station to prevent radial movement of said first mount with respect to said axis and said second mount with respect to said axis.

5. A method for a single individual to mount a vehicle bed extender on a vehicle without tools, comprising:

grasping said bed extender in a first location with one hand;

grasping said bed extender in a second location spaced from said first location with another hand.

while continuing to grasp said extender with said first hand and said second hand, aligning a first mount with a first space defined by said first station and aligning a second mount with a second space defined by said second station; and

while continuing to grasp said extender with said first hand and said second hand, moving said bed extender such that said first mount moves through said first space defined by said first station and said second mount moves through said second space defined by said second station, thereby securing said extender to said vehicle.

6. A method of mounting a vehicle bed extender assembly on a vehicle having a tailgate safety cable, comprising:

positioning a bracket against an inner surface of a side panel, an end surface of a side panel and a flange surface of a side panel parallel to said inner surface; and

clamping said bracket against said inner surface of said side panel, said end surface of said panel and said flange surface of said panel solely with a fastener securing one end of the safety cable to the vehicle.

7. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed and a tailgate, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel defining a first station surface, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel defining a second station surface, said extender comprising:

a first side wall;

a second side wall;

a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said connecting wall cooperating to form a generally U-shaped frame;

a first mount secured to said first side wall defining a first mount surface; and

a second mount secured to said second side wall defining a second mount surface, said first station surface and said first mount surface, and said second station surface and said first mount surface cooperating to secure said extender to said vehicle so that said connecting wall is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed, wherein said tailgate defines a latch to secure said tailgate to at least one of said first upstanding side and said second upstanding side, said vehicle bed extender further comprising at least interlock member secured to one of said walls, sized and shaped to be releasably captured by said latch of said tailgate.

8. The vehicle bed extender of claim 7, wherein said interlock member comprises a buckle.

9. The vehicle bed extender of claim 8, wherein said interlock member includes a rigid arm secured to a strut cylindrical portion.

10. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed and a tailgate, a first forward mounting station fixed with respect to said first panel, a second forward mounting station fixed with respect to said second panel, a first rearward mounting station fixed with respect to said first panel, a second rearward mounting station fixed with respect to said second panel, said extender comprising:

a first side wall;

a second side wall;

a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said connecting wall cooperating to form a generally U-shaped frame;

a first mount secured to said first side wall comprising a first interlocking member; and

a second mount secured to said second side wall comprising a second interlocking member, wherein said extender is mountable in a first position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position spaced above said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed, and a second position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position forward of said rear end of said bed and spaced above said rear end of said bed.

11. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed having an inner side having a lower end and an upper end, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed having an inner side and a tailgate, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel defining a first station surface, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel defining a second station surface, said extender comprising:

a first side wall;

a second side wall;

a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said connecting wall cooperating to form a generally U-shaped frame having a first open side and a second open side;

a first mount on said first side wall comprising a first interlocking member defining a first mount surface; and

a second mount on said second side wall comprising a second interlocking member defining a second mount surface, said first station surface and said first mount surface, and said second station surface and said first mount surface cooperating to secure said extender to said vehicle so that said extender is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed with said first open side facing away from said tailgate and said second open side facing toward said tailgate, and at least a portion of said side wall extends at least the majority of the distance between said upper end and said lower end of said first panel, and wherein one of said first station surface and said first mount surface defines a first opening through which the other of said first station surface and said first mount surface can be withdrawn from said inner side of said first panel to disengage said extender from said first panel and one of said second station surface and said second mount surface defines a second opening through which the other of said second station surface and said second mount surface can be withdrawn from said inner side of said second panel to disengage said extender from said second panel, wherein said first mount forms a single piece with said portion of said side wall.