VEHICLE CARGO BED EXTENDER

• US 20080012373A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 89908 Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/26.01
• 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: B60P 7/0823 Straps; Tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/14 the load bracing means comprising a movable bulkhead
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. The extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount, a second mount, a first mounting station, and a second mounting station. The connecting wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall cooperate to form a generally U-shaped frame. The first mounting station and the second mounting station each comprise a stationary portion and a moveable portion configured such that the moveable portion, in a first position, cooperates with the stationary portion to engage the first mount or the second mount and to prevent disengagement. The moveable portion of the first mounting station and the second mounting station can be moved by a manual application of pressure to a second position which allows such disengagement.

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, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed, and a tailgate, 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;

a first mounting station configured to be engaged by a mount to secure said bed extender to said vehicle and comprising a stationary portion and a moveable portion, wherein said moveable portion comprises a stop configured to prevent said mount from disengaging from said first mounting station when said moveable portion is in a first position; and

a second mounting station configured to be engaged by a mount to secure said bed extender to said vehicle and comprising a stationary portion and a moveable portion, wherein said moveable portion comprises a stop configured to prevent said mount from disengaging from said second mounting station when said moveable portion is in a first position;

wherein, when said bed extender is secured to said vehicle and said moveable portion of said first mounting station is in its first position and said moveable portion of said second mounting station is in its first position, said bed extender is positionable in either a first upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed with said connecting wall in a substantially vertical alignment or a second upright position over said rear end of said bed forward of said tailgate with said connecting wall in a substantially vertical alignment, and said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall.

2. The vehicle bed extender of claim 1, wherein said moveable portion of said first mounting station is biased toward its first position such that said moveable portion assumes said first position in the absence of external pressure.

3. The vehicle bed extender of claim 2, wherein said moveable portion is moveable from said first position by a first application of manual pressure to a second position in which said stop is positioned to allow said mount to disengage from said first mounting station, said moveable portion returning to said first position upon release of said first application of manual pressure.

4. The vehicle bed extender of claim 2, wherein the biasing of said moveable portion is caused by a spring.

5. The vehicle bed extender of claim 3, wherein said moveable portion is configured to resist movement toward said second position when said bed extender moves so as to bring at least a portion of said bed extender into contact with said stop, thereby resisting disengagement of said mount from said mounting station.

6. The vehicle bed extender of claim 3, wherein movement of said moveable portion to its second position facilitates detachment of said vehicle bed extender from said vehicle without substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall.

7. The vehicle bed extender of claim 6, wherein said vehicle bed extender is configured such that detaching said vehicle bed extender from said vehicle without substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall allows detachment of said vehicle bed extender when cargo is located so as to prevent substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall.

8. 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, said bed extender mountable in a first position in which said bed extender includes:

a first side wall and a second side wall positioned between said first side panel and said second side panel such that at least one mounting station fixed with respect to one of said first upstanding side panel or said second upstanding side panel engages at least one mount of said extender, wherein said mounting station comprises a stationary portion and a moveable portion and said moveable portion comprises a stop configured to prevent said mount from disengaging from said mounting station when said moveable portion is in a first position, said connecting wall in a substantially vertical position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed and said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall; and

with said moveable portion remaining in its first position, said bed extender is moveable from said first position to a second position with said bed extender positioned between said first side panel and said second side panel such that said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said bed forward of said rear end with said first side wall and said second side wall extending forward toward the connecting wall and, with said tailgate closed, said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall.

9. The vehicle bed extender of claim 8, wherein said moveable portion of said mounting station is biased toward said first position such that said moveable portion assumes said first position in the absence of external pressure.

10. The vehicle bed extender of claim 9, wherein said moveable portion is moveable from said first position by a first application of manual pressure to a second position in which said stop is positioned to allow said mount to disengage from said mounting station, said moveable portion returning to said first position upon release of said first application of manual pressure.

11. The vehicle bed extender of claim 9, wherein the biasing of said moveable portion is caused by a spring.

12. The vehicle bed extender of claim 10, wherein said moveable portion is configured to resist movement toward said second position when said bed extender moves so as to bring at least a portion of said bed extender into contact with said stop, thereby resisting disengagement of said mount from said mounting station.

13. The vehicle bed extender of claim 10, wherein movement of said moveable portion to its second position facilitates detachment of said vehicle bed extender from said vehicle without substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall.

14. The vehicle bed extender of claim 13, wherein said vehicle bed extender is configured such that detaching said vehicle bed extender from said vehicle without substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall allows detachment of said vehicle bed extender when cargo is located so as to prevent substantially changing said substantial vertical alignment of said connecting wall.

15. An attachment mechanism of attaching a vehicle bed extender to a vehicle, the attachment mechanism comprising:

a mount configured to be secured with respect to a vehicle bed extender; and

a mounting station configured to be secured with respect to a vehicle and to be engaged by said mount to attach said vehicle bed extender to said vehicle, said mounting station comprising a moveable stop configured, in a first position, to prevent said mount from disengaging from said mounting station, and in a second position, to allow disengagement of said mount from said mounting station, said moveable stop being biased toward said first position and aligned such that when said mount comes into contact with said moveable stop, said moveable stop experiences a force tending to maintain said moveable stop in said first position to resist detachment of said vehicle bed extender from said vehicle.

16. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein said moveable stop further comprises a handle and said moveable stop is configured to assume said second position upon a manual application of pressure to said handle.

17. The attachment mechanism of claim 16, wherein said handle is positioned such that movement of said mount does not cause said mount to apply pressure to said handle.

18. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein said mount and said mounting station are configured such that when said moveable stop is in said first position, said vehicle bed extender is moveable between a rearward position substantially over a tailgate of said vehicle and a forward position substantially over a bed of said vehicle forward of said tailgate.

19. The attachment mechanism of claim 18, wherein movement of said moveable stop to said second position allows detachment of said vehicle bed extender when in said rearward position by a substantially vertical movement of said vehicle bed extender without substantial movement of said vehicle bed extender toward said forward position.

20. The attachment mechanism of claim 19, wherein said detachment by said substantially vertical movement allows detachment of said vehicle bed extender when cargo is located so as to prevent substantial movement of said vehicle bed extender toward said forward position.