Extension apparatus for a vehicle cargo area
First Claim
1. For use with a vehicle having a cargo-bed area with opposing first and second side walls, and a tailgate movable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation, an extension apparatus, comprising:
- a rear panel pivotally couplable to said tailgate to pivot said rear panel between a side-board configuration and a cargo-bed extension configuration, said rear panel having opposing first and second ends;
a first side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said first end;
a second side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said second end;
a side panel receiver securable to a selected one of said first or second side walls of said cargo-bed area to receive a portion of said selected one of said first or second side panels therein, said side panel including a releasable lock mechanism associated with said side panel receiver to lock said extension apparatus in said side-board configuration, said extension apparatus configured to expand said cargo-bed area in a vertical direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said side-board configuration and to expand said cargo-bed area in a horizontal direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said cargo-bed extension configuration; and
a tailgate side panel receiver securable to said tailgate to receive a portion of a selected one of said first or second side panels therein when said extension apparatus is in said cargo-bed extension configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an extension apparatus for use with a vehicle having a cargo-bed area with opposing first and second side walls, and a tailgate movable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The extension apparatus comprises a rear panel, which has opposing first and second ends, pivotally couplable to the tailgate to pivot the rear panel between a side-board configuration and a cargo-bed extension configuration. A first side panel is pivotally coupled to the rear panel adjacent the first end, and a second side panel is pivotally coupled to the rear panel adjacent the second end. The extension apparatus further includes a side panel receiver securable to a selected one of the first or second side walls of the cargo-bed area to receive a portion of the selected one of the first or second side panels therein. The unique configuration of the extension apparatus allows the extension apparatus to expand the cargo-bed area in a vertical direction when the rear panel is pivoted to the side-board configuration, or alternatively, to expand the cargo-bed area in a horizontal direction when the rear panel is pivoted to the cargo-bed extension configuration.
93 Citations
18 Claims
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1. For use with a vehicle having a cargo-bed area with opposing first and second side walls, and a tailgate movable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation, an extension apparatus, comprising:
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a rear panel pivotally couplable to said tailgate to pivot said rear panel between a side-board configuration and a cargo-bed extension configuration, said rear panel having opposing first and second ends; a first side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said first end; a second side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said second end; a side panel receiver securable to a selected one of said first or second side walls of said cargo-bed area to receive a portion of said selected one of said first or second side panels therein, said side panel including a releasable lock mechanism associated with said side panel receiver to lock said extension apparatus in said side-board configuration, said extension apparatus configured to expand said cargo-bed area in a vertical direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said side-board configuration and to expand said cargo-bed area in a horizontal direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said cargo-bed extension configuration; and a tailgate side panel receiver securable to said tailgate to receive a portion of a selected one of said first or second side panels therein when said extension apparatus is in said cargo-bed extension configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle having a cargo-bed area with opposing first and second side walls, and a loading end, comprising:
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a tailgate pivotally secured to said vehicle at said loading end, said tailgate movable between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation and having first and second ends and a length therebetween that spans a width of said loading end; and an extension apparatus pivotally secured to said tailgate at an outer edge of said tailgate, including; a rear panel pivotally coupled to said tailgate to pivot said rear panel between a side-board configuration and a cargo-bed extension configuration, said rear panel having opposing first and second ends and a length therebetween that spans a substantial width of said tailgate; a first side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said first end; a second side panel pivotally coupled to said rear panel adjacent said second end; a side panel receiver secured to a selected one of said first or second side walls of said cargo-bed area to receive a portion of said selected one of said first or second side panels therein, said side panel receiver including a first panel receiver secured to said first side wall and said extension apparatus further comprising a second side panel receiver secured to said second side wall of said cargo-bed area opposite said first side panel receiver, said second side panel receiver configured to receive a portion of said second side panel when said rear panel is pivoted to said side-board configuration, said extension apparatus configured to expand said cargo-bed area in a vertical direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said side-board configuration and to expand said cargo-bed area in a horizontal direction when said rear panel is pivoted to said cargo-bed extension configuration; and a tailgate side panel receiver secured to said tailgate to receive a portion of a selected one of said first or second side panels therein when said extension apparatus is in said cargo-bed extension configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification