Tailgate nested tailgate bed extender

• US 6,550,841 B1
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3916341 Canada, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Canada, Inc. (ALFA Laval AB)
• Inventors: Burdon, Peter M., Lytle, Ruth, Oliver, Peter, Lytle, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/035,687
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 296/57.1, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 296/26.1, 296/26.11
• US Class Current: 296/57.1
• 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

Abstract

A tailgate bed extender for a vehicle truck bed. The tailgate bed extender has a tray mounted on a vehicle tailgate and a rear frame pivotally coupled to the tray. Sidearms are pivotally coupled to opposing side edges of the rear frame and are attachable to the vehicle truck bed. A hinge assembly that has a rotation axis, which is movable relative to the tray, joins the rear frame to the tray. The tailgate bed extender is rotatable from a stored position in which the rear frame abuts the tray to a loading position in which the rear frame is at an angle of approximately 270 degrees to the tray.

Claims

1. A tailgate bed extender for a vehicle truck bed, said tailgate bed extender comprising:

a tray coupled to an inner wall of a tailgate of said vehicle truck bed, said tray being inset from a free edge of said tailgate;

a rear frame pivotally coupled to said tray;

sidearms pivotally coupled to opposing side edges of said rear frame, said sidearms being attachable to said vehicle truck bed; and

a hinge assembly joining said rear frame to said tray, said hinge assembly having a rotation axis, said rotation axis being movable relative to said tray;

wherein said rear frame is rotatable from a stored position in which said rear frame abuts said tray to a loading position in which said rear frame is at an angle of at least 180 degrees relative to said tray.

2. The tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 1, further comprising side panels coupled to said sidearms, wherein said side panels contain items located in said truck bed.

3. A tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hinge assembly further comprises a hinge pin having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being slidable in a bore of a housing, said housing being located on said tailgate, said second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and being coupled to said rear frame, said rear frame being rotatable about said second portion, and wherein said second portion is aligned with said rotation axis.

4. A tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first portion is movable, in a direction aligned with the axis of said first portion partially out of said bore of said housing from a first position to a second position, said first portion being biased toward said first position.

5. A tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first portion is biased toward said first position by a spring located inside said housing and coupled to said first portion, said spring being compressed when said first portion is moved from said first position to said second position.

6. A tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second portion extends at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to said first portion.

7. A tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rear panel coupled to an outer side of said rear frame, wherein said rear panel is outwardly directed from the vehicle.

16. The tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said loading position, said rear frame is at an angle of 270 degrees relative to said tray.

8. A hinge assembly for a tailgate bed extender mounted to a vehicle tailgate, said hinge assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to a tray of said tailgate bed extender, said housing having a bore;

a hinge pin having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being at least partially inserted into said bore, said second portion being at an angle to said first portion and adapted to be pivotally coupled to a frame of said tailgate bed extender;

a rotation axis aligned with said second portion of said hinge pin; and

a biasing mechanism for maintaining said hinge pin at least partially inserted in said bore;

wherein said hinge pin is at least partially removable from said housing so that said rotation axis is movable relative to the tailgate.

9. A hinge assembly for a tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second portion is at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to said first portion.

10. A hinge assembly for a tailgate bed extender as claimed in claim 9, wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a spring coupled to said first portion of said hinge pin, said spring being movable to a compressed position when said hinge pin is partially removed from said housing.

11. A tailgate bed extender for a vehicle truck bed, said tailgate bed extender mounted to a vehicle tailgate having an inner wall, said tailgate bed extender comprising:

a rear frame pivotally coupled to said inner wall of said tailgate;

sidearms pivotally coupled to opposing side edges of said rear frame, said sidearms being attachable to said vehicle truck bed; and

a hinge assembly having a hinge pin joining said rear frame to a housing coupled to said inner wall of said tailgate, said hinge pin being slidable within a bore of said housing to move a rotation axis of said rear frame relative to said inner wall of said tailgate, said hinge pin being biased toward a retracted position;

wherein said rear frame is rotatable from a stored position in which said rear frame abuts said inner wall to a loading position in which said rear frame is at an angle of at least 180 degrees relative to said inner wall.

12. The tailgate bed extender of claim 11, wherein said inner wall of said tailgate is recessed to receive said rear frame when in said stored position whereby said rear frame is nested in said recessed tailgate inner wall.

13. A hinge assembly for a tailgate bed extender, said hinge assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be coupled to a tailgate, said housing having a bore;

a hinge pin having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being at least partially inserted into said bore, said second portion being at an angle to said first portion and being pivotally coupled to a frame of said tailgate bed extender;

a rotation axis aligned with said second portion of said hinge pin; and

a biasing mechanism for maintaining said hinge pin at least partially inserted in said bore;

wherein said hinge pin is at least partially removable from said housing so that said rotation axis is movable relative to said tailgate.

14. A tailgate bed extender for a vehicle truck bed, said tailgate bed extender comprising:

a rear frame pivotally coupled to an inner wall of said tailgate;

sidearms pivotally coupled to opposing side edges of said rear frame, said sidearms being attachable to said vehicle truck bed; and

a hinge assembly joining said rear frame to said inner wall of said tailgate, a hinge pin of said hinge assembly having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being slidable in a bore of a housing, said housing being coupled to said tailgate, said second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and being coupled to said rear frame, said rear frame being rotatable about said second portion, and wherein said second portion is aligned with a rotation axis, said rotation axis being movable relative to said inner wall of said tailgate;

wherein said rear frame is rotatable from a stored position in which said rear frame abuts said inner wall to a loading position in which said rear frame is at an angle of at least 180 degrees relative to said inner wall.

15. A tailgate bed extender for a vehicle tail bed, said tailgate bed extender comprising:

a rear frame pivotally coupled to an inner wall of said tailgate;

sidearms pivotally coupled to opposing side edges of said rear frame, said sidearms being attachable to said vehicle tail bed; and

a hinge assembly joining said rear frame to said inner wall of said tailgate, said hinge assembly having a rotation axis, said rotation axis being movable relative to said inner wall of said tailgate;

wherein said rear frame is rotatable from a stored position in which said rear frame abuts said inner wall to a loading position in which said rear frame is at an angle of at least 180 degrees relative to said inner wall, said inner wall of said tailgate being recessed to receive said rear frame when in said stored position whereby said rear frame is nested in said recessed tailgate inner wall.