Pickup truck bed extender apparatus

• US 6,598,922 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles H. Morse, Donald N. Halgren
• Original Assignee: Charles H. Morse, Donald N. Halgren
• Inventors: Halgren, Donald N., Morse, Charles H
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/156,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20020167186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.02, 296/26.06, 296/26.11, 296/26.09, 296/56, 296/57.1, 296/37.6, 296/51, 296/26.08, 296/26.04, 296/26.1, 296/3, 224/405
• US Class Current: 296/26.02
• 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 9/00 Supplementary fittings on vehicle exterior for carrying loads, e.g. luggage, sports gear or the like

Abstract

A rack apparatus for improving the cargo carrying capacity of a pickup truck. The truck has a cab portion, a bed portion defined by a floor surface, a pair of sidewalls and a forward wall. The rack apparatus comprises a U-shaped frame having a pair of parallel side arms with a first and a second end, a cross bar attached to the first end of the arms, the U-shaped frame movable to and from a stowed-away position at a front end of the bed to a rearward position; the arms attached to the side walls of the pickup truck.

Claims

1. A rack apparatus for improving the cargo carrying capacity of a pickup truck, said truck having a cab portion, a bed portion defined by a floor surface, a pair of sidewalls, a forward wall, said apparatus comprising:

a U-shaped frame having a pair of parallel side arms with a first and a second end,

a cross bar attached to said first end of said arms, said U-shaped frame movable to and from a stowed-away position at a front end of said bed to a rearward position;

said arms attached to said side walls of said pickup truck, and said arms are slidable on said side walls.

2. The rack apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said side arms are telescopable to permit said side arms to be lengthwise adjustable.

3. The rack apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cross bar comprises a panel arranged perpendicular to said side arms.

4. The rack apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said side walls of said truck have anchor points thereon to permit adjustment of position of said U-shaped frame with respect to said bed.

5. The rack apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cross bar is secured to said arms by a pair of exchangable connectors.

6. A method of improving the cargo carrying capacity of a pickup truck, comprising:

arranging a generally U-shaped rack assembly having a pair of parallel side arms, on a forward end of a bed of said truck, said rack being secured to said truck by said side arms;

moving said rack assembly from said forward end of said bed to a location rearward of said forward end of said bed; and

telescoping said side arms to effect a change in length thereof.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, including:

locating said rack to a position over a tailgate of said truck.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, including:

arranging a plurality of anchors on said side walls of said truck to permit said side arms of said rack to be moved from one anchor position to a second anchor position.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, including:

pivoting said rack on a pair of hinge points from a forward position to a rearward position.