Tailgate extender

• US 6,626,478 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Minton, David J.
• Inventors: Minton, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/289,006
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.11, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 296/26.1, 296/37.6, 296/57.1, 224/402, 224/403, 224/404, 224/405, 160/114, 160/117, 160/119
• 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: 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 tailgate extender allows a pickup truck bed to be compartmentalized whenever the tailgate of the pickup truck is in the lowered position. A first extension member has a pair of hingedly attached panel members such that one of the panels is hingedly attached to a side of the bed. A second extension member has another pair of hingedly attached panel members hingedly attached to the opposing side of the pickup truck bed. In the extended position, the two extension members unfold and abut one another over the tailgate and are secured to each other in order to form a walled pickup truck bed. The two extension members may also be opened in an inverted position.

Claims

1. A tailgate extender, in combination with a pickup truck, the pickup truck having a bed with a first side and a second side and a tailgate that flips between a raised position and a lowered position, the tailgate extender comprising:

a first extension member having a first panel that is hingedly attached to the first side and a second panel that is hingedly attached to the first panel;

a second extension member having a third panel hingedly attached to the second side and a fourth panel that is hingedly attached to the third panel;

wherein the first extension member is positionable between a first retracted position such that the first panel is generally flush against the first side and the second panel is generally flush against the first panel and a first extended position when the tailgate is in the lowered position such that the first panel extends outwardly from the bed and is positionable over the tailgate and the second panel extends generally toward the second side, and the second extension member is positionable between a second retracted position such that the third panel is generally flush against the second side and the fourth panel is generally flush against the third panel and a second extended position when the tailgate is in the lowered position such that the third panel extends outwardly from the bed and is positionable over the tailgate and the fourth panel extends generally toward the first side such that the second panel and the fourth panel are connected to each other.

2. The tailgate extender as in claim 1 wherein the second panel and the fourth panel are connected to each other by providing a sliding bar on the second panel that is receivable on a catch member located on the fourth panel.

3. The tailgate extender as in claim 1 further comprising:

a first pin attached to the second panel that is receivable within a first opening located on the tailgate; and

a second pin attached to the fourth panel that is receivable within a second opening located on the tailgate.

4. The tailgate extender as in claim 3 wherein the first pin is spring-loaded and the second pin is spring-loaded.

5. The tailgate extender as in claim 1 further comprising:

first means for holding the first extension member in the first retracted position; and

second means for holding the second extension member in the second retracted position.

6. The tailgate extender as in claim 1 further comprising an opening located on at least one of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, or the fourth panel.

7. A tailgate extender, in combination with a pickup truck, the pickup truck having a bed with a first side and a second side and a tailgate that flips between a raised position and a lowered position, the tailgate extender comprising:

a first extension member having a first panel with a first face and a second face, a first side edge that is hingedly attached to the first side and a second side edge, and a second panel with a third face and a fourth face, and that has a third side edge hingedly attached to the second side edge of the first panel and a fourth side edge;

a second extension member having a third panel with a fifth face and a sixth face, a fifth side edge hingedly attached to the second side and a sixth side edge and a fourth panel with a seventh face and an eight face, and that has a seventh side edge hingedly attached to the sixth side edge of the third panel and an eight side edge;

wherein the first extension member is positionable between a first retracted position such that the first panel is generally flush against the first side such that the first face faces the first side, and the second panel is generally flush against the first panel such that the second face faces the fourth face and a first extended position when the tailgate is in the lowered position such that the first panel extends outwardly from the bed and is positionable over the tailgate and the first face faces the second side and the second panel extends generally toward the second side, and the second extension member is positionable between a second retracted position such that the third panel is generally flush against the second side such that the fifth face faces the second side, and the fourth panel is generally flush against the third panel such that the sixth side faces the eight side and a second extended position when the tailgate is in the lowered position such that the third panel extends outwardly from the bed and is positionable over the tailgate and the fifth face faces the first side and the fourth panel extends generally toward the first side such that the fourth side edge and the eight side edge abut one another and the second panel and the fourth panel are connected to each other.

8. The tailgate extender as in claim 7 wherein the second panel and the fourth panel are connected to each other by providing a sliding bar on the second panel that is receivable on a catch member located on the fourth panel.

9. The tailgate extender as in claim 8 wherein the sliding bar is located on the fourth face and the catch member is located on the eight face.

10. The tailgate extender as in claim 7 further comprising:

a first pin attached to the second panel that is receivable within a first opening located on the tailgate; and

a second pin attached to the fourth panel that is receivable within a second opening located on the tailgate.

11. The tailgate extender as in claim 10 wherein the first pin is spring-loaded and the second pin is spring-loaded.

12. The tailgate extender as in claim 7 further comprising:

first means for holding the first extension member in the first retracted position; and

second means for holding the second extension member in the second retracted position.

13. The tailgate extender as in claim 7 further comprising an opening located on at least one of the first panel, the second panel, the third panel, or the fourth panel.