Vehicle cargo bed extender

• US 6,805,392 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: American Moto Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Leitner, Horst, Weisel, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US10/171,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.08, 296/26.11, 296/37.6, 296/50, 296/57.1, 296/56, 296/32, 224/402-404, 224/496-497, 224/493, 224/314, 224/572, 224/505-506, 224/26.09, 224/26.1
• US Class Current: 296/26.08
• 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: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/037 Latching means therefor

Abstract

An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount and a second mount. The connecting wall extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and cooperates with the first side wall and second side wall to form a generally U-shape frame. The first mount is secured to the first side wall and includes a first interlocking member. The second mount is secured to the second side wall and comprises a second interlocking member. The first interlocking member and the first mounting station on the vehicle and the second interlocking member and the second mounting station on the vehicle cooperate to secure the truck bed extender to the vehicle so that the extender is rotatable about an axis between a first and a second position. In the first position, the connecting wall is in an upright position over the tailgate beyond the rear end of the bed. In the second position, the connecting wall is in an upright position spaced forward from the rear end of the bed and the tailgate.

Claims

1. A method for an individual to mount a vehicle bed extender on 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, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel, the method comprising:

providing a generally U-shaped vehicle bed extender, said vehicle bed extender having a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, a first mount secured to said first side defining a first mount surface, and a second mount secured to said second side wall defining a second mount surface, wherein said vehicle bed extender is configured to be mounted in a first position in which said connecting wall is 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 configured to be mounted in a second position in which 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 said extender provides access from above to said space between said first side wall and said second side wall;

selecting a selected mount position in which to mount said vehicle bed extender, wherein said selected mount position is one of said first position said second position;

aligning said first mount surface with a first station surface define by said first mounting station and aligning said second mount surface with a second station surface defined by said second mounting station;

securing said first mount surface relative to said first mounting station and securing said second mount surface relative to said second mounting station, such at said vehicle bed extender is secured against release.

2. A vehicle bed extender for use on 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, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel, the vehicle bed extender comprising:

a first side wall;

a second side wall;

a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and and second side wall;

a first mount secured to said first side wall;

a second mount secured to said second side wall, wherein said vehicle bed extender is generally U-shaped and is configured to be mounted in a first position in which said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said tailgate 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 well and configured to be mounted in a second position in which 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 said extender provides access from above to said space between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said vehicle extender is configured to be mountable by an individual performing the following actions;

selecting a selected mount position in which to mount said vehicle bed extender, wherein said selected mount position is one of said position and said second position;

aligning said first mount with said first mounting station and aligning said second mount with said second mounting station;

inserting one of said first mount and said first station into the other of said first mount and said first station; and

inserting one of said second mount and said second station into the other of said second mount and said second station, so that said vehicle bed extender is aligned in said selected mount position.

3. A vehicle bed extender for use on 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, a first mounting station fixed with respect to said first upstanding panel, a second mounting station fixed with respect to said second upstanding panel, the vehicle bed 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 mount secured to said first side wall defining a first mount surface;

a second mount secured to said second side wall defining a second mount surface, wherein said vehicle bed extender is generally U-shaped and is configured to be mounted in a first position in which said connecting wall is 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 configured to be mounted in a second position in which said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said bed forward of said rear end with said first aide wall and said second side wall extending forward toward the connecting wall and said extender provides access from above to said space between said first side wall and said second side wall, and wherein said vehicle bed extender is configured to be mountable by an individual performing the following actions;

selecting a selected mount position in which to mount said vehicle bed extender, wherein said selected mount position is one of said first position and said second position;

aligning said first mount surface with a first station surface defined by said first mounting station and aligning said second mount surface with second station surface defined by said second mounting station;

securing said first mount surface relative to said first mounting station and securing said second mount surface relative to said second mounting station, such that said vehicle bed extender is secured against release.