Cover assembly for truck bed extender

• US 6,948,763 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timothy Robbins
• Original Assignee: Timothy Robbins
• Inventors: Robbins, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US10/776,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.08, 296/57.1, 296/50, 296/1.01, 296/1.07, 296/136.01, 296/136.04, 296/136.1, 296/136.07, 296/136.12
• US Class Current: 296/136.07
• 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 cover for a C-shaped truck bed extender has an end panel and a pair of opposed side panels joined to first and second panels to form an enclosure for the extender. The enclosure has an opening, and a closure panel is used to open and close the opening to provide a cover encasing the extender. Pocket structures may be provided to receive ends of the extender'"'"'s leg sections. The cover may include openings in the side panels to allow passage of trunnions on mounting brackets of the extender.

Claims

1. A cover adapted to mount over a frame extender on a vehicle wherein said frame extender includes a generally C-shaped framework having a pair of leg sections and a central section joining said leg sections at one end thereof, said cover comprising:

(A) first and second panels each having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of side edges;

(B) a pair of side panels each having opposite first and second side edges, a front side edge and a rear side edge, each of said side panels being joined to said first and second panels along the respective side edges thereof;

(C) an end panel having opposite first and second edges and opposite end edges, said end edges being joined to the respective rear side edges of said side panels and said first and second edges being joined, respectively, to the rear edges of said first and second panels thereby to form an enclosure with an opening and an interior sized and adapted to receive said C-shaped framework therein in close-fitted engagement such that said end panel is positioned in confronting relation to said central section and such that said side panels are each positioned in confronting relation to a respective said leg section and such that said first and second panels span a region between the pair of leg sections of said C-shaped framework; and

(D) a closure panel adapted selectively to open the opening of said enclosure to define an open state and to close the opening of said enclosure to define a closed state, said closure panel when closing the opening spanning a region between another end of each of the leg sections of said C-shaped framework opposite said one end thereof.

2. A cover according to claim 1 including a releasable fastener associated with said closure panel and operative to retain said closure panel in the closed state.

3. A cover according to claim 1 wherein said closure panel has a first edge that is secured to said first panel along the front edge thereof and including one-half of a cooperative fastener on a second edge thereof opposite said first edge, said second panel including another half of said cooperative fastener along the front edge thereof.

4. A cover according to claim 3 wherein said cooperative fastener is a zipper.

5. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the frame extender includes a mounting brackets that are pivotally secured to the vehicle by means of opposed trunnions, said cover including an opening in each of said side panels proximate to the front side edge thereof sized and adapted to matably receive said trunnions.

6. A cover according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second panels, each of said side panels, said end panel and said closure panel is formed of a flexible material.

7. A cover according to claim 6 wherein said flexible material is selected from a group consisting of canvas, plastic, and synthetic fabrics.

8. A combination frame extender and cover therefor adapted to be positioned in a vehicle bed having bed sidewalls, comprising:

(A) a pair of mounts adapted to be secured in opposed relation to one another to the sidewalls of said vehicle bed to define a mounted state;

(B) a rigid C-shaped framework adapted to pivotally secure to said mounts in a secured state and including

(1) a pair of framework leg sections having first and second ends,

(2) a framework central section interconnecting the second ends of said framework leg sections,

(3) a transverse mounting bracket secured to each of the first ends of each said framework leg section, and

(4) a trunnion pin extending outwardly of each mounting bracket in opposite directions from one another and positioned to engage said mounts when in the secured state; and

(C) a cover adapted to enclose said framework, including

(1) first and second panels space-apart from one another in substantially parallel planes and each having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of side edges,

(2) a pair of side panels extending alongside a respective said leg section of said framework and each having opposite first and second side edges, a front side edge and a rear side edge, each of said side panels being joined to said first and second panels along the respective side edges thereof, each said side panel having an opening proximate to the front side edge thereof sized and adapted to matably receive said trunnions therethough,

(3) an end panel extending alongside said central section of said framework having opposite first and second edges and opposite end edges, said end edges being joined to the respective rear side edges of said side panels and said first and second edges being joined, respectively, to the rear edges of said first and second panels to define first and second rear seams and thereby to form an enclosure with an opening and an interior sized and adapted to receive said C-shaped framework therein,

(4) a closure panel adapted selectively to open the opening of said enclosure to define an open state and to close the opening of said enclosure to define a closed state, and

(5) a releasable fastener associated with said closure panel and operative to retain said closure panel in the closed state.

9. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 8 wherein said framework includes at least one leg extending transversely of said central section and having opposite leg ends, said cover including a pair of opposed pocket structures adapted to receive the opposite leg ends of each said leg.

10. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 9 including a plurality of legs extending transversely of said central section.

11. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 8 wherein said closure panel has a first edge that is secured to said first panel along the front edge thereof and including one-half of a cooperative fastener on a second edge thereof opposite said first edge, said second panel including another half of said cooperative fastener along the front edge thereof.

12. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 11 wherein said closure panel is an integral extension of one of said first and second panels.

13. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 8 wherein each of said side panels includes a flap extending forwardly of said front side edge thereof and including mating fasteners operative to secure each said flap around a respective said transverse bracket.

14. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 13 wherein one member of each mating fastener is secured to said flap and another member of each mating fastener is secured to the respective bracket.

15. A combination frame extender and cover according to claim 8 including at least one leg extending transversely of said central section and wherein said framework is formed by a plurality of C-shaped members oriented in parallel spaced-apart relation and secured to one another by said leg and said mounting brackets.

16. A cover adapted to mount over a frame extender on a vehicle wherein said frame extender includes a generally C-shaped framework having a pair of leg sections and a central section joining said leg sections at one end thereof, said cover comprising:

(A) first and second panels each having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of side edges;

(B) a pair of side panels each having opposite first and second side edges, a front side edge and a rear side edge, each of said side panels being joined to said first and second panels along the respective side edges thereof;

(C) an end panel having opposite first and second edges and opposite end edges, said end edges being joined to the respective rear side edges of said side panels and said first and second edges being joined, respectively, to the rear edges of said first and second panels respectively along first and second rear seams thereby to form an enclosure with an opening and an interior sized and adapted to receive said C-shaped framework therein such that said end panel is positioned in confronting relation to said central section and such that said side panels are each positioned in confronting relation to a respective said leg section, and including at least one pocket structure located along at least one of said first and second rear seams; and

(D) a closure panel adapted selectively to open the opening of said enclosure to define an open state and to close the opening of said enclosure to define a closed state.

18. A cover according to claim 16 wherein said at least one pocket structure is located along said first rear seam.

19. A cover according to claim 16 wherein said at least one pocket structure is located along said second rear seam.

20. A cover according to claim 16 including at least one pocket structure located along each of said first and second rear seams.

21. A cover according to claim 20 including a plurality of pocket structures located along each of said first and second rear seams.

17. A cover adapted to mount over a frame extender on a vehicle wherein said frame extender includes a generally C-shaped framework having a pair of leg sections and a central section joining said leg sections at one end thereof, said cover comprising:

(A) first and second panels each having a front edge, a rear edge and a pair of side edges;

(B) a pair of side panels each having opposite first and second side edges, a front side edge and a rear side edge, each of said side panels being joined to said first and second panels along the respective side edges thereof, each of said side panels including a flap extending forwardly of said front side edge thereof and including cooperative fasteners operative to secure each said flap around a portion of said framework;

(C) an end panel having opposite first and second edges and opposite end edges, said end edges being joined to the respective rear side edges of said side panels and said first and second edges being joined, respectively, to the rear edges of said first and second panels thereby to form an enclosure with an opening and an interior sized and adapted to receive said C-shaped framework therein such that said end panel is positioned in confronting relation to said central section and such that said side panels are each posited in confronting relation to a respective said leg section; and

(D) a closure panel adapted selectively to open the opening of said enclosure to define an open state and to close the opening of said enclosure to define a closed state.