Truck bed extender and cargo gate

• US 7,175,218 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory M. Keene
• Original Assignee: Gregory M. Keene
• Inventors: Keene, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/917,948
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.01, 296/57.1, 296/26.08, 296/26.11, 410/129, 410/151, 224/402, 224/403, 492/46
• 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

Abstract

A truck bed partitioning and extension device for use on a bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. The truck bed partitioning and extension device includes a transverse panel having a pair of ends and a pair of side panels. At least one of the side panels is attached to the ends of the transverse panel through a double hinge. The double hinge allows folding along a pair of generally parallel axes that allow the pivoting of the side panel along a first axis that allows the side panel to pivot to a position next to the transverse panel and pivoting of the side panel about a second axis that positions the side panel at a distance from the transverse panel.

Claims

1. A truck bed partitioning and extension device for use on a bed of a pickup truck, the bed of the pickup truck having a floor, a pair of sidewalls extending upwards from the floor, and an opening adapted for accepting a tailgate between the sidewalls, and locking hardware adapted for locking the tailgate aagainst the sidewalls, the truck bed partitioning and extension device comprising:

a transverse panel having a pair of ends;

a pair of side panels, at least one of the side panels being attached to the ends of the transverse panel through a double hinge, the double hinge allowing folding along a first axis and a second axis, the first axis and second axis being generally parallel to one another and allow the pivoting of the respective side panel along the first axis, so that the side panel to pivots to a position next to the transverse panel, and pivoting of the respective side panel about the second axis positions the side panel at a distance from the transverse panel; and

an extendable clamping foot, the clamping foot extending from the transverse panel towards the sidewalls of the bed of the truck, so that the transverse panel is clamped against the bed of the truck by the extension of the clamping foot, compressing the transverse panel between the sidewalls of the bed of the truck.

2. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 1 wherein both side panels are attached to the transverse panel through a double hinge.

3. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 1 and further comprising a tailgate clamp, the tailgate clamp being attached to the transverse panel and being adapted for retaining the transverse panel against a tailgate in the opening between the sidewalls.

4. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one side panel bed attachment bracket, the side panel bed attachment bracket being adapted for allowing the attachment of one of the side panels against a locking hardware of the bed of the truck.

5. A truck bed partitioning and extension device for use on a bed of a pickup truck, the bed of the pickup truck having a floor, a pair of sidewalls extending upwards from the floor, a tailgate mounted between the sidewalls, and locking hardware mounted from the sidewalls for locking the tailgate against the sidewalls, the truck bed partitioning and extension device comprising:

an extendable transverse panel having a pair of ends;

a pair of side panels, each of the side panels being attached to the ends of the transverse panel through a double hinge, the double hinge allowing folding along a first axis and a second axis, the first axis and second axis being generally parallel to one another and allow the pivoting of the respective side panel along the first axis to allow the side panel to pivot to a position next to the transverse panel, and pivoting of the respective side panel about the second axis that positions the side panel at a distance from the transverse panel, so that the side panels may be folded over the extendable transverse panel in a generally parallel manner relative to the extendable transverse panel by allowing one of the side panels to lie at the distance to the transverse panel and the other side panel next to the transverse panel and between the transverse panel and the panel that is at a distance to the transverse panel; and

an extendable clamping foot, the clamping foot extending from the transverse panel towards the sidewalls of the bed of the truck, so that the transverse panel is clamped against the bed of the truck by the extension of the clamping foot, compressing the transverse panel between the sidewalls of the bed of the truck.

6. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 5 wherein the extendable transverse panel is extendable trough telescoping sections positioned between the ends of the transverse panel.

7. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 5 and further comprising a tailgate clamp, the tailgate clamp being attached to the extendable transverse panel and being adapted for retaining the transverse panel against a tailgate in an opening between the sidewalls.

8. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 7 and said extendable transverse panel further comprising a lower edge, and said tailgate clamp is a concave section that is moveable from a first position wherein the lower edge of the extendable transverse panel is free from the tailgate to a second position where the tailgate in the opening between the sidewalls is clamped between the concave section and the lower edge of the extendable transverse panel.

9. A truck bed partitioning and extension device according to claim 5 and further comprising at least one side panel bed attachment bracket, the side panel bed attachment bracket allowing the attachment of one of the side panels against the locking hardware of the bed of the truck.

10. A method for providing a universal truck bed partitioning and extension device for use on a bed of a pickup truck, the bed of the pickup truck having a floor, a pair of sidewalls extending upwards from the floor, and a tailgate mounted between the sidewalls, the tailgate being adapted for being supported from the sidewalls by locking hardware mounted from the sidewalls, the method comprising:

providing an extendable transverse panel having a pair of ends; and

providing a pair of side panels;

attaching each of the side panels to the ends of the transverse panel through a double hinge, the double hinge allowing folding along a first axis and a second axis, the first axis and second axis being generally parallel to one another and allow the pivoting of the respective side panel along the first axis to allow the side panel to pivot to a position next to the transverse panel, and pivoting of the respective side panel about the second axis positions the side panel at a distance from the transverse panel, so that the side panels may be folded over the extendable transverse panel in a generally parallel manner relative to the extendable transverse panel by allowing one of the side panels to lie at a distance to the transverse panel and the other side panel next to the transverse panel and between the transverse panel and the panel that is at a distance to the transverse panel; and

an extendable clamping foot, the clamping foot extending from the transverse panel towards the sidewalls of the bed of the truck, so that the transverse panel is clamped against the bed of the truck by the extension of the clamping foot, compressing the transverse panel between the sidewalls of the bed of the truck.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the extendable transverse panel is extendable trough telescoping sections positioned between the ends of the transverse panel.

12. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising a tailgate clamp, the tailgate clamp being attached to the extendable transverse panel and being adapted for retaining the transverse panel against the tailgate.

13. A method according to claim 12 and said extendable transverse panel further comprising a lower edge, and said tailgate clamp is a concave section that is moveable from a first position wherein the lower edge of the extendable transverse panel is free from the tailgate to a second position where the tailgate is clamped between the concave section and the lower edge of the extendable transverse panel.

14. A method according to claim 10 and further comprising at least one side panel bed attachment bracket, the side panel bed attachment bracket allowing the attachment of one of the side panels against the locking hardware of the bed of the truck.