Tailgate extender systems

• US 7,182,380 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rick A. Nagle
• Original Assignee: Rick A. Nagle
• Inventors: Nagle, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/361,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.11, 296/26.08, 296/57.1
• 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: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

A tailgate extender system is provided having telescoping supports, which stores entirely within a storage compartment in the tailgate, and which extends directly perpendicular to the tailgate surface for use. The telescoping supports are hingedly connected to the tailgate within the storage compartment and are slidingly connected to the top rail of the tailgate extender. Further, a cargo netting system that retracts into the tailgate extender top rail is provided.

Claims

1. A truck tailgate extender system comprising:

a) tailgate having, when in raised position, an internal surface, said tailgate connected to a truck bed; and

b) a barrier to assist barring cargo from crossing a rear perimeter of said tailgate when said tailgate is in lowered position;

c) wherein said barrier, when unextended in a stowed position, lies in a first plane along said internal surface of said tailgate and, when extended in an extended position, lies in a second plane parallel to, and spaced perpendicularly from, the first plane; and

d) at least one extender to extend said barrier substantially perpendicularly from the stowed position in the first plane to the extended position in the second plane;

e) wherein, when said tailgate is in the lowered position, movement of said at least one extender provides vertical motion to said barrier between the stowed position and the extended position.

2. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a) at least one gap closer to close at least one gap between said barrier in the extended position and the truck bed;

b) wherein said at least one gap closer is retractably extendable from said barrier.

3. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one storage compartment to store said barrier when in the stowed position.

4. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 3 further comprising:

a) at least one flexible barrier to assist flexibly barring the cargo from passing across said barrier;

b) wherein said at least one flexible barrier is stored substantially within said at least one storage compartment.

5. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 1 wherein said barrier comprises:

a) at least one rail to substantially horizontally rail the rear perimeter of said tailgate when said tailgate is connected to the truck bed and lowered; and

b) at least one extendable support to extendably vertically support said at least one rail;

c) at least one first connector to connect said at least one extendable support to said tailgate; and

d) at least one second connector to connect said at least one extendable support to said at least one rail;

e) wherein said at least one first connector comprises at least one hinge.

6. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one extendable support comprises at least one telescoping bar.

7. A truck tailgate extender system comprising:

a) a barrier to assist barring cargo from crossing a rear perimeter of a tailgate when the tailgate is in lowered position, the tailgate having, when in raised position and connected to a truck bed, an internal surface;

b) wherein said barrier, when unextended in a stowed position, lies in a first plane along the internal surface of the tailgate and, when extended in an extended position, lies in a second plane parallel to, and spaced perpendicularly from, the first plane; and

c) at least one conveyor to convey said barrier substantially perpendicularly from the stowed position in the first plane to the extended position in the second plane;

d) wherein, when said tailgate is in the lowered position, movement of said at least one conveyor provides vertical motion to said barrier between the stowed position and the extended position.

8. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 7 further comprising:

a) at least one first storage section to store said barrier in the stowed position; and

b) at least one second storage section to store at least one storable object.

9. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 8 further comprising:

a) at least one cover to cover said at least one second storage section;

b) wherein said at least one cover comprises at least one extendable cover portion to cover said at least one first storage section; and

c) wherein said at least one extendable cover portion is extendably positionable relative to said at least one cover.

10. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 8 further comprising:

a) at least one flexible barrier to assist in flexibly barring cargo from moving past said barrier;

b) wherein said at least one flexible barrier comprises at least one retractor to retract said at least one flexible barrier for storage; and

c) wherein said at least one flexible barrier is storable within said at least one first storage section.

11. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 8 wherein:

a) said barrier comprises at least one boundary rail to bound the rear perimeter of the tailgate;

b) said at least one boundary rail comprises at least one substantially linear interior channel;

c) said at least one conveyer comprises at least one extendable support adapted to extendably support said at least one boundary rail;

d) said at least one extendable support comprises at least one first connector to pivotally connect said at least one extendable support to said at least one first storage section; and

e) said at least one extendable support further comprises at least one second connector to pivotally connect said at least one extendable support to said at least one boundary rail.

12. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 wherein:

a) said at least one first connector comprises at least one rotator to rotate said at least one extendable support about said at least one first connector;

b) said at least one rotator comprises at least one torque generator to generate at least one torque force;

c) said at least one rotator is structured and arranged to apply the at least one torque force to said at least one extendable support; and

d) application of the at least one torque force biases said at least one extendable support toward at least one rotation about said at least one first connector.

13. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 wherein said at least one second connector comprises at least one slider to slide within said at least one substantially linear interior channel of said at least one boundary rail.

14. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 wherein:

a) said at least one extendable support comprises at least one telescoping bar to telescopically adjust a linear distance between said at least one first connector and said at least one second connector; and

b) said at least one telescoping bar comprises at least one releasable lock to releasably lock said at least one telescoping bar in at least one telescopic position.

15. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 14 wherein:

a) said at least one extendable support further comprises at least one telescopic assister to assist telescopic adjustment of said at least one telescoping bar;

b) said at least one telescopic assister comprises at least one gas-charged spring; and

c) said at least one gas-charged spring is disposed substantially within said at least one telescoping bar.

16. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 further comprising:

a) at least one cargo management bar to manage the storage and transport of the cargo within the truck bed;

b) wherein said at least one cargo management bar comprises

i) at least one first bar coupler to couple said at least one cargo management bar to at least one first said at least one extendable support,

ii) at least one second bar coupler to couple said at least one cargo management bar to at least one second said at least one extendable support, and

iii) at least one link to link said at least one first bar coupler and said at least one second bar coupler;

c) wherein said at least one link assists positioning of the cargo during storage and transport.

17. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 further comprising:

a) at least one gap closer to close at least one gap between said at least one boundary rail and the truck bed;

b) wherein said at least one gap closer is retractably extendable from said at least one boundary rail.

18. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 8 wherein said at least one first storage section and said at least one second storage section are each located substantially within at least one inner cavity of the tailgate.

19. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 8 wherein said at least one first storage section and said at least one second storage section are each located substantially external of at least one inner cavity of the tailgate.

20. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 11 wherein:

a) said at least one boundary rail comprises at least one illuminator to provide visually discernable illumination; and

b) said at least one illuminator is operatively coupled to at least one electrical circuit of the truck bed.

21. The truck tailgate extender system according to claim 7 wherein said barrier comprises a U-shaped member.