Truck cargo bed management system

• US 7,413,231 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Wood, Kenneth L., McGuirk, Liam J., Lopez, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/683,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.11, 296/37.6, 410/129, 410/140, 220/532, 220/533
• US Class Current: 296/26.11
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0207 Connections of movable or detachable racks or stanchions to platforms
• 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 cargo bed management system for dividing or extending a bed of a motor vehicle. The cargo bed management system includes a main panel having a length approximately equal to a width of the bed, and a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the main panel so that the side panels may rotate relative to the main panel from a stowed position where the side panels are directed toward the main panel to an extended position where the side panels extend outward from the main panel. At least one bumper is affixed to an end of each of the side panels that are hingedly connected to the main panel such that the bumper increases a length of the main panel when said the panels are in the stowed position. The bumpers compress to secure the main panel and the side panels to the bed.

Claims

1. A removable extension system for a bed of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a main panel; and

a pair of side panels rotatably coupled to said main panel between an open position and a closed position, said side panels extending outward from said main panel in said open position and toward said main panel in said closed position, each of said side panels including at least one compressible member at an end thereof,

wherein when said side panels are in said closed position, said compressible members extend outward from edges of said main panel to secure the extension system to the bed of the motor vehicle.

2. The removable extension system of claim 1, wherein said compressible members are formed of a compressible material.

3. The removable extension system of claim 2, wherein said compressible material is a rubber- or polymeric-based material.

4. The removable extension system of claim 1, wherein said compressible members are spring-loaded.

5. The removable extension system of claim 1, wherein said main panel and said side panels are formed of a thermoplastic material.

6. The removable extension system of claim 1, wherein said side panels, in said open position, are connectable to the bed.

7. A cargo bed management system for dividing or extending a bed of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a main panel having a length approximately equal to a width of the bed;

a pair of side panels hingedly connected to said main panel so that said side panels may rotate relative to said main panel from a stowed position where said side panels are directed toward said main panel to an extended position where said side panels extend outward from said main panel; and

at least one bumper affixed to an end of each of said side panels that is hingedly connected to said main panel such that said bumper increases a length of said main panel when said side panels are in said stowed position,

wherein when said main panel and said side panels are in said stowed position and disposed across said width of the bed, said bumpers compress to secure said main panel and said side panels to the bed.

8. The cargo bed management system of claim 7, wherein said bumpers are formed of a compressible material.

9. The cargo bed management system of claim 8, wherein said compressible material is selected from the group consisting of elastomers, polymers, and rubbers.

10. The cargo bed management system of claim 7, wherein said bumpers provide a non-skid surface between said panels and the bed.

11. The cargo bed management system of claim 7, wherein said main panel and said side panels include a plurality of perforations.

12. The cargo bed management system of claim 7, wherein when said side panels are in said extended position relative to said main panel, said side panels are connectable to the bed.

13. The cargo bed management system of claim 12, wherein said side panels include at least one slot that mates with a protrusion or handle formed on the bed.

14. The cargo bed management system of claim 7, wherein said main panel includes a locking mechanism that secures said side panels to said main panel when said side panels are in said stowed position.

15. The cargo bed management system of claim 14, wherein said locking mechanism is a handle or a key cylinder.

16. A cargo bed management system that may be disposed to traverse a width of a bed of a motor vehicle or disposed to extend a length of the bed, the bed including sidewalls that include a plurality of ribs, the cargo bed management system comprising:

a main panel having a length approximately equal to the width of the bed and a width approximately equal to a distance between the ribs;

a pair of side panels rotatably coupled to the main panel such that said side panels may rotate toward a central portion of said main panel to form a stowable assembly and rotate outward away from said central portion to form an extended assembly; and

a plurality of bumpers attached to said side panels, said bumpers compressing upon disposition of said stowable assembly across the width of the bed between the sidewalls of the bed or between the ribs of the sidewalls to secure said stowable assembly to the bed.

17. The cargo bed management system of claim 16, wherein said bumpers provide a non-skid surface between said panels and the bed.

18. The cargo bed management system of claim 16, wherein said main panel includes a locking mechanism that secures said side panels to said main panel to form said integral assembly.

19. The cargo bed management system of claim 18, wherein said locking mechanism is a handle or a key cylinder.

20. The cargo bed management system of claim 16, wherein said main panel includes recesses having dimensions substantially equal to dimensions of said side panels for accommodating said side panels in said stowable assembly.