Vehicle bed extender

• US 9,834,259 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US15/162,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 296 2608- 2611, 296205
• 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 33/023 Sideboard or tailgate structures vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02
• 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 33/033 removable B62D33/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A vehicle bed extender adapted for simultaneous adjustment of both length and width. The extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a connecting wall. The first and second side walls can attach to the vehicle storage bed, while the connecting wall attaches to the side walls in a sliding configuration along a direction nonparallel to the length and width of the bed extender. The connecting wall can also be composed of multiple cross members with middle portions of varying length such that the middle portions of the cross members are not vertically oriented. The vehicle bed extender can also be supported by a mount at the front end of the vehicle bed that supports the connecting wall.

Claims

1. A vehicle bed extender comprising:

a pair of connectors configured to rotatably connect the vehicle bed extender to a portion of a vehicle;

a first sidewall tube having a first end and a second end, the first end generally connected to one of the pair of connectors and the second end;

a second sidewall tube having a first end and a second end the first end generally connected to one of the pair of connectors and the second end;

a connecting tube configured to extend between and connect the first sidewall tube and the second sidewall tube and having a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end having a smaller diameter than the second ends of the first and second sidewall tubes; and

a pair of vertical holder struts, each of the pair of holder struts configured to hold the connecting tube in a particular position with respect to either the first or second sidewall tubes;

wherein the first and second ends of the connecting tube are configured to slidably insert into the second ends of the first and second sidewall tubes;

wherein the connecting tube is adjustable with respect to the first and second sidewall tubes to an extended and contracted position; and

wherein when the connecting tube is in the extended position the vehicle bed extender is longer and wider than when the connecting tube is in the retracted position.

2. The vehicle bed extender of claim 1, wherein the connecting tube can be simultaneously slidably adjustable with respect to the first and second sidewall tubes.

3. The vehicle bed extender of claim 1, wherein the connecting tube is in a telescoping arrangement with the first and second sidewall tubes.

4. The vehicle bed extender of claim 1, further comprising three first sidewall tubes, three second sidewall tubes, and three connecting tubes.

5. The vehicle bed extender of claim 4, wherein the three first sidewall tubes are connected together by a sidewall strut on a first end of the three first sidewall tubes.

6. The vehicle bed extender of claim 5, wherein one of the pair of connectors is located on the sidewall strut.

7. The vehicle bed extender of claim 1, wherein the connecting tube extends at least half a width of the vehicle bed extender.

8. A method of installing a vehicle bed extender onto a truck bed of a vehicle, the method comprising:

inserting a first end of a connecting tube into a first end of a first sidewall tube to form a first connection;

inserting a second end of the connecting tube into a first end of a second sidewall tube to form a second connection;

adjusting the position of the connecting tube with respect to the first and second sidewall tubes;

covering the first and second connections with a first and second vertical holding strut;

installing the first and second sidewall tubes onto an inside surface of the truck bed; and

extending the connecting tube from a retracted position to an expanded position, wherein the vehicle bed extender is longer and wider in the extended position than in the retracted position.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the inserting is a telescopic arrangement.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the installing comprises attaching a rotatable connector to a second end of the first and second sidewall tubes to the inside surface of the truck bed.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein in the retracted position the first and second sidewall tubes cover more of the connecting tube than in the extended position.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the connecting tube extends at least half a width of the vehicle bed extender.