Vehicle cargo bed extender having a pin lock assembly

• US 20060055194A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Plastech Engineered Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Reed, Troy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/26.110
• 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 vehicle cargo bed extender for a vehicle of the present invention includes a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another and a center wall extending therebetween. At least one lock assembly is disposed upon one of the sidewalls of the bed extender and includes a locking pin that operable to be selectively extended and retracted to engage with and disengage from the vehicle sidewall respectively. The lock assembly further includes a handle and a lever arm, which cooperate to facilitate the extension and retraction of the locking pin such that said extension of the locking pin locks the bed extender to the vehicle sidewall in the stowed and deployed positions to prevent any uncommanded movement of the extender. The locking assembly further operative to hold the locking pin in the extended and retracted positions respectively until selectively moved between positions.

Claims

1. A vehicle cargo bed extender adapted to be employed in conjunction with a vehicle having a cargo bed defined by a pair of upstanding bed sidewalls spaced from one another on either side of the vehicle cargo bed and a rear wall extending between the upstanding sidewalls at the rear end of the bed, wherein the rear wall is rotatable from an upright position to an extended position so as to be disposed substantially co-planar with the vehicle bed, said cargo bed extender comprising:

a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another, a center wall extending between said pair of sidewalls, said pair of sidewalls and said center wall cooperating to define said bed extender having an open end; and

at least one lock assembly having a main body that is mounted to one of said sidewalls of said bed extender, said lock assembly including a locking pin that is selectively operable between an extended position and a retracted position from one end of said main body to engage with and disengage from the vehicle sidewall respectively, said lock assembly further including a handle disposed at the end of said main body opposite said locking pin and a lever arm operatively disposed therebetween;

said handle and said lever arm operative to move between a first and a second position thereby cooperating to facilitate said extension and said retraction of said locking pin from said main body such that said extension of said locking pin locks said bed extender to the vehicle sidewall in said stowed and said deployed positions to prevent any uncommanded movement of said extender, said locking assembly further operative to hold said locking pin in said extended and said retracted positions respectively until selectively moved between said positions, and wherein a longitudinal portion of said handle is selectively generally aligned along a common axis with said locking pin.

2. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main body of said lock assembly is disposed through and operatively retained within said sidewall of said bed extender.

3. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main body of said lock assembly further has a central bore that slidingly receives said locking pin, said locking pin having a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end adapted to be extended from said main body to selectively engage the vehicle sidewall.

4. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle of said lock assembly further includes a main arm and an extension arm, said extension arm formed perpendicular to said main arm, said handle having a handle pivot point formed at the junction of said main arm and said extension am and said extension arm having a lever arm pivot point formed opposite said handle pivot point, said handle pivotably mounted in said main body at said handle pivot point.

5. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lever arm is pivotably mounted between said extension arm of said handle and a proximate end of said locking pin such that the selective movement of said handle between said first and said second positions causes said extension arm and said lever arm to move said locking pin longitudinally within a central bore of said main body between said extended and said retracted positions.

6. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls of said extender are constructed of a plurality of tubular members disposed longitudinally with respect to the vehicle bed.

7. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said center wall of said extender is constructed of a plurality of tubular members disposed longitudinally between said sidewalls of said extender.

8. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewalls and said center wall of said extender are a plurality of continuously formed tubular members disposed longitudinally with respect to the vehicle bed.

9. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 which further includes a pair of end members, each said member disposed upon said extender sidewall opposite said center wall, said each member adapted to support said bed extender at said open end.

10. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 which further includes at least a pair of support members, each said support member having resilient members disposed at either end so as to provide a non-marring contact surface between said extender and said rear wall when deployed, and between said extender and said vehicle bed when stowed.

14. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 1 wherein said handle of said lock assembly further includes a main arm and an extension arm, said extension arm formed perpendicular to said main arm, said handle having a handle pivot point formed at the junction of said main arm and said extension arm and said extension arm having a lever arm pivot point formed opposite said handle pivot point, said handle pivotably mounted in said main body at said handle pivot point.

15. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 14 wherein said lever arm is pivotably mounted between said extension arm of said handle and a proximate end of said locking pin, such that the selective movement of said handle between said first and said second positions causes said extension arm and said lever arm to move said locking pin longitudinally within a central bore of said main body between said extended and said retracted positions.

11. A vehicle cargo bed extender adapted to be employed in conjunction with a vehicle having a cargo bed defined by a pair of upstanding bed sidewalls spaced from one another on either side of the vehicle cargo bed and a rear wall extending between the upstanding sidewalls at the rear end of the bed, wherein the rear wall is rotatable from an upright position to an extended position so as to be disposed substantially co-planar with the vehicle bed, said cargo bed extender comprising:

a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another, a center wall extending between said pair of sidewalls, said pair of sidewalls and said center wall cooperating to define said bed extender having an open end;

each of said pair of sidewalls of said bed extender including a pivot assembly disposed between said sidewall of said bed extender and a respective one of the pair of upright sidewalls of cargo bed to facilitate selective pivotal movement of said bed extender between a stowed position wherein said open end of said bed extender is adjacent to the rear wall of the vehicle when the rear wall is in the upright position and a deployed position so as to be supported by the rear wall of the vehicle cargo bed when the rear wall is in the extended position such that the open end of said bed extender faces the cargo bed thereby increasing the effective size of the vehicle cargo bed; and

at least one lock assembly having a main body that is mounted to one of said sidewalls of said bed extender, said lock assembly including a locking pin that is selectively operable between an extended position and a retracted position from one end of said main body to engage with and disengage from the vehicle sidewall respectively, said lock assembly further including a handle disposed at the end of said main body opposite said locking pin and a lever arm operatively disposed therebetween;

said handle and said lever arm operative to move between a first and a second position thereby cooperating to facilitate said extension and said retraction of said locking pin from said main body such that said extension of said locking pin locks said bed extender to the vehicle sidewall in said stowed and said deployed positions to prevent any uncommanded movement of said extender, said locking assembly further operative to hold said locking pin in said extended and said retracted positions respectively until selectively moved between said positions, and wherein a longitudinal portion of said handle is generally aligned along a common axis with said lever arm when said locking pin is in about said second position.

12. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 11 wherein said main body of said lock assembly is disposed through and operatively retained within said sidewall of said bed extender.

13. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 11 wherein said main body of said lock assembly further has a central bore that slidingly receives said locking pin, said locking pin having a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end adapted to be extended from said main body to selectively engage the vehicle sidewall.

16. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 11 wherein said sidewalls and said center wall of said extender are a plurality of continuously formed tubular members disposed longitudinally with respect to the vehicle bed.

17. A vehicle cargo bed extended as set forth in claim 11 which further includes a pair of end members, each said end member disposed upon said extender sidewall opposite said center wall, said end member adapted to support said bed extender at said open end.

18. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 11 which further includes at least a pair of support members, each said support member having resilient members disposed at either end so as to provide a non-marring contact between said extender and said rear wall when said extender is in the deployed position, and between said extender and said vehicle bed when said extender is in the stowed position.

19. A vehicle cargo bed extender adapted to be employed in conjunction with a vehicle having a cargo bed defined by a pair of upstanding bed sidewalls spaced from one another on either side of the vehicle cargo bed and a rear wall extending between the upstanding sidewalls at the rear end of the bed, wherein the rear wall is rotatable from an upright position to an extended position so as to be disposed substantially co-planar with the vehicle bed, said cargo bed extender comprising:

a pair of sidewalls spaced from one another, a center wall extending between said pair of sidewalls, said pair of sidewalls and said center wall cooperating to define said bed extender having an open end;

each of said pair of sidewalls of said bed extender including a pivot assembly disposed between said sidewall of said bed extender and a respective one of the pair of upright sidewalls of cargo bed to facilitate selective pivotal movement of said bed extender between a stowed position wherein said open end of said bed extender is adjacent to the rear wall of the vehicle when the rear wall is in the upright position and a deployed position so as to be supported by the rear wall of the vehicle cargo bed when the rear wall is in the extended position such that the open end of said bed extender faces the cargo bed thereby increasing the effective size of the vehicle cargo bed; and

at least one lock assembly having a main body, defined by longitudinal ends and a central bore extending between said longitudinal ends, and coupled to one of said sidewalls of said bed extender, said lock assembly including a locking pin that is axially moveable within said central bore between an extended position and a retracted position so as to extend from one of said longitudinal ends of said main body to engage with and disengage from the vehicle sidewall respectively, said lock assembly further including a handle disposed at the end of said main body opposite said locking pin and a lever arm operatively disposed therebetween;

said handle and said lever arm operative to move between a first and a second position thereby cooperating to facilitate said extension and said retraction of said locking pin from said main body such that said extension of said locking pin locks said bed extender to the vehicle sidewall in said stowed and said deployed positions to prevent any uncommanded movement of said extender.

20. A vehicle cargo bed extender as set forth in claim 19 wherein at least a portion of said lever arm is selectively interposed within said central bore.