Patent ID: 6568733
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: B60P,B60R,B62D

Abstract:
A cargo area extender for use in a vehicle, comprising:two side panels, each comprising: an inner side panel frame; and an outer side panel frame, wherein the inner side panel frame is configured to move horizontally in relation to the corresponding outer side panel frame between a stored position and an extended position; a bottom panel; comprising: a bottom panel frame; an opening and latching mechanism, comprising: a U-shaped handle, coupled to the bottom panel frame at an open end of the U-shaped handle and configured to move axially with respect to the bottom panel frame about the open end; and two connecting rods, each coupled to the U-shaped handle on a first end and to different inner side panel frames on a second end, configured to pivot about corresponding pivot points, located approximately one third (&frac13;) of the distance from the U-shaped handle and the end of each of the connecting rods, the movement causing the corresponding inner side panel frames to move between the stored position and the extended position; and a top panel, coupled to the bottom panel with a plurality of hinges, wherein the top panel rotates with respect to the bottom panel around the plurality of hinges, the top panel comprising: a latch mechanism; two latch connecting rods, each latch connecting rod connected to the latch handle and extending in opposite directions from the latch handle; and two latch plungers, each latch plunger connected to a different latch connecting rod at an end of the latch connecting rod opposite an end of the latch connecting rod that is connected to the latch handle, wherein, each latch plunger projects into a corresponding notch in the bottom panel when the cargo area extender is in a closed position, thus securing the top panel to the bottom panel, and each latch plunger projects into a corresponding notch in a different one of the inner side panel frames when the inner side panel frames are in the extended position, thus securing the top panel to the inner side panels in a cargo area extender deployed position.