Patent ID: 7857371
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed and a tailgate, said extender comprising: a first side wall; a second side wall; a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said connecting wall defining a first open side and a second open side; a first mount comprising a first interlocking portion; a first mounting station configured to be fixed with respect to said vehicle and to engage said first interlocking portion, said first mounting station comprising a first stationary portion and a first moveable portion, wherein said first moveable portion comprises a first stop configured to prevent said first interlocking portion from disengaging from said first mounting station when said first moveable portion is in a first position and wherein said first moveable portion can be positioned in a second position that allows disengagement of said first mounting station from said first interlocking portion without detachment of a portion of said first mounting station from said vehicle; a second mount comprising a second interlocking portion; and a second mounting station configured to be fixed with respect to said vehicle and to engage said second interlocking portion, said second mounting station comprising a second stationary portion and a second moveable portion, wherein said second moveable portion comprises a second stop configured to prevent said second interlocking portion from disengaging from said second mounting station when said first moveable portion is in a first position and wherein said second moveable portion can be positioned in a second position that allows disengagement of said second mounting station from said second interlocking portion without detachment of a portion of said second mounting station from said vehicle; wherein said first mount, said first mounting station, said second mount, and said second mounting station cooperate to secure said extender to said vehicle so that, when said first moveable portion is in its first position and said second moveable portion is in its first position, said extender is positionable in either a first upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed with said first open side facing away from said tailgate and said second open side facing toward said tailgate with said connecting wall in a substantially vertical alignment or a second upright position over said rear end of said bed forward of said tailgate with said connecting wall in a substantially vertical alignment, and said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall.