Abstract:
The load carrying capability of a bed of a truck or the back of an SUV is increased by length and weight of the load by including a platform that is movable to the height of the wheel well so that a load that measures say, 4′×8′ fits above the wheel well so that the limited space between wheel wells do not impair the load and the wheel wells absorb part of the load. In one embodiment a camming arrangement with a guide rail cam and roller followers attached to the platform place the platform in sliding relationship and raises the platform as it slides rearwardly. In another embodiment a foldable linkage is utilized to raise the platform. Jack can be employed to raise the platform and a brake is added prevent the platform from moving backwards once deployed.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to apparatus for extending the carrying capacity of a truck or sports utility vehicle or the like, and particularly to provide a platform that serves to permit a wider, longer load and/or enhance the load carrying capability of the platform. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   As is well known in the automotive technology, the size of the beds of trucks vary considerably and there is a recent trend, although subject to change, where the beds are made shorter than was heretofore the case such that the length is as short as 4-6.5 feet (′). Obviously, this has an adverse affect on the truck&#39;s ability to haul large loads, as for example, sheets of sheet rock, ply wood, etc that measures say, 4′×8′. 
   There are a number of devices that are on the market and described in the literature that address this problem. One such device, for example, is a tiered bracket that is pivotally mounted at the end of the truck bed that allows one to slide the large cargo through one of the gates defined by the tiered brackets where the cargo rests on the front end of the bed and on the gate bracket at the aft end of the bed. Other concepts include a platform that extends between the wheel wells of the truck bed and is extendable toward the rear of the bed, so that when the tailgate is deployed, the platform extends over the tailgate and effectively increases the cargo capacity of the bed. In other configurations the tailgate is utilized to provide the support for the load by leaving the tailgate in the upright position and allowing the load to extend thereover. 
   One of the problems is that the devices provided heretofore or described in the literature are limited to the amount of load carrying capacity they can provide. Also, since it is abundantly important that the center of gravity of the load is not situated where the load can tip, the structure must be such that the center of gravity is such that the load does not become dislodged from the bed or that the air current does not get under the load and dislodge it which, obviously, could lead to disastrous results. 
   I have found that I can provide a movable platform that obviates the heretofore known problems, as for example, when the load carrying structure of my invention is deployed it enhances the load carrying capacity of the platform and when utilized in a truck bed or SUV it increases the width of load carrying capacity thereof so as to allow for wider objects to be carried thereby. In accordance with this invention I provide a platform that normally lies flat on the bottom of the bed and includes either a camming arrangement or a foldable linkage system that allows the platform to be guided into position so that its height is equal to the top surface of the wheel well of the vehicle when deployed. Hence, the platform in this arrangement together with the wheel well support the load and since the wheel well is grounded with the structure of the vehicle the load carrying capacity of the platform is enhanced. When the invention is utilized in an SUV or other similar type of vehicle, since the platform raises to the level of the wheel well, the load is over the wheel well so that the width is not impaired by the width between the wheel wells. This configuration permits carrying a wider load than would otherwise could be carried, in addition to allowing the wheel wells to enhance the load capacity. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of this invention is to provide for the bed of a truck, van or SUV or the like, a platform that is positioned to the level of the wheel well so that the wheel well participates in supporting the load being carried by the platform. 
   A feature of this invention is a platform having a wide portion and narrow portion that lies on the bottom of the bed with the narrow portion nested between the wheel well and providing a camming arrangement to synchronously slide and raise the platform so that it is level with the top surface of the wheel well. A slidable extension can be included on the aft end of the platform to further extend the load carrying capacity. 
   Another embodiment of this invention is that the platform includes foldable links mounted in the bed of a truck that unfolds to raise the platform to the level of the wheel well without the necessity of sliding the platform. 
   And still another embodiment is a foldable frame for supporting the platform in the deployed position with the use of a cross link arrangement and a jack or other raising mechanism can be employed to effectuated the raising of the platform. 
   The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a truck with the platform of this invention being in the stacked position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the inventive platform of  FIG. 1  being deployed; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial plan view illustrating the top view of the platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial view with the side panel of the truck bed removed to show the camming arrangement of the mechanism used to deploy the platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view showing the platform of  FIG. 1  being deployed and the rear extension also being deployed; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the side view of the platform in FIG.  5  and the bracket arrangement for supporting the aft end; 
       FIG. 6   a  is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a brake that is utilized to prevent the platform from moving when deployed; 
       FIG. 7   a  is a schematic illustration of a foldable platform in the deployed position including a linkage system for raising and lowering the platform; 
       FIG. 7   b  is a schematic of the structure depicted in  FIG. 7   a  illustrating the stored position; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of the load carrying structure of this invention with a foldable linkage system and platform where the platform does not slide; 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of a platform similar to the platform depicted in  FIG. 1  where a plurality of jacks are utilized to raise and lower the platform. 
       FIG. 10   a  is a schematic illustration of a platform of this invention in the deployed position that is foldable by a linkage system and a jack for raising and lowering the platform; and 
       FIG. 10   b  is a schematic and phantom illustration of the structure depicted in  FIG. 10   a  showing the stored position. 
     These figures merely serve to further clarify and illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As will become obvious from the description of the preferred embodiments of this invention, there are numerous way in which to execute this invention. Suffice it to say that the invention is essentially a load carrying structure that includes the wheel well of the vehicle as part of the load carrying structure and by the nature of the invention the width of the truck bed or SUV is not limited by the space between the wheel wells. 
   The invention is best understood by referring to  FIGS. 1-6  which illustrate a well known commercially available truck generally indicated by reference numeral  10  having a bed  12  having the side panels  14 , tail gate  16  and the pair of wheel wells  18 . In accordance with this invention the load carrying platform  20  is slidably mounted in the bed  12  and as will be described hereinbelow is slidable toward the aft end of the bed  12  and a cam arrangement raises the platform  20  to the level of the wheel wells  18  when it is fully deployed. The platform  20  in this embodiment is a planar member  22  having a wide portion  28  and a narrow portion  26  formed in a shape of a T. The narrower portion  26  is sufficiently wide to fit between the wheel wells  18  and the wider portion  28  fits between the side panels  12 . Obviously, the shape of this platform can take any other configurations and is not limited to this particular configuration. It may also include a slidable extension  30  at the aft end of wider portion  28  that is supported by spaced rails  32  or a slot carried by the wider portion  28 . A pair of opposing guide rails  34   a ,  34   b ,  35   a  and  35   b  are slotted at  36   a ,  36   b ,  37   a  and  37   b , respectively and serve to guide the rollers  38   a ,  38   b ,  40   a  and  40   b  and in the manner of a cam and follower, the rollers  38   a ,  38   b ,  40   a  and  40   b  are suitably supported on the narrow portion  26  and wide portion  28  respectively. 
   As is apparent from the foregoing, when the platform is pulled outwardly toward the aft position the camming action will cause the platform  20  to raise so as to be at the same height as the wheel wells  18 . Obviously, when a load, such as a 4′×8′ sheet is being hauled it will rest between the side panels  12  above the wheel wells  18  in such a manner that the load from the sheet will be transmitted to the wheel wells  18 , thus taking advantage of the structure of the truck to support the load. As mentioned in the above paragraphs since the truck bed is shorter than what has been the customary size with a limited load carrying capability, this invention is particularly efficacious for these types of vehicles. It will be appreciated that when this structure is mounted in a SUV the limited width between wheel wells is taken out of play and the maximum width of the SUV can be utilized. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the use of a leg or pair of legs  42  that are pivotally mounted on the underside of the wide portion  28  by the trunnions  44  and when deployed the bottom portion of the V-shaped leg  42  rests on the top surface of the tail gate  16  which contributes to the load carrying capacity of the platform  20 . It is also apparent from these  FIGS. 1-6  that while the top surface of platform  20  serves to carry the wide loads, the space under the platform is available to carry narrower loads. Also, it will be appreciated that the hardware required in this invention takes up very little room in the bed when the platform is placed in the stored position. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the use of a leg or pair of legs  42  that are pivotally mounted on the underside of the wide portion  28  by the trunnions  44  and when deployed the bottom portion of the V-shaped leg  42  rests on the top surface of the tail gate  16  which contributes to the load carrying capacity of the platform  20 . It is also apparent from these  FIGS. 1-6  that while the top surface of platform  20  serves to carry the wide loads, the space under the platform is available to carry narrower loads. Also, it will be appreciated that the hardware required in this invention takes up very little room in the bed when the platform is placed in the stored position. 
     FIG. 6   a  illustrates a suitable brake that can be utilized in connection with the embodiment depicted in FIG.  1  and this brake merely exemplifies any type of brake that can prevent the platform from moving once deployed without departing from the scope of this invention. In this embodiment the brake generally illustrated by reference numeral  200  consist of a bell crank arrangement  202  with a lever arm  204  adapted to rotate the brake portion  206  about pivot  208  which is supported to the depending portion or boss  210  formed on the bottom of the guide rail  35   b . The braking portion  206  travels through slot  212  formed on the bottom of the guide rail  35   b  and includes a beveled front end portion  214  that forces the bell crank to pivot about pivot  208  when the roller  40   a  passes there-over so as to allow the roller to pass the shoulder  214  to the position shown in FIG.  6 . From the foregoing it is apparent that shoulder  214  prevents the roller  40   a  from moving forwardly until the lever  202  is depressed so as to releases the brake  206 . Obviously, the brake  206  can take many forms, as for example, a removable pin placed through a slot formed in the platform adjacent the roller, or the insertion of a wedge or the like. 
     FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  exemplify another embodiment of this invention where the platform  54  is supported by a linkage arrangement consisting to the A-frame linkages generally illustrated by reference numerals  50  and  52  noting that similar linkages are mounted on opposite sides of the platform  54 . In this configuration a support rail  56  is suitably attached to the floor  58  of the bed  12  and includes opposite grooves  60  and  62 . Since linkages  50  and  52  are the same, for convenience and simplicity only the one linkage system will be described herein. As noted the linkage  50  includes link  64  and  66  that are pivotally attached to the platform by pivot  70  and the lower end of link  64  is pivotally mounted to the rail  56  by pivot  72 . The opposite end of link  66  is freely supported in the groove  60  and its travel is limited by shoulder  74  formed at the end of the groove  60 . The smaller links  76  and  78  being pivotally attached to each other by pivot  80  is pivotally attached to the links  64  and  66  intermediate the ends thereof by pivots  82  and  84 , respectively. Link  86 , which serves to assist to activate the linkages  50  and  52  when the platform  54  is positioned rearwardly, by pivotally attaching link  86  to the platform by pivot  88 . Link  86  is slidably attached to the link  66  by virtue of the projection formed on pivot  84  that rides in the slot  90  formed in the link  86 . Hence, when the platform is positioned rearwardly, the link  86  serves to raise the linkage  50  from the stored position shown in  FIG. 7   b  to the deployed position shown in  FIG. 7   a , which is the height of the wheel wells  18 . 
   Platform  54  may also include an extension  100  that telescopes into platform  54  via the telescoping rod  101  which is supported in the platform by any well known suitable support. The extension  100  is pivotally mounted to the link  102  and when deployed the lower end  104  rest on the rail  56  and bears against shoulder  106  to support the extension  100 . 
     FIG. 8  exemplifies another embodiment where the platform  110  is pivotally mounted on a pair of pivotal frames  112   a  and  112   b  supported to the parallel mounted rails  114 . The frame  112   a  (only one frame will be described for simplicity and convenience) carries three legs  116   a ,  116   b  and  116   c  that is pivotally mounted to rail  114  via the suitable pivot connections  118   a ,  118   b  and  118   c  respectively, so that when the platform is raised the frames  112   a  and  112   b  will rotate and move to the vertical position to hold the platform  110  at a height equal to the height of the wheel wells  18 . Again, as described in connection with the other embodiments, the load resting on the platform is partially supported by the wheel wells, in addition to the frame and the width will be sufficient to carry the 4′×8′ sheet material. 
     FIG. 9  is a top plan view with the platform removed to illustrate how these embodiments can employ jacks for raising the platform. In this embodiment the invention consists of a suitable frame generally illustrated by reference numeral  130  having the longitudinal bars  132 ,  134 ,  136 , and  138  and the cross bars  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  and  148  that is suitably attached to the floor of the bed  12 . Mounted on the frame as shown arc three (3) commercially available jacks (scissor or hydraulic or pneumatic) suitably located to distribute the load evenly and assure that the platform is relatively parallel to the floor of the bed  12 . 
     FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrates still another embodiment that employs a single crank  151  (similar to a scissor jack) that serves to rotate the threaded shaft  154  that translate the carriers  156   a  and  156   b  where the platform  150  is supported by the x-shaped linkage frame generally illustrated by reference numeral  152 . Again only one of the frames will be described for the sake of simplicity and convenience. The frame  156   a  includes a first link  158  and a second link  160  pivotally supported to each other via the pivot  170 . The frames  156   a  (four being utilized) are supported in the rail  172  which includes the slots  174  and  176 . The platform  150  also carries slots  180  and  182 . The upper end of link  160  is pivotally supported to the edge of the platform  150  and the link  158  carries at either end pins  184  and  186  that slide in slots  180  and  182 . It is apparent from the foregoing that when the crank  151  is rotated to rotate the threaded shaft  154  to position the carriers  156   a  and  156   b  (as well as those on the opposite side, the x-shaped frame will be lifted and lowered as shown in  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b.    
   Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.