Expandable truck bed

A truck bed assembly within which the width dimension of the bed's cargo space can be selectively adjusted, the assembly including laterally movable sidewalls that are constructed so as to widen the bed floor surface as they are moved outward as well as a laterally expandable tailgate that lengthens and shortens as the sidewalls are laterally expanded and retracted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an expandable truck bed, and it specifically relates to a truck bed assembly in which the bed sidewalls may be moved laterally outward, to increase bed carrying capacity, while retaining their vertical posture.

Pickup trucks are characterized by having cargo beds configured to carry items that could not be fitted inside the passenger compartments of most other vehicles, or that would risk damaging upholstery if placed within the passenger cabin. Typically, a truck bed will comprise a rectangular floor, a front wall joined to the frontward end of the floor, a pair of opposing sidewalls joined to the side ends of the floor and a tailgate hinged to the rearward end of the floor. Conventional tailgates are downwardly openable to permit cargo to be loaded onto and unloaded from the bed without having to lift the cargo over an upright tailgate or the sidewalls. However, sometimes the dimensions of cargo to be placed onto a truck are such that that truck's bed simply cannot accommodate the cargo without somehow enlarging the cargo carrying space.

Consequently, adjustable truck bed assemblies and bed add-on devices have been developed in the prior art. Some of these truck bed assemblies are length-adjustable. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,858 to Bradford discloses a truck bed extension assembly featuring slide panels that can be slid between a closed position in which the panels are entirely disposed within the bed sidewalls and an open position in which the panels are extended out from within the sidewalls to effectively lengthen the bed. This assembly also includes a second tailgate that provides bed closure when the first tailgate is open and the slide panels are extended the length of the horizontal lying first tailgate. As another example, U.S. Pat. No 5,938,262 to Mills discloses a truck bed assembly which includes a horizontal plate that is slidable relative to the bed floor by way of a rail and roller assembly which operatively connects the plate and the floor. When the truck's tailgate is open, the plate can be slid rearward and locked into position to provide an elongated bed floor. The prior art is also replete with various truck bed attachment devices that can be affixed to the end of the bed to provide rear closure for a longitudinally expanded cargo space when the tailgate is open.

Additionally, there is a plethora of prior art truck bed assemblies in which the bed carrying capacity can be effectively expanded laterally. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,059,666 to Harrison teaches a cargo bed in which the sidewalls are pivotally connected to the bed floor such that they can be selectively moved between vertical closed positions and horizontal open positions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,708 to Grzegorzewski et al. discloses an operatively similar assembly in which the sidewalls can be laid down. However, a common aesthetic, if not functional, disadvantage of the width-adjustable prior art truck beds of which the present inventor is aware is that, when laterally expanded, they either convert to flatbed configurations that lack side retaining walls, or they require erection of secondary sidewalls or sidewall attachments that adversely affect the truck's appearance.

Therefore, there exists a need for a truck bed that can be expanded widthwise to increase its cargo capacity, but that substantially maintains its appearance and retaining structure throughout expansion. The present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a truck bed which can be selectively expanded widthwise to increase its cargo carrying capacity in a manner that does not alter the vertical disposition of the bed sidewalls. A minimal embodiment of the inventive truck bed comprises: a bed floor; a front wall coupled perpendicularly to the frontward end of the floor; sidewalls which are substantially perpendicular to the floor and which span the length of the floor; a tailgate pivotally attached to the rearward end of the floor; and at least one slide mechanism which connect the sidewalls to the bed floor and permit the sidewalls to expand and contract laterally. Preferably, the truck bed further includes at least a pair of vertically oriented hydraulic jacks which move the sidewalls between a retracted position in which they are spaced from one another by the width of the bed floor panel to an expanded position in which they are spaced further apart; and a user controller for allowing push button actuation of the jacks.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a truck bed that is capable of being adapted to accommodate larger cargo.

It is another object of the invention to allow for lateral expansion of the bed capacity without requiring that the bed sidewalls be folded down or otherwise manipulated such that they cease providing side retention when the sidewalls are laterally expanded. Accordingly, it is also an object of the invention to allow the bed to substantially maintain its appearance when expanded.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for powered lateral expansion and retraction of the truck bed. By incorporating remotely controlled hydraulic jacks or electric motors that drive the bed sidewalls, a user can effortlessly adjust the bed size as needed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the expandable truck bed of the present invention employs several integrated elements including: a bed floor140, a front wall120, left and right sidewalls110and a rear tailgate130.

As shown inFIG. 3, the front wall120is a hollow steel panel with open left and right ends126. It is vertically positioned adjacent the truck cabin10. Secured to the bottom of the front wall120is the bed floor140. The bed floor140is a generally horizontal, hollow steel panel formed by a top sheet142that directly supports cargo and a bottom sheet144, both of which are joined by a bend at their longitudinal rearward ends such that openings146remain along the left and right sides of the floor panel140. The top142and bottom144sheets of the floor panel are secured to the bottoms of counterpart metal sheets of the front wall panel120to form continuous space within the perpendicularly joined floor140and front wall120. Finally, the tailgate130is comprised of two extension panels136retractably disposed within a hollow central panel134as illustrated inFIG. 6. The tailgate130is hinged to the rearward end of the bed floor140and may be pivoted 90 degrees between an open horizontal position and a closed vertical position. As with conventional tailgates and as will be discussed later, the present tailgate130releasably engages the sidewalls110.

From viewingFIG. 2, it can be understood that each sidewall110is a single unit comprising the following three distinct sections: (1) a side retaining wall118which is vertically disposed and functions as a traditional truck bed sidewall; (2) a front extension116which is vertically disposed, perpendicularly meets the frontward end of the side retaining wall118and inserts into an end opening126within the front wall120; and (3) a floor extension114which is horizontally disposed, perpendicularly meets the side retaining wall118and inserts into a lateral side opening146within the floor140. Therefore, when the two sidewalls110are fully contracted, their front extensions116and their floor extensions114are fully enveloped by the front wall120and bed floor140, respectively, such that the opposing side retaining walls118, the front wall120, the tailgate130and the floor140define the truck bed enclosure. As the sidewalls110are laterally extended, their respective front extension portions116slide out from within the front wall120, and their floor extension portions114emerge from within the bed floor140. Thus, when the bed enclosure is extended, both the bed floor part140and the sidewall floor extensions114provide cargo floor support, while the front wall120and sidewall front extensions116jointly provide frontal retention.

A plethora of linear motion systems, both manual and automated, could conceivably be used to facilitate lateral sidewall movement. Nevertheless, a couple of suitable alternative slide mechanisms are illustrated and described herein. One is a motor driven mechanism and the other, and preferred, mechanism is hydraulically driven. Nevertheless, both such slide mechanisms incorporate two identical, synchronously actuated subassemblies which each operate on one sidewall110to achieve inward and outward lateral movement of the sidewalls110. For simplicity, the configuration of merely one subassembly of each alternative slide mechanism will be described in succession immediately following. However, it should be again emphasized that still other mechanisms for facilitating lateral movement of the sidewall elements could be employed without departing from the present overall inventive concept.

As shown inFIG. 4, embedded within the bed floor's top and bottom sheets142,144are arrangements of rollers148that are in contact with the sidewall floor extension114. These rollers148permit the floor extension114to slide laterally within the floor panel140while encountering minimal friction. Also sandwiched within the floor panel140—inward of the sidewall extension114—is a nut240having a threaded bore. The nut240is affixed to the floor panel sheets142,144to prevent it from sliding or rotating. Finally, in threaded engagement with the nut240is a screw-threaded shaft220that is rotated by an electric drive motor210. From the motor220, the shaft220projects laterally outward through the fixed nut240and then through a hole112within the sidewall floor extension114. Coupling the shaft220to the floor extension114are a pair of circular flanges226,224that are shortly spaced apart along the shaft220about opposite sides of the hole114.

As the drive motor210rotates the shaft220clockwise, threaded engagement of the shaft220and fixed nut240causes the rotating shaft220to advance linearly outward through the nut240. In turn, the shaft's inner flange224pushes against the abutting metal of the sidewall extension114and, aided by the bed floor rollers148, the sidewall110slides laterally outward to expand the width of the cargo bed. Conversely, when the shaft220is rotated counterclockwise, the shaft220is drawn inward through the nut240, and the pressing force of the outer flange226pulls the sidewall extension114deeper within the bed floor140to retract the sidewall110.

The electric motor210is selectively controlled by a user interface module300disposed within the cabin area of the vehicle. The user module300may be wired (not shown) to the motor210may operate it wirelessly. Regardless, the number of revolutions in which the motor210is permitted to rotate the attached shaft220in either rotational direction should be electronically limited so as to prevent the shaft220from advancing too far inward or outward and encountering undesirable resistance (caused by motor210running into the nut240, for example).

However, because of the nut and shaft assembly's susceptibility to mechanical wear, it is preferable to push and pull the sidewalls110by way of hydraulic or pneumatic means. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a hydraulic push/pull device or jack260as illustrated inFIG. 5. This horizontally disposed jack260comprises a cylindrical rod262in telescopic engagement with a larger diametered cylinder264. The rod262is selectively extendable from and retractable into the cylinder264by conventional hydraulic operation. At one end of the jack260, its rod262is coupled to the sidewall floor extension114via a bolted attachment plate268or other suitable securing means. At the jack's opposite end, its cylinder264is similarly secured to a vertical mounting wall150which resides within the bed floor panel140.

FIG. 8illustrates an example of an overall hydraulic system20used to operate the jack260. In addition to the jack260itself, system components include a fluid reservoir270, a pump280and a pair of solenoids274that are positioned about the vehicle as may be desired. The solenoids274are continually connected to the jack260via fluid lines288. However, they are selectively connected to either the pump280or the reservoir270directly. A pressure line284connects the solenoids274to the pump280, while a drain line286connects the solenoids274directly to the reservoir270. When a solenoid274connects to the pressure line284, the pump280is able to deliver pressurized fluid through the pressure line284and then through a fluid line288to the jack260. Conversely, when a solenoid is connected to the drain line286, fluid exits the jack260through a fluid line288and then through the drain line286, depositing into the reservoir270.

When the rate of fluid flow into the jack260is greater than that exiting it, fluid pressure projects the rod262out of the cylinder264and, in turn, pushes the coupled sidewall110outward. Conversely, when the net fluid flow is out of the jack260, the rod262withdraws back into the cylinder264and pulls the sidewall110inward. Solenoid connectivity, which dictates the balance of hydraulic fluid flow between the jack260and the reservoir270and thus effects extension and retraction of the jack260, is selectively controlled through a user module300that is wired to the solenoids274.

Residing at the outer ends of the two tailgate extension panels136are spring loaded latches430which secure to corresponding posts within the side retaining walls118to maintain tailgate130closure. Furthermore, if the tailgate130is closed while the sidewalls110are being extended, engagement of the latches430and the side retaining walls118will cause the tailgate extension panels136to be pulled out from within the tailgate central panel134. An extended tailgate130is illustrated inFIG. 7. Of course, the opposite effect occurs to the closed tailgate130as the sidewalls100are retracted. Therefore, without any manual manipulation of the tailgate130itself and without the use of any separate attachments, the truck bed's rear retaining wall automatically adjusts to correspond to the changing distance between the left and right side retaining walls118. Sets of rollers138within the tailgate130allow its two extension panels136to slide back and forth against its central panel134.

A handle160disposed on the tailgate central panel134is operatively linked to the left and right latches430. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 6, parallel pairs of rods164,164′ connect the handle160to each latch430, and a clip168binds the two rods164,164′ together. A first rod164is attached to the handle160and has the clip168rigidly affixed to it. A second rod164′ is attached to the latch430, and it is slidable through the clip168. The second rod164′ features successive stop grooves166along its length, and within the clip168is a retracting pin element (not shown) that projects into each groove166. As the latch430advances inward or outward (by virtue of sidewall lateral movement), the second rod164′ progresses through the stationary clip168. The force applied to the second rod164′ by a moving sidewall110will not allow the clip168to rest a stop groove166along the rod164′. However, the magnitude of the pull force applied to the first rod164as the tailgate handle160is being pulled is insufficient to dislodge the clip168from a stop groove166at which the clip168is resting. Therefore, when the handle420is pulled while the tailgate130is closed, an opening force is transferred, via the clip168, from the first rod164to the second rod164′ and is delivered to the latch430. This opening force releases the latch430from the retaining wall118so that the tailgate130is free to pivot open.

It is understood that substitutions and equivalents for various elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the full scope and definition of the present invention is to be set forth by the claims that follow.