Pickup truck cargo box wall extender and bed

A pickup truck cargo box extension assembly includes a first and second side walls which pivots to the inside of the cargo box, two four-bar mechanism in the front, one at each side in front and another pivoting wall on the back of the cargo box. There are two actuators in the back outside of the cargo box connected to the side walls to provide for linear translation of the first and second walls between an extend height upward position and a retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of the device is to create a cargo box extender for a pickup truck that allows, when in an upward position, to increase the cargo box's overall height, permitting to carry up to 500 lb. over the cabin roof from front to back of the cargo box. When the side walls of the cargo box are in a lowered position, closed, it works as a bed, protecting the interior of cargo box including all the articles located inside and enhancing the aesthetics of the pickup truck.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device is an easy-to-install pickup cargo box extender comprising an installation kit that includes all the materials, all the bars, mechanisms, and walls. The invention works by providing a pickup cargo box extender when it is in an upward position, allowing to lift long materials over its base but also, when closed, serve as a bed, protecting what is inside the cargo box and enhancing the pickup aesthetics with its sleek and unique design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Once the pickup cargo box extender is installed the front pillars10and the back pillars11along with the back actuators12a,12bmakes the necessary displacement of the four-bar mechanism on the front of the cargo box CB actioned with the brushless electric motor14avia the sprocket-chain system15(comprising a sprocket gear SG and corresponding chain CH) and the single bar mechanism on the back actioned also with brushless electric motor14b, allowing the back wall BW to be extended, the panels P1, P2are extended with the two actuators12that are installed on the back of the cargo box CB. When both actuators12are actioned, they permit the panels P1, P2to go upwards permitting all the cargo box CB to be extended and allowing to lift a max of 500 lb. from the top of the cabin roof until the back end of the pickup truck. When the complete system is in a closed position it serves as a cargo box bed that provides protection to the articles that are inside the cargo box. When closed, it is an aesthetic enhancer to the entire pickup. The cargo box extender also includes a control panel and corresponding circuitry for controlling the opening and closing of the panels P1, P2.

FIGS. 1 and 8, show the four-bar mechanism13used in both ends at the front of the cargo box CB comprising an electric motor14aand a sprocket-chain system15to change from the lowered position to the raised position.

FIGS. 2-5show the two panels P1, P2in a closed position. When the panels P1, P2are closed, the cargo box CB is converted into a cargo box bed CBB, that protects whatever is placed inside the cargo box. Conversely, when the panels P1, P2are in a raised position, they act as a vertical extension of the cargo. As such, the panels are a cargo box wall extender. The panels P1, P2can be manufactured from plastic or any durable material resistant to the elements. In this embodiment the panels are connected or hinged to the side walls of the cargo box CB. However, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the panels may also be connected or hinged to the front and back walls of the cargo box CB.

FIG. 3-4shows the actuators12a,12bthat are part of the back pillars11and whose purpose is to exert the linear displacement to get the panels P1, P2plastic panels from their lowered position to their raised position.

Moreover,FIG. 8shows the four-bar mechanisms on the front of the cargo box CB and the single bar mechanism on the back. All four mechanisms presented are moved by brushless electric motors. The motors14a,14ballow the mechanisms to change from their lowered position to their raised and fully extends positions.