Abstract:
An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate having first and second retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support is provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may comprise a ladder supported by the tailgate. The ladder may assume a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles and a raised position substantially aligned with the retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may also comprise a cross bar that connects with the retractable members to form the bed extension.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates generally to the motor vehicle field and, more particularly, to a retractable extender including a removable support for extending the bed of a truck. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For various reasons, it may be desirable to extend the effective length of a truck bed, such as for hauling a particularly long piece of cargo that would not fit in the bed with the tailgate in the raised position. In some cases, this is done by lowering the tailgate and placing a separate cage-like structure comprised of stacked, curved bars on it to help contain the cargo within the resulting extension created by the lowered tailgate. While effective, this arrangement requires using a large, separate component for placement on the lowered tailgate, which must be stored apart from the truck when not in use. 
         [0003]    Thus, a need is identified for a bed extender that can be easily stowed when not in use, and capable of being readily deployed for extending the effective length of the bed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, an apparatus for extending a vehicle bed is provided. The apparatus comprises a tailgate adapted for being raised and lowered relative to the vehicle bed. The tailgate includes one or more retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended or deployed position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support in the form of a ladder may be provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the ladder is adapted to move from a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles to a raised position substantially aligned with first and second retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The ladder may further include a transverse portion wider than a space between the first and second retractable members, such that the transverse portion of the ladder rests on the retractable members in the extended position. A connector may also be provided for connecting with one of the first or second retractable members, and the transverse portion of the ladder may include a cutout for receiving one of the first or second retractable members. 
         [0006]    The ladder may also include first and second telescoping supports connected to the tailgate. Each support may include an extendable portion adapted for pivoting relative to the tailgate. This pivoting allows the step to move between the lowered position for use in stepping and the raised position for extending the vehicle bed. 
         [0007]    The first and second retractable members may comprise telescoping supports at least partially recessed within a cavity of the tailgate. In one embodiment, the first and second retractable members are adapted for pivoting from a raised position in alignment with the tailgate to a lowered position. The removable support may comprise a transverse portion connecting the retractable members, such as a cross bar removably connected to the first and second retractable members. 
         [0008]    According to a further aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for extending a vehicle bed including a tailgate is provided. The apparatus comprises first and second retractable members for moving from a retracted position within the tailgate to an extended position projecting from the tailgate. A transverse connector for connecting the first and second retractable members. The transverse connector includes at least one receiver for receiving a portion of the retractable member. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the transverse connector includes a first receiver for receiving the first retractable member and a second receiver for receiving the second retractable member. Third and fourth retractable members may be connected to the transverse connector. The third and fourth retractable members may be mounted for pivoting relative to the tailgate to achieve the lowered position of the retractable ladder. The transverse connector may comprise a step in the lowered position of the third and fourth retractable members. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for extending a vehicle bed including a tailgate is provided. The apparatus comprises first and second retractable members for projecting from the tailgate in an extended position and for being recessed within the tailgate in a retracted position, the first and second retractable members including aligned openings. A cross bar is provided for positioning in the aligned openings of the first and second retractable members. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the cross bar comprises first and second interconnected portions, each having an oversized head for capturing the cross bar in position relative to the first and second retractable members. The first and second portions of the cross bar may be connected by threaded engagement. 
         [0012]    In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the truck bed extender. As it should be realized, the arrangement is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the truck bed extender as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0013]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the truck bed extender and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a partially cutaway, rear perspective view of a vehicle bed including a tailgate with a ladder in a retracted position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a similar view, with a cutaway illustrating an interior portion of the tailgate to show certain of the structures forming the ladder; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a similar view with the tailgate in the lowered position, ready for loading the bed with cargo; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a similar view showing a railing formed by extendable rails and a retractable ladder in a lowered position, ready for use in stepping into the bed from the ground; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a partially cutaway view of a retractable ladder according to one possible embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a partially cutaway view illustrating the extension and retraction mechanism associated with the ladder; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a partially cutaway view showing the extension and retraction mechanism associated with each handle forming the railing; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of the support arrangement for the ladder according to one embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a partially cutaway perspective view of the vehicle bed taken from the rear, illustrating a retractable bed extender formed from the combination of the handles and the ladder when connected in a common horizontal plane; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the retractable bed of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a cutaway side view of the ladder, illustrating the pivoting capabilities of a transverse portion for forming the retractable bed extender; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 12 and 13  schematically illustrate an alternate embodiment of the retractable bed extender. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the truck bed extender, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a tailgate  20  including a retractable ladder  22 . The tailgate  20  is adapted to mount to a vehicle  24 , such as a pickup truck. The vehicle  24  includes a storage compartment or bed  26  that is defined by a left rear quarter panel  28 , which forms a first vertical surface of the bed  26 ; a right rear quarter panel  30 , which forms a second vertical surface of the bed  26 ; a floor  32 , which extends between the two panels  28 ,  30 ; and the tailgate  20 . 
         [0028]    As can be understood by comparing  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the tailgate  20  may pivot between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position to expose and cover an open end of the bed  26 . In this regard, and as perhaps best shown in  FIG. 9 , the tailgate  20  includes a pair of tailgate hinges  34  for cooperating with the side panels  28 ,  30 . A pair of tailgate supports  36  connected to these panels  28 ,  30  support the tailgate  20  in the lowered or horizontal position. A tailgate handle  35  mounts to an outer panel  38 , and functions in a conventional manner. The release mechanism for the tailgate  20 , as well as tailgate latches, are conventional and well known in the art and so are not shown in detail. 
         [0029]    The tailgate  20  includes a tailgate frame  37 , which forms the outer finished surface of the tailgate  20 , and an inner panel  40 , which mounts to the outer panel  38  and forms the inner surface and sides  42  of the tailgate  20 . The outer panel  38  and inner panel  40  combine to form a channel  68 . Other tailgate reinforcement members (not shown) and brackets (not shown) may be mounted within the frame  37  to provide structural support to the frame outer and inner panels  38 ,  40 . 
         [0030]    A left tailgate molding  50  and a right tailgate molding  52  may form the upper surfaces of the tailgate  20 . These moldings  50 ,  52  help to prevent paint scratches on metal parts when cargo is being loaded over the top of a closed tailgate  20 . The moldings  50 ,  52  may be made of colored plastic that is the desired color of the parts, which eliminates the need to paint them. 
         [0031]    The components that make up the tailgate frame  37  are formed so that a hollow internal cavity C is created, as indicated by the partially cutaway view provided in  FIG. 2 . Within this cavity C, the ladder  22  is retained in the retracted configuration. In one embodiment, the ladder  22  includes a transverse portion  54  (which together with moldings  50 ,  52  form the upper end surface of the tailgate  20 ), a movable frame portion  56 , and guide rails  58 . As can be understood with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the guide rails  58  are hollow, generally rectangular tubes fixed to the tailgate frame  37  and support the movable frame portion  56  as it is telescopically extended from and retracted into the guide rails  58 . 
         [0032]    Each guide rail  58  includes pivot brackets  64  that cooperate with the movable frame portion  56  to allow for both pivoting of the movable frame portion relative to the tailgate  20  and also prevent the movable frame portion from being separated from the guide rails  58 . The bottoms of the guide rails  58  may be fastened to the inner panel  40  in order to help secure the guide rails to the tailgate  20 . 
         [0033]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the movable frame portion  56  includes a pair of supports  62  that may retracted into and extend from the respective guide rail  58 . Each support  62  is received telescopically in a respective one of the guide rails  58 . As can be further understood from  FIG. 8 , each of the guide rails  58  may include a block spacer  55  mounted therein against which the supports  62  can slide. The block spacers  55  may be formed of plastic to minimize potential scratching of the supports  62  as they slide relative to the guide rails  58 . Each of the supports  62  includes a hinge pin  66  that cooperates with the pivot brackets  64 , when fully extended. This allows for pivoting of the movable frame portion  56  relative to the guide rails  58 , while still allowing the guide rails to retain and support the supports  62 . The hinge pins  66  may be secured to the supports  62  by welding, interference fit, or some other suitable means. 
         [0034]    Each of the supports  62  may also connect to a corresponding latching assembly  60 . The latching assemblies  60  releasably fix the supports  62  to a certain limited number of telescopically extended positions relative to the guide rails  58 . When extended out partially, the guide rails  58  hold the supports  62  parallel, thus creating a longer effective bed for the vehicle  24  when the tailgate  20  is in the horizontal position. 
         [0035]    Each of the movable frame portion&#39;s supports  62  are hollow for receiving a respective one of the two latching assemblies  60  therein. More specifically, and with further reference to  FIG. 8 , the latch housings  78  extend through each of the supports  62  and connect, at their upper ends, to the lower ends of latch actuation rods  80  via retainer barrels  81 . The upper ends of the latch actuation rods  80  are secured, via retaining clips  83 , to release levers  82 , which are part of the transverse portion  54 , in order to form a releasable connector  84 . 
         [0036]    The pivot mounts  73  on the support frame  70  connect to and mount the transverse portion  54  about a pivot axis  77 . More specifically, the transverse portion  54  may be formed from plastic, or other suitable material, such as, for example, a thirty percent glass filled polypropylene. The release levers  82  may be molded into the transverse portion  54  while it is being formed or affixed thereto after forming by, for example, friction welding. Each release lever  82  includes a base  86  that is adjacent to the transverse portion  54 , a pivot flange  88  extending from one end of the base  86 , and a release flange  90  extending from the other end. Each pivot flange  88  pivotally mounts about one of the pivot mounts  73  and is secured with a hinge rod  92 . The pivot flange  88 , then, will allow the transverse portion  54  to pivot about the pivot axis  77 . Each release flange  90  is offset from the pivot axis  77  and is connected to one of the latch actuation rods  80 . Thus, when the transverse portion  54  is pivoted, the release flanges  90  pull up on the latch actuation rods  80 . The latching assemblies  60  unlatch, allowing the supports  62  to slide relative to the guide rails  58 , when the latch actuation rods  80  are pulled upwards, and re-engage when the latch actuation rods  80  are released. 
         [0037]    The lower ends of the latch housings  78  connect to latch return springs  85 , which, in turn, are connected to the hinge pins  66 . Also connected to the hinge pins  66  are linear guides  89 . The linear guides  89  may include sliders  91 , which provide for surface contact with the inside of the guide rails  58 . Alternatively, the linear guides and sliders may be replaced with roller guides and rollers (not shown) in order to provide a more smooth feeling motion when extending and retracting the supports  62  relative to the guide rails. 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 8 , each of the latch housings  78  also includes a longitudinally extending slot  93 , within which is mounted a respective one of two latch blades  87 . Each latch blade  87  is biased into its corresponding slot  93  by a latch blade spring  95 . The springs  95  cause retention tabs  96 , protruding from the latch blades  87 , to extend through corresponding holes  97  in the supports  62 . When aligned, the retention tabs  96  are biased by the springs  95  to extend through engagement slots  98  in the guide rails  58  and through engagement slots  61  in insert plates  59 . The insert plates  59  may be secured to their respective guide rails  58  by detent covers  57 . The engagement slots  61 ,  98  may be longer than the width of the corresponding retention tabs  96  and the insert plates  59  adjustable relative to their corresponding detent covers  57  in order to allow for small adjustments in the position of the supports  62  relative to the guide rails  58 . This small adjustability may allow one to make sure that the top of the transverse portion  54  is flush with the tops of the tailgate moldings  50 ,  52  when the ladder  22  is in its stowed position. Each latch housing  78  also includes internal flanges  99 , located within the slot  93 , that engage release ramps  100  on the latch blade  87 . 
         [0039]    To deploy the ladder  22  from its stowed position, the transverse portion  54  may be grasped and pivoted relative to the pivot axis  77 . This causes the release flanges  90  to pull on the latch actuation rods  80 , which, in turn, pull on the latch housings  78  against the bias of the latch return springs  85 . As the latch housings  78  move upward, the internal flanges  99  slide along the release ramps  100 , which causes the latch blades  87  to begin sliding against the bias of the latch blade springs  95 . As the latch blades  87  slide outward, the retention tabs  96  slide out of the engagement slots  61 ,  98 , thus releasing the movable frame portion  56  and allowing it to slide relative to the guide rails  58 . Springs (not shown) may be provided to bias the movable frame portion  56  away from the tailgate frame  37  when the latching assemblies  60  are released. 
         [0040]    Further retraction of the transverse portion  54  telescopically slides the supports  62  relative to the guide rails  58 , while allowing the transverse portion to pivot back into its latch engaged position. Once the movable frame portion  56  slides out to a predetermined extended position relative to the tailgate  20 , the retention tabs  96  on the lower end of the latch blades  87  engage a slot  53  or slot  61  (depending upon how far the supports  62  are slid prior to releasing the transverse portion  54 ), thus fixing the movable frame portion  56  relative to the guide rails  58 . Also, at these extended positions, the supports  62  still remain partially within the guide rails  58  so that the two will not pivot relative to one another. With the tailgate  20  in its horizontal open position, the ladder  22  is now in its bed extender position. While only a limited number of bed extender positions are discussed herein, the ladder  22  may have multiple bed extender positions by providing additional engagement slots, if so desired. 
         [0041]    The transverse portion  54  may then be pivoted again to release the latching assemblies  60  once more. One may then pull the ladder  22  out to its fully extended position relative to the open tailgate  20 . In this fully extended position, the supports  62  will be pulled out of the guide rails  58 , with the hinge pins  66  engaged in the slots  65  of the pivot brackets  64 . 
         [0042]    The movable frame portion  56 , from its fully extended position, can be pivoted downward until the supports  62  engage stops  152 . The size and location of the stops  152  determines the downward angle at which the supports  62  engage the structural stops  152 . This angle can be any angle that is deemed most convenient for positioning of an assist step. After the frame portion  56  is in this downward extending, generally vertical orientation, one then uses a hand or foot to pivot a flip step  153  connected to the transverse portion  54  by a hinge  159  from its closed position resting against the support frame  70  to its open position generally flush and coplanar with the support frame  70  and extending toward the vehicle  24 . The ladder  22  is now in its step assist position (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ). The flip step  153  and the support frame  70  act together to form a step that is wide enough to be comfortable for a foot when one is standing thereon. If so desired, one may also provide traction grooves  151  or apply a tape or a similar traction device to the upper surfaces of the support frame  70 , flip step  153  or both in order to improve the traction of a person standing on the step. 
         [0043]    With combined reference to  FIG. 4 , it can also be understood that the tailgate  20  may include an extendable railing  101  to provide support for a person when using the ladder  22  in the deployed or lowered position. In one embodiment, this railing  101  includes one or more spaced, elongated handles, which in the illustrated embodiment take the form of first and second retractable members  102 ,  104 , one positioned on each side of the ladder  22 . These members  102 ,  104  are adapted for being withdrawn from the tailgate  20  in the active condition, and for returning to a retracted position within it in an inactive condition. As shown in  FIG. 7 , each member  102  (only one shown) may include an extendable portion  102   a  that telescopes into another member, such as a tubular receiver  102   b,  associated with and fixed to the tailgate  20 . A suitable locking pin  106  may also be provided for locking the extendable member  102 ,  104  in the extended and retracted positions. 
         [0044]    According to one aspect of the disclosure, the ladder  22  and one or both of the members  102 ,  104  (if two are present) may be combined to form a retractable bed extender  200  for use in combination with the existing vehicle bed  26 . Specifically, with reference to  FIG. 9 , the extendable portions  102   a,    104   a  of the retractable members  102 ,  104  forming railing  101  in the extended position may engage the transverse portion  54  of the ladder  22  when in an extended, generally horizontal position. As can be appreciated from  FIG. 10 , this transverse portion  54  of the ladder  22  may have a corresponding dimension, or width, equal to or greater than the spacing S between the members  102 ,  104 , such that the transverse portion may engage and be supported by the extended portions  102   a,    104   a  when in a similar, substantially horizontal orientation. 
         [0045]    The ladder  22  may be adapted for releasably engaging the portions  102   a,    104   a  of the members  102 ,  104  in the extended position. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the transverse portion  54  may include one or more receivers, such as openings or cutouts  54   a,    54   b  for receiving the corresponding end portions of the members  102 ,  104  (such as when pivoted vertically a few degrees). The transverse portion  54  may also include connectors, such as fixed or removable pins  105 , for positioning in one or more openings in the extended portions  102   a,    104   a  members  102 ,  104  to form a secure, but releasable engagement when the bed extender  200  is extended. As should be appreciated, the arrangement may be reversed with the same result, with the connectors or pins  105  provided on the members  102 ,  104  and passing into the transverse portion  54 . 
         [0046]    It can be further appreciated that, as a result of this arrangement, the entire retractable bed extender  200  may be extended and retracted without disconnecting the transverse portion  54  for use as a step (see action arrow A in  FIG. 4 ). When deployment of the ladder  22  is desired, the transverse portion  54  may simply be disconnected from members  102 ,  104 , such as by raising it slightly, including by way of pivoting (see arrow P in  FIG. 11 ), and the members then adjusted if necessary to allow the transverse portion to move downwardly to the lowered position shown in  FIG. 4 . The portions  102   a,    104   a  of members  102 ,  104  may then be extended and pinned in place to complete the transformation to a configuration that facilitates stepping into the bed  26  using the transverse portion  54 , including as modified using the flip step  153 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , it is also possible to form the retractable bed extension  200  without using the ladder  22 . Specifically, in a situation where ladder  22  is absent, the members  102 ,  104  may be extended and a separate, removable support may be associated with the members in the extended position. This removable support may take the form of a cross bar  202 , which may pass through aligned apertures  204  formed in the members  102 ,  104 . The cross bar  202  may comprise first and second portions  202   a,    202   b,  which may be removably connected together, such as by threaded engagement, and which may each further include an oversized head  206 . 
         [0048]    Once positioned spanning the extended portions  102   a,    104   a  of the members  102 ,  104 , the cross bar  202  may then be fixed in place. When not in use, the cross bar  202  may be disassembled and stowed within a corresponding cavity formed in the tailgate  20 , such as the one that would normally receive parts of the ladder  22 . The extendable members  102 ,  104  may also be mounted for pivoting movement when the portions  102   a,    104   a  are extended, as noted above, such that the cross bar  202  could be used as a step when in a pivoted or lowered position. The cross bar  202  may also be used in connection with the extendable members  102 ,  104  when a ladder  22 , if present, is in the retracted position. 
         [0049]    As with moldings  50 ,  52 , the transverse portion  54  of ladder  22  may be molded with the plastic being the desired final color so that it does not have to be painted. This transverse portion  54  may also include a pocketed handle  94  that provides for ease of gripping and pivoting the transverse portion  54  when deploying the ladder  22 . The transverse portion  54  also may have an overall width that is just smaller than a gap  43  formed between the two tailgate moldings  50 ,  52 , and a top surface flush with the corresponding surfaces of the tailgate moldings  50 ,  52 . 
         [0050]    Additionally, if so desired, the two tailgate moldings  50 ,  52  may include recessed flanges (not shown) that nest under the edges of the transverse portion  54 . Accordingly, the transverse portion  54  of the ladder  22 , when in its fully retracted position, blends in with the tailgate  20 . Thus, the ladder  22  may be included without detracting from the esthetically pleasing look of the vehicle  24 , and still allows the sliding of cargo into and out of the bed  26  over the top of a closed tailgate  20  without creating paint scratch concerns. 
         [0051]    In summary, numerous benefits are provided by providing a retractable bed extender  200  for a vehicle  24  including a tailgate  20 , such as a pick-up truck. The extender  200  may be formed from an existing ladder  22  in a generally horizontal combination with retractable members  102 ,  104 , which may alternately serve as a railing  101  for aiding in using the ladder to enter the bed  26 . A more secure and stable arrangement results, and one that does not require storage apart from the tailgate. A removable member, such as a cross bar  202 , may also be used to form the retractable bed extender  200 , with similar effect. 
         [0052]    While one embodiment of a ladder  22  is described above, a further description of similar arrangements may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,624, 7,090,276, and 7,234,749, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,488,021, 7,267,387, and 9,302,719 are also incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0053]    The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.