Abstract:
A pivoting cage cargo bed extender is pivotally mounted to the D-pillars of a pick-up truck to be pivotally movable between a forward position and a rearward position. In the rearward position, the pivoting cage serves as a supplemental tailgate structure that rests on the open tailgate to extend the operative area of the cargo bed. The pivoting cage is formed of individual segments that are hinged together and separable at the center into two halves that are each collapsible into a stowed position adjacent the respective side wall of the cargo bed. The two halves of the cargo bed are connectable with a latching mechanism at the center to form a pivoting cage structure that spans transversely across the floor of the cargo bed. The latching mechanism compresses an internal O-ring to provide a tight connection between the two halves.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/969,417, filed on Oct. 20, 2004, which claims domestic priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/515,066, filed on Oct. 28, 2003, the contents of both patent applications being incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the containment of cargo on pick-up trucks and, more particularly, to a pivoting cage apparatus that can be positioned on the opened tailgate to expand the cargo area of the bed. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventionally, pickup trucks include a tailgate at the back of a bed that closes off a cargo box. Often times, the truck bed is not long enough to hold the cargo, so truck bed extenders have been developed. The truck bed extenders work in conjunction with the open tailgate in order to provide additional length to the bed. Some of the bed extenders mount to the outside of the tailgate or to the box itself, which may be convenient for deployment, but they tend to interfere with cargo space in the box since the bed extender, when not in use, protrudes into the box. Moreover, it is typical for the vehicle operator to employ the extender only occasionally, so it is generally undesirable to have the extender exposed at all times, which detracts from the attractiveness of the vehicle. 
   Additionally, it is sometimes desirable to have an extender that can provide other functions in addition to a bed extender, such as a box extender function—an upwardly extending structure from the rearmost edge of an open tailgate that mimics the function of a closed tailgate. Such arrangements are particularly useful for carrying a load that is longer than the bed, but needs rearward support like a closed tailgate provides in order to prevent the load from falling backwards off the truck. Again, though, typical box extenders that provide adequate functionality are externally mounted and not only detract from the vehicle appearance when not in use but also require changes to the box for mounting such extenders. Also, most of these types of extenders are very cumbersome to deploy and later stow away, thus being undesirable for the operator to use. Such functions may be provided with simple ergonomic operation of the assembly, while still allowing for an attractive appearance for the vehicle when the extender is stowed during periods of non-use. Thus, while the exterior mounted extenders may be able to perform multiple functions, they still suffer from the drawbacks of an unattractive appearance and taking up room in the bed even when not in use. 
   Another drawback with common bed extenders is that a desirable feature of conventional tailgates may be lost. That is, a conventional tailgate has an ornamental plastic tailgate molding mounted along its top surface. It is meant to provide a surface along which cargo can be slid into the bed without the concern of rusting due to paint being scraped off. Some bed extender designs interfere with or cause the elimination of this molding, further detracting from the appearance of the vehicle. 
   Positioning the extended supplemental tailgate structure generally perpendicularly to the plane of the main tailgate structure, while the main tailgate structure is moved to an open position such that the plane of the tailgate structure is substantially parallel to the bed of the pickup truck, places the extended supplemental tailgate structure in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the main tailgate structure when the main tailgate structure is in a normal closed position. In such an extended position, the supplemental tailgate can provide a restriction to the rearward movement of objects located on the bed of the pickup truck. Furthermore, such an extended position of the supplemental tailgate can provide support for objects placed on top of the supplemental tailgate. The extended supplemental tailgate, however, has a limited support structure on the main tailgate and would have enhanced stability if support members were provided to extend between the extended supplemental tailgate and the body of the pickup truck. 
   The utilization of a pivoting cage as an apparatus for restraining cargo on the bed of pick-up trucks is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,123, issued to Gerard Kmita, et al on Apr. 1, 2003, wherein a cage assembly is mounted to the D-pillar of the pick-up truck to be movable between a position resting on the opened tailgate and a position resting on the bed to form an enclosed compartment between the cage and the closed tailgate. This fixed cage is also movable into a folded orientation against the tailgate when storage is desired by folding the side pieces against the end piece. Such a storage position for the cage structure will reduce the overall available length of the cargo bed for utilization. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,392, issued to Horst Leitner, et al on Oct. 19, 2004, a pivoting cage is disclosed for use as a supplemental tailgate and as a cargo retaining apparatus, depending on which pivoted position the cage is oriented. The cage is of a fixed configuration spanning transversely between the side walls of the cargo bed and is pivotally attached to the side walls of the cargo bed for movement between the two orientations. Storage of the cage structure is accomplished by removing the cage from the cargo bed and placing it somewhere remotely from the vehicle. Convenient storage of the cage apparatus cannot be accomplished without removal of the cage apparatus from the vehicle. If large cargo items need to be loaded into the cargo bed, this cage apparatus would have to be removed and cannot be conveniently stored. 
   A cage storage device can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,103, granted to Wayne Ducote on Sep. 15, 1992, in which a top wall is supported on the top rails of the side walls, while a rearward cage wall extends transversely between the side walls to define a caged storage area at the forward portion of the cargo bed. This cage structure is not pivotal or movable into different orientations. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,913, granted on Oct. 19, 1993, a cage-like netting is mounted on a pivoted bar to be movable between a lowered position defining a cargo retaining area between the netting and the front wall of the cargo bed. This pivoted device cannot be positioned in conjunction with the tailgate to provide a supplemental tailgate apparatus, or provide a folded storage configuration. 
   Supplemental tailgate devices are found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,392, issued to Joseph Meinke on Apr. 2, 2002, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,338, issued to David Glickman on Sep. 24, 2002. Such supplemental tailgate devices can be selectively deployed from a storage position housed internally of the tailgate to an upright, operative position, which in conjunction with the lowered tailgate provides an extended cargo bed area that encompasses the floor of the cargo bed and the contiguous top surface of the tailgate. Such supplemental tailgate devices, however, can only restrain cargo passing directly rearwardly over the tailgate. Any cargo that would be loosely positioned on the cargo bed would be able to pass diagonally off the tailgate without encountering the supplemental tailgate device. Furthermore, loose cargo items having a small size can also pass rearwardly through these supplemental tailgate devices. 
   Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a cargo bed extending device that is in the form of a pivoting cage, yet can be conveniently configured into a storage position that would permit the utilization of the full length of the cargo bed, while allowing the pivoting cage to be deployed transversely across the cargo bed as needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the known prior art by providing a pivoting cage supplemental tailgate apparatus that can be stored along the sidewalls of the cargo bed in a stowed configuration. 
   It is a feature of this invention that the pivoting cage apparatus when stored against the lateral side walls of the cargo bed allows the full length of the cargo bed to be utilized. 
   It is another feature of this invention that the pivoting cage is formed of hinged segments that are pivotally attached to the opposing D-pillars of the pick-up truck. 
   It is an advantage of this invention that the hinged segments are stored against both opposing side walls of the cargo bed in a stowed configuration. 
   It is another advantage of this invention that the opposing hinged segments are connectable at the center of the pivoting cage by a detachable latching mechanism to form a cage structure the spans transversely across the cargo bed. 
   It is another feature of this invention that the latching mechanism compresses an internal O-ring to provide a tight connection between opposing segments at the center of the pivoting cage. 
   It is still another feature of this invention that the pivoting cage apparatus can be deployed after cargo is placed on the cargo bed. 
   It is still another advantage of this invention that the pivoting cage apparatus does not restrict access into the cargo bed for loading cargo thereon. 
   It is another feature of this invention that the double hinge design allows the cargo cage to be pivoted into deployment without requiring a tonneau cover to be removed. 
   It is another advantage of this invention that the shape of the individual panels of the pivoting cage apparatus to incorporate slots therein allows the passage of lighting for visibility purposes and reduces wind resistance. 
   It is yet another feature of this invention that the pivoting cage is positionable on the opened tailgate to extend the capacity of the cargo bed, and positionable on the floor of the cargo bed to provide a separation of the cargo bed into two compartments. 
   It is still another advantage of this invention that the positioning of the pivoting cage across the floor of the cargo bed of a pick-up truck while the tailgate is in the raised, closed position, allows the pivoting cage to establish a small retained enclosure between the pivoting cage and the raised tailgate to retain small items within the enclosure. 
   It is still another feature of this invention that the positioning of the pivoting cage across the floor of the cargo bed of a pick-up truck establishes a cargo retainer against the raised tailgate for restraining small amounts of cargo, such as groceries. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a pivoting cage cargo bed extender for a pick-up truck that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simple and effective in use. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished according to the instant invention by providing a pivoting cage cargo bed extender that is pivotally mounted to the D-pillars of a pick-up truck to be pivotally movable between a forward position and a rearward position. In the rearward position, the pivoting cage serves as a supplemental tailgate structure that rests on the open tailgate to extend the operative area of the cargo bed. The pivoting cage is formed of individual segments that are hinged together and separable at the center into two halves that are each collapsible into a stowed position adjacent the respective side wall of the cargo bed. The two halves of the cargo bed are connectable with a latching mechanism at the center to form a pivoting cage structure that spans transversely across the floor of the cargo bed. The latching mechanism compresses an internal O-ring to provide a tight connection between the two halves. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an upper, right rear perspective view of a cargo bed of a pick-up truck incorporating the principles of the instant invention, the pivoting cage apparatus being folded into the storage position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pick-up truck cargo bed similar to that of  FIG. 1 , but with the pivoting cage apparatus being oriented into an operative configuration extending transversely across the cargo bed; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a pick-up truck cargo bed similar to that of  FIG. 2 , but with the pivoting cage apparatus being oriented into an operative configuration extending transversely across the lowered tailgate of the cargo bed; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the pivoting cage apparatus showing the locking knob side of the joinder of the two halves of the pivoting cage apparatus; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial perspective view of the pivoting cage apparatus showing the retainer bracket side of the joinder of the two halves of the pivoting cage apparatus; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the latching mechanism connecting the two halves of the pivoting cage apparatus; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective detail view of the interlocking mounting member on the female side of the pivoting cage apparatus; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective detail view of the locking knob showing the side of the locking knob adjacent the cage panel to depict the engagement pins; 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting member pivotally supporting a half of the pivoting cage apparatus on the D-pillar of the pick-up truck cargo bed, the pivoting cage apparatus being depicted in the operative configuration with the D-pillar being shown in phantom; and 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting member similar to that of  FIG. 9 , but showing the pivoting cage apparatus in the storage position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , a pick-up truck cargo bed is provided with a pivoting cage apparatus incorporating the principles of the instant invention. Any left and right references are used as a matter of convenience and are determined by standing at the rear of the cargo bed where the tailgate is pivotally mounted and facing the cargo bed, the normal direction of travel of the pick-up truck. 
   The pick-up truck  10  is conventionally manufactured with a cargo bed  12  forming the rearward portion of the vehicle  10 . The cargo bed  12  includes generally vertical, upright side walls  13  having a floor member  14  formed by a floor pan extending generally horizontally therebetween. The frame of the vehicle  10  includes a generally vertical D-pillar  15  located at the rearward end of the cargo bed  12  adjacent the pivoted tailgate  19 . The tailgate  19  extends transversely above the floor  14  between the side walls  13  at the rearwardmost portion of the cargo bed  12 . The tailgate  19  is pivotally mounted to the floor  14  and is movable between an upright closed position that is oriented perpendicularly to the floor  14  and a lowered open position that forms an extension of the floor  14  rearwardly of the side walls  13 , as is shown in the drawings. 
   A pivoting cage apparatus  20  extends transversely across the floor  14  of the cargo bed  12 , as is depicted in  FIG. 2 , to divide the cargo bed into two separate compartments, one forward of the cage  20  and one between the cage  20  and the tailgate  19 , assuming that the tailgate is placed in the closed, upright position. With the tailgate  19  lowered to the open position, the cage  20  is pivotally movable to the position lying transversely across the opened tailgate  19 , as is depicted in  FIG. 3 . When use of the pivoting cage  20  is not desired, the cage  20  can be disassembled and stowed against the side walls  13 , as is depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
   The cage  20  is formed into two halves, one positionable against the left side wall  13  and the other against the right side wall  13 , when placed in the storage position depicted in  FIG. 1 . Each corresponding half of the cage  20  is formed substantially identically, but mounted generally in mirror image (except for the latching mechanism), as will be described below. Each half of the cage  20  includes a base or mounting member  21  that is pivotally supported on the cargo bed  12 . The base member  21  is preferably connected to the D-pillar  15  through a pivot  22  passing through the center of the base member  21 . Accordingly, the base member  21  is free to pivot through a 180 degree arc to affect the re-positioning of the cage  20  between the positions depicted, respectively, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   The base member  21  has a planar portion  23  that is formed with a hinge  24  for mounting an intermediate panel  25  for pivotal movement about the hinge  24  relative to the base member  21 . The intermediate panel  25  is formed with openings  26  therethrough to minimize wind resistance, and with support legs  27  on the top and bottom surfaces for engaging the surface of the floor  14 , or alternatively the tailgate  19 , so that the support leg  27  can rest between ribs  18  formed on the floor  14  and the tailgate  19  to locate the intermediate panel  25  and prevent transverse movement thereof when deployed out of the storage position and connected to the opposing half of the cage  20 . The opposing support legs  27  are preferably formed at respective heights to mate with the surface shape of the floor  14  or tailgate  19  so that the panel  25  will be positioned just above the surface of the floor  14 /tailgate  19  to minimize noise transmission. 
   Each of the respective intermediate panels  25  is also formed with a second hinge  28  to which is pivotally connected a center connecting panel  30 ,  40 . As with the intermediate panels  25 , the center connecting panels  30 ,  40  are formed with openings  32  therethrough, preferably formed as horizontally extending slots, and with support legs  33  on the top and bottom surfaces for positioning in between ribs  18  on the floor  14  and the tailgate  19 , depending upon which position the cage  20  is oriented. The center connecting panels  30 ,  40  are also formed with an overlap portion  35 ,  45  located at the distal end of the respective center connecting panel  30 ,  40 . The overlap portions  35 ,  45  have a thickness of approximately half the thickness of the remainder of the corresponding center connecting panel  30 ,  40  so that when the two opposing overlap portions  35 ,  45  are place against one another, the total thickness will be substantially uniform with respect to the remainder of the center connecting panels  30 ,  40 . 
   One (left) of the center connecting panels  30  is formed with a pair of insert members  36  on the interior surface of the overlap portion  35 , as are depicted in  FIG. 7 , and a pair of quadrant grooves  37  formed into the exterior surface of the overlap portion  35  and preferably extending onto the surface of the other center connecting panel  40 , as is best seen in  FIG. 5 , depending on the dimensions of the overlap portion and the location of the openings  36 . These quadrant grooves  37  are located for engagement with a retainer bracket  55  as will be described in greater detail below to enhance the connection between the left and right center connecting panels  30 ,  40  and to provide a visual indicator as to whether the latching mechanism  50  is latched or unlatched. Each insert member  36  has a generally vertical planar surface into which is formed a second pair of quadrant grooves  47  and a central hole  48 . The hole  48  permits the passage of the shaft  53  for the latching mechanism  50  for connecting the left and right center connecting panels together. 
   The other (right) center connecting panel  40  is formed with a pair of vertically spaced openings  46  through which the insert members  36  can extend from the left center connecting panel  30 . Each opening  46  is shaped to mate with the corresponding insert member  36  so that the planar surface becomes substantially aligned with the exterior surface of the right center connecting panel  40 . 
   The latching mechanism  50  includes a locking knob  52 , depicted in  FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  8 , from which protrudes a shaft  53  capable of passing through the hole  48  and a pair of engagement pins  54  positioned on opposing sides of the shaft  53  for engagement with the quadrant grooves  47  on the vertical planar surface of the insert members  36 . On the opposing side of the overlap portions  35 ,  45 , a retainer bracket  55  is engaged with the shaft  53 , and preferably affixed thereto by a nut  56  threaded onto the end of the shaft  53 . A flat  53   a  formed on the shaft  53  requires the retaining bracket  55  and the locking knob  52  to be turned together. The retaining bracket  55  is preferably formed with engagement tabs  57  that are aligned with the first pair of quadrant grooves  37  on the exterior surface of the left center connecting panel  30 . The engagement between the engagement pins  54  with the second pair of quadrant grooves  47  and between the engagement tabs  57  and the first pair of quadrant grooves  37  permit the locking knob  52  and retaining bracket  55  to be able to turn only approximately 90 degrees. 
   When the locking knobs  52  are turned to align vertically with the insert members  36 , the locking knobs  52  will pass through the openings  46  and the insert members  36  will move into the openings  46 . A ramp  49  formed on opposing sides of each of the openings  46  on the exterior side of the right center connecting panel  40  engages the locking knob  52  when rotated to be perpendicular to the opening  36 , thus drawing the two overlap portions  35 ,  45  into a tight, compressed engagement. Preferably an O-ring  59  positioned between the retainer bracket  55  and the insert member  36 , as is depicted in  FIG. 6 , accommodates the compression exerted by the engagement of the locking knob  52  with the ramps  49  to form a tight connection between the left and right center connecting panels  30 ,  40 . 
   Once the two halves of the cage  20  are joined together as described above, the entire cage  20  can be pivotally moved between the cargo retaining positions extending transversely across the cargo bed, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , and the supplemental tailgate position extending transversely across the lowered tailgate  19 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . The support legs  33  on the top surface in the cargo retaining position become the support legs  33  supporting the cage  20  above the tailgate  19  in the supplemental tailgate position. Pivotal movement of the cage structure  20  turns about the pivot  22  carried by the D-pillar  15 . A detent locking pin  17  is carried by the base member  21  and is selectively engagable with aligned openings  16  positioned above and below the pivot  22 . A living hinge design on the locking pin  17  provides the detent position. When the cage  20  is in one of the deployed orientations, the locking pin  17  is engaged with one of the openings  16  and engaged with the other of the openings  16  when in the other deployed orientation due to the corresponding pivotal rotation of the base member  21 . The openings  16  contain high impact countersunk grommets to reduce rattle. 
   Each half of the cage  20  is stowable in a storage position, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , against the corresponding side wall  13  of the cargo bed  12 . The intermediate member  25  is folded back toward the side wall  13  about the first hinge  24 , while the center connecting panel  30 ,  40  is rotated about the second hinge  28  against the intermediate panel  25  and engaged with a stow away latch  29  to retain the center connecting panel  30 ,  40  against the intermediate panel  25 . The stow away latch  29  is capable of deflecting to capture the center connecting panel  30 ,  40  and to allow the release thereof for deploying the cage structure  20 . In the storage position, the respective half of the cage structure  20  is positioned against the corresponding side wall in substantial alignment with the wheel well  11  within the cargo bed  12 . Therefore, the entire longitudinal length of the cargo bed  12  is available for utilization in hauling cargo. 
   The cargo beds  12  of pick-up trucks are often covered with a tonneau cover that mounts on the top of the side walls and on the front wall of the cargo bed to form a tight cover. The use of the double hinge design of the cage apparatus  20 , the hinge  24  between the base member  21  and intermediate panel  25 , along with the second hinge  28  between the intermediate panel  25  and the respective center panel  30 ,  40 , allows each half of the cage  20  to be folded into a position that would permit the rotation of the half of the cage  20  about its pivot  22  without requiring the tonneau cover to be removed. Therefore, the entire cage apparatus  20  can be deployed onto the lowered tailgate  19 , with the two center panels  30 ,  40  connected, without requiring the removal of the tonneau cover. 
   Preferably, the cage structure, including the base members  21 , intermediate members  25 , and the center connecting members  30 ,  40 , are formed from durable material such as glass filled plastic, such as nylon, polypropylene and acetal, which can be injection molded or rotational molded into the shape depicted in the drawings. In the alternative, the cage structure  20  can be manufactured from aluminum or other suitable metal to provide durable operative life and a lasting appearance. 
   The cage structure  20  is also advantageously used in conjunction with a supplemental tailgate assembly  60  of the type shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/969,262, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,595, on Nov. 22, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such a supplemental tailgate assembly  60  can be stored within the interior of the tailgate  19  until deployed with the tailgate  19  lowered into the open position and the supplemental tailgate assembly  60  oriented generally vertically to serve as a substitute tailgate while the top surface of the lowered tailgate  19  serves as an extension of the cargo bed  12 . With the supplemental tailgate assembly  60  raised into the operative vertical position with the tailgate lowered, the cage structure  20  can be pivoted into the rearwardly deployed position extending transversely across the tailgate  19  as is depicted in  FIG. 3 . The supplemental tailgate assembly  60  with lock rods (not shown) properly deployed would lend further support to the stability of the cage structure  20 . Even with the tailgate  19  in the first deployed position depicted in  FIG. 2 , the supplemental tailgate assembly  60  can help define a compartment of the cargo bed  12  in which cargo can be restrained between the pivoting cage  20  and the supplemental tailgate assembly  60 . 
   One skilled in the art will recognize that changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.