Abstract:
An extender device having a base frame with two ends. There is at least one extendable arm that extends from one of the ends of the base frame that allows the bed extender to move from a retracted to an extended position. The length of the bed extender can be set by a locking mechanism located on the base frame that can be used to lock the extendable arm in position. The bed extender can be used to divide a storage compartment or it can be used to extend the length of the pick-up truck bed by using the extendable arms and a pivot mechanism connected to the extendable arms.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/784,077, filed Mar. 17, 2006. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a bed extender for maximizing the space available in the vehicle storage compartment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Most vehicles provide some form of storage space or compartment. Automobiles that are in the car category usually have a storage compartment in the form of a trunk, while other larger vehicles such as pick-up trucks have a bed that can be used for storage. Additionally, semi-trucks have tractor trailers that provide a large enclosed trailer for storage of items. It is desirable to develop items that will maximize the storage space by allowing the space that&#39;s available to be sub-divided. For example it is sometimes desirable to divide a storage compartment into sections in order to provide spaces for the storage of various items. Additionally it is also desirable in the case of pick-up trucks and other vehicles having a storage bed to have a way of extending the sides of the bed in instances where oversized items need to be transported.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to an extender device having a base frame with two ends. There is at least one extendable arm that extends from one of the ends of the base frame that allows the bed extender to move from a retracted to an extended position. The length of the bed extender can be set by a locking mechanism located on the base frame that can be used to lock the extendable arm in position. The bed extender can be used to divide a storage compartment or it can be used to extend the length of the pick-up truck bed by using the extendable arms and a pivot mechanism connected to the extendable arms.  
         [0005]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the bed extender locked into place on a truck tailgate in an upright position;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tailgate in an the down position with the bed extender in an upright position;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bed extender in a fully extended position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the bed extender;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of a locking clip;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5   b  is a plan view of a locking clip sliding in the inner clip rail;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5   c  a cross-sectional plan view of the locking mechanism;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 6   a - 6   c  are schematic cross-sectional plan views of the tailgate and hooks of the base frame;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7   a  is a perspective view of a moveable clip connected to a striker;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7   b  is a sectional plan view of a moveable clip connected to a striker; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bed extender being used to separate the truck bed into sections. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-8  a bed extender  10  is shown. The bed extender  10  can be stored on the interior surface of a tailgate  12 . The interior surface of the tailgate  12  has a formed holder or molded recess  11  for securing the bed extender  10  at or below a surface plane of the tailgate  12 . The molded recess  11  has resilient flanges or other suitable fasteners for securing the bed extender  10  when the tailgate  12  is in either the closed or open position. In one embodiment the tailgate  12  includes a storage space with a cover that encloses the bed extender  10 .  
         [0020]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  the bed extender  10  is used in one configuration to extend the length of storage area for a truck bed  14 . In particular this is helpful where oversized items have to fit into the truck bed  14 .  FIG. 8  shows the bed extender  10  being used to divide the truck bed  14  in half which allows for different items to be placed on either side of the bed extender  10 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to all of the figures, the bed extender  10  has a base frame  16  which is shown as a tubular structure having three horizontal extensions  24  and two vertical extensions  26 . A right side extendable arm  18  or first extendable arm, and a left extendable arm  20  or second extendable arm, are slidably extendable from the interior portion of the three horizontal extensions  24  of the base frame  16 . The left side extendable arm  20  and right side extendable arm  18  are single piece structures; however it is possible to have multiple segments that are capable of retracting into one another in order to decrease the length of the extendable arms  18 ,  20  and decrease the overall package size of the bed extender  10 . This embodiment of the invention uses two extendable arms; however it is within the scope of this invention for the bed extender  10  to have only a single extendable arm or more than two extendable arms.  
         [0022]     The left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  each have three horizontal tubes  19  that slide into the horizontal extensions  24  of the base frame  16 . The three horizontal tubes  19  are joined together by a cross tube  22 . It is within the scope of this invention for a lesser or greater number of horizontal tubes  19  and horizontal extension to be used depending on a particular application. Alternatively the bed extender  10  includes two solid left and right arms that slide into a hollow base frame  16 .  
         [0023]     At the end of the horizontal tubes  19  of the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  there are locking clips  21 ,  21 ′ having pivot points  23  connectable to each of the extendable arms  18 ,  20 . The pivot points  23  allow the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  to pivot at an angle with respect to the base frame  16  when the extendable arms  18 ,  20  are at or near a fully extended position.  
         [0024]     The left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  can be locked at a retracted position, a fully extended position and several predetermined positions therebetween. The intermediate positions are used for an embodiment of the invention where the bed extender is used to divide a truck bed  14  into two or more sections. Locking the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  at various lengths is accomplished using a locking mechanism  29  that includes the locking clips  21 , an inner clip rail  30  and a release handle  25 . The locking clips  21  slide within the inner clip rail  30  of the base frame  16 . The inner clip rail  30  is integrally formed as part of the inside of the horizontal extension  24  or it can be a separate component. The release handle  25  is attached to part of the inner clip rail  30  that has one or more apertures  32  formed on the surface of the inner clip rail  30 . The apertures  32  are at predetermined positions that define the positions where the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  can be locked during various points between the collapsed and fully extended positions. The inner clip rail  30  has grooves on its inner surface that guide the locking clips  21  along its sliding path. The locking clips  21  have resilient tabs  33  that snap into the apertures  32  of the inner rails  30 . The release handle  15  has an inner surface that is adjacent the apertures  32  of the inner clip rail  30 . The inner surface of the release handle has protrusions  34  formed on the inner surface. When the release handle  25  is rotated with respect to the inner clip rail  30  the protrusions  34  engage and release the resilient tabs  33  and/or prevent them from sliding into the apertures  32  when the locking clips  21  are sliding along the inner clip rail  30 . In operation a user the bed extender  10  will simply turn the release handle  25  and slide the left or right extendable arms  18 ,  20  to a desired length; then release the release handle  25  and pull the left or right extendable arms  18 ,  20  until the resilient tabs  33  snap in to the next closest aperture  32 .  
         [0025]     The other horizontal extensions  24  that do not have a release handle  25  have locking clips  21 ′ that are used for facilitating the sliding, pivoting of the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  as well as stopping the extension of the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  when they reach the end of the horizontal extension  24 . The locking clips  21 ′ slide on an inner clip rail that does not have apertures. The locking clips  21 ′ can still have tabs  33  but there will be no apertures for locking. Alternatively the locking clips  21 ′ can have a different design without tabs  33  which can save materials.  
         [0026]     When the bed extender  10  is stored in the holder  11  of the tailgate  12  the two vertical extensions have hooks  36  that slide into a tailgate holding feature  37  formed in the holder  11 . The hooks  36  rotatably clasp onto and are positioned between the tailgate  12  and a bar  38  when the bed extender is in the stowed position. If the bed extender  10  is going to be used to extend the surface of a truck bed  14  then the bed extender  10  is snapped out of the holder  11  and rotated to an approximately ninety degree angle; the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20  are extended and secured. If the bed extender  10  is to be removed then the bed extender  10  has to be rotated past ninety degrees until the hooks  36  are clear from the tailgate holding feature  37  and can be pulled away from the bar  38 .  
         [0027]     When the bed extender  10  is used to increase the usable area of a truck bed  14 , it is desirable to secure the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20 . Clasps  40  are connected to the cross tubes  22  of each of the left and right extendable arms  18 ,  20 . The clasps  40  have spring clips  42  or other suitable releasable fasteners that grasp a striker  44  connected to the vehicle.  
         [0028]     In another aspect of the invention the bed extender  10  is used to subdivide the truck bed  14  into two or more sections. As shown in  FIG. 8  the truck bed  14  has a side wall  46  having one or more vertical grooves  48  that serve as a vertical locking structure. The vertical grooves  48  are configured to receive the bed extender  10  into one of the vertical grooves  48  to secure the bed extender  10  in a vertical position so that it subdivides the truck bed  14 . While this particular embodiment describes the use of one or more vertical grooves  48  to lock the bed extender  10  in the upright position, it is possible for the vertical locking structure to be other structures or arrangements such as one or more apertures formed on a surface of a bed or tailgate; one or more hooks for grasping bars in the truck bed; and, brackets and rails with grooves for receiving and holding a portion of said bed extender. While  FIG. 8  shows a single side wall  46 , it is understood that the truck bed  14  will have two side walls; however, it is not necessary to have grooves on both of the side walls  48 .  
         [0029]     It is also within the scope of this invention for the bed extender  10  to be used in other vehicles besides pick-ups. For example, the bed extender  10  can be used to sub-divide a car trunk or extend the length or width of a trailer.  
         [0030]     In another alternate embodiment of the invention a netting or panel is extended across the horizontal tubes  19  and base frame  16  of the bed extender  10  to block an open space where smaller objects can fall through.  
         [0031]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.