Patent Publication Number: US-2007102947-A1

Title: Expandable rear storage vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      This invention relates generally in the field of vehicles having expandable rear storage space for additional storage needs. The invention utilizes an extendable and retractable rear housing and rear bumper to expand the rear storage space when needed.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Automobiles become an indispensable transportation tool in our daily life. Consumers of automobiles demand versatility in automobiles with respects to the capacity of passengers and the capacity of storage space. However, automobile manufacturers are mindful that the size of a vehicle has to be within a certain range in order to control the manufacturing costs of the vehicle and the fuel economy of the vehicle.  
      There has always been a competing interest or dilemma between increasing passenger capacity and storage space in an automobile. For example, if a third row of seats has to be installed and used in a van or sports utility vehicle, the storage space in the back of the vehicle will be dramatically reduced in the current automobile manufacturing. Yet, the additional storage space is not always needed in most of the vehicle use unless a group of people takes three rows of seat in the vehicle while having a lot of luggage. It would have been impractical to build a vehicle with a large amount of fixed storage space, which will definitely increase the costs of the vehicle and fuel consumption.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a vehicle having an expandable and retractable rear storage space.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle having an expandable and retractable rear housing used for an additional storage need.  
      It is yet another object of the invention to provide a rear bumper expandable and retractable in unison with said rear housing.  
      In summary, these objects can be achieved in a vehicle comprising a compartment for housing people or objects, said compartment having a rear opening and a rear extendable and retractable enclosure portion movably attached to the rear opening of said compartment and covering said rear opening,  
      Said rear enclosure portion further comprises a housing having a front opening and rear opening, a frame, and a rear door, a locking means for securely locking said housing in a desired position for an additional storage need, said front opening of said housing securely, extentably, and retractably attached to said rear opening of said compartment, said frame securely attached to said rear opening of said housing, said rear door securely and movably attached to said frame, whereby said housing can be extended outwardly and locked by said locking means in a desired and secure position for an additional storage need; whereby when there is no need of additional storage space, said housing can be retracted closer to said rear opening of said compartment.  
      An extendable and retractable rear bumper is attached to the bottom of said compartment. Said rear bumper can be extendable and retractable in unison with said housing of said rear enclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The following drawings are presented for a better understanding of the invention and other objects and features thereof. The following detailed description is to be read in conjunction with the following drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a side rear review of a vehicle with the rear door in an open position and with the rear housing and bumper in a retracted position.  
       FIG. 2  is side rear review of a vehicle with the extendable rear housing and bumper in an extended position and with the rear door in an open position.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of a vehicle with both of the rear housing and bumper in a retracted position and with the rear door in an open position.  
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of a vehicle with the rear housing and the rear in an extended position and with the rear door in an open position.  
       FIG. 5  is a view of the bottom of the vehicle showing the rear bumper in an extended position.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the rear bumper support with the lock securing the rear bumper in an extended position.  
       FIG. 7  is a partial view of the connection between the rear door and the frame.  
       FIG. 8  is a rear partial view of the support means for the support bar of the frame and the rear housing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The automobile industry has over 70 years of manufacturing history. The technology and skills in the industry are very sophisticated and advanced in the modern era. A person reasonably skilled in the industry will readily understand the following embodiment and make the vehicle according to the disclosure below.  
      The present invention describes a vehicle having a rear extendable and retractable storage housing. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side view of a rear end of a vehicle  10  is shown. The vehicle  10  has a rear door  12 , a rear bumper  14  in a retracted position.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the review of the vehicle shows the rear housing  22  in an extended position. Preferably, the rear housing  22  is retractably attached to the top and each side of the vehicle  10  through support bars  16  and  18 , respectively. Preferably, a frame  24  is securely attached to rear bumper  14 . The rear bumper  14  is securely attached the frame  24  and a support bar  20  on each side of the vehicle. The support bar  20  is movably attached to the bottom of the vehicle  10 . The housing enclosure  26  can be made of canvas or any collapsible and water-repelling materials.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the door  10  is movably attached to support hinges  13 . Preferably, some rigid material is used for the additional storage space  30  inside the rear housing  22 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , a track  34  each receives movable support bar  20 . A cross bar  32  may receive the rear bumper  14  in a retracted position.  FIG. 6  shows a spring-loaded lock  36  attached on the track  34 . There are plurality holes on support bar  20  where the lock  36  can lock through the holes at a desire extended position of the bar  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , the door  12  is pivotably attached to the frame  24 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , a track  42  is attached to the top  40  of the vehicle  10  to receive movable support bar  16 . The frame  24  is securely attached to the bar  16 . A pair of wheel  44  are attached to the track  42  to facilitate the movement of the bar  16 . Preferably, plurality of holes (not shown) can be made in both the bar  16  and the track  42  and a cross pin (not shown) can be placed through the respective holes in the bar  16  and track  42  for the purpose of securely the bar  16  in a desired extended position.  
      It is therefore to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.