Patent Publication Number: US-2002000732-A1

Title: Pick-up box extension

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The invention relates to a pick-up box extension for use with various size vehicles having a peripherally enclosed area accessible by means of a tailgate.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] With the advent of downsized pick-up trucks and extended cabs came a need for an extension of the pick-up truck bed loading area beyond the open tailgate. A need arose to provide a practical means to carry standard size construction materials or other items in an enclosed and safe manner, without unduly restricting the regular loading area when the tailgate is in a closed vertical position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The invention is an improved pick-up box extension that allows transportation of oversized items that would normally not fit into the existing pick-up box enclosure or existing enclosures that terminate at the extreme rearward end of the horizontal tailgate.  
       [0004] The device attaches to vehicles having a loading platform with opposing vertical sides and a tailgate that hinges to the horizontal position from its closed vertical position.  
       [0005] The device consists of a rear panel of rectangular configuration and two rectangular side panels hinged to the opposite ends of the rear panel thus permitting movement of the side panels from a position parallel to the rear panel to a position of approximately ninety degrees to the horizontal plane of the rear panel.  
       [0006] The longitudinal dimension of the rectangular rear panel is such that it is somewhat smaller than the distance between the existing tailgate supports and the longitudinal dimensions of the side panel are somewhat smaller than half the longitudinal dimension of the rear panel permitting both side panels to be folded into the position parallel to the rear panel without overlap thus forming a flat configuration against the rear panel when said side panels are in the folded self-storing position.  
       [0007] The assembly of one rear panel and two hinged side panels are attached to two or more asymmetric hinges the short side of which are attached to the lower longitudinal edge of the rear panel. The rear panel contacts the inside of the horizontal tailgate and the longer side of the said hinges are held in place against the inside surface of the horizontal tailgate by means of brackets bridging the long side of the hinges and are attached to the inside surface of the tailgate. This permits the long side of the hinges to slide fore and aft in respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle resulting in an extended position of the rear panel beyond the outer extremity of the horizontal tailgate when the pick-up box extension is in its deployed position.  
       [0008] The asymmetric hinges are of such configuration that they can swivel ninety degrees up or down from their fully open position. This permits the rear and side panel assembly to assume a position parallel to the inside surface to the tailgate when in the self-storing position and also permits the said assembly to pivot ninety degrees downward when the tailgate is in its open horizontal position. This configuration does not interfere with the loading and off-loading operations.  
       [0009] In its self-storing position, the pick-up box extension assumes a position flat against and parallel to the closed vertical tailgate and is held in place by the sliding asymmetric hinges. The rear panel covers the two side panels and is further prevented from movement by a locking mechanism preventing vibration against the tailgate.  
       [0010] Operational deployment of the pick-up box extension entails opening the tailgate to its horizontal position, releasing the rear panel hold-down lock, positioning the rear panel by means of the asymmetric hinges to a position more or less vertical to the horizontal tailgate, positioning the side panels by means of their hinges attached to opposing ends of the rear panel to a vertical position at more or less ninety degree angles to the rear panel, sliding the open assembly rearward until the locking mechanism in both side panels aligns with the existing tailgate locking devices at the existing vertical sidewalls of the vehicle and securing the side panels in this position by means of suitable fasteners. Stop bolts in the long portion of the asymmetric hinge contact the hold-down brackets and prevent overextension of the assembly.  
       [0011] The pick-up box extension may be fabricated from sheet metal with suitable bends and reinforcing ribs in accordance with good engineering practices or made of aluminum, plastic, wood or other materials deemed suitable for the purpose. Safety lights and reflectors along with appropriate paints may be added to suit requirements.  
       [0012] In this way, the invention creates a simple cost effective way to solve the problem of an insufficient enclosed and secure loading area for pick-up trucks or station wagons.  
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013] SHEET No. 1/4 FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an existing pick-up box with the Pick-up Box Extension deployed and fastened in place.  
     [0014] SHEET No. 2/4 FIG. 2 shows a top view of the Pick-up Box Extension with hinged side panels and sliding hinges affixed in place.  
     [0015] SHEET No. 2/4 FIG. 3 shows a side view of the Pick-up Box Extension extending beyond the horizontal tailgate.  
     [0016] SHEET No. 2/4 FIG. 4 shows a side view of the Pick-up Box Extension in the collapsed self-storing position against the existing closed tailgate. The right hand sidewall of the pick-up truck box is removed for clarity.  
     [0017] SHEET No. 2/4 FIG. 5 shows the collapsed Pick-up Box Extension hinged vertically downward from the open horizontal tailgate to permit loading or unloading of the pick-up box.  
     [0018] SHEET No. 3/4 FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the asymmetric sliding hinge.  
     [0019] SHEET No. 3/4 FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the hinge-retaining bracket.  
     [0020] SHEET No. 3/4 FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the open horizontal tailgate with the Pick-up Box Extension in a folded, self-storing, retracted position fiat against the tailgate. It also shows the position of the stop bolt (item  22 ) that prevents in-adverted overextension of the sliding hinge. The right hand tailgate support is omitted for clarity.  
     [0021] SHEET No. 4/4 FIG. 9 shows the typical sheet metal construction of the rear panel.  
     [0022] SHEET No. 4/4 FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show the typical sheet metal construction of the left hand and right hand side panels.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0023] The following description is made with reference to drawings on SHEET No. 1/4 to 4/4 inclusive.  
     [0024] The perspective view shown in FIG. 1 depicts an existing loading platform with a loading surface  18 , a left sidewall  16 , a right sidewall  17  and a hinged tailgate  20  opened to the horizontal position and held in place by tailgate supports  19   a  and  19   b.    
     [0025] The pick-up box extension is seen mounted in its fully deployed functional position and consists of a rectangular rear panel  10  sized to fit between tailgate supports  19   a  and  19   b . A left hand side panel  11  of rectangular shape having a long side somewhat smaller than half the long side of the rear panel  10  and has one end attached by hinges to one end of the rear panel  10  by means of hinge pins  21  permitting rotation of said side panel  11  about the axis of hinge pin  21  from a position parallel with the rear panel  10  to a position more or less vertical to the horizontal plane of the rear panel  10 . The opposite end of rear panel  11  is secured to the existing tailgate latching mechanism by means of fasteners suited to be removably put in place at station  23 .  
     [0026] The right hand side panel  12  is the mirror image of the side panel  11  and is hingedly secured to the opposite end of the rear panel  10  by means of hinge pins  21  permitting rotation of the side panel  12  about the axis of the hinge pins  21  from a parallel position in respect to the rear panel  10  to a position more or less vertical to the horizontal plane of the rear panel  10 . The opposite end of the side panel  12  removably affixes to the existing sidewall  17  in the same manner as described for side panel  11 .  
     [0027] Sliding asymmetric hinges  14  are permanently secured to the rear panel  10  and are held in place against the inner surface of the tailgate  20  by means of brackets  13  fastened to tailgate  20 , bridging the long arm of asymmetric hinges  14  and permitting movement fore and aft along the longitudinal axis of the existing vehicle to permit alignment of the side panels  11  and  12  with the existing latching mechanism of sidewalls  16  and  17  at station  23 .  
     [0028] An enlarged view of the collapsed pick-up box extension assembly is shown in its self-storing position parallel with the horizontal tailgate  20  in FIG. 8 showing asymmetric hinges  14  held in position against the inside surface of the tailgate  20  by means of hinge retaining brackets  13  affixed to the tailgate  20  in such position as to permit rearward extension of said assembly and permit latching of the side panels  11  and  12  at station  23  to sidewalls  16  and  17 . Stop bolts or similar fasteners  22  are affixed to the asymmetric hinges  14  at a suitable position to prevent overextension of said assembly.  
     [0029] The short portion  15  of asymmetric hinge  14  is permanently fastened to the bottom longitudinal edge  24  of the rear panel  10  by means of fasteners, welding or bonding. The design of the rear panel  10  is such that it can house both side panels  11  and  12  when said panels are rotated about hinge pins  21  to a position parallel with the rear panel  10 . For clarity, FIG. 8 does not show the tailgate support  19   b.    
     [0030]FIG. 2 shows a top view of the existing loading platform defined by loading surface  18 , sidewalls  16  and  17 , horizontally open tailgate  20  held in place by supports  19   a  and  19   b . One clearly sees the deployed pick-up box extension, consisting of rear panel  10 , side panels  11  and  12 , hinges  13  and  21  and brackets  14 , extending beyond the extreme end  26  of tailgate  20 , thereby increasing the useful peripherally enclosed area by a large factor made possible by the use of the suitably sized asymmetric hinges  14  and suitably sized sidewalls  11  and  12 , and hinge retaining brackets  13  that permit hinges  14  to slide fore and aft along the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal axis when side panels  11  and  12  are unlatched from sidewalls  16  and  17 .  
     [0031] The side view FIG. 3 shows the deployed pick-up box extension resting partially on the open tailgate  20  with edges  25  and  24  of the rear panel  10  overlapping side panels  11  and  12  and being hingedly connected to rear panel  10  by means of hinge pins  21 .  
     [0032] Unlatching side panel  11  and  12  at stations  23  from sidewalls  16  and  17  permits rotation of side panels  11  and  12  about hinge pins  21  to a position parallel with the rear panel  10  which in turn is rotated about the axis of asymmetric hinges  14  to a position parallel with the inside surface of the open tailgate  20  and the whole collapsed assembly consisting principally of the rear panel  10  and side panels  11  and  12  is slid forward by means of asymmetric hinges  13  and bridging hinge retaining brackets  14  until said assembly is approximately flush with the tailgate edge  26  and said assembly is secured in this position by a suitable latching mechanism against the inside surface of tailgate  20 .  
     [0033] The tailgate  20  is then rotated about its hinging mechanism to a vertical position and latched to sidewalls  16  and  17 . The collapsed pick-up box extension assembly is thus stored flat against the closed tailgate  20  as shown in FIG. 4 without encumbering the vehicle&#39;s original loading area. Deployment of the collapsed pick-up box extension from its self-storing position follows operations in reverse order as described.  
     [0034] In order to load or offload items with the tailgate  20  in a horizontal position, the collapsed pick-up box extension is unlatched from its position parallel to the inside surface of the tailgate  20  and rotated vertically downward about the axis of the asymmetric hinges  14  as shown in FIG. 5 thereby not interfering with operations.  
     [0035] Preferred materials are sheet metal for the rear panel  10 , left hand side panel  11 , right hand side panel  12 , asymmetric hinges  14  and brackets  13  although any other suitable material may be chosen. Typical configurations in accordance with good engineering design practices are shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 for asymmetric hinges  14 , hinge-retaining brackets  13 , rear panel  10 , left hand side panel  11  and right hand side panel  12  respectively. Other suitable configurations and designs may be used to achieve the same ends.  
     [0036] The pick-up box extension may be painted and rear panel  10  and side panels  11  and  12  may be equipped with lights and or reflectors to enhance appeal, corrosion resistance and road safety.  
     [0037] The aforegoing embodiment of the presented invention sets out in detail the nature and function of the invention. It may however be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to some details of the invention without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
                                                   Item Number   Description                          10   Rear Panel           11   Left Hand Side Panel           12   Right Hand Side Panel           13   Hinge-Retaining Bracket           14   Asymmetric Sliding Hinge-Long End           15   Asymmetric Sliding Hinge-Short End           16   Existing Left Hand Wall of Pick-Up Box           17   Existing Right Hand Wall of Pick-Up Box           18   Existing Floor of Pick-Up Box           19a   Existing Right Hand Tailgate Support           19b   Existing Left Hand Tailgate Support           20   Existing Tailgate           21   Rear Panel to Side Panel Hinge Pin           22   Sliding Hinge Stop Bolt           23   Locking Mechanism           24   Lower Edge of Rear Panel 10           25   Upper Edge of Rear Panel 10           26   Upper Edge of Tailgate 20