Patent ID: 8177276

Claim:
A bed extender assembly for a vehicle bed, comprising: at least one bed extender device having a longitudinal length greater than a length of the vehicle bed, said at least one bed extender device having a first end disposed in the vehicle bed and a second end spaced apart from said first end to define said longitudinal length, said second end spaced rearwardly apart from a rearward end of the vehicle bed; and a locking bar extending transversely across the vehicle bed adjacent said first end to lock said first end of said at least one bed extender device against the bed floor, wherein said at least one bed extender device includes first and second track members transversely spaced apart from one another for carrying a wheeled vehicle, each of said first and second track members having a longitudinal length greater than the length of the vehicle bed such that each track member projects beyond a rear edge of a tailgate with said tailgate in a folded open position, wherein each one of said first and second track members includes first and second spaced apart longitudinal members and a plurality of cross members extending transversely between said first and second longitudinal members, wherein said locking bar includes an outer member and first and second inner members extending from opposite ends of said outer member, said outer member being spaced from and positioned entirely between said first and second track members, said outer member including an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve slidably positioned within said outer sleeve and a bias mechanism for urging said inner sleeve toward one of the ends of said outer sleeve, one of said first and second inner members being telescopically received in said inner sleeve of said outer member and movable between an expanded position wherein said first and second inner members are received within spaced apart locking structures and a collapsed position wherein said one inner member together with said inner sleeve is displaced within said outer sleeve toward the other end of said outer sleeve and said first and second inner members are removable from said spaced apart locking structures, wherein each of said first and second track members includes at least one aperture extending transversely through one of the first and second longitudinal members, one of said first and second inner members being received through the at least one aperture of said first track member and the other of said first and second inner members being received through the at least one aperture of said second track member, said first and second inner members directly contacting said first and second track members and locking said first and second track members against lifting movement.