Patent ID: 7654598

Claim:
A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said bed having an inner side having a lower end and an upper end, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said bed having an inner side, a tailgate, said extender comprising: a first side wall; a second side wall; a connecting wall extending between said first side wall and said second side wall said first side wall, said second side wall, and said connecting wall defining a generally U-shaped frame, said frame comprising a first cross beam, a second cross beam and a vertical strut connecting said first cross beam and said second cross beam; and wherein said first side wall is connected to said vehicle and said second side wall is connected to said vehicle in a first position wherein said extender is in an upright position over said tailgate rearward of said rear of said bed with said bed extender providing an opening from above, and wherein said first side wall is connected to said vehicle and said second side wall is connected to said vehicle in a second position wherein said connecting wall is in a substantially vertical position over said bed forward of said rear end of said bed and said first side wall and said second side wall extend rearward from said connecting wall and, with the tailgate closed, said extender provides access from above to a space between said first side wall and said second side wall; wherein said vehicle is a pickup truck.