Patent ID: 7488025

Claim:
A device for effectively extending the rearward length of the bed of a pickup truck, comprising a longitudinally extending casing anchored to the bed of the truck, and an extender telescopically and slidably received within said casing for slidably extending rearward cantilevered over the truck tailgate when the tailgate is in a horizontal position, said casing comprising a bed panel having a longitudinal peripheral edge and an opposite longitudinal central edge, a peripheral sidewall and an opposite central sidewall upstanding from said respective bed panel longitudinal edges, and an upper cover panel supported atop said casing sidewalls, said casing panels and sidewalls having rear edges defining a rear opening, said bed panel comprising a slide surface adjacent each respective sidewall, said bed panel further comprising a means of guiding said sliding of said extender within said casing comprising a guide channel along a central longitudinal axis atop said bed panel, each of said respective casing sidewalls defining a means of stopping said sliding of said extender within said casing; said extender comprising a baseframe having a longitudinal peripheral edge and an opposite longitudinal central edge, a peripheral extender sidewall and an opposite central extender sidewall upstanding from said respective extender longitudinal edges, and an upper coverframe supported atop said extender sidewalls, said extender further comprising slide margins beneath each respective extender sidewall and interfacing atop said respective slide surfaces of said bed panel, said extender further comprising a means of guiding said sliding of said extender within said casing comprising a downstanding guiderail slidably acceptable within said bed panel guide channel, each of said respective extender sidewalls further including a means of stopping said sliding of said extender within said casing comprising a stop stub stationed on an interior surface of one of said casing sidewalls and a stop affixed to an outer surface of one of said adjacent extender sidewalls, wherein rearward sliding of said extender within said casing causes said extender stop to contact said casing stop stub to prevent further rearward sliding.