Bed extension assembly

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a bed extension assembly for a vehicle, and more particularly to a bed extension assembly including a split-type tailgate openable in a center thereof disposed along a rearward side of a bed floor and a bed extender movable between a stowed position and an extended position for providing increased floor area.

[0002] Storage capacity in pick-up vehicles, particularly storage capacity in the beds of such vehicles, is a concern that has been addressed many times over. The need for sufficient storage space in the bed has become even more critical with the introduction of sport utility truck (SUT) vehicles, which often include an open-ended load carrying bed that is something less than full size.

[0003] One attempted solution for increasing the storage capacity of a pick-up truck's load carrying bed is to provide an accessory part that can be a cage-type structure that locks into place when the bed's tailgate is down to create an auxiliary storage area. The tailgate then becomes the floor of the auxiliary storage space and the accessory cage forms side and rear walls of the auxiliary storage space.

[0004] This solution is less than optimal because the bed can only be extended a dimension equal to that of the height of the tailgate. Moreover, the accessory part must then be hauled around as an extra part and, in cage form, the accessory part may not sufficiently contain smaller items capable of slipping between bars forming spaces within the caged accessory. Still further, in a conventional cage accessory mounted upon a tailgate, most if not all of the strength of the extended floor must be supported by the tailgate (i.e., the cage accessory provides no support).

[0005] According to one aspect, a bed extension assembly for a vehicle is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this aspect, the bed extension assembly includes a bed assembly having a bed floor, sidewalls disposed along the sides of the bed floor, and a split tailgate assembly disposed adjacent a rearward edge of the bed floor between the sidewalls. The split tailgate assembly includes a first door pivotally secured to one of the side walls and a second door pivotally secured to another of the sidewalls. A bed extender member is movably secured to the bed assembly for movement between a stowed position beneath the bed floor and an extended position protruding rearwardly from the bed assembly.

[0006] According to another aspect, an external bed assembly for a vehicle is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this aspect, the external bed assembly includes a bed floor defining a bed floor area and sidewalls extending upward from the bed floor along longitudinal sides thereof. A split-type tailgate openable in a center thereof is disposed along a rearward side of the bed floor and laterally between the sidewalls. A bed extender is secured to the vehicle and is movable between a stowed position and an extended position. The bed extender and the bed floor together provide increased floor area relative to the bed floor area when the bed extender is in the extended position.

[0007] According to yet another aspect, a combination tailgate and bed assembly for a vehicle is provided. More particularly, in accordance with this aspect, the combination tailgate and bed assembly includes a split-type tailgate having a first door and a second door. Each of the first and second doors is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a respective vertical axis. A load-carrying bed is defined by a bed floor. The split-type tailgate and sidewalls are disposed along longitudinal sides of the bed floor. The first door is pivotally mounted to a first of the sidewalls adjacent a rear portion thereof and the second door is pivotally mounted to a second of the sidewalls adjacent a rear portion thereof. The split-type tailgate defines a rear wall of the load-carrying bed when the first and second doors are in closed positions. A bed extender is provided for selectively increasing floor area of the load-carrying bed. The bed extender is movable to a stowed position wherein the bed extender is stored beneath the bed floor and to an extended position wherein the bed extender adds floor area to the bed floor.

[0012] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating one or more exemplary embodiments, FIG. 1 shows a bed extension assembly 10 for a vehicle 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle 12 is a sport utility truck (SUT), but it is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the vehicle 12 could be any other type of vehicle having a bed, such as a pick-up truck, sport utility, cross-over, utility truck or other vehicle. The bed extension assembly 10 includes a bed assembly or load-carrying bed of the vehicle 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the load-carrying bed is depicted as an external bed, but it is to be appreciated that a bed 14 could be a covered bed or disposed integrally with a passenger cabin of a vehicle.

[0013] With additional reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bed assembly 14 has a bed floor 16 that defines a bed floor area 18. The bed assembly 14 additionally includes sidewalls 20, 22 disposed along sides or edges 16a, 16b of the bed floor 16. More particularly, the sidewalls, which include first sidewall 20 (shown as the right sidewall in the figures) and the second sidewall 22 (shown as the left sidewall and the figures), extend upward from the bed floor 16 along the bed floor's longitudinal sides 16a, 16b. The bed assembly 14 further includes a forward wall 24 disposed adjacent a forward edge 16c of the bed floor 16 and a split tailgate assembly or split-type tailgate 30 disposed adjacent a rearward edge 16d of the bed floor 16 between the sidewalls 20, 22. When the vehicle 12 is an SUT or pick-up truck having an exterior bed, as depicted in the illustrated embodiment, a forward wall 24 can be disposed adjacent or as forming a rearward wall of a cab portion 26 of the vehicle.

[0014] The split-type tailgate 30 includes a first door 32 (right door in the figures) pivotally secured to one of the sidewalls (i.e., the first sidewall 20) and a second door 34 (the left door in the figures) pivotally secured or mounted to another of the sidewalls (i.e., second sidewall 22). More specifically, the first door 32 is pivotally mounted to the first sidewall 20 adjacent a rear portion 20a thereof and the second door 34 is pivotally mounted to the second sidewall 22 adjacent a rear portion 22a thereof. The first and second doors 32, 34 can be mounted conventionally, as is known and understood by those skilled in the art, such that the split-type tailgate 30 is openable in or along a center or parting line 36. For facilitating opening and closing of the doors 32, 34, handles 38, 40 can be provided, along with appropriate latching mechanisms 42 (e.g., latches, strikers, accommodating recesses, etc.).

[0015] As is also known and understand by those skilled in the art, the doors 32, 34 can be pivotally mounted to the sidewalls 22, 24 by appropriate mounting structures, such as hinges 44a, 44b shown mounting door 34 to sidewall 22. In particular, the first door 32 can be mounted to the sidewall 20 for movement about a first door vertical axis 46 and the second door 34 can be mounted to the second sidewall 22 for pivotal movement about second vertical axis 48 which is generally parallel and spaced apart relative to first vertical axis 46. As shown in FIG. 1, the split-type tailgate 30 defines a rearward wall of the load carrying bed 14 when the first and second doors 32, 34 are in closed positions and extends laterally between the sidewalls 20, 22. As is described in more detail below, the doors 32, 34 are particularly mounted for swinging movement about their respective vertical axis 46 or 48.

[0016] The bed extension assembly 10 further includes a bed extender member 50, also referred to herein as simply a bed extender, that is movably secured to the bed assembly 14 for movement between a stowed position (FIGS. 1 and 2) beneath the bed floor 16 and an extended position (FIG. 3) protruding rearwardly from the bed assembly 14. The bed extender 50 has an upper planar surface 52 that is generally parallel to the bed floor 16 when the bed extender is in both its stowed position and extended position. As best shown in FIG. 3, the bed extender 50 can be coplanar or nearly coplanar with the bed floor 14 when the bed extender is in the extended position. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, the bed extender 50 and thus the upper planer surface 52 are only slightly offset or positioned below the bed floor 16 so that a minimal step is formed between the bed floor and the bed extender. In alternative arrangements, it is contemplated that the bed extender 50 could move to its extended position and also be raised slightly so as to be completely coplanar with the bed floor. The bed extender 50, and particularly its upper surface 52, in combination with the bed floor 16 to together provide or form an increased floor area relative to the bed floor area when the bed extender 50 is in the extended position.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second doors 32, 34 are each openable to a respective sidewall forming position. More particularly, when in the first door sidewall forming position, a first door 32 is generally parallel with the sidewall 22. Of course, when closed, the first door 32 is approximately normal relative to the sidewall 22. Similarly, the second door 34 is generally parallel with the sidewall 22 when in the second door sidewall forming position and approximately normal relative to the sidewall 22 when in a second door closed position. Thus, the two pivotal doors 32, 34 are each openable from a closed position to a sidewall forming position. The doors 32,34 form a generally continuous wall laterally between ends 20a, 22a of the sidewalls when the doors are in their respective closed positions. In contrast, each of the doors 32, 34 is positioned to approximately ninety degrees (90°) relative to the closed position when in its respective sidewall forming position. As will be described in more detail below, the first and second doors 32, 34 are each lockable in their respective sidewall forming positions.

[0018] As best shown by contrasting FIGS. 1 and 2, access to the bed extender 50 is substantially prevented when the first and second doors 32, 34 are in their closed positions (shown in FIG. 1) which prevents movement of the bed extender from its stowed position to its extended position. When the doors 32, 34 are in open positions, such as their respective sidewall forming positions, access to the bed extender 50 is provided and the bed extender can be moved from its stowed position of FIG. 2 to its extended position of FIG. 3. For facilitating movement of the bed extender between its stowed and extended positions, an extender handle member 54 can be provided on a rear face 56 of the extender 50.

[0019] When the bed extender 50 is moved to its extended position for selectively increasing floor area of the load carrying bed 14 and the doors 32, 34 are in their sidewall forming positions, the doors are disposed along longitudinal sides 50a, 50b of the bed extender 50 and thus form bed extender sidewalls for the bed extender 50. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the doors 32, 34 is disposed along a corresponding side 50a or 50b of the bed extender when the doors are in their respective sidewall forming positions and the bed extender 50 is in its extended position.

[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the bed extender 50 is simply received within a cavity or recess 58 defined in the vehicle 12 beneath the bed floor 16. It is contemplated that a variety of arrangements could be provided for facilitating movement of the bed extender from its stowed position beneath the bed floor 16 to its extended position and vice versa. For example, rollers, sliding arrangements or other mechanisms could be provided for facilitating movement of the bed extender between the stowed and extended positions.

[0021] In the extended position and while moving toward the extended position, the bed extender 50 and the doors 32, 34 can interlock with one another to lock the doors in their side wall forming positions and provide a structure with improved rigidity and strength for carrying cargo. More particularly, the interlocking between the bed extender 50 and the doors 32, 34 allows loads received on the bed extender 50 to be distributed to hinges (e.g., hinges 44a and 44b) pivotally mounting the door 32, 34 to the side walls 20, 22 in addition to the cantilevered load bore by the bed extender attaching to the load carrying bed 14.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, one of the bed extender 50 and the first and second doors 32, 34 defines a set of longitudinal grooves and the other of the bed extender and the first and second doors includes respective portions received in the set of longitudinal grooves. This set of longitudinal grooves guides movement of the bed extender between the stowed position and the extended position and serves to interlock the bed extender 50 and the doors 32, 34. In particular, with reference to FIG. 4, the first and second doors 32, 34 define a set of longitudinal grooves 60 in the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 4 only illustrates the interlocking engagement between the bed extender 50 and the door 34 (thus only one of the grooves 60 is shown). However, it is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this same arrangement could be provided between the bed extender and the door 32. As illustrated, the door 34 can be formed of an inner panel member 34a and an outer panel member 34b. The inner panel member 34a can define a longitudinal groove 60 therein for receiving and interlocking with the extender member 50. The bed extender 50 can similarly be formed using conventional vehicle structural member forming techniques. More particularly, the bed extender 50 can be formed of an upper panel 50c and a lower panel member 50d. Side edges of the panel members 50c, 50d form the sides or edges 50a, 50b of the bed extender 50.

[0023] In FIG. 4, the bed extender side 50b is shown and includes a guiding portion 62 extending downwardly therefrom and connected to the extender member 50 by a suitable fastener such as a bolt 64. A similar arrangement can be provided along the bed extender side 50a so as to provide the bed extender 50 with guiding portions 62 disposed along its longitudinal sides 50a, 50b that are each lockingly received in a corresponding groove 60 for facilitating sliding movement therealong. Of course, other locking arrangements are contemplated and should be considered as within the scope of the present disclosure for locking the bed extender to one or both of the doors 32, 34. Moreover, it is also to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the bed extender 50 can have appropriate structure or mechanisms associated therewith for locking the bed extender in its extended position.

[0024] The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.