Retractable truck bed extender with removable support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10005396-B2
Application number	US-201615175858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2016
Priority date	Jun 7, 2016
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate having first and second retractable members adapted for being recessed within the tailgate and for projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered. A removable support is provided for connecting with the first and second retractable members in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may comprise a ladder supported by the tailgate. The ladder may assume a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate using the retractable members as handles and a raised position substantially aligned with the retractable members for extending the vehicle bed. The removable support may also comprise a cross bar that connects with the retractable members to form the bed extension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed, comprising:
a tailgate adapted for being raised and lowered relative to the vehicle bed, the tailgate including a retractable member recessed within the tailgate in a retracted position and projecting therefrom in an extended position when the tailgate is lowered; and
a retractable ladder supported in a raised position and prevented from being lowered by the retractable member in the extended position for extending the vehicle bed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tailgate comprises first and second retractable members recessed within the tailgate in a retracted position and projecting therefrom in an extended position for supporting the retractable ladder.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second retractable members each comprise a telescoping portion extendable from a support at least partially recessed within the tailgate.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the retractable ladder is supported by the tailgate for moving to either a lowered position for use in stepping onto the tailgate with the first and second retractable members disconnected from the ladder or the raised position substantially aligned with the first and second retractable members for supporting the retractable ladder against moving to the lowered position when fully extended.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the retractable ladder comprises first and second telescoping supports connected to the tailgate, each telescoping support including an extendable portion adapted for pivoting relative to the tailgate to allow the retractable ladder to move between the lowered position for use in stepping and the raised position for extending the vehicle bed.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the retractable ladder includes a transverse portion wider than a space between the first and second retractable members in the extended position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the transverse portion of the retractable ladder rests upon one of the first or second retractable members in the raised position.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the transverse portion of the retractable ladder includes a cutout for receiving one of the first or second retractable members.

9. A vehicle including the apparatus of claim 1 .

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a locking pin for locking the retractable member in the extended position for supporting the retractable ladder against lowering.

11. An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed including a tailgate, comprising:
first and second retractable members for moving from a retracted position within the tailgate to an extended position projecting from the tailgate for extending the vehicle bed; and
a transverse connector removably engaging and supported by the first and second retractable members, the transverse connector including at least one receiver for receiving at least one of the first and second retractable members in the extended position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the transverse connector includes a first receiver for receiving the first retractable member and a second receiver for receiving the second retractable member.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further including third and fourth retractable members connected to the transverse connector, the third and fourth retractable members being mounted for pivoting relative to the tailgate to achieve a lowered position relative to the tailgate.

14. A vehicle including the apparatus of claim 11 .

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Spahn Brian Robert
• Loew Pattrick

Classifications

• B60R3/02 Primary

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D33/03 Primary

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title