Mega elongator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10124836-B2
Application number	US-201715721315-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2017
Priority date	Dec 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A replacement tailgate for the purpose of elongating the pick up truck may be installed on a truck bed wherein the replacement tailgate can be unfolded in order to elongate a length of the truck bed. The replacement tailgate may have front and rear shells that are used to support objects placed in the truck bed as well as act as the new tailgate when the truck bed length is elongated. Various panels may be unfolded in order to trap objects within the truck bed when the replacement tailgate is unfolded in order to elongate the truck bed length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailgate extender of a bed of a truck, the tailgate extender comprising:
one or more floor extension panels, disposed adjacent to a floor of the bed, that extend the floor of the bed as a tailgate of the truck is moved backwards;
one or more driver-side panels that are traversed to an extended position as the tailgate is moved backwards, the one or more driver-side panels disposed interior to an exterior surface of the driver-side wall;
one or more passenger-side panels that are traversed to an extended position as the tailgate is moved backwards, the one or more passenger-side panels disposed interior to an exterior surface of the passenger-side wall; and
a rear bumper that remains stationary relative to a cab of the truck as the tailgate is moved backwards such that the rear bumper is disposed at a middle portion of the extended floor, the rear bumper having a width that is greater than a width of the tailgate so that the bumper protrudes laterally sideways past the one or more driver-side panels and the one or more passenger-side panels.

2. The tailgate extender of claim 1 , wherein the one or more floor extension panels are disposed below the floor of the bed.

3. The tailgate extender of claim 1 , further comprising primary taillights on the driver-side wall and the passenger-side wall that remain stationary relative to the truck as the tailgate is moved backwards.

4. The tailgate extender of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more support structures attached to the bed that extend and retract as the bed is extended and retracted by the one or more floor extension panels, the one or more driver-side panels, and the one or more passenger-side panels;
a motor that extends and retracts the one or more support structures as the bed is extended and retracted by the one or more floor extension panels, the one or more driver-side panels, and the one or more passenger-side panels; and
a controller that a user can engage to control the motor to extend and retract the one or more support structures.

5. The tailgate extender of claim 4 , wherein the controller comprises a button, switch, or electronic panel.

6. The tailgate extender of claim 4 , wherein the controller comprises a handle or switch disposed on the tailgate.

7. A tailgate extender of a bed of a truck, the tailgate extender comprising:
one or more floor extension panels, disposed adjacent to a floor of the bed. that extend a floor of the bed as a tailgate of the truck is moved backwards;
one or more support structures attached to the bed that extend and retract as the tailgate is moved backwards and forwards;
a motor that extends and retracts the one or more support structures as the tailgate is moved backwards and forwards; and
a controller disposed on the tailgate that a user can engage to control the motor to extend and retract the one or more support structures.

8. The tailgate extender of claim 7 , wherein the controller comprises a button, switch, or electronic panel.

9. The tailgate extender of claim 7 , wherein the controller comprises a handle or switch.

10. The tailgate extender of claim 7 , further comprising primary taillights disposed on the tailgate and electrically connected to an electrical system of the truck, wherein the primary taillights are aesthetically blended with side taillights on a driver-side wall of the bed and a passenger-side wall of the bed so as to appear integral with the side taillights when the bed is in a fully retracted position.

Assignees

• Singer Nicholas J

Inventors

• Singer Nicholas J

Classifications

• B60R19/38

  adjustably or movably mounted, e.g. horizontally displaceable for securing a space between parked vehicles {(adjustably mounted for compensating manufacturing tolerances B60R19/24, B60R19/26)} · CPC title

• B62D33/03

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

• B62D33/0273 Primary

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R19/48

  combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds · CPC title

• B60R19/32

  Fluid shock absorbers {, e.g. with coaxial coil springs} · CPC title