Vehicle with load-carrying platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586514-B2
Application number	US-201615076117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

In a vehicle with a load-carrying platform, an elastic band is provided so a rear portion of a tailgate and a rear portion of a bed extender enter a tensioned state. A rotation regulation mechanism is provided to the tailgate and the bed extender that regulates further rotational movement by the tailgate and the bed extender making contact when the tailgate is rotated towards a closed position. The bed extender and the tailgate are prevented from rotating in the same direction by the rotation regulation mechanism, and the load on the elastic band is mitigated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle with a load-carrying platform, comprising:
a load-carrying platform that is provided in a vehicle rear portion and has a tailgate that can open and close; and
a bed extender that has both ends axially supported by a side gate provided to the load-carrying platform, the bed extender being rotatable between a stowed state in contact with the load-carrying platform and an extended state in contact with the tailgate in an open position, the extended state effectively extending a load-carrying space in the vehicle rear portion to include the open tailgate;
wherein an elastic band is provided so a rear portion of the tailgate and a rear portion of the bed extender enter a tensioned state when the bed extender is in the extended state, a regulating cord is provided that regulates the elastic band from stretching beyond a predetermined distance, and a rotation regulation mechanism is provided to the tailgate and the bed extender that regulates further rotational movement by the tailgate and the bed extender making contact when the tailgate closes.

2. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 1 ,
wherein the rotation regulation mechanism is made from a gate-side stopper member that is connected to the tailgate and has a front-facing stopper surface and an extender-side stopper member that is connected to the bed extender and has a rear-facing stopper surface, and
wherein the bed extender is connected to the tailgate and has a predetermined space opened between the front-facing stopper surface and the rear-facing stopper surface.

3. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 2 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is integrally formed with a wire bracket that holds the tailgate in the open position.

4. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation regulation mechanism comprises an elastic member that abuts either the front-facing stopper surface or the rear-facing stopper surface.

5. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 4 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is further integrally formed with an installation portion of the elastic band.

6. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 4 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is provided in correspondence to a diagonal surface formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right and is provided on an upper surface of the tailgate.

7. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 2 , wherein the extender-side stopper member is provided on a rear surface of a member positioned downward when the bed extender is in its extended state.

8. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 7 , wherein the extender-side stopper member is provided on a chamfered portion formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right.

9. The vehicle with the load-carrying platform according to claim 7 , wherein the extender-side stopper member comprises a plate bent in an L-shape.

10. A bed extender system for a vehicle with a load-carrying platform, the bed extender system comprising:
a bed extender having first and second side portions, each of the first and second side portions including a fulcrum portion such that, when both fulcrum portions are mounted to the vehicle, the bed extender can be inverted by rotating about an axis formed by the fulcrum portions between a stowed state and an extended state;
an elastic band connected to the bed extender for attaching the bed extender to the vehicle; and
a regulating cord connected to the bed extender that regulates the elastic band from stretching beyond a predetermined distance.

11. The bed extender system of claim 10 , further comprising a rotation regulation mechanism, the rotation regulation mechanism comprising:
an extender-side stopper member that is connected to the bed extender and has a rear-facing stopper surface,
an elastic member, and
a gate-side stopper member having a front-facing stopper surface, the gate-side stopper member configured to mount to a vehicle surface and abut the elastic member, the elastic member further abutting the extender-side stopper member to regulate rotation of the bed extender.

12. The bed extender system of claim 11 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is further integrally formed with an installation portion for the elastic band.

13. The bed extender system of claim 11 , wherein the extender-side stopper member is provided on a rear surface of a member positioned downward when the bed extender is in its extended state.

14. The bed extender system of claim 13 , wherein the extender-side stopper member is provided on a chamfered portion formed in a corner portion between a rear surface of the bed extender and a side surface of the bed extender on the left or right.

15. The bed extender system of claim 13 , wherein the extender-side stopper member comprises a plate bent in an L-shape.

16. The bed extender system of claim 11 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is integrally formed with a wire bracket for being connected to a tailgate configured to move between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the wire bracket is configured to hold the tailgate in the open position.

17. The bed extender system of claim 16 , wherein the rotation regulation mechanism is configured to regulate further rotational movement by the tailgate and the bed extender making contact when the tailgate closes.

18. A rotation regulation mechanism for a bed extender of a vehicle with a load-carrying platform, the rotation regulation mechanism comprising:
an extender-side stopper member with a rear-facing stopper surface, the extender-side stopper member configured for attachment to the bed extender;
an elastic member, and
a gate-side stopper member having a front-facing stopper surface, the gate-side stopper member configured for attachment to a tailgate of the vehicle and to abut the elastic member, the elastic member further abutting the extender-side stopper member to regulate motion of the stopper members, the bed extender and the tailgate.

19. The rotation regulation mechanism of claim 18 , wherein the gate-side stopper member is integrally formed with an installation portion configured to receive an elastic band.

20. The rotation regulation mechanism of claim 18 , wherein the extender-side stopper member comprises a plate bent in an L-shape.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Asao Kosuke
• Kobayashi Takeshi
• Nishimori Hiroyuki
• Hotozuka Makoto
• Maki Yuji
• Kariyasu Takeyuki
• Shinmura Hiroyuki
• Aoki Masanori

Classifications

• B60P3/40 Primary

  for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements ({E04G21/14 takes precedence}; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02) · CPC title

• B60P1/64

  the load supporting or containing element being readily removable ({B60P1/48 takes precedence}; caravan, camping, or the like vehicles characterised by living accommodation in the form of a removable body supported by the vehicle unit {B60P3/34}) · CPC title