# US 2017/0282979 A1 · Mega elongator

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- Number: US 2017/0282979 A1
- Document ID: US20170282979A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/629,643
- Filed: 2017-06-21
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-04
- Inventors: Nicholas J. Singer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282979A1

## CPC

- B62D 33/0273: {Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence)}
- B60R 19/32: Fluid shock absorbers {, e.g. with coaxial coil springs}
- B60R 19/38: 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)}
- B60R 19/48: combined with, or convertible into, other devices or objects, e.g. bumpers combined with road brushes, bumpers convertible into beds
- B62D 21/14: of adjustable length or width
- B62D 33/03: by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)}
- B62D 33/08: comprising adjustable means (B62D33/10 takes precedence)
- B60P 3/40: 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)
- B62D 33/023: Sideboard or tailgate structures {(vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-19. (canceled)

### Claim 20

A truck with a truck bed extender, the truck comprising:
a cab for holding a passenger and a driver;
a truck bed disposed behind the cab;
the truck bed extender comprising:
a stationary floor fixedly attached to left and right sidewalls of the truck bed;
a telescoping floor, a bumper and a tailgate, all of which are traversable between retracted and extended positions to extend a length of the truck bed;
a shock absorber attached to the stationary floor and the telescoping floor to absorb rear impact on the bumper when the telescoping floor, the bumper and the tailgate are in the extended position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the truck bed extender has a plurality of shock absorbers distributed evenly on left and right sides of the truck bed.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The truck of claim 21 wherein the truck bed extender has an actuator attached to the stationary floor and the telescoping floor for traversing the telescoping floor between the retracted position and the extended position.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the truck bed extender further comprises left and right telescoping panels that extend from the tailgate to the left and right sidewalls of the truck bed to form an enclosure, the left and right telescoping panels being about a height of the tailgate.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The truck of claim 22 further comprising a switch for actuating the actuator between the retracted and extended positions.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The truck of claim 24 wherein the switch is a handle located on the tailgate or in the cab of the truck.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the shock absorber is operative to withstand a 5 mph to 10 mph impact from an automobile from behind the truck.

### Claim 27 (depends on 22)

The truck of claim 22 wherein the actuator is disengaged when the telescoping floor, the bumper and the are traversed to the extended position so that the shock absorber absorbs an impact force from an automobile from behind the truck.

### Claim 28 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the shock absorber is attached to the stationary floor by attaching the shock absorber to a frame of the truck, and wherein the shock absorber is attached to the telescoping floor by attaching the shock absorber to the traversable bumper of the truck.

### Claim 29 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the tailgate has left and right turn signals and the left and right sidewalls of the truck bed has left and right turn signals, the left and right turn signals of the tailgate is blended to the left and right turn signals of the left and right sidewalls.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The truck of claim 29 wherein upper edges of the left and right turn signals of the tailgate and the sidewalls are aligned to each other, and wherein lower edges of the left and right turn signals of the tailgate and the sidewalls are aligned to each other.

### Claim 31 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 wherein the telescoping floor, the bumper and the tailgate are traversable horizontally backward which is parallel to a plane of the stationary floor.

### Claim 32 (depends on 20)

The truck of claim 20 further comprising a telescoping support structure disposed below and attached to the stationary floor and the telescoping floor to provide support to the telescoping floor to support a weight when the bumper, the telescoping floor and the tailgate are in the extended position.

### Claim 33

A method of extending a length of a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the truck comprising:
a cab for holding a passenger and a driver;
a truck bed disposed behind the cab;
the truck bed extender comprising:
a stationary floor fixedly attached to left and right sidewalls of the truck bed;
a telescoping floor, a bumper and a tailgate, all of which are traversable between retracted and extended positions to extend a length of the truck bed;
a shock absorber attached to the stationary floor and the telescoping floor to absorb rear impact on the bumper when the telescoping floor, the bumper and the tailgate are in the extended position;
traversing the bumper, the telescoping floor and the tailgate from the retracted position to the extended position.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of engaging the shock absorber when the bumper, the telescoping floor and the tailgate are in the extended position to absorb a rear end impact from another vehicle.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of providing an actuator attached to the stationary floor and the telescoping floor, and actuating the actuator to move the telescoping floor, the bumper and the tailgate from the retracted position to the extended position and back to the retracted position from the extended position.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of providing a switch in communication with the actuatory, and activating the switch to control the actuator and traverse the bumper, the telescoping floor and the tailgate between the retracted and extended positions.