Truck bed extender formed by a retractable tailgate step and handles
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPattrick Loew, Brian Robert Spahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed includes a tailgate for raising and lowering relative to the vehicle bed. The tailgate includes a retractable member adapted for extending vertically from the tailgate when lowered, and also for extending horizontally from the tailgate to form a handle. A ladder supported by the tailgate is adapted for moving from a lowered position for use in stepping into the vehicle bed using the handle to a raised position for connecting with the retractable member when oriented vertically from the tailgate, thus extending the effective length of the vehicle bed.
Claims20
An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed, comprising:
- a tailgate for raising and lowering relative to the vehicle bed, the tailgate including a retractable member adapted for extending vertically from the tailgate when lowered;
- and
- a ladder supported by the tailgate and adapted for moving from a lowered position for use in stepping into the vehicle bed to a raised position for connecting with the retractable member when oriented vertically from the tailgate.
The apparatus of claim q, wherein the first and second retractable members comprise telescoping supports at least partially recessed within a cavity of the tailgate.
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 in a vertical orientation;
- and
- a transverse connector for removably attaching to the first and second retractable members in the vertical orientation, the transverse connector including a receiver for receiving one of the first and second retractable members in the extended position.
An apparatus for extending a vehicle bed, comprising:
- a tailgate including a ladder adapted for moving from a lowered position for use in stepping into the vehicle bed to a raised position, and at least one handle connected to the tailgate for assisting in stepping into the vehicle bed with the ladder in the lowered position and for connecting with the ladder in the raised position to extend the vehicle bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.