US 7,111,886 B1 · Pivoting cage cargo retainer for pick-up trucks

Abstract

A pivoting cage cargo bed extender is pivotally mounted to the D-pillars of a pick-up truck to be pivotally movable between a forward position and a rearward position. In the rearward position, the pivoting cage serves as a supplemental tailgate structure that rests on the open tailgate to extend the operative area of the cargo bed. The pivoting cage is formed of individual segments that are hinged together and separable at the center into two halves that are each collapsible into a stowed position adjacent the respective side wall of the cargo bed. The two halves of the cargo bed are connectable with a latching mechanism at the center to form a pivoting cage structure that spans transversely across the floor of the cargo bed. The latching mechanism compresses an internal O-ring to provide a tight connection between the two halves.

Claims20

Dependent claims

In a pick-up truck having a frame including an upright D-pillar, a cargo bed defined by opposing lateral upright side walls and a floor extending transversely between the side walls, and a tailgate pivotally supported between said side walls for movement between an upright closed position and a lowered open position, the improvement comprising:

a pivoting cage apparatus positionable in a collapsed storage position against at least one of said side walls and in a first deployed position extending transversely across said cargo bed, said cage structure being pivotally movable about a generally horizontally extending pivot axis into a second deployed position extending transversely across said tailgate lowered into said open position.

A pivoting cage cargo retainer for use in a vehicle having a cargo bed including a tailgate pivotally mounted thereon for movement between a raised closed position and a lowered open position, comprising:

a pair of opposing base members pivotally mounted respectively on opposing sides of said cargo bed for rotation about a horizontally disposed transverse pivot through approximately 180 degrees;
an intermediate panel hingedly mounted on each said base member for horizontal movement relative to said base member;
and
a center connecting panel hingedly mounted on each said intermediate panel for horizontal movement relative to said intermediate panel, said intermediate panel and said center connecting panel being positionable in a storage position against opposing sides of said cargo bed and in a first deployed position extending transversely across said cargo bed, said cage structure being pivotally movable into a second deployed position extending transversely across said tailgate lowered into said open position.

1 more element

A cargo retainer for use on a pick-up truck having a cargo bed on which is pivotally mounted a tailgate movable between a raised closed position and a lowered open position, said cargo bed having a pair of opposing side walls separated by a horizontal floor extending therebetween, said cargo bed including an upright D-pillar positioned at a rear portion of said cargo bed, comprising:

a cage apparatus formed from at least two upright panels hingedly connected together for movement between a collapsed, inoperable storage position against at least one of said side walls and in a first deployed position extending transversely across said cargo bed, said cage structure being pivotally movable about a transversely oriented pivot into a second deployed position extending transversely across said tailgate lowered into said open position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pivoting cage cargo retainer for pick-up trucks

Life of this patent

Pivoting cage cargo retainer for pick-up trucks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20