# US 7,118,163 B1 · Cantilevered hatch back construction

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- Number: US 7,118,163 B1
- Document ID: US7118163B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 11/056,742
- Filed: 2005-02-11
- Granted: 2006-10-10
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-11
- Inventors: Duane K. Overcash
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7118163B1

## CPC

- B60J 5/101: {for non-load transporting vehicles, i.e. family cars including vans}
- B60P 3/34: the living accommodation being expansible, collapsible or capable of rearrangement ({B60P3/38} takes precedence; tents supported at least partially by vehicles E04H15/06)
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- 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 hatch back construction (10) for the bed (101) of a pick-up truck (100) equipped with a camper shell (200) wherein, the construction (10) includes a hatch back member (20) provided with a step shouldered continuous peripheral skirt (21) having an outer portion (21′) with a minimum width of 3″ and further having an outwardly extending portal sleeve (22) equipped with a door element (30) wherein, the hatch back construction (10) expands the effective length of the bed (101) of the pick-up truck (100) by a minimum of 5″.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hatch back construction for the bed of a pick-up truck equipped with a camper shell wherein, the construction comprises
a hatch back member including a step shouldered skirt having an outer portion with a minimum depth
means for mounting the hatch back member so that the hatch back member extends rearwardly from the camper shell and the bed of the pick-up truck; and
wherein, the step shouldered skirt has an inner portion that is provided with a sealing gasket that comes into contact with both the camper shell and an interior tailgate stop flange of the bed of the pick-up truck.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The construction as in claim 1; wherein, the hatch back member has an upper portion that is pivotally connected to the camper shell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The construction as in claim 1; wherein, the hatch back member is provided with a central portion that defines a portal opening adapted to receive a door element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The construction as in claim 3; wherein, said portal opening is formed in a portal sleeve that extends outwardly from the remainder of the hatch back member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The construction as in claim 4; wherein, the hatch back member is provided with a pair of locking dogs that are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the camper shell.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The construction as in claim 5; wherein, the hatch back member is further provided with a pair of flange elements that are each provided with an extensible brace element operatively connected to a selected one of the camper shell and the bed of the pick-up truck.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The construction as in claim 6; wherein, the hatch back member has an upper portion that is pivotally connected to the camper shell.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The construction as in claim 6; wherein, the interior surface of the peripheral skirt is provided with a sealing gasket that comes into contact with both the camper shell and the bed of the pick-up truck.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The construction as in claim 7; wherein, the interior surface of the peripheral skirt is provided with a sealing gasket that comes into contact with both the camper shell and the bed of the pick-up truck.