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US 9,956,996 B2Granted
Cargo bed extension assembly including cover for a tailgate
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorLogan R. Astrike
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cargo bed extension assembly includes a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration. The tailgate includes a cavity formed therein. An extension mechanism is positioned within in the cavity. The extension mechanism includes an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration. The mechanism also includes a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of the bed.
Claims21
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration;
- and
- a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed, wherein the cover portion is an articulated structure formed from a plurality of connected panels.
3 more elements
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration, and a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed,
- wherein the cover portion is structured to enable the cover portion to cover at least a portion of the tailgate extending between the extension member and opposite side walls of the cargo bed when the tailgate is in the lowered configuration, the extension member is in the raised configuration, and the cover portion is in the deployed configuration.
2 more elements
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration, and a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed,
- wherein the cover portion is structured to enable the cover portion to cover an entire cargo bed when the tailgate is in the lowered configuration, the extension member is in the raised configuration, and the cover portion is in the deployed configuration.
2 more elements
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration, and a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed,
- wherein the cover portion is structured to enable the cover portion to cover an entire cargo bed when the tailgate is in the raised configuration, the extension member is in the stowed configuration, and the cover portion is in the deployed configuration.
2 more elements
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration, and a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed, wherein the cover portion is a soft cover portion which is rollable and/or foldable into a configuration positionable within the cavity.
1 more element
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration, and a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed, wherein a first section of the cover portion has a first width and a second section of the cover portion adjacent the first section has a second width greater than the first width.
1 more element
A cargo bed extension assembly comprising:
- a tailgate structured to be movable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the tailgate including a cavity formed therein;
- and
- an extension mechanism positioned within in the cavity, the extension mechanism including:
- an extension member coupled to the tailgate so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration, and so as to enable rotation of the extension member from the extended configuration to a raised configuration;
- a cover portion coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers at least a portion of a cargo bed;
- a first side panel rotatably coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the first side panel extends between the extension member and a first cargo bed side wall when the extension member is in the raised configuration;
- and
- a second side panel rotatably coupled to the extension member so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the second side panel extends between the extension member and a second cargo bed side wall opposite the first cargo bed side wall when the extension member is in the raised configuration.
5 more elements
A cargo bed extension mechanism for a vehicle tailgate, the cargo bed extension mechanism comprising:
- an extension member structured for coupling to the tailgate so as to be movable to a raised configuration when the tailgate is in a lowered configuration;
- and
- a cover portion coupled to the extension member and structured to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the cover portion covers the tailgate when the tailgate is in the lowered configuration and the extension member is in the raised configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.