Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-06
2001-02-27
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S057100, C108S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193294
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a device for extending the useful space of the bed of a truck and for creating an enlarged work surface from the bed of the truck. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a folding workbench and truck bed extension which attaches to the tailgate of a truck, and cooperates with the tailgate to extend the side walls of the bed of the truck and unfolds to provide a large flat work area extending from the tailgate of the truck.
(b) Discussion of Known Art
Pickup trucks, as well as small trailers and the like, which include a cargo area with a tailgate for unloading have long been favored for their versatility in carrying small loads of materials and tools. Many times, however, the pickup bed, or trailer cargo area, need to be temporarily enlarged. Additionally, it is often necessary to provide a work surface at the job site. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a device that allows enlargement of the cargo area of a pickup truck, trailer or the like, while also providing a device that can be used as a work surface at the job site.
There have been many approaches at providing devices that allow enlargement of the cargo or area of a truck or the like. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,852,303 to Hopson teaches the use of a sliding box which mounts on tracks that attaches to the bed of the truck. While the Hopson device provides a means for enlarging the cargo area by extending the box from the bed of the truck, it requires extensive modifications to provide for the track mechanism. Additionally, it is disadvantaged in that it really does not provide for means for providing a work surface once the truck bed has been unloaded.
A known device which the is directed at the need to provide the work surface at a job site is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,840 to Hanley. The Hanley device attaches over the tail gate of the pickup truck and provides an anchoring mechanism that slips under the trailing edge of the bed of the truck to hold the device over the tail gate. While the Hanley device provides a simple mechanism for attaching an enlarged work surface over the tail gate, it does little for enhancing the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck.
Still another device for providing a work surface at a job site is taught and U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,335 to Russell. The Russell device suffers from the same limitations as the Hanley device in that it does not provide for enhancement of the cargo area. Additionally, like the Hanley device, the Russell device is not safe for use while the vehicle is moving or transporting materials.
Other devices which provide work surfaces but do not enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,333,771 to Taylor et al., 5,575,521 to Speis, and 5,649,731 to Tognetti.
Thus, there remains a need for a device which can be used to enlarge or enhance the use of the cargo area of pickup trucks, trailers or the like, while also serving to provide a work surface once at the work site.
There remains a need for a device which can enlarge or enhance the use of the cargo area of a pickup truck, trailer or the like, without requiring the use of rollers, tracks, or other attachments to the bed of the truck or trailer itself.
There remains a need for a device that can be attached to the cargo area of a truck and used for carrying materials from one place to another.
Still further, there remains a need for a simple device which can enhance the cargo carrying capabilities of the truck or trailer or the like which will not take up a great deal of space within the truck itself and will not require great modifications of the cargo area.
SUMMARY
It has been discovered that the problems left unanswered by the known art can be solved by providing an accessory that mounts on the tailgate of a truck, trailer or other cargo carrying device with a tailgate, the accessory includes:
a) a central panel having an attachment for supporting the central panel from the tailgate; and
b) a pair of end panels pivotally attached to the central panel, so that the end panels may fold under the central panel and fit next to the central panel when not in use, the end panels can then unfold form the central panel and connect to the sides of the cargo area to define an enlarged cargo area, and then further unfold from the central panel to form a work surface.
In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the central panel is generally rectangular in shape, and includes side edges and ends. One of the side edges will hingedly attach to the tailgate. The end panels are hingedly attached to the ends of the central panel, so that the end panels may be folded under the central panel and stored under the central panel, between the central panel and the tailgate, when not in use.
It is contemplated that the disclosed invention will be particularly useful in cooperation with the tailgate found in trucks having a bed with a cargo area that is defined by vertical sides that are closed off by a tailgate. In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the end panels will include an attachment mechanism that will allow the end panels to attach to the sides of the cargo area adjacent to the tailgate. Thus, with this embodiment the user will be able to enlarge the carrying capacity of the cargo area by placing the tailgate in a horizontal position and then raising the central panel and unfolding the end panels, so that the end panels attach to the sides of the cargo area while supporting the central panel in a generally vertical position relative to the tailgate.
It is further contemplated that the disclosed invention may be further serve as a work surface at the work site. It is contemplated that, with the tailgate in a substantially horizontal position, the central panel will be unfolded to a substantially horizontal position, away form the tailgate to form an extension from the tailgate. Additionally, the end panels will then be unfolded from the central panel to a position that is generally parallel to the central panel, so that the end panels act as an extension to the central panel.
It is further contemplated that the disclosed invention may be used with detachable, adjustable legs. The legs may attach to the central panel and a support mechanism may be incorporated between the end panels and the end panels to hold the central panel and the central panel in a generally co-planar, horizontal relationship to one another. Additionally, it is contemplated legs may also be paced under the end panels for applications where heavy objects are to be placed over the invention.
Thus, it will be understood that the disclosed invention allows the cargo carrying area to be extended by providing an extension to the sidewalls of the bed of the truck. Additionally, the disclosed invention may be used to provide an enlarged work surface extending from the bed, and more particularly, extending from the tailgate used with the cargo area or bed of the truck.
It will be understood that the disclosed invention eliminates the need to incorporate tracks, wheels, or other similar means onto the bed of the truck to provide for an extension of the cargo carrying area.
Still further, it will be understood that the disclosed invention provides a simple cargo area extension and work area extension which can collapse next to the tailgate of the truck, and thus minimize the cargo area taken up by the device.
It should also be understood that while the above and other advantages and results of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, showing the contemplated novel construction, combinations and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims. It should be clearly understood that changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art. dr cl D
Disner Henry
Disner Patrick
Chenevert Paul
Crabtree Edwin H.
Dayoan D. Glenn
Pizarro Ramon L.
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