Cargo floor extender for trucks and tie-down system

Abstract

An extender for a truck of the type which includes a pivoting tailgate includes a panel mounted to the upper edge of the tailgate and a pair of wings mounted pivotally to the ends of the panel. Cargo space is extended by lowering the existing truck tailgate, pivoting the panel to a vertical position and opening the wings on either side to engage the sides of the truck. Cargo space is thus extended by a length approximately equal to the height of the tailgate. A tie-down system which may be used with the cargo extension system or with other types of trucks includes channels, preferably running longitudinally of the truck axis. Tie-down cords are attached at either end of the channels and a drain may be provided in the channels to permit liquids from accumulating in the channels. The tie-down system allows the cargo floor to remain substantially flat while permitting ready access to the expandable cords.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cargo floor extension system for a vehicle having a side walls, a cargo floor located therebetween and a tailgate movable between a first raised position in which it is perpendicular to the cargo floor to a second lowered position in which it is generally coplaner with the cargo floor comprising: 
 a rear panel pivotally coupled to the tailgate for movement between a first position in which the panel is parallel to and generally adjacent to the tailgate and a second position in which the panel is angled with respect to the tailgate; and    a pair of wing panels coupled to one of the rear panel or the tailgate and being rotatably coupled thereto for movement between a stored position in which the wing panels lie generally parallel to the rear panel and a deployed position in which the wing panels are generally perpendicular to the rear panel.    
     
     
         2 . The extension system of  claim 1 , wherein the rear panel is substantially the same size as the tailgate and is coupled thereto by hinges located at the upper edge of the tailgate when the tailgate is in its raised position and at a first edge of the rear panel.  
     
     
         3 . The extension system of  claim 2 , wherein the rear panel includes second and third edges on either side of the first edge and perpendicular thereto, and wherein the wing panels are coupled to the second and third edges of the rear panel.  
     
     
         4 . The extension system of  claim 3 , wherein each wing panel is generally rectangular and has a first edge coupled to the rear panel and an opposite edge, the opposite edges of the wing panels being coupled to the vehicle side walls when the wing panels are in their deployed positions.  
     
     
         5 . The extension system of  claim 2 , wherein the hinges comprise at least two spaced-apart hinges.  
     
     
         6 . The extension system of  claim 5 , wherein the hinges are located on an inner edge of the tailgate and an inner edge of the rear panel, whereby the hinges are at least partially concealed from view when the vehicle is observed from a distance.  
     
     
         7 . The extension system of  claim 4 , wherein the wing panels are coupled to the rear panels by hinges.  
     
     
         8 . The extension system of  claim 7 , wherein the hinges comprise at least two spaced-apart hinges.  
     
     
         9 . The extension system of  claim 8 , wherein the wing panel hinges are located on an inner edge of the rear panel and an inner edge of the wing panels, whereby the hinges are at least partially concealed from view when the vehicle is observed from a distance.  
     
     
         10 . The extension system of  claim 1 , wherein the cargo floor includes at least one tie-down cord at least partially located within an elongated channel on the cargo floor.  
     
     
         11 . A tie-down system for use with a vehicle comprising: 
 an elongated channel having first and second ends, a coupler attaching the first end of the cord to the vehicle adjacent to the first end of the channel; and    a coupler attaching the second end of the cord to the vehicle adjacent to the second end of the channel.    
     
     
         12 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the cord is slightly taut when it is in a first stored position wherein it is at least partially located within the channel along its entire length and wherein the cord has sufficient elasticity to be extended about an object to be held against the vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the cord is located entirely within the channel.  
     
     
         14 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the coupler is a bracket attached to the vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the bracket includes an eyelet and wherein each end of the cord includes a hook adapted to engage an eyelet to attach the cord to the vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the cord is a bungee cord.  
     
     
         17 . The tie-down system of  claim 11 , wherein the channel is located on a generally horizontal cargo floor of a truck.  
     
     
         18 . The tie-down system of  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of channels and cords are employed on a single vehicle cargo floor.  
     
     
         19 . The tie-down system of  claim 17 , wherein the channel includes at least one drain opening to prevent water from accumulating within the channel.