Vehicle cargo bed extender

Abstract

An improved truck bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. When not being used to extend the truck bed, the extender is advantageously adapted to quickly and easily create a secondary storage area. In one embodiment, the extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount and a second mount. The connecting wall extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and cooperates with the first side wall and second side wall to form a frame. The first mount is secured to the first side wall and includes a first interlocking member. The second mount is secured to the second side wall and comprises a second interlocking member. The first interlocking member and a first mounting station on the vehicle and the second interlocking member and a second mounting station on the vehicle cooperate to secure the truck bed extender to the vehicle.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having a storage bed, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said storage bed, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said storage bed, a tailgate, said extender comprising:
 a first side wall;   a second side wall;   a connecting wall connecting said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, and said connecting wall defining an open frame, said frame comprising at least a first cross beam and a second cross beam;   an interlock portion configured to receive the first cross beam and the second cross beam of one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the interlock portion comprising a male member projecting therefrom;   a mounting bracket adapted to attach to an inside vertical surface of one of the first upstanding side panel and the second upstanding side panel, the mounting bracket comprising an opening configured to receive the male member of the interlock portion;   a latch adapted to rotatably attach to the mounting bracket, the latch configured to rotate when attached to the mounting bracket from a first position in which the male member of the interlock portion can exit the opening of the mounting bracket to a second position in which a body of the latch at least partially blocks the opening of the mounting bracket and prevents the male member of the interlock portion from exiting the opening of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein the body of the latch comprises a generally c-shaped section. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein the latch further comprises a lever arm. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the male member of the interlock portion is cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises an elevated central portion, an upper mounting flange, and a lower mounting flange. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 6 , wherein one of the upper and lower mounting flanges has two screw holes, and the other of the upper and lower mounting flanges has one screw hole. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein the latch is biased toward the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 8 , wherein the latch in the second position does not prevent the male member from entering the opening in the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 2 , wherein the interlock portion comprises a second male member projecting therefrom and the mounting bracket comprises a second opening, the second opening configured to receive the second male member. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having a storage bed, a first upstanding side panel to one side of said storage bed, a second upstanding side panel to an opposite side of said storage bed, a tailgate, said extender comprising:
 a first side wall;   a second side wall;   a connecting wall connecting said first side wall and said second side wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, and said connecting wall defining a rigid frame;   an interlock portion configured to attach to one of the first side wall and the second side wall, the interlock portion comprising an interlock surface;   a mounting bracket adapted to attach to an inside vertical surface of one of the first upstanding side panel and the second upstanding side panel, the mounting bracket comprising a mounting surface, wherein one of said interlock surface and said mounting surface defines an opening and the other of said interlock surface and said mounting surface is configured to pass through said opening to engage said one of the first upstanding side panel and the second upstanding side panel with said one of the first side wall and the second side wall;   a latch rotatably attached to the mounting bracket, the latch configured to rotate from a first position in which said interlock surface and said mounting surface can separate from each other to a second position in which the latch prevents separation of said interlock surface and said mounting surface.   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 11 , wherein the body of the latch comprises a generally c-shaped section. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 11 , wherein the latch further comprises a lever arm. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises an upper mounting flange and a lower mounting flange in a different plane than the mounting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 14 , wherein one of the upper and lower mounting flanges has two screw holes, and the other of the upper and lower mounting flanges has one screw hole. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 11 , wherein the latch is biased toward the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 11 , wherein one of said interlock surface and said mounting surface defines a second opening and the other of said interlock surface and said mounting surface is configured to pass through said second opening to engage said one of the first upstanding side panel and the second upstanding side panel with said one of the first side wall and the second side wall