Modular sliding platform for a truck bed
View Patent ↗A slidable truck bed platform provides an upper frame and a separate lower frame that operatively associate so that the upper frame is slidable relative to the lower frame between a retracted position and one of a plurality of extended positions. The lower frame connects to the truck bed. The upper frame provides a supporting platform that supports objects. In the retracted position, the upper and lower frames are in a vertical, stacked arrangement so that both frames can be circumscribed by the sidewalls and a closed tailgate of the truck. With the tailgate down the upper frame, its supporting platform, and all the objects supported thereon can be selectively moved to one or many extended positions, enabling the user to reach objects carried on the supporting panels. The slidable truck bed platform is dimensioned and adapted to be easily shipped to a user via less-than-truckload shipping containers.
1 . A slidable platform for a truck bed, the slidable platform comprising:
an upper frame peripherally defining a platform, wherein a frame footprint of the upper frame is dimensioned to be circumscribed by a bed footprint of the truck bed while occupying a substantial portion of the bed footprint; and
a lower frame
operatively associated with the upper frame so that the upper frame is movable between a retracted position and one of a plurality of extended positions, wherein in the retracted position the upper frame and lower frame are both circumscribed by the bed footprint, and wherein in any of the extended positions the upper frame projects beyond the bed footprint;
a front edge along the upper frame, wherein the front edge provides a locking handle;
a locking bar operatively associated with the locking handle so that the upper frame is movable between an unlocked engagement and a locked engagement in more than one of the extended positions of the plurality of extended positions;
the upper frame comprises a rear member, wherein the rear member comprises a supporting element;
two side load bearings, one of the two side load bearings disposed at each of two opposing ends, respectively, of the support element;
two sliding tracks provided on two longitudinal members of the lower frame, respectively, wherein each of the two sliding tracks is configured to slidably receive a respective side load bearing; and
two free floating bearings along the lower frame to work with the two side load bearings to facilitate the upper and lower frames movable operative association.
2 . The slidable platform of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame platform comprises a plurality of panels based on the depth of the truck bed.
3 . The slidable platform of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame defines a periphery of the platform.
4 . The slidable platform of claim 1 , wherein the lower frame directly connects to the truck bed.