Apparatus for configuring the interior space of a vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus for configuring the cargo area of a vehicle includes an expansion portion or movable cover for increasing and decreasing the cargo area upon movement between a retracted position and an extended position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle, including:
 a body having a cab and a bed;   a first expansion portion connected to a back end of the cab for movement toward the back end into a retracted position and away from the back end into an extended position, thereby respectively decreasing and increasing an interior space of the cab; and   a second expansion portion connected to the bed for movement toward the back end into a retracted position and away from the back end into an extended position, thereby respectively decreasing and increasing a cargo area of the bed, wherein the vehicle has a first wheel base length when the first expansion portion is in the retracted position and a second wheel base length, which is larger than the first wheel base, when the first expansion portion is in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle has a first length when the second expansion portion is in the retracted position and a second length, which is larger than the first length, when the second expansion portion is in the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle including:
 a body having a cab, a bed, a longitudinal axis, and a longitudinal length; and   an expansion portion movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the wheel base of the vehicle increases during movement of the expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein movement of the expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position increases the passenger space of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein movement of the expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position increase the viewing area of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the cab includes a window, the expansion portion includes a window that aligns with the window of the cab when the expansion portion is in the retracted position and is not aligned with the expansion portion when the expansion portion is in the extended position to increase the window area of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle including:
 a body having a cab and a bed having a front end and a back end; and   a bed expansion portion connected to the bed for movement toward the back end into a retracted position and away from the back end into an extended position thereby respectively decreasing and increasing a cargo area of the bed, wherein the wheel base of the vehicle is adjustable between a first length and a second length that is greater than the first length.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the bed includes first and second side walls and the bed expansion portion includes first and second side walls substantially positioned between the first and second side walls of the bed when the bed expansion portion is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the bed expansion portion moves along a longitudinal path between the retracted and expanded positions. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the bed expansion portion includes a tail gate. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the bed expansion portion includes a bumper. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the bumper is positioned closer to the cab when in the retracted position than when positioned in the extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the bed includes an upper edge and the bed expansion portion includes an upper edge that is substantially continuous with the upper edge of the bed. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 7 , further comprising a cab extension portion movable between a retracted position providing a first volume of passenger space and an extended position providing a second volume of passenger space that is greater than the first volume of passenger space. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle including:
 a body having a cab and a bed, the cab having a back end and a front end; and   a cab expansion portion connected to a back end of the cab for movement toward the back end into a retracted position and away from the back end into an extended position, thereby respectively decreasing and increasing an interior space of the cab, wherein the vehicle length increases during movement of the cab expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the wheel base of the vehicle increases during movement of the cab expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the cab expansion portion is substantially positioned in the cab when in the retracted position and substantially positioned outside of the cab when in the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle of  claim 17 , wherein the cab expansion portion includes at least one member telescopically received in the cab. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle of  claim 18 , wherein the cab expansion portion includes a window that is exposed when the cab expansion portion is in the extended position. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the cab expansion portion includes a seal positioned adjacent to the cab. 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle, including:
 a body having a passenger space, a storage space positioned rearward of the passenger space, a longitudinal axis, front wheels, rear wheels, a wheel base defined between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a longitudinal length; and   an expansion portion movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the wheel base of the vehicle increases during movement of the expansion portion from the retracted position to the extended position.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the storage space is defined by a bed including a bottom and a plurality of substantially vertical walls. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the expansion portion cooperates with the body to define the passenger space which increases as the expansion portion moves to the extended position. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the volume of the storage space changes between a first volume and a second volume that is substantially greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         25 . he vehicle of  claim 24 , wherein the change of volume of the storage space is independent of movement of the expansion portion. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle of  claim 21 , wherein the longitudinal length of the storage space changes between a first length and a second length that is substantially greater than the first length. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein the change of the longitudinal length of the storage space length is independent of movement of the expansion portion. 
     
     
         28 . A vehicle including:
 a body having a cab and storage receptacle defining a storage space, the storage receptacle having a front end and a back end; and   a storage space expansion portion connected to the receptacle for movement toward the back end into a retracted position and away from the back end into an extended position thereby respectively decreasing and increasing a storage space, wherein the wheel base of the vehicle is adjustable between a first length and a second length that is greater than the first length.   
     
     
         29 . The vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the storage receptacle includes a bottom and a plurality of substantially vertical walls defining a bed. 
     
     
         30 . The vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the length of the storage space changes between a first length and a second length that is substantially greater than the first length. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein a volume of the cab is adjustable between a first volume and a second volume that is substantially greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         32 . The vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the adjustment of the wheelbase is independent of the movement of the storage space expansion portion.