Patent ID: 11932313
Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A cargo box extension assembly for a cargo box of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a center panel configured and arranged for pivotally connecting to a front surface of a tailgate of the cargo box;
a left panel pivotally connected to a left end portion of the center panel at a first end of the left panel, a second end of the left panel being configured to selectively connect to a left, rear portion of the cargo box;
a right panel pivotally connected to a right end portion of the center panel at a first end of the right panel, a second end of the right panel being configured to selectively connect to a right, rear portion of the cargo box,
each of the left panel and the right panel being rotatable between at least an open position and a closed position,
in the open position, the second end of each of the left panel and the right panel being rotated outward away from the center panel,
in the closed position, the second end of each of the left panel and the right panel being rotated inward toward the center panel, each of the left panel and the right panel being arranged generally parallel to the center panel and aligned with each other,
when the cargo box extension assembly is installed on the tailgate of the vehicle and the center panel is pivotally connected to the front surface of the tailgate:
the cargo box extension assembly being selectively movable between at least a collapsed position and an extended position;
in the collapsed position:
each of the left panel and the right panel being arranged in the closed position,
the center panel being arranged generally parallel to the front surface of the tailgate, and
the cargo box extension assembly being at least partially received in a recess of the front surface of the tailgate,

in the extended position:
the center panel is arranged generally perpendicular to the front surface of the tailgate, and
each of the left panel and the right panel are arranged in the open position,

the cargo box extension assembly being selectively movable to a storage position with the center panel remaining pivotally connected to the front surface of the tailgate; and

at least one first hinge portion connected to the center panel, the at least one hinge portion being configured to pivotally connect to at least one second hinge portion connected to the tailgate,
the at least one first hinged portion including:
a first left hinge portion, and
a first right hinge portion;

the at least one second hinge portion including:
a second left hinge portion, and
a second right hinge portion;

the first left hinge portion being configured to pivotally connect to the second left hinge portion,
the first right hinge portion being configured to pivotally connect to the second right hinge portion,
the first left hinge portion and the first right hinge portion extending in a same direction,
the first left hinge portion and the first right hinge portion being arranged to be removed from and inserted into the second left hinge portion and the second right hinge portion by translation, the cargo box extension assembly thereby being configured and arranged to be removed from the tailgate by translation.