Patent ID: 6340190
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A tailgate attachment for a vehicle having a cargo space, the cargo space being defined by a bed, upright sidewalls and a tailgate, the tailgate having an inside surface which faces the cargo space when the tailgate is at a closed upright position and which extends substantially horizontally to the rear of the bed when the tailgate is at an open position, the tailgate further having a top edge which is uppermost when the tailgate is at the closed upright position, the tailgate attachment comprising:a back panel and a pair of side panels having configurations adapted to form a rearward extension of the cargo space, each of the side panels being pivotally coupled to one of a pair of side members of the back panel enabling the side panels to be pivoted from a generally parallel relationship with the back panel to a generally perpendicular relationship with the back panel; a first securing element adapted to be attached to the inside surface of the tailgate, the first securing element having a first securing element upper surface that is generally parallel to the inside surface of the tailgate when the first securing element is attached to the tailgate, the first securing element further including a first securing element pivot point that extends upwardly from the first securing element upper surface; an intermediate rotating member that includes an elongate body portion that separates first and second pivot points of the intermediate rotating member; a second securing element that is fixedly attached to the tailgate attachment, the second securing element having a second securing element pivot point; a first pivot pin that rotatably engages the first securing element pivot point to the first pivot point such that the elongate body portion of the intermediate rotating member can rotate approximately 180 degrees about the first pivot pin, the rotation of the elongate body being constrained by the first securing element upper surface; and a second pivot pin that rotatably engages the second securing element pivot point to the second pivot point such that the back panel may be rotated approximately 270 degrees from the inside surface of the tailgate.