Abstract:
A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area includes a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface and a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The cargo area extender may be defined by a folding panel. The folding panel may be defined by hingedly connected sections and may be stowed within a portion of the tailgate.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates generally to the motor vehicle field and, more particularly, to a vehicle cargo area extender configurable as a work surface. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For various reasons, it may be desirable to extend the effective length of a vehicle cargo area such as a truck bed, such as for hauling a particularly long piece of cargo that would not fit in the cargo area with the tailgate in the raised position. In some cases, this is done by lowering the tailgate and placing a cargo area extender thereon to effectively increase the usable cargo area volume. Such cargo area extenders may be cage-like structures comprised of stacked, curved bars, box-like structures comprised of adjoining panels, and others. While effective, this arrangement requires using a large, separate component for placement on the lowered tailgate, which must be stored apart from the vehicle when not in use. Alternatively, the cargo area extender may be carried in the vehicle cargo area, but this reduces the amount of usable space in the vehicle cargo area. 
         [0003]    In turn, often vehicle users require work surfaces for performing various tasks, and it is highly convenient to the user to have such work surfaces associated with or carried in the truck cargo area for use. However, again storing work surfaces such as tables, sawhorses, etc. in a truck cargo area reduces the amount of space usable for carrying other items. 
         [0004]    Thus, a need is identified for a vehicle cargo area work surface that can be easily stowed when not in use so as not to occupy otherwise usable cargo area storage space, but which can be rapidly and easily deployed from the stowed configuration for use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with the purposes and benefits described herein, a work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area is provided, comprising a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface. The apparatus further includes a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. 
         [0006]    In embodiments, the cargo area extender is defined by a folding panel. The folding panel may be stowed within a portion of the tailgate. In embodiments, the at least two panel-supporting posts are hingedly connected to the tailgate. In other embodiments, the at least two panel-supporting posts are extendable outwardly from the tailgate when placed in a lowered configuration to provide the substantially horizontal deployed orientation. 
         [0007]    In embodiments, the folding panel comprises a plurality of hingedly connected sections. Lockable hinges may be included to hold the plurality of hingedly connected sections in a folded and/or an unfolded configuration. In other embodiments, the folding panel comprises a plurality of pins and/or tongues for inserting into cooperating apertures and/or slots defined in the at least two panel-supporting posts. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area is provided, comprising a tailgate including at least two support posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position and a folding cargo area extender configurable to define a substantially planar work surface for holding in a substantially horizontal orientation by the deployed at least two support posts. In embodiments, the at least two support posts are hingedly connected to the tailgate and/or deploy by extending outwardly from the tailgate when placed in a lowered configuration. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, a vehicle including a cargo area work surface apparatus is provided, comprising a tailgate or liftgate including at least two support posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position and a folding cargo area extender held in a recessed stowed position within a portion of the tailgate and adapted to be unfolded into a substantially planar configuration supported by the deployed at least two support posts. 
         [0010]    In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the vehicle cargo area work surface. As it should be realized, the arrangement is capable of other, different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the cargo area work surface as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the vehicle cargo area work surface and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawing figures: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of a vehicle including a hingedly connected tailgate or liftgate; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  shows a pair of posts deployed from the lowered tailgate of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  shows a retracting post mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a cargo area extender according to the present disclosure, associated with a vehicle tailgate or liftgate; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of the cargo area extender of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows the cargo area extender of  FIG. 4  configured for use as a work surface; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an alternative stowing configuration for the cargo area divider of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  shows the cargo area extender of  FIG. 3  configured for use as a work surface; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  shows the cargo area extender of  FIG. 3  in use as a cargo area extender; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of a cargo area extender according to the present disclosure, configured for use as a work surface; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of a cargo area extender according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the vehicle cargo area work surface, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a vehicle  100  including a cargo area or bed  120  and a hingedly attached tailgate  140  configured for translating (see arrow A) between a raised, generally vertical closed position and the lowered, generally horizontal open position shown in the drawing. While the illustrated vehicle  100  is a pickup truck, it will be appreciated that other vehicle types include such a tailgate or liftgate, for example sport-utility vehicles, station wagons, and others, and so the vehicle type and closure panel will not be construed as limiting. The tailgate  140  and cargo area  120  may include a variety of hinged, support, and latching devices which are well known in the art and which do not require extensive discussion herein. 
         [0025]    The tailgate  140  is provided with posts which may be translated between a stowed position and one or more deployed positions. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2A , the tailgate  140  is provided with a pair of posts  160 ,  180  configured for deploying to extend from the lowered tailgate in a generally horizontal orientation, and for retracting back into the stowed position (see arrows B). Of course, additional posts may be added in accordance with the dimensions and/or weight which the posts are required to support. In one possible embodiment (see  FIG. 2B ), each post  160 ,  180  (only post  160  is shown for clarity) may include an extendable portion  160   a,    180   a  that telescopes into another member, such as a tubular receiver  160   b,    180   b,  associated with and fixed to the tailgate  140  (not shown in this view). A suitable locking pin  162  may also be provided for locking the posts  160 ,  180  in the deployed and stowed positions. 
         [0026]    In an alternative embodiment, the posts  160 ,  180  may be configured to be raised into a generally vertical position, and then to be lowered into the generally horizontal position, substantially along a same plane as the lowered tailgate. This may be accomplished by brackets including pivots (embodiment not shown) for securing the posts  160 ,  180  to the tailgate. One suitable embodiment of such posts is disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,302,719 to Ford Global Technologies, Ltd, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0027]    Alternatively, the posts  160 ,  180  may be configured to be stowed in one or more receivers (embodiment not shown) molded or otherwise formed in an inner panel  200  of the tailgate  140 , and to be raised to the generally vertical orientation and then to be lowered to the generally horizontal orientation. An exemplary configuration of posts configured to be so stowed/deployed is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,276, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The raising/lowering of the posts  160 ,  180  may be accomplished by use of brackets including pivots. An example of such brackets is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,302,719. Any number of retainer mechanisms may be used to secure the posts  160 ,  180  in the desired orientation, including without intending any limitation pins, clips, dogs, and other retainers. 
         [0028]    The posts  160 ,  180  may be held in the suitably configured and dimensioned receivers by a number of mechanisms. The receivers may be dimensioned to hold the posts  160 ,  180  by a friction or interference fit. Alternatively or in addition, various clips (not shown) may be provided to hold or assist in holding the various components in the receivers. Still further, the posts  160 ,  180  may be configured for removal from the tailgate  140  and insertion into dedicated brackets or sleeves provided in the tailgate body and/or the tailgate inner panel  200  to respectively hold the posts in one or both of the described generally vertical and generally horizontal orientations, with pins, clips, etc. provided to secure the posts in the brackets or sleeves. All such mechanisms are contemplated for use herein. 
         [0029]    Continuing, with reference to  FIG. 3  a cargo area extender  220  is provided, which may be provided in a number of suitable configurations. The cargo area extender  220  may be defined by a unitary panel (see  FIG. 8 ), by a plurality of interlocking panels (see  FIG. 7 ), or by a folding panel (see  FIGS. 4-6A, 6B ). The cargo area extender  220  may be attached to an inner surface of the tailgate  140  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6A ) or may be stowed in a cavity defined in the tailgate (see  FIGS. 4-5 and 8 ). Alternatively, the cargo area extender need not be stowed in or on the tailgate  140  (embodiment not shown). 
         [0030]    In more detail, as shown in  FIG. 3  a folding cargo area extender  220  is provided. The cargo area extender  220  may be attached to the inner panel  200  of the tailgate  140  (see  FIG. 3 ), or may be received in a cavity  230  defined in the body of the tailgate (see  FIGS. 4-5 ). The cavity  230  may be dimensioned to hold the folded cargo area extender  220  by a friction or interference fit. Alternatively or in addition, various bolts  265  or clips (not shown) may be provided to hold or assist in holding the various components in the receivers. All such mechanisms are contemplated for use herein. The cargo area extender  220  may be entirely removable from the tailgate cavity  230  (see  FIG. 5 ) or may be hingedly attached to a portion of the tailgate  140  to allow pivoting upwardly and outwardly for deployment (see  FIG. 4 ). The unfolded cargo area extender  220  may be secured to the deployed posts  160 ,  180  such as by cooperating tongues or pins  285  received in cooperating slots or apertures  300  (see  FIG. 3 ). Of course, alternative fastening mechanisms are contemplated, including fasteners such as bolts or screws, pin/clip arrangements, and others. 
         [0031]    In use as a work surface, as shown in  FIGS. 5-6  the cargo area extender  220  may be removed from its stowed position, unfolded and locked to form a substantially flat panel, and placed in a substantially transverse and horizontal orientation across the posts  160 ,  180 , thereby providing a convenient work surface. In an embodiment hinges  320  are provided that are 180 degree hinges which provide only a sufficient range of motion (arrows C) to open the folding cargo area extender out to define a flat panel as shown in  FIG. 7 . The hinges  320  may be lockable to retain the folding cargo area extender  220  respectively in the folded and unfolded configurations. Such hinge mechanisms are well known in the art and do not require substantial discussion herein. 
         [0032]    In use as a cargo area extender, the side panels  260 ,  280  may connect to the inner walls of cargo area sides  340 ,  360  as shown in  FIG. 6B . For this function, the cargo area extender  220  is deployed by raising the central panel  240  to a substantially vertical orientation (see  FIG. 6B ) and then side panels  260 ,  280  are rotated out. Fasteners  380 , in the depicted embodiment being rotating catches, engage cooperating slots  400  disposed in side panels  260 ,  280  to form a cargo area extender substantially around an exterior diameter of the tailgate inner panel  200 . Of course, alternative fasteners for securing side panels  260 ,  280  to the inner cargo area sides  340 ,  360  are contemplated. 
         [0033]    Still additional alternative embodiments are contemplated. For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , cargo area extender  220  may be defined by separable side panels  260 ′,  280 ′ which are removed from tailgate  140  and attached to a central panel  240 ′. In yet another embodiment (not shown), a single, unitary panel may be provided, attached to the tailgate  140  and/or received in the cavity  240  as described above, which is removed from or hingedly pivots out from the tailgate and is placed on or attached to posts  160 ,  180  to serve as a work surface and/or a side-less cargo area extender. Additional features may be included, such as a retractable tailgate-mounted step assembly  440  (see  FIG. 1 ). A number of suitable step assemblies are known in the art, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,918,624, 7,090,276, and 7,234,749, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0034]    The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.