Patent ID: 7841638

Claim:
A vehicle tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel defining one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel defining an opposite side of said bed, and a tailgate, said tailgate enclosure mountable in a first position in which said tailgate enclosure comprises: a first side wall coupled to the first side panel; a second side wall coupled to the second side panel; and a connecting wall which connects said first side wall and said second side wall, said connecting wall comprising: a plurality of cross-members having a non-circular cross-section, the non-circular cross-section have a height extending generally vertically and a width extending generally horizontally, the height being greater than the width; and a plurality of struts, each strut defining a plurality of openings, each of said plurality of openings sized and shaped to receive and retain one of said plurality of cross-members, wherein the cooperation of said non-circular cross-section of said cross-members and the size and shape of the openings substantially restrains the cross-members from rotating.