Patent ID: 8201869

Claim:
A tailgate assembly for connection to a vehicle body comprising: a first panel portion configured for hinged connection to the vehicle body and pivotable between a closed position and an open position with respect to the vehicle body; a second panel portion hinged to the first panel portion and configured to be pivoted between a first position and a second position; wherein the second panel portion is generally parallel with the first panel portion when the first panel portion is in the closed position and the second panel portion is in the first position with both the first panel portion and the second panel portion extending upward on the vehicle body and the second panel portion extending above the first panel portion; wherein the second panel portion is generally perpendicular to the first panel portion in the second position; a third panel portion hinged to the second panel portion and configured to be pivoted between a stowed position and a use position; wherein the third panel portion extends generally parallel with the second panel portion when the third panel portion is in the stowed position; wherein the third panel portion extends generally perpendicular to the second panel portion in the use position; wherein the tailgate assembly extends upward on the vehicle body no further than the second panel portion when the first panel portion is in the closed position, the second panel portion is in the first position and the third panel portion is in either of the stowed position and the use position.