Patent ID: 7213859

Claim:
A tailgate assembly for use with a motor vehicle having a pair of spaced, generally vertical side walls and a generally horizontal bed extending therebetween, the tailgate assembly comprising: a tailgate frame including a rear panel and a front panel adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls for movement between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position, said tailgate frame having a peripheral edge defining a top portion of said tailgate frame when in said closed position; and a supplemental tailgate assembly mounted within and being selectively movable relative to said tailgate frame between a retracted position and an extended position, said supplemental tailgate assembly including a latch mechanism operable to restrain movement of said supplemental tailgate assembly relative to said tailgate frame; a molding member supported on said frame assembly at said peripheral edge of said tailgate frame and being pivotable relative to said supplemental tailgate assembly to actuate said latch mechanism in response to the pivotal movement of said molding member; and a push button control member operably associated with said molding member to control the operation thereof for actuating said latch mechanism.