Patent ID: 7735894

Claim:
A vehicle comprising a cargo bed extending from a forward end to a rearward end, the cargo bed comprising: a left side wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end; a right side wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end; a bottom wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end, and further extending at least partially between the left side wall and the right side wall; and a tailgate assembly comprising: a support panel pivotally attached to at least one of the left side wall, the right side wall, and the bottom wall, the support panel being pivotable between a cargo-retaining position and a step position with respect to the bottom wall; and a tailgate panel pivotally and directly attached to the support panel; wherein the tailgate panel is pivotable between a folded position and an unfolded position; the tailgate panel is a single, continuous panel; the tailgate panel defines an end wall for the cargo bed when the support panel is in the cargo-retaining position and the tailgate panel is in the folded position; the tailgate panel is substantially horizontally oriented when the support panel is in the step position and the tailgate panel is in the unfolded position; and the support panel extends from a first end to a second end, and wherein the first end of the support panel is hingedly attached to the tailgate panel such that the tailgate panel is movable between the folded position in which the tailgate panel is substantially parallel with the support panel, and the unfolded position in which the tailgate panel is substantially perpendicular with the support panel.