Patent ID: 7347473

Claim:
A tailgate assembly for use with a motor vehicle having a first generally vertical side wall and a second generally vertical side wall, spaced from the first side wall, and a generally horizontal bed extending therebetween, the tailgate assembly comprising: a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein and adapted to pivotally mount generally between the first and second side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position and a generally vertical closed position; and a supplemental tailgate assembly including: a tailgate extender having a guide system secured generally within the hollow cavity; and a movable frame assembly having a telescoping support extendable from, pivotable relative to, and retained by the guide system, and a cross member connected to the telescoping support and extending generally normal thereto, said support being pivotable into an upwardly extending position and a downwardly extending position when the tailgate frame is in the horizontal open position; and a first gate assembly including a first gate, adapted to pivotally couple to the first vertical side wall, and a second gate, pivotally coupled to the first gate, and with the first and second gates adapted to be pivotable to extend toward the movable frame assembly such that the second gate is positioned in engagement with said telescopic support to restrain rearward movement of said second gate off said tailgate frame when said support is pivoted into the upwardly extending position with the tailgate frame being in the horizontal open position.