Patent ID: 8398140

Claim:
An apparatus for a vehicle with a rear hatch closure panel and a vehicle body that defines an interior cargo area and has sides, a roof, and a floor, the apparatus comprising: a first striker attached to the floor of the vehicle body; a first panel defining a loading surface and having first and second sides; a support frame connected to the first panel and including first and second supports; a second panel having a second striker connected thereto, the second panel pivotably connected to the first panel; wherein the first and second supports are configured to be selectively connectable to and releasable from the vehicle body; wherein the apparatus is positionable in a stowed position when the supports are connected to the vehicle body and in which the apparatus is within the interior cargo area and the first panel is substantially parallel with and above the floor; wherein the apparatus is pivotable with respect to the vehicle body to a deployed position in which the supports are connected to the vehicle body and in which the apparatus extends at least partially out of the vehicle to provide additional cargo area; wherein the rear hatch closure panel is attached to the roof of the vehicle body and is openable to allow access to the interior cargo area and has a latch configured to attach to one of the first striker and the second striker to secure the rear hatch closure panel; wherein the first striker is configured to receive the latch when the apparatus is in the stowed position to thereby close the interior cargo area and secure the rear hatch closure panel; and wherein the second striker is configured to receive the latch when the apparatus is in the deployed position to thereby latch the rear hatch closure panel to the apparatus.