VEHICLE CARGO TAILGATE ENCLOSURE

• US 20080111390A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 89908 Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/50
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/033 removable B62D33/0273 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved vehicle cargo tailgate enclosure particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. The tailgate enclosure comprises two side walls and a rear wall. The rear wall is configured to slope upwardly and rearwardly to provide additional storage space to a cargo bed of a vehicle. The cargo tailgate enclosure further comprises tubular members which comprise a non-circular cross section which provide exceptional strength a structural stability to the cargo tailgate enclosure. The cargo tailgate enclosure further comprises a plurality of upright members. Some of the upright members are configured to attach the cargo tailgate enclosure to a vehicle and to cap the tubular members. Other upright members are configured to support the tailgate enclosure against the surface cargo bed or a tailgate of a vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel on one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel on an opposite side of said bed, and a tailgate, said tailgate enclosure mountable in a first position in which said tailgate enclosure comprises:

a first side wall coupled to the first side panel;

a second side wall coupled to the second side panel; and

a connecting wall which connects said first side wall and said second side wall, a portion of said connecting wall positioned over said tailgate rearward of said rear end of said bed, said connecting wall angling upward and outward from said tailgate at an angle of between about 10 and about 50 degrees from vertical.

2. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein the tailgate enclosure is moveable from said first position to a second position with said tailgate enclosure positioned between said first side panel and said second side panel such that said connecting wall is positioned over said bed forward of said rear end with said connecting wall angling downward and forward at an angle of at least 15 degrees from vertical.

3. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein said connecting wall comprises at least two separable portions.

4. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein said tailgate enclosure is moveable from said first position to said second position without detachment of said first side wall from said vehicle and without detachment of said second side wall from said vehicle.

5. The tailgate enclosure of claim 3, wherein said tailgate enclosure is moveable from said first position to said second position without detachment of said first side wall from said vehicle and without detachment of said second side wall from said vehicle.

6. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein said connecting wall comprises a plurality of tubular members.

7. The tailgate enclosure of claim 3, wherein said connecting wall comprises a plurality of cross-members.

8. The tailgate enclosure of claim 4, wherein said connecting wall comprises a plurality of cross-members.

9. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein said connecting wall defines a plurality of openings that allow air to pass through said connecting wall.

10. The tailgate enclosure of claim 3, wherein said connecting wall defines a plurality of openings that allow air to pass through said connecting wall.

11. The tailgate enclosure of claim 4, wherein said connecting wall defines a plurality of openings that allow air to pass through said connecting wall.

12. The tailgate enclosure of claim 6, wherein said connecting wall defines a plurality of openings that allow air to pass through said connecting wall.

13. The tailgate enclosure of claim 1, wherein in the first position, the connecting wall angles upward and outward from said tailgate at an angle of at least 15 degrees from vertical.

14. A vehicle tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel defining one side of said bed, a second upstanding side panel defining an opposite side of said bed, and a tailgate, said tailgate enclosure mountable in a first position in which said tailgate enclosure comprises:

a first side wall coupled to the first side panel;

a second side wall coupled to the second side panel; and

a connecting wall which connects said first side wall and said second side wall, said connecting wall comprising;

a plurality of cross-members having a non-circular cross-section; and

a plurality of struts, each strut defining a plurality of openings, each of said plurality of openings sized and shaped to receive and retain one of said plurality of cross-members.

15. The tailgate enclosure of claim 14, wherein said tailgate enclosure is moveable from said first position to a second position with said tailgate enclosure positioned between said first side panel and said second side panel such that said connecting wall is positioned over said bed forward of said rear end with said first side wall and said second side wall extending forward toward the connecting wall.

16. The tailgate enclosure of claim 14, wherein said first side wall and said second side wall each comprise a plurality of cross-members having a non-circular cross-section and a plurality of vertical struts, each vertical strut defining a plurality of openings, each of said plurality of openings sized and shaped to receive and retain one of said plurality of cross-members.

17. The tailgate enclosure of claim 14, wherein said first side wall comprises at least in part said plurality of cross-members of said connecting wall and said second wall comprises at least in part said plurality of cross-members of said connecting wall.

18. The tailgate enclosure of claim 17, wherein said first wall and said second wall each further comprise at least one vertical strut, said vertical strut defining a plurality of openings, each of said plurality of openings sized and shaped to receive and retain one of said plurality of cross-members.

19. The tailgate enclosure of claim 18, wherein said at least one vertical strut of said first wall covers a distal end of said plurality of cross-members.

20. The tailgate enclosure of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of vertical struts comprise two mating sections which couple to secure said plurality of cross-members within said plurality of openings.

21. The tailgate enclosure of claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of cross-members is bent so that a first portion of said tubular member extends transverse to a second portion of said tubular member.

22. The tailgate enclosure of claim 14, wherein the cross-members each have a non-circular cross section comprising:

a pair of opposing curved sidewalls having a first radius of curvature and defining a height of the cross-members; and

a pair of opposing curved end walls having a second radius of curvature and defining a width of the cross-members.

23. The tailgate enclosure of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the first radius of curvature to the height of the cross-members is approximately 1.110:

1.

24. The tailgate enclosure of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the second radius of curvature to the width of the cross members is approximately 1.117:

1.