Multiple configuration tailgate extender
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An extender for a vehicle tailgate, comprising:
- an extension member movable between a stowed position and an operative position;
the extension member being hingedly connected to an upper edge of an inner wall of the tailgate, the inner wall being recessed with respect to sides of the tailgate such that the extension member is substantially flush with respect to the tailgate sides when in the stowed position;
the extension member having first and second side posts located at first and second outer corner portions of the tailgate, respectively;
the extension member having a plurality of closure members adapted to form vertical closures when the extension member is in the operative position; and
the extension member closure members being hingedly connected to the extension member side posts.
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Abstract
A vehicle tailgate extender includes an extension member retractably mounted between inner and outer tailgate walls. The extension member is movable between operative and stowed positions, wherein the stowed position of the extension members is substantially entirely enclosed by the tailgate walls. In the operative position the extension member extends from an opening in a top surface of the tailgate located intermediate the tailgate walls.
168 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An extender for a vehicle tailgate, comprising:
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an extension member movable between a stowed position and an operative position; the extension member being hingedly connected to an upper edge of an inner wall of the tailgate, the inner wall being recessed with respect to sides of the tailgate such that the extension member is substantially flush with respect to the tailgate sides when in the stowed position; the extension member having first and second side posts located at first and second outer corner portions of the tailgate, respectively; the extension member having a plurality of closure members adapted to form vertical closures when the extension member is in the operative position; and the extension member closure members being hingedly connected to the extension member side posts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An extender for a vehicle tailgate, comprising:
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an extension member movable between a stowed position and an operative position; the extension member being hingedly connected to an upper edge of an inner wall of the tailgate; the inner wall being recessed with respect to sides of the tailgate such that the extension member is substantially flush with respect to the tailgate sides when in the stowed position; the extension member having first and second side posts located at first and second outer corner portions of the tailgate, respectively; the extension member side posts being connected by a center portion to form a U-shape, with the center portion being hingedly connected at the tailgate upper edge; the extension member having a plurality of closure members adapted to form vertical closures when the extension member is in the operative position; the extension member closure members being hingedly connected to the extension member side posts; the extension member closure members including first and second side closure members and first and second multiposition closure members; the first side closure member and first multiposition closure member being hingedly mounted to the first side post, and the second side closure member and second multiposition closure member being hingedly mounted to the second side post; the extension member side closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form vertical forward side closures when the extension member is in the operative position; and the extension member multiposition closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form openable vertical end closures when the extension member is in the operative position.
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5. An extender for a vehicle tailgate, comprising:
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a first extension member movable between a stowed position, a first operative position, and a second operative position; a second extension member movable between a stowed position and an operative position; the first extension member being hingedly connected to an upper edge of an inner wall of the tailgate; the first extension member having first and second side posts located at first and second outer corner portions of the tailgate, respectively; the first extension member having a plurality of closure members mounted to the side posts and adapted to form vertical closures when the first extension members is in the first and second operative position; the first extension member closure members including first and second side closure members and first and second multiposition closure members; the first extension member side closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form vertical forward side closures when the first extension member is in the first and second operative positions; the first extension member multiposition closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form vertical end closures, when the first extension member is in the first operative position, and vertical rearward side closures, when the first extension member is in the second operative position; the second extension member having first and second end posts located at first and second outer corner portions of a bottom surface of the second extension member, respectively; the second extension member having a plurality of closure members mounted to the end posts and adapted to form vertical closures when the second extension member is in the operative position; the second extension member closure members including first and second end closure members; and the second extension member end closure members being movable with respect to the end posts to form openable vertical end closures, when the first extension member is in the second operative position and the second extension member is in the operative position. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An extender for a vehicle tailgate, comprising:
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a first extension member movable between a stowed position, a first operative position, and a second operative position; a second extension member movable between a stowed position and an operative position; the first extension member being hingedly connected to an upper edge of an inner wall of the tailgate; the inner wall being recessed with respect to sides of the tailgate such that the first extension member is substantially flush with respect to the tailgate sides when in the stowed position; the first extension member having first and second side posts located at first and second outer corner portions of the tailgate, respectively; the first extension member side posts being connected by a center portion to form a U-shape, with the center portion being hingedly connected at the tailgate upper edge; the first extension member having a plurality of closure members adapted to form vertical closures when the first extension member is in the first and second operative positions; the first extension member closure members being hingedly connected to the first extension member side posts; the first extension member closure members including first and second side closure members and first and second multiposition closure members; the first side closure member and first multiposition closure member being hingedly mounted to the first side post, and the second side closure member and second multiposition closure member being hingedly mounted to the second side post; the first extension member side closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form vertical forward side closures when the first extension member is in the first and second operative positions; the first extension member multiposition closure members being movable with respect to the side posts to form vertical end closures, when the first extension member is in the first operative position, and vertical rearward side closures, when the first extension member is in the second operative position; the second extension member being retractably mounted within the inner tailgate wall and an outer tailgate wall and movable between the operative and stowed positions, where in the stowed position the second extension member is substantially entirely enclosed by the tailgate walls, and in the operative position the extension member extends from an opening in a top surface of the tailgate located intermediate the tailgate walls; the second extension member having first and second end posts located at first and second outer corner portions of a bottom surface of the second extension member, respectively; the second extension member end posts being connected by a center portion to form a U-shape, with the center portion being hingedly connected at an outer edge of the bottom surface; the second extension member having a plurality of closure members adapted to form vertical closures when the second extension member is in the operative position; the second extension member closure members being hingedly connected to the second extension member end posts; the second extension member closure members including first and second end closure members; the first end closure member being hingedly mounted to the first end post, and the second end closure member being hingedly mounted to the second end post; and the second extension member end closure members being movable with respect to the end posts to form openable vertical end closures, when the first extension member is in the second operative position and the second extension member is in the operative position.
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Specification