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US 11,142,263 B2Granted
Vehicle tailgate enclosure
AssigneeLund Motion Products, Inc.
InventorAnthony Nicholas Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
A vehicle tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle including a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, a cargo bed, and a tailgate, the vehicle tailgate enclosure comprising:
- a plurality of cross members configured to extend from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, each of the plurality of cross members vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of cross members, each of the plurality of cross members comprising:
- a first side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first side member having two bend locations between the first and second ends;
- a central member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a second side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second side member having two bend locations between the first and second ends;
- wherein each of the first side member, the central member, and the second side member comprises a circular cross-section;
- a first end upright configured to receive the first end of the first side member of each of the plurality of cross members, the first end upright further configured to secure the vehicle tailgate enclosure to a portion of the first sidewall of the vehicle;
- a second end upright configured to receive the first end of the second side member of each of the plurality of cross members, the second end upright configured to secure the vehicle tailgate enclosure to a portion of the second sidewall of the vehicle;
- a pair of center uprights, each of the pair of center uprights comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to secure one of the second end of the first side member and the second end of the second side member to one of the first and second ends of the central member;
- a first intermediate upright comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to receive a portion of the first side member, wherein the first intermediate upright is positioned between the first end upright and one of the pair of center uprights;
- and
- a second intermediate upright comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to receive a portion of the second side member, wherein the second intermediate upright is positioned between the second end upright and one of the pair of center uprights.
9 more elements
A vehicle tailgate enclosure for use with a vehicle, the vehicle tailgate enclosure comprising:
- a plurality of cross members, each of the plurality of cross members vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of cross members, each of the plurality of cross members comprising:
- a first side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first side member having at least one bend location between the first and second ends;
- a central member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a second side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second side member having at least one bend location between the first and second ends;
- wherein each of the first side member, the central member, and the second side member comprises a circular cross-section;
- a first end upright configured to receive the first end of the first side member of each of the plurality of cross members;
- a second end upright configured to receive the first end of the second side member of each of the plurality of cross members;
- a pair of center uprights, each of the pair of center uprights comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to secure one of the second end of the first side member and the second end of the second side member to one of the first and second ends of the central member;
- and
- at least one intermediate upright comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to receive a portion of the first side member or a portion of the second side member, the at least one intermediate upright positioned between one of the pair of center uprights and one of the first and second end uprights.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
- a storage bed;
- a tailgate;
- and
- a vehicle tailgate enclosure comprising:
- a plurality of cross members configured to extend from the first sidewall to the second sidewall, each of the plurality of cross members vertically spaced apart from an adjacent one of the plurality of cross members, each of the plurality of cross members comprising:
- a first side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first side member having at least one bend location between the first and second ends;
- a central member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a second side member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second side member having at least one bend location between the first and second ends;
- wherein each of the first side member, the central member, and the second side member comprises a circular cross-section;
- a first end upright configured to receive the first end of the first side member of each of the plurality of cross members, the first end upright further configured to secure the vehicle tailgate enclosure to a portion of the first sidewall of the vehicle;
- a second end upright configured to receive the first end of the second side member of each of the plurality of cross members, the second end upright configured to secure the vehicle tailgate enclosure to a portion of the second sidewall of the vehicle;
- a pair of center uprights, each of the pair of center uprights comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to secure one of the second end of the first side member and the second end of the second side member to one of the first and second ends of the central member;
- and
- at least one intermediate upright comprising a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels configured to receive a portion of at least one of the first side member and the second side member, the at least one intermediate upright positioned between one of the pair of center uprights and one of the first and second end uprights.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.