Multifunctional vehicle storage compartment door

A tailgate assembly for enclosing a bed area of a pickup, comprising:

• a first door enclosing a first portion of one side of the bed area of the pickup;
• a second door enclosing a second portion of the bed area of the pickup different from the first portion, wherein the first door and the second door are located side by side to enclose the first portion and the second portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a third door having a third area located within an area of the first door;
• wherein the first door and the second door may open independently of each other in a first configuration and open together in a second configuration;
• a first pair of hinges associated with the first door, each of the first pair of hinges located at opposite ends of a first edge of the first door and enabling the first door to move between an open position and a closed position with respect to the first portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a second pair of hinges associated with the second door, each of the second pair of hinges at opposite ends of a first edge of the second door and enabling the second door to move between an open position and a closed position with respect to the second portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a third pair of hinges associated with the third door, each of the third pair of hinges at opposite ends of a bottom edge of the third door and enabling the third door to move between the open position and the closed position with respect to a third portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a first pair of latches associated with the first door for latching the first door into the closed position;
• a door seam for interfacing the first door and the second door;
• wherein a first one of the first pair of hinges are associated with the door seam;
• wherein a first one of the first pair of latches is associated with the door seam;
• a second pair of latches associated with the second door for latching the second door into the closed position;
• a third pair of latches associated with the third door for latching the third door into the closed position;
• a first latching lever for releasing the first pair of latches latching the first door into the closed position;
• a second latching lever for releasing the second pair of latches latching the second door into the closed position;
• and
• a third latching lever for releasing the third pair of latches latching the third door into the closed position.

A tailgate assembly for enclosing a bed area of a pickup, comprising:

• a first door having a first area and enclosing a first portion of one side of the bed area of the pickup and configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position along a bottom edge of the first door;
• a second door having a second area located within an area of the first portion below a top edge of the first door and between side edges of the first door enclosing a second portion of the one side of the bed area of the pickup, the second door configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position along a bottom edge of the second door, wherein the bottom edge of the second door aligns with the bottom edge of the first door;
• a third door for enclosing a third portion of the one side of the bed area different from the area of the first portion, wherein the third door is located in an area next to the first door;
• a first pair of hinges associated with the first door, each of the first pair of hinges located at opposite ends of the bottom edge of the first door and enabling the first door to move between the open position and the closed position with respect to the first portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a second pair of hinges associated with the second door, each of the second pair of hinges at opposite ends of the bottom edge of the second door and enabling the second door to move between the open position and the closed position with respect to the second portion of the bed area of the pickup;
• a first pair of latches associated with the first door for latching the first door into the closed position;
• a second pair of latches associated with the second door for latching the second door into the closed position;
• a first latching lever for releasing the first pair of latches latching the first door into the closed position;
• and
• a second latching lever for releasing the second pair of latches latching the second door into the closed position.