Vehicle cargo tailgate enclosure

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.

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 bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side panel on one side of the bed, a second upstanding side panel on an opposite side of the bed, and a tailgate, the vehicle bed extender comprising:
 a first side wall pivotally connected to the first side panel;   a second side wall pivotally connected to the second side panel; and   a connecting wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the connecting wall being sloped such that a portion of the connecting wall is located rearward of a rear end of the tailgate when the vehicle bed extender is in a position generally over the tailgate rearward of the rear end of the bed.