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 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . 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 movable between an open position and a closed position, said tailgate enclosure mountable in a first position when said tailgate is in said open 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 bottom portion of said connecting wall positioned above said tailgate and a top portion of said connecting wall positioned rearward of a rear end of said tailgate in said open position, said connecting wall above said tailgate extending from the bottom portion to the top portion at an angle of between about 10 and about 50 degrees from vertical.   
     
     
         16 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , wherein said tailgate enclosure comprises a plurality of tubular members, each of the tubular members forming part of the first wall, the second wall and the connecting wall. 
     
     
         17 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 16 , wherein in the first position said plurality of tubular members comprise a first tubular member positioned closest to the tailgate and a second tubular member positioned farthest from the tailgate, said first tubular member having a shorter length than said second tubular member. 
     
     
         18 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein a rear most section of said connecting wall of each of the plurality of tubular members is the same length. 
     
     
         19 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular members has a different length from where the first side wall is coupled to the first side panel to the rear most section of said connecting wall. 
     
     
         20 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular members has a different length between the rear most section of said connecting wall and the first side wall. 
     
     
         21 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular members has a different length at the first side wall. 
     
     
         22 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of tubular members has a different length from a first bend at the first wall to a second bend at the rear most section of said connecting wall. 
     
     
         23 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , 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. 
     
     
         24 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , wherein said connecting wall comprises at least two separable portions. 
     
     
         25 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 24 , wherein said connecting wall comprises a plurality of cross-members. 
     
     
         26 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , wherein said connecting wall comprises a plurality of cross-members. 
     
     
         27 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , wherein said connecting wall defines a plurality of openings that allow air to pass through said connecting wall. 
     
     
         28 . The tailgate enclosure of  claim 15 , 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. 
     
     
         29 . A vehicle bed extender for use with a vehicle having an open storage bed having a rear end, a first upstanding side body panel on one side of the bed, a second upstanding side body panel on an opposite side of the bed, and a tailgate at the rearmost portion of the rear end of the bed, the vehicle bed extender comprising:
 a first side wall rotatably connected to the first side body panel;   a second side wall rotatably connected to the second side body panel; and   a connecting wall extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, the connecting wall being sloped at an angle and extending from a bottom portion of the connecting wall positioned over the tailgate when the tailgate is in an open position to a top portion of the connecting wall that 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.   
     
     
         30 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 29 , wherein the tailgate enclosure is moveable from a first position generally over the tailgate to a second position generally over said bed with said connecting wall angling downward and forward at an angle of at least 15 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 29 , wherein said tailgate enclosure comprises a plurality of tubular members, each of the tubular members forming part of the first wall, the second wall and the connecting wall. 
     
     
         32 . The vehicle bed extender of  claim 31 , wherein said plurality of tubular members comprise a first tubular member positioned closest to the tailgate and a second tubular member positioned farthest from the tailgate, said first tubular member having a shorter length than said second tubular member.