Tailgate enclosure apparatus

摘要

An enclosure device for forming a secured enclosure area within a cargo area of a vehicle is disclosed. The enclosure device includes a front panel and a generally planar deck panel that extends from the front panel. The deck panel includes a pair of pair of spaced apart left and right sides that are adapted for extending over the wheel wells and the sidewalls. The deck panel also includes an aft edge that is adapted for extending to a location directly below an upper lip of the aft end of the cargo area when the front panel is adapted for fastening to the vehicle. At least one of the spaced apart left and right sides includes an abutment edge that is adapted for being positioned next to the sport cage upright, so that the secured enclosure area is created below the deck panel.

主权项

1. An enclosure device for forming a secured enclosure area within a cargo area of a vehicle, the vehicle having a sport cage, the cargo area having a floor between a pair of wheel wells that have an upper surface that supports at least a portion of the sport cage, the support of the sport cage creating a discontinuity along the upper surface of the wheel wells, the wheel wells including sidewalls that extend up from the floor, the cargo area further having a tailgate that is moveable between an open position that provides access to the floor of the cargo area, and a closed position where the tailgate is generally normal to the sidewalls and the floor, and the cargo area further having an aft end with an upper lip that extends over at least a portion of the upper surface of the wheel wells, the enclosure device comprising:
a front panel, the front panel being adapted for extending between the wheel well sides and next to the floor of the cargo area, the front panel further being adapted for attachment to the vehicle; a generally planar deck panel that is attached to the front panel, the deck panel having:
a pair of spaced apart left and right sides that are adapted for extending over the wheel wells while the deck panel extends between the sidewalls; the left and right sides each further having an aft edge, the aft edge being adapted for extending to a location directly below the upper lip of the aft end of the cargo area when the front panel is attached to the vehicle; and an abutment edge extending from at least one of spaced apart left and right sides, the abutment edge being at a distance from the aft edge such that the abutment edge is positioned next to the discontinuity and over the upper surface of the wheel well, below the upper lip of the aft end of the cargo area, and between the discontinuity and the aft end of the cargo area when the aft edge is directly below the upper lip of the aft end of the cargo area, so that access to the cargo area below the deck panel is closed when the tailgate is in the closed position along the aft end, whereby a forward movement of the deck panel that allows the aft edge of the deck panel to be removed from below the upper lip is prevented by contact of the abutment edge against the discontinuity.