Vehicle cargo area extender work surface
A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area includes a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface and a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts. The cargo area extender may be defined by a folding panel. The folding panel may be defined by hingedly connected sections and may be stowed within a portion of the tailgate.
1. A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area, comprising:
a tailgate including at least two panel-supporting posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position to hold a work surface; and
a cargo area extender configurable for supporting in a substantially planar configuration by the deployed at least two panel-supporting posts.
2. The work surface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cargo area extender is defined by a folding panel.
3. The work surface apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the folding panel is stowed within a portion of the tailgate.
4. The work surface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two panel-supporting posts are hingedly connected to the tailgate.
5. The work surface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least two panel-supporting posts are extendable outwardly from the tailgate when placed in a lowered configuration to provide the substantially horizontal deployed orientation.
6. The work surface apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the folding panel comprises a plurality of hingedly connected sections.
7. The work surface apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the hinges are lockable to hold the plurality of hingedly connected sections in a folded or an unfolded configuration.
8. The work surface apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the folding panel comprises a plurality of pins or tongues for inserting into cooperating apertures or slots defined in the at least two panel-supporting posts.
9. A vehicle including the work surface apparatus of claim 1 .
10. A work surface apparatus for a vehicle cargo area, comprising:
a tailgate including at least two support posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position; and
a folding cargo area extender configurable to define a substantially planar work surface for holding in a substantially horizontal orientation by the deployed at least two support posts.
11. The work surface apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least two support posts are hingedly connected to the tailgate or deploy by extending outwardly from the tailgate when placed in a lowered configuration.
12. The work surface apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cargo area extender comprises a plurality of pins or tongues for inserting into cooperating apertures or slots defined in the at least two support posts.
13. The work surface apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the folding cargo area extender comprises a plurality of hingedly connected sections secured one to another by lockable 180 degree hinges.
14. A vehicle including the work surface apparatus of claim 10 .
15. A vehicle including a cargo area work surface apparatus, comprising:
a tailgate or liftgate comprising:
at least two support posts adapted for translating between a stowed position and a substantially horizontal deployed position; and
a folding cargo area extender held in a recessed stowed position within a portion of the tailgate and adapted to be unfolded into a substantially planar configuration supported by the deployed at least two support posts.
16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the at least two support posts are hingedly connected to the tailgate or deploy by extending outwardly from the tailgate when placed in a lowered configuration to provide the substantially horizontal deployed orientation.
17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the folding cargo area extender comprises a plurality of hingedly connected sections.
18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the hinges are lockable to hold the plurality of hingedly connected sections in a folded or an unfolded configuration.
19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the folding cargo area extender comprises a plurality of pins or tongues for inserting into cooperating apertures or grooves defined in the at least two support posts.