US Patent Issued to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA on Nov. 11 for "Tailgate protector structure with modular accessory attachments" (Michigan Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 11 -- United States Patent no. 12,466,336, issued on Nov. 11, was assigned to TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA INC. (Plano, Texas) and TOYOTA JIDOSHA K.K. (Toyota, Japan).

"Tailgate protector structure with modular accessory attachments" was invented by Ryan C. Harris (Saline, Mich.) and Scott L. Frederick (Brighton, Mich.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The application generally relates to an apparatus comprising a tailgate protector having a base disposed atop a first portion of a tailgate, a support arm extending from a first edge of the base, and one or more mounting elements disposed within the base, wherein the one or more mounting elements are...