US Patent 11230226 Vehicle cargo area lighting system and cargo area lighting method

A vehicle cargo area lighting system includes, among other things, a cover assembly and at least one cargo area light. The cover assembly is movable back and forth between a closed position and an open position. The cover assembly covers a cargo area of a vehicle when the cover assembly is in the closed position. The cover assembly has a top portion and a wall portion. The wall portion extends vertically downward from the top portion when the cover assembly is in the closed position. The cargo area light is secured to an interior side of the wall portion. The cargo area light is configured to illuminate the cargo area when the cover assembly is in the open position.