Tailgate reinforcement

• US 10,435,088 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2019
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lund Motion Products Inc (Truck Hero, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US16/265,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20190270487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 2961466
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/0431 the elements being arranged at the hinge area
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/023 Sideboard or tailgate structures vehicle side panels in general B62D25/02
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/03 by swinging down B62D33/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 43/02 external to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/16 the sub-units or components being exterior fittings, e.g. bumpers, lights, wipers , exhausts
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a reinforcement or brace that can be installed on the tailgate of a vehicle. The reinforcement can provide structural support for heavier mounted objects, such as tires, as well as allowing for different attachment points. Advantageously, the tailgate hinge does not need to be removed or replaced.

Claims

1. A tailgate reinforcement for a vehicle tailgate, the tailgate reinforcement comprising:

a first and second hinge bracing section configured to cover at least a portion of an existing hinge on the vehicle tailgate, each of the first and second hinge bracing sections having a width;

a bridging section connecting the first and second hinge bracing sections, the bridging section defining a connection area configured to receive a mount, wherein the connection area of the bridging section comprises a plurality of slots or indentations extending vertically between the first and second hinge bracing sections; and

wherein a width of the bridging section is shorter than the widths of the first and second hinge bracing sections.

2. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, further comprising a mount installed on the connection area of the bridging section, the mount being configured to hold an accessory.

3. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the bridging section defines an inner surface and an outer surface, the plurality of slots or indentations being located on one or both of the inner surface and the outer surface.

4. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the hinge bracing sections vary in dimension as the hinge bracing sections extend away from the existing hinges when the tailgate reinforcement is attached to the vehicle tailgate.

5. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 4, wherein each of the hinge bracing sections comprise a distal end and a proximal end, the hinge bracing sections narrowing towards the distal ends.

6. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the bridging section locks the existing hinges together when the tailgate reinforcement is attached to the vehicle tailgate.

7. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the tailgate reinforcement does not extend outside of a perimeter of the vehicle tailgate.

8. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the tailgate reinforcement extends outside of a perimeter of the vehicle tailgate.

9. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, wherein the tailgate reinforcement extends across about half of a width of the vehicle tailgate.

10. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 1, further comprising a recess section configured to conform with a well of the vehicle tailgate.

11. A tailgate reinforcement for a vehicle tailgate, the tailgate reinforcement comprising:

a first and second hinge bracing section configured to cover at least a portion of an existing hinge on the vehicle tailgate, each of the first and second hinge bracing sections having a width;

a bridging section connecting the first and second hinge bracing sections, the bridging section defining a series of openings or recesses;

wherein a width of the bridging section is shorter than the widths of the first and second hinge bracing sections such that the tailgate reinforcement forms a generally backwards c-shape.

12. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, further comprising a mount attached to the openings or recesses of the bridging section, the mount being configured to hold an accessory.

13. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the bridging section defines an inner surface and an outer surface, the series of openings or recesses being located on one or both of the inner surface and the outer surface.

14. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the hinge bracing sections vary in dimension as the hinge bracing sections extend away from the existing hinges when the tailgate reinforcement is attached to the vehicle tailgate.

15. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 14, wherein each of the hinge bracing sections comprise a distal end and a proximal end, the hinge bracing sections narrowing towards the distal ends.

16. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the bridging section locks the existing hinges together when the tailgate reinforcement is attached to the vehicle tailgate.

17. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the tailgate reinforcement does not extend outside of a perimeter of the vehicle tailgate.

18. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the tailgate reinforcement extends outside of a perimeter of the vehicle tailgate.

19. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, wherein the tailgate reinforcement extends across about half of a width of the vehicle tailgate.

20. The tailgate reinforcement of claim 11, further comprising a recess section configured to conform with a well of the vehicle tailgate.