TAILGATE

• US 20050073188A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George M O'Brien
• Original Assignee: George M O'Brien
• Inventors: O'Brien, George M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,893,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 298/23.F
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/26 Means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards open loading compartments with movable sideboards or tailgates B62D33/027

Abstract

A tailgate for use with a vehicle having a chassis and a truck bed. The truck bed has an inside surface and an outside surface. The tailgate may include a pair of mounting blocks positioned on the outside surface of the truck bed. Each of the mounting blocks may include a protrusion. The tailgate also may have a pair of arms. Each of the arms may be positioned on a protrusion for rotation thereabout. A pair of chains may attach each of the arms to the chassis.

Claims

1. A tailgate for use with a vehicle with a chassis and truck bed, the truck bed having an inside surface and an outside surface, comprising:

a pair of mounting blocks positioned on the outside surface of the truck bed;

each of said pair of mounting blocks comprising a protrusion;

a pair of arms;

each of said pair of arms comprising a tubular member,

each of said pair of arms positioned on a respective one of said protrusions for rotation thereabout; and

a pair of chains attaching each of said arms to said chassis.

2. The tailgate of claim 1, further comprising a gate mounted on said pair of arms.

3. The tailgate of claim 2, wherein said gate comprises an elongated plate.

4. The tailgate of claim 3, wherein said gate comprises metal plate.

5. The tailgate of claim 3, wherein said gate comprises reinforcing members positioned on said elongated plate.

6. The tailgate of claim 3, wherein said gate comprises a support member positioned on said elongated plate such that said support member rests on the truck bed.

8. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of arms comprises steel of about 0.1875 inches in wall thickness.

9. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of arms comprises a substantially rectangular shape.

10. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of arms comprises an aperture therein so as to mate with said respective protrusions.

11. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of arms comprises a chain attachment positioned thereon for a respective one of said chains.

12. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said mounting blocks is welded to the outside surface of the truck bed.

13. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said mounting blocks comprises a base plate with reinforcing members positioned thereon.

14. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein each of said protrusions comprises a metal pin.

15. The tailgate of claim 1, further comprising a collar positioned on each of said protrusions so as to keep each of said pair of arms in place.

16. The tailgate of claim 1, further comprising a pair of chain supports positioned on said chassis such that each of said chain supports attaches one of said pair of chains to one of said pair of arms.

17. The tailgate of claim 16, wherein each of said pair of chain supports comprises an extending member such that said chain is positioned outside of said truck bed.

18. The tailgate of claim 1, wherein said pair of chains comprises a chain link.

7. (canceled).

19. (canceled).

20. (canceled).

21. (canceled).

22. (canceled).

23. (canceled).

24. (canceled).

25. (canceled).