TAILGATE REINFORCEMENT

• US 20200130757A1
• Filed: 08/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,793,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. (canceled)

2. A tailgate assembly comprising:

a tailgate;

a first hinge;

a second hinge;

a reinforcement covering a portion of the first hinge and a portion of the second hinge on the tailgate; and

at least one fastener that attaches the reinforcement to the tailgate.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement extends over a portion of a well of the tailgate.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a spare tire carrier attached to an outer surface of the reinforcement.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastener extends through a first aperture in the reinforcement and into a second aperture in the tailgate.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement comprises a plurality of slots for mounting accessories.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, further comprising a gap between an inner surface of the reinforcement and an outer surface of the tailgate.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement does not extend outside of a perimeter of the tailgate.

9. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein the reinforcement extends across about half of a width of the tailgate.

10. The tailgate assembly of claim 2, wherein a lateral side of the reinforcement forms a generally backwards c-shape.