BODY AND TAILGATE ASSEMBLY FOR A TRUCK OR SIMILAR VEHICLE

• US 3,873,149 A
• Filed: 04/03/1972
• Issued: 03/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Athey Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Deceased Churchman
• Inventors: Churchman, deceased
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paperner, Leslie J.
• Application Number:
  US05/240,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 296/50,56,106 298/23MD,23S 49/255,257,272,279,280,281
• US Class Current: 296/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 5/108 for load transporting vehicles or public transport, e.g. lorries, trucks, buses

Abstract

A combination body and tailgate assembly for a truck or similar vehicle in which the tailgate is released from the body and pivoted first into an open position and then into a locked closed position by a power actuated mechanism which causes vertical shiftable movement of the tailgate relative to the body in conjunction with the pivotal movement of the tailgate.

Claims

1. In combination, a vehicle body open at one end and a tailgate having upper and lower edge portions, means pivotally connecting said tailgate at its upper edge portion to said body so that said tailgate is pivotal about an axis between a closed position spanning said one end of the body and an open position, said connecting means between said tailgate and body including a link means pivotally connected at one end to said tailgate upper edge portion and pivotally connected at its opposite end to said body above said open end therein, the pivot connection of said one end of the link means to said tailgate forming said tailgate pivot axis, link means for shifting said tailgate pivot axis between upper and lower locations relative to said body including a spaced pair of power actuated cylinder means for moving said tailgate between its open and closed positions, said cylinder means such including an extendible and retractable piston rod slidable within a cylinder part, each said rod being pivotally connected at one end to said tailgate, each said cylinder part being pivotally connected at one end to the body, the pivot connection of each said cylinder part being at opposite sides of the open end of the body such that said cylinder means is substantially vertically oriented along the plane of the open end when said tailgate is in the closed position, the pivot connection of each said rod to said tailgate being above and rearwardly of the pivot connection of the cylinder part to said body whereby actuation of said cylinder means causing initial extension of said rod will cause said tailgate pivot axis and link means to be shifted upwardly into said upper location of said pivot axis and actuation of said cylinder means causing final retraction of said rod will cause said tailgate pivot axis and link means to be shifted downwardly into said lower location of said pivot axis, securement means carried by said body and engageable with said tailgate adjacent its lower edge portion to releasably lock said tailgate in its closed position, said securement means being releasable as said tailgate pivot axis is shifted from its lower location into its upper location to allow said tailgate to be moved from its closed into its open position, said securement means locking said tailgate in its closed position after said tailgate pivot axis is shifted from its upper location into its lower location and said cylinder means is actuated to retract said piston rods into the associated cylinder parts.

2. In combination, a vehicle body open at one end and a tailgate having upper and lower edge portions extending between spaced side edges, means pivotally connecting said tailgate at its upper edge portion to said body so that said tailgate is pivotal about an axis between a closed position spanning said one end of the body and an open position, said connecting means between said tailgate and body including a spaced pair of rigid links located between the side edges of said tailgate, each link having one end pivotally connected to said tailgate upper edge portion and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said body above said open end therein, the pivot connections of said one ends of the links to said tailgate forming said tailgate pivot axis, a spaced pair of power actuated cylinder means for moving said tailgate between its open and closed positions and including an extendible and retractable piston rod slidable within a cylinder part, each said rod being pivotally connected at one end to said tailgate, each said cylinder part being pivotally connected at one end to the body, the pivot connection of each said cylinder part being at opposite sides of the open end of the body such that said cylinder means is substantially vertically oriented along the plane of the open end when said tailgate is in the closed position, the pivot connection of each said rod to said tailgate being above and rearwardly of the pivot connection of each said cylinder part to said body, said cylinder means upon the initial extension of said rod for causing said tailgate pivot axis and one ends of said links to be shifted upwardly from a lower into an upper location relative to said body, said cylinder means upon the final retraction of said rod for causing said tailgate pivot axis and link one ends to be shifted downwardly into said lower location, securement means carried by said body and engageable with said tailgate adjacent its lower edge portion to releasably lock said tailgate in its closed position, said securement means being releasable as said tailgate pivot axis is shifted from its lower location into its upper location to allow said tailgate to be moved from its closed into its open position, said securement means locking said tailgate in its closed position as said tailgate pivot axis is shifted from its upper location into its lower location.

3. The combination of claim 2 and including a pin carried by said tailgate at its lower edge portion, said securement means defining a receiving part having a slot means therein, said slot means being inclined at its upper end to accommodate said pin and having a connecting vertically oriented extension for locking engagement of said pin as said tailgate pivot axis is shifted from its upper into its lower location and each said piston rod is retracted within its associated cylinder part.