Quick release vehicle tailgate extension assembly

• US 5,806,907 A
• Filed: 06/17/1997
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marlon Martinus
• Original Assignee: Macbeth, John, Marlon Martinus
• Inventors: Martinus, Marlon, Macbeth, John
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/877,497
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26, 296/57.1, 296/59
• US Class Current: 296/26.11
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

A quick release fold-up tailgate assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a cargo space defined by a bed, sidewalls, and a tailgate pivotable between open and closed positions with respect to the bed and sidewalls includes a back panel substantially coextensive with the inner surface of the tailgate and a pair of side panels which are pivotable with respect to the back panel on opposite sides of the back panel between a retracted position at which the side panels are parallel to the back panel to fold up the assembly and an extended position at which the side panels are engageable with the sidewalls to extend the cargo space when the tailgate is in its open position. Hinges pivotally attach the side panels to the back panel and the fold-up assembly to the inner surface of the tailgate. The hinges have a socket portion connected to the tailgate and a pin portion loosely insertable into the socket portion and quickly removable from the socket portion to release quickly the tailgate attachment from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A quick release tailgate attachment for a vehicle having a cargo space defined by a bed, sidewalls, and a tailgate pivotable between open and closed positions with respect to said bed and sidewalls, the tailgate having an inner surface which faces the cargo space when the tailgate is in its closed position and which extends beyond the bed when the tailgate is in its open position, the attachment comprising:

a fold-up assembly including a back panel substantially coextensive with said inner surface and a pair of side panels pivotable with respect to said back panel on opposite sides of said back panel between a retracted position at which said side panels are parallel to said back panel to fold up said assembly and an extended position at which said side panels are engageable with said sidewalls to extend the cargo space when said tailgate is in its open position; and

a plurality of hinge means for pivotally attaching said side panels to said back panel and said fold-up assembly to said inner surface of said tailgate;

at least one of said plurality of hinge means comprising a first portion connected to said inner surface of said tailgate and forming a socket, a second portion connected to said back panel, and a pin connecting said first and second portions when said fold-up assembly is attached to said tailgate, said pin being loosely insertable into said socket and quickly removable from said socket to release quickly the tailgate attachment from the vehicle.

2. The quick release tailgate attachment of claim 1 wherein said panels of said fold-up assembly are reticulated shelving and said second portion of said hinge means is connected to said back panel by welding to a reticulation of said reticulated shelving.

3. The quick release tailgate attachment of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a pick-up truck having a compact space behind a seat, and the fold-up assembly when the pair of side panels is in its retracted position is sufficiently compact and lightweight to be manually stored in said compact space.

4. A quick release tailgate attachment for a vehicle having a cargo space defined by a bed, sidewalls, and a tailgate pivotable between open and closed positions with respect to said bed and sidewalls, the tailgate having an inner surface which faces the cargo space when the tailgate is in its closed position and which extends beyond the bed when the tailgate is in its open position, the attachment comprising:

a fold-up assembly including a back panel substantially coextensive with said inner surface and a pair of side panels pivotable with respect to said back panel on opposite sides of said back panel between a retracted position at which said side panels are parallel to said back panel to fold up said assembly and an extended position at which said side panels are engageable with said sidewalls to extend the cargo space when said tailgate is in its open position; and

a plurality of butt hinge means for pivotally attaching said side panels to said back panel and said fold-up assembly to said inner surface of said tailgate;

at least one of said plurality of butt hinge means comprising a first hinge portion connected to said inner surface of said tailgate and a second hinge portion connected to said back panel;

said first and second hinge portions having socket portions; and

a pin loosely fittable into said socket portions and quickly removable therefrom to release quickly the tailgate attachment from the vehicle.

5. A quick release tailgate attachment for a vehicle having a cargo space defined by a bed, sidewalls, and a tailgate pivotable between open and closed positions with respect to said bed and sidewalls, the tailgate having an inner surface which faces the cargo space when the tailgate is in its closed position and which extends beyond the bed when the tailgate is in its open position, the attachment comprising:

a fold-up assembly including a reticulated back panel substantially coextensive with said inner surface and a pair of side panels pivotable with respect to said back panel on opposite sides of said back panel between a retracted position at which said side panels are parallel to said back panel to fold up said assembly and an extended position at which said side panels are engageable with said sidewalls to extend the cargo space when said tailgate is in its open position;

a plurality of first hinge means for pivotally attaching said side panels to said back panel; and

at least one second hinge means including a pin and socket for pivotally and quickly attaching and releasing said back panel with respect to said inner surface of said tailgate;

said socket being insertable into said inner surface of said tailgate;

said pin having a clevis end engageable with a reticulation of said back panel for attaching said pin to said back panel and a ball detent end insertable into said socket to quickly secure and release said pin from said socket so that the tailgate attachment may be released quickly from the vehicle.

6. The quick release tail gate attachment of claim 5 wherein the side panels of said fold-up assembly are reticulated and another of said second hinge means includes a second pin and second socket for quickly attaching and releasing at least one of said side panels to at least one of said sidewalls, said second socket being insertable into said at least one of said sidewalls;

and said second pin having a clevis end engageable with a reticulation of said side panel for attaching said second pin to its side panel and a second ball detent end insertable into said second socket to quickly secure and release said second pin from said second socket so that the tailgate attachment may further be released quickly from the vehicle.

7. The quick release tailgate attachment of claim 5 wherein said ball detent end includes a pocket for the ball and a spring for biasing said ball outwardly from said pocket.