Pickup truck tailgate monitor

• US 6,137,419 A
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradford M. Lennox, Christina M. Lennox, Paul J. Huber
• Original Assignee: Bradford M. Lennox, Christina M. Lennox, Paul J. Huber
• Inventors: Huber, Paul J., Lennox, Christina M., Lennox, Bradford M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US09/468,195
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 340/687, 340/457, 340/468
• US Class Current: 340/687
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles

Abstract

The pickup truck tailgate monitor includes a control panel mounted adjacent to an operator station in the cab of the truck. The control panel is connected to the master switch for the vehicle. A monitor switch on the control panel is closed to activate the monitor. If the monitor is operational, an indicator light of a first circuit is illuminated. A second circuit with an audible indicator is energized by a sensor switch that is closed. The sensor switch is closed when the tailgate is open. When the tailgate is closed, the sensor switch is open.

Claims

1. A pickup truck tailgate monitor for monitoring a position of a tailgate that is pivotally attached to a rear portion of a truck cargo container for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis that is below a cargo container floor comprising:

a storage battery;

an accessory switch connected to the storage battery;

a control panel switch in series with the accessory switch;

a first control circuit including a first indicator in series with the accessory switch and the control panel switch; and

a second control circuit in parallel with the first control circuit and including a second indicator in series with a tailgate position sensor switch that is open when the tailgate is in a closed position and that is closed when the tailgate is pivoted out of the closed position.

2. A pickup truck tailgate monitor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first indicator is a light.

3. A pickup truck tailgate monitor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second indicator is an audible indicator.

4. A pickup truck tailgate monitor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first indicator is a light that is illuminated when the accessory switch is closed and the control panel switch is closed, and the second indicator is energized and produces an audible signal when the first indicator is illuminated, the tailgate position sensor switch is closed and the tailgate is open.

5. A pickup truck tailgate monitor for monitoring the position of a tailgate that is pivotally attached to a rear portion of a truck cargo container for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis that is below a cargo container floor comprising:

a vehicle ignition switch connecting vehicle components and accessories to an electrical storage battery;

a monitor control panel connected to the ignition switch and energized by the battery when the ignition switch is in an on position;

a control panel switch mounted on the control panel and connected to the ignition switch;

a first control panel circuit connected to the control panel switch and including an indicator light that is energized anytime the ignition switch is in the on position and a control panel switch is closed;

a second control panel circuit connected to the control panel switch and including an electronic buzzer in series with a tailgate position sensor and wherein the tailgate position sensor is mounted on a fixed tailgate frame and has a plunger in the path of movement of the tailgate that opens the second control panel circuit when the tailgate is in a closed position, and that closes the second control panel circuit and activates the electronic buzzer anytime the tailgate is out of the closed position and the first control panel circuit is energized.

6. A pickup truck tailgate monitor as set forth in claim 5 wherein the tailgate position sensor is mounted on the fixed tailgate frame above the generally horizontal axis and has a sensor body that is inside the frame where it is protected and outside the cargo area of the truck cargo container.

7. A pickup truck tailgate monitor as set forth in claim 5 wherein the indicator light is mounted inside an operators cab of said pickup truck and the electronic buzzer is mounted inside the operators cab of said pickup truck.

8. A method of monitoring the position of a tailgate on a pickup truck from a cab of the pickup truck comprising:

switching an accessory switch to a closed position;

switching a control panel switch to a closed position;

illuminating a first indicator light to indicate that a monitor circuit is energized; and

energizing an audible indicator when the tailgate is in an open position.