Tailgate assembly for an off-road truck

• US 6,726,288 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LeRoy G Hagenbuch
• Original Assignee: LeRoy G Hagenbuch
• Inventors: Hagenbuch, Leroy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/145,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 298/23.MD, 298/23.D, 298/230.F, 298/17.B, 296/56, 296/50, 296/184
• US Class Current: 298/23.00D
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/267 Controlling degree of tailboard or sideboard movement in dependence upon degree of tipping movement, e.g. by linkage or cam
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices

Abstract

In view of the foregoing, a tailgate assembly for a dump body of a truck is provided. The tailgate assembly includes an outrigger assembly having an associated mounting assembly that permits the outrigger assembly to be fastened around the frame of the truck. Each mounting assembly includes a mounting member connected to the outrigger assembly for engaging a first surface of the frame, a clamp member for engaging a second surface of the frame and at least one fastener for interconnecting the mounting and clamping plates thereby clamping the frame therebetween.

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly for a dump body of a truck, the dump body having a pair of opposing sidewalls and an open rear end, the dump body being movable relative to a truck frame between a lowered transport position and a raised dump position, the tailgate assembly comprising:

a pair of opposing sidearms each of which is pivotally connected to a respective one said sidewall of the dump body and a center-rear portion supported between the opposing sidearms, the sidearms and center-rear portion being movable between a closed position wherein the center-rear portion spans substantially between the opposing sidewalls of the dump body and encloses the open rear end of the dump body and an open position wherein the center-rear portion is positioned away from the open rear end of the dump body;

a pair of outrigger assemblies, each outrigger assembly having an associated mounting assembly for connecting the respective outrigger assembly to the truck frame, each mounting assembly including a mounting member for engaging a first surface of the frame, a clamp member for engaging a second surface of the frame which opposes the first surface and at least one fastener for interconnecting the mounting and members thereby clamping the frame therebetween; and

a pair of connectors, each connector coupling a respective one of the sidearms to a respective one of the outrigger assemblies such that the sidearms and center-rear portion rotate between the open and closed positions in response to rotation of the dump body between the lowered and raised positions.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the outrigger assemblies has a passage therethrough through which a component of the truck can extend.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein an upper end of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to the respective mounting member.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 3 wherein the upper end of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to an outwardly extending portion of the respective mounting member.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a lower end of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to the respective clamp member.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a lower end of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to a respective mounting ear supported on the truck frame.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a lower arm of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to a respective mounting ear supported on the clamp member.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting ear is supported on a vertical portion of the clamp member that extends below a lower edge of the truck frame.

9. The tailgate assembly of claim 7 wherein the mounting ear is supported by both a vertical portion of the clamp member that extends below a lower edge of the truck frame and a horizontal portion of the clamp member that extends perpendicular to the vertical portion of the clamp member.

10. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a lower arm of each of the outrigger assemblies is received in a slot in the respective clamp member.

11. The tailgate assembly of claim 10 wherein tabs are secured on a portion of the lower arm which extends through the clamp member to prevent the withdrawal of the lower arm.

12. The tailgate assembly of claim 11 wherein a shoulder portion on the lower arm abuts against an outer surface of the clamp member.

13. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a horizontal plate secured to a lower arm of each of the outrigger assemblies is secured to a horizontal portion of the respective clamp member which extends below the truck frame.

14. The tailgate assembly of claim 13 wherein an end portion of the lower arm extends through a slot in the clamp member.

15. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the outrigger assemblies includes a horizontal plate and vertical plate extending downwardly from the horizontal plate.

16. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 wherein the mounting member associated with each outrigger assembly is integral with the respective horizontal plate.

17. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 wherein the horizontal plate of each outrigger assembly is bolted to the respective mounting member.

18. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 wherein the horizontal plate of each outrigger assembly is connected by pin and key arrangement to the respective mounting member.

19. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 wherein the vertical plate has a passage therethrough through which a component of the truck can extend.

20. The tailgate assembly of claim 19 wherein a lower edge of the passage is defined by a lower arm.

21. The tailgate assembly of claim 20 wherein the lower arm connects to the respective clamp member.

22. The tailgate assembly of claim 20 wherein the lower arm is integral with the remainder of the vertical plate.

23. The tailgate assembly of claim 20 wherein the lower arm comprises a separate component connected to the remainder of the vertical plate.

24. The tailgate assembly of claim 20 wherein the mounting member includes a pair of legs and the mounting assembly further includes a stabilizing crosspiece extending between the legs of the mounting member, the stabilizing crosspiece including a slot through which the lower arm extends.

25. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein a lower end of each of the outrigger assemblies is connected to the respective mounting member.

26. An outrigger assembly for a dump body of a truck, the dump body being supported on a truck frame, the outrigger assembly comprising a mounting assembly for connecting the outrigger assembly to the truck frame, each mounting assembly including a mounting member for engaging a first surface of the frame, a clamp member for engaging a second surface of the frame which opposes the first surface and at least one fastener for interconnecting the mounting and clamping members thereby clamping the frame therebetween.

27. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein an upper end of the outrigger assembly is connected to the mounting member.

28. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a lower end of the outrigger assembly is connected to the clamp member.

29. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a lower end of the outrigger assembly is connected to a mounting ear supported on the truck frame.

30. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a lower arm of the outrigger assembly is connected to a mounting ear supported on the clamp member.

31. The outrigger assembly of claim 30 wherein the mounting ear is supported on a vertical portion of the clamp member that extends below a lower edge of the truck frame.

32. The outrigger assembly of claim 31 wherein the mounting ear is supported by both a vertical portion of the clamp member that extends below a lower edge of the truck frame and a horizontal portion of the clamp member that extends perpendicular to the vertical portion of the clamp member.

33. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a lower arm of the outrigger assembly is received in a slot in the respective clamp member.

34. The outrigger assembly of claim 33 wherein tabs are secured on a portion of the lower arm which extends through the clamp member to prevent the withdrawal of the lower arm.

35. The outrigger assembly of claim 34 wherein a shoulder portion on the lower arm abuts against an outer surface of the clamp member.

36. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a horizontal plate secured to a lower arm of the outrigger assembly is secured to a horizontal portion of the clamp member which extends below the truck frame.

37. The outrigger assembly of claim 36 wherein an end portion of the lower arm extends through a slot in the clamp member.

38. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein the outrigger assembly includes a horizontal plate and vertical plate extending downwardly from the horizontal plate.

39. The outrigger assembly of claim 38 wherein the mounting member is integral with the respective horizontal plate.

40. The outrigger assembly of claim 38 wherein the vertical plate has a passage therethrough through which a component of the truck can extend.

41. The outrigger assembly of claim 40 wherein a lower edge of the passage is defined by a lower arm.

42. The outrigger assembly of claim 41 wherein the lower arm connects to the respective clamp member.

43. The outrigger assembly of claim 41 wherein the mounting member includes a pair of legs and the mounting assembly further includes a stabilizing crosspiece extending between the legs of the mounting member, the stabilizing crosspiece including a slot through which the lower arm extends.

44. The outrigger assembly of claim 26 wherein a lower end of the outrigger assembly is connected to the clamp member.