Vehicle tailgate with supplemental tailgate having a flip out step

• US 6,918,624 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company), Multimatic Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Scott, Tan, Kian-Huat, Gruber, Herbert, Bruford, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/969,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 296/62, 296/61, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 296/26.1, 182/129, 182/91, 280/163, 280/166
• US Class Current: 296/62
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/40 for carrying long loads, e.g. with separate wheeled load supporting elements E04G21/14 takes precedence; signal devices to be attached to overhanging load B60Q7/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence
• 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 33/037 Latching means therefor

Abstract

A tailgate for a vehicle has a supplemental tailgate that retracts within the tailgate and is extendable therefrom in order to provide multiple assist functions. The supplemental tailgate includes a pivotable molding, which mounts on a movable frame portion, and a latching assembly. When pivoted, the pivotable molding releases the latching assembly, allowing the supplemental tailgate to be moved to various extended positions. When the movable frame portion is in an essentially fully extended position, it can be rotated downward relative to the tailgate and a flip step pivoted to a use position in order to provide an assist step function.

Claims

1. A tailgate assembly for use with a motor vehicle having a pair of spaced, generally vertical side walls and a generally horizontal bed extending therebetween, the tailgate assembly comprising:

a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position; and

a supplemental tailgate including a guide system secured generally within the hollow cavity, a movable frame assembly having two telescoping supports extendable from, pivotable relative to, and retained by the guide system, a cross member connected to the two telescoping supports and extending therebetween, and a flip step pivotally connected to the cross member, with the flip step pivotable between a first position resting against the cross member and a second position extending outward from the cross member.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the tailgate frame further includes at least one structural stop mounted thereto, with the at least one structural stop located adjacent to at least one of the two telescoping supports to thereby limit the pivoting of the movable frame assembly relative to the guide system.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one structural stop is two structural stops, with each of the structural stops located adjacent to a respective one of the two telescoping supports.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein the cross member includes a hinge portion and the flip step includes a hinge portion that operatively engages the hinge portion on the cross member.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 wherein the cross member includes a step reinforcement member that extends adjacent to the hinge portion of the cross member such that the flip step will be located coplanar with the cross member when the flip step is in the second position.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 wherein the supplemental tailgate includes a spring connected between the cross member and the flip step such that the flip step is biased by the spring into at least one of the first position and the second position.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 wherein the cross member includes a first surface and the flip step includes a second surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes an anti-skid device.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the supplemental tailgate includes a spring connected between the cross member and the flip step such that the flip step is biased by the spring into at least one of the first position and the second position.

9. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the cross member includes a first surface and the flip step includes a second surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes an anti-skid device.

10. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the two telescoping supports are spaced from each other and the flip step is located between the two telescoping supports.

11. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the guide system includes two hollow guide tubes, with each of the two telescoping supports mounted in and telescopically movable relative to a respective one of the guide tubes.

12. The tailgate assembly of claim 11 further including two pivot brackets, each having a pivot slot, with one of each of the pivot brackets mounted on a respective one of the guide tubes;

and two pivot pins, one each secured to a respective one of the telescoping supports, whereby when the telescoping supports are essentially fully removed from the guide tubes, the pivot pins will engage with the pivot slots to secure each telescoping support to the respective guide tube while allowing the telescoping supports to pivot relative to the guide tubes.

13. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor vehicle is adapted to rest on a ground surface and the two telescoping supports are a predetermined length such that the cross member is adapted to be spaced from the ground surface when the tailgate frame is in the generally horizontal open position and the telescoping supports are pivoted downward relative to the guide system.

14. A supplemental tailgate assembly for use with a vehicle tailgate having a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein, the supplemental tailgate assembly comprising:

a guide system including two hollow guide tubes adapted to be secured generally within the hollow cavity; and

a movable frame assembly having two telescoping supports, with each telescoping support extendable from, pivotable relative to, and retained by a respective one of the guide tubes;

a cross member connected to the two telescoping supports and extending therebetween; and

a flip step pivotally connected to the cross member, with the flip step pivotable between a first position resting against the cross member and a second position extending outward from the cross member.

15. The supplemental tailgate assembly of claim 14 wherein the cross member includes a hinge portion and the flip step includes a hinge portion that operatively engages the hinge portion on the cross member.

16. The supplemental tailgate assembly of claim 14 further including two pivot brackets, each having a pivot slot, with one of each of the pivot brackets mounted on a respective one of the guide tubes;

and two pivot pins, one each secured to a respective one of the telescoping supports, whereby when the telescoping supports are essentially fully removed from the guide tubes, the pivot pins will engage with the pivot slots to secure each telescoping support to the respective guide tube while allowing the telescoping supports to pivot relative to the guide tubes.

17. The supplemental tailgate assembly of claim 14 wherein the supplemental tailgate includes a spring connected between the cross member and the flip step such that the flip step is biased by the spring into at least one of the first position and the second position.

18. The supplemental tailgate assembly of claim 14 wherein the cross member includes a first surface and the flip step includes a second surface, and at least one of the first surface and the second surface includes an anti-skid device.

19. A supplemental tailgate assembly for use with a vehicle tailgate having a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein, the supplemental tailgate assembly comprising:

a guide system adapted to be secured generally within the hollow cavity; and

a movable frame assembly having two telescoping supports extendable from, pivotable relative to, and retained by the guide system;

a cross member connected to the two telescoping supports and extending therebetween;

a flip step pivotally connected to the cross member, with the flip step pivotable between a first position resting against the cross member and a second position extending outward from and generally coplanar with the cross member; and

at least one spring connected between the cross member and the flip step such that the flip step is biased by the at least one spring into at least one of the first position and the second position.

20. The supplemental tailgate assembly of claim 19 wherein the at least one spring is two springs, with each of the two springs connected between the cross member and the flip step.