Vehicle tailgate with supplemental tailgate having latching mechanism
First Claim
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 and adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position and a generally vertical closed position; and
a supplemental tailgate including a first and a second guide tube secured generally within the hollow cavity, and with the first guide tube including a latch device; and
a movable frame assembly having a first and a second telescoping support, with the first telescoping support telescopically extendable from and retained by the first guide tube and the second telescoping support telescopically extendable from and retained by the second guide tube, a cross member connected to the first and second telescoping supports and extending therebetween, a release lever mounted on the cross member, and a latching assembly mounted within the first telescoping support and operatively connected to the release lever and to the latch device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 generally fixed guide portion and a movable frame assembly. The movable frame assembly includes a pivotable molding, which mounts on a cross member, and a latching assembly that mounts generally within telescoping supports, which selectively slide within the guide portion. When pivoted, the pivotable molding releases the latching assembly, allowing the movable portion of the supplemental tailgate to be moved to various extended positions. When the supplemental tailgate is in its stowed position, the pivotable molding is aligned with the top surface of the tailgate in order to provide an esthetically pleasing appearance and provide paint scratch resistance. When the movable frame portion is in an essentially fully extended position, it can be rotated relative to the tailgate in order to provide certain of the assist functions.
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Citations
26 Claims
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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:
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a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity and adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position and a generally vertical closed position; and a supplemental tailgate including a first and a second guide tube secured generally within the hollow cavity, and with the first guide tube including a latch device; and
a movable frame assembly having a first and a second telescoping support, with the first telescoping support telescopically extendable from and retained by the first guide tube and the second telescoping support telescopically extendable from and retained by the second guide tube, a cross member connected to the first and second telescoping supports and extending therebetween, a release lever mounted on the cross member, and a latching assembly mounted within the first telescoping support and operatively connected to the release lever and to the latch device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. 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:
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a tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein adapted to pivotally mount transversely generally between said side walls and being movable into a generally horizontal open position; a supplemental tailgate extendable from said tailgate frame and including a movable frame assembly supported from said tailgate frame, said movable frame assembly having a cross member oriented generally transversely; and a latch mechanism operably associated with said movable frame assembly to restrain extension movement of said movable frame assembly relative to said tailgate frame, said latch mechanism being operated through an actuation lever supported on said movable frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. In a pick-up truck having a pair of spaced, generally vertical side walls;
- a generally horizontal bed extending between said side walls;
a tailgate assembly pivotally mounted for movement relative to said bed between an upright closed position and a generally horizontal open position, said tailgate assembly including a tailgate frame and a tailgate latch apparatus cooperable with said side walls to releasably attach said tailgate assembly to said side walls into a closed position, the improvement comprising;a movable frame assembly supported from said tailgate frame for extendable movement relative to said tailgate frame between a retracted position and an outwardly extended position, said movable frame assembly having a cross member oriented generally transversely and being generally aligned with a peripheral edge of said tailgate frame when in said retracted position and spaced outwardly away from said peripheral edge when in said extended position; and a latch mechanism operatively associated with said movable frame assembly to control the extendable movement of said movable frame assembly relative to said tailgate frame, said latch mechanism being operable to locate said movable frame assembly in at least two extended positions, including a locked extended position and a pivotable extended position, said cross member being pivotably movable relative to said tailgate frame when said movable frame is in said pivotable extended positio said latch mechanism being independently operable from said tailgate latch apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
- a generally horizontal bed extending between said side walls;
Specification