Tailgate position indicator
First Claim
1. A method of improving the safety of using a vehicle having a tailgate by using a tailgate position indicator to allow the driver to determine the position of a tailgate at any time during normal use of the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a cab, a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, and a tailgate disposed at the rear end of the bed;
- the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions;
the method comprising the steps of;
(a) providing a tailgate position indicator having a connector adapted to connect the tailgate position indicator directly to the tailgate;
the tailgate position indicator also having an indicator rod extending away from the connector;
(b) connecting the connector of the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate with the indicator rod extending across one of the sides of the tailgate and beyond one of the sides of the vehicle;
the connector securing the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate so that the tailgate position indicator moves with the tailgate when the tailgate is moved between the open and closed positions;
(c) placing the vehicle into normal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedly opened and closed;
(d) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing a portion of the indicator rod in the side view mirror; and
(e) determining the position of the tailgate by viewing the location of the portion of the indicator rod viewed in the side view mirror.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicator device for alerting the driver of a pickup truck to the orientation of the tailgate includes a housing assembly and an indicator assembly carried by and extending from the housing assembly. The housing assembly is attached to the tailgate of the pickup truck in a position that causes at least a portion of the indicator assembly to extend from the side of the truck so that the driver can see the extending portion in the side view mirror of the truck. Viewing the position of the indicator assembly allows the driver of the truck to ascertain the position of the tailgate.
41 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of improving the safety of using a vehicle having a tailgate by using a tailgate position indicator to allow the driver to determine the position of a tailgate at any time during normal use of the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a cab, a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, and a tailgate disposed at the rear end of the bed;
- the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions;
the method comprising the steps of;(a) providing a tailgate position indicator having a connector adapted to connect the tailgate position indicator directly to the tailgate;
the tailgate position indicator also having an indicator rod extending away from the connector;(b) connecting the connector of the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate with the indicator rod extending across one of the sides of the tailgate and beyond one of the sides of the vehicle;
the connector securing the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate so that the tailgate position indicator moves with the tailgate when the tailgate is moved between the open and closed positions;(c) placing the vehicle into normal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedly opened and closed; (d) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing a portion of the indicator rod in the side view mirror; and (e) determining the position of the tailgate by viewing the location of the portion of the indicator rod viewed in the side view mirror. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions;
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9. A method of improving the safety of using a vehicle having a tailgate by using a tailgate position indicator to allow the driver to determine the position of a tailgate at any time during normal use of the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a cab, a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, and a tailgate disposed at the rear end of the bed;
- the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions;
the method comprising the steps of;(a) providing a tailgate position indicator having a connector adapted to connect the tailgate position indicator directly to the tailgate;
the tailgate position indicator also having an indicator rod extending away from the connector;(b) moving the tailgate to the closed position; (c) connecting the connector of the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate; (d) adjusting the position of the indicator rod with respect to the tailgate to position the indicator rod across one of the sides of the tailgate and beyond one of the sides of the vehicle; (e) placing the vehicle into normal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedly opened and closed; (f) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing a portion of the indicator rod in the side view mirror; and (g) determining the position of the tailgate by viewing the location of the portion of the indicator rod viewed in the side view mirror. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions;
Specification