Pivoted lock rod supports for supplemental vehicle tailgate
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, including a rear panel and a front panel, and adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position;
a supplemental tailgate positioned between the rear panel and the front panel of said tailgate frame and including a movable frame assembly extendable from said tailgate frame between a retracted position and an extended position, said movable frame assembly being pivotable relative to said tailgate frame to permit said movable frame to be oriented generally perpendicularly to said tailgate frame so that said movable frame assembly can be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when said tailgate frame is in said open position; and
a lock rod assembly pivotally connected to said movable frame and being positionable to interconnect said movable frame assembly and at least one of said side walls when said movable frame is in said generally vertical orientation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A supplemental tailgate extends from the tailgate frame of a pickup truck and is positionable in multiple orientations to provide a variety of uses, including as an extension of the pickup truck bed. The supplemental tailgate includes a cross member connected between two telescoping supports, which forms a part of the tailgate molding when stored within the main tailgate structure. A lock rod assembly interconnects the supplemental tailgate and the body of the pickup truck to stabilize the position of the extended supplemental tailgate when positioned perpendicular to the opened main tailgate. The lock rod assembly can be formed as flexible cables that can be housed within the cross member for easy deployment when needed. The lock rod assembly can also be formed as fixed length rods that are pivotally mounted on the cross member and stored within the cross member for easy deployment.
42 Citations
23 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, including a rear panel and a front panel, and adapted to pivotally mount generally between the side walls and being operable in a generally horizontal open position; a supplemental tailgate positioned between the rear panel and the front panel of said tailgate frame and including a movable frame assembly extendable from said tailgate frame between a retracted position and an extended position, said movable frame assembly being pivotable relative to said tailgate frame to permit said movable frame to be oriented generally perpendicularly to said tailgate frame so that said movable frame assembly can be positioned in a generally vertical orientation when said tailgate frame is in said open position; and a lock rod assembly pivotally connected to said movable frame and being positionable to interconnect said movable frame assembly and at least one of said side walls when said movable frame is in said generally vertical orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A supplemental tailgate assembly for use with a vehicle tailgate pivotally supported between generally vertically oriented vehicle side walls for movement between an upright closed position and a generally horizontally extending open position, said vehicle tailgate having a tailgate frame forming a generally hollow cavity therein, the supplemental tailgate assembly comprising:
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a movable frame assembly having at least one extendible support on which is mounted a generally horizontally disposed cross member having a first end and a transversely opposed second end; and a lock rod assembly having first and second lock members mounted respectively on said movable frame assembly adjacent said first and second ends of said cross member to be extensible from said movable frame assembly to connect with said vehicle side walls. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A pickup truck, having a pair of spaced, generally vertical side walls and a generally horizontal bed extending therebetween, each said side wall including a latch pin extending therefrom, comprising:
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a tailgate assembly having a tailgate frame pivotally mounted generally between the side walls and being operable between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position, said tailgate frame defining a generally hollow cavity therein; and a supplemental tailgate positioned within said hollow cavity and including a movable frame assembly having a pair of extensible supports and a transversely extending cross member interconnecting said supports, said cross member being extendable from said tailgate frame and mounted to be pivotally movable relative to said tailgate frame such that said cross member can be positioned vertically above said tailgate frame when said tailgate frame is in said open position; and a pair of lock members pivotally connected to said movable frame assembly at transversely opposing ends thereof and being movable between a stored position within said movable frame assembly and an operative position interconnecting said movable frame assembly and respective said latch pins on said side walls. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification