Truck bed extension and roll bar apparatus

• US 7,665,799 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Act Appropriate Combined Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Appropriate Combined Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Winter, Amos G IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kiran B.
• Application Number:
  US11/853,868
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 296/183.1, 296/183.2, 296/50, 296/26.11, 296/37.6, 296/180.1, 224/403, 293/102, 280/164.1
• US Class Current: 296/183.1
• 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 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate system is provided, the system comprising: A primary arch, the primary arch being hingably coupled to a vehicle bed of said vehicle; An actuator whereby the primary arch is rotated between a fully deployed roll bar position, and a fully stowed position; A channel, configured to receive the primary arch disposed in the pickup vehicle bed, the channel running down a first side of the bed, between exterior and interior walls of the first side, along the bottom of the pick up vehicle bed beneath the floor of the vehicle bed, and up a second side of the bed between exterior and interior walls of the second side of the vehicle bed. The bumper can be lowered to allow the arch to pass. The bumper mechanism may also include accommodation for the tailgate. The moving bumper can also lower and lift a trailer hitch or work with the tailgate to create a lift gate.

Claims

1. A vehicle tailgate system, the system comprising:

A primary arch, said primary arch being hingably coupled to side walls of a vehicle bed;

An actuator whereby said primary arch is rotated between a fully deployed roll bar position, and a fully stowed position;

A channel, configured to receive the primary arch disposed in said vehicle bed, said channel running down a first side of the vehicle bed, between exterior and interior walls of said first side, along a bottom of the vehicle bed beneath a floor of the vehicle bed, and up a second side of the bed between exterior and interior walls of said second side of the vehicle bed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a drive mechanism selected from the group of drive mechanisms consisting of screw actuators, pneumatic drives, hydraulic drives, chain drives and combinations thereof.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a vehicle bumper configured to be lowered.

4. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a stowable tailgate wherein said tailgate is configured to be received by a tailgate receiving chamber.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said tailgate is stowed manually or under power.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein a tailgate is configured to unfold into a loading ramp.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein a tailgate is hinged from the bumper and a restraint is attached through a horizontal slide slot in the bumper to the chassis.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein horizontal movement of the restraint during vertical travel of the bumper holds the tailgate substantially parallel to the ground through its vertical travel with the bumper.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein said bumper is configured to move vertically.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said primary arch is configured to be stowed behind said bumper.