Truck tailgate with motion control devices

• US 7,695,043 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polly B. Drinkwater
• Original Assignee: Dimiter S. Zagoroff
• Inventors: Zagoroff, Dimiter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLE, PATRICIA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/148,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 296/50, 296/57.1, 296/146.8, 493/39, 493/40, 493/41
• US Class Current: 296/57.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/03 by swinging down B62D33/0273 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/544 Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening downwards

Abstract

A tailgate control mechanism used to exert a force on a pivot. The tailgate may include a pivoting main body and a pivot fixed to a truck bed, where the main body may move about the pivot. The tailgate may also include a piston element including a first end connected to the pivot and a second end connected to the main body. The second end may be positioned above the first end when the main body is in a closed position. The piston element may also be configured to provide a counter force as the main body is lowered. The piston element may also be retrofitted.

Claims

1. A tailgate of a vehicle comprising:

a pivoting main body;

a pivot about which the main body pivots, the pivot being at a fixed location relative to a truck bed; and

a piston element comprising a first end connected to the truck bed at an offset position above the axis of rotation of the pivot and a second end connected at a fixed location to the main body, with the second end being positioned above the first end when the main body is in a closed position, the piston element being configured to extend and to provide a torque about the pivot in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation as the main body is lowered, the piston element rotating with and in the same direction as the main body about its first end.

2. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the piston element is a damper.

3. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the piston element is a gas spring.

4. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the piston element is retrofitted.

5. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the pivoting main body includes a preexisting internal torque rod.

6. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the pivoting main body includes an external retrofitted torque rod.

7. A method for providing a tailgate comprising:

providing a pivoting main body;

fixing a pivot, about which the main body pivots, to a truck bed;

mounting a first end of a piston element to the truck bed at an offset position above the axis of rotation of the pivot;

mounting a second end of the piston element at a fixed location to the main body in a maimer that the second end is positioned above the first end when the main body is in a closed position; and

the piston element extending and providing a torque about the pivot in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation as the main body is lowered, the piston element rotating with and in the same direction as the main body about its first end.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the piston element is a damper.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the piston element is a gas spring.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein mounting the first and second ends of the piston element further includes retrofitting.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the counter force further includes the use of a preexisting torque rod internally attached to the pivoting main body.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein providing the counter force further includes the use of a retrofitted torque rod externally attached to the pivoting main body internally.