Pivoting tailgate shoveling apparatus

• US 8,882,435 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Daigle
• Original Assignee: Steve Daigle
• Inventors: Daigle, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): SNELTING, JONATHAN D
• Application Number:
  US13/018,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20120195735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.1, 296/26.11, 296/183.2, 296 58- 60, 298/23.MD, 414/472, 414/557
• US Class Current: 414/472
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00014 for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/26 Means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards open loading compartments with movable sideboards or tailgates B62D33/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/08 Apparatus for transporting and heating or melting asphalt, bitumen, tar, or the like stationarily-arranged melting boilers for tar, asphalt, or the like, in general C10C3/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/06 Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road

Abstract

A tailgate shoveling apparatus includes a containment bed mounted on a vehicle for contained material therein, and a tailgate shoveling platform pivotably attached proximate an end of the containment bed. The tailgate shoveling platform pivots between two positions rotationally offset by substantially more than 90 degrees in relation to each other. The tailgate shoveling platform substantially prevents material from spilling out of the containment bed in a first position. In a second position, the tailgate shoveling platform provides a platform configured to hold a portion of the material contained in the containment bed at an ergonomic shoveling height relative to a user standing on ground level. Once a desired amount of material has been removed from the platform, the tailgate shoveling platform may return unused material back into the containment bed as the tailgate shoveling platform moves back into the first position.

Claims

1. A tailgate shoveling apparatus comprising:

(a) an upper panel (30) having first and second sides and being adapted to be mounted in association with a bottom wall of a vehicle containment bed for pivotation with respect to such bottom wall from a generally upright position wherein said upper panel closes an end of such vehicle containment bed, to a downwardly-extending open position, said upper panel having a first left side and a first right side, a first length extending from a first proximate end proximate such containment bed to a first remote end remote from such containment bed;

(b) a lower panel (40) having first and second ends, the first end being attached to said upper panel such that said lower panel can extend rearwardly of said upper panel when said upper panel is in such downwardly-extending open position, said lower panel (40) extending at a first angle intersecting the first side of said upper panel and being disposed on a first side of an imaginary plane which defines an extension of said upper panel, said lower panel having a second right side and a second left side, a second length extending from a second proximate end proximate said upper panel to a second remote end remote from said upper panel;

(c) an upstanding lip (55) attached to the second end of said lower panel and extending from the second end of said lower panel at a second angle, greater than the first angle and extending away from the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, an extension of such second angle intersecting the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, said upstanding lip having a third right side and a third left side, a third length extending from a third proximate end proximate said lower panel to a third remote end remote from said lower panel;

(d) a first side panel (45) directly attached to the third left side of said upstanding lip and to the second left side of said lower panel, and extending transverse to both of said lower panel and said upstanding lip, and along the full second and third lengths of said lower panel and said upstanding lip; and

(e) a second side panel (50) directly attached to the third right side of said upstanding lip and to the second right side of said lower panel, and extending transverse to both of said lower panel and said upstanding lip, and along the full second and third lengths of said lower panel and said upstanding lip.

2. A tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, when said tailgate shoveling apparatus is in the open position, said lower panel can be spaced from ground level and can receive at least a portion of a material contained in the containment bed and height of said lower panel can be adjusted to hold such portion of material at a desirable shoveling height above ground level for a worker using said shoveling apparatus.

3. A tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1, said lower panel being attached to said upper panel at a fixed angle.

4. A tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1, said upstanding lip extending upwardly above said lower panel when said shoveling apparatus is in the open position with said lower panel parallel to a level surface.

5. A tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, when said upper panel is in the open position, said lower panel can be spaced from ground level and can receive at least a portion of a material contained in such containment bed and can hold such material at a desirable shoveling height above ground level for a worker using said shoveling apparatus.

6. A vehicle having a front and a rear, and comprising:

(a) a chassis;

(b) a containment bed, having a front and a rear, and mounted on said chassis, said containment bed comprising

(i) a bottom wall,

(ii) a first outer side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and extending from the front of said containment bed to the rear of said containment bed on a first side of said containment bed, said first outer side wall having a first outer surface facing away from said containment bed and a first inner surface facing toward said containment bed, and

(iii) an opposing second outer side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall and extending from the front of said containment bed to the rear of said containment bed on a second opposing side of said containment bed, said second outer side wall having a second outer surface facing away from said containment bed and a second inner surface facing toward said containment bed; and

(c) a tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1, mounted on said vehicle at said containment bed, said shoveling apparatus having a front and a rear and comprising

(i) a shoveling apparatus floor,

(ii) a first shoveling apparatus side wall extending upwardly from said shoveling apparatus floor, at an angle intersecting said first outer side wall of said containment bed, so as to form a first cavity between said first shoveling apparatus side wall and the inner surface of said first outer side wall, such first cavity extending from the rear of said containment bed toward the front of said containment bed, and

(iii) a tailgate extending between said first shoveling apparatus side wall and said second outer side wall at the rear of said containment bed, and

(iv) a tailgate linkage having a first end thereof operatively connected to said first shoveling apparatus side wall and a second end thereof operatively connected to said tailgate, said first linkage being housed in the first cavity between said first shoveling apparatus side wall and said first outer side wall when said tailgate is in a closed position.

7. A vehicle as in claim 6, further comprising a second shoveling apparatus side wall extending upwardly from said shoveling apparatus floor, at an angle intersecting said second outer side wall of said containment bed, so as to farm a second cavity between said second shoveling apparatus side wall and the inner surface of said second outer side wall, such second cavity extending from the rear of said containment bed toward the front of said containment bed.

8. A vehicle as in claim 7, further comprising a second linkage having a first end thereof operatively connected to said second shoveling apparatus side wall and a second end thereof operatively connected to said tailgate, said second linkage being housed in the second cavity between said second shoveling apparatus side wall and said second outer side wall when said tailgate is in a closed position.

9. A vehicle, comprising;

(a) a chassis;

(b) a containment bed on said chassis said containment bed having a front and a rear; and

(c) tailgate shoveling apparatus as in claim 1.

10. A tailgate shoveling apparatus, comprising:

(a) a containment bed having front and rear ends, for containing material therein, the containment bed comprising

(i) a containment bed floor for supporting material in said containment bed,

(ii) a first interior wall having a first interior surface tapering toward said containment bed floor, and

(iii) a second interior wall having a second interior surface tapering toward said containment bed floor; and

(b) a tailgate shoveling platform comprising

(i) an upper panel having a substantially planar surface, said upper panel having a first end pivotably connected to said containment bed proximate the rear end of said containment bed,

(ii) a first side wall adjacent a first edge of said upper panel, said first side wall extending substantially perpendicular in relation to the surface of said upper panel,

(iii) a first panel abutting an upper edge of said first side wall and the first end of said upper panel, said first panel being spaced apart from, and extending over, a first portion of said upper panel,

(iv) a second side wall adjacent a second edge of said upper panel, said second side wall extending substantially perpendicular in relation to the surface of said upper panel, and

(v) a second panel abutting an upper edge of said second side wall and the first end of said upper panel, said second panel being spaced apart from, and extending over, a second portion of said upper panel,

wherein said first panel is substantially flush against the first face of said first interior wall and said second panel is substantially flush against the second face of said second interior wall when the tailgate shoveling platform is in the first position thereby closing the rear end of said containment bed.

11. A vehicle-based cargo carrier, comprising:

(a) a containment bed having a front end and a rear end, for containing material therein, the containment bed comprising

(i) a containment bed floor for supporting material in said containment bed,

(ii) a first upstanding containment bed wall on a first side of said containment bed, and

(iii) a second upstanding containment bed wall on a second opposing of said containment bed; and

(b) a tailgate apparatus comprising an unloading platform adapted to pivot, relative to the rear of said containment bed, from a first closed position wherein said tailgate apparatus closes the rear end of said containment bed, to an open position,

(i) at least a portion of said platform, in the open position, being generally parallel to the ground and spaced from the ground,

(ii) said platform, in the open position, being adjustable to different heights to present said platform at a desirable height for a worker using said tailgate apparatus to retrieve material from said platform,

(iii) said platform being further configured such that, when said platform is moved from an open position to the closed position, said platform returns any material, which may be on said platform, to said containment bed,

said unloading platform comprising

an upper panel (30), having first and second sides, mounted in association with said containment bed floor at the rear of said containment bed for pivotation with respect to said containment bed floor from a generally upright position wherein said upper panel closes the rear of said containment bed, to a downwardly-extending open position, said upper panel having a first left side and a first right side, a first length extending from a first proximate end proximate such containment bed to a first remote end remote from such containment bed;

a lower panel (40) having first and second ends, the first end being attached to said upper panel such that said lower panel can extend rearwardly of said upper panel when said upper panel is in such downwardly-extending open position, said lower panel extending at a first angle intersecting the first side of said upper panel and being disposed on a first side of an imaginary plane which defines an extension of said upper panel, said lower panel having a second right side and a second left side, a second length extending from a second proximate end proximate said upper panel to a second remote end remote from said upper panel;

an upstanding lip (55) attached to the second end of said lower panel and extending from the second end of said lower panel at a second angle, greater than the first angle and extending away from the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, an extension of such second angle intersecting the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, said upstanding lip having a third right side and a third left side, a third length extending from a third proximate end proximate said lower panel to a third remote end remote from said lower panel;

a first side panel (45) directly attached to the third left side of said upstanding lip and to the second left side of said lower panel, and extending transverse to both of said lower panel and said upstanding lip, and along the full second and third lengths of said lower panel and said upstanding lip; and

a second side panel (50) directly attached to the third right side of said upstanding lip and to the second right side of said lower panel, and extending transverse to both of said lower panel and said upstanding lip, and along the full second and third lengths of said lower panel and said upstanding lip.

12. A cargo carrier as in claim 11, said upstanding lip extending upwardly above the second end of said lower panel when said lower panel is extending rearwardly of said upper panel.

13. A tailgate shoveling apparatus comprising:

(a) an upper panel (30) having first and second sides and being adapted to be mounted in association with a bottom wall of a vehicle containment bed for pivotation with respect to such bottom wall from a generally upright position wherein said upper panel closes an end of such vehicle containment bed, to a downwardly-extending open position, said upper panel having a first left side and a first right side, a first length extending from a first proximate end proximate such containment bed to a first remote end remote from such containment bed;

(b) a lower panel (40) having first and second ends, the first end being attached to said upper panel such that said lower panel can extend rearwardly of said upper panel when said upper panel is in such downwardly-extending open position, said lower panel (40) extending at a first angle intersecting the first side of said upper panel and being disposed on a first side of an imaginary plane which defines an extension of said upper panel, said lower panel having a second right side and a second left side, a second length extending from a second proximate end proximate said upper panel to a second remote end remote from said upper panel;

(c) an upstanding lip (55) attached to the second end of said lower panel and extending from the second end of said lower panel at a second angle, greater than the first angle and extending away from the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, an extension of such second angle intersecting the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, said upstanding lip having a third right side and a third left side, a third length extending from a third proximate end proximate said lower panel to a third remote end remote from said lower panel;

(d) a first side panel (45) directly attached to the third left side of said upstanding lip, to the second left side of said lower panel, and to the first left side of said upper panel, and extending transverse to all of said upper panel, said lower panel, and said upstanding lip; and

(e) a second side panel (50) directly attached to the third right side of said upstanding lip, to the second right side of said lower panel, and to the first right side of said upper panel, and extending transverse to all of said upper panel, said lower panel, and said upstanding lip.

14. A vehicle-based cargo carrier, comprising:

(a) a containment bed having a front end and a rear end, for containing material therein, the containment bed comprising

(i) a containment bed floor for supporting material in said containment bed,

(ii) a first upstanding containment bed wall on a first side of said containment bed, and

(iii) a second upstanding containment bed wall on a second opposing side of said containment bed; and

(b) a tailgate apparatus comprising an unloading platform adapted to pivot, relative to the rear of said containment bed, from a first closed position wherein said tailgate apparatus closes the rear end of said containment bed, to an open position,

(i) at least a portion of said platform, in the open position, being generally parallel to the ground and spaced from the ground,

(ii) said platform, in the open position, being adjustable to different heights to present said platform at a desirable height for a worker using said tailgate apparatus to retrieve material from said platform,

(iii) said platform being further configured such that, when said platform is moved from an open position to the closed position, said platform returns any material, which may be on said platform, to said containment bed,

said unloading platform comprising

an upper panel (30), having first and second sides, mounted in association with said containment bed floor at the rear of said containment bed for pivotation with respect to said containment bed floor from a generally upright position wherein said upper panel closes the rear of said containment bed, to a downwardly-extending open position, said upper panel having a first left side and a first right side, a first length extending from a first proximate end proximate such containment bed to a first remote end remote from such containment bed;

a lower panel (40) having first and second ends, the first end being attached to said upper panel such that said lower panel can extend rearwardly of said upper panel when said upper panel is in such downwardly-extending open position, said lower panel extending at a first angle intersecting the first side of said upper panel and being disposed on a first side of an imaginary plane which defines an extension of said upper panel, said lower panel having a second right side and a second left side, a second length extending from a second proximate end proximate said upper panel to a second remote end remote from said upper panel;

an upstanding lip (55) attached to the second end of said lower panel and extending from the second end of said lower panel at a second angle, greater than the first angle and extending away from the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, an extension of such second angle intersecting the same imaginary plane on the same first side of said upper panel, said upstanding lip having a third right side and a third left side, a third length extending from a third proximate end proximate said lower panel to a third remote end remote from said lower panel;

a first side panel (45) directly attached to the third left side of said upstanding lip, to the second left side of said lower panel, and to the first left side of said upper panel, and extending transverse to all of said upper panel, said lower panel, and said upstanding lip; and

a second side panel (50) directly attached to the third right side of said upstanding lip, to the second right side of said lower panel, and to the first right side of said upper panel, and extending transverse to all of said upper panel, said lower panel, and said upstanding lip.