Tailgate down indicator

• US 8,907,777 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Alan Greer
• Original Assignee: Michael Alan Greer
• Inventors: Greer, Michael Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/741,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20130194088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/457
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0273 Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks B62D33/037 takes precedence

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tailgate down indicator is provided. The indicator displays the position of the tailgate of a truck to the driver based upon a signal received from a sensor device. The sensor device determines whether the tailgate is in the up or down position.

Claims

1. A tailgate down indicator of a truck, comprising:

a sensor device capable of detecting a position of a tailgate; and

an indicator capable of displaying the position of said tailgate;

wherein said sensor device communicates said position to said indicator and said indicator displays said position and

wherein said indicator includes an override button which must be pressed when said tailgate is in a down position in order for said truck to be driven.

2. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said sensor device is mechanically coupled to said tailgate.

3. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said indicator is located on a dashboard.

4. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said sensor device communicates to said indicator via a hardwired circuit.

5. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said sensor device communicates to said indicator via electromagnetic waves.

6. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said position can be either an up position or a down position.

7. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said indicator includes a light.

8. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said indicator includes a vibrating device.

9. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said indicator includes an sound producing device.

10. The tailgate down indicator of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a wireless communication device.

17. The truck of claim 1 wherein said indicator includes a vibrating device.

11. A truck having a truck bed comprising:

a tailgate mounted pivotally to said truck bed;

a sensor device mounted to said truck and operable to determine a position of said tailgate with respect to said truck;

an indicator operable to display said position of said tailgate to a driver of said truck

wherein said indicator includes an override button which must be pressed when said tailgate is in a down position in order for said truck to be driven.

12. The truck of claim 11 wherein said sensor device is mechanically coupled to said tailgate.

13. The truck of claim 11 wherein said indicator is located on a dashboard.

14. The truck of claim 11 wherein said sensor device communicates to said indicator via a hardwired circuit.

15. The truck of claim 11 wherein said sensor device communicates to said indicator via electromagnetic waves.

16. The truck of claim 11 wherein said position can be either an up position or a down position.

18. A truck having a truck bed comprising:

a tailgate mounted pivotally to said truck bed;

a sensor device mounted to said truck and operable to determine a position of said tailgate with respect to said truck; and

an indicator operable to display said position of said tailgate to a driver of said truck;

wherein said indicator is operable to prevent said truck from moving when said sensor device determines said tailgate is in a down position;

wherein said indicator includes an override button operable to be engaged by a driver of said truck in order to allow said truck to move when said sensor device determines said tailgate is in said down position.