Tailgate lift assembly

• US 20020070576A1
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Backsaver International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Backsaver International Incorporated
• Inventors: Rayburn, David
• Granted Patent: US 6,550,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/438 with means for balancing the weight of the ramp between use and non-use position

Abstract

A tailgate lift assembly is described herein wherein the assembly is comprised of a housing which has retained therein a spring, the spring being connected to the tailgate by means of a cable. The cable extends from the spring through at least one roller for correct positioning thereof. The cable is biased due to the spring the tension of which is adjustable through the use of a tensioning mechanism such as a turnbuckle. The lift assembly may be integrated with the top of a trailer side rail or may be affixed thereto.

Claims

1. A tailgate lifting assembly, comprising:

a housing having a predetermined length;

a spring having a first and a second end and anchored within said housing at said first end;

a cable having a first and a second end, said first end affixed to said second end of said spring, and capable of stretching said spring, said cable extending substantially through said housing; and

,

at least one roller, said cable extending around said at least one roller.

2. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a turnbuckle, said turnbuckle affixed to said second end of said cable.

3. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one roller comprises a first roller and a second roller, said cable extending below said first roller and above said second roller.

4. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 3 wherein said first and said second roller are rotatably affixed within said housing.

5. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 4 wherein said first roller and said second roller are rotatably retained within said housing and placed in sequential alignment therein.

6. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tubular sleeve extending around said spring.

7. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is a rectangular housing, said spring contained within said rectangular housing and affixed securely therein, said housing having a top wall and a first and second side wall.

8. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 7 wherein said top wall extends along said housing until before said at least one roller.

9. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein said second end of said cable is affixed to a side portion of a tailgate.

10. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 9 further comprising a trailer and a tailgate, said lifting assembly affixed to said trailer, said tailgate hingedly connected to said trailer.

11. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 2 wherein said turnbuckle further comprises a tubular collar, a first pin and a second pin, said first and second pin threadably engaged within said tubular collar.

12. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 10 further comprising a tensioning adjustment mechanism interposed between said second end of said cable and said tailgate.

13. The tailgate lifting assembly of claim 9 wherein said spring is a stretchable spring, said tailgate causing said spring to stretch upon lowering of said tailgate.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein lowering of said tailgate causes said spring to stretch.

16. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising a tensioning adjustment mechanism interposed between said tailgate and said second end of said cable.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein said at least one roller guide member is comprised of a first and second rolling guide member, said cable extending around said first and second rolling guide members.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein said first and second rolling guide members are rotatably retained within said tailgate lifting assembly in sequential alignment.

19. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said tailgate lifting assembly is comprised of a first tailgate lifting assembly and a second tailgate lifting assembly, said first tailgate lifting assembly extending along said first side rail of said trailer, said second tailgate lifting assembly extending along said second side rail of said trailer.

20. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said tailgate lifting assembly is further comprised of a housing, said housing extending along said at least one side rail.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein said housing is further comprised of a first and second side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein said top wall extends along said housing up to said at least one guide member.

24. The lifting assembly of claim 23 wherein said at least one guide member for each of said first and second tailgate lifting assembly is a first roller and a second roller in sequential alignment, said cable for said first and said second tailgate lifting assembly extending below said first roller and above said second roller.

14. A tailgate lift assembly for a trailer having a tailgate, comprising:

a trailer having a bed and a first and second side rail;

a tailgate hingedly affixed to said bed of said trailer;

a tailgate lifting assembly extending along at least one of said side rails, said tailgate lifting assembly having a stretchable spring retained at a first end to said tailgate lifting assembly, a cable affixed at a first end to a second opposite end of said spring, said cable extending along said tailgate lifting assembly and affixed at the opposite second end to said tailgate;

at least one roller guide member within said tailgate lifting assembly, said cable guided by said at least one roller guide member.

23. A tailgate lifting assembly for a trailer having a tailgate, comprising:

a trailer, said trailer having a trailer bed, a first side rail and a second side rail and a tailgate hingedly attached to said tailgate;

a first tailgate lifting assembly extending along said first side rail;

a second tailgate lifting assembly extending along said second side rail;

each of said first and second tailgate lifting assembly having a spring retained at one end to said tailgate lifting assembly, a cable affixed at a first end to the opposite end of said spring, said cable extending along said tailgate lifting assembly and affixed at the opposite end to said tailgate, at least one guide member within said tailgate lifting assembly, said cable guided by said at least one guide member;

wherein said spring for said first and said second tailgate lifting assembly is stretched upon lowering of said tailgate.

25. A trailer, comprising:

a trailer bed;

a first side rail and a second side rail extending upward from said trailer bed, each of said side rails having an upper section;

a tailgate hingedly attached to said trailer bed;

a first tailgate lifting assembly extending along said upper section of said first side rail;

a second tailgate lifting assembly extending along said upper section of said second side rail;

wherein each of said first and said second tailgate lifting assembly have a housing defining a contained space therein, a spring contained within said defined space of said housing, said spring affixed to said housing at one end, a cable attached to an opposite end of said spring and extending through said defined space of said housing, a roller rotatably retained within said defined space of said housing, said cable extending around said roller.