Tail gate

• US 3,912,326 A
• Filed: 04/15/1974
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Tass
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Tass
• Inventors: Tass, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Underwood, Donald W.
• Application Number:
  US05/461,240
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 296/51,50,57R,61,155 49/158,164,159,160,449,450,70
• US Class Current: 296/51
• 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 tail gate is provided that includes a member that can either pivot downwardly to an inclined position, or the tail gate can be moved laterally to provide an access opening in the rear of a vehicle, trailer or the like.

Claims

1. In a tail gate for an animal carrying vehicle, a body including a pair of spaced parallel vertically disposed sides extending upwardly in said body, a back portion extending vertically upwardly in said body at the rear thereof and including a pair of spaced apart sections with the first of said sections substantially shorter in a horizontal direction than the second of said sections with said sections defining an offset opening therebetween, an inverted U-shaped generally horizonTal rail rigidly secured to the top portion of said second section and extending substantially thereacross, a horizontally disposed tubular member secured to said back portion at the lower portion thereof, a pair of spaced apart support members each having spaced apart flange portions with said support members encompassing said tubular member, a roller journalled between the flange members of each of said support members and supported on said tubular member, a rectangular panel having its lower edge secured to said support members and a portion of its upper edge engaged in said rail, said panel having a horizontal extent greater than the horizontal extent of said opening, a pair of spaced bores in said tubular member arranged on opposite sides and closely adjacent one of said support members, stop pins removably mounted in said bores for preventing substantial horizontal movement of said panel, said panel on removal of one of said pins being movable horizontally from a position to the rear of and covering said opening to a position to the rear of said second section uncovering said opening, said panel on removal of the other of said pins being movable horizontally in a direction toward said first section to disengage the upper edge of said panel from said rail to permit said panel to hinge downwardly and rearwardly about the axis of said tubular member to form a loading ramp for said body, and a locking chain releasably secured at opposite ends to said first and second sections intermediate the upper and lower portions thereof to secure said panel in a position covering said opening.