Vehicle tailgate tie-down

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10081292-B2
Application number	US-201615363229-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2016
Priority date	Nov 29, 2016
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle is provided herein. The vehicle includes a tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box. A tie-down member having a base portion is coupled to a lateral side of the tailgate assembly. The tie-down member further includes a retaining portion extending from the base portion. The retaining portion may include first and second substantially parallel channels.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a tailgate assembly adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box; and
a tie-down member coupled to the tailgate assembly and having a base portion disposed on a lateral side of the tailgate assembly and a retaining portion extending from the base portion, wherein the retaining portion includes first and second substantially parallel channels positioned on opposing sides of the tie-down member.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tie-down member is coupled to the tailgate assembly through the use of a mechanical fastener.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the tie-down member is integrally formed with a portion of the tailgate assembly.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first channel has a geometrical cross section that is different from a geometrical cross section of the second channel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second channels is configured as a bottle opener.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein a laterally extending portion of the retaining portion extends upwardly to hang an item from the tie-down member.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tie-down member is an extruded component.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tie-down member is a stamped component.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a tailgate assembly adapted to pivotally latch to a cargo box, the tailgate assembly laterally separated from the cargo box by a gap; and
a tie-down member coupled to the tailgate assembly and having a retaining portion extending from a base portion and defining first and second channels on opposing sides thereof, wherein the tie-down member has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the gap.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the retaining portion has a first section that extends laterally away from the tailgate assembly and a second section that extends towards a rear portion of the tailgate assembly.

11. The vehicle of claim 4 - 9 , wherein the tie-down member is concealed when the tailgate assembly is in a closed position.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the retaining portion includes a notch therein.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the first and second channels are substantially parallel.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the retaining portion defines an opening through which a cord may be inserted and retained.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a tailgate assembly adapted to pivotally latch to a cargo box; and
a tie-down member coupled to the tailgate assembly and having a base portion and a retaining portion extending from the base portion, wherein the retaining portion has a first section that extends laterally away from the tailgate assembly and a second section that extends towards a rear portion of the tailgate assembly, and further wherein the retaining portion defines first and second channels on opposing sides of the retaining portion.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the tailgate assembly is laterally separated from the cargo box by a gap and the tie-down member has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the gap.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the retaining portion defines an opening.

18. The vehicle of assembly claim 17 , wherein a support cable of the vehicle may be disposed through the opening for holding the tailgate assembly in an intermediate position.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second channels are substantially parallel.

20. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the retaining portion includes a first section extending transversely from the base portion and a second section extending transversely from the first section.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Kozak Stephen Thomas
• Marchlewski Jack
• Hemphill Joshua R
• Hoffman Colleen Marie

Classifications

• B62D33/0273 Primary

  Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D33/03

  by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60P7/0807

  Attachment points · CPC title

• B60P7/0823 Primary

  Straps; Tighteners · CPC title