Vehicle tailgate with integrated sawhorse

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086775-B2
Application number	US-201615266698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2016
Priority date	Sep 15, 2016
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle including a vehicle tailgate having a recess formed therein. A sawhorse is adapted for positioning in the recess in a stowed position and for being removed for use apart from the vehicle. The sawhorse may include a projecting handle for use in lifting the sawhorse from the recess. The tailgate may also include a retractable ladder or step, which may be arranged for forming an extended bed. Related methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle tailgate having a recess formed therein; and
a sawhorse adapted for positioning in the recess in a stowed position and for being removed for use apart from the vehicle;
wherein the sawhorse forms an upper surface of the vehicle tailgate when positioned in the recess.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recess is provided in an upper portion of the tailgate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sawhorse comprises a cross member forming the upper surface of the tailgate and a plurality of legs stowable within the cross member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the cross member is color matched with a surrounding portion of the tailgate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recess is adapted for receiving the sawhorse in a direction transverse to a vertical direction and a travel direction of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle tailgate includes a retractable ladder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle tailgate includes an extendable bed.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sawhorse includes a projecting handle for use in lifting the sawhorse from the recess.

9. A vehicle including the apparatus of claim 1 .

10. A vehicle comprising a collapsible, removable sawhorse forming an integral portion of a vehicle tailgate, the sawhorse comprising a cross member and a plurality of legs depending therefrom in a deployed condition of the sawhorse;
wherein the cross member forms an upper surface of the vehicle tailgate.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of legs are pivotally connected to the cross member.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein at least two of the plurality of legs are connected by a folding hinge.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the cross member includes a recess for receiving the plurality of legs in a stowed position.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle tailgate further includes a retractable ladder.

15. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the sawhorse includes a projecting handle for use in lifting the sawhorse from the vehicle tailgate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Spahn Brian Robert
• Loew Pattrick

Classifications

• B25H1/06 Primary

  of trestle type · CPC title

• B60R2011/0045

  with visible part, e.g. flush mounted · CPC title

• B60R11/06 Primary

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title

• B62D33/0273

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

• B25H1/16

  in height · CPC title