Tailgate assembly with integrated table and seating subassembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10106208-B2
Application number	US-201715410012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2017
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A tailgate assembly includes a tailgate having an internal storage compartment. A table and seating subassembly is displaceable between a stowed position held in that internal storage compartment and a use position deployed from that internal storage compartment.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A tailgate assembly, comprising:
a tailgate having an internal storage compartment; and
a table and seating subassembly displaceable between a stowed position held in said internal storage compartment and a use position deployed from said internal storage compartment.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 , further including a sliding track connecting said table and seating subassembly to said tailgate.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein said sliding track includes a first telescoping rail and a second telescoping rail.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 3 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a table body.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a first support and a second support carried on said table body.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 5 , wherein said first support includes a first leg connected by a first pivot to said table body.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first support also includes a second leg connected by a second pivot to said table body.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 7 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a first seat connected between said first leg and said second leg.

9. The tailgate assembly of claim 8 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a third pivot connecting said first seat to said first leg and a fourth pivot connecting said first seat to said second leg.

10. The tailgate assembly of claim 9 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a first strut carried on said first seat.

11. The tailgate assembly of claim 10 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a second strut carried on said first seat.

12. The tailgate assembly of claim 11 , further including a first receiver on said first leg and a second receiver on said second leg, said first strut having a first distal end pinned into said first receiver and said second strut having a second distal end pinned into said second receiver when said table and seating subassembly is deployed into said use position.

13. The tailgate assembly of claim 12 , wherein said second support includes a third leg connected by a fifth pivot to said table body.

14. The tailgate assembly of claim 13 , wherein said second support also includes a fourth leg connected by a sixth pivot to said table body.

15. The tailgate assembly of claim 14 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a second seat connected between said third leg and said fourth leg.

16. The tailgate assembly of claim 15 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a seventh pivot connecting said second seat to said third leg and an eighth pivot connecting said second seat to said fourth leg.

17. The tailgate assembly of claim 16 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a third strut carried on said second seat.

18. The tailgate assembly of claim 17 , wherein said table and seating subassembly includes a fourth strut carried on said second seat.

19. The tailgate assembly of claim 18 , further including a third receiver on said third leg and a fourth receiver on said fourth leg, said third strut having a third distal end pinned into said third receiver and said fourth strut having a fourth distal end pinned into said fourth receiver when said table and seating subassembly is deployed into said use position.

20. A method of deploying a table and seating from a tailgate, comprising:
sliding a table and seating subassembly out from an internal storage compartment in said tailgate;
erecting a first support and a second support of said table and seating subassembly;
displacing a first seat and a second seat of said table and seating subassembly into use position; and
locking said first seat and said second seat into said use position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Barrios Albert Jorge Guillermo
• Dominguez Cuevas Ana Magdalena

Classifications

• B62D33/0273 Primary

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

• B60R11/00

  Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60R3/02

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R2011/004

  outside the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D33/03 Primary

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