Vehicle tailgate system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160396-B2
Application number	US-201715430010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, upper panel, lower panel, pair of side panels, and pair of tie-down brackets. The internal panel extends from the upper panel to the lower panel and between the pair of side panels. The side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate to the lower panel. The pair of tie-down brackets is secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels. The tie-down brackets define C-channels that extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the side panels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle tailgate comprising:
an internal panel extending from an upper panel to a lower panel and between a pair of side panels that are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate the lower panel;
a pair of tie-down brackets secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels, each bracket defining C-channels that extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the side panels; and
a pair of substantially parallel bars secured to each other by a first crossbar, one of the parallel bars extending into and secured within each of the C-channels, wherein the first crossbar has a circular cross-section that extends through a first orifice defined by a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket is configured to rotate about the circular cross-section and has a protrusion that extends outward from the first orifice, and the protrusion defines a second orifice configured to receive a fastener.

2. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of tie-down brackets is secured to the internal panel adjacent to one of the pair of side panels and the other of the pair of tie-down brackets is secured to the internal panel adjacent to other of the pair of side panels.

3. The tailgate of claim 2 , wherein each of the tie-down brackets has a pair of arms that extend away from a center at a substantially perpendicular angle relative to each other, and wherein one of the pair of arms of each tie-down bracket defines the C-channel and is secured to the internal panel while the other of the pair of arms of each tie-down bracket is secured to the adjacent side panel.

4. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein the tie-down brackets define a second C-channel and the exterior surfaces of the tie-down brackets form peaks that point towards a center of the second C-channels to form bottle openers.

5. The tailgate of claim 1 , further comprising a second crossbar rotatably secured to an end of one of the parallel bars and detachably connected to an end of the other of the parallel bar such that the second crossbar rotates upward when detached from the other of the parallel bars.

6. A vehicle tailgate comprising:
an internal panel extending from an upper panel to a lower panel and between a pair of side panels that are rotatably secured to a cargo bed proximate the lower panel; and
a tie-down bracket having first and second plates secured to each other at a substantially perpendicular angle, the bracket having protrusions that extend outward from an exterior surface of the first plate and define a C-channel, the first plate having a first interior surface directly secured to one of the side panels between the upper and lower panels, the second plate having a second interior surface directly secured to the interior panel.

7. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein each bracket define notches along the C-channels, spring loaded buttons extend from each of the parallel bars, and the spring-loaded buttons engage the notches to secure the parallel bars within the C-channels.

8. A vehicle tailgate comprising:
an internal panel extending between opposing side panels that are each rotatably secured to a cargo bed; and
a bracket having first and second plates secured to each other at a substantially perpendicular angle, the bracket having protrusions that extend outward from an exterior surface of the first plate and define a C-channel, the first plate having an interior surface directly secured to an exterior of the internal panel.

9. The tailgate of claim 8 , wherein the second plate has a second interior surfaced directly secured an exterior surface of one of the opposing side panels.

10. The tailgate of claim 8 further comprising a pair of substantially parallel bars secured to each other by a first crossbar, wherein one of the parallel bars extends into and is secured within the C-channel.

11. The tailgate of claim 10 , wherein the first crossbar has a circular cross-section that extends through a first orifice defined by a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket is configured to rotate about the circular cross-section and has a protrusion that extends outward from the from the first orifice, and the protrusion defines a second orifice configured to receive a fastener.

12. The tailgate of claim 10 , further comprising a second crossbar rotatably secured to an end of one of the parallel bars and detachably connected to an end of the other of the parallel bar such that the second crossbar rotates upward when detached from the other of the parallel bars.

13. The tailgate of claim 10 , wherein the protrusions define notches along the C-channel, spring-loaded buttons extend from the parallel bars, and one of the spring-loaded buttons engages the notches to secure one of the parallel bars within the C-channel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Marchlewski Jack
• Hemphill Joshua Robert
• Gallagher Stephen William
• Hoffman Colleen Marie

Classifications

• B62D33/03

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

• B60R11/06

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

• B60R2011/0052

  using screws, bolts, rivets or the like · CPC title

• B60R2011/0075

  using a containment or docking space · CPC title

• B60R5/04

  arranged at rear of vehicle {(B60R5/003, B60R5/006 take precedence; external trunks arranged at rear of vehicle B60R9/065)} · CPC title