Truck tailgate system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10214250-B2
Application number	US-201715601408-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2017
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle includes a truck bed and an extruded tailgate that is rotatably secured to the bed. The extruded tailgate forms laterally extending internal, external, upper, and lower panels. The exterior surfaces of each of the internal, upper, and lower panels define T-slots that are configured to receive accessory components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An extruded tailgate comprising:
internal and external panels secured to each other by upper and lower panels extending therebetween, wherein the internal, external, upper, and lower panels extend from a first to a second lateral end of the tailgate, wherein exterior surfaces of the internal and lower panels define first and second T-slots, respectively, configured to receive accessory components, that extend from the first to the second lateral end; and
an elastic guard having a T-shaped protrusion engaging the second T-slot to secure the elastic guard to the lower panel such that the elastic guard is disposed within a gap that extends between the lower panel and a truck bed.

2. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the internal panel defines a third T-slot, configured to receive the accessory components, that extends from the first to the second lateral end, wherein the third T-slot has a cross-sectional area that is substantially parallel to the first T-slot.

3. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the upper panel defines a third T-slot, configured to receive the accessory components, that extends from the first to the second lateral end, wherein the third T-slot has a cross-sectional area that is substantially perpendicular to the first T-slot.

4. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein the second T-slot has a cross-sectional area that is substantially perpendicular to the first T-slot.

5. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the external panel defines a third T-slot, configured to receive the accessory components, that extends from the first to the second lateral end, wherein the third T-slot has a cross-sectional area that is oriented at substantially 180° relative to the first T-slot.

6. The tailgate of claim 1 , wherein the internal, external, upper, and lower panels define a cavity therebetween, and further comprising a pair of support panels, disposed within the cavity, that extend from the first to the second lateral end, span the cavity from the internal panel to the external panel, and are substantially perpendicular to the internal panel.

7. The tailgate of claim 6 further comprising a third support panel, disposed within the cavity, that extends from the first lateral end to the second lateral end, spans that cavity between the pair of support panels, and is substantially parallel to the internal panel.

8. The tailgate of claim 7 , wherein the first lateral end is open such that the cavity is accessible.

9. A vehicle comprising:
a truck bed;
an extruded tailgate, rotatably secured to the bed, forming laterally extending internal, external, upper, and lower panels, wherein exterior surfaces of each panel define T-slots configured to receive accessory components; and
a top cover having a T-shaped protrusion extending downward and defining a tonneau cover receiving slot, the T-shaped protrusion engaging the T-slot defined by the upper panel to secure the cover to the upper panel.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the internal, external, upper, and lower panels extend from a first lateral end of the extruded tailgate to a second lateral end of the extruded tailgate and define a cavity therebetween.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the extruded tailgate forms a pair of laterally extending support panels that are disposed within the cavity, extend from the first lateral end to the second lateral end, span the cavity from the internal panel to the external panel, and are substantially perpendicular to the internal panel.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the extruded tailgate forms a third laterally extending support panel that is disposed within the cavity, extends from the first lateral end to the second lateral end, spans that cavity between the pair of laterally extending support panels, and is substantially parallel to the internal panel.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first lateral end is open such that the cavity is accessible.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising an accessory plate having a flat working surface and a T-shaped protrusion on an opposing side relative to the flat working surface, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the internal panel to secure the accessory plate to the internal panel.

15. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising an elastic guard having a T-shaped protrusion, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the lower panel to secure the elastic guard to the lower panel such that the elastic guard is disposed within a gap that extends between the lower panel and the truck bed.

16. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a ramp having a T-shaped protrusion disposed along an end of the ramp, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the upper panel to secure the ramp to upper panel.

17. The vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a flood light having a T-shaped protrusion, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the external panel to secure the flood light to the external panel.

18. An extruded tailgate comprising:
internal, external, upper, and lower panels extending from a first lateral end to second lateral end of the tailgate, exterior surfaces of each panel defining T-slots configured to receive accessory components; and
a ramp having a T-shaped protrusion disposed along an end of the ramp, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the upper panel to secure the ramp to the upper panel; and an elastic guard having a T-shaped protrusion, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the lower panel to secure the elastic guard to the lower panel such that the elastic guard is disposed within a gap that extends between the lower panel and a truck bed.

19. The tailgate of claim 18 further comprising a tailgate top cover having a T-shaped protrusion extending downward and defining a slot configured to receive a tonneau cover, wherein the T-shaped protrusion engages the T-slot defined by the upper panel to secure the tailgate top cover to the upper panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hemphill Joshua Robert
• Marchlewski Jack
• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Gray Jeffrey
• Reiners Robert

Classifications

• B60Q1/30

  for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces · CPC title

• B62D33/03

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

• B60P1/43

  using a loading ramp mounted on the vehicle (loading ramps per se B65G69/28) · CPC title

• B62D33/0273 Primary

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

• B60P1/435

  the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle · CPC title