Combination cargo stop and step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10543789-B1
Application number	US-201916284220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2019
Priority date	Feb 25, 2019
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

A tailgate includes an opening through a rear end of the tailgate when in a tailgate open position. The tailgate also includes a tailgate extender having support tubes extending through the opening and telescopically slidable outward from the tailgate, a laterally extending support beam supported by the support tubes, and a cargo-assist step pivotally mounted to the support beam, the cargo-assist step configured to pivot downwardly when the support tubes are pivoted downwardly to define a step and to pivot upwardly into a vertical position when the support tubes extend horizontally to define a cargo stop.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tailgate comprising:
an opening through a rear end of the tailgate when in a tailgate open position; and
a tailgate extender having support tubes extending through the opening and telescopically slidable outward from the tailgate, a laterally extending support beam supported by the support tubes, and a cargo-assist step pivotally mounted to the support beam, the cargo-assist step configured to pivot downwardly when the support tubes are pivoted downwardly to define a step and to pivot upwardly into a vertical position when the support tubes extend horizontally to define a cargo stop.

2. The tailgate of claim 1 further comprising:
an inner panel defining an upper surface of the tailgate when in a horizontal position, the inner panel having a hole therethrough;
one of the support tubes having extension lock openings selectively alignable with the hole as the support tubes are telescopically moved relative to the opening; and
an extension pin extending through the hole and into one of the extension lock openings.

3. The tailgate of claim 2 wherein there inner panel includes a second hole therethrough, the other of the support tubes has second extension lock openings selectively alignable with the second hole, and a second extension pin extending through the second hole and into one of the second extension lock openings.

4. The tailgate of claim 2 wherein the cargo-assist step is biased toward an orientation essentially parallel to the support tubes.

5. The tailgate of claim 1 wherein the cargo-assist step is biased toward an orientation essentially parallel to the support tubes.

6. The tailgate of claim 5 including a latch mounted between the support beam and the cargo-assist step that is configured to selectively retain the cargo-assist step in the vertical position.

7. The tailgate of claim 2 including a latch mounted between the support beam and the cargo-assist step that is configured to selectively retain the cargo-assist step in the vertical position.

8. The tailgate of claim 1 including a latch mounted between the support beam and the cargo-assist step that is configured to selectively retain the cargo-assist step in the vertical position.

9. A tailgate comprising:
a rear end of the tailgate, when in a tailgate open position, having an opening therethrough; and
a tailgate extender having a pair of support tubes extending through the opening and slidable outward therethrough, a support beam supported between the support tubes, and a cargo-assist step pivotally mounted to the support beam, the cargo-assist step configured to pivot downwardly to define a step and to pivot upwardly into a vertical position when the support tubes extend horizontally to define a cargo stop.

10. The tailgate of claim 9 further comprising:
an inner panel defining an upper surface of the tailgate when in a horizontal position, the inner panel having a hole therethrough;
one of the support tubes having extension lock openings selectively alignable with the hole as the support tubes are telescopically moved relative to the opening; and
an extension pin extending through the hole and into one of the extension lock openings.

11. The tailgate of claim 9 wherein the cargo-assist step is biased toward an orientation essentially parallel to the support tubes.

12. The tailgate of claim 9 including a latch mounted between the support beam and the cargo-assist step that is configured to selectively retain the cargo-assist step in the vertical position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hemphill Joshua R
• Sullivan Brian K
• Moccio Craig A

Classifications

• B62D33/0273 Primary

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

• B62D33/037

  Latching means therefor · CPC title

• B62D33/03

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

• B62D33/033

  removable {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R3/02 Primary

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