Detachable workpiece support apparatus for a tailgate step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11260796-B2
Application number	US-201816130297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2018
Priority date	Aug 10, 2016
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A workpiece support is provided for a pickup truck tailgate. The tailgate includes a retractable step including a pair of step support members. The attachment brackets include a workpiece support bar and a riser that are attached to the step support members and to each other at a right angle. The workpiece support bar and riser may be fixedly attached to each other or attached by a pivot connector. Detachable connectors are provided to connect a workpiece support bar and riser detachably to the step support members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A truck tailgate assembly comprising:
a tailgate defining a receptacle inside the tailgate;
a step attached to the tailgate by a pair of step support members that are receivable in the receptacle and extendable from the receptacle; and
a pair of horizontal working surface support bars attached to the step support members provided above the step and rearward of the tailgate when the tailgate is open for supporting a workpiece while work is performed on the workpiece.

2. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a pair of risers each attached to one of the step support members and the workpiece support bar.

3. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein a distal end of each of the workpiece support bars is fixedly connected at a right angle to a top end of each of the risers.

4. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein the step support members each include a tailgate end where the step support members are pivotally attached to the tailgate and a step end connected to the step, wherein right and left attachment assemblies each further comprise:
a first connector detachably connecting the workpiece support bar to the tailgate end of one of the step support members; and
a second connector detachably connecting one of the risers to the step end of one of the step support members.

5. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 4 wherein the first and second connectors are pins having a pull ring that may be grasped to remove and install the pins, and a detent ball that retains the pins in the workpiece support bars and the risers.

6. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein the workpiece support bars and the risers are three-sided channels each defining an open side that receives a portion of the step support members in the open side.

7. The truck tailgate assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the workpiece support bars further comprise:
a pivot connector that pivotally secures a distal end of the workpiece support bar to a top end of the riser.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60P3/14

  the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work (lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04) · CPC title

• B62D33/0273

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

• B60R3/02 Primary

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