Vehicle work area assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11433952-B2
Application number	US-202017107854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2020
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

A vehicle work area assembly includes a tailgate moved to a horizontally oriented position. The tailgate has a main surface with a utility track fixed thereto. A fence accessory is releasably attached to the utility track and is positioned and fixed to any of a plurality of locations to the utility track. The fence accessory defines a stop location for one end of a workpiece. A clamp accessory releasably attaches to the utility track such that the clamp accessory temporarily clamps the workpiece to the main surface such that the workpiece can be measured and/or cut.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle work area assembly, comprising:
a cargo area structure defining a tailgate receiving opening and a cargo area;
a tailgate attached to the cargo area structure for pivoting movement between an upright position closing the tailgate receiving opening and a horizontally oriented position exposing the tailgate receiving opening and the cargo area, the tailgate having a main surface that faces upward with the tailgate in the horizontally oriented position, the tailgate having a utility track fixed to the main surface; and
a fence accessory configured and shaped for releasable attachment to the utility track such that the fence accessory can be positioned and fixed at a first location to the utility track, released, repositioned and fixed at a second location to the utility track, the second location being spaced apart from the first location, with a fence surface of the fence accessory defining a stop location for one end of a workpiece; and
a clamp accessory configured and shaped for releasable attachment to the utility track such that the clamp accessory can be positioned and fixed at a third location to the utility track, released, repositioned and fixed at a fourth location to the utility track spaced apart from the third location, the third and fourth locations being spaced apart from the first and second locations, with the clamp accessory clamping the workpiece to the main surface at one of the third and fourth locations.

2. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the fence accessory has a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track clamping the fence accessory to the utility track between the clamp end and the knob end.

3. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the clamping accessory includes an elongated bar and a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track and pulls the elongated bar toward the main surface and against the workpiece: thereby clamping the workpiece between the elongated bar and the main surface.

4. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the tailgate includes scalar demarcations that extend along a portion of the tailgate parallel to the utility track.

5. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 4 , wherein
the main surface of the tailgate includes an elongated flat portion that defines a workpiece receiving surface that extends in a widthwise direction of the tailgate between the utility track and the scalar demarcations.

6. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the fence accessory has a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track clamping the fence accessory to the utility track between the clamp end and the knob end with the fence surface extending perpendicular to the workpiece receiving surface.

7. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the clamping accessory includes an elongated bar and a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track and pulls the elongated bar toward the main surface and the workpiece receiving surface thereby clamping the workpiece between the elongated bar and the workpiece receiving surface.

8. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the cargo area structure includes a cargo bed floor having an approximately horizontal cargo bed surface, a first wall structure extending along a first side of the cargo bed surface and a second wall structure extending along a second side of the cargo bed surface,
the tailgate extending between e first wall structure and the second wall structures.

9. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the cargo bed floor and the main surface of the tailgate are co-planar with the tailgate in the horizontally oriented position.

10. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the fence accessory has a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track clamping the fence accessory to the utility track between the clamp end and the knob end.

11. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the clamping accessory includes an elongated bar and a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track and pulls the elongated bar toward the main surface and against the workpiecc thereby clamping the workpiece between the elongated bar and the main surface.

12. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 8 , wherein
the tailgate includes scalar demarcations that extend along a portion of the tailgate parallel to the utility track.

13. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 12 , wherein
the main surface of the tailgate includes an elongated flat portion that defines a workpiece receiving surface that extends in a widthwise direction of the tailgate between the utility track and the scalar demarcations.

14. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the fence accessory has a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track clamping the fence accessory to the utility track between the clamp end and the knob end with the fence surface extending perpendicular to the workpiece receiving surface.

15. The vehicle work area assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the clamping accessory includes an elongated bar and a tightening mechanism that includes a clamp end that extends into the utility track and a knob end threadedly connected to the clamp end such that tightening the knob end pulls the clamp end against inner surfaces of the utility track and pulls the elongated bar toward the main surface and the workpiece receiving surface thereby clamping the workpiece between the elongated bar and the workpiece receiving surface.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Smolik David

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

• B60P7/0815

  Attachment rails or trellis · CPC title

• B62D33/0273 Primary

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