Bed mounted winch and ramp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017570-B2
Application number	US-202017131942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2020
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A tailgate assembly is provided for a cargo bed having a bottom wall and a front, left and right side walls. An opening is defined between the left and right side walls, and the bottom wall. The tailgate assembly includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is pivotally connected to the bottom wall. The first panel is pivotable between a cargo-retaining position and an unfolded position with respect to the bottom wall. In the cargo-retaining position, the first panel closes the opening. The second panel is pivotally connected to the first panel. The second panel is pivotable between a folded position and a ramp position. In the folded position, the first panel and the second panel are substantially parallel to one another and in the ramp position the first and second panels extend from one another at an angle greater than ninety degrees.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailgate assembly for a tiltable cargo bed extending from a forward end to a rearward end, wherein the tiltable cargo bed is pivotally connected to a frame supporting the tiltable cargo bed, and the tiltable cargo bed is configured to rotate relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position, the tiltable cargo bed having a left side wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end, a right side wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end, and a bottom wall extending at least partially from the forward end to the rearward end, and further extending at least partially between the left side wall and the right side wall and defining an opening at the rearward end between the left and right side walls and the bottom wall, the tailgate assembly comprising:
a first panel pivotally connectable to the bottom wall, the first panel pivotable between a cargo-retaining position and an unfolded position with respect to the bottom wall, wherein in the cargo-retaining position, the first panel closes the opening at the rearward end of the cargo bed; and
a second panel pivotally connected to the first panel, wherein the second panel is pivotable between a folded position and a ramp position, wherein in the folded position the first panel and the second panel are substantially parallel to one another and in the ramp position the first and second panels extend from one another at an angle greater than ninety degrees,
wherein the first panel includes a reinforcement channel and the second panel includes notches that receive the reinforcement channel,
wherein the second panel nests into the first panel when the first panel is in the cargo-retaining position and the second panel is in the folded position such that the reinforcement channel of the first panel is received within the notches of the second panel, and
wherein the reinforcement channel and the notches are arranged on lower-facing surfaces of the first panel and the second panel, respectively, when the first panel is in the unfolded position and the second panel is in the ramp position.

2. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first panel extends from a first end to a second end,
the second panel extends from a first end to a second end, and
the second end of the first panel is hingedly attached to the first end of the second panel such that the second panel is movable between the folded position and the ramp position.

3. The tailgate assembly according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first panel and the second panel are hingedly attached with a plurality of hinges spaced along lengths of the first and second panels.

4. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first panel defines an end wall for the tiltable cargo bed when the first panel is in the cargo-retaining position.

5. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking member configured to selectively retain the first panel in the cargo-retaining position.

6. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a limiting member coupled to the first panel or the second panel configured to limit an angular displacement of the second panel between the folded position and the ramp position to a predefined maximum angle.

7. The tailgate assembly according to claim 6 , wherein:
the maximum angle is 180 degrees.

8. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a limiting member coupled to the first panel and configured to limit an angular displacement of the first panel between the cargo-retaining position and the unfolded position to a predefined maximum angle.

9. The tailgate assembly according to claim 8 , wherein:
the maximum angle is 90 degrees.

10. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first panel has an upper flat side and a lower corrugated side and the second panel has an upper flat side and a lower corrugated side, and wherein the flat sides of the first and second panels face in opposite directions when the first panel is in the cargo retaining position and the second panel is in the folded position and wherein the upper flat sides of the first and second panels face upwardly when the first panel is in the unfolded position and the second panel is in the ramp position.

11. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
the left side wall and the right side wall have a side wall height,
a height of the first panel and a height of the second panel are each approximately the same as the side wall height, and
with the first panel in the unfolded position and the second panel in the ramp position, the first panel and the second panel together form a ramp.

12. The tailgate assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the second panel in a vehicle cross-wise direction is less than a width of the first panel in the vehicle cross-wise direction.

13. A vehicle comprising a tiltable cargo bed extending from a forward end to a rearward end, the tiltable cargo bed comprising:
a front side wall at the forward end;
a left side wall extending at least partially from the front side wall to the rearward end;
a right side wall extending at least partially from the front side wall to the rearward end; and
a bottom wall extending at least partially from the front side wall to the rearward end, and further extending at least partially between the left side wall and the right side wall and defining an opening at the rearward end between the left and right side walls and the bottom wall; and
a tailgate assembly comprising:
a first panel pivotally connected to the bottom wall, the first panel pivotable between a cargo-retaining position and an unfolded position with respect to the bottom wall, wherein in the cargo-retaining position, the first panel closes the opening at the rearward end of the tiltable cargo bed; and
a second panel pivotally connected to the first panel, wherein the second panel is pivotable between a folded position and a ramp position, wherein in the folded position the first panel and the second panel are substantially parallel to one another and in the ramp position the first and second panels extend from one another at an angle greater than ninety degrees,

wherein the vehicle includes a frame supporting the tiltable cargo bed,
wherein the tiltable cargo bed is pivotally connected to the frame and the tiltable cargo bed is configured to rotate relative to the frame between a lowered position and a raised position,
wherein the first panel includes a reinforcement channel and the second panel includes notches that receive the reinforcement channel,
wherein the second panel nests into the first panel when the first panel is in the cargo-retaining position and the second panel is in the folded position such that the reinforcement channel of the first panel is received within the notches of the second panel, and
wherein the reinforcement channel and the notches are arranged on lower-facing surfaces of the first panel and the second panel, respectively, when the first panel is in the unfolded position and the second panel is in the ramp position.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , further comprising a winch assembly for the tiltable cargo bed, the winch assembly comprising:
a winch including a motor and a housing for a spool configured to be driven by the motor, the spool configured to wind and unwind cable;
a mount extending from and supporting the winch, the mount having a base configured for fixed connection to at least one of the bottom wall of the tiltable cargo bed and t

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Allicock Nicholas
• Sharkar Fahmid
• Bessho Hiroki
• Wilson Travis

Classifications

• B62D33/0273

  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

• B60P1/04

  with a tipping movement of load-transporting element (dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00) · CPC title

• B60P1/435 Primary

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

• A01M31/006 Primary

  Game carriers · CPC title