Vehicle tailgate system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789914-B1
Application number	US-201715400450-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A vehicle tailgate includes a frame, pair of hinges, inner tailgate panel, and outer tailgate panel. The frame has a first outer side-member and a second outer side-member. Each of the outer side-members is secured to ends of a lower outer cross-member. The outer side-members each have an internal surface and an external surface. The internal surfaces define T-slots. One of the pair of hinges is secured to each external surface of the outer side-members. The inner and outer tailgate panels are secured to opposing outer sides of the frame such that the external surfaces of the outer side-members remain exposed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle tailgate comprising:
a frame having first and second outer side-members each secured to ends of a lower outer cross-member, the outer side-members having internal and external surfaces wherein the internal surfaces define T-slots;
a pair of hinges, one of the pair secured to each external surface; and
inner and outer tailgate panels secured to opposing outer sides of the frame such that the external surfaces remain exposed.

2. The vehicle tailgate of claim 1 further comprising a pair of latches, one of the pair of latches secured to each external surface.

3. The vehicle tailgate of claim 1 further comprising a pair of lowering straps, one of the pair of lowering straps secured to each external surface.

4. The vehicle tailgate of claim 1 further comprising first and second gussets secured to the internal surfaces of the first and second outer side-members, respectively, and the lower outer cross-member by a first set of fasteners that engage the T-slots in the first and second outer side-members and an inner surface of the lower outer cross-member.

5. The vehicle tailgate of claim 4 further comprising an upper outer cross-member secured to each of the first and second outer side-members.

6. The vehicle tailgate of claim 5 further comprising third and fourth gussets secured to the internal surfaces of the first and second outer side-members, respectively, and the upper outer cross-member by a second set of fasteners that engage the T-slots in the first and second outer side-members and an inner surface of the upper outer cross-member.

7. The vehicle tailgate of claim 6 further comprising an inner cross-member extending between and secured to the first and second outer side-members between the upper and lower outer cross-members by a third set of fasteners that engage the T-slots in the first and second outer side-members.

8. The vehicle tailgate of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of reinforcement members secured to and spanning the inner and lower outer cross-members between the first and second outer side-members.

9. The vehicle tailgate of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of accessory mounting brackets secured to and spanning the inner and upper outer cross-members between the first and second outer side-members, the accessory mounting brackets defining at least one orifice configured to receive a fastener.

10. The vehicle tailgate of claim 9 , wherein the inner and outer tailgate panels define access holes that expose the accessory mounting brackets.

11. A tailgate frame comprising:
first and second side-members each extending from a lower to an upper end, each side-member having internal and external surfaces, the internal surfaces defining T-slots;
a lower cross-member extending between and secured to each of the lower ends; and
a pair of hinges, one of the pair secured to each external surface proximate the lower ends.

12. The tailgate frame of claim 11 , wherein the hinges are affixed to L-shaped brackets that are secured to external surfaces of the side members and an outer surface of the lower cross-member.

13. The tailgate frame of claim 11 further comprising first and second gussets secured to the internal surfaces of the first and second side-members, respectively, and the lower cross-member by a first set of fasteners that engage the T-slots in the first and second side-members and an inner surface of the lower cross-member.

14. The tailgate frame of claim 13 further comprising an upper cross-member secured to each of the upper ends.

15. The tailgate frame of claim 14 further comprising third and fourth gussets secured to the internal surfaces of the first and second side-members, respectively, and the upper cross-member by a second set of fasteners that engage the T-slots in the first and second side-members and an inner surface of the upper cross-member.

16. The tailgate frame of claim 15 further comprising an intermediate cross-member secured to the first and second side-members between the lower cross-member and the upper cross-member.

17. The tailgate frame of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of accessory mounting brackets secured to and spanning the intermediate and upper cross-members between the first and second side-members, the accessory mounting brackets defining at least one orifice configured to receive a fastener.

18. The tailgate frame of claim 11 further comprising a pair of latches, one of the pair of latches secured to each external surface proximate the upper ends.

19. The tailgate frame of claim 11 further comprising a pair of lowering straps, one of the pair of lowering straps secured to each external surface proximate the upper ends.

20. A vehicle tailgate comprising:
a frame having first and second outer side-members each secured to ends of a lower outer cross-member, the outer side-members having internal and external surfaces wherein the internal surfaces define T-slots;
a pair of hinges, one of the pair of hinges secured to each external surface;
a pair of latches, one of the pair of latches secured to each external surface;
a pair of lowering straps, one of the pair of lowering straps secured to each external surface;
an upper outer cross-member secured to each of the first and second outer side-members;
an inner cross-member extending between and secured to the first and second outer side-members between the upper and lower outer cross-members;
a plurality of accessory mounting brackets secured to and spanning the inner and upper outer cross-members between the first and second outer side-members; and
inner and outer tailgate panels secured to opposing outer sides of the frame such that the external surfaces remain exposed, the inner and outer tailgate panels defining access holes that expose the accessory mounting brackets.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Maranville Clay Wesley
• Wagner David Anthony
• Jaranson John Wayne
• Wykoff Ii Richard H
• Blanchard Patrick James
• Friedman Peter 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 Primary

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