Tailgate storage compartment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9944333-B1
Application number	US-201615384708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A pickup-truck box includes a pair of opposing sidewalls each having a first latching component. A tailgate is attached between the sidewalls and includes an outer panel, an inner panel, and opposing side panels each facing one of the sidewalls and interconnecting the inner and outer panels to define a body defining an interior space. A pair of hinges pivotally attach the tailgate to the sidewalls such that the tailgate is pivotal about the hinges between an open position and a closed position. A pair of second latching components are engageable with a corresponding one of the first latching components to hold the tailgate closed. A storage compartment is disposed in the interior space and defines a cargo area accessible through the opening defined in one of the side panels. A corresponding one of the sidewalls blocks access to the opening when the tailgate is in the closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailgate assembly comprising:
a body including an outer side, an inner side, and a pair of lateral sides interconnecting the inner and outer sides to define an interior, one of the lateral sides defining an opening into the interior; and
a structural beam disposed in the interior and defining a storage compartment accessible through the opening.

2. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 further comprising a cover attachable to the one of the lateral sides to cover the opening when in a closed position.

3. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cover is a rubber plug having a portion receivable within the opening.

4. The tailgate assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cover includes a latching mechanism engageable with the one of the lateral sides to prevent opening of the cover.

5. The tailgate assembly of claim 4 , wherein the latching mechanism includes an elongate member that engages with a backside of the one of the lateral sides when the latching mechanism is in a locked position.

6. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 further comprising a liner disposed on an inside surface of the beam.

7. The tailgate assembly of claim 1 further comprising a storage case removably received within the storage compartment via the opening, wherein the storage case defines a cavity configured to receive a storage object therein.

8. The tailgate assembly of claim 7 , wherein the storage case includes padding defining a cavity shaped to house a firearm.

9. A pickup-truck box comprising:
opposing sidewalls; and
a tailgate connected between the sidewalls and including:
an outer panel,
an inner panel,
a side connecting between the panels and defining an opening, and
a structural beam disposed in an interior defined between the panels and connected to one of the panels to define a storage compartment aligned with the opening.

10. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 , wherein the beam has an interior surface and the tailgate further includes a liner disposed against the interior surface, and wherein the liner defines a wall of the storage compartment.

11. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 , wherein the beam has a U-shaped cross section.

12. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 , wherein the beam further includes:
a pair of flanges attached to the inner panel,
a pair of walls each extending from one of the flanges towards the outer panel, and
a face plate connecting between the walls, wherein the face plate, walls, and inner panel cooperate to define the storage compartment.

13. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 , further comprising a liner having a first portion covering inside surfaces of the beam.

14. The pickup-truck box of claim 13 , wherein the liner further has a second portion covering an inside surface of the inner panel.

15. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 , wherein the tailgate is pivotably attached to the sidewalls and pivotable between at least an open position and a closed position, and wherein the opening is positioned on the tailgate so that one of the sidewalls is adjacent to the opening when in the closed position to conceal the opening.

16. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 further comprising a cover connected to the lateral side and arranged to cover the opening when in a closed position.

17. The pickup-truck box of claim 9 further comprising a storage case removably received within the storage compartment through the opening, wherein the storage case defines a cavity configured to receive an object therein.

18. A tailgate assembly for a pickup-truck box having sidewalls comprising:
a tailgate having an outer panel, an inner panel, and opposing side panels each facing one of the sidewalls and interconnecting the inner and outer panels to define a body defining an interior space;
a pair of hinges pivotally attaching the tailgate to the sidewalls, wherein the tailgate is pivotal about the hinges between an open position and a closed position;
a pair of latching components each disposed on one of the side panels and engageable with a corresponding latching component of one of the sidewalls to secure the tailgate in the closed position; and
a structural beam disposed in the interior space and connected to one of the panels to define a storage compartment accessible through the opening defined in one of the side panels, wherein a corresponding one of the sidewalls blocks access to the opening when the tailgate is in the closed position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Stojkovic Dragan B
• Hemphill Joshua Robert
• Marchlewski Jack

Classifications

• B62D33/0273 Primary

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

• B62D33/03

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

• B60R2011/0019

  Side or rear panels · CPC title

• B60R9/06

  at vehicle front or rear {(rear luggage compartments within vehicle extensible externally of the vehicle body B60R5/041)} · CPC title

• F41C33/06

  Containers for carrying smallarms, e.g. safety boxes, gun cases (F41C33/02 takes precedence) · CPC title