Drop tailgate with integrated step

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9956995-B1
Application number	US-201715400347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

A tailgate assembly is provided for a vehicle having a cargo area disposed between first and second bedsides. A tailgate having at least one step is pivotally supported on the first and second besides. A tailgate latch assembly releasably retains the tailgate in a stowed position. First and second swing links are pivotally connected to first and second close faces of the tailgate. First and second swing link latch assemblies releasably retain the first and second swing links in a stored position. First and second support cables are connected to the first and second swing links to limit rotation of the tailgate between the stowed position and a first open position when the first and second swing links are in the stored position and to limit rotation between the first open position and a second open position when the first and second swing links are in a deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a cargo area disposed between a first bedside and a second bedside, said tailgate assembly comprising:
a tailgate having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a perimeter defined by a first close face, a second close face, a top, and a bottom, said tailgate configured to be pivotally supported on the first and second besides of the vehicle for movement between a stowed position and a plurality of open positions;
at least one tailgate latch assembly releasably retaining said tailgate in said stowed position;
a first support cable extending between a first support cable bedside end and a first support cable tailgate end, said first support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the first bedside of the vehicle;
a first swing link assembly including a first swing link extending between a first swing link proximal end and a first swing link distal end, a first swing link pivot pivotally connecting said first swing link proximal end to said first close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said first swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a first swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said first swing link in said stored position;
said first support cable tailgate end connected to said first swing link distal end such that said tailgate is limited to rotation between said stowed position and a first open position when said first swing link is in said stored position and further rotation of said tailgate between said first open position and a second open position is permitted when said first swing link is in said deployed position; and
at least one step disposed along said interior surface of said tailgate that provides access to said cargo area when said tailgate is in said second open position,
wherein said first swing link latch assembly includes a first swing link latch striker extending from said first swing link distal end in a first inward direction pointing towards said second close face of said tailgate and a first swing link latch jaw that is disposed along said first close face of said tailgate between said top of said tailgate and said first swing link pivot, said first swing link latch jaw being pivotally mounted to said tailgate for rotation between an engaged position where said first swing link latch jaw captures said first swing link latch striker when said first swing link is in said stored position and a release position where said first swing link latch law releases said first swing link latch striker to permit rotation of said first swing link to said deployed position and rotation of said tailgate from said first open position to said second open position.

2. The tailgate assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first close face of said tailgate is configured to close against the first bedside of the vehicle and said second close face of said tailgate is configured to close against the second bedside of the vehicle when said tailgate is in said stowed position.

3. The tailgate assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one step is a recess that extends into said tailgate from said interior surface towards said exterior surface.

4. The tailgate assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said first swing link pivot is disposed along said first close face of said tailgate such that said first swing link is positioned between said first close face of said tailgate and said first bedside of the vehicle when said tailgate is in said stowed position.

5. The tailgate assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first swing link rotates between said stored position and said deployed position in a first swing link plane that is disposed between said first close face of said tailgate and the first bedside of the vehicle.

6. A tailgate assembly for a vehicle having a cargo area disposed between a first bedside and a second bedside, said tailgate assembly comprising:
a tailgate having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a perimeter defined by a first close face, a second close face, a top, and a bottom, said tailgate configured to be pivotally supported on the first besides of the vehicle for movement between a stowed position and a plurality of open positions;
at least one tailgate latch assembly releasably retaining said tailgate in said stowed position;
a first support cable extending between a first support cable bedside end and a first support cable tailgate end, said first support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the first bedside of the vehicle;
a second support cable extending between a second support cable bedside end and a second support cable tailgate end, said second support cable bedside end configured to be attached to the second bedside of the vehicle;
a first swing link assembly including a first swing link extending between a first swing link proximal end and a first swing link distal end, a first swing link pivot pivotally connecting said first swing link proximal end to said first close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said first swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a first swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said first swing link in said stored position;
a second swing link assembly including a second swing link extending between a second swing link proximal end and a second swing link distal end, a second swing link pivot pivotally connecting said second swing link proximal end to said second close face of said tailgate to permit rotation of said second swing link between a stored position and a deployed position, and a second swing link latch assembly releasably retaining said second swing link in said stored position;
said first support cable tailgate end connected to said first swing link distal end and said second support cable tailgate end connected to said second swing link distal end such that said tailgate is limited to rotation between said stowed position and a first open position when said first swing links are in said stored position and further rotation of said tailgate between said first open position and a second open position is permitted when said first swing links are in said deployed position; and
at least one step disposed along said interior surface of said tailgate that provides access to said cargo area when said tailgate is in said second open position,
wherein said first swing link latch assembly includes a first swing link latch striker extending from said first swing link distal end in a first inward direction pointing towards said second close face of said tailgate, a first swing link latch jaw that is pivotally mounted to said tailgate for rotation between an engaged position and a release position, said first swing link latch jaw disposed along said first close face of said tailgate between said top of said tailgate and said first swing link pivot, said first swing link latch jaw including a first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout that captures said first swing link latch striker when said first swing link is in said stored position, and a first swing link latch locking arm that is pivotally mounted to said tailgate for rotation between a locked position where said first swing link latch locking arm extends into said first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout to prevent said first swing link latch jaw from rotating and an unlocked position where said first swing link latch locking arm rotates out away from said first U-shaped swing link jaw cutout, enabling said first swing link latch jaw to rotate to said release position and release said first swing link latch striker to permit further rotation of said tailgate from said first open position to said second open position.

7. The tailgate assembly as set forth in claim

Assignees

• Neighbors Kyle
• Long Jeffery E
• Berube Jereme A
• Suder Jimmy L
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Neighbors Kyle
• Long Jeffery E
• Berube Jereme A
• Suder Jimmy L

Classifications

• B60R3/00 Primary

  Arrangements of steps {or ladders facilitating access to or on the vehicle}, e.g. running-boards ({construction of steps for railway vehicles B61D23/00} ; ladders E06C) · CPC title

• 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

• B62D33/027 Primary

  movable · CPC title

• B60P1/267

  Controlling degree of tailboard or sideboard movement in dependence upon degree of tipping movement, e.g. by linkage or cam · CPC title