Patent ID: 9573630
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B62D

Claim:
1. A pick-up truck tailgate comprising: an outer panel; an inner panel attached to the outer panel; a transversely extending reinforcement including a U-shaped body having a radiused surface between an upper leg having an upper flange and a lower leg having a lower flange, wherein the radiused surface is connected with an adhesive to an inner surface of the outer panel and the upper and lower flanges are connected by fasteners to the inner panel; a lower transversely extending reinforcement assembled between the inner and outer panels and disposed below the transversely extending reinforcement; a latch bracket connected to and extending upwardly from the upper leg of the reinforcement that is adapted to support a latch assembly for latching the tailgate in a closed position; and a handle reinforcement, wherein a lower end of the handle reinforcement is attached to the latch bracket, and the handle reinforcement extends to the outer panel and an upper end of the handle reinforcement is attached to the outer panel.