Patent ID: 7128019
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: B60Q

Abstract:
1. A method of improving the safety of using a vehicle having a tailgate by using a tailgate position indicator to allow the driver to determine the position of a tailgate at any time during normal use of the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a cab, a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, and a tailgate disposed at the rear end of the bed; the tailgate having two sides and movable between open and closed positions; the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tailgate position indicator having a connector adapted to connect the tailgate position indicator directly to the tailgate; the tailgate position indicator also having an indicator rod extending away from the connector; (b) connecting the connector of the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate with the indicator rod extending across one of the sides of the tailgate and beyond one of the sides of the vehicle; the connector securing the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate so that the tailgate position indicator moves with the tailgate when the tailgate is moved between the open and closed positions; (c) placing the vehicle into normal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedly opened and closed; (d) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing a portion of the indicator rod in the side view mirror; and (e) determining the position of the tailgate by viewing the location of the portion of the indicator rod viewed in the side view mirror.