Patent ID: 6431804
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B60P,B63B

Abstract:
A preassembled endgate for blocking movement of a load along a floor of a vehicle, said endgate comprising:a floor panel adapted to extend along the vehicle floor; a load panel engageable with the load; a first hinge connected between an end portion of said load panel and an end portion of said floor panel to enable said load panel to pivot relative to said floor panel between (a) a stored condition in a side by side relationship with said floor panel and (b) a blocking condition extending upward from said end portion of said floor panel with said floor panel extending in only one direction away from said load panel so that the load engages the floor of the vehicle adjacent to said load panel when said load panel is in the blocking condition; and a brace panel extending between and transverse to said load panel and to said floor panel to maintain said load panel in the blocking condition relative to said floor panel; said load panel having an upper end portion that is spaced from said floor panel when said load panel is in the blocking condition, a first side that faces away from the load and toward said brace panel when said load panel is in the blocking condition, and a second side opposite said first side that faces toward the load and away from said brace panel when said load panel is in the blocking condition; said endgate including a plurality of tethers extending from said upper end portion of said load panel to an upper end portion of said brace panel to interconnect said brace panel and said load panel; when said load panel is in the blocking condition said brace panel having a first position engaging said first side of said load panel and extending between and transverse to both said load panel and said floor panel, to maintain said load panel in the blocking condition relative to said floor panel; said brace panel being movable from the first position over said upper end portion of said load panel to a second position in which said brace panel overlies said second side of said load panel when said load panel is in the stored condition.