Patent ID: 7293821
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An airflow control tailgate to be located at the rear of a truck having a flat bed to control the flow of air over the truck and along the bed when the truck is in motion, said tailgate adapted to be rotated from a raised position, at which to prevent access to the truck bed, to a lowered position, at which to permit access to the truck bed, said airflow control tailgate comprising a plurality of panels mounted on and rotatable with respective ones of a plurality of pivot rods, and a motion generating device coupled to said plurality of pivot rods for rotating said pivot rods, the rotation of said pivot rods being imparted to said plurality of panels for causing said panels to rotate from a closed orientation, at which the panels are aligned side-by-side one another to block the flow of air therepast, to an open orientation, at which the panels are spaced from one another to establish airflow passages for air to flow therethrough, said plurality of pivot rods forming vertical pivot axes around which said plurality of panels are rotated 90 degrees between said closed and opened orientations when said tailgate is in the raised position.