Turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus

A tailgate plate is arranged for displacement from a vertical position extending over an entrance opening of a vehicular truck bed, wherein the tailgate is arranged for displacement to a second position orthogonally and forwardly oriented relative to the first position permitting access of air movement through the entrance opening of the truck bed to improve aerodynamics and increase the fuel efficiency of the truck, and wherein the tailgate is arranged for displacement to a third position orthogonally and rearwardly oriented relative to the first position and in the same plane as the truck bed floor, allowing cargo to be loaded and unloaded in the accustomed manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The field of invention relates to tailgate structure, and more particularly 
pertains to a new and improved turbulence-reducing truck tailgate 
apparatus wherein the same is directed to the displacement of a truck 
tailgate to improve directional flow of air relative to the tailgate and 
truck bed minimizing turbulence and aerodynamic "drag", thereby increasing 
the fuel efficiency of the truck in use, without compromising the 
customary use of the truck for hauling widely varied types of cargo. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Truck tailgate structure of various types have been utilized throughout the 
prior art such as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,066; 4,932,705; 
4,867,499; and 4,165,118. 
One of the drawbacks of the tailgate structures described in the cited 
prior art is that they require the removal of the truck's original 
tailgate, which is designed for heavy use in loading and unloading cargo. 
In place of the original tailgate is put a tailgate apparatus which, while 
somewhat improving airflow, at the same time makes loading and unloading 
the truck bed more difficult. This increased difficulty puts new 
restrictions on the use of the cargo-carrying function of the truck. 
Further, some of the structures shown in the prior art appear as if they 
would easily be damaged by normal loading and unloading procedures. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
tailgate apparatus now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides a turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus providing a solid 
surfaced truck tailgate arranged for displacement from a first orthogonal 
position to a second position to permit air flow, as well as a third 
position to aid in normal loading and unloading. As such, the general 
purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in 
greater detail, is to provide a new and improved turbulence-reducing truck 
tailgate apparatus which has most of the advantages of the prior art 
tailgate apparatus and which does not compromise the use of the truck as a 
cargo-hauler. 
To attain this, the present invention provides a solid surfaced tailgate 
plate arranged for displacement from a vertical position extending over an 
entrance opening of a vehicular truck bed, wherein the tailgate is 
arranged for displacement to a second position orthogonally and forwardly 
oriented relative to the first position permitting access of air movement 
through the entrance opening of the truck bed to improve aerodynamics and 
increase the fuel efficiency of the truck, and wherein the tailgate is 
arranged for displacement to a third position orthogonally and rearwardly 
oriented to the first position and in the same plane as the truck bed 
floor, allowing cargo to be loaded and unloaded in the accustomed manner. 
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in 
the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and 
it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of 
all of its structures for the functions specified. 
There has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the 
invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may 
be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the 
art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features 
of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form 
the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art 
will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, 
may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, 
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present 
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as 
including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from 
the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
Further, the purpose of the following abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the are who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved turbulence-reducing tailgate apparatus which has most of the 
advantages of the prior art tailgate apparatus and which does not 
compromise the use of the truck as a cargo-hauler. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus which retains all of the 
functions and uses of a conventional truck tailgate to which the buying 
public is accustomed, while also facillitating the reduction of 
aerodynamic "drag", thereby aiding in increasing the fuel-efficiency and 
MPG rating of the truck for both the truck manufacturer and the buying 
public. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved 
turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus which retains the appearance 
and all of the functions of a conventional truck tailgate to which the 
buying public is accustomed, thereby making such turbulence-reducing 
tailgate attractive to truck manufacturers for use as original equipment 
on the trucks that such manufacturers produce and sell. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus which may be easily and 
efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus which is of a 
durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus which is susceptible 
of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and 
which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the 
consuming public, thereby making such turbulence-reducing tailgate 
apparatus economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved turbulence-reducing-truck tailgate apparatus which provides in 
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages 
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages 
normally associated therewith. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 9 
thereof, a new and improved turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus 
embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will described. 
More specifically, the turbulence-reducing truck tailgate apparatus 10 of 
the instant invention essentially comprises cooperation with a truck bed 
11, having a truck bed floor 12, including truck bed first and second side 
walls 13 and 14, having first and second vertical panel 15 and 16 
extending to first and second horizontal panels 18 and 19. An entrance 
opening 17 is directed between the vertical panels 15 and 16, with the 
horizontal panels 18 and 19 arranged in a facing relationship relative to 
one another coextensively relative to one another extending over the truck 
bed floor 12. First and second pins 20 and 21 that are coaxially aligned 
are orthogonally mounted in the first and second panels 15 and 16 in 
adjacency to the floor 12, while third and fourth pins 22 and 23 are 
orthogonally mounted to the respective first and second vertical panels 15 
and 16 in a spaced relationship relative to the floor 12 in adjacency to 
the first and second horizontal panels 18 and 19. Fifth and sixth pins 24 
and 25 that are coaxially aligned are mounted in respective first and 
second horizontal panels 18 and 19. A tailgate plate 26 is provided, 
having a plate front wall 27 spaced from a rear wall 28, a top wall 29 
spaced from a bottom wall 30, as well as respective plate first and second 
side walls 31 and 32. First and second L-shaped slots 33 and 34 are 
directed into the tailgate plate 26 from the first and second side walls 
31 and 32, with the first and second L-shaped slots 33 and 34 extending 
along the respective first and second side walls 31 and 32 originating and 
in communication with the tailgate rear wall 28 extending from the rear 
wall 28 at that entrance opening projecting to the tailgate plate top wall 
29. First and second connecting slots 35 and 36 orthogonally intersect the 
respective first and second L-shaped slots 33 and 34 and are oriented in 
adjacency relative to the top wall 29. In this manner, the tailgate is 
arranged for mounting to the respective first through fourth pins 20-22 
inclusively in the first position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and mounted 
to the third through sixth pins 22-25 inclusively in a second horizontal 
position, as indicated in FIG. 2, and mounted to the first and second pins 
20-21 in a third position as indicated in FIG. 3. Mounted for access 
through the front wall 27, is pivoting latch plate 37 (as indicated in 
FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 for example), with the latch plate 37 having fixedly 
mounted thereto first drive gear axles 40 mounting respective first drive 
gears 39, with the first drive gears 39 arranged in communication with 
respective second drive gears 41 that in turn are secured to the control 
axle 38. At each end of the control axle 38 are respective third gears 42 
that cooperate with fourth gears 43, that in turn are mounted in operative 
communication with a respective one of the first and second lock plates 44 
and 46 (see FIG. 1) that are mounted in adjacency relative to the tailgate 
plate bottom wall 30 in adjacency to respective first and second side 
walls 31 and 32. The respective first and second lock plates 44 and 46 
include respective first and second slots 45 and 47, wherein the slots 45 
when orthogonally oriented between the front and rear walls 27 and 28 are 
arranged to latch the respective first and second pins 20 and 21 in the 
first position, and when rotated such that the lock plate slots 45 and 47 
are oriented such that the slots 45 and 47 are in facing relationship 
relative to the rear wall 28, aligns the slots such that the pins 20 and 
21 are released from the first and second respective lock plates 44 and 
46, as opposed to the respective first and second slots 45 and 47 arranged 
in a facing relationship relative to the front wall 27 when the lock pins 
are secured preventing displacement of the tailgate plate. In this manner, 
the facing of the lock plates, and more specifically, the first and second 
slots 45 and 47 to permit release of the first pins 20 and 21 and 
reception of the third and fourth pins 22 and 23 within the first and 
second slots 45 and 47, as indicated in FIG. 5, is availed upon rotation 
of the lock plates upon lifting of the latch plate 37. 
The FIGS. 8 and 9 indicate the use additionally of a modified tailgate 
plate 26, having a rear wall opening 51 extending between the tailgate 
plate sides 31 and 32 in adjacency to the bottom wall 30 for the 
retraction of a net member 49 through the rear wall opening 51 from about 
a retraction roll 48 within the tailgate plate. The retraction roll 48 
typically is of spring-biased construction to withdraw the net member 49 
within the tailgate plate, whereupon the tailgate being in a second 
position, as indicated in FIG. 8, permits mounting of the net member 49 to 
support hooks 50 mounted to the truck bed floor 12. The net member 
functions as a cargo net to secure cargo within the truck bed. 
FIGS. 10 and 11 indicate the use alternatively 
a modified forth pin 23a and L-shaped slot 34a wherein flange 64 is secured 
to one end of the forth pin 23a by screw 62. A bearing 63 allows the 
flange 64 to rotate around the screw 62 with the screw 62 serving as an 
axle. (See FIG. 10). Additionally, the modified L-shaped slot 34a has a 
T-shape when viewed in cross-section (See FIG. 11). The modified forth pin 
23a fits into this slot 34a (See FIG. 8). The third pin 22 and the 
L-shaped slot 33 (See FIG. 3) may be similarly modified, with the result 
that the tailgate 26 is prevented from coming off of the pins 22 and 23 
while in transit between the first position and the second position (FIG. 
1 and 2). 
FIGS. 12-15 inclusively indicate the alternative use of a modified forth 
pin 23b and tailgate 26b wherein a sprocket 58 is affixed coaxially to the 
forth pin 23b in such a way as to prevent sprocket 58 from rotating (See 
FIG. 14). The third pin 22 (See FIG. 3) may be similarly modified and 
referred to as 22b. The modified tailgate 26b (See FIG. 12) includes a 
mechanism whose purpose is to keep the tailgate in proper alignment 
relative to the truck bed side walls 13 and 14 (FIG. 1) while the tailgate 
is in transit between the first and second positions (FIGS. 1 and 2). This 
alignment device includes a rotatable axle shaft 55 upon which are mounted 
coaxially sprocket 61 at one end and sprocket 52 at the other end, a 
rotatable axle shaft 56 upon which are mounted coaxially sprocket 53 at 
one end and sprocket 54 at the other end, a chain loop 60 which engages 
sprockets 52 and 54, and a chain loop 59 which engages sprockets 61 and 53 
(See FIG. 15). Pin 23b with its' stationary or non-rotating sprocket 58 
engages one side of chain loop 60 when tailgate 26b is in position 1 and 
position 2 and especially when the tailgate is in transit between position 
1 and position 2 (See FIG. 13). Pin 22b with its' non-rotating sprocket 
engages one side of chain loop 59 when tailgate 26b is in position 1 and 
position 2 and especially when the tailgate is in transit between 
positions 1 and 2. Consequently when tailgate 26b is in transit or being 
moved between positions 1 and 2 the stationary sprocket 58 affixed to pin 
23b serves as a fixed point for engaging one side of chain loop 60 (See 
FIG. 13). When the tailgate is moved in the direction indicated by the 
arrow, the free side of chain loop 60 is forced to move in the direction 
indicated by the arrow. This movement of chain loop 60 causes the 
sprockets 52 and 54 to rotate as shown by the arrows (See FIG. 13). 
Because sprocket 52 is connected by axle 55 to sprocket 61 and sprocket 54 
is connected by axle 56 to sprocket 53, the chain loop 59 must move in 
unison wish chain loop 60 (See FIGS. 12 and 15). Pin 22b with its' 
stationary sprocket serves as a fixed point for engaging one side of chain 
loop 59 in the same manner as pin 23b and sprocket 58 relate to chain loop 
60. As a result, any force used while moving the tailgate 26b between 
positions 1 and 2 will be transmitted equally to both sides of the 
tailgate. Tailgate 26b is thereby automatically kept in proper alignment 
relative to the truck bed side walls 13 and 14 (FIG. 1) while the tailgate 
is in transit between positions 1 and 2, preventing the tailgate from 
binding or jamming in a mis-aligned orientation between the truck bed side 
walls while the tailgate is being moved from position 1 to position 2 and 
vice versa. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant 
invention shall be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.