Tailgate assembly for open top load carrying container

A tailgate assembly for an open top load carrying container includes a tailgate for assuming the traditional closed and open configuration for dumping material from the container. The tailgate includes a venting aperture selectively closeable by a venting door movable between a closed and an open position, such that a substantial portion of the venting door is disposed within the container in the open position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a tailgate assembly for an open top load 
carrying container such as a truck or trailer, and more particularly, to a 
tailgate assembly having an apertured tailgate frame movable between 
traditional open and closed positions with respect to the container and a 
door movably connected to the tailgate frame for movement between a closed 
position to substantially preclude passage through the aperture and an 
open position to dispose the door substantially within the container. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Open top containers are frequently used for transporting materials. When 
the containers are full, the material prevents any substantial air flow 
from entering the container. However, when an empty open top container is 
in motion, air enters the container and acts against the inside or front 
of the rear of the container. As tailgates often define the rear of the 
containers, the tailgates act as a large air dam and create a substantial 
resistance to motion of the container. When such containers are 
transported by trucks or trailers this drag increases fuel consumption of 
the vehicle and adversely affects performance. 
A number of efforts have been made to reduce the drag of a closed tailgate 
in an empty open top container. These efforts have included increasing the 
aerodynamic configuration of the tailgate. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,063,772 to Kincaid discloses a tailgate vent through which the passage 
of air is permitted, in combination with a material shield positioned in 
the compartment extending downwardly from above the vent opening to 
adjacent the bottom of the vent opening for preventing material in the 
compartment from moving through the opening. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,265 to Mader discloses a tailgate movable between the 
conventional closed (vertical) position, the conventional open horizontal 
position, wherein the tailgate pivots about its lower edge on a horizontal 
axis to become substantially coplanar with the adjacent portion of the 
bed; and a third aerodynamic position wherein the tailgate is elevated and 
slid forward relative to the end of the bed. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,616 to Corner discloses a truck bed air flow director 
having an inclined surface for directing air flow from the compartment up 
and over a vertically oriented tailgate. 
The need still exists for a tailgate assembly in an open top load carrying 
compartment or dump body which allows an operator to configure the system 
in a relatively aerodynamic configuration. The need exists for a tailgate 
assembly that allows a tailgate, including large tailgates, to be readily 
disposed in a relatively aerodynamic configuration when the compartment is 
empty. The need also exists for a relatively aerodynamically configurable 
tailgate assembly which can maintain the integrity of the compartment when 
hauling material. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides a tailgate assembly for an open top load 
carrying container, wherein the tailgate assembly is configurable between 
a closed hauling or transport configuration and an open aerodynamic 
configuration. Generally, the present invention encompasses a tailgate 
assembly movable between the conventional closed vertical and open 
horizontal positions, wherein the tailgate assembly of the present 
invention is positionable to a relatively aerodynamic position such that a 
substantial portion of the tailgate assembly is disposed within the 
container. 
In a preferred embodiment, the tailgate assembly includes a tailgate frame 
movably connected to the container between an open and closed position by 
rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. The tailgate frame 
includes a venting aperture. A venting door is movably connected to the 
tailgate frame to be moveable between a closed position and an open 
position which is substantially within the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention is employed in an open top load 
carrying container 20. The container 20 may be wheeled as a dump body on a 
truck, or a trailed or trucked dump body. Alternatively, the container 20 
may be separate from a given wheel assembly to be operably connected to a 
second wheel assembly. In addition, the open top configuration may include 
a completely open top or a partially covered top. That is, portions of the 
container 20 may be covered. The container is sufficiently open such that 
an air flow is permitted to enter the open top of the container 20 and 
contact the interior of the container to create a resistance to movement. 
As shown, the load carrying container 20 includes a bottom 22 which may be 
a substantially planar rectangular bed, parallel upstanding sidewalls 24 
extending from the longer dimensions of the bottom which may be planar or 
configured, and a front wall 26 (not shown in drawings) which may be 
planar or configured. These walls are attached to each other to form a 
portion of the container 20. The tailgate assembly 40 forms a portion of 
the container 20 to complete the open top container, thereby forming an 
interior and an exterior to the container. The container 20 may include a 
rear wall which cooperates with the tailgate assembly 40. Alternatively, 
as shown, the tailgate assembly 40 may substantially form the rear end of 
the container 20. In the closed position, the bottom wall 22, sidewalls 
24, front wall 26, and tailgate assembly 40 form an open top container 20 
having an interior and an exterior. 
The tailgate assembly 40 includes a first portion, shown as a tailgate 
frame 44 rotatably mounted to the sidewalls 24 and/or the bottom wall 22 
to be movable between the conventional closed position as shown in FIG. 1, 
and an open position as shown in FIG. 4. In this open position, the 
tailgate frame 44 and hence assembly 40 rotate about its upper edge to 
allow the lower edge to rotate away from the rear end of the bottom wall 
22. 
Alternatively or additionally, as shown in FIG. 5 the tailgate frame 44 and 
hence assembly 40 may be rotatable about a second horizontal axis to 
provide a continuation of the bottom wall 22. In this configuration the 
tailgate assembly 40 forms a platform projecting from the rear of the 
container 20. That is, the tailgate frame 44 is moveable between a closed 
position defining a portion of the container sidewall and an open position 
substantially exterior to the container. 
The tailgate frame 44 includes a venting aperture 45. Although the 
periphery of the venting aperture 45 may be any of a variety of shapes, 
the venting aperture is preferably a square periphery within the tailgate 
frame. 
A venting door 50 is hingably attached to the tailgate frame 44. A piano 
hinge 52 is used to connect the venting door 50 to the tailgate frame 44. 
The hinge 52 is located on the container 20 so that the venting door 50 
may swing into the interior of the container. Although shown as hingably 
attached about a substantially vertical axis for ease of movement, it is 
contemplated the venting door 50 may be attached about a horizontal axis. 
Thus, the hinge 52 may have a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. 
The venting door 50 is thus movably connected to the tailgate frame 44 
between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the 
tailgate frame 44 and the venting door 50 form a substantially continuous 
surface and function as a traditional tailgate. In the open position, the 
venting door 50 is disposed substantially within the container 20. That 
is, the venting door 50 swings inwardly into the interior of the 
container, while the tailgate frame remains in the traditional closed 
position. 
The venting door 50 includes peripheral flanges 56 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 
3, sized to overlap a junction or gap 55 between the venting door and the 
tailgate frame 44. The flanges 56 are sized to cover any gap between the 
venting door 50 and the aperture periphery. The flanges 56 may be integral 
with the door 50 or fastened to the door by rivets, welds, or other 
mechanical fasteners. The flanges 56 assist in forming a substantially 
continuous surface between the venting door 50 and the tailgate frame 44 
in the closed position of the venting door. As the venting door 50 is 
moved from the open to the closed position, the flanges 56 occlude the 
intermediate gap 55 and make contact with the adjacent interior surface of 
the tailgate frame 44. 
A venting latch 60 having corresponding components on the interior of the 
container 20 and the venting door 50 is employed to selectively retain the 
venting door in the open position. The latch 60 releasably engages the 
venting door with the interior of the container to preclude unintended 
closure. As shown in FIG. 2, the latch includes an adjustable clasp 62 on 
the interior of the container 20. The venting door 50 includes a 
corresponding surface 64 to cooperatively engage the clasp 62. The latch 
60 may be operably located to releasably retain the venting door 50 in the 
open position upon rotation of the venting door about a vertical hinge 52 
or a horizontal hinge. 
A closing latch 70 is disposed on the tailgate frame 44 and venting door 50 
to releasably retain the venting door in the closed position with respect 
to the tailgate frame. 
It is contemplated that the tailgate assembly 40 may include a plurality of 
venting doors 50 for selectively closing a venting aperture 45; a 
plurality of venting apertures 45 and corresponding venting doors 50; or a 
plurality of venting apertures 45 and a single venting door 50 to occlude 
the apertures. Multiple doors may each be cooperatively associated with a 
unique aperture, or may cooperate in a single aperture. The venting doors 
50 may engage an adjacent door or an adjacent portion of the tailgate 
frame 44 to be retained in the closed position. In addition, corresponding 
latches may be added to retain the inwardly swinging venting doors 50 in 
the open position. 
Alternatively, the venting doors may each have a relatively reduced size. 
Preferably, the present venting aperture 45 has an area of at least 50% of 
the tailgate assembly 40, or rear end of the container. Subject to 
structural constraints, the aperture may be over 90% of the entire area of 
the tailgate. 
OPERATION 
For transporting material in the interior of the container 20, the venting 
door 50 is disposed and latched by latch 70 in the closed position to form 
a substantially continuous surface with the adjacent tailgate frame 44. 
The open top load carrying container functions in its traditional sense 
for hauling material. 
To dump material from the container 20, the tailgate frame 44 and venting 
door 50 remain as a single unit as the tailgate frame is pivoted about the 
upper horizontal axis to allow the material to be spilled as the bottom 
wall 22 is tilted. 
Upon voiding the material from the container 20, the tailgate frame 44 is 
latched in its closed configuration. The latch 70 is then released and the 
venting door 50 swung inward away from the tailgate aperture 45 to 
cooperatively engage the corresponding latch 60 in the interior of the 
container 20. Substantially the entire venting door 50 is thus disposed in 
the interior of the container 20. Preferably, the venting door 50 assumes 
a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the adjacent 
container wall. As the venting door 50 pivots about a vertical axis, the 
venting door is readily moveable to the interior of the container as the 
center of mass of the venting door remains in a given elevation. That is, 
the present invention maintains the center of mass of the tailgate 
assembly and venting door at a constant vertical elevation. Therefore, a 
single operator may readily dispose the tailgate assembly (and container) 
into a relatively aerodynamic configuration. 
As the container thus experiences air flow, the air may pass into the 
container through the open top and outwardly through the substantially 
unobstructed venting aperture. 
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently 
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed 
embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various 
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and 
scope of the appended claims which scope is to be accorded the broadest 
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent 
structures.