Full size tailgate step

An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rail assembly supported by a vehicle body, a tailgate coupled to the rail assembly and configured to slide on rails to an extended position relative to the vehicle body, and a pivot associated with the rails to allow the tailgate to pivot downwardly from the extended position to provide a step. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, sliding a tailgate to an extended position relative to a vehicle body and selectively pivoting the tailgate between a closed position, a tailgate deployed position, and a step position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to an exemplary apparatus and method of providing a full size tailgate step for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles such as pickup trucks, for example, include a cargo bed area that is used to transport various types of items. The vehicle typically includes a tailgate that encloses one end of the cargo bed area and which can be pivoted to an open position to provide access to the cargo bed area. When in the open position, cargo can be removed from, or loaded into, the cargo bed area. The cargo bed area is elevated relative to ground level, which can make access to cargo more difficult even when the tailgate is in the open position. Further, it is often necessary to climb into the cargo bed area to access items that are out of reach; however, due to the high ground clearance, ingress and egress can be difficult.

SUMMARY

An apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rail assembly supported by a vehicle body, a tailgate coupled to the rail assembly and configured to slide on rails to an extended position relative to the vehicle body, and a pivot associated with the rails to allow the tailgate to pivot downwardly from the extended position to provide a step.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing apparatus, the rail assembly comprises a plurality of rail members that are in a telescoping relationship with each other.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing apparatus, the pivot comprises a pivotal connection to at least one rail member.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the tailgate includes an external surface and an inner surface that faces a vehicle cargo bed when in a closed position, and wherein the inner surface provides a step surface when the tailgate is pivoted to a step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the step surface extends across an entire width and height of the tailgate and is generally parallel to ground level when in the step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the apparatus includes a latch that is selectively actuated to allow the tailgate to slide from a closed position to the extended position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the apparatus includes a load assist to provide assistance to move the tailgate between a closed position and a step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the load assist comprises a spring assembly mounted to the vehicle body.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the spring assembly is coupled to a cable that is wound around at least first and second pulleys, and including a stop moveable with the cable and that stops at the first pulley in the closed position and stops at the second pulley in the step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the cable is coupled to the tailgate and includes an attachment portion that is secured to the vehicle body to allow the tailgate to pivot to a tailgate deployed position that is between the closed position and step position, and wherein the attachment portion is released from the vehicle body to allow the cable to extend from the vehicle body to lower the tailgate to the step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the attachment portion comprises a loop, and including a post fixed to the vehicle body wherein the loop is coupled to the post when in the tailgate deployed position, and wherein the loop is detached from the post when in the step position.

A apparatus according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pair of rails supported on opposing sides of a vehicle body, a tailgate slidingly coupled to the rails, and a load assist to provide assistance to move the tailgate between a closed position, a tailgate deployed position, and a step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the tailgate slides on the rails to an extended position relative to the vehicle body, and including a pivot associated with the rails to allow the tailgate to pivot downwardly from the extended position to the step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, each rail comprises a plurality of rail members that are in a telescoping relationship with each other, and wherein the pivot comprises a pivotal connection to at least one rail member.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the apparatus includes a latch that is selectively actuated allow the tailgate to slide from the closed position to the extended position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the load assist comprises a spring assembly mounted to the vehicle body, a cable coupled to the spring assembly and which is wound around at least first and second pulleys, and a stop moveable with the cable to stop at the first pulley in the closed position and to stop at the second pulley in the step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing apparatus, the cable is coupled to the tailgate and includes an attachment portion that is secured to the vehicle body to allow the tailgate to pivot to the tailgate deployed position, and wherein the attachment portion is released from the vehicle body to allow the cable to extend from the vehicle body to lower the tailgate to the step position.

A method according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes the steps of, among other things: sliding a tailgate to an extended position relative to a vehicle body, and selectively pivoting the tailgate between a closed position, a tailgate deployed position, and a step position.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing method, the method includes providing a load assist with a spring and cable assembly to move the tailgate between the closed, tailgate deployed, and step positions. In a further non-limiting embodiment of either of the foregoing methods, the method includes selectively locking the tailgate to the vehicle body to prevent the tailgate from being moved to the extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure details exemplary apparatus and methods of providing a full size tailgate step for a vehicle. These and other features are discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs of this detailed description.

FIG. 1shows a pick-up truck10having a cargo bed area12that is defined by a pair of side walls14, a front wall16, and a tailgate18. The tailgate18is moveable between a closed position (FIG. 2), a normal tailgate deployed or open position (FIG. 1), and a step position (FIG. 8) where the tailgate is lowered closer to ground level20to provide a step into the cargo bed area12. When in the closed position, the tailgate18encloses one end of the cargo bed area12to prevent items from sliding out from the truck10. The tailgate18is pivoted from the closed position to the open position to provide access to the cargo bed area12. When in the open position cargo and be loaded and unloaded from the truck10.

As shown inFIG. 1, the cargo bed area12is elevated relative to ground level20. This can make access to cargo more difficult even when the tailgate18is in the open position. Further, the elevated height of the tailgate18can be problematic if it is necessary to climb into the cargo bed area12to access items that are out of reach and closer to the front wall16of the truck10. To address these issues, an apparatus22is provided that allows the tailgate18to be pivoted and lowered close to ground level20to provide a step. The tailgate18has an external surface24and an internal surface26that faces the cargo bed area12when in the closed position. When pivoted and lowered into the step position, the entire internal surface26of the tailgate18is generally parallel to ground level20to provide a full-size step into the cargo bed area.

This apparatus22is shown in greater deal inFIGS. 2-11. The apparatus22includes a rail assembly30that is supported by a vehicle body32as shown inFIG. 2. In one example, the rail assembly30is mounted at the sides of the truck10underneath the bottom bed of the cargo area12and/or within the side walls14of the truck12in a cavity between inner and outer body panels that form the side wall14. The rail assembly30is comprised of a plurality of rail members or portions that are arranged in a telescoping relationship with each other to allow the tailgate18to be extended away from the truck10.FIG. 2shows the tailgate18in the closed position with the rail assembly30in a fully retracted position.

It should be understood that whileFIG. 2shows a rail assembly30positioned on one side of the truck10, a corresponding rail assembly30of similar construction is positioned on an opposite side of the truck10such that opposing sides of the tailgate18can slide outwardly from the truck10in a balanced manner.

FIG. 2also shows a latch mechanism28that is selectively actuated to allow the tailgate18to slide away from the side walls14via the rail assembly30to the extended position. In one example, the latch mechanism28comprises a bracket34that is mounted for movement with the tailgate18.FIG. 3shows an enlarged view of the bracket34with the tailgate18removed for the purpose of clarity. In one example, the bracket34comprises a flat body that is elongated in a vertical direction to extend along an edge of the tailgate18. The flat body includes a notch36that cooperates with a lever38that is mounted to the vehicle body32. The lever38is selectively moveable between a first position40and a second position42. In the first position40, the lever38is received within the notch36to prevent the tailgate18from sliding outwardly from the vehicle body32. In the second position42, the lever38is released from the notch36to allow the tailgate18to slide to the extended position.

FIG. 4shows a position where the latch mechanism28has been released and the tailgate18is moving to the extended position. As discussed above, the rail assembly30is comprised of a plurality of rail members or portions that are arranged in a telescoping relationship with each other.FIGS. 4-5show an example configuration where the rail assembly30includes at least a first rail44, a second rail46, and a third rail48. The first rail44is held fixed to the vehicle body32and includes a slot50that receives a pin52that is coupled to the second rail46which is telescoped within the first rail44. The second rail46slides outwardly from the first rail44until the pin52hits an end of the slot50to define a stop position for the second rail46as shown inFIG. 4.

The third rail48is telescoped within the second rail44and slides outwardly from the second rail44to the fully extended position shown inFIG. 5. The second rail46includes a slot54that receives a pin56(FIG. 6) that is coupled to the third rail48. The third rail48slides outwardly from the second rail46until the pin56hits an end of the slot54to define a stop position for the third rail48.

The apparatus22further includes a pivot58that is associated with the rail assembly30to allow the tailgate18to pivot downwardly from the extended position to provide the step. In one example best shown inFIGS. 5-6, the pivot58comprises a pivot connection formed within the third rail48. The third rail48includes a first portion60that is held within the second rail46and a second portion62that extends outwardly of, and pivots relative to, the second rail46. The first portion60includes a protrusion64that is received within a slot66formed within the second portion62. A pivot pin68couples the second portion62to the protrusion64to allow the second portion62to pivot relative to the first portion60.

As best shown inFIG. 5, a distal end of the third rail48is coupled to the tailgate18via the bracket34of the latch mechanism28. Thus, as the third rail48pivots relative to the second rail46the entire tailgate18is lowered to provide the step as shown inFIG. 7. The step surface26extends across an entire width and height of the tailgate18to provide a full or maximum allowable step area.

In one example shown inFIG. 8, a bumper70provides a stop for the pivoting third rail48such that the tailgate18is generally parallel to ground level20(FIG. 1) when in the step position. The bumper70further provides stability for the step during use.

As shown inFIG. 9, the apparatus22also includes a load assist72to provide assistance to move the tailgate18between the closed position, normal tailgate open position, and step position. The load assist72is mounted within the side wall14in a cavity formed between the inner and outer body panels. In one example, the load assist72includes a coil/recoil spring80that is mounted to the vehicle body32. A cable82is coupled to the spring80and is wound around a first pulley84and a second pulley86. A distal end88of the cable82is coupled to the tailgate18.

In one example configuration, the first pulley84is mounted near a floor90of the cargo bed area12and the second pulley86is mounted near a top of the side wall14of the cargo bed area12. The second pulley86is positioned axially aft of the first pulley84. The first pulley84includes a first stop bracket92and the second pulley86includes a second stop bracket94. A stop96is fixed for movement with the cable82as the spring80coils/recoils to assist movement of the tailgate18between the various positions. As indicated at98, the stop96engages the first stop bracket92when the tailgate18is in the closed position, and the stop96engages the second stop bracket94when the tailgate18is in the step position as indicated at100. A magnified view of the stop96in the step position is shown inFIG. 9A.

In one example, each of the first92and second94stop brackets comprise a L-shaped body100with a curved recess102, and the stop96comprises a ball that is fixed to the cable82. The stop ball96moves with the cable82between the first92and second94stop brackets and sits within the respective curved recess102when in the closed or fully deployed step positions.

The load assist72also includes an attachment portion110that is secured to the vehicle body32to allow the tailgate18to pivot to the normal tailgate deployed position as indicated at112. The attachment portion110is released from the vehicle body32to allow the cable82to extend from the vehicle body32to lower the tailgate18to the step position as indicated at114(dashed cable).

In one example shown inFIGS. 10-11, the attachment portion110comprises a loop structure116that cooperates with a protrusion or post118that is fixed to the vehicle body32. The loop structure116connects cable portions82a,82btogether. The loop structure116is coupled to the post118when in the tailgate deployed position as shown inFIG. 10. The loop structure116is detached from the post118as shown inFIG. 11, which allows cable portion82ato extend outwardly from vehicle body32to allow the tailgate to be lowered into the fully deployed or step position as shown inFIG. 9.

The subject invention provides a tailgate assembly18that slides rearwardly on a pair of rail assemblies30with articulating arms/rails to lower the tailgate18to a desired ingress/egress height that is generally parallel to the ground20. The entire tailgate18is used as a step, which provides for sure footing and a proper height to step from the ground20to the tailgate step, and then from the step into the cargo bed area12if necessary. The load assist72lessens the full weight of the tailgate assembly18for the user as the tailgate18travels between the various operational positions.