Abstract:
A tailgate shoveling apparatus includes a containment bed mounted on a vehicle for contained material therein, and a tailgate shoveling platform pivotably attached proximate an end of the containment bed. The tailgate shoveling platform pivots between two positions rotationally offset by substantially more than 90 degrees in relation to each other. The tailgate shoveling platform substantially prevents material from spilling out of the containment bed in a first position. In a second position, the tailgate shoveling platform provides a platform configured to hold a portion of the material contained in the containment bed at an ergonomic shoveling height relative to a user standing on ground level. Once a desired amount of material has been removed from the platform, the tailgate shoveling platform may return unused material back into the containment bed as the tailgate shoveling platform moves back into the first position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The field of this disclosure relates generally to a tailgate for a vehicle having a containment bed, and particularly, to a tailgate functioning as a shoveling apparatus for holding material from the containment bed. 
         [0002]    Roadway surfaces require maintenance to repair wear and tear resulting from traffic, weather, and other factors. These roadways are typically repaired using asphalt, gravel, or other similar materials. It has long been common practice to load the repair material onto a truck bed, drive the truck to the location, and disperse a quantity of the repair material from the truck bed onto the ground either by using a worker with a shovel standing on or near the containment bed to move the repair material or by using a device to dispense quantities of repair material onto the ground. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,402 of Jones describes a material containment bed having a material distribution opening and a patching pan rotatably and detachably mounted below the material containment bed for receiving the material through the distribution opening. Once the material is removed from the patching pan, the pan is rotated back to a storage position underneath the truck to allow the truck to move freely. Other examples of similar or related apparatuses or attachments for unloading material from a containment bed may be found in the prior art. 
         [0003]    The present inventor has recognized various disadvantages with currently available apparatuses and methods for repairing road surfaces, including: having a worker manually remove material from the back of a containment bed, which requires considerable physical exertion by the worker that may result in back problems or repetitive-stress injuries; requiring the worker to stand inside, near, or on the walls of the containment bed, which may pose an increased risk of injury, such as injury from falling; and requiring the worker to stand in a containment bed and work with heated mixtures, which may lead to an increased susceptibility of burn injuries. 
         [0004]    The present inventor has also recognized that currently available devices do not provide for a fine control of the amount of material that is removed from the containment bed. Typical devices receive a largely uncontrolled amount of material from the containment bed and lack a mechanism for easily returning any unused material back into the containment bed for future use. Additionally, the present inventor has recognized that current devices usually require significant modifications to the vehicle body or require additional space on the vehicle for mounting, thereby compromising the versatility of the vehicle. 
         [0005]    The present inventor has identified a need for a tailgate shoveling apparatus that provides relatively safe and easy access to a material contained in a containment bed without requiring significant modifications to a vehicle body or compromising vehicle versatility. The present inventor has also identified a need for a shoveling platform that contains a portion of a material from a containment bed and lowers such a portion to a comfortable shoveling height, thereby reducing injury risk and providing safe access to the material. Additionally, the inventor has identified a need for a shoveling platform that facilitates conserving material and returning unused material back into the containment bed for future use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for one or more of improved removal of material from a containment bed, improved shoveling of material from a containment bed, and/or improved return of unused material to a containment bed. In certain preferred apparatuses and/or methods, a tailgate shoveling platform contains material in a containment bed in a closed (first) position, holds a portion of such material at an ergonomic shoveling placement in an open (second) position, and returns unused material to the containment bed when moving from the open position to the closed position. 
         [0007]    For example, one embodiment includes a containment bed mounted on a vehicle for containing material therein, and a tailgate shoveling platform pivotably attached to an end of the containment bed. The tailgate shoveling platform pivots between two positions rotationally offset from each other by substantially more than 90 degrees. In a closed position, the tailgate shoveling platform contains material in a containment bed to prevent material from spilling. In an open position, the tailgate shoveling platform provides a platform that holds a portion of a material from the containment bed at an ergonomic shoveling placement. In such a position, the tailgate shoveling platform is spaced apart from the ground at a height for convenient and safe access to the material. Once a desired amount of material has been removed from the shoveling platform, the tailgate shoveling platform may dump unused material back into the containment bed as the tailgate shoveling platform returns to the closed position. 
         [0008]    In another exemplary embodiment, the tailgate shoveling platform includes an upper panel and a lower panel adjoined in an angular configuration in relation to each other, with each panel having a substantially planar surface. The tailgate shoveling platform holds a portion of a material by locating the lower panel substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the ground when the tailgate shoveling platform is in an open position. Additionally, the tailgate shoveling platform may include a lip extending from an end of the lower panel to help prevent spilling as the material is loaded onto and unloaded off of the tailgate shoveling platform. 
         [0009]    Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a tailgate shoveling apparatus illustrating a tailgate shoveling platform attached to an end of a containment bed in accordance with one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic view of a heating system located underneath the containment bed of the tailgate shoveling apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the tailgate shoveling apparatus of  FIG. 1  mounted on a vehicle with the tailgate shoveling platform in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the mounted tailgate shoveling apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the tailgate shoveling platform in an open position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial view of the mounted tailgate shoveling platform of  FIG. 1  illustrating the containment bed in a tilted position for helping move a material contained in the containment bed onto the tailgate shoveling platform. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The described features, structures, characteristics, and methods may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of the disclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0016]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , in one example operation, a vehicle  105  with a tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  may be used to contain gravel, asphalt, or other road repair material (not shown) in a containment bed  20  and haul that material to a work site. Once at the work site, the material may be unloaded by tilting the containment bed  20  to move the contained material toward a tailgate shoveling platform  25  located along a containment bed end  35 . The tailgate shoveling platform  25  may then be lowered from a closed position to an open position to present a portion of the material to a user at a comfortable shoveling height. The user can then remove material from tailgate the shoveling platform  25  as needed to repair the road. Afterward, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  can be returned to its closed position and any unused material remaining on the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is returned to the containment bed  20  for future use. The vehicle  105  can then be driven to another work site. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-3  collectively illustrate an example embodiment of a tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  mounted on a vehicle  105  with a tailgate shoveling platform  25  shown in the open and closed position. With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , in a preferred embodiment, the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  includes a containment bed  20  for containing a material therein having a right interior wall  15  and an opposing left interior wall  115 . The interior walls  15 ,  115  have a substantially smooth surface tapering toward a containment bed floor  22  to help direct material toward the center of the containment bed  20 . The tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  further includes a tailgate shoveling platform  25  configured to hold a portion of the material in the containment bed  20  when the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is in the open position. The tailgate shoveling platform  25  includes an upper panel  30  and a lower panel  40  each having a substantially planar surface, with a first end of the upper panel  30  pivotably attached to the containment bed  20  along a containment bed end  35  and an opposing second end of the upper panel  30  adjoining a first end of the lower panel  40  in an angular configuration. The tailgate shoveling platform  25  may be attached to the containment bed  20  via a hinge, such as hinge  36 , or using other suitable devices. The lower panel  40  includes a lip  55  extending from an opposing second end of the lower panel  40 . The lip  55  helps contain material in the lower panel  40  of the tailgate shoveling platform  25 . 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  further includes a left side wall  45  and an opposing right side wall  50 , each extending substantially perpendicular in relation to the upper panel  30 , the lower panel  40 , and the lip  55  for further aiding in containing the material in the tailgate shoveling platform  25 . The tailgate shoveling platform  25  also includes a left triangular panel  60  and a right triangular panel  65 , connected between a left side wall  45  and the upper panel  30  and between a right side wall  50  and the upper panel  30 , respectively. The triangular panels  60 ,  65  may also be attached to the containment bed  20  via a rod  37 , such as by welding or using another suitable attachment method. The triangular panels  60 ,  65  are each spaced apart from and each extend over at least a corresponding left and right portion of the upper panel  30 , respectively. 
         [0019]    In a preferred arrangement, the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  includes a mechanical system, such as a hydraulic system  80 , for moving the tailgate shoveling platform  25  between the open position and the closed position. Such a mechanical system is preferably housed between the interior walls  15 ,  115  and an exterior wall  110  of vehicle  105 . The hydraulic system  80  includes a left linkage  70  and a right linkage  75  operatively connected to the side walls  45 ,  50 , respectively, for moving the tailgate shoveling platform  25  between the open position and the closed position. The interior walls  15 ,  115  of the containment bed  20  each include a substantially planar triangular left face  85  and right face  90  facing rearward toward the tailgate shoveling platform  25  and dimensioned substantially similar to the triangular panels  60 ,  65  of the tailgate shoveling platform  25 . A first opening  95  and a second opening  100  are located adjacent the triangular faces  85 ,  90 , respectively, and are sized to house the linkages  70 ,  75  between the interior walls  15 ,  115  and the exterior wall  110  of the vehicle  105 . 
         [0020]    When the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is in the closed position, the linkages  70 ,  75  are housed inside openings  95 ,  100  and between the interior walls  15 ,  115  and the exterior wall  110  of the vehicle  105 . Additionally, the triangular panels  60 ,  65  are substantially flush against the triangular faces  85 ,  90 , thereby substantially sealing the containment bed  20  and greatly reducing or eliminating spillage of material from the containment bed  20 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tailgate shoveling platform  25  preferably rotates in a range of motion substantially more than  90  degrees between the open and closed position such that the open position is rotationally offset by more than 90 degrees in relation to the closed position. In some embodiments, the tailgate shoveling platform 25 may rotate approximately 150 degrees between the open and closed position. Other embodiments may include the tailgate shoveling platform  25  rotating in a range of motion anywhere between 90 and 180 degrees between the open and closed position. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIG. 1A , the containment bed  20  preferably includes a heating system  120  including a built-in heat exchanger  125  fluidly circulating engine coolant to heat the containment bed  20  and the material contained therein. The heating system  120  further includes a manifold  130  and a series of hoses  135 ,  140 ,  145 , and  150  connecting the manifold  130  to a 3-way valve  155  and a vehicle engine (not shown). In operation, engine coolant travels from the engine through hose  135 , enters 3-way valve  155 , continues through hose  140  and enters manifold  130 . The coolant then continues from manifold  130  through heat exchanger  125  and returns to manifold  130 . Thereafter, the coolant returns through hose  150 , enters 3-way valve  155 , continues through hose  145 , and returns to the engine. As the engine coolant flows through the containment bed  20 , it heats the containment bed  20  and, consequently, heats the material contained therein. The 3-way valve  155  controls the flow of engine coolant from the engine to the manifold  130 . If material on the containment bed  20  has already reached proper heating or does not need any heating, the 3-way valve  155  may be shut off to stop the flow of engine coolant to the containment bed  20 . For reducing heat loss, the heating system may include high-density elastomeric insulation, such as insulation, for example, surrounding the hoses  140  and  150 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the dimensions of the containment bed  20  and the interior walls  15 ,  115  may be adapted to fit the bed of any suitable vehicle. Additionally, the interior walls  15 ,  115  may include other suitable angular orientations with respect to the containment bed floor  22 , for example, substantially perpendicular in relation to the containment bed floor  22 . In such embodiments, the triangular faces  85 ,  90  and the triangular panels  60 ,  65  may include other shapes, such as a square shape or other suitable shape for helping seal off the containment bed  20 . 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  including the upper and lower panels  30 ,  40 , the side walls  45 ,  50 , the lip  55 , and the triangular panels  60 ,  65  may be constructed from a unitary piece of material, or the individual parts, or a subcombination thereof, may be welded, fastened together, or otherwise attached together using known attachment means. Further, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may not include the triangular panels  60 ,  65  or lip  55 . 
         [0024]    In yet other embodiments, the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  may include a suitable mechanical system for moving the tailgate shoveling platform  25  between an open and closed position. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3-4  illustrate the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  mounted on the vehicle  105  with the tailgate shoveling platform  25  in an open position. When the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is in an open position, the lower panel  40  of the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is preferably substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the ground, thereby providing a platform at a comfortable height within an ergonomic area between a person&#39;s knees and shoulders commonly referred to as the “safe lifting zone.” In such a placement, a person can safely and easily shovel, or otherwise unload, material from the tailgate shoveling platform  25  with reduced exertion. Preferably, the “safe lifting zone” ranges from about 1 foot for knee height to 6 feet for shoulder height to accommodate a person measuring between 5′0″ and 7′0″ in height. 
         [0026]    In other embodiments, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may be adjusted to different shoveling heights, including contacting the ground, to accommodate the height and “safe lifting zone” of a person. 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates the containment bed  20  in a tilted position and the tailgate shoveling platform  25  in an open position. The tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  preferably includes a hydraulic system (not shown) operatively connected to the containment bed  20  and configured to tilt the containment bed  20  for helping move material into the tailgate shoveling platform  25 . In other embodiments, the containment bed  20  may be tilted using a mechanical system or other known systems. 
         [0028]    In a preferred operation, while the containment bed  20  is tilted, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  remains in the closed position to help prevent spillage. As the containment bed  20  is tilted, material slides toward tailgate shoveling platform  25 . Once the containment bed  20  has been tilted to a desired degree and a desired amount of material has been moved toward the tailgate shoveling platform  25 , the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is opened, causing material to slide from the containment bed  20  into the lower panel  40 . The tailgate shoveling platform  25  is opened until it is spaced apart from the ground at a comfortable shoveling height for a worker. Thereafter, material can be shoveled or otherwise removed as needed. Once the desired amount of material has been removed, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is returned to its closed position and any material remaining in the tailgate shoveling platform  25  is automatically returned to the containment bed  20  for future use. The containment bed  20  may then be tilted down to its original horizontal position. 
         [0029]    In some instances, depending on the amount and type of material contained in the containment bed  20 , the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may be moved to an open position, thereby moving material to the lower panel  40  as the containment bed  20  is tilted. In other instances, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may be opened partially to allow some material to move into the lower panel  40 , then the containment bed  20  may be tilted down partially or fully returned to its original horizontal position to prevent spillage or too much material from falling into the tailgate shoveling platform  25 , and the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may thereafter be opened fully to a comfortable shoveling height. In yet other instances, a shovel or other tool may be used to help move material from the containment bed  20  into the tailgate shoveling platform  25 . 
         [0030]    While the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  is described herein with reference to road repair and related uses, the tailgate shoveling apparatus  10  may be used for a variety of other applications. For instance, the tailgate shoveling platform  25  may be used to load and unload heavy appliances, equipment, or other items into and out of the containment bed  20 . 
         [0031]    It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.