Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for closing a vehicle storage compartment. The apparatus includes: a housing which resembles a tailgate of a vehicle and wherein the housing has one or more loading surfaces. The loading surfaces can be removed from the tailgate, placed into a loading position and used for loading items into or out of a vehicle storage compartment. Thereafter, the loading surfaces may be transformed into a storage position and placed within the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Serial No. 60/306,676, filed on Jul. 20, 2001 and entitled “INTEGRATED TAILGATE AND LOADING RAMPS FOR LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS”. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    This invention relates to systems and methods for loading objects into a pickup truck and wherein the ramps are stored in the tailgate.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Pickup trucks and similar vehicles having truck beds are frequently used to transport objects, such as motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, tractors, mowers, and the like. There has been a continuous effort since the advent of vehicles with truck beds to produce an efficient means of transferring these objects from the ground to the truck bed.  
           [0004]    Early prior art solutions utilized ramps, which were designed to be carried within the truck bed. However, this type of design wasted usable space in the truck bed and added significant weight to the vehicle, thereby reducing the effective load capacity of the truck.  
           [0005]    Another prior art solution to this problem focused on combining the tailgate of the truck and ramps. The complexity in design of combination tailgate and ramp systems has ranged from simple designs consisting of large, cumbersome tailgates that unfold to form a ramp to intricate designs involving telescopic ramps that are housed within a tailgate.  
           [0006]    Other devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,483, issued to Fulton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,437, issued to Gerulf, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,564, issued to Thayer, address the load capacity problem by pivoting a panel located in the position of a conventional tailgate about its vertical axis then rotating the panel 90 degrees so the height of the panel rests along the horizontal axis of the assembled configuration. The panel is then lowered to create a surface that runs from the ground to the rear edge of the truck bed. One problem with this design is that the length of the ramp is restricted to the width of the truck bed. Therefore, the ramp is steeply inclined resulting in a higher degree of difficulty in transferring objects to and from the truck bed.  
           [0007]    Other devices, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,584 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,432, both issued to McCleary, involve a relatively large apparatus that attaches to the original tailgate and unfolds rearward to form a ramp. While these designs adequately address the issue of ramp length, they are large and rather cumbersome devices that tend to reduce the effective loading capacity of the truck by adding weight to the truck and taking up space in the truck bed.  
           [0008]    Two devices, U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,335, issued to Belnap, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,149, issued to Boone, adequately address both the ramp length issue and the loading capacity issue by using telescopic ramps that are stored within the tailgate. To use these devices, the tailgate is lowered to the horizontal position and telescopic ramps are horizontally pulled out of the tailgate. These ramps form a surface that runs from the ground to the truck bed, The devices are contained within the area typically occupied by a conventional tailgate; therefore, the loading capacity of the truck is only marginally affected, if at all. Additionally, the telescopic ramps allow a relatively longer ramp surface, which results in a more gradual ramp incline. However, the telescopic design of the ramps results in a very complex apparatus. Additionally, because these devices are permanently attached to the vehicle, the vehicle&#39;s utility is restricted to tasks that can be achieved while the tailgate is in place.  
           [0009]    Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus comprised of long and relatively simply designed ramps and a tailgate capable of housing these ramps so as not to decrease the loading capacity of the truck. Moreover, there is a need for an apparatus that may be easily converted to allow the vehicle to be used in operations that normally require the removal of the tailgate. Finally, the apparatus must maintain a close resemblance to a conventional tailgate, thereby helping to maintain the aesthetic qualities of the vehicle.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a tailgate and a pair of detachable ramps that can be folded and stored within the tailgate are provided. When housed within the tailgate, the ramps stretch across the width of the tailgate. This configuration allows the ramps to be relatively long, which reduces the degree of inclination of the ramps, with respect to the ground, when the ramps are unfolded and in the loading position.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the ramps are detachable, thus, increasing the utility of the vehicle.  
           [0012]    Preferably, the ramps may be positioned at various points along the base of the tailgate to accommodate objects of various shapes and sizes.  
           [0013]    In an alternative embodiment, the ramps are removed from the tailgate to allow the vehicle to accommodate a fifth wheel RV without removing the entire tailgate.  
           [0014]    In yet another embodiment, the ramps are removed from the tailgate and replaced by a grate or mesh structure to form an airgate. The replacement of conventional tailgates with airgates is well known in the art.  
           [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, the tailgate is located in the conventional position and uses a conventional latching mechanism.  
           [0016]    In yet another embodiment, the ramps are secured within the tailgate space.  
           [0017]    In still another embodiment of the present invention, a hinged plate and a protruding lip fix the ramps within the tailgate.  
           [0018]    Preferably, when the ramps are stored within the tailgate, the resultant apparatus closely resembles a conventional tailgate.  
           [0019]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the ramps are comprised of two portions, an upper portion and a lower portion. The ramps are configured in a way that allows the lower portion of the ramp to be folded into the upper portion of the ramp. A c-channel is attached to the upper portion of each ramp. When the ramps are unfolded, the c-channel may be attachable to the base of the tailgate to form sturdy, gradually inclining ramps. The ramps may be positioned anywhere along the base of the tailgate, which allows the ramps to be used to easily load and unload objects of various shapes and sizes.  
           [0020]    In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the invention may be easily configured to accommodate a fifth wheel RV. By removing both ramps, a large portion of the tailgate is open, which allows sufficient room for a fifth wheel RV to be hitched to the vehicle.  
           [0021]    In yet another embodiment, the ramps may be removed and replaced by a grate or mesh structure, thereby improving gas mileage.  
           [0022]    These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in combination with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 a  is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in a closed and vertical position with two ramps, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 b  is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in a closed and vertical position with one ramp, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in a closed and vertical position with one ramp removed, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in an open and horizontal position, in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a latching mechanism, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of an apparatus shown in an open and horizontal position with ramps removed, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus shown in an open and horizontal position with ramps stored in a tailgate housing, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in a closed and vertical position with ramps removed, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in an open and horizontal position with ramps being attached to the apparatus to form an inclined surface extending from a ground surface to a truckbed of the vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in an open and horizontal position with ramps being attached to the apparatus to form an inclined surface extending from a ground surface to a truckbed of the vehicle, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 11 and 12 are bottom views of a ramp in an unfolded position, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 is a side view of a ramp in a folded position, in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a hinged portion of a ramp, in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 is a rear view of a vehicle illustrating an apparatus shown in a closed and vertical position with a grate or mesh structure instead of a ramp inserted in the tailgate housing, in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0036]    Referring now to FIG. 1 a,  an apparatus  20  is illustrated, in accordance with the present invention. Apparatus  20  includes a housing  22  and generally two ramps  24  and  26 . Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1 b,  one ramp  25  may be used. The apparatus  20  is convertible from a tailgate to a ramp by simply lowering apparatus  20  into a horizontal position, removing ramps  24  and  26  from housing  22 , unfolding ramps  24  and  26 , and attaching the upper ends of ramps  24  and  26  to housing  22 . This creates an inclined surface extending from the ground to a truckbed of a vehicle.  
         [0037]    In FIGS.  2 - 3 , apparatus  20  is shown pivotally attached to a vehicle. Housing  22 , as shown, has a housing base  28 , side portions  30  and  30 ′, retainers  32  and  32 ′, and a ramp-housing receptacle  38 . The function of the housing base  28  is to support ramps  24  and  26  both when ramps  24  and  26  are stored in the housing, as shown in FIG. 1, and when ramps  24  and  26  are being used as ramps (shown in FIGS. 9 and 10).  
         [0038]    In addition to providing support for ramps  24  and  26 , housing base  28  includes retainer latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′ for securing retainers  32  and  32 ′, which, in turn, secure ramps  24  and  26  within receptacle  38 . Latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′ are substantially identical, and are located at opposite sides  27  and  29  of housing base  28 . As shown schematically in FIG. 4, latch mechanism  40 ′ includes a latch lever  42 ′ and a latching rod  44 ′. Latch mechanism  40 ′ is of the type conventionally used in residential or commercial doors. Plate  32 ′ may be secured in a closed position by activating lever  42 ′ causing rod  44 ′ to penetrate an eyelet  36 ′ in retainer  32 ′.  
         [0039]    Housing base  28  and latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′, like the rest of housing  22 , are preferably constructed from steel to maximize strength and durability. Alternatively, any other suitable material, such as aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, metal alloys, or composites, may be used to construct housing base  28  and latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′, or any other parts of housing  22 .  
         [0040]    With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, side portions  30  and  30 ′ of housing  22  having surfaces  55  and  55 ′ are illustrated. Extending inward from surfaces  55  and  55 ′ is an outer edge lip  50  and  50 ′, an upper edge lip  52  and  52 ′, and an inner edge lip  54  and  54 ′, which secure ramps  24  and  26  within receptacle  38  of housing  22 .  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of tailgate latches  46  and  46 ′ are attached to side portions  30  and  30 ′ for securing housing  22  in a closed vertical position. Apparatus  20  is placed in the closed position by pushing housing  22  into a vertical position causing latches  46  and  46 ′ to engage locking brackets  51  and  51 ′ (shown in FIG. 3) on the vehicle. Latches  46  and  46 ′ may be disengaged by pulling a tailgate latch lever  48 , which is preferably coupled to latches  46  and  46 ′ by a cable and/or mechanical linkages in a conventional manner. Lever  48  is preferably located on side portion  30 ′, as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, lever  48  may be located at any other suitable location on housing  22 . Tailgate latches  46  and  46 ′ discussed above may be conventional tailgate latch items that are known in the art.  
         [0042]    Support members  47  and  47 ′ are provided for supporting apparatus  20  when in a horizontal position. Support members  47  and  47 ′ are fixed at one end to housing  22  and at the other end to the vehicle.  
         [0043]    Retainers  32  and  32 ′, as illustrated in FIG. 7, function to secure ramps  24  and  26  when ramps  24  and  26  are stored within receptacle  38  of housing  22 . Retainers  32  and  32 ′ are mirror images of one another, and are placed on opposite ends of housing  22 . Plates  32  and  32 ′ are attached to side portions  30  and  30 ′ by hinges  34  and  34 ′. Hinges  34  and  34 ′ allow plates  32  and  32 ′ to pivot about edges  49  and  49 ′ of plates  32  and  32 ′, respectively, which allows ramps  24  and  26  to be inserted and removed from receptacle  38  of housing  22  or secured within receptacle  38  of housing  22 . As discussed above, plates  32  and  32 ′ contain eyelets  36  and  36 ′, which act to secure plates  32  and  32 ′ in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 7, when latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′ are activated.  
         [0044]    As shown in FIG. 8, receptacle  38  is defined by a top surface of housing base  28  and sides  53  and  53 ′ of side portions  30  and  30 ′. The function of receptacle  38  is to allow for storage of ramps  24  and  26  within housing  22 . Ramps  24  and  26  rest within receptacle  38  when stored in housing  22 , as shown in FIG. 1. Receptacle  38  is preferably configured to hold two ramps. Alternatively, receptacle  38  may be configured to hold more or less than two ramps.  
         [0045]    As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, ramps  24  and  26  provide an inclined surface for objects to be rolled or dragged onto the truckbed of the vehicle. Preferably, ramps  24  and  26  are identical. Ramps  24  and  26  each have two main sections, an upper ramp section  56  and  56 ′ and a lower ramp section  58  and  58 ′.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 11, upper ramp section  56  includes a surface plate  66 , a middle beam  60 , side frames  70  and  72 , and a c-channel  76 . Upper ramp section  56  is connected to the lower ramp section  58  by a hinge pin  74 .  
         [0047]    Lower ramp section  58 , as illustrated in FIG. 12, includes a surface plate  68  and side beams  62  and  64 . Ramp  24  or  26 , as shown in FIG. 12, is designed in such a way that middle beam  60  of upper ramp section  56  and side beams  62  and  64  of lower ramp section  58  overlap, thereby forming a hinge when secured by hinge pin  74 , which runs through the width of the middle and side beams. Hinge pin  74  allows ramp  24  or  26  to be unfolded, as seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, and folded, as seen in FIG. 13.  
         [0048]    As illustrated in FIG. 13, when the ramps  24  and  26  are folded the side beams  62  and  64  lie between the middle beam  60  and the side frames  70  and  72 , respectively. This configuration minimizes the width of ramps  24  and  26  and allows ramps  24  and  26  to fit within receptacle  38 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0049]    As shown in FIG. 14, the hinged ends of beams  62  and  64  are rounded to enable ramp  24  or  26  to be folded and unfolded without surface plate  66  impeding the rotation of side beams  62  and  64 . Ramps  24  and  26  are equipped with a stabilizing pin  78  and a stabilizing slot  80 . When the ramps are unfolded, pin  78  fits into slot  80 . This configuration allows pin  78  to bear some of the load, which increases the strength and stability of the ramps.  
         [0050]    Ramps  24  and  26  are preferably constructed from aluminum to minimize weight. Alternatively, ramps  24  and  26  may be constructed from any suitable material, such as steel, plastic, fiberglass, metal alloys, or composites.  
         [0051]    Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus  20 , which is easily converted from a tailgate to a ramp. In operation, housing  22  is lowered into a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 3. Retainers  32  and  32 ′ are then opened by disengaging latch mechanisms  40  and  40 ′ located within housing base  28  and pivoting retainers  32  and  32 ′ about the edges  49  and  49 ′, respectively, to an open position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Ramps  24  and  26  are then removed by lifting the ramp  24  or  26  nearest housing base  28  out of receptacle  38 , then sliding the remaining ramp  24  or  26  toward housing base  28  and lifting that ramp out of receptacle  38 . Ramps  24  and  26  are unfolded after they have been removed from receptacle  38 . C-channels  76  and  76 ′ of ramps  24  and  26 , which are integral with a top edge of each of upper ramp sections  56  and  56 ′, may then be connected to housing base  28  to form a ramp, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This procedure may be reversed to convert the apparatus  20  from a ramp to a tailgate.  
         [0052]    In FIG. 15, housing  22  is utilized for purposes other than storing ramps  24  and  26 . A grate or mesh  82  is a lattice structure. Grate or mesh  82  can be constructed of steel, aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, metal alloys, or any other suitable materials. The dimensions of grate or mesh  82  are similar to ramps  24  and  26  when the ramps  24  and  26  are folded and in their storage position. Grate or mesh  82  is placed inside of housing  22  in the same fashion that ramps  24  and  26  are stored inside housing  22 . By placing grate or mesh  82  inside of receptacle  38 , an airgate is formed. This configuration allows the vehicle to achieve better gas mileage. Additionally, the grate or mesh  82  or either one or both of ramps  24  and  26  may be removed to provide sufficient space for a fifth wheel RV to be attached to the vehicle. This enables a fifth wheel RV to be hitched to the vehicle without having to remove the entire tailgate.  
         [0053]    The present invention provides many advantages and benefits over the prior art. Ramps  24  and  26  are constructed in such a way to allow the ramps to be folded and stored within housing  22  of apparatus  20 . This results in an apparatus  20  that occupies no truckbed space in excess of that of a conventional tailgate. In addition, the decrease in the loading capacity of the vehicle, as a result of the implementation of apparatus  20 , is negligible.  
         [0054]    As any person skilled in the art of systems and methods for loading objects into a vehicle will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figures and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.