Abstract:
The invention is a seat for a tailgate or door on an automobile. The invention includes a tailgate for a pickup and a retrofit insert for existing tailgates. The ergonomically shaped seat allows one to sit on a tailgate during tailgating parties or other times when the tailgate is lowered. The seat may also include an accessory attachment device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Throughout this application, the invention is described as being used on a pickup truck. It should be understood that the term pickup truck is defined to include all automobiles or motor vehicles. Further, the term tailgate is defined to include any door on an automobile that opens in a downward manner.  
           [0002]    In America tailgating at sporting events such as college football games or NASCAR® races is a tradition that has been passed down through several generations. Typically, attendees of sporting events show up at the field or track several hours early and conduct informal tailgating parties. Many of the attendees to these sporting events drive pickup trucks or sports utility vehicles. When tailgating, the driver of the pickup may lower the tailgate and rest thereupon in a seated manner.  
           [0003]    Typically, a tailgate of a pickup has corrugations or other protrusions that are not ergonomically sound for sitting upon. Thus, a tailgater cannot properly sit on a tailgate of a pickup for extended periods without experiencing soreness in his back or posterior region of his body.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The invention recognizes and realizes the need for an ergonomically designed seat for a tailgate or door. Either the seat may be manufactured as a tailgate/door or an insert for a tailgate that may be retrofitted onto the tailgate after the pickup has been sold by the manufacturer.  
           [0005]    It is an object of the invention to provide a comfortable seat for a tailgate. The seat may be either detachable or it may be manufactured as part of the tailgate. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional pickup truck.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a seat for a tailgate.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an elevation front view of the seat for the tailgate.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of a seat for a tailgate on a conventional pickup.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of the molded seat.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a view of an adjustable connector and base portion for receiving the adjustable connector.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an offset table.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rod holder accessory. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    The following is the preferred embodiment or best mode for carrying out the invention. It should be noted that this invention is not limited by the discussion of the preferred embodiment, and reasonable alternatives may be substituted for individual elements of the invention without deviating from the scope of the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional pickup truck  61  having a cab  63  and a bed  65 . A tailgate  67  is pivotally attached to the rear of bed  65  for opening and closing the bed  65 . As shown in FIG. 1, the tailgate  67  includes a plurality of separated, inverted U-shaped longitudinal corrugations  69 . A metal hinge or cable  68  supports tailgate  67 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a detachable tailgate seat  1  for a conventional pickup  61 . The seat includes two molded seats  5  that are ergonomically designed into a base  10 . Seats  5  may include a drain comprised of a hole. Located between seat  5  is an armrest  9 . It should be noted that the detachable tailgate seat might comprise a single molded seat. Further it may include a plurality of armrests.  
         [0017]    In FIG. 2, cup holders  11  are indentations in the armrest  9 . Cup holders  11  include a drain comprising a hole for draining liquids from the cup holders  11 . The diameter of each cup holder  11  is at least the size of a beverage can such as a soda, roughly 3.5 inches in diameter. The cup holders  11  may include a built-in insulated portion commonly known as a beverage “hugger.” A backrest  3  is hingably interconnected with base  10 . Plastic, fiberglass or other lightweight, high strength, molded materials may be used as the materials for the detachable tailgate seat.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows a backrest  3  having a recessed complementary indentation  21  for receiving armrest  9  when the seat is folded. The backrest  3  has support cable  17  connecting base  10  with backrest  3 . The support cable  17  is adjustable as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0019]    Base  10  includes female indentations  23  for accepting threaded male connectors of an accessory. Other such threaded indentations  23  for adding additional accessories may be included on base  10  or backrest  3 . Two molded seats  5  are included in base  10 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the hinge  7  that connects backrest  3  with base  10 . The hinge(s) may be constructed of stainless steel, brass or other durable metal materials. Screws or other fastening devices may be used to attach the hinge(s) to the backrest and the base or seat. The hinge  7  may also be comprised of a plastic bridge that connects the backrest to the base or seat.  
         [0021]    Attachment means  19  is connected to an end of base  10 . Attachment means  20  is connected to an end of base  10 . In the preferred embodiment, attachment means  20  is hinged by hinge  8 . Attachment means  19  may be a curved lip that curls over an edge of the tailgate as shown in FIG. 4. Attachment means  20  may be a hinged piece of plastic, metal or other material assuming a 90° angle for cooperating with an end of the tailgate opposite the end cooperating with attachment means  19 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a cross section view of a molded seat  5  and tailgate  67 . The edge  15  of the molded seat nearest the hinge  7  is thicker than an opposite edge  13 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a close up view of the adjustable connector and base portion for receiving an end of cable  17 . Base  10  is comprised of t-shaped holes  12  for receiving t-shaped connector  14 . It should be noted that the t-shape might be substituted for any other shape that may be accommodated by a molded hole.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a view of an offset table  31  comprising a flat surface  33  with a male threaded connector  35  that attaches to the threaded female indentations shown in Figure 3. An offset arm  37  projects table  31  away from the detachable tailgate seat  1 . It should be noted that table  31  may be manufactured with threaded connector  35  and without offset arm  37 .  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a view of a rod holder  41  for securing fishing rods. Rod holder  41  comprises a hollow piece  43  for accommodating a fishing pole. The hollow piece  43  is typically 1.5″ in diameter. A threaded connector  35  extends from a lower portion of hollow piece  43 .  
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.