Abstract:
An endgate for a pickup truck includes a lower portion movably mountable with respect to the body of the pickup truck. An upper portion of the endgate is movably mounted with respect to the lower portion to selectively alter the height of the endgate for improving access to the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The endgate preferably includes gooseneck hinges to pivotably interconnect the lower portion and the upper portion, and an electric latch and striker to selectively prevent their relative movement.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to endgates for pickup trucks that have a lower portion and an upper portion selectively movable with respect to the lower portion to alter the height of the endgate to facilitate access to a cargo box. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A pickup truck typically employs an endgate at the open end of the cargo box. A prior art endgate is typically a rigid member pivotably connected to the body of the pickup truck for movement between a closed position in which the endgate closes off the open end to retain cargo inside the cargo box, and an open position in which the endgate projects rearward from the pickup truck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An endgate for a pickup truck characterized by a cargo box includes a lower portion partially defining the endgate and an upper portion further defining the endgate. The lower portion is movably mountable with respect to the pickup truck for movement between an open position and a closed position. The upper portion is operatively connected to the lower portion and selectively movable with respect to the lower portion to alter the height of the endgate when the lower portion is in the closed position. The endgate provides increased flexibility in endgate configuration, enabling a user of a pickup truck to reduce the distance the user must reach to access the cargo box. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the lower portion is pivotably mountable with respect to the truck, and the upper portion is pivotably connected to the lower portion by at least one gooseneck hinge. A first electric latch on the lower portion is engageable with a striker on the pickup truck to retain the lower portion in the closed position. A handle on the upper portion selectively causes the first latch to disengage, permitting the lower portion to pivot relative to the cargo box. The first electric latch enables the handle to be located on the upper portion at a conventional handle height without the need for rigid latch rods extending between the lower portion and the upper portion. Similarly, a second electric latch on the lower portion is engageable with at least one striker on the upper portion to prevent relative motion between the lower portion and the upper portion. A switch on the upper portion selectively causes disengagement of the second electric latch from the striker to allow the upper portion to pivot independently of the lower portion. The second electric latch enables the switch to be located on the upper portion without the need for rigid latch rods between the lower portion and the upper portion. 
     The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a pickup truck with an endgate having a lower portion and an upper portion; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear schematic view of the pickup truck of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective schematic view of the endgate of  FIG. 1  with the upper portion in a first position with respect to the lower portion; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective schematic view of the endgate of  FIG. 1  with the upper portion in a second position with respect to the lower portion; 
         FIG. 5  is a side cross-sectional schematic view of the endgate of  FIG. 1  in a fully closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a side cross-sectional schematic view of the endgate of  FIG. 1  in a fully open position; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional schematic view of the endgate of  FIG. 1  in a partially open position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pickup truck  10  includes a cab  14  and a cargo box  18 . The cargo box  18  defines a cargo area  20 , and is at least partially formed by a box floor  22 , a front wall  26 , and two sidewalls  30 . An endgate  34  is pivotably mounted at one end of the cargo box  18 . The endgate  34  includes a lower portion  38  and an upper portion  42 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the sidewalls  30  cooperate to at least partially form an endgate opening  44 . Hinges  46  at the lower portions of the sidewalls pivotably connect the lower portion  38  to the cargo box  18 . A striker  50  on each of the sidewalls  30  engages a latch, depicted at  78 A in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in the lower portion  38  to retain the lower portion in a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The lower portion  38  and the upper portion  42  extend substantially from one sidewall to the other and substantially fill the endgate opening  44  when the endgate  34  is fully closed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lower portion  38  of the endgate includes an inner panel  54  and an outer panel  58  defining a cavity  60  therebetween. The upper portion  42  similarly includes an inner panel  62  and an outer panel  66  defining a cavity  68  therebetween. The lower portion  38  and the upper portion  42  each include a structural frame  70 ,  74  within their respective cavities  60 ,  68  for supporting hardware and providing structural rigidity. Structural frames  70 ,  74  are comprised of a plurality of tubular members welded to one another. Those skilled in the art will recognize a variety of structural elements that may be employed within the scope of the claimed invention to provide structural rigidity to the lower portion and the upper portion. For example, one or more stamped reinforcement members welded to the inner panel or the outer panel may be employed instead of tubular members. 
     Latches  78 A are operatively connected to the structural frame  70  of the lower portion and are sufficiently positioned to engage the strikers  50  on the pickup truck sidewalls. The latches  78 A are electronically actuated by solenoids  82  and are operatively connected to a handle  84  on the upper portion by wires (not shown) that extend between the lower portion and the upper portion. The handle  84  is a device that is operable to selectively cause disengagement of latches  78 A from strikers  50 . A pair of gooseneck hinges  86  operatively interconnects the lower portion  38  and the upper portion  42  such that the upper portion is pivotable with respect to the lower portion. In the embodiment depicted, two hinge brackets  90  are mounted to the structural frame  70  within cavity  60 . Each hinge bracket  90  supports a pivot pin  96  about which one of the gooseneck hinges  86  is pivotable on a horizontal pivot axis. 
     The upper portion  42  includes strikers  98  engageable with electronically-actuated latches  78 B mounted to frame  70  within cavity  60 . When the strikers  98  are engaged with the latches  78 B, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the upper portion is not free to pivot with respect to the lower portion; the lower portion and the upper portion are substantially rigidly connected. The upper portion is in a first position with respect to the lower portion such that the endgate extends to a height H. In the context of the present invention, the “height” of the endgate is the vertical distance between pivot axis A, about which the lower portion  38  pivots with respect to the cargo box between the closed position and an open position, and the uppermost extent of the endgate  34  when the lower portion  38  is in the closed position. 
     A device, e.g., a push-button switch  102 , on the upper portion  42  is operatively connected to latches  78 B by wires (not shown) extending between the lower portion and the upper portion to cause selective disengagement of the strikers  98  form the latches  78 B. When the strikers  98  and the latches  78 B are disengaged from one another, the upper portion is free to pivot independently of the lower portion to a second position perpendicular to the lower portion, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The endgate  34  extends to a height H′, which is less than height H. A portion  100  of the surface of inner panel  62  is preferably substantially flat and oriented horizontally when the upper portion is in the second position in order to provide a horizontal working surface. It may be desirable for the surface portion  100  to be at the same height as the wheel wells in the cargo box when the upper portion is in the second position so that a large load may be supported by the wheel wells and the surface portion  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from  FIGS. 1–4 , the endgate  34  is depicted in a fully closed position in which the lower portion and the upper portion are each at least partially located within the endgate opening (not shown). The lower portion  38  is engaged with the strikers (not shown) on the sidewalls of the pickup truck, and the upper portion is in the first position with respect to the lower portion. The portion  100  of the surface of inner panel  62  faces the cargo area  20 . The height H of the endgate is sufficient for the endgate to substantially fill the endgate opening to retain cargo in the cargo box. Stop members  104 ,  108  are mounted to the frame  70  and to the hinge bracket  90 , respectively, to interfere with hinge movement so that the second member is limited to a range of motion between the first position and the second position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the endgate  34  is depicted in a fully-open position, in which the lower portion  38  is in an open position and the endgate  34  extends outward so as not to obstruct the endgate opening. The endgate in the fully-open position extends outward from the cargo box a distance D; a user of the pickup truck must reach a distance D to access the cargo box. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the endgate  34  is depicted in a partially-open position in which the lower portion  38  is engaged with the strikers (not shown) on the sidewalls (not shown), and the upper portion is in the second position with respect to the lower portion and does not obstruct the endgate opening. The endgate extends outward from the cargo box a distance D′, which is less than distance D. Thus, the upper portion is movable with respect to the lower portion to selectively alter the height of the endgate when the lower portion is in the closed position to improve access to the cargo box. 
     While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.