Abstract:
A step tailgate and mounting hardware system is presented where a tailgate can swing down to a position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. The tailgate has a primary hinge that allows the tailgate to swing down from a first position, to a second position. The tailgate has a bracket system that allows the tailgate to swing down to a third position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. The tailgate can move away from the vehicle by an inner arm. When the end of the inner arm reaches the end of the inside swing the inner arm can swing down by the inner and outer swing arms to a point where the swing arms are perpendicular to the main and inner arms. When the tailgate is in the third position the tailgate is below the truck bed, creating a stepping surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a vehicle tailgate that can be positioned in an intermediate position between the ground and the truck bed for stepping purposes 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Some vehicles, such as a truck, have a tailgate that swings down to create a flat surface that is even with the truck bed. These types of tailgates, in combination with a flat surface area, such as a truck bed, are very helpful for hauling large objects. However, the tailgate and truck bed design lacks ergonomics, which can make it very difficult to put in or remove a large object from the truck bed or vehicle. The reason for this is because the tailgate creates a flat surface that is even with the truck bed, which is usually several feet from the ground. Due to the height of the vehicle, and not having anything to step-on at an intermediate height between the ground and the truck bed, it can be very difficult to get leverage when loading or removing a large object from the vehicle. 
   Some past attempts to resolve the above problem involve a bumper with integrated stepping surfaces. However, these stepping surfaces are unusable when the tailgate is in the down position and at a height even with the tailgate because the tailgate is covering the bumper. When one is trying to put a large object into the vehicle the tailgate is usually in the down position, and the integrated steps cannot be used. Thus, the integrated steps do not solve the ergonomics problem. 
   Other devices for increasing ergonomics involve fold out steps, which are located underneath the bumper and extend out towards the sides of the vehicle. The fold out steps can be used when the tailgate is in the down position and covering the bumper since they extend outward to the sides of the vehicle. However, the fold out steps usually have a small surface area for a person to place their foot on. The small surface area can make it difficult to use the fold out steps when attempting to get a large object into the vehicle. 
   It is desirable to have a tailgate which can swing down to create an even surface with the vehicle as known in the art, but can also swing down to a position below the bumper. When the tailgate is in the position below the bumper the tailgate creates a large flat stepping surface. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a tailgate that can swing down to a position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. The tailgate has a primary hinge that allows the tailgate to swing down from a first position, to a second position. When the tailgate is in the second position it creates a flat surface that is even with the vehicle&#39;s flat surface, such as a truck bed. In addition, the tailgate has a bracket system which can be unlocked which allows the tailgate to swing down to a third position in order to create an intermediate stepping area. When the bracket system is unlocked the tailgate can move away from the vehicle by an inner arm. The inner arm is connected to the tailgate and moves in relation to rollers that are connected to the main arm. When the end of the inner arm reaches the end of the inside swing arm the inner arm can swing down by the inner and outer swing arms. The swing arms are connected to both the main arm and the inner arm by a pin, and the swing arms pivot at the pin points. The swing arms pivot to a point where they are perpendicular to the main and inner arms. At this point the tailgate is in the third position, and the inner arm is at a lower position than the main arm; thus, the tailgate can be used as an intermediate stepping area. 
   Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the step tailgate and the bracket system in the first position; 
       FIG. 2  is perspective view of the bracket system when the tailgate is in the second position; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bracket system when the tailgate is in the third position; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bracket system when the tailgate is in the third position; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bracket system when the tailgate is in the second position; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the bracket system without the main arm, when the tailgate is in the second position; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
   For ease of describing the present invention the description will focus on the use of the present invention as a tailgate on a truck; however, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. When a truck tailgate is in its upright position, or first position, it latches onto the truck bed&#39;s side walls in order to enclose the truck bed. Also, a truck tailgate can be folded down, in relation to a hinge that is mounted to tailgate and the truck bed&#39;s side walls, so that the tailgate extends horizontally from the truck bed at an even height, such that the tailgate creates an extension of the truck bed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  a bracket system  10  is shown in the first position. While the bracket system  10  is in the first position a tailgate  11  is perpendicular a truck bed  12 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the step tailgate with a bracket system  10  is shown in its second position. When the bracket system  10  is in the second position the tailgate  11  is at a height that is about the same height as the truck bed  12 , such that an even surface extends from the truck bed  12  across the tailgate  11 . As the tailgate  11  folds down from its first position to its second position the tailgate  11  pivots at a primary hinge  14 . The primary hinge  14  is connected to side walls  16  that enclose the truck bed  12 . However, the other end of the primary hinge  14  is not connected to the tailgate  11 , it is connected to a main arm  18 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2–6 , an inside swing arm  20  and an outside swing arm  22  are connected to the main arm  18  on the opposite side as the primary hinge  14 . The ends of the inside swing arm  20  and outside swing arm  22  that are not connected to the main arm  18  are connected to an inside arm  24 . The inside swing arm  20  is connected to the main arm  18  by a pin  26  and a roller  28 . The pin  26  extends through the inside swing arm  20  such that the inside swing arm can rotate around the point of connection. The end of the pin  26  that is closest to the main arm  18  has a roller  28  attached to the end. The inside swing arm  20  is connected to the inside arm  24  in the same way, where the roller  28  is attached to the pin  26  on the side of the pin  26  closest to the inside arm  24 . The outside swing arm  22  is connected to the main arm  18  in the same way as the inside swing arm  20  is connected to the main arm  18 . The outside swing arm  22  is connected to the inside arm  24  in the same was as the inside swing arm  20 , except a roller  28  is placed on both ends of the pin  26 . Then, one side of the inside arm  24  lays flush and is connected to the tailgate  11 . 
   The main arm  18  has an upper flange  30  that extends from the top of the main arm  18  towards the tailgate  11 , and a lower flange  32  that extends from the bottom of the main arm  18  away from the tailgate  11 . Even though the upper flange  30  and the lower flange  32  extend towards each other they do not come in contact, thus creating a track on the main arm  18  that contains the rollers  28 . Similarly, the inside arm  24  has an upper flange  34  that extends from the top of the inside arm  24  towards the tailgate  11 , and a lower flange  36  that extends from the bottom of the inside arm  24  away from the tailgate  11 . A track is created on the inside arm  24  by the upper flange  34  and the lower flange  36  extending towards each other but not coming into contact with one another. The inside arm  24  track contains the rollers  28 . The main arm  18  and the inside arm  24  are positioned such that the tracks created by the flanges  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  are facing each other. 
   An upper carrier plate  38  is placed between main arm  18  and the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  in order to maintain the spacing between the main arm  18  and the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22 . The pin  26  that connects the main arm  18  and the inside swing arm  20  extends through one end of the upper carrier plate  38  in order to keep it in position. The pin  26  that extends through the main arm  18  and the outside swing arm  22  extends through the other end of the upper carrier plate  38  in order to keep it in position. 
   The end of the inside swing arm  20  that is directly connected to the upper carrier plate  38  has a curvature  39 . The curvature  39  extends towards the main arm  18 . The length of the curvature  39  is equal to the width of the outside swing arm  22 , in order to create an even mounting surface for the upper carrier plate  38  between the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22 . 
   Likewise, the lower carrier plate  40  is placed between inside arm  24  and the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22 . The pin  26  that connects the inside arm  24  and the inside swing arm  20  extends through one end of the lower carrier plate  40  in order to keep it in position. The pin  26  that extends through the inside arm  24  and the outside swing arm  22  extends through the other end of the lower carrier plate  40  in order to keep it in position. 
   The end of the outside swing arm  22  that is directly connected to the lower carrier plate  40  has a curvature  41 . The curvature  41  extends towards the inner arm  24 . The length of the curvature  41  is equal to the width of the inside swing arm  20 , in order to create an even mounting surface for the lower carrier plate  40  between the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22 . 
     FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  6  show the bracket system  10  in the second position. When the tailgate  11  is in the second position the tailgate  11  moves with respect to the primary hinge  14 , and creates a flat surface that is parallel to the truck bed  12 . The inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  are in parallel and in between the main arm  18  and the inside arm  24 . Furthermore, a lock  42  prevents the tailgate  11  from moving in relation to anything other than the primary hinge  14  when the tailgate  11  is in the first and second position. The lock  42  extends through the main arm  18  and through the outside swing arm  22 , the lower carrier plate  40 , and the inside arm  24 . When the tailgate  11  is in the first and second position the inside arm  24  cannot move with respect to the rollers  28 ; thus, the tailgate  11  can only move with respect to the primary hinge  14 . The lock  42  has a handle  44  that extends out from the main arm  18 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the bracket system  10  and tailgate  11  can be placed in the third position from the primary position by first releasing the lock  42 . The lock  42  can be released by pulling the handle  44  away from the main arm  18 . Once the lock  42  is released the tailgate  11  can move away from truck bed  12 . When the tailgate  11  moves away from the truck bed  12  the inside arm  24  is moving in relation to the rollers  28 . Thus, the inside arm  24  is moving away from the truck bed  12 , but remains parallel to the main arm  18 . The tailgate  11  extends outward to a point where the end of the inside arm  24  that is closest to the truck bed  12  reaches the roller  28  that connects inside arm  24  with the inside swing arm  20 . At this point the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  can pivot with respect to the pin  26  and roller  28  that is connected to the main arm  18 . When this happens, the ends of the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  that are connected to the inside arm  24 , pivot along the pin  26  connection points relative to the pivoting of the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  and the main arm  18 . As the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  pivot in relation to the connection points, the inside arm  24  moves in a downward direction, such that the tailgate  11  is in the third position and is lower than the truck bed  12 . The inside arm  24  moves downward until the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  are perpendicular to the inside arm  24  and the main arm  18 . In the third position, the tailgate  11  can act as a stepping surface. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the inside swing arm  20  and the outside swing arm  22  are a length such that the tailgate  11  will be in a position halfway between the ground (not shown) and the truck bed  12 . 
   The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.