Abstract:
A extendable tailgate ladder assembly for providing improved accessibility for truck beds. The extendable tailgate ladder assembly includes a ladder, a pair of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection members and a plurality of second connection members.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to step assemblies and more particularly pertains to a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly for providing improved accessibility for truck beds. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of step assemblies is known in the prior art. More specifically, step assemblies heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,757,876; U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,930; U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,071; U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,813; U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,603; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 365,402. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly. The inventive device includes a ladder, a pair of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection members and a plurality of second connection members. 
     In these respects, the extendable tailgate ladder assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing improved accessibility for truck beds. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of step assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing improved accessibility for truck beds. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the step assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art step assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a ladder, a pair of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection members and a plurality of second connection members. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the step assemblies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art step assemblies, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to bother materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such extendable tailgate ladder assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly for providing improved accessibility for truck beds. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly which includes a ladder, a pair of tracks, a pair of feet, a cover member, a plurality of first connection members and a plurality of second connection members. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly that reduces the bending, stretching, lifting at awkward angles common to accessibility with normal tailgates and therefore may reduce injuries. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly that stores in a compact hidden state when not in use. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention, in the retracted position. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the cover member of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new extendable tailgate ladder assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the extendable tailgate ladder assembly  10  generally comprises a ladder  20 , a pair of tracks  30 , a pair of feet  28 , a cover member  40 , a plurality of first connection members  42  and a plurality of second connection members  44 . 
     The ladder  20  has a pair of opposite side rails  22  and a plurality of rungs  24  extending between the side rails  22 . 
     The pair of tracks  30  is designed to couple to the tailgate  2  of the vehicle. Each of the rails  22  is slidably insertable into an associated track  30 . The sliding of the rail  22  with respect to the track  30  serves to extend or retract the side rails  22  with respect to the tailgate  2 . 
     A first end  25  of each of the side rails  22  is pivotally coupled to an associated track connection portion  23 . This allows the ladder  20  to be pivoted such that a second end  26  of each of the side rails  22  is positionable to rest on a support surface below the tailgate  2 . With the second end  26  of the side rail  22  resting on a support surface, the rungs  24  form a plurality of steps between the support surface and the tailgate  2 . 
     The pair of feet  28  are each coupled to an associated second end  26  of the side rails  22 . 
     Each of the rungs  24  has a generally arcuate upper surface. This allows the uppermost portion of the upper surface to be positioned substantially horizontal throughout a range of angles between the tailgate  2  and the ladder  20 , when the ladder  20  is pivoted relative to the tailgate  2 . The upper surface of the rungs  24  is covered by a gripping material  4  to prevent slipping on the rungs  24 . 
     Each of the side rails  22  is telescopic for extending a length of the ladder  20 . 
     Each of the side rails  22  has a plurality of telescopic portions  50 . Each of the telescopic portions  50  is slidably engaged to each adjacent telescopic portion  50  such that each of the side rails  22  is extendable. Illustratively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the telescopic portions  50  each may have a notch for receiving the rung of an adjacent telescopic portion  50  when the side rails  22  are moved into a collapsed position. 
     Each of the rungs  24  has a connection portion  23  which is coupled to an interior face of an associated one of the side rails  22 . 
     The plurality of telescopic portions  50  includes a pair of proximal telescopic  52  portions. Each proximal telescopic portion  52  is pivotally coupled to an associated one of the connection portions  23 . 
     The plurality of telescopic portions  50  includes a plurality of outer telescopic portions  54 . Each telescopic portion  54  has a generally C-shaped cross-section which allows the outer telescopic portions  54  to be slidable relative to each other. This C-shaped cross section allows the connection portions  23  of the rungs  24  to be slidable within a gap  56  formed by opposite edges of the outer telescopic portions  54 . 
     Each of the outer telescopic portions includes a locking pin mechanism  32  for engaging a selectable one of a plurality of holes in an adjacently positioned telescopic portion  50 , which locks the two telescopic portions  50  into a static position relative to each other. 
     The cover member  40  has an outer perimeter portion designed for abutting the tailgate  2  such that the cover member  40  is positionable over the ladder  20  when the ladder  20  is in the fully retracted position. 
     The plurality of first connection members  42  are coupled to the outer perimeter portion of the cover member  40 . 
     The plurality of second connection members  44  are designed for coupling to the tailgate  2  of the vehicle such that each of the second connection members  44  is alignable with an associated one of the first connection members  42  when the cover  40  is positioned over the ladder  20 . Each of the second connection members  44  is complimentary to the associated first connection member  42 . Because the first  42  and second connection members  44  are complementary, each of the second connection members  44  is engageable to the associated first connection member  42 . 
     In use, the tailgate is lowered or opened. The cover member is removed by disengaging the second connection members from the first connection members. The cover member is placed aside. The ladder assembly is pivoted relative to the tailgate towards a support surface below the tailgate. Illustrative examples of a support surface include driveways and the ground. The telescopic portions of the slide rails are extended until the feet coupled to the second end of each of the side rails come into contact with the support surface. The locking mechanism is engaged if desired. To store the extendable tailgate ladder assembly this process is simple reversed. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.