Abstract:
A cargo bed tailgate may include an extension configurable between a plurality of positions to enable oversized cargo to be securely carried on a cargo bed as well accommodate a deployable set of loading ramps which are storable within the tailgate and deployable to attach to the cargo bed extension after the cargo bed extension is moved and locked for the loading and unloading of a payload into or out of the cargo bed of the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This nonprovisional U.S. patent application claims priority to and incorporates herein for all purposes U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/031,137, filed Jul. 30, 2014 in the name of Steve DeSimone and entitled TAILGATE WITH INTEGRATED LOADING RAMP SYSTEM. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to vehicles used for transporting cargo and related items such as a pickup truck including a tailgate. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a highly functional, integrated and flexible tailgate for use on a pickup truck or other type vehicle including a cargo area including an opening. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, it is known to provide a vehicle with a tailgate for closing out an opening of a cargo area of the vehicle and to provide the tailgate with open and close function. The tailgate maybe used as a work surface in a generally horizontal or open position and may be used to close an opening in a cargo area of a vehicle when in the vertical or closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cargo area of a vehicle including a tailgate according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the tailgate of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the tailgate of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the tailgate of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in an alternate position. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the tailgate of  FIGS. 1-3  in a further alternate position. 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the above figures in a closed position. 
         FIG. 7  is an opposite side view of the tailgate of  FIG. 5  showing the storage compartments for the ramps stored in the tailgate according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective alternate view of a hinge mechanism. 
         FIG. 9  is an alternate perspective view of the cargo area and tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a further alternate perspective view of the cargo area and tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an alternate perspective view of the end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a further alternate perspective view of the end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is an alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is an opposite end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a further alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position. 
         FIG. 17  is a further alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position. 
         FIG. 18  is an opposite end view of the tailgate of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is an alternate top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position. 
         FIG. 20  is an alternate view of the tailgate of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is an alternate embodiment of the tailgate of the present disclosure showing a generally planar ramp for coupling with the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 22  is an alternate view of the ramp of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 23  is an isolated view of the end of the ramp of  FIGS. 21 and 22  detailing a passage in the end sections of the ramp for coupling with the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 24  is an alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in a further alternate configuration of the tailgate according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 25  is an alternate top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 26  is an alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 27  is an alternate perspective view of the ramps of  FIG. 10  of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 28  is an alternate perspective view of the ramps of  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 29  is an alternate embodiment detailing an alternative design of the end sections as suggested in  FIG. 23 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring in general to all of the Figures there is illustrated, as best shown in  FIG. 1 , a pickup truck cargo compartment  10  that may include a pair of sidewalls  14  and  16 . The sidewalls  14  and  16  may be oppositely disposed along the longitudinal sides of the bed  12 , and may project generally perpendicularly upward from the bed. The bed  12  may terminate at a rear edge  18  of the cargo compartment at which location a tailgate door or other suitable barrier may be attached. While a pickup truck cargo compartment is represented in the  FIG. 1 , those skilled in the art may appreciate that the teachings of this disclosure may be generally applicable and adapted to any type of vehicle equipped with a cargo bed adapted to transport cargo. 
     In accordance with the features of the present disclosure, there is shown a bed extension  22  that may be attached to the bed  12  of the truck cargo compartment  10  at its rear edge  18 , and may serve to safely accommodate oversized cargo on the bed  12  that would otherwise extend beyond the rear edge  18  of the cargo compartment  10 . The bed extension  22  may include a substantially planar loading platform or ramp  24  which may be pivotably attached to the tailgate door  20  near the top thereof. The loading platform  24  may be substantially the same width as the tailgate door  20 . The lateral ends of the loading platform  24  may include an extended lug portion  26 , along each side thereof, to pivotably attach the bed extension  22  to the tailgate door  20 . Each lug portion  26  may include a guide slot  36  for receiving a mounting bolt  30  after the extended lug portions  26  are placed into a boss  32  that may be securely attached at each side to the tailgate door  20 . To avoid interference with loading or unloading of cargo, the boss  32  may be located in a recess in the inner panel of the tailgate door to avoid being an obstacle to loading or unloading cargo—particularly when the loading platform  24  may be removed. In fact, it is contemplated that each lug portion  26  of the bed extender may be coupled or attached to a cross-pin (not shown) mounted underneath the bed  12  of the cargo compartment  10  to avoid the use of a boss  32  that could become a hindrance to loading or unloading cargo. 
     Referring in particular to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the bed extension  22  may assume any one of three positions other than its storage position.  FIG. 3  illustrates a position at  90  degrees to the horizon, after the tailgate door  20  has been opened. In this vertical position, the bed extension  22  may be locked so that the bed extension  22  retains oversized cargo within the cargo compartment  10 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a position 180 degrees from its storage position or substantially co-planar with the cargo bed  12  so that it substantially extends the length of the tailgate and may support cargo. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the tailgate and/or the bed extension may include any of a variety of cargo securing devices including an extension member or strap for securing cargo. 
     As in the 90 degree position, the bed extension  22  may be locked to prevent it from further rotation. In this position, the bed extension  22  provides support for cargo of extended loads. The bed extension  22  may be rotatably deployed to 210 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and locked in position to receive two loading ramps  34  that may be stored within passaged located in the tailgate door  20 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 1  best illustrates the two loading ramps attached and locked to the bed extension  22  with the bed extension  22  deployed or rotated and locked at 210 degrees from the stowed position against the inner panel of the tailgate door  20 . In this position, wheeled vehicles, such as ATV, motorcycles, mowers and/or lawn or any other known device (including a human) may more easily be loaded into the cargo compartment of the vehicle equipped with the device of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 8  is a close-up of the extended lug portion  26  of the bed extension  22  which illustrates the guide slot  36  which may cut into the extended lug portion  26  to provide the three locked positions of the bed extension  22 . The position shown in  FIG. 8  is the bed extension located at approximately 210 degrees from the horizontal plane such as that defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle. The bolt  30  may be at the end of the guide slot  36  when the bed extension  22  is rotated to the horizontal position 180 degrees from the horizontal plane such as that defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle and the bolts  30  may move into the opposing ends  38  of the guide slots  36 . With the bed extension in a vertical position as best shown in  FIG. 3 , the bolt  30  may be locked into the medial slot  40  so that the bed extension retains oversized cargo in the cargo bed. 
     A further feature of the present disclosure is that the cargo bed extension  22  may include the passages for receiving and retaining the ramps, illustrated in  FIG. 1 , for providing readily and always available easy access to the cargo bed for wheeled vehicles and equipment such as an ATV, motorcycle, a lawn tractor or mower. 
     An alternate end bracket and channel design is shown in  FIG. 29  for coupling the tailgate to the cargo area of the vehicle. 
     As disclosed hereinabove, the cargo bed extension may be designed to fold and lock into four (4) distinct positions. When not in use, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the bed extension  22  may be folded and secured to the inner sidewalls of the tailgate door  20 . While in the stowed position, the bed extension  22  may be locked or, alternatively, may be secured to the sidewall of the tailgate door  20  with any suitable type of latch. As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the height of the bed extension may not be greater than and approximately equal to, the height of the sidewalls  14 ,  16  above the bed  12  of the cargo area but it is contemplated that other arrangements are possible. As such, the bed extension  22  does not project above the sidewalls  14 ,  16  when the bed extension  12  is in its stowed and locked position. 
     After the tailgate door  20  is lowered, the bed extension  22  may be rotated to a 90 degree vertical position and locked at such position. In this position, the bed extension retains oversized cargo within the cargo bed. The bed extension  22  may be further deployed to 180 degrees so that it may be located substantially co-planar with the cargo bed  12 . In this position, the bed extension  22  may be locked to receive and support cargo including extended loads. Lastly, the bed extension  22  may be further rotated to approximately 210 degrees from the horizontal plane as defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle and locked into place in order to receive the two loading ramps  34  that are stored within the confines of the tailgate door  20  as best shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Alternative arrangements are possible in view of the present disclosure. 
     The present description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the exemplary embodiments disclosed will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art upon understanding the present disclosure. The scope of the claimed invention should not be determined with limiting reference to the description but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Any disclosure of an article or reference, including patent applications and publications, is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Any omission in the claims of any aspect of subject matter disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter. 
     Any numerical values recited herein or in the figures are intended to include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless expressly stated, all ranges are intended to include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “generally, “about” or “approximately”, or similar words, in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints. 
     The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps may be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step may include separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.