Patent Publication Number: US-2016221515-A1

Title: Tail gate gap barrier

Description:
CONTINUITY 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/109,231, filed on Jan. 29, 2015, all of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a tailgate gap barrier and, more specifically, the present invention relates to a resilient tailgate gap barrier for use with a pick-up truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pick-up trucks have beds and tailgates that fold down from a vertical position to a horizontal position, essentially extending the length of the bed and permitting access to the bed. When folded down, the rear of the bed of the truck and the tailgate define a gap therebetween extending the width of the bed of the truck. As such, materials that are being hauled can get stuck in the gap and interfere with normal use of the lift gate. 
     Current systems to solve this problem include placing duct tape over the gap, using adhesive weather stripping to fill the gap, or covering the gap with a planar, flexible plastic strip that adheres to the bed of the truck and bends when the lift gate is closed. Each of these solutions has many issues. For instance, duct tape leaves sticky residue and does not last. Weather stripping breaks and remains in the gap and, essentially, does not last long since it is soft. The flexible plastic strip does not remain adhered to the bed of the truck. 
     It remains desirable in the art to provide a tailgate gap barrier that addresses the limitations associated with known systems, including but not limited to those limitations discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to a tailgate gap barrier for engaging a portion of a tailgate of a truck and cover the gap between the bed of the truck and the tailgate. The barrier comprises an elongate body and at least one leg extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom face of the body. 
     Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of one aspect of a tailgate gap barrier; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially transparent perspective view of the tailgate gap barrier of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial side elevational view of the tailgate gap barrier of  FIG. 1  positioned within the gap between the bed of the truck and the tailgate, showing tailgate in the open position; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side elevational view of the tailgate gap barrier of  FIG. 1  positioned within the gap between the bed of the truck and the tailgate, showing tailgate in the closed position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of a truck bed and tailgate with the tailgate gap barrier in place. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, and claims, and their previous and following description. Before the present system, devices, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific systems, devices, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. 
     The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many changes can be made to the aspects described, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof. 
     As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a “plate” includes aspects having two or more plates unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. 
     As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
     Terms used herein, such as “exemplary” or “exemplified,” are not meant to show preference, but rather to explain that the aspect discussed thereafter is merely one example of the aspect presented. 
     The term “substantially,” as used herein, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation which could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. 
     Additionally, descriptive terms, such as “first” or “second” do not necessarily connote plural referents. Alternatively, these terms are merely used to differentiate one object from another or to simply describe a single object. They are not necessarily to be considered in numerical order. For example, a “first object” could just as easily be named “object A” or the like. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In one aspect, described herein is a tailgate gap barrier  10  for engaging a portion of a tailgate  20  of a truck and cover the gap  300  between the bed  30  of the truck and the tailgate  20 . The barrier  10  comprises an elongate body  100  and at least one leg  200  extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom face  120  of the body  100 . In one aspect, the leg  200  has a length at least as long as the gap depth  320  when the tailgate is in the closed position and is positionable therein the gap  300 . 
     In another aspect, the barrier comprises an anchor  210  attached to a distal portion  205  of the leg. In this aspect, the anchor  210  is engageable with a portion of the tailgate to retain the barrier  10  in engagement with the portion of the tailgate  20  such that it substantially covers the gap  300 . The leg  200  can be a single leg that spans a portion or substantially the entire length of the body of the barrier. Alternatively, the leg can be a plurality of spaced legs. 
     In one aspect, the leg  200  is substantially elastic and is able to be biased against a portion of the tailgate and a portion of the truck such that the gap barrier  10  remains taught against the tailgate and the bed  30  of the truck whether the tailgate  20  is in a closed or open position. 
     In another aspect, the anchor comprises a pair of legs  220  extending at an angle α toward the bottom face  120  of body  100  and wherein the legs  220  are resilient to enable biasing of the gap barrier against the tailgate and the bed of the truck whether the tailgate is in a closed or open position. In one aspect, the angle α is between about 30 degrees and about 55 degrees. In another aspect, the angle is approximately 45 degrees. The anchor can hold the barrier by frictionally engaging the tailgate and the bed of the truck, or it can be long enough to engage an outer portion of the tailgate. 
     In one exemplified aspect, the length  130  of the body  100  is substantially similar to the gap length  310 , such that the gap barrier covers the entire gap  300 . In other aspects, the gap body  100  can be slightly shorter than the gap length  310 . It is contemplated that the gap body can be substantially monolithic, or two or more adjacent or adjoined pieces. 
     In still another aspect, the top face  110  of the elongate body  100  defines a central longitudinal recess  140  facilitating bending the body along its length when the tailgate  20  is in a closed position. 
     While several compounds, mixtures, and materials are contemplated, in one aspect, the barrier  10  comprises a rubber and plastic compound. In one aspect, the material comprises a durometer between about 70 A and 90 A. In another aspect, the material comprises a durometer between about 75 A and about 85 A. In still another aspect, the material comprises a durometer of about 80 A. The material can also be infused or treated with UV protectant to resist cracking due to exposure in the sun. 
     It is contemplated that the barrier can be manufactured in several ways. For instance, the material can be injection molded or extruded. 
     In yet another aspect, the top face  110  of the body  100  slopes from a center outwardly along the length of the body  100 . This feature reduces the sag and the tendency for material to accumulate in the central portion of the barrier  10 . One of the benefits of the reduction is sag is that, when a dolly or other heavy, wheeled, cargo apparatus is rolled over the barrier, the wheels will not tend to sink into the gap and get stuck. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein.