Patent Publication Number: US-2018043813-A1

Title: Pivotal loading apparatus for a tailgate

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to a pick-up truck tailgate that includes a lifting apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Pick-up truck beds are used to transport a wide variety of objects. Objects transported in pick-up truck beds can be heavy or large, such as deer or logs, making them difficult to load. Loading heavy or large objects may require help. However, sometimes help is unavailable, for example, when hunting or working in a remote location alone. Lifting heavy objects alone can be impossible, and may result in injury. When the object is lifted and placed in the truck bed, the object may still need to be pushed further into the truck bed to allow the tailgate to close. Pushing the object into the truck bed may also require help, causing the same problem as discussed above. 
     The prior art discloses replacing the tailgate of the truck with a lift for assisting in lifting objects with a four bar linkage into to the truck bed. The prior art does not address pushing the object into the truck bed to allow the tailgate to close or to make room for more objects to be loaded. The prior art also includes problems such as removing the tailgate or assembling a ramp and a four bar linkage. Removing the tailgate is time consuming and there is a risk of damaging the tailgate. Assembling a ramp and a four bar linkage can be costly, complicated, and difficult due to the heavy weight of the ramp and linkage. A four bar linkage is also not easily detachable. 
     This disclosure is directed to solving the above problems and other problems summarized below. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect of this disclosure, a tailgate assembly is provided including a tailgate and a bracket selectively attachable to the tailgate. An L-shaped platform is attached to the bracket by a pivot connector adjacent the top/rear edge of the tailgate. A retractable link is attached to the bracket to pivot the L-shaped platform about the pivot connector. 
     The L-shaped platform includes a first wall fixed to a second wall at a corner at an angle defining a recess. The L-shaped platform pivots between an extended position with the first wall substantially parallel to the truck bed and the second wall substantially perpendicular to the truck bed, and a retracted position with the first wall substantially perpendicular to the truck bed and the second wall substantially parallel to the truck bed. The L-shaped platform can also pivot further to an inclined position and a stowed position. 
     The retractable link may include a reel attached to the bracket, and a cable having a first end secured to the reel and a second end attached to a distal end of the L-shaped platform. The reel may include a handle. Alternatively, the retractable link may include a power cylinder having a head portion attached to the bracket and a rod portion attached to a distal end of the L-shaped platform. 
     According to another aspect of this disclosure, a loading apparatus for a truck bed is provided comprising a bracket selectively attachable to a tailgate. A load receptacle is pivotally attached to the bracket. The load receptacle includes a first platform attached to a second platform at a corner at an angle to define a recess. A reel is attached to the bracket for use with a cable. The cable has a first end secured to the reel and a second end attached to a distal end of the first platform. 
     The load receptacle may have a substantially L-shaped cross section and may include a support brace connecting a distal end of the first platform to a distal end of the second platform. The load receptacle may be pivotally attached to the bracket above a distal end of the tailgate when the tailgate is open. 
     The load receptacle is pivotable between an extended position, a retracted position, an inclined position, and a stowed position. When the tailgate is open, in the extended position the first wall is substantially parallel to the truck bed and the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the truck bed. In the retracted position, the first platform is substantially perpendicular to the truck bed and the second platform is substantially parallel to the truck bed. The L-shaped platform is in the inclined position when pivoted to a position between the retracted position and the stowed position. When the tailgate is closed and the L-shaped platform is in the stowed position, the first wall is substantially perpendicular to the truck bed, and the second wall is substantially parallel to the truck bed. The distal end of the first wall may be in contact with the truck bed when the L-shaped platform is in the stowed position. 
     According to another aspect of this disclosure, a loading apparatus for a truck bed is provided that includes a bracket selectively attached to a tailgate. A load receptacle may be pivotally attached to the bracket. The load receptacle includes a first platform attached to a second platform at a corner at an angle to define a recess. A power cylinder is used to pivot the L-shaped platform between an extended position, a retracted position, an inclined position, and a stowed position. The power cylinder includes a cylinder portion attached to the bracket and a rod portion attached to a distal end of the first platform. The power cylinder may be hydraulic or pneumatic. 
     The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a right rear perspective view of a pick-up truck with a tailgate being open, an L-shaped platform in an extended position, and a retractable link, with the retractable link comprising a reel and a cable. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the pick-up truck with the tailgate open and the L-shaped platform in the extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the pick-up truck with the tailgate open and the L-shaped platform in a retracted position. The dotted lines represent an inclined position of the L-shaped platform. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic, partial cross-section of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing the pick-up truck with the tailgate closed and the L-shaped platform in a stowed position. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a bracket securing a tailgate assembly to a tailgate. 
         FIG. 6  is a right rear perspective view of a pick-up truck with the tailgate open, an L-shaped platform in an extended position, and a retractable link, with the retractable link comprising a power cylinder. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  showing the pick-up truck with the tailgate open and the L-shaped platform in the extended position. 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  showing the pick-up truck with the tailgate open and the L-shaped platform in a retracted position. The first set of hidden lines represents the L-shaped platform in an inclined position. The second set of hidden lines represents the tailgate being closed and the L-shaped platform in a stowed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a pick-up truck  10  is illustrated that includes a truck bed  12  and a tailgate  14 . The tailgate  14  is shown in an open position in  FIG. 1 . A tailgate assembly  16  includes the tailgate  14 , a bracket  18 , an L-shaped platform  20 , and a retractable link  22 . The tailgate assembly  16  is detachably attached to the tailgate  14  at a pivot point  24 . The pivot point  24  acts as a fulcrum for lifting the L-shaped platform  20  of the tailgate assembly  16 . The tailgate assembly  16  may also be referred to herein as a loading apparatus. 
     The L-shaped platform  20  includes a first wall  26  and a second wall  28 . The L-shaped platform  20  may also be referred to herein as a load receptacle. The first wall  26  and the second wall  28  may also be referred to herein as the first platform and the second platform. The first wall  26  and second wall  28  are attached to each other at a corner  30  at an angle to define a recess  32 . The angle as illustrated is perpendicular, but may be substantially perpendicular which is defined as being between 65 degrees and 115 degrees which is an acceptable range of angular relationships. The recess  32 , formed by connecting the first wall  26  and the second wall  28 , may accommodate a wide variety of objects such as a deer or logs. 
     The tailgate assembly  16  also includes a support brace  34 . The support brace  34  is connected to a distal end  36  of the first wall  26  and a distal end  38  of the second wall  28 . The support brace  34  provides structural integrity to reinforce the L-shaped platform  20  when loading heavy objects. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the L-shaped platform  20  is shown in an extended position  40  with the tailgate  14  open. The L-shaped platform  20  is configured to pivot about a pivot point  24  between an extended position  40 , a retracted position  42 , an inclined position  44 , and a stowed position  46 . When the tailgate  14  is open, the extended position  40  is generally defined by the first wall  26  being substantially parallel to the truck bed  12  and the second wall  28  being substantially perpendicular to the truck bed  12 . Substantially parallel is defined as being in a range within +/−20 degrees relative to parallel. Substantially perpendicular is defined as being in a range within +/−20 degrees relative to perpendicular. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the L-shaped platform  20  is shown in the retracted position  42  with the tailgate  14  open. When the tailgate  14  is open, the retracted position  42  is generally defined by the first wall  26  being substantially perpendicular to the truck bed  12  and the second wall  28  being substantially parallel to the truck bed  12 . The L-shaped platform  20  can be pivoted past the retracted position  42  to the inclined position  44 . The inclined position  44  is beneficial for unloading the object from the L-shaped platform  20  by rolling or sliding the object into the truck bed  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the L-shaped platform  20  is shown in the stowed position  46  with the tailgate  14  closed. In the stowed position  46  the first wall  26  is substantially perpendicular to the truck bed  12 , and the second wall  28  is substantially parallel to the truck bed  12 . The distal end  36  of the first wall  26  may be in contact with the truck bed  12  when the L-shaped platform  20  is in the stowed position  46 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the bracket  18  includes a base wall  48  and a side wall  50 . The base wall  48  of the bracket  18  is attached to the tailgate  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the base wall  48  of the bracket  18  is attached to the tailgate  14  with bolts. However, the bolts could be replaced by a single fastener or a plurality of fasteners. The bracket  18  can be detached from the tailgate  14  by removing the fasteners attaching the base wall  48  of the bracket  18  to the tailgate  14 . 
     The tailgate assembly  16  is attached to the bracket  18  with a pivot connector  53 , adjacent a top/rear edge  57  of the tailgate  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the pivot connector  53  comprises a pivot pin  52 , a first flange  54 , and a second flange  56 . The first flange  54  and the second flange  56  are spaced apart to receive the tailgate assembly  16 . The first flange  54  is attached to the base wall  48  of the bracket  18  and the second flange  56  is attached to the base wall  48  and also may be attached to the side wall  50  of the bracket  18 . However, the tailgate assembly  16  could be attached to the bracket  18  with only one flange, a plurality of flanges, or another type of attachment receptacle. 
     The retractable link  22  is attached to the side wall  50  of the bracket  18 . The retractable link  22  may be attached to the side wall  50  with a pin  58  as shown in  FIG. 5 , or also with a bolt or any other suitable fastener. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the retractable link  22  may include a reel  60  and a cable  62 . The cable  62  can be of any suitable type such as wire, rope, or the like. The reel  60  is attached to the side wall  50  of the bracket  18  above the tailgate  14 . The reel  60  also may include a handle  64  to facilitate rotating the reel  60 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cable  62  has a first end  66  secured to the reel  60  and the second end  68  attached to the distal end  36  of the first wall  26  of the L-shaped platform  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an alternative embodiment of a tailgate assembly  70  is illustrated that includes a tailgate  72 , a bracket  74 , an L-shaped platform  76 , and a retractable link  78 . The retractable link  78  includes a power cylinder  80  with a head portion  82 , and a shaft portion  84 . The head portion  82  may also be referred to herein as the cylinder portion and the shaft portion  84  may also be referred to herein as the rod portion. The power cylinder  80  may be either hydraulic or pneumatic. The head portion  82  of the power cylinder  80  is attached to a side wall  86  of the bracket  74  above the tailgate  72 . The shaft portion  84  of the power cylinder  80  is attached to a distal end  90  of a first wall  88  of the L-shaped platform  76 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the L-shaped platform  76  is shown in an extended position  92  with the tailgate  72  open. The L-shaped platform  76  is configured to pivot about a pivot point  91  between the extended position  92 , a retracted position  94 , an inclined position  96 , and a stowed position  98  as previously described. When the L-shaped platform  76  pivots from the extended position  92  to the retracted position  94 , the shaft portion  84  of the power cylinder  80  withdraws into the head portion  82  of the power cylinder  80 . Conversely, when the L-shaped platform  76  pivots from the retracted position  94  to the extended position  92 , the shaft portion  84  of the power cylinder  80  extends from the head portion  82  of the power cylinder  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the L-shaped platform  76  is shown in the retracted position  94 . The L-shaped platform  76  is configured to pivot about the pivot point  91  between the extended position  92 , the retracted position  94 , the inclined position  96 , and the stowed position  98  as previously described.