Patent ID: 7739977

Claim:
A visual indicator device for use on a vehicle that includes a bed and a tailgate that engages with the bed and that may assume open and closed positions relative to the bed, said visual indicator device for determining, from the cab of the vehicle via a rearview mirror, the status of the position of the tailgate, said visual indicator device comprising, a support mechanism including a first mechanism mounted to the bed and a second mechanism mounted to the tailgate, an actuation pin mechanism that intercouples the first and second mechanisms, and an indicator flag supported by the first mechanism and responsive to the position of the actuation pin mechanism so that the indicator flag has an indicating position when the tailgate is disengaged from the bed so that the actuation pin mechanism is out of engagement with the indicator flag, and has a rest position when the tailgate is engaged with the bed whereby the actuation pin mechanism is in engagement with the indicator flag and wherein the indicator flag is supported in a pivotal manner and assumes a substantially vertical position in the indicating position of the tailgate, and a substantially horizontal position in the rest position of the tailgate.