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Slidable tailgate

a tailgate and sliding technology, applied in the direction of roofs, transportation items, loading/unloading vehicle arrangment, etc., can solve the problem of inconvenient distan

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-06-13
LEFTRIDGE GEORGE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, certain loads may require the stronger and more durable conventional tailgate.
A problem arises if the dismounted tailgate is needed and the truck owner is at an inconvenient distance from where the dismounted tailgate has been stored.

Method used

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  • Slidable tailgate
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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0025] In FIG. 1, truck 50 has cab wall 52, first wall 56, second wall 58, bed 54, rail system 100 and tailgate 200. Rail system 100 has first horizontal rail 110, second rail horizontal 120, first front vertical rail 112 fixedly engaged to first horizontal rail 110, second front vertical rail 122 (mirrors first front vertical rail 112) fixedly engaged to second horizontal rail 120, first rear vertical rail 114 (see FIG. 2) and second rear vertical rail 124 (mirrors first rear vertical rail 114). Rail system 100 may be built into first wall 56 and second wall 58 of truck 50. Alternatively, rail system 100 may be retrofitted into truck 50 by welding. First pads 101 are installed on bed 54 so that they are adjacent to cab wall 52. First pads 101 may be made from rubber or other suitable resilient shock absorbing material to provide a rest for tailgate 200 when it is moved to a storage position parallel to cab wall 52. Second pads 103 are installed on cab wall 52 so that when tailgate ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A slidable tailgate for a vehicle having a cab wall, a first wall, a second wall and a bed is disclosed. The slidable tailgate has four pins adapted for extension beyond said tailgate and for retraction within said tailgate by a plurality of handles. Two sets of rails, each of said set having a continuous groove for receiving the extended pins of the slidable tailgate are either built into the first wall and second wall or are attached to the first wall and second wall. The slidable tailgate may operate as a conventional tailgate or it may be moved to a storage position parallel to the cab wall by retraction and engagement of the pins and slidable movement along the rails.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to a tailgate of a pickup truck that can be moved from the rear of the truck bed to the front of the truck bed using a set of rails.[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004] Owners of trucks having open beds behind the cab of the truck often take off the tailgate to avoid the drag which the tailgate creates in highway travel. Truck owners who remove the tailgate notice an increase in gas mileage due to the lessening in drag. After removing the tailgate, some owners replace the metal tailgate with a cargo net that allows air to pass through but serves to keep items inside the bed of the truck. However, certain loads may require the stronger and more durable conventional tailgate. A problem arises if the dismounted tailgate is needed and the truck owner is at an inconvenient distance from where the dismounted tailgate has been stored. Therefore, a need exists for a way to remove a tailgate from its vertical positi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B60J7/04B60J7/10B60J7/14B60P1/26B62D33/027
CPCB60J7/041B62D33/0273B60P1/26B60J7/10
Inventor LEFTRIDGE, GEORGE
Owner LEFTRIDGE GEORGE