Pivoting Secondary Tailgate for Pickup Cargo Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elongated tailgate assemblies in pickup trucks make it difficult to access cargo without opening the entire tailgate, especially for items located forward in the cargo box, as the elevated wall height and depth require users to fully open and close the tailgate for loading and unloading.
Innovation Solution
A secondary tailgate is pivotally attached to the primary tailgate, allowing it to pivot downward, providing additional access and serving as a built-in step, while the primary tailgate can remain closed or open for increased access, with both tailgates featuring latch mechanisms and torsion bar lift assist for ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the tailgate assembly is elongated to provide increased wall height and depth of the cargo box, then the cargo box capacity and wall height are improved, but the ease of accessing cargo without opening the entire tailgate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate assembly is segmented into a primary tailgate and a secondary tailgate that can operate independently. The secondary tailgate is positioned within an opening in the primary tailgate, allowing users to access cargo in the cargo box without opening the entire primary tailgate, thus resolving the contradiction between increased cargo box capacity and ease of accessing cargo.
2Ease of operation
If the entire tailgate is opened for loading items, then the ease of loading cargo is improved, but the loss of time for opening and closing the entire tailgate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tailgate assembly is divided into a primary tailgate and a secondary tailgate that can be opened independently. Users can open only the secondary tailgate for loading smaller items, avoiding the time-consuming operation of opening and closing the entire primary tailgate, thus reducing time loss while maintaining ease of loading cargo.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of opening the entire primary tailgate for all loading operations, users can perform partial action by opening only the secondary tailgate when appropriate. This partial action reduces the time and effort required for loading cargo while still providing adequate access for many items.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The secondary tailgate allows for easier loading and unloading of items by providing additional access without fully opening the primary tailgate, reducing the need to open and close the entire tailgate, and serves as a step for improved access into the cargo box, enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
both tailgates featuring latch mechanisms and torsion bar lift assist for ease of use
Data Source
AI summary
A pickup truck tailgate assembly is provided that includes a primary tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a pickup cargo box and has an opening formed in the central portion thereof. The assembly also includes a secondary tailgate pivotally attached to the primary tailgate in the central opening. The assembly further includes a pivoting connection connecting the secondary tailgate to the primary tailgate so that a secondary tailgate may pivot downward relative to the primary tailgate. The secondary tailgate may further be deployed to form a step for access to the cargo box and may provide a gate for retaining items within the cargo box.