# US 10,479,417 B1 · Truck tailgate and bumper assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,417 B1 - Document ID: US10479417B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/120,795 - Filed: 2018-09-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Cliff Standifer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479417B1 ## CPC - B62D 33/0273: {Movable tailboards for vehicles comprising non-movable sideboards, e.g. pick-up trucks (B62D33/037 takes precedence)} - B60J 5/108: {for load transporting vehicles or public transport, e.g. lorries, trucks, buses} - B62D 33/03: by swinging down {(B62D33/0273 takes precedence)} - B62D 33/037: Latching means therefor - E05F 5/022: {specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks} - E05F 5/025: {specially adapted for vehicle doors} - E05Y 2900/546: Tailboards, tailgates or sideboards opening upwards - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A vehicle, such as a pickup truck, includes a bed pillar and a tailgate pivotally engaging the bed pillar. A bumper includes a body secured to the bed pillar, a lever pivotally mounted to the body and having a pad, and a spring biasing the pad into contact with the tailgate in a closed position. The lever may pivot to push the tailgate rearward. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a bed pillar; a tailgate pivotally engaging the bed pillar; and a bumper including a body secured to the bed pillar, a lever pivotally mounted to the body and having a pad, and a spring biasing the pad into contact with the tailgate in a closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the body is configured to engage a side of the tailgate for lateral support in a closed position, and the pad is configured to engage a front surface of the tailgate in a closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the spring is a compression spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the spring is a conical spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vehicle of claim 3 wherein a first end of the spring is biased against the lever and a second end of the spring is biased against a spring support portion of the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the body includes a stop configured to limit the pivoting of the lever relative to the body due to the bias of the spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 further including pivots extending from opposed sides the body, the lever is generally U-shaped with a pair of parallel arms, and the arms engage the pivots to pivotally secure the lever to the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7 wherein a first end of the spring is biased against the lever and a second end of the spring is biased against a spring support portion of the body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the body includes a stop configured to engage one of the arms to limit the pivoting of the lever relative to the body due to the bias of the spring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the body includes a fastener channel extending therethrough, and a fastener in the fastener channel that engages the bed pillar to secure the body to the bed pillar. ### Claim 11 A method of opening a vehicle tailgate comprising: releasing a tailgate from a latch post mounted to a bed pillar; and pivoting a lever, biased by a spring, having a pad pressed against a front surface of the tailgate to push the tailgate rearward, with the lever pivotably mounted to a body secured to the bed pillar. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further including, limiting the extent of pivoting of the lever by a stop extending from the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further including engaging the body against a side of the tailgate when the tailgate is in a closed position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further including compressing the spring between a spring support portion of the body and the lever, biasing the lever pivotally toward the tailgate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the pivoting of the lever is further defined by pivots extending from opposed sides the body, the lever being generally U-shaped with a pair of parallel arms, and the arms engaging the pivots to pivotally secure the lever to the body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising: prior to releasing the tailgate, biasing the pad against the tailgate with the spring to absorb vibrations of the tailgate.