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US 10,538,207 B2Granted
Vehicle tailgate system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Stephen William Gallagher, Colleen Marie Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle tailgate includes an internal panel, a pair of side panels, and a tie-down bracket. The internal panel extends between the pair of side panels. The pair of side panels are rotatably secured to a cargo bed. The tie-down bracket is secured to an exterior of the internal panel. The tie-down bracket defines first and second C-channels that extend in a direction from a first to a second of the side panels.
Claims17
A vehicle tailgate comprising:
- an internal panel extending from an upper panel to a lower panel and between a pair of side panels that are rotatably secured to a cargo bed;
- and
- a tie-down bracket secured to an exterior of the internal panel between the upper and lower panels, the bracket defining first and second C-channels and having a protrusion that extends outward from the bracket that separates the first C-channel from the second C-channel such that the first C-channel and second C-channel are not interconnected, wherein the first and second C-channels extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the upper panel, are substantially parallel relative to each other, and define open ends that face away from the exterior of the internal panel.
A vehicle tailgate comprising:
- an internal panel extending between a pair of side panels that are rotatably secured to a cargo bed;
- and
- a tie-down bracket secured to an exterior of the internal panel, the tie-down bracket defining first and second C-channels and having a protrusion that extends outward from the bracket that separates the first C-channel from the second C-channel such that the first C-channel and second C-channel are not interconnected, wherein the first and second C-channels extend in a direction from a first to a second of the side panel, are substantially parallel relative to each other and define open ends that face away from the exterior of the internal panel.
A vehicle tailgate comprising:
- an internal panel extending from an upper panel to a lower panel and between a pair of side panels that are rotatably secured to a cargo bed;
- and
- a bracket secured to an exterior of the internal panel, the bracket defining first and second C-channels and having a protrusion that extends outward from the bracket that separates the first C-channel from the second C-channel such that the first C-channel and second C-channel are not interconnected, wherein the first and second C-channels extend in a direction that is substantially parallel with the upper panel, are substantially parallel relative to each other, and define open ends that face away from the exterior of the internal panel, and wherein the exterior surface of the bracket forms at least one peak extending into one of the C-channels to form a bottle opener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.