Systems for accessing cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStuart C. Salter, David Brian Glickman, Dawn Piechocki, Dennis Yee, Darshan Arun Nayak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various vehicle systems are proposed for accessing and utilizing vehicle cargo spaces on vehicles equipped with a tailgate assembly. The vehicle systems may include deployable and/or rotatable stairgate systems, deployable step systems, etc. designed for the accessing the vehicle cargo spaces. The proposed systems may include various deployment mechanisms that enable the stairgate/step systems to slide, pivot, rotate, swing, and/or otherwise adjust for providing ease of access and increased flexibility when stepping up to access the vehicle cargo space.
Claims18
A vehicle system, comprising;
- a tailgate structure;
- a deployable ladder integrated as part of the tailgate structure,
- wherein the deployable ladder includes a main stair section and an adjustable stair section that is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the main stair section,
- wherein, a base section of the adjustable stair section is received in abutting contact with the main stair section in the first position and is displaced from the main stair section in the second position,
- wherein the second position is displaced from the first position by about 180 degrees.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a tailgate structure;
- a deployable ladder integrated as part of the tailgate structure,
- wherein the deployable ladder includes a main stair section and an adjustable stair section that is pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the main stair section,
- wherein, a base section of the adjustable stair section is received in abutting contact with the main stair section in the first position and is displaced from the main stair section in the second position;
- and
- a strain gauge and a control module operably connected to the strain gauge, wherein the control module is programmed to command an alert in response to a signal from the strain gauge indicating that an amount of stress on the deployable ladder exceeds a predefined threshold.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a tailgate structure;
- a deployable step system integrated as part of the tailgate structure and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to an inner cavity of the tailgate structure,
- wherein, in the stowed position, a step pad of the deployable step system establishes a cover molding section of the tailgate structure,
- wherein, in the deployed position, the step pad is rearward and vertically lower than the tailgate structure,
- wherein the deployable step system includes the step pad, a support tube, an extension tube, and a deployment tube,
- wherein the support tube is mounted to the tailgate structure and the extension tube is movably received within a passageway established by the support tube, and
- wherein the deployment tube is pivotably connected to the extension tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.